BaxterSports Soccer Blog

Congrats to "Coach Hogan"

2011-11-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

Another one of our awesome coaches made the news for his high school team this week. "Coach" Hogan Marhoffer scored two goals in Grant High School's playoff win against Tigard. You can see the highlights of Hogan's (#10 in blue/white) goals here.

Next up for Grant:

Men's Soccer Quarterfinal Game
Saturday, November 12th
at Clackamas / 3:00pm

Congrats to "Coach Sofia"

2011-11-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

BaxterSports Soccer Camp coach Sofia Loprinzi Hardin (#6 in green) scored a goal in overtime for Cleveland High School in the playoff earlier this week - way to go Fia!

Read more about the game here.

Their next game is

vs. Wilsonville

Varsity

Sat

11/12/2011

12:00 PM

at Cleveland

Keep the ball moving, tire out the defense.

2011-10-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing play from Spain last month.

Development of young soccer players

2011-09-23T09:14:00.001-07:00

Some food for thought on how to coach young soccer players. Check out this interview with US Youth Technical Director and former US National Team player Claudio Reyna. Arguably the best all-around soccer player the US has produced, it's fantastic to have him heading up youth development for US Soccer.

"The easy way, absolutely, to play for wins at the younger ages is to tell the goalie to kick it up the field, and everytime there’s a throw-in or a free kick, to send it to the corner and everyone chases it, but I don’t think I’m unveiling any secrets when I say that’s not going to develop players.

You’re not going to get results all the time encouraging your young players to play out of the back, but you’re going to get better players. And I believe, in the long-term, you’re going to have better teams."

The key for coaches to develop players is to stay consistent in what we are asking our players to do in practice and in games. In practice, work on ball control, sharp passing, movement off the ball, etc., and then expect the same in games.

Players, learn to use both feet as soon as you can.

2011-08-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

You will have coaches ask you to use both feet your whole life. Soccer players are better players when they are able to use either foot at a split-second's notice. Just ask Laurent Courtois of Chivas USA, who missed a last minute chance to tie the game vs. the Portland Timbers last night...

A simple tap with the inside of the right foot would have done the trick. However, this is left-foot dominant player, and it cost him the glory and his team a place in the standings. (Portland came into the match 2 points behind Chivas, and is now ahead of them)

Why we emphasize juggling.

2011-08-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

Check out the Timbers' Darlington Nagbe's goal of the year from earlier this season.

Why it's important to be able to use your RIGHT and LEFT feet!

2010-11-16T10:19:00.000-08:00

Check this out - all he has to do is tap it in with the right foot, but instead tries to use the outside of the left!

If your coach ever makes you use your week foot - this is why!

The beauty of the extra pass

2010-11-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

United States Men's National Team player Stuart Holden scored a game winner for his English Premier League team Bolton Wanderers.

Check out the unselfish play of his teammate to set up Holden for the easy finish. Good passing, movement off the ball, and communication lead to this excellent score.

The Improbable Goal

2010-11-03T07:16:00.001-07:00

Math meets soccer as this guy breaks down Roberto Carlos' Improbable Goal.

Clint Dempsey - 2 goals

2010-11-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

USA National teamer Clint Dempsey scores 2 goals vs Wigan Athletic.

http://www.fulhamfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/1011Highlights/0,,10415~2203503,00.html

More passing, and some passion too.

2010-09-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I commented on a video with the Argentinian national team making 25 passes in a row before scoring a goal in a World Cup match.

Recently, I attended the Portland Timbers last home game at PGE Park as a second division team (they move up to MLS next season).

Here's a great view of the game winning goal by Ryan Pore, which came in the 84th minute of a 0-0 match. The finish, a diving header by Ryan Pore, came after 10 passes.

Gotta love the passion of the Timbers Army too!

Passing, Possession, Patience

2010-09-02T14:00:00.001-07:00

As you can tell from my blog, I love watching soccer highlights. Most of what's out there are great shots by Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba, or super smooth moves of Christiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. These are great, and I love scoring goals and making moves, but the majority of the game is about passing.

Check out this goal by Argentina at the 2006 World Cup:

The finish isn't too bad either! But all that space was made through the possession. They were able to stretch the defense out with patience and passing.

I will look for more of these to share soon.

Finishing made easy - play the ball behind the defense

2010-02-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

American Freddy Adu scored his second goal in as many games yesterday for his Greek pro team (starts at the :44 mark). The goal was a nice run and finish, but for me the set up pass made the goal. Anytime you can put the ball behind the last defender and just out of reach of the keeper, you have a chance to score.

Good sportsmanship is not dead!

2010-02-16T09:38:00.001-08:00

Check out this Iranian player who does the right thing. Pretty cool!

via videosift.com

What type of player you want to be.

2010-01-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

"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!

2010-01-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

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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