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Dear Soccer Genius,
Welcome to a modified Soccer Genius Planet issue #8. Your feedback has helped me tremendously and this issue marks the start of a new direction.
I've kept the quick reading bits and moved the more technical writing and soccer tips over to my blog, which I'll release in the next few weeks.
For now, let's get everyone up to speed on all good things in the Soccer Genius world - starting with the open registration for the Soccer Genius Training Level One and Accelerated One programs in Calgary, Canada.
I'm really looking forward to leading these classes over the next 10 months and helping all the kids unleash their Soccer Genius. I'm
only taking 12 kids per class and things will be filling up quickly. We are going to have so much fun!
I've included a feature article on some of the main features of the two foundation programs of SGT. I know you, your kids and players will simply love learning the Soccer Genius way. Please enjoy and pass along to those you know.
From My Soccer Genius to Yours!
Charles Cotton
charles@enlightenedsoccer.com
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Quote of the Week
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"You will never know until you go."
Charles Cotton
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 Featured Article
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Soccer Genius Training Levels: FUNleashing Level One and Accelerated One Programs
Okay folks! You've asked for it and I'm giving it to you. You wanted to know just what goes into the SGT training Levels One and Accelerated One programs. Here's the skinny on what the players will get.
- Mandatory equal playing and practice time
- In-House league competition with a focus on individual skill success and 1 v 1 and 2 v 2 play. (Players do not register with other leagues or clubs because SGT has it all in-house - under one roof, with no rain outs or weather closures.)
- Tracking of player statistics throughout the year - to help map their long-term development and deliver the right type and amount of training (and at the right time)
- Players learn technically correct juggling, kicking, receiving, dribbling. They are also trained in correct running technique, international soccer 'rhythm' as well as balance, speed and coordination
- Learning the fundamentals of all the positions of soccer, including goalkeeper (a must for long-term athletic development and soccer success)
- Each player gets exactly the same world-class instruction and opportunity to practice and play as every other player in their level
- Learning the foundations of soccer literacy - rules, skills, fair play training, technique, soccer geometry - it's all included
- Learning the huge life skills of goal-setting and taking personal responsibility for one's own soccer development
Level One and the Accelerated One program are part of the FUNLeashing Genius stage of the Youth Program. Level One is designed for the 7-8 old player and Accelerated One is designed for the 9-11 year old player who is brand new to Soccer Genius Training (regardless of their past experience). Both programs run for 34 weeks, 2 times a week from September to June. We take a break after every 6 weeks so that the players can enjoy their families, rest up and integrate all that they've learned before heading back for more.
The Accelerated One program is really cool (and pretty challenging) because it includes everything from the Level One, Two and Three programs. The idea is to help the players successfully complete the Level 3 standards so they can join up with their age group peers in the Level 4 program the next September. This way players can 'catch up' to the high skill and knowledge standards of the Soccer Genius Training system.
By the end of Level 3 players will have touched, juggled and dribbled a soccer ball literally hundreds of thousands of times. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS. They will have started their path to mastering the core soccer geometry patterns, kicking forms and 1 v 1 to 3 v 3 play. All players will have competed in hundreds and hundreds of skill and mini-games.
They will also have had a tonne of fun, learned the skills of fair play and will be ready for their next level of development.
They will be in love with being a Soccer Genius!
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Better Out Than In!
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A weekly video by Charles about something that he's just gotta share with you!
This week's focus: "Just how old IS that 12 year old, anyway?"
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Charles' Recommended Media
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I love when people do amazing tricks with balls. This week's recommended media is a short video of a man named Tim Nolan from the USA who can do some pretty darn genius tricks with a ball or two (or 9). Click below and enjoy!
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Charles' Tech Tip
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Each week in this section I include a
detailed description of a specific technical skill or ability. This
information is offered to help you achieve technical mastery through
perfect practice. After all, if you're going to practice you might as
well do it perfectly!
Thigh Receiving (Trapping)
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- Get into a comfortable and grounded Genius Ready stance (see previous issues for that one) with a ball in your hands.
- Breathing relaxed.
- Throw the ball up 1-2 meters above your head.
- Eyes focused on the bottom area of the ball that you want to receive with your thigh.
- Bring your thigh up to 90 degrees with bent knee (like a chair shape) as the ball begins to fall
- Try to catch the ball on the middle of your thigh by gently cushioning down your thigh with a slight bend in your standing leg - pretend the ball is an egg or water balloon that you do not want to break.
- You can take a slight in breath just as the ball is about to land - this will help relax and prepare your body for the impact of the ball.
Did you catch it?
You want the ball to gently fall to the ground in front of your feet. The less bounce the better. That way you'll be heads-up ready to move onto the next play.
Try it 10 times on each leg throwing it slightly higher each time. |
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This Week's Genius Success Habit
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adsf
| Be patient with yourself
The mind loves to race far into the future - completing projects we haven't even started, growing up into the next decade of our life, developing countless 'what if' scenarios - the list goes on and on. Let's face it, the mind is tremendously challenged with living right now.
This makes being patient with ourselves very tricky indeed. But be patient we must.
We cannot miraculously leap past the stages of development that make us human. We cannot by convenience skip the learning to walk before we run phase of our lives. We must live the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years that make up the moments - moment by moment.
The Greek root of the word patience is 'to suffer'. That's pretty telling. We often 'suffer' when we are not patient, no?
Conversely, we are often experience 'freedom' or 'peace' when we receive the fruits of patience; be they mastering a new skill, stopping to take in a beautiful sunset or being present to our children growing.
And so, be patient with yourself as you learn and grow, stumble and fall, and pick yourself up to go after your biggest dreams.
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About the author - Charles Cotton
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 The Soccer Genius Coach, Charles Cotton, is an internationally licensed expert specializing in teaching kids 7-17 how to unleash their own Soccer Genius - for on and off field success. He has over 30 years experience playing, coaching, and leading soccer communities. His accelerated training methods and unique soccer "Mind, Body, Heart and Spirit" approach help players and coaches achieve their highest levels of play and personal development. Charles lives in Calgary, Canada with his 3 beautiful daughters and shares time in Chicago with his "Dancing Genius" life partner. |
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