What type of player you want to be.

"We have a lot of people who can push the piano, very few who can play it." Stuart Webb, Director of Derby County FC, an English Premier League Team (1997).

I read this quote in an article recently and really liked the metaphor. Soccer is the ultimate sport in physical, mental, technical, and tactical senses. It is the world's most popular sport in part because anyone can play it: big or small, short or tall, fast or slow, and black, white, yellow, red or brown.

Not only that, but I have also heard soccer as described as a game for warriors and artists. Or as the quote says, players who can physically move and move things, and players who can create. Which type of player are you?

Teams definitely need warriors, those who can battle and withstand pressure, those who can run all day, and defend with tenacity. But overall, as the quote again says, there are way more of them in the game.

Remember that while artists in any field may start out with inborn talent, the best separate themselves through hard work and dedication to perfecting their skills. So if you dream of being a creator - go out and earn it. Practice your skills everyday.

Keep your knees bent!

Here's your tip for the week: Keep your knee bent for control

In the previous post, you can see Clint Dempsey's wonderful strike on a volley where his knee bent all the way through his shot. Most players tend to send this type of shot sailing over the ball, and the reason - technically speaking - is that the knee extended from bent to straight.

When striking the ball on volleys, the body naturally will want that leg to extend on follow through, bringing the foot above the knee. However, you can train your body through repetition and visualization, to keep the proper technique.

While this is true for a difficult shot like Dempsey's volley, the bent knee In is crucial for almost every skill for controlling a soccer ball:
-Dribbling
-Shooting
-Passing
-Controlling

When you practice your dribbling skills, keep the ball under your knees as much as possible. This will ensure that the knee stays bent, and the ball stays close to you.

Keeping your knee over the ball on volleys

Coaches always tell you to keep your knee over the ball when shooting. This is hard because the harder you swing, the more likely your technique will fail, your knee will come un-bent, and the ball will go sailing over the bar.

In this clip, watch Clint Dempsey strike this volley from distance. Pay special attention to his technique from wind up to follow through. The angle starting at :37 shows the foot stays below the knee the whole time, which allows the ball to dip instead of rise.

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