Spring Training Week 5

Summary

• Brush your teeth (Leg lifts/squats)
• Stretch the Hip Flexor for 2 minutes (See Week 1)
• Do your push-ups and planks (9+9+9+9)
• Shower on your toes
• Juggling and Touches

WATCH MORE SOCCER. If you watched the Sounders, you saw over 60% possession by the home side and some much improved 1-touch passing that created some great scoring opportunities. Also, I would love for you to watch how many twist off moves Ozzie Alonso does in a game. The other thing you can count is the number of right back passes.

Lastly, watch how the midfielders and forwards are ON THE LINE (not near it, but ON IT). I'm telling you guys how the professionals play. If you can do it now while you are young, you will have great habits for your future.

You can also watch any EPL game and see defensive shape like none other in the US. I would love to hear what you see. Tell me what you heard us coach and what you see coming out on the field.

TOUCHES

Juggling 

• Increase your count or your duration on juggling.

Touches
I came across this last week and used it at practice. If you run each of these moves for just 30 seconds, your dribbling WILL IMPROVE almost instantly. If you are a midfielder or forward, you should be doing these when you get to practice and at every dead ball moment during practice. I also recommend this as a pregame warm-up for you. If you remind your feet and legs the feel for the ball, you will have more success on the field.

• Pull-back, laces
• Pull-back, laces, Pull-back, in-step
• Toe, Heel, Toe Roll, push 
• Inside-Outside Roll, push
• Toe-tap, V-Back
• Tick-Tock, 180
• Pull Backs
• Inside Outside Right
• Inside Outside Left
• Tick-Tock, Scissors
• Roll-over, outside cut 
• Roll-over, Tick-tock

That's 12 touches, 30 seconds each. You can do these in your bedroom! 6 minutes plus transition time.