Archive
iSoccer interview with Robbie Elliott from SPARQ
While down in Phoenix for the first Development Academy event of the year we had a chance to speak with Robbie Elliot from SPARQ. Robbie highlights two of key elements that SPARQ and iSoccer share:
1) Quantifying ability allows players to measure performance and set goals to improve
2) Competition motivates players to work harder which results in accelerated player development
Robbie, a 17 year professional in the English Premier League and England U21 International, also speaks to the importance of young players getting as many quality touches on the ball as possible. This challenge is particularly prevalent in the US given the number of other sports, academic, and entertainment options competing for their time. As a result, “training smarter” or more efficiently with tools such as iSoccer is vital to improving the level of soccer in the United States.
America SCORES Skills Challenge powered by iSoccer
iSoccer is excited to be working with America SCORES New York again, this time to help raise money. We are sponsoring the “America SCORES Skills Challenge powered by iSoccer” on Saturday December 12. See below or click on the image to the left for more details. If you live in the New York City area we invite you to come out. All ages and skill levels are welcome. If you are not in the area but have not yet signed up for an online iSoccer membership now is a great time. The majority of your purchase will go directly to support America SCORES. Be sure to use the dedicated America SCORES New York fundraising page when you register (fundraising page).
Event Description: Test your skills and support a great cause! iSoccer is powering the “America SCORES Skills Challenge” fundraiser on December 12 from 2-4pm. To get the details and register for the event online click the link below.
http://www.isoccer.org/americascores
If you can’t make it to New York but still want to support America SCORES you can purchase an iSoccer membership for the regular price ($14.99) and iSoccer will donate $10 of it to America SCORES. To do this, simply register and pay through the following link:
http://www.isoccer.org/americascoresNY
We hope to see you at the Skills Challenge and on iSoccer. Spread the word!
Best,
The iSoccer Team
US Soccer: Offline failures, Online solutions (part 1)
While we don’t considered iSoccer to be a typical online social network, it does share many of the social media components that typically characterize one. So when I read the article “Understanding Users of Social Networks” in Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge online publication, this quote really resonated:
“Online social networks are most useful when they address real failures in the operation of offline networks.”
I immediately thought about the US Soccer Development Academy presentation where they outline a number of “real failures” in the “offline network” of player development in the US. The following are some of the things they identify as challenges that have historically prohibited the US from competing at the top level of international soccer. I realized after writing this that it was far too long so I’ve broken it into four separate entries, one for each of the challenges listed below.
(see page 3 of US Soccer Development Academy presentation, download PDF)
1) Geography
2) Climate
3) Lack of professional infrastructure
4) Focus on winning at an early age
Part 1: Geography
The US is a really big place. Getting the best players in one location to encourage competition and provide good coaching takes a significant amount of time and money. US Soccer is making positive strides in the identification and development of top talent at older age groups. However, at the younger age groups, 5-12 years of age, where the foundation of technical development is formed, there are roughly five million kids playing soccer in the US. This is far too many to ensure that each player receives good coaching and skill appropriate competition.
Physically getting people in the same place for training and games is a huge challenge. At that age, it hardly seems prudent to most parents (not all parents) to trek their families huge distances to get little Suzie more competitive training and games that match her advanced skill level. As a result, Suzie plays with a team in a league that doesn’t challenge her to improve, as do thousands of other players around the country. By the time they are old enough to play on more selective teams with better players and better coaching they have already missed out on some great opportunities to improve their technical base.
The ability to distribute quality coaching and allow players to watch other players at their level or slightly above their level (Albert Bandura, Observational Learning), online rather than in person, goes a long way to eliminating these geographic barriers. Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a player, customizing a training program that fits their individual needs, and providing visual and audio instruction is all possible by leveraging online networks such as we have done with iSoccer. Connecting players with one another, exposing their relative performance, and showing visual confirmation of their technical improvement all help to motivate players by making technical training fun and competitive.
More places to follow iSoccer
