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iSoccer.org Harnesses Technology to Improve Youth Player Development Across the U.S.
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Group of Stanford Soccer Grads Look to Raise the Bar in the Way Soccer Talent Is Developed with Help of the Internet
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 8, 2011) – iSoccer.org, the popular online training product and motivational tool for recreational and competitive soccer players, has launched a new product phase this week on its website: http://www.iSoccer.org. The new product takes the player, coach and club experience to the next level. They are able to go online and assess a player’s individual level based on a series of 16 skills in the span of a less than an hour with the ultimate goal of increasing a players technical acuity for the game.
iSoccer.org was founded in 2008 by former Stanford soccer standout Scott Leber. A long‐time youth coach, Leber pinpointed the unique opportunity of harnessing online technology to solve a fundamental problem in the current development of American soccer talent: a lack of technical ability and motivation among young players. With their national testing standard, iSoccer has collected 451,873 assessments scores and over 14.4 million touches on the soccer ball have been logged by individuals since launching in early 2010. Youth clubs in all 50 states, five state soccer organizations and eight national organizations, including the National Soccer Coaches Assocaition of America, have all partnered with iSoccer.org in its mission to raise the level of the game.
“We are attempting to fundamentally change and enhance how youth players and teams develop their talent,” said iSoccer founder and CEO, Scott Leber. “By integrating the power of technology, proven motivational psychology, and a progressive training platform, we believe we have found a present‐day solution to the many obstacles players and teams encounter that constrain player development. Our goal is to unleash a player’s full potential.”
The online assessment allows coaches and players to breakdown specific areas for individual improvement. This targeted training approach produces more complete and dynamic players, while helping to motivate kids all at the same time.
Flow, ESPN and iSoccer expose coaches to new technology in Jamaica
Local coaches benefited from a Flow-ESPN football clinic that introduced online technologies to bolster football performance.
The clinic was led by the US-based company, ISoccer.org and André Virtue of Whole Life Ministries, who exposed coaches to revolutionary training methods and procedures via several drills and online tutorial programmes. The two-day clinic, which took place at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay earlier this week, sought to strengthen the coaching skills of coaches from all over Jamaica.
Virtue, who is the local organiser of the camp, says it was formulated to keep the rural coaches up to speed with the latest international techniques to improve their overall training capabilities. It forms part of a broader programme that Flow initiated last year as part of its investment in local football.
Under that programme last year, Flow teamed up with its international broadcast partners, ESPN, to expose 40 local coaches and over 100 players to the expertise of international football stars Robbie Earle, Frank Leboeuf, Shaka Hislop, Russell Latapy, and Uche Okafor, who conducted several coaching seminars at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.
The clinic will continue later this year in November as the broader Flow-ESPN group returns to build on this initial training. Explaining how the clinic works, Virtue said, “ISoccer is a programme with an assessment tool which the coaches will use to break down the technical level of a player, as well as to identify weaknesses within that player.
“The tool is called the National Assessment, which is a test to measure a player’s overall technical ability. Those tests involve juggling, dribbling, first touch and pass, aerial control and ball skills.”
Speaking on the joint initiative, Sharon Roper, vice-president of marketing at Flow, says that it is very important for Flow to support local football talent.
“The sport of football has been one of the most popular avenues for youth development in Jamaica,” she said. “The national football programme has resulted in many opportunities for young men for social mobility and personal development. Flow is, therefore, pleased to team up with ESPN, Isoccer.org and Whole Life Ministries to strengthen the sport.”
Read the Full Article: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110906/sports/sports5.html
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