Thursday, August 29, 2013

Preparing for peak performance - #4 Get ready to have fun

A key to great performance while taking it all very seriously in prep and on the field, never forgetting that all this hard work is fun and we can have fun while doing it.

You girls are great at along with one another and having fun.

Here is one of my favorite videos that gets me excited about soccer.  Love the clips and sound track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLTSkcPki1E

Do any of you girls have favorite music or videos that get you excited and ready to play?
If you do please add them in a comment below.

It going to be a great weekend!!!

Coach Eric

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Preparing for peak performance - #3 Visualization of Successful Play

So here is probably a new thing for all of you.  I doubt any of you have heard of this but it is a technique improve your performance and it can be fun because you get to dream in detail about doing great things in the game.  So it is kind of like playing soccer with out making any mistakes.  I think some of you will try to do this as you look for ways to build confidence and raise your success.

Please read the whole article here:

http://www.soccer-training-info.com/visualization.asp

Here is a key excerpt from the article:

The Steps Are Key
Just think to yourself: I receive the ball on the right side, and then I act like I'm going to dribble hard down the line to get a cross in. Next, I take a few dribbles towards the defender and when the defender's on their heels, I cut inside for a shot and bend the ball to the far upper corner with the inside of my left foot...the keeper can't reach it.
Often you are doing this kind of visualization on your own and don't even realize it. What soccer player doesn’t fantasize about scoring the game-winning goal? All you’re doing with visualization is making a conscious effort to imagine every detail, thus increasing your chances of realizing your fantasy when you’re out in the field.
If you get into the habit of walking through what you want to do in the game in your mind before you go to bed, slowly but surely it will get easier and you'll find yourself naturally thinking about moves, plays, and things you want to do in the game.
Wayne Rooney On Visualization
“I always like to picture the game the night before: I’ll ask the kitman what kit we’re wearing, so I can visualize it. It’s something I’ve always done, from when I was a young boy. It helps to train your mind to situations that might happen the following day. I think about it as I’m lying in bed. What will I do if the ball gets crossed in the box this way? What movement will I have to make to get on the end of it? Just different things that might make you one per cent sharper.”


Here is a script example
from this website: http://www.soccerperformance.org/specialtopics/imagery.htm
THE MENTAL IMAGERY SESSION
 
When undertaking visualisation sessions, it is important to respect several major points in order to fully benefit from this type of practice: - Use consistent, short, intense sessions and build up them up slowly
- Use a quiet room where you will not be disturbed
- Be relaxed but alert- Set realistic attainable goals- Picture should be done in a real environment as is more realistic, e.g. a penalty kick in a game- Perform the skill from the beginning to end and at normal speed- Always imagine the action is successful & avoid rehearsing errors- Try to feel the movement using all your senses - physical sensation, sight, smell...
Players must imagine themselves in action on the soccer field. They can clearly see the scenes, the colour of the shirts, the sound of the boot on the ball, feel the ground under their feet, hear the sound of the crowd and recognise the voice of their coach. Everything must be done correctly, nothing negative can be allowed to affect them and everything is vividly realistic. Once players have mastered the basic habits of imagery, they can start working on specific problems such as technique - shooting, heading, passing, ball control...
It may be useful to have a written copy of a visualisation practice using a stimulus-response procedure. This involves the stimulus from the situation (defender, pitch etc) and the response of the player undertaking the action. For example, an indirect free-kick situation.
Stimulus: I see our player touching the free-kick and the ball laid off in front of me. I hear the defence shouting "close him down" and see their defender moving towards me at pace, perhaps too quickly. I see the goalkeeper positioned slightly to the right of his goal.
Response: I fake to shoot and pull the ball back onto my other foot. I adjust my body and make room for the shot.
Stimulus: I see and feel the defender go past me and then see a slight gap at the left post. I hear my teammates shouting "shoot". I see the goalkeeper, seemingly off-balance after my dummy.
Response: I see and strike the ball, feeling my head over it, my non-kicking leg next to it and my shooting leg following cleanly through. I feel my body slightly overbalance as I watch the ball whistle into the bottom left-corner of the net.
Analysing your session can be useful as well. Could you see and feel yourself perform the skills, was it clear and at normal speed ? Were you relaxed but alert and was the picture clear ? Taking notes can as well be useful for highlighting any weaknesses in your imagery session in order to work on and gradually improve them.

Finally here is an example where you can sit back and let a speaker walk you through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3_qzAtdN-0

Consider making your own script of what you want to do well that day in the game and see yourself being successful before you go on the field.

Go WieKings,

Coach Eric

 

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Cincy West Tournament Champs!!!!

Girls,
Congrats on an outstanding and dominate tournament Win!  4-0, with every game being a pretty dominate performance.  Let me focus on three thoughts about this tournament performance...

1.  You have obviously improved leaps and bounds in since just last season.  This shows that our KY State runner-up was not lucky, but was earned and we were playing at a much higher level--OUR LEVEL.  I knew we were on a different level than the CUSL teams we played just this past spring.  Today we showed that by dominating the teams that finished above us!  One of them being undefeated!  Girls, it really wasn't even that close.  Congrats!  You have absolutely graduated to a whole other level of soccer, and I can't wait until next weekend to play in the MEAD Cup and for our Elite 2 buckeye League play to begin!

2.  Many girls on the team who were literally about 1 year behind the skills and athletic ability of our top girls have shown tremendous stride.  I can remember certain games trying to work in playing time for Molly, and sometimes for other girls.  Now, those girls are kicking some serious butt and sincerely helping the team. Delaney is playing great for us at fullback.  1 year ago, I didn't have the faith to put her in such a demanding and important position-- and I'm not sure she had the ability to play it--now she plays is VERY well--what a fast, strong, and composed fullback!  And Hope, I know many times I get on you, but look how great you are playing now. Going up and challenging every ball and using head to make clears--you were like a BOSS out there!  My gosh Hope, You and Molly had 4 of our 12 goals this weekend!!!!!!  And Molly, they were "MAN MARKING" you that last game!!!  "Do not leave the girl alone with the big foot" is what that coach was saying!  Seriously?!  That coach was all over his girl to stay on you wherever you went because of the 25 yard strike you put in the first game against them.  And after you did it again the second game, he yelled "I thought you would have learned the first time"!!! I know I'm hardest on you since you are my daughter, but understand I absolutely have never seen someone work so hard to go from one of the bottom players to such a very good player who does whatever it takes to win every ball--I hope you are proud of all the hours you have put in to get to this point--because I am (Love you Cheeky)!!!   And Ciarra, I know I get on you alot too--great confidence, and strike on goal--great composure!  Really girls, I hate to say we had a "bottom half" or "top half", but that gap is closing and we are becoming one strong team!  Sorry, Morgan...Yeah, you pretty much changed your game too.  Instead of only running when you saw a breakaway, you are now playing the game the right way.  You got yourself in great shape, and are constantly being options, and playing strong, shielding when needed, great turns, making the simple passes, and moving, playing fast...---I could go on and on Morgan, I just am really happy for you.  Girls, I could talk about each one of you, so please understand how proud I am of each of you.  I challenged you after that last scrimmage to work as hard as Kylie.  I really feel like you girls stepped up to that challenge!  Thank you.

3.  And I can't ignore that this improvement also came with the addition of three fine young ladies!  Maleah, Hunter, and Kaitlyn--We are so happy to have you on this team.  You are definitely a huge part of our team improving, but I've also seen huge improvement from each of you since you started on this team!  Great job girls, and thanks for playing for the WieKings.  You girls are not only really awesome players, but really awesome girls--and that was so important to me in having you join the team!


I will end by reminding you all that competition is going to be much greater. Again, we have graduated and passed up the level of teams we played this weekend.  What we will face next weekend in the MEAD cup and in our league play thereafter is going to be tough.  Of the 4 games we played today, take the best 60 minutes of the total 240 minutes, and that is how we will need to play EVERY GAME to come out on top! And I know you can do it!

Great job girls--I am proud of each and everyone of you!  You are Champions!  Enjoy it.

Brian

(Eric and Gary--as always, thank you for your OUTSTANDING assistance).


Friday, August 23, 2013

Preparing for peak performance - #2 Pregame warm-up

As we warm-up before the game we want to be careful not to burn-up our energy and lose our spring before the game starts.  But also we want to make sure we warm-up gradually, building to game speed right before the whistle blows so we are not starting out slow.  Also getting many touches on the ball so we have good first touch from the start, instead of 10 minutes into the game.

Below is the pregame routine plan we would like to try out this weekend. 

It is important for you girls to also have an image of this.
The basic ramp-up curve goes like this; start very slow warming the body stretching, rest for 10 minutes and really start to  focus on the game with Coach Brian's talk.  Start to ramp up to game speed over the next 20 minutes.


Pre-Game Workout

Goals:  

1. to warm up muscles and limbs to avoid injury
2. to ramp up heart rate and body to be at near peak by game start (avoid over exerting and falling flat or not even ramping-up)
3. to get many touches on the ball to ensure good control from the 1st possession.


#
Time (b4 game)
 
Duration
(min)
Intensity
Description
Focus
1
~45
-
low
Juggle alone and in circle (2-3 groups)
Social, touch
 
2
45
5
Low-mid
Dynamic stretch (to 18 and back)
Warm-up
3
40
5
low
Static  Stretch (calf, back, hamstrings, etc)
Warm-up
4
35
10
rest
Positions & pre-game
mental
5
25
5
Low-mid
Tikitaka (2 circles & 2 defenders)
Ball touches
6
20
5
mid
Partner drills, 20 s4 reps, long passing on ground to feet (trapping) - free time
Goalie warm-up throws & kicks
Ball touches
7
8
7
mid
4 line Shooting drill  (passers at the penalty box corners)
Passing to feet
1-2 touch strikes
8
5
5
high
two teams 7v7 possession passing
Goalie: punting
 game speed passing/movement
9
2
2
 
Final words or sprint if warm-up has not gone well
 

We will be ready to dominate from the whistle.

Go Wiekings,

Coach Eric
PRACTICE CHANGE

Tonight's practice has been changed to Tower Park.

Same Time 7:00 - 8:30

Gary

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Preparing for peak performance - #1 Eating to win

Hello Girls and Parents:

As we continue move-up in our level of play we as a coaching staff want to continue to look for things we can do to move us to peak performance at the games.

This is a great article to provide a guide for what to eat and when.  I can attest that through my experience there were many games I was lacking energy and I had not connected to eating until I learned about it some in college.  I know now that pizza does not make a good performance pre-game meal.

Please take a look at this short article there are many simple guidelines that will help you throughout your sports career.  Of course each person is built differently and may be able to do some things that are listed as don'ts or maybe some people have to be even more strict.

http://www.wcusc.org/docs/Travel/91G2/eating.htm

Key Excerpt:
"What you eat when is important.
If you gobble french fries an hour before a game, you will feel like the soccer ball is in your stomach, not on the field! That's because when you're playing hard your heart sends a lot of blood to your muscles instead of to your digestive system. Whatever you ate just sits in your stomach, undigested, causing cramps and gas.
Here's a good rule for when to eat what:
  • Big meal: 3-4 hours before a game
  • Light lunch: 2-3 hours before a game
  • Snack or "power shake": 1-2 hours before a game
Do the math.
For evening games, eat a good breakfast, fill up at lunch time with a big meal like pasta and salad or chicken and rice, (whatever you would usually eat for dinner) Then have a light "lunch" late in the afternoon.

For tournaments, where you usually have a morning game, you have to eat a good dinner and a bedtime snack the night before. Then have breakfast at least two hours before the game, just a snack if you slept in. Lunch between games should be light, something that will get digested before the next game. Unfortunately, that lets out pizza, which has lots of cheese and pepperoni (high-fat items that stay around in your stomach for three to four hours).

Hearty, Healthy Dinner
(high-carbohydrate, low-fat)

- Pasta
- Tomato Sauce with Meat
- Rice
- Lean Meat, Fish, Poultry
- Potatoes
- Cooked dried peas, beans or lentils
- Salad"

Please consider this in your preparation for the this weekend.

I will try to get a few more things out over the next couple days for preparation.

Let's dominate this weekend,

Coach Eric

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Defense Power Point and Scrimmage Notes

Girls,
Here is the power point.  Please read this, understand it, know it backwards and forwards.

View on line here.
https://picasaweb.google.com/107461953959743318473/FlatbackFour#5913461481532732338
or download here, you need a Google account for this.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7bVxK12gOgpWXZTSEtZVW41MVE/edit?usp=sharing


Friendly/Scrimmage Notes:

As a team, you played 1/2 of the potential you have, and 1/2 of what I've seen you play in the past.  And you still put in as many goals as the Kings Academy Team.  If you girls play even 90% of how you had been playing, we score 2 or more goals.  You are that good, and should expect to always play nothing less.

Take this one thing away from today:
Play every minute with the intensity, urgency, and work ethic as you did the last five minutes--do not accept anything less.

We have enough subs to play that hard and that style of play (always attacking, moving, playing high pressure defense, being first winning the ball, winning balls out of the air, staying strong and using your body to shoulder off girls to win balls, or shield defenders off until you can find an option, etc.).  It is a very demanding and aggressive style.  Again, nothing less than the last 5 minutes should you accept from yourself or teammates.

Enjoy your day!

Brian

Friday, August 16, 2013

Mead Cup Schedule


No.
Div
Time
Field
Home Team
Visiting Team
 
Type
 
Saturday, Aug 31, 2013
 
 
321
12:15 PM
WCC02
 
 
331
5:45 PM
ANK13
 
Sunday, Sep 1, 2013
 
 
335
11:00 AM
ANK36
 
No.
Div
Time
Field
Home Team
Visiting Team
 
Type
 

 

Monday, Sep 2, 2013
 
343
8:00 AM
ANK09
SEMI
 
344
9:15 AM
ANK09
SEMI
 
345
1:15 PM
ANK09
FINAL

Field Addresses

Ankeney Complex (ANK)
635 S. Orchard Lane Beavercreek OH 45434

BEAVERCREEK OH. From I-675 take Exit 13, go East 3 miles. Turn South (right) on either Factory Rd or Orchard Lane to arrive at ANK complex.

West Carrollton soccer Complex (WCC)
4800 Hydraulic Road West Carrollton oh 45449


 

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Cincy West Soccer Tourny (Gooarilla Classic) AND THIS Friday's Practice CHANGE

Parents,

Bad news first--I have to change practice to 6:30pm Friday (8/16).  Again, sorry for these last minute changes; and you changing your schedules to make it work is much appreciated.  HHS changed their time to 5:00.  Iwas just told tonight.  With school starting Tuesday for Highlands, I will be on a more normal schedule (outside of games) and have more control of when my team practices.  Again, I feel bad about this...  If a girl can't make it due to the change, I understand.

GOOD NEWS--We can have practice on our field at Fort Thomas Tower Park.   We'll go from 6:30-8:00.  We'll be going over the flat back four (what their high school teams are teaching them as a flat back four may be very different from how we will play it).


BEST NEWS:  August 24th and 25th Tourney (Gooarilla Classic):

We have been accepted--I love "freebies"!  We have a few girls where some of the games may be a conflict. With 16 girls though, I don't think there is any one game where we are threatened to have less than 13 girls. I'll have to recheck this to make sure that is correct, and if we have any less than 13 for a game, I will get Maria.

We will be playing teams that are scattered about through the Buckeye League.  I am most happy that we get to play Cincy Heat again--they finished 1st in CUSL this spring, beating us at our field by 1-0 with an incredible free kick.  I think they did outplay us that game.  It was our first match of the season, and it was their final match of the season.  So, I am happy to have the chance to play them again!!!


DivTimeFieldHome TeamVisiting Team Type
Saturday, Aug 24, 2013
 GU14GOLD11:45 AMMW06Lewisburg Lady Thunder - AA - Kings Hammer Select Wiefering
 GU14GOLD1:05 PMMW06Cincinnati West SC Heat - AA - Cincinnati West SWAT
 GU14GOLD5:05 PMMW14Cincinnati West SC Heat - AA - Lewisburg Lady Thunder
 GU14GOLD5:05 PMMW15Cincinnati West SWAT - AA - Kings Hammer Select Wiefering
Sunday, Aug 25, 2013
 GU14GOLD7:45 AMMW14Lewisburg Lady Thunder - AA - Cincinnati West SWAT
 GU14GOLD7:45 AMMW15Kings Hammer Select Wiefering - AA - Cincinnati West SC Heat
 GU14GOLD1:15 PMMW141st place preliminary games -- 2nd place preliminary games

Thanks all,
And don't forget about our scrimmage against Kings Hammer Academy team this Weekend!
Brian