Technical Issue with Email & Registration
March 6, 2007
Just before noon the problem was fixed. You should have complete access and use of your email. We apologize for any inconvenience.
>>>>>>>
We are currently experiencing some problems with email services that is affecting network messaging and new member registration. We hope to have this resolved soon and apologize for any inconveniences. We will post an update here when the issue is resolved.
Thank you in advance for you patience,
– The Ziga Zoga Team
Your Game: Possession Is The Name Of The Game
March 5, 2007
(Jose Antonio Reyes maintains possession provided by Yahoo images.)
Pele, being a man of few words, hit the proverbial nail on the head when he said: “When you control the ball, you control the score.” Possession at any level is critical in matches between two talented teams and players who are equally comfortable possessing or who can one-touch and move to space are usually the ones on the developmental fast track.
Here are some words of wisdom from current Syracuse University Men’s Soccer Coach Dean Foti in Attacking Soccer (by Joseph A. Luxbacher; Human Kinetics; ISBN 0-7360-0123-9) that every player and coach should remember:
“In an 11 v. 11 game, possession play can range from methodically building out of the back and playing through thirds of the field to playing directly by driving longer balls into the opponent’s half of the field to be won or repossessed and maintained to create scoring opportunities. To maintain possession with the purpose of creating scoring opportunities, a team must find a balance between deliberate building play and more direct penetrating play.
As a style of play, possession soccer yields several benefits during a 90-minute game. First, a team that is good at maintaining possession will be able to regulate the tempo of the game. While establishing its own rhythm of play, it in effect takes its opponent out of theirs.
Second, the team that has more possession play can dictate the tactical direction of the game. The ability of a team to carry out any game plan, whether it be exploiting an opponent’s defensive weakness or emphasizing its attacking strengths, depends on having the ball. Superior possession play allows a team to determine tactically what will take place on the field.
Third, a team that excels at keeping possession of the ball will eventually wear down an opponent, both physically and mentally. Defending and chasing the ball for 90 minutes is physically taxing and psychologically disconcerting. All these factors take their toll and aid in breaking down an opponent.
But the most important benefit of possession soccer is that the team with more possession will have the opportunity to create more scoring chances.”
For players and coaches, if you’re looking for intriguing training techniques, check out this link for its tips on possession soccer. Note the drills for both 4 v. 4 v. 4 and 6 v. 6 using two balls at the same time:
– Steve
Steve Arters is co-founder and president of Ziga-Zoga, one of soccer’s newest community-based websites. He’s a current and longtime club soccer dad at the Premier and D-1 levels in Texas and has been fortunate to accompany teams to the top national tournaments from coast to coast. Steve has a media background that includes radio, newspaper and serving as a reporter/editor for The Associated Press and United Press International. He also has extensive marketing/advertising experience that includes sports marketing expertise involving professional teams/organizations, national cable programming and college conferences. He can be reached at sarters<at>zigazoga dot com.
Top 10 Soccer Sites:
livescore.com |bbc.football | espn.soccer | premierleague |UEFA |el-ahly |Man U | Liverpool FC TV | Real Madrid | soccernet
Your Mind: Mental Imagery
March 2, 2007
What an image huh? Do you often dream of such an experience? Do you mentally practice the action required to have the opportunity to participate in such a celebration?
If not, you might consider applying more of yourself by practicing the actions required on the field before you actual have to perform them. Mental preparation in the game of soccer can have an enormous impact if you apply your thoughts and focus on the things you need to do to succeed on a regular basis.
Ok, so what just is Mental Imagery? As defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:
“Mental imagery (varieties of which are sometimes colloquially referred to as "visualizing," "seeing in the mind’s eye," "hearing in the head," "imagining the feel of," etc.) is quasi-perceptual experience; it resembles perceptual experience, but occurs in the absence of the appropriate external stimuli. It is also generally understood to bear intentionality (i.e., mental images are always images of something or other), and thereby to function as a form of mental representation.”
As a player, most tend to focus on actions that have taken place in the past where they did not succeed and the tendency is to replay these situations in their minds over and over again. Of course, this does not help dwelling on the past, MOVE ON MAN!
Playing the game of soccer requires quick reaction to the sometimes unforeseen circumstances placed on you by the competition. So, if you get hung up in the past you cannot be successful 2 or even 15 minutes later.
Instead, focus on what you want to do next. Visualize it, prepare for it mentally, and when the opportunity presents itself – do it. You will have had the practice in Your Mind to excel. I can guarantee you the best players in the world like Cristiano Ronalado do this on a regular basis. So, why don’t you?
If you’d like some guidance on how – check out a couple of these links on mental imagery and visualize yourself performing like Cristiano in the video below:
Waterfront Soccer Property For Sale
March 1, 2007
Would’nt it be cool! Sorry, its not really for sale but we are thinking about having a crazy photo contest on ZigaZoga.com. Some of the ideas we are kickin around include the best "gettin stuck in" photo, the best looking player in their favorite team kit or "Soccer Hot" photo, the geekiest soccer picture and more.
Before we started any contest we wanted to get feedback from the soccer community. So if you have and ideas for the contest submit it here. Further, if you have ideas for prizes - it would be cool to know that too.
This picture above was taken by Florian Schütz and I love his work! There is also some amazing soccer photos on Flickr. And No, the dog does not come with the house (dog picture is work of EJWines)!
