UK Beach Soccer 2013 Event Dates

All events to be played at Appley Beach Ryde Isle of Wight

Quote Islandfootballfocus for 25% off all event team entry fees

8^th & 9^th June

UK Beach Soccer Super Cup

22^nd & 23^rd June

U10’s & U12’s Beach Soccer Cups (school years 4, 5, 6 & 7)

6^th & 7^th July

English National Championships Beach Soccer Qualifier Cup

13^th & 14^th July

Ichthyosis Beach Soccer Charity Cups (men, women, and youth event)

20^th & 21^st July

National Championships U14’s & U16’s Beach Soccer Qualifier Cups (school years 8, 9, 10 & 11)

28^th July

Women’s Isle of Wight Beach Soccer National Qualifier Cup

16^th, 17^th & 18^th August

Ryde Carnival 125^th Anniversary Beach Soccer Cups

To register your interest email info@iwbsa.com or visit www.iwbsa.com 

 

Did someone say Futsal?

Futsal is an indoor version of association football (soccer). The name "Futsal" simply combines the Spanish words for "Hall" - Sala, and "Football" - Futbol into Futsal. It is the format of small sided football that is recognised and supported by FIFA, UEFA and recently the FA, with world championships taking place for club and national teams.

Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of who is a goalkeeper. In addition each team may have up to 7 substitutes, which means each team can comprise a maximum of 12 players.

Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the playing arena boundaries are marked with lines, and not walls or boards that players can use to rebound the ball.
 

Futsal is played with a smaller regulation ball with 30% less bounce than normal. The ball can also be kicked above head height, goals are similar in size to hockey goals. Corners can be taken and throw-ins are replaced by kick-ins from touch lines, both of which must be taken within 4 seconds. This makes the game very fast, dynamic and exciting.

As a small-sided game, players are constantly placed in situations where they must receive or play whilst under pressure or in confined spaces and it places considerable demand on technique, movement, tactical awareness and fitness.

 

Elite Soccer's mission to develop more creative players, we look at beach soccer as the answer?

A group of youngsters play excitedly on the beach wrestling the ball free from one another in an effort to keep the magical sphere at their own feet and at times in the air. With self-taught creativity and flair, they move towards scoring a goal by striking the ball between two sticks in the sand.

None of them are wearing any footwear; the focus is on the ball. Win it and be the great Madjer of Portugal, lose it and track the ball carrier as if you were Buru of Brazil. The beauty of beach soccer allows for not only the game to be the ultimate teacher, but for the imagination to run wild on the sand. Combined with the sun and the sea you have the ultimate beach soccer venue!

The beach can be Wembley Stadium or Maracana. You can surround yourself with the likes of Allan, Pasquali, or Amarelle. Each goal scored or flash of brilliant play can be met with thunderous applause from the admirers watching the match whilst bathing on the beach. You are only limited-by your own imagination. Only on the beach can one's mind create such an atmosphere. Only on the beach can players be free from overbearing coaches who curb imagination and stifle creativity.

The beach soccer mentality can and must be the cornerstone to any player's development.
And let it not be said that the beach soccer mentality is just for young developing players. At every level of development, beach soccer can be implemented into training regimes. As a football coach and a FIFA Beach Soccer Instructor, I have implemented it on a very regular preseason basis, the opportunity for my players to just play on the sand. Some days its small sided games, others it is full side. No coaching from me, just play. Figure things out on your own whilst improving your fitness at the same time.

But why beach soccer? Well, strictly in terms of youth player development, the reasons are quite simple!

• First and foremost, it lets the game' be the teacher. The game, in its own intrinsic way, can offer more than any coach can imagine. Look at the development of the Brazilian players. Their game is born on the beaches of Rio with foot volley.
• Similar to playing in Rio on the beach, beach soccer can be played on any beach with sand. If there can be a multitude of youngsters playing on the sand, why not beach soccer too! Grab the ball and go! Goals can be quite simply be two jumpers on the sand. It is the simplicity of having any space of sand as your field of dreams. At the FIFA World Cup Euro Qualifiers draw in Barcelona in 2008 I spoke to the Spanish beach soccer legend Amarelle and he told me he trained every day by himself on a small area of sand in the docks, kicking the ball at a wall. That year he went on to be the joint top FIFA World Cup scorer in France Marseille!
• There's no time limit! In the over organized world of youth football, all too often kids are bound to their practice times. Endless summers can be spent on the beach with a ball!
• As far as equipment is concerned, all you need is a ball.  I can recall in my youth packing a football in my bag and riding my bike to the beach, I was at Wembley!
• You don't need a lot of players. One on one, two on two, three on three (or as we now term "small sided games") these are all okay its the sand that offers the biggest challenge making you think more and work harder.
• One often hears about having a 'feel' for the ball; certainly in beach soccer, without shoes and with the ball moving unpredictably over the sand, the development 'feel' is enhanced.
• The coach, and in particular, the youth coach is removed as the possible deterrent of maximizing the player's creativity. Too many youth coaches have an X's and O's mentality, feature themselves as the focal point, and invariably over-coach. The true youth coach understands the delicate balance between teaching and free play (beach soccer).
• Simplicity. Beach Soccer in its purest form is a simple way to play the game. No frills. Inexpensive. Best of all, it ignites the creative process both physically and psychologically, which forms the basis of imaginative play and a creative player

Elite Soccer follows Coerver Coaching on You Tube you should too

One of Elite Soccer’s favourite players Fellaini is named Barclays Player of the Month

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has been named the Barclays Player of the Month for November with West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke receiving the Manager of the Month award.
Fellaini, 25, scored four goals and was closely involved in two more as he helped Everton maintain their pursuit of a place in the top four.
He began the month by scoring twice in the Blues' 2-2 draw at Fulham before producing another goal and a deft assist in the 2-1 victory over Sunderland at Goodison Park.
The Belgian international was also involved in Steven Naismith's goal at Reading and returned from a one-match suspension to rifle in a 20-yard equaliser against Arsenal to earn his side a 1-1 draw.

 

Fellaini, who becomes the seventh Everton player to win the award since its inception in August 1994, was presented with his award at the club's Finch Farm training ground earlier this week.

Elite coaches learn the Spanish secrets and the 3 P's at the FA National Coaches Conference

Spanish FA Technical Director talks Spanish success and the ‘Rondo’ at the LCC conference

Myself and a whole host of English coaches were given an insight into the methods that have propelled Spain to World and European success at this week’s FA Licensed Coaches’ Club conference.

300 UEFA B, A and Pro-Licence coaches watched Gines Melendez Sotos, Spanish FA Technical Director, deliver theory and practical sessions outlining the methods that have helped develop the likes of Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Juan Mata and Gerard Pique.

Sotos oversees Spain's successful U17 and U19 teams and the coach demonstrated the now famous ‘Rondo’ passing practice, which all Spanish side’s from U15 upwards use to begin a practice.

Playing in restricted spaces, players are forced to make quick decisions when passing and receiving. It is one of the many methods that have helped Xavi Hernandez et al develop their possession expertise.

The five time European Championship winner at youth level stressed that the Rondo practice is not used, as many believe, as a ‘fun’ practice but one in which tactical and technical outcomes can be achieved.

The 3P's

At the end of the session and Q&A Rondo told the conference remember the 3P's, Position, Possession and Pressure.

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Elite Soccer specialises in sports event management and supplies coaching services to players and teams within Beach Soccer, Futsal and Soccer.

www.elite-soccer.co.uk