Hi-Ho Wolverhampton, for my father in law, my wife and friend Carl , lets go Wolves!!

Puyol , this would help the REDS!!

Xabi Alonso Penalty

http://youtu.be/5r9AxcMKwnU

Penalty Shots

The simplest and most difficult of shots of all. It is simple because it is unopposed except for the keeper, it is difficult because everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is looking at you. So how do you take one, how do you take one like Gerrard, Kuyt,  Xabi Alonso or Sami Hyppia. First off it is about technique, mind set, and for want of a better expression, muscle memory. If you look at the approach of each of these players to the taking of the penalty shot, the set up, the placement of the ball, the run up to the ball, the shot and run through after the shot are consistent.

This is Hal Whites guide to taking penalties:

1. Pick your spot. Low and wide is safest, high and wide impossible to stop but easiest to miss.
Once you pick the spot, NEVER change your mind!!!

2. Place the ball on the spot yourself. It is your shot, it should be set up the way you want it, not the way the referee left it.

3.Step back from the ball at least three large strides from the ball. Stay as loose physically and as focused mentally as possible.

4. Wait for the referees whistle, and then wait one even two seconds more, and then make your approach. A German study showed that the longer the gap between the whistle and actual shot, the more likely the ball went in.

5. Strike the ball. Side foot for accuracy, instep for more pace and higher, and laces for straight power.

6. Follow your shot, the rebound, if there is one can be struck again. Look at the XABI video posted earlier.

Also, remember, practice practice practice.

The more you do it, the simpler it becomes.

Watch Stevie G., practicing at home

Steven Gerrard practicing penalties

Walk On

Hal White

Whenever I feel down, I remember liverpool v ac milan champions league final

Who plays where? The Defence.

This is a vexing question, which is probably not what anyone wants in a blog, but I propose to do so in three stages. This week the backline.

Typically the back consists of a keeper and four defenders in one of several configurations. My preferred arrangement is two central backs and two wing backs. All positions must work in harmony, and all need certain unique skill sets, as each has unique duties on the field.

The wing backs, left and right have need of certain physical assets in particular strength, speed and endurance. These players are required to defend the flanks, as well as prevent crosses. They are also critical components in the attack in carrying the ball down the wings and overloading the defence by adding width.

This is why they need to be fast and strong. Look at current Liverpool wing backs, Glen Johnson, Martin Kelly,  Danny Wilson and Fabio Aurelio, all strong, all willing to attack and defend. Play both ends of the pitch, willing to commit to attack and get back to defend even quicker.

The center backs are the defensive co-ordinators. They must be quick, fearless in their challenges and strong in the air. They need to control the center of the pitch, pushing the attackers wide and preventing penetrating runs and passes. Currently Carragher, and Skrtel carry the bulk of this job for Liverpool, but many others have contributed to the job as well.

The biggest job is stopping up the middle of the pitch and clearing the ball when dangerous situations arise. They are also invaluable for lengthening the pitch if the ball needs to be played back to switch the point of attack. A secondary role occurs when in the attacking third of the field, they can volley shots back at the net. This was common for Emlyn Hughes and for Sami Hyppia in their days at Anfield. Jamie Carragher is no slouch at this either.

So defenders, do it all. They must be patient in defence, quick to attack, cool under pressure, and an ability to see both the attacking and defending possibilities in a game, all at the same time. If you find a good one, she's worth her weight in gold!

Good defenders do it all!!!

Learn Rivaldo Triangle - Football by next Thursdaysoccer skills

The Teachable Moment

The "teachable moment" is regrettably becoming an overused phrase in society today. It is being applied to the mundane as well as the spectacular. A true teachable moment though, where something that is being taught, is actually learned, is always spectacular, that moment when knowledge becomes action.

In my business the teachable moment is often learned from mistakes, from doing it wrong, and knowing not to repeat it in the future. This is not a positive way of learning. Effective, but not pleasant. How then do we make the teachable moment a positive thing?

One thing a teachable moment is not is hollow praise. Too often coaches play to the lowest common denominator and praise everyone for doing something. But this is wrong. It creates false beliefs in ones abilities and sets up false expectations on the field. Also, it is not a teachable moment. Teachable moments are not always readily apparent, it may be one player off to the side practicing a technique over  and over again, and then in a game situation lets it a happen and changes the whole dynamic of a game or a team in an instant. This is the player "doing it right" to the betterment of the whole team, showing them what can happen when knowledge is put into action. This moment teaches and needs to be identified, praised, and encouraged. This is spectacular.

What is rare is a teachable moment that occurs on a large scale, within a team, all at the same moment. Why is that? One reason is developmental. Not all players develop their skills at the same rate, and sometimes they do not master certain skills at all. Other players are more intuitive about tactics than others and they lead their team-mates  in this aspect of the game.

But when does the group moment happen? Until last night I had only experienced it once before, when a team-mate and his wife had their first child, and the celebration amongst the whole squad demonstrated to me that we had become as one group, a family. Something that had taken place over a period of about three years for this particular team.

But last night I saw something different. My squad was training last evening. A beautiful spring night, warm, clear sky. A good night to work on fundamentals and technical aspects of the game. This though was not what the squad wanted to do. In fact I am not certain what the squad wanted to do. They had little focus, no intensity, were being silly and just weren't into the session. Now I tried to reset the training to make the players regroup, I admonished one or two of the players, I even started a small sided game that they usually like and is a great motivator. No luck.
Now appreciate that these are young people, not adults and not professionals,  heck, I'm not a professional soccer coach, but they still need to show appropriate respect to the situation and the others around them. Otherwise they are wasting my time, their time, the price of a soccer field and others who could use that field.

So with 35 minutes left in the 90 minute session, I called them in, asked them for their bibs/pinnies, to pick up the discs, and to go home. I never raised my voice, I never pointed out individuals, I just told them that the session was done, and that they were not up to their usual standards. Also, not to come back to the next session if they were in the same mood.

They packed up my gear, and I stood on the edge of the field with my assistant, trying to figure out what had happened. At that point the two keepers asked if they could train on their own. "No problem" I said and continued my conversation. I then looked at the touch line and I saw that all the players were still there, talking amongst themselves in three or four little groups. These groups merged and them moved to the net where the keepers were. The groups then organized themselves into a very simple shooting drill that I have used in the past, and they continued to train for the next thirty minutes.

At first it didn't strike me what was happening. It was just kids taking shots (albeit in an organized fashion). Then I noticed none had left, although they could have. I then noticed that they kept self correcting the drill and the lines, using terms and expressions commonly used by myself and other coaches. I noticed that the team leaders were leading and that all players were training relatively well.

I remained apart, about 10 meters away, offering advice as needed, knocking balls back into the training zone, but I mostly watched. And I learned.

I learned that the most important teachable moment is when it is self realized, not pointed out by a teacher or a coach, but when a team learns how to do it right all on their own.

They are kids, they are not perfect, but they sure can learn, and when they do it right, even if it takes a while, that is a teachable moment that is truly spectacular.

Puskas

Learn the puskas move - V shape turn fake pass - Football soccer skills