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iSoccer Featured Player: Magnus
We’re excited to present Magnus as our latest Featured Player! He raised his iSoccer Skill Level from White (1) to Green (5) in just 6 months, and is a great example for young players everywhere. Check out how Magnus and his family play iSoccer together!
Name: Magnus – Age: 10 – Lives: Maryland
iSoccer Level: Green, 5.0
- “Without question, he’s learning lessons that he will take with him for the rest of his life: setting achievable goals, working hard, and having fun doing it. Magnus may not realize it right now, but iSoccer is creating a foundation within him for future success on and off the field.” – Dad
- “I feel more comfortable when the ball comes to me in the air, when before I was hesitant.” – Magnus
- “We practice with him and compete against him on many of the skills – it’s great exercise for us and a nice way to relax after a day at work.” – Dad
- “I haven’t done this in 20 years, so it’s fun to relearn it with my son.” – Mom
A big thanks to Magnus and his family for sending in the video footage and helping inspire players all over North America!
Magnus shows that no matter what your scores are when you start iSoccer, if you spend time working on the iSoccer Skills, you will get more comfortable with the ball. And to all the parents out there – challenge your kids on a couple iSoccer Skills! It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played soccer before – have fun with it!
Cheers!
The iSoccer Team
Check out our previous Featured Players, Teams, and Club!
Takumi – Age 9 – Level Brown
Luca – Age 11 – Level Red
U12 Synergy
Bozeman Blitzz
Quick Tip: Using Player Points
- Weekly Points Goal: Players, how many points can you earn this week? You get points for entering scores, raising your Skill Levels, and even just logging into your account. Can you earn 1,000 points this week? 5,000?
- Award Points to Players: Coaches, did you know that you can give or take away points from players in your account? Use this feature to reward players for doing well, or take away points to keep them honest. Give your players points this week, and get them excited to play iSoccer away from practice.
Cheers!
The iSoccer Team
Quick Tip: Partner Passing Game
- 5m One Touch Partner Passing: In 20 seconds, see how many one touch passes you and a partner can complete from 5 meters apart with any foot. If you have to take a second touch, or if the ball doesn’t go 5 meters, don’t count that pass and keep going. Can you get to 5, 10, 20, or 25?
- 2.5m One Touch Partner Passing: Move it in, and see how many passes you can do from 2.5 meters apart. It’s all about quick feet on this one!
Cheers!
The iSoccer Team
Quick Tip: Casual Counting
- It's always a good time to count: Even if you aren't going to record the scores, players, coaches, and teammates can use counting in between assessments to keep the 'game' going throughout the season.
- Set quick, casual challenges: Who can get the most juggles with their non-preferred foot in 20 seconds? Go!
- Go beyond the Skill Assessment: By using 20 seconds and casual counting, you can turn almost anything into a game. You can even use one of the iSoccer Skill Videos, like Continuous L Pulls, to create a challenge. Get creative with it!
So whether it's in training, or the backyard, use casual counting to help you and your team have more fun improving your skills this season!
Cheers!
The iSoccer Team
Quick Tip: 3 Video Progression – Heading
Quick Tip: 3 Video Progression – Heading
Whether you are scoring off crosses, knocking the ball down to a teammate, or controlling it for yourself, being comfortable with the ball at your head is important no matter where you are on the field. Here are three iSoccer Skill Videos that you can use as a simple, effective progression for learning how to head the ball!
Step 1: Start with a seemingly simple exercise, and see if you can hit a perfect header with your forehead right to your hands every time. (You can also try 2 or 3 touches to a catch.)
Step 2: Find a wall and challenge yourself. It may take a minute to get the hang of it, but find a rhythm and as you get more comfortable, move further away from the wall.
Step 3: This one isn’t easy either, but is great for perfecting your head and volley control. How many can you do in a row? 3? 5? 10? 20?
Neymar shows that a good touch with your head can make a huge difference, no matter where you are on the field. Right through the legs!
Learning basic, yet important skills like heading the ball is all about repetition. You can use the iSoccer Skill Videos to work your way up, and then keep it fun and interesting by creating challenges for yourself, like seeing how many juggles between your head and feet you can do!
The iSoccer Team
Quick Tip: Soccer Golf!
Quick Tip: Soccer Golf!
Summer is the perfect time to challenge your friends and teammates to a round of soccer golf! You can play anywhere – from the park, to the backyard, to the house – and it’s a fun way to sharpen your accuracy and touch.
1. Make the course: Pick out something to 
be the ‘hole’ and get creative in where you put it and what the rules are. Hit the fire hydrant, chip through the swing, on top of the picnic table, only with your left foot…
2. Set the par: How many touches will it take to hit the hole? Set up par 3s, 4s, 5s, and higher (depending on the difficulty of the hole).
3. Have fun improving your game: The more time you spend with the ball, even playing games like soccer golf, the more you will improve as a
player – it’s as simple as that!
If you play soccer golf inside, we recommend using a tennis ball or small sized soccer ball!
Cheers!
The iSoccer Team
Quick Tip: Learn How to Bend the Ball
Quick Tip: Learn How to Bend the Ball
Being able to bend the ball is not only fun to do, it also makes you a more dangerous passer and scorer. However, bending the ball effectively takes practice. Here are three iSoccer Skill Videos that are a simple, effective progression for learning how the bend the ball!
Step 1: Find a wall, a friend, or a parent and get comfortable volleying the ball with the inside of your foot.
Step 2: Standing sideways, focus on creating spin and hitting the ball cleanly. As you establish a rhythm, hit the ball harder and move further out.
Step 3: Create spin with the inside of your foot, and practice hitting a stationary ball off the ground. Once you are comfortable striking a clean, bending ball, set up a target and challenge yourself and your friends to a game. Get creative and make up the rules!
As a young player, David Beckham used to hang a tire from the corner of a goal and try to curl it in for hours. Later he was able to do this!
Learning basic, yet important skills like bending the ball with the inside of your foot is all about repetition. You can use the iSoccer Skill Videos to work your way up, and then keep it fun and interesting by creating challenges for yourself, such as bending a ball through a tire!
The iSoccer Team
Feel free to forward this to anyone who loves soccer as much as we do.
Quick Tip: 3 Juggling Skill Challenges
Quick Tip: 3 Juggling Skill Challenges
Here are 3 iSoccer Skill Videos that you can use to make quick, fun skill games this summer. Challenge yourself, or your friends, and see how many you can do!
For Beginners: Once you can do the 1-2 catch, see how many more you can do in a row. 3? 5? 10? Right and left footed.
For Intermediate Players: This one is great for learning proper foot angle for striking a clean, driven ball. Complete as many as you can with either foot. Remember – no backspin (a little forward spin is even better).
For Advanced Players: How many can you do in a row while knocking the ball as high as you can followed by a small control touch? The higher you knock it, the more skill is required. And remember, only use your laces!
You can use any of the 500+ iSoccer Skill Videos to create a game. Make up the rules and get creative. Skill training is always more fun when you turn it into a game! Cheers!
The iSoccer Team
Feel free to forward this to anyone who loves soccer as much as we do.
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