Saturday, November 28, 2009

Soccer Cleats - Different Types For Different Reasons

Soccer cleats are certainly the most important part of your soccer gear. Although you must use your head as an important part of soccer, the majority of the game is played on the ground. That means that your soccer footwear should be tough enough to make sure that it can take what you are going to give it.

How about when someone else steps on your toes? It is definitely going to happen.

What Types!

They can also be called soccer boots, or soccer shoes. It depends who you talk to. However, soccer shoes are mostly referred to when you are talking about indoor soccer, or playing on turf. Cleats, or boots are referred to for outdoor grass games.

This is about soccer cleats.

Molded Cleats


  • Is the standard soccer cleat type.

  • Hard plastic or rubber molded.

  • Pre-molded, non-removable studs.

  • Perfect for beginners, or players with minimal experience.

  • Good for most field types and weather conditions.
Removable Cleats (studs)


  • Easily replaced when individual studs get worn down.

  • Different lengths for different field and weather conditions.

  • Made with hard plastic or plastic with metal tips.

  • Mostly used on wet or soggy fields.

  • Also good for long grass fields.
What Is In Them!

There are 2 main materials used to make soccer cleats.


  • Synthetics.
Synthetics are great for soccer players just starting to play as they are less expensive than leather. They are also usually waterproofed to prevent absorbing water on wet days. Synthetic shoes are much easier to clean than leather shoes.


  • Leather.
Leather provides the best fit and feel of any soccer cleat. They may be more expensive, but will provide better feel for the ball for those that take the game more seriously. Leather shoes will absorb more water than their synthetic counterparts but there are many waterproofing treatments available to keep them looking good and to help lengthen their lifespan.

When deciding what to choose consider this:


  • How much time will I be playing soccer?

  • What field will I be playing on?

  • What are the dominant weather conditions in my area?

  • How serious am I about my game?
Answering these questions will help you decide what choice is best for you.

It doesn't matter if you choose Nike soccer cleats, or those from Adidas or Puma, knowing what type you will need puts you a step closer to your goal.




Wayne MacLean has over 30 years of experience in the game of soccer. As a soccer coach, soccer player, soccer referee, and all-around soccer fan, Wayne is now adding a new dimension to his love of soccer. He now writes many articles and creates soccer videos to help those that are involved in soccer, are new to soccer, or just want to know more about soccer. Check out my Soccer Cleats for more great soccer information for yourself or your team.

The Soccer Drill Sargeant

Friday, November 27, 2009

Rules of Soccer - Offside Rule in Soccer

In a game of soccer, you might have come across the point where a whistle was blown and a player stopped from performing his action. This is because he was on the offside. You might wonder, what is this offside rule in soccer?

Well, offside is a point in the field where a player becomes too close to the opponent's goal line. In fact, the player in the defender's half of the field and comes much close to the goals line that the ball and the second last opponent. The purpose of the offside rule in soccer is to prevent a attacking from pushing forward because of certain factors. The offside rule applies in three different ways which are offside position, offside offense and offside sanction.

In order to a player to be determined on the offside, there must one defender and the goalkeeper, between the player and the goalpost. The ball comes to the player from the front and in a position which is not suitable. The player's position in the field is over the half line mark in the field.

In addition to these points, there are two other points which apply. These are that the player must be in a position that is interfering with the action of the opponent or the game or that he is using the position of being on the offside to his advantage in the game. This part about offside is also called Offside Offense. When an Offside Offense happens, an Offside Sanction takes place. This is actually a penalty for the offense which is to be given in the form of an indirect free kick from the place where the offense happened.




About Author:
Pauline Go is an online leading expert in sports. She also offers top quality articles like :
Boxing Day Origin,
Martial Art Violence

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Nike Soccer Cleats - Always Improving

Top quality, and popular, Nike soccer cleats continue to improve

Even though Nike has not been involved in soccer for as long as other soccer cleat manufacturers like Adidas, and Puma, their technology has caught up fast. Nike's commitment to improving soccer cleats and their technology, has placed them right up there with the other leading manufacturers.

Nike makes world-class soccer cleats. Their philosophy is to continue to improve what they offer. They consider that they have some of the finest soccer boots on the market. Do you?

Materials for the Upper (the visible part of the shoe)

Nike boots uppers are made from 3 main materials:


  • Microfiber Synthetic Leather - Soft, lightweight, and tough.

  • Kangaroo Leather - The softest of leathers, and very strong. It will mold well to your foot.

  • Full Grain Leather - not as soft as Kangaroo leather, and not as strong. But still a good choice.
The upper can also contain a heel counter that helps provide reinforcement and improves the fit.

Lacing System

Nike uses 3 different lacing systems in their boots. What you decide will be based on your own personal preference.


  • Symmetrical lacing - Laces run straight up the cleats.

  • Asymmetrical lacing - laces are offset to increase the area of the boot that contacts he ball. Helps improve accuracy and ball striking.

  • Covered laces. Offers a larger area to strike the ball, and improved contact.
Midsole (what your foot sits on)

The midsole is usually made from a foam that has been compressed using heat. Nike uses many different foams depending on the cleat being made.


  • Some models use the Air Zoom Unit that is very thin. It brings your foot closer to the ground, and allows you to make those fancy moves even easier. It also provides this without a sacrifice of comfort.

  • There is also the new and unique Nike injected Phylon midsole that provides great comfort and stud pressure reduction.

  • A molded sockliner will also help to provide an excellent fit.
Outsole (bottom)

There are a number of different stud configurations and shapes.


  • Circular studs specifically designed to provide perfect stud
    pressure reduction.

  • Blades designed to grab the field and provide comfort.

  • Molded studs for firm ground and replaceable studs for softer ground.
You have the choice of many bold and daring colors, so choose your Nike soccer cleats for their performance, and to complement your personal style.




Wayne MacLean has over 30 years of experience in the game of soccer. As a soccer coach, soccer player, soccer referee, and all-around soccer fan, Wayne is now adding a new dimension to his love of soccer. He now writes many articles and creates soccer videos to help those that are involved in soccer, are new to soccer, or just want to know more about soccer. Check out my Nike Soccer Cleats for more great soccer information for yourself or your team.

The Soccer Drill Sargeant

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Soccer Practice Plans - Get Advice for Your Practice Plans

The investment of time is required to plan out an effective soccer practice schedule. That is, if you have the required knowledge about the game to complete the task. The best coaches have a plan for what they want to teach their players, as well as a vast supply of drills to draw from that helps them to cover each particular topic. Those stuck without drills are stuck with a good practice plan, and their team stands no chance.

Most coaches have a busy family and work life, so it would follow that many youth soccer coaches could would directly benefit from a resource that time and make coaching a little bit easier. Enter Soccer Season Outsourced.

If you need informative soccer practices that will progress the play of your semi-competitive or youth soccer team, I have put together a manual titled Soccer Season Outsourced, designed specifically to give you everything you will need as it relates to training your team effectively.

My practice plans will start your team at the beginning and build a solid foundation. Skills drills and short sided games will force your players to work on the skills of dribbling and trapping and apply them into a game like situation.

Using small sided drills will allow your players a high number of touches on the ball under heavy pressure. I estimate that at most practices they will get over 2000 touches on the ball. This formula will improve their ball skills and game understanding. If you are a coach without a plan for training, my soccer practice plans will help you along.




If you are a volunteer soccer coach, you owe it to your players to challenge and inspire their play. Soccer Season Outsourced will help you transform your team from a bunch of individuals into the powerhouse of your league.

Check it out at http://www.soccerdrillbook.com

Monday, November 23, 2009

Exercising to Improve Your Soccer Skills

For one player the emphasis might be improving general fitness, for another strength might be required more or ball control skills, or shooting etc.

What is most important is finding out where a players weaknesses lie and developing a programme of exercises to improve those weaknesses.  The best way to find out where the problems lie is by asking someone else.  Sure, you might know that you're unfit an that that is a priority but often there are parts of a players game that go unnoticed.  For example, there are many players who are very one footed i.e. they only ever use their stronger foot, be it the right or the left.  When this is the case, the player has usually developed many strategies to combat this one-footedness and it often takes someone else to point out that this is a major flaw in their game.

Writing a list of parts of your game that you are not happy with is a good start.  Passing that list on to a coach who can add their input is the second biggest step to take.  The biggest is taking that advice on-board and finding some great exercises to help you on your way.

The internet is a great resource for exercises but you shouldn't restrict yourself to soccer coaching sites.  Whilst these can provide some excellent drills for ball control and other skills, they are often not the best for improving speed, agility, strength or concentration.  Use your imagination and don't be put off by taking up other sports or forms of exercises.  Yoga and pilates can help with flexibility, strength and balance.  Tai Chi or meditation could be the answer for concentration problems.  Don't be scared to use whatever you need to help you improve your game.

For many professional players, equipment and gyms are instantly available.  Players from Hibs recently had a state of the art training ground built for them.  This is not usually the case for amateur players and again it is often important to improvise. Home gyms, classes in local council facilities etc. can all be good and cheap ways to improve your fitness.  The important thing is to stick at it and find as much information as you can before starting out.  Use the internet, speak to experts on line, your coaches or teachers.  Speak to anyone you might know who coaches other sports, it's all good information.




Alan Webber lives and works in Manchester, his passion is football and he spend as much time as possible visiting football grounds throughout Europe.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Agility Ladder Drills

www.CompleteSpeedTraining.com agility ladder drills speed training Recomendations