Hey Team and Soccer Families, Coach Mick here with you again! Today, let's explore a vital aspect of soccer that sometimes gets overlooked - footwork. Great footwork can give you an edge on the pitch, allowing you to control the ball better, evade defenders, and create scoring opportunities....
Strike Blog: Coach Mick’s Playbook
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Total Football Explained
Hey Team, As we explore different strategies and tactics that have shaped the beautiful game of soccer, there's one philosophy that stands out and has made a significant impact: Total Football. Today, we'll dive into this fascinating approach and see how it can enrich your understanding and...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Understanding the Offside Rule – Clearing Up Confusion
Hello Team and Soccer Families, Coach Mick here! Today, let's tackle a rule that often causes a fair bit of confusion, even among seasoned soccer fans - the offside rule. Understanding offside is critical for both attackers and defenders, so let's break it down in simple terms. The Basic Rule In...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Tripping in Soccer: Don’t Get Tripped up by the Rules
Hello Soccer Parents, As your young athletes take to the soccer field, it’s important to understand the sport's rules to help them play fairly and safely. One of the common fouls you're likely to see in any match is tripping. This post will help clarify the rules around tripping, why it's...
Book – Mastering The Pitch: The Soccer Omnibus
Book - Mastering The Pitch: The Soccer Omnibus by Mick Southerland Mastering The Pitch is an all-encompassing guide to soccer strategy that will captivate players, coaches, and enthusiasts alike. This comprehensive book takes readers on an exciting journey through the history of soccer in America,...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: 5 Key Soccer Drills for Home Practice During the Summer
Hey Team and Soccer Families, It's Coach Mick again with some helpful tips for our young players. While team practices and games are essential, practicing at home during the Summer break can help improve skills and keep fitness levels high. Here are five easy drills that our players can do at...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Futsal Formations: The Intricacies of Strategy and Play in the World of Futsal
Welcome to 'Futsal Formations: The Intricacies of Strategy and Play in the World of Futsal.' This comprehensive guide delves deep into the vibrant and fast-paced world of Futsal. Futsal, a sport that finds its roots in the bustling streets and tight playgrounds of South America, is a variant of...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Guarding the Goal in a 3-2-2 Formation
In a 3-2-2 formation, the goalkeeper is the last line of defense and a key player in the team's overall strategy. Beyond the fundamental responsibility of preventing the opposition from scoring, goalkeepers in a 3-2-2 formation have several essential roles: 1. **Shot Stopping:** The primary job of...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: The Role and Tactics of Forwards in a 3-2-2 Formation
Hello team! In our 3-2-2 formation, our forwards have a crucial role on the pitch. Their primary job is to score goals, but there's more to being a forward than just shooting. Let's explore the role and tactics our forwards need to master in this particular formation: 1. **Attacking Presence:** In...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Mastering the Overlapping Run Strategy in a 3-2-2 Formation
Hello Team, Today's playbook talk will tackle a key strategic move that can seriously bolster our attacking game: the Overlapping Run Strategy. This tactic can become our secret weapon, keeping our opponents on their toes and opening up those game-changing scoring opportunities. Consider our...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Making the Most of Summer – Activities to Enhance Your Soccer Skills
Hey there Team and Soccer Families! Coach Mick here, wishing you all a fun-filled and sunny summer break! While it's important to rest and recharge, summer can also be a great time to hone your soccer skills in a relaxed, enjoyable way. So, what can you do over the summer to improve your soccer...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Unbeaten Summer Streak – A Cavalry Futsal Story
Hello Team and Soccer Families! Coach Mick here, hoping you are all enjoying the balmy summer season. As the sun shines brighter, our indoor Futsal warriors, Cavaly Team Japan, are lighting up the field too! I'm thrilled to announce that our team remains undefeated, taking the latest victory 9 to...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Summer Futsal Fun with Team Japan
Hello Soccer Families, Coach Mick here, brimming with excitement to share some fantastic news! Our Cavalry Futsal team, Team Japan, kicked off the summer season with a thrilling 5-4 victory in their debut match. As we venture deeper into the sizzling summer days, I wanted to spotlight a game...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Mastering the Art of Four-Man Defense
Greetings, Soccer Families! Coach Mick here, hoping you're ready for another thrilling dive into soccer tactics. Today, we'll explore the pivotal four-man defense structure – an effective defensive line-up that provides a firm backbone for any team, while offering ample support to the attacking...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Blocking Penalty Kicks by Reading the Plant Foot
Penalty kicks in soccer are the ultimate duel between a shooter and a goalkeeper. The high stakes and pressure on both parties make for some of the most thrilling moments in the game. As a coach, I've worked with many goalkeepers on honing the perfect strategy for blocking penalty kicks. Let's...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Mastering Penalty Kicks – Strategies and Techniques
In the world of soccer, a penalty kick often comes with high stakes, potentially turning the tide of the match. As a coach with years of experience, I've developed a clear understanding of the elements that can make or break a penalty kick. In this blog post, I'll share some invaluable strategies...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Throw-ins: The Do’s and Don’ts
Throw-ins are a crucial aspect of soccer and offer teams an opportunity to regain possession, initiate an attack, or create scoring chances. Here, we'll delve into the mechanics of throw-ins and discuss various strategies teams can employ: Proper Technique: Executing a throw-in with the correct...
Coach Mick’s Playbook: Fitness for Young Footballers – The Healthy Way
Hey Team and Soccer Families, Coach Mick here! Today, let's talk about an important aspect of soccer - fitness. It's crucial for our young players to develop their physical abilities in a safe and healthy manner. Here's how we approach fitness for our players. Age-Appropriate Training Fitness...