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Q and A with iSoccer Founder, Scott Leber
As we kick off the new year, we wanted to take a minute to catch up with Scott, and see what’s been going on at the iSoccer office in San Francisco.
Scott, it’s the start of the 2012 fall season. What’s new with iSoccer?
Well, the big news is that we just hit 1,000,000 scores logged! We are thrilled that we hit the goal laid out when we launched the National Standards Project two years ago.
It’s been awesome to see more and more players, coaches, and parents running with iSoccer, and committing to raising the level of soccer in the US. Obviously, this is a long term project, but we are excited to see momentum building, and glad to be a part of the solution.
So you reached the goal of 1M scores logged – what’s next?
We used the scores to establish iSoccer Standards based on age, gender, and location – now we are moving into the next phase of the Project, which revolves around using these Standards to create a skill game.
We all know how powerful games can be, so we are turning ‘practice’ into a game, where players can compete against themselves, their teammates, and the community. The goal is to get more and more kids excited to spend time with the ball.
How exactly does iSoccer make training into a game?
Players can earn skill levels, badges, and accolades for completing activities and interacting with the online and mobile platform. The difference between iSoccer and other online games, though, is that our goal is to actually get players outside, instead of staring at a screen for hours!
It’s all about using technology and tapping into the psychology of game dynamics to make practice more fun. No matter how skilled a player is, there is another level that they can work towards achieving.
Any advice for coaches or parents who are using iSoccer for the first time this season?
Keep it fun! Sure, the iSoccer Assessment is great for tracking development, but the primary goal of iSoccer is motivating players. If you set up fun challenges and reward improvement, you can engage all type of players.
Also, as a parent or coach, if you are excited, players will feed off that. Ultimately, you can use iSoccer to create healthy competition around skill development, taking some of the emphasis off winning and losing.
Looking back, what have you learned in the last two years?
Wow, tough question – we’ve learned so much in the last couple years! We’ve gotten a ton of feedback from people around the country and the world, which has really helped us constantly improve the platform. One of the main things we have learned though, is that coaches and parents are very busy – obviously!
So we are focusing on simplifying things, and improving the user experience so that iSoccer.org and iSoccer Mobile become easier to use, and more engaging for players at the same time.
I love hearing from our community, by the way, so anyone should feel free to shoot me a quick email at s.leber@isoccer.org with feedback, thoughts, ideas, cool stories, or just to say hi!
Any new features people can look forward to?
Haha, well without tipping our hand too much, we do have some exciting stuff coming out in the coming months. We are about to launch our newest features – Player Points and Velocity. Basically, players will earn points for everything they do, and will be able to see how fast they are working towards improving. Coaches will see all of this, and players can compete with their teammates.
Also, keep an eye out for the Goalie Assessment we are creating with Tony DiCicco, and more advanced, partner iSoccer Assessments coming soon.
Thanks Scott!
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: iSoccer Indoors
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Just because winter weather is right around the corner, it doesn’t mean you need to stop trying to improve your iSoccer scores. Here are two easy ways anyone can play iSoccer indoors, without destroying the house!
When playing outside isn’t an option, it’s all about being creative to still get touches in over the winter. So head to the gym, garage, or basement, and use a tennis or size 1 ball to keep raising your level during the off-season. But remember – be safe and don’t break anything! Cheers! |
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: Midseason Pull Up
- Players: What’s one area of your game that you have been struggling with this season? Non-preferred foot dribbling? Shooting? Aerial control? Pick one or two iSoccer Skills and really focus on raising those scores in the next couple weeks. Login>>>
- Coaches: Choose one or two iSoccer Skills that your team needs to improve on as a whole, and set a team goal to collectively raise those scores. Be sure to offer a group reward for hitting the goal, like a free-play practice. Login>>>
- Parents: Help your player improve on a couple iSoccer Skills by scoring them and encouraging them to set goals. (You can even score yourself and challenge your player to see who can raise their scores the most. It doesn’t matter what scores you get or if you’ve never played soccer before – have fun with it!) Login>>>
Cheers!
The iSoccer Team
Quick Tip: Set a Monthly Goal
Setting a monthly iSoccer goal is an easy way to get motivated and challenge yourself or your players to spend more time with the ball. Be sure to sweeten the deal with a fun reward (doesn’t have to be a material reward!) for reaching a goal.
1. Coaches: Team Goals
Setting a team goal is a great way to get everyone working together as a group. It can be as simple as raising your Overall Team Level, which means every player has to improve their scores, no matter what those scores are. Reward them with a free-play practice, or something else fun!
2. Players: Personal Goals
Whether you want to raise your Overall Skill Level, or focus on a specific skill that you have been struggling with, set a personal goal for the next month. Beating your high score and achieving your goal is a great feeling and you’ll know that you’re becoming a better player.
3. Parents: Family Goals
Help your player set a quick goal, and offer encouragement and recognition when they hit their goal. You can even score yourself (doesn’t matter what score you get!) and challenge your child to see who can raise their score the most. Have fun with it!
So check out your iSoccer scores, and set a quick goal for yourself or your players this month.
Cheers!
The iSoccer Team
Quick Tip: Player Points and Velocity
Player Points: Now players earn points for everything they do in their account! From entering scores and activities, to just logging in, Player Points let you know how much you are using iSoccer to get better.
Velocity: Everything you’ve done in the last 30 days determines your Velocity. Velocity shows you how fast you’re improving, and it’s also a multiplier for your Player Points. The higher your Velocity, the more Player Points you earn!
Play with Your Team: Players and coaches can check out everyone’s Player Card on the team, and challenge each other to get better faster. Coaches can even award points to players for doing well, and take away points to keep players honest. Have fun with it!
So take a look at your account (you probably already have points!), and feel free to let us know what you think about Player Points and Velocity!
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
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