REC Skills of the week: CRUYFF (turn), ZIG ZAG and JUGGLING
Date
Monday, September 11, 2023
Location SkillsForLegends.GermantownLegends.com
Description
CRUYFF Push the ball forward, fake kick with inside of foot, but instead pull ball behind the standing leg and change directions.
One step move that uses the inside of the foot to "chop" the ball underneath the support leg in a radically new direction. The key is setting up the support leg in the correct position, and also swiveling the body a little, to make room for the ball to pass beneath the leg.
Note that the sole (cleats) are not part of this move. Furthermore, Coerver and Vogelsinger often describe the "fake kick" motion associated with the beginning this move, and then that same leg "chops" the ball underneath the support leg.
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, internationally spelled Cruyff; (25 April 1947 – 24 March 2016) was a Dutch professional football player and coach. As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Cruyff was an exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football explored by Rinus Michels, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Dutch football rose from obscurity to become a powerhouse in the sport. Cruyff led the Netherlands to the final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup and received the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. At the 1974 finals, he executed a feint that subsequently was named after him, the "Cruyff Turn", a move widely replicated in the modern game. Wearing the number 14 jersey, he set a trend for wearing shirt numbers outside the usual starting line-up numbers of one to eleven.
PURPOSE
Juggling is designed to promote, encourage and challenge our players to spend more of their free time juggling. As we all know, juggling is an integral part of player development. It is also a known fact that all good jugglers are not necessarily good soccer players, but it is certain that all good soccer players are good jugglers.
We want to encourage our young players to make juggling a habit because:
Players develop coordination, balance, reaction speed, learn to use both feet etc.
Players can set and achieve goals (personal juggling record) and also develop good work/practice habits and determination to reach those goals
FIRST TOUCH = FIRST CLASS
We have come a long way over the past year as a soccer club, and each player has made great strides to seek excellence in their improvement on the soccer pitch. In order for our players to be successful, it is important that we really refine and improve our first touch.
Here are some activities to help promote the process of improving your first touch as a player. Each one of these will be useful to help increase your juggle count, but also to help you with your technical receiving, and skill on the ball during training and matches. Try some of these out with a regular routine and your first touch will greatly improve.
THE ONE-BOUNCE GAME
Players juggle but are allowed a bounce in between each touch. It is important to make sure that you use both feet. This is a great activity for those players just learning how to juggle/improve their first touch
Modifications:
Alternate feet
Take a bounce juggle twice with the same foot, and then bounce, then juggle twice with the opposite foot, repeat etc
Juggle foot, thigh, then a bounce, then switch feet/legs
Juggle foot, head, thigh, foot then a bounce and switch legs/feet
REGULAR JUGGLING IDEAS
Juggle Feet Only
Alternate right to left foot
Around the world - this is a hard one! Start with ball on right thigh, then right foot, to right shoulder, to head, to left shoulder, to left thigh, to left foot, back to right thigh and then repeat
Juggle feet only, keeping the ball below your knees
Juggle feet only keeping the ball below your shins
Take one to two touches (start any touch progress to feet only) then knock the ball to head level, then receive, take one to touches then hit the ball to head level again
Take one to two juggles, knock the ball over your head/find it, then take the ball out of the air(without a bounce), and continue the process with one to two touches, then knock the ball over again
JUGGLE SEQUENCE GAME
Players will begin with one juggle with either foot, then add one more juggle with the other foot, then switch back to the other foot, and add another juggle. Keep on going as high as you can go.
Example: Right foot = 1, Left foot =2, Right foot = 3, Left Foot = 4 and continue
JUGGLE AGAINST A WALL
Take one to two touches, and hit a ball up against a wall and or a hard surface. Then, receive the ball out of the air without a bounce; take one to two touches again.
Diego Mardona prematch warmup in 1989, juggling the ball in time with music...
SOCCER DOES BEGIN AT HOME
Give your child a 'leg up' by sharing the videos and info we've posted online before and during the season....
"We can't emphasize enough the important role that parents play in participating in their Childs development before entering into organized play. It's like teaching your child to learn the alphabet, words, vocabulary and simple sentence structure before expecting them to read a book on their own. BALL MASTERY plays a crucial role in laying down the FOUNDATION upon which the entire game is taught and learnt.” - Tom Byers
BALL MASTERY Setup a small soccer activity area to practice some of your favorite moves, or visit the following links for more activities:
The Germantown Legends are a premier youth soccer club located in Germantown, Tennessee.
Established in 2011, the Legends Soccer Club focuses intensely on creating brave creative leaders for life. Our no guilt, no shame, no blame philosophy gives kids the confidence to get out of their comfort zone and create the big play in any situation!
The Germantown Legends are the 'official soccer provider' to the City of Germantown.
For Field conditions, Inclement weather, Program updates, Camp information, etc., please visit the following: