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Jurgen Klinsmann – Thoughts on US Soccer and Technical Level
Jurgen Klinsmann provides two key insights to the next step for US Soccer: Raising the technical level of players and making soccer a sport played by all regardless of social economics or geography… Interesting – sounds like what iSoccer is all about. Check out the video:
Michigan joins the growing list of state partners
For Immediate Release
Michigan State Youth Soccer Association and iSoccer Partner to offer Technical Player Development Technology
San Francisco, CA and Plymouth, MI June 9, 2010 – Michigan State Youth Soccer Association and iSoccer Inc. are excited to announce a partnership to help raise the technical level of youth soccer players throughout the state of Michigan.
Starting in August, MSYSA will begin using iSoccer’s award winning technical assessment and online video training platform to improve and track the technical development of players in the state’s Olympic Development Program.
MSYSA coaches will use the assessment results to build targeted technical sessions to supplement team training. This additional resource will provide players and parents guided video training instruction, carefully designed by State Director of Coaching Bryan Thorp, which can be downloaded to an iPod and performed at home.
According to Thorp, “As coaches, we have limited access to the players. iSoccer provides potential for regular access for those players looking to improve their technical abilities. It provides an opportunity for self training for the self motivated soccer athlete.”
iSoccer will be included free of charge to ODP players throughout the state. Assessment results will be used as benchmarks for setting goals and encouraging individual technical improvement, not for player selection. Players and their parents will receive emails notifying them of how to download their training sessions.
Players will also be able to create their own customized training sessions from over 500 training exercises, build a four week individual training program, set improvement goals, and view their own assessment analysis online. iSoccer is an innovative, hi-tech supplement to coaching that MSYSA will utilize to help motivated players maximize their potential.
“We are thrilled to be working with MSYSA. Having come through the Michigan ODP system myself, it’s especially exciting to be a part of player development here in my home state” said iSoccer VP of Marketing Abe Geiger.
For more information about MSYSA, visit www.msysa.net
For more information about iSoccer, visit www.iSoccer.org
The National Standards Project, visit www.TheStandardsProject.org
A Tribute to John Wooden
“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” Coach John Wooden
On the soccer fields across the country, mistakes happen every day. And mistakes do not discriminate against age, gender or ability. Whether it is a bad pass, poor touch or scoring an own goal, mistakes inevitably happen. Surrounding every field, we hear coaches and parents alike, instructing players (sometimes very loudly) before they have the opportunity to make their own decision. Pass it! Boot it! Shoot! Play It! Run!
So what is the point of the quote from one of the greatest coaches of all time? Maybe it is that one of the best ways to learn is through making mistakes. If we never push our limits. If we never stretch ourselves. If we never fail. If we never make mistakes – then how do we ever really know what we are capable of?
So next time you are on the field, try something new or try and play out of a situation instead of just “booting it”. You might fail. You might make a mistake. You might turn the ball over. But over time, you will feel more comfortable with that specific skill or situation. And that is exactly the point. Keep doing and keep making mistakes so that difficult things eventually become easier and you can attack newer challenges.
In summary, do what is more challenging. Do what does not come naturally. Doing leads to development. So every time you are on the field – Remember to be a “doer!”
NSCAA and US Club Soccer Join the National Standards Project
Youth Soccer Training Goes High Tech as NSCAA and US Club Soccer Sponsor “The National Standards Project” powered by iSoccer
Youth Soccer training around the country will utilize online video and high tech assessment techniques when The NSCAA and US Club Soccer support the National Standards Project and incorporate iSoccer Assessment software into their coaching education, player development, and marketing initiatives starting in June 2010.
San Francisco, CA June 1, 2010 — In an effort to raise the level of technical ability across the country, the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) and US Club Soccer are going high tech to measure, assess and train the future soccer stars of America. In partnership with iSoccer, the leader in technical assessment and online youth soccer training software, the NSCAA and US Club Soccer will be participating in The National Standards Project, a long-term initiative to measure, benchmark and track the technical ability of the 18.2 million soccer players in the US.
To ensure a representative sample, iSoccer will collect 1,000,000 assessment results from players and coaches around the country by the end of 2010. Scott Leber, iSoccer’s Founder and CEO explained: “if our collective goal as coaches is to produce more technical players, we need to start by determining our current technical level. Once we have standard benchmarks, we will be able to evaluate and improve our player development efforts.” With their youth soccer expertise and combined memberships of roughly 1.5 million players and 40,000 coaches, the NSCAA and US Club Soccer will be instrumental in achieving these goals.
“This partnership and initiative is representative of NSCAA’s mission to help our members excel in their coaching careers through advancing the coaching of soccer and improving players,” states Joe Cummings, NSCAA CEO and Executive Director.
“For more years than I care to admit, I have advocated the need for improved technical ability in our players as the number one priority in American soccer,” said Phil Wright, Chairman of US Club Soccer’s Board of Directors. “Often the first step in improving anything, whether in sport or in business, is to assess the current ‘status quo.’ This joint venture between iSoccer, the NSCAA and US Club Soccer will provide that critical first step. I have put players through the iSoccer program and they have thoroughly enjoyed seeing their individual improvement over time.”
iSoccer becomes the official “Assessment Provider” of the NSCAA and US Club Soccer. The NSCAA becomes the “Official Coaching Education Partner” and US Club Soccer becomes the “Official Player Development Partner” of The National Standards Project. All National Assessment tools are free for both coaches and players at www.TheStandardsProject.org. Additionally, the NSCAA is sponsoring one-month free premium iSoccer memberships for every coach who registers during the month of June. US Club Soccer will also sponsor player upgrades for specific premium content in the coming months.
About iSoccer
iSoccer is an award winning, online training and coaching platform that provides players, coaches and clubs with the tools and motivation to improve the technical ability of youth soccer players. Players, teams and clubs are able to assess their current level using the proprietary iSoccer Assessment, analyze their strengths and weaknesses using sophisticated tracking tools, target their training with a customized practice session builder and download over 500+ iPod ready video clips to help raise their technical level through self-guided training.
About NSCAA
Based in Kansas City, Kan., the NSCAA is the largest coaches’ organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1941, it has grown to include more than 30,000 members who coach both genders at all levels of the sport. In addition to a national rankings program for colleges and high schools, NSCAA offers an extensive recognition program that presents nearly 10,000 individual awards every year. It fulfills its mission of coaching education through a nationwide program of clinics and week-long courses, teaching more than 6,000 soccer coaches each year.
About US Club Soccer
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in 50 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup and the National Collegiate Showcase. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id2.
Contact:
Abe Geiger, VP of Marketing
iSoccer, Inc.
(650)544-5479
abe.geiger@iSoccer.org
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