Soccer Balls Online

The Insider’s Guide to The Chelsea Premier Soccer Team

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Chelsea Football Club plays in the Barclay’s Premier League, England’s top soccer division. After finishing 2nd (out of 20 teams) in the 2010/2011 Premier League campaign, the squad aims to win their fifth division title this season.

Chelsea was founded in 1905, in the Chelsea area of west London. The team’s nickname is the Blues, and Chelsea’s home uniforms have blue shirts with blue shorts.

Chelsea plays home games at Stamford Bridge stadium, which seats nearly 42,000 fans. The team’s main rivals are Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea’s new manager is Andre Villas-Boas, from FC Porto and a protg of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. Mr. Villas-Boas has a number of star players at his disposal, including: goalkeeper Petr Cech, defenders Ashley Cole and John Terry, midfielder Frank Lampard, and striker Didier Drogba. Fans have high hopes that high-profile newcomer Fernando Torres – who joined the team mid-season last year from Liverpool – recaptures his goal scoring prowess.

Despite tremendous success in England, team owner Roman Abramovich dreams of Chelsea winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time. Will this be the year? Come out to Stamford Bridge to cheer on the Blues as they try to make history.

The Insider’s Guide to The Bolton Wanderers Premier Soccer Team

admin — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bolton Wanderers Football Club plays in the Barclay’s Premier League, England’s top soccer division. After finishing 14th (out of 20 teams) in the 2010/2011 Premier League campaign, the squad is hoping to improve their standing in the final table.

Bolton Wanderers was founded in 1874, in the village of Bolton – a suburb of Manchester, and it was one of the Football League’s 12 original clubs. The team nickname is the Trotters, which is either a variation on Wanderers – or a relic from the team originally playing its games near a pig farm.

Bolton Wanderers now play home games at the Reebok Stadium, which seats nearly 30,000 fans. The team’s home uniform is white shirts with navy blue shorts.

Owen Coyle has been the team’s manager since 2009. Mr. Coyle has a number of fine players at his disposal, including: defender Gary Cahill, and midfielders Stuart Holden and Martin Petrov. One exciting addition this season is midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker from Aston Villa.

Despite 72 (total) years in England’s top division, Bolton Wanderers has never won the division title. Will this be the year? Come out to Reebok Stadium to find out, and to cheer on the Trotters as they try to make history.

The Insider’s Guide to The Blackpool Premier Soccer Team

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Blackpool FC, now back in the Championship after a year’s adventure in Premier League play, may well be poised for another promotion. The scandal of the January 2011 fine for fielding a weakened team against Aston Villa is behind them, the existing squad is competent and the club, having suffered relegation, can expect very good results against the competition in the Championship. A number of new acquisitions can be expected to fine tune the Blackpool engine into a real winner.I found some more information here.

Blackpool’s midfield, beefed up by the acquisition of Geraldo Bruna, will support an attack enhanced by striker Mame Biram Diouf, recently acquired from Manchester United. Newport County defender Paul Bignot will step up to the Championship with Blackpool, rounding out a squad expected to experience an exceptional season under the tutelage of trainer Ian Holloway.

Both Bignot and Bruna performed well in the 19 July preseason game against Rangers. Unfortunately Blackpool never recovered from two first half goals by the Glasgow squad. The addition of a first class forward like Diouf will make considerable difference in future matches, turning Blackpool into a Tangerine blitzkrieg capable of blasting its way back into the Premier by the end of the current season.

Learning How To Dribble A Soccer Ball

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Perhaps the most important skill required for playing soccer is having the ability to dribble and shield a soccer ball. Trust us–this is tougher than it sounds. Players gain confidence and will undoubtedly play more enthusiastically if they learn this skill and know they’re able to dribble the ball and protect it at the same time. Direct links can be seen between dribbling skills and whether a soccer game will be won or lost. In short, if a player can’t adequately dribble and protect the ball, then soccer can be a very difficult sport to play.

One of the most effective ways to teach players how to dribble and maintain control of the soccer ball is to have them dribble a ball around cones and then pass the ball to another player once they reach the end of the cones. Simply set up a line of cones, either in a straight row or in a more scattered pattern and have the players line up behind them and then work their way through the cones by dribbling the ball around the cones. It’s recommended that this drill be practiced at the beginning of every practice.

Whether you’re just starting out with soccer or have been playing for years, it’s important to remember the basics. Bookmark this blog to keep finding great information about soccer training tips, as well as news and other insightful articles.

Street Soccer USA brings hope to the homeless

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:54:59 +0000

If you’ve ever wondered about how a soccer ball can change someone’s life, look no further than Street Soccer USA. This non-profit organization is dedicated to ending homelessness by getting men, women, and children off the streets and onto the soccer field. The documentary “Kicking It” introduced many people the idea of the Homeless World Cup, an international event which has been held since 2003. Street Soccer USA is the US partner of the tournament.During the weekend of July 30-August 1, the Street Soccer USA Cup was held at the Washington Kastles Stadium in Washington, DC. At the time of this writing, however, the tournament had not yet begun. This year’s competition features 16 teams hailing from all across the nation. Of all the players, 16 individuals will be chosen to make the journey to the 2010 Homeless World Cup in Brazil.The Street Soccer organization provides three training sessions a week. During the year, the teams compete in local leagues against volunteers. The results on the players are noticeable, as seen in both the documentary and in real life. SSUSA members show improved social skills and self-esteem along with greater health. The program also includes Jobs Academies which help with resume writing, financial education, mentorship and counseling.There are plenty of opportunities for anyone looking to get involved. Players or coaches can start a program in their city if there’s not one already, and organizations like schools and churches are encouraged to get involved. This year’s tournament will have come and gone by the team you read this, but Street Soccer USA has a mission that goes all year long. If you’re interested in soccer, but more importantly interested in helping the people of your community, go to the SSUSA website and get started today.

Soccer cleats take your ball farther

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:51:38 +0000

When it comes to playing soccer, there are a number of things that can affect how well you control the ball. One is the ball itself, as famously seen in the recent World Cup controversy. Another is the type of soccer cleats you use. If you have the wrong ones for your foot, you won’t be as comfortable, and your control will suffer for it.In America, “cleats” can refer to either the entire shoe-and-stud package, or to the studs themselves. It’s important to decide which route you want to go before heading out to the shoe store. If you want molded soccer cleats, you will have a couple of limitations to make up for the ease of shopping. While the cleats might be more secure than if you attach them yourself, you will probably be limited to plastic or rubber studs, and you will have to think about which type of field you play most often (since you won’t be able to switch them out). There are three major divisions: hard, firm, and soft ground.Many professionals recommend molded cleats for those just getting into the game. Beginning players won’t notice the variations across different fields, and it’s definitely easier to just have to grab your shoes and go when it’s time to play. In addition, the metal spikes of some detachable cleats can cause safety issues, and are usually banned from youth teams. For experienced players, however, these detachable cleats come highly recommended. They can be tailored across a variety of playing surfaces, and it can sometimes be difficult to find the optimum shoe together with the right cleats.Turf shoes and indoor shoes are recommended for certain situations, such as on artificial turf or during training on harder surfaces. These types of footwear have raised patterns on the bottom instead of studs, which can be damaged on concrete and can tear up Astroturf.

Play soccer online with the newest video games

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:48:43 +0000

There are several soccer video game franchises that have been entertaining players for years. On today’s next-generation video game consoles, one of the biggest draws is online play. There’s nothing better than being able to take to the cyber-fields and duel it out against people across the world. Several modern series offer enhancements that make these online matches even better.FIFA 10 is the 17^th FIFA game published by Electronic Arts. It’s available on all modern platforms, including the Playstation 2 and 3, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii. One of the special features is the ability to create your own Virtual Pro (customizing down to their very appearance) and then using him across all the different modes of play, including Kick Off, Tournament, Lounge, and the online FIFA Clubs. After purchasing the game, players can also pay to download more stadiums, players, and teams.Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 is the latest in another popular series, with the first entry dating back to 2001 in Japan. For this newest edition, the development team made a special attempt to improve the online aspect of the game. This comes through in more downloadable content off the console networks and more consistent updates. Some of these updates make the game easier and more entertaining to play, adding different content like boots and balls or improving how easy it is to see whether other players are online.It’s clear that soccer video games today are more realistic than ever, and the online features only make them better. For those relaxing days after a tough workout, make sure you have one of these on hand to hone your skills for the real field.

History of the soccer ball

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:57:56 +0000

The history of modern association soccer can be linked back to games played in medieval England, but the idea of kicking a ball around a field practically dates back to the dawn of human civilization. Ancient civilizations like the Chinese and the South American Indians used animal-skin balls and stitched-up cloth to get their energy out. Accounts of using human heads or skulls also show up in a number of legends.The ball didn’t have a whole lot of development over the first 18 centuries A.D. But when a change did come, it was big. In 1836, Charles Goodyear patented vulcanized rubber, and twenty years later he designed a rubber soccer ball. He must have been a fan of the sport who had grown tired of the unpredictable nature of animal-bladder balls. Today, this original ball can be viewed at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York. Fans will see that it resembles a stitched basketball more than the pentagons and hexagons of a modern ball.After the invention of rubber, the rubber bladder quickly replaced pigs’ bladders, which sometimes led to lung disease while being blown up. Interlocking sections were the next development in the late 1800s, but the first 32 panel ball was developed in the 1950s by architect Buckminster Fuller. The coloring is designed so that players can see the swerve of the ball.Since then, players and scientists alike have been continually fine-tuning the soccer ball. The model used in the recent 2010 World Cup is known as the Jabulani, and has only eight panels which are spherically molded. It also includes “Grip’n'Groove” panels to aid goalies in catching the ball, and to ensure stable flight. While some players seem to be happy with the ball, which has been commercially available since last December, others complain that it is too light and fast. Who knows what the next evolution will bring?

Different kicks for different folks

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:50:08 +0000

A soccer ball is only as important as the kick you put behind it. Many players have their own signature moves which set the ball (and the crowd) on fire. It’s always best to start with the basics, though. Here are some of the more common kicks you’ll find yourself breaking out on the field (and no, victory dance high kicks don’t count).

Dribbling kick: The easiest kick in terms of power is one of the most difficult when it comes to being aware of other players. Use short kicks to propel the ball without losing control, and be vigilant to avoid having the ball stolen.
Pass kick: With this kick, there is a definite foot stance to ensure completion. Angle one foot behind the ball and the other in the direction you want it to go. Control and strength are equally key here.
Power kick: This is one of the most difficult kicks to master because of the odd angle. While striking the ball with the tops of the shoelaces, the toes are pointed downthe perfect position for jamming your toes into the ground. Kicking tees are a good way to practice this move.
Direct free kick: This kick takes place with the ball on the ground after a foul. The offended player has a great opportunity at scoring a goal if they’ve got a fair amount of aim, but if not, concentrate on putting enough power behind the ball to get it over the free kick wall (the line of players ten yards away).
Indirect free kick: This kick is very similar to the direct kick, but it cannot be used to score. Focus on passing the ball to your teammate as quickly and accurately as possible. These kicks usually occur when a goalkeeper touches the ball with his hands during a pass.
Bicycle kick: Recommended only for advanced players, this kick requires you to bring your whole body off the ground while still keeping a good deal of power. You should practice this one without a ball (and preferably somewhere padded) before attempting it.