I am moving some postings from the Drill section 10 to here to keep the drill section a drill section.

Reply to Aberdeen from Dean

Happy New Year Aberdeen!

You are justified in being so jealous... I feel so lucky to have been able to see these teams practice! (I too prefer to see the training rather than the games. But the games provide a measure of how effective (or not) we are in our training!)

I took a lot of video too but I have had problems downloading it and I am not as technologically adept as Tom - he has the time, knowledge and software to make it happen! (I am embarrassed to admit it!)

I have some excellent off-ice stuff and skill stuff at practices, but until I figure it out... you will just have to wait!

From TomM


Dean, I just watched Sweden beat Russia 1-0 in ovetime and outshoot them something like 55-17. The puck protection and close support were amazing.

Congratulations on the Gold Sweden!!

Good call Tom, Thanks for sorting out the sections. I will try to be more proactive in that myself moving forward!

Yeah, I saw this earlier today... and Barcelona is an "OK" team too...!!!!



FIFA Ballon d'Or - Messi crowned world's best

ESPN soccernet staff, January 9, 2012



Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has won the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or to claim the title of world player of the year for the third time in succession.

Messi beat Barcelona team-mate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo to emerge triumphant from the final three-man shortlist to scoop the award at Monday evening's Ballon d'Or gala at the Kongresshaus in Zurich.

The 24-year-old becomes only the fourth player in history to win the trophy three times, along with Dutch legends Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, plus Frenchman Michael Platini.

The Ballon d'Or award caps a hugely successful year in which Messi won the Spanish Liga title, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Messi deserved to be ranked among the all-time greats.

"I would agree with that completely,'' Ferguson said. "Critics have always questioned whether players like Pele from the 50s could play today.

"The answer to that is great players would play in any generation. Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff because they are all great players.

"Lionel Messi without question fits into that category.''

Xavi supported Ferguson's view, saying: "He's still young, only 24, and I think he's going to break all the records that exist in this sport. He's going to be one of the best footballers in the history of the sport.''

Messi dedicated the award to his coach and team-mates, reserving special mention for Xavi.

"It is a huge pleasure and honour to win my third award," Messi said. "I wanted to share it with those who voted for me, my coach and my team-mates at Barca and in the Argentina national team.

"Moreover, I want to share this award specially with my friend Xavi. This is the fourth time that we are are together at this ceremony and it is a pleasure for me to be with him on the pitch. This Ballon d'Or is also yours. Without your help I would not be here."

Pep Guardiola was named the FIFA Men's Football Coach of the Year, finishing ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho. "I dedicate this trophy to Tito Vilanova, my assistant," Guardiola said. "It's an honour to share the trophy with Mourinho and Ferguson, and with all coaches around the world."

Ferguson had some consolation as he received the FIFA presidential award for services to football and said: "It is an honour for me in the twilight of my life and very, very much appreciated.

"I have been a very, very lucky manager to have had so many good players who have shared my vision and passion, and that's what makes Manchester United such a special club.

"They retain the courage to play, the courage to try and win. You don't always win in football - sometimes you lose but we always try to win."

Neymar claimed the FIFA Puskas Award for the year's best goal, his fine solo effort against Flamengo voted above Wayne Rooney's overhead kick in the Manchester derby and Messi's strike against Arsenal in the second round of the Champions League.

Rooney secured a prestigious accolade, as he found his way on to the fifpro Team of the Year. He was joined in the team by his Manchester United colleague Nemanja Vidic, while nine of the side either play for or operate in Spain.

Team:

Iker Casillas,Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Nemanja Vidic, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi

Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6 1?2 in)

Lionel Andrés Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a forward. Messi received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 (2009 Ballon d'Or and 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year), 2010 (2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or) and 2011 (2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or). He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. His playing style and small stature has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi as his "successor."

Messi began playing football at a young age and his skill and potential was soon realized by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke his team record for the youngest footballer to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in the 2006–07 season; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Messi then had the most successful season of his playing career, the 2008–09 season, in which he scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. This record-breaking season was then eclipsed in the following 2009–10 campaign, where Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo's record total for Barcelona. He surpassed this record again in the 2010–11 season with 53 goals in all competitions.

Messi has won five La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, scoring in two of those finals, against Manchester United in both 2009 and 2011. He was not on the pitch as Barcelona defeated Arsenal in 2006, but received a winners' medal from the tournament. After scoring 12 goals in the 2010–11 Champions League, Messi became only the third player (after Gerd Müller and Jean-Pierre Papin) to top-score in three successive European Champion Clubs' Cup campaigns. However, Messi is the first one to win the Champions League top scorer titles for three consecutive years after Champions League changed its format in 1992. Messi is the fourth football player to win three Ballon d'Ors, after Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco Van Basten and the second player to win three consecutive Ballon d'Ors, after Michel Platini (however, two of his Ballon d'Ors are FIFA Ballon d'Ors, which he won consecutively).

Messi was the top scorer of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with six goals, including two in the final game. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic football team. At international level Messi scored 19 goals in 66 games.

Early life

Messi was born in Rosario, Santa Fe, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory steel worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, from which his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883. He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías as well as a sister named María Sol. At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. The traditional River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition which cost $900 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial. Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered Messi a contract written on a paper napkin. Barcelona offered to pay for Messi's medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain. Messi and his father moved to Barcelona where Messi enrolled in the club's youth academy.

Finnish Development Program Overview

I think this is why I was so impressed with the U17 team from Finland... we (hockey in Canada) need to put more resources towards people - educate coaches with practical activities - and then provide ongoing support.

We also must educate the parents - we shouldn't ignore them. After all, they make decisions with their pocketbook on what sports their kids will play...

The current Canadian model violates principles of adult learning (sit through lots of boring lectures where the taskmaster 'tells' the clinic attendees what / how / when to do everything; it is drill and system focussed ("DMO" = "Drill Manual Obssession" - even at the youngest levels); and barely covers the important topics of coaching philosophies and methodologies... not to mention incorporating accountability through realistic game-like situations!

Content concerning the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) plan seems to be an afterthought - simply providing information to the coaches without really showing them how to apply it (or asking them how they think they should apply it).

Local MHA's in Canada need to recognize the Finnish model and adopt these practices. Fund them through increasing registration fees so they can hire their own TD's and put the emphasis on training and supporting the coaches. (Soccer has this model in Canada). Then these coaches can take their training and provide it to their players. It would be cost / time prohibitive to have the TD work with every team / every player on a daily basis; rather, equip and support the coaches so they can deliver their message to their players. Once the season (and this system) is well underway, the TD can target certain coaches / teams who are struggling; run 'camps' or 'skill academies' on a regular basis to help improve the basic skills and understanding of the players (and coaches as they could volunteer as on-ice helpers within this model.)

I see some organizations hire specialty people to come in - once or twice a year! - to present to a group, then leave. I have done this for organizations myself - with the hope they will bring me back to follow up. Many times, they don't do this! This is a stop-gap measure with very little long-term success. They need to recognize how important consistency is and have someone (or a few people) working with the same organization long-term.

Hopefully this development model will get turned around sooner rather than later... for the betterment of all of our kids and coaches!

Can Soccer Save The World?

Colin Whyte (RedCard), 27/01/2012


Whether you call it football, fútbol, calcio, soccer, or sakka, that sport you play using mainly your feet is the most popular one in the world.

Now this oft-touted claim by proponents of the game with chips on their shoulders can sometimes seem a bit like calling water "the most popular drink in the world," but within the claim lies an unusual power...

If kicking a round ball around — with specialized shoes or without, on a fancy turf field in Burnaby or in some trash-strewn alley in Burundi — constitutes the most popular sport in the world, maybe soccer can be the answer to some of the world's many problems. Maybe soccer can save the world...

From poverty in the developing world to literacy in the overdeveloped one, chances are there is a soccer-based charity devoted to almost any cause you can think of. There are literally thousands of them. Chris Singer, 39, runs a web project devoted to the very question posed by our title, cansoccersavetheworld.com, so we asked him: "After three months of research, it's too soon to give a definite ‘yes', although my heart would argue with that. However, I can definitely say that I'm not the only one who thinks so. I've featured almost 50 organizations so far and I'm just scratching the surface...


Some move the needle at mainstream with celebrity player endorsements while others are content to help a handful of folks in tangible ways rather than worrying about corporate fundraising, grabbing a million Facebook friends, or negotiating Carlos Tevez's ridiculous rider requests.


"The surprising, and most enlightening, part for me thus far is the diversity of the projects themselves. Whether it's building awareness on global social issues such as homelessness, homophobia or refugees (HWC, The Justin Campaign and Darfur United); empowering amputees (Passing Hope and Amateur Amputee Soccer Association); giving prisoners a second chance (Hope Academy); or changing the lives of underserved girls (JoLi Academy, Yuwa India, Girls and Football SA), it's clear to me there is definitely something about the beautiful game that mobilizes, motivates and inspires positive social change..."

Some of the social enterprises and non-profits a soccer lover with a big heart can find out there are ultra-local and will accept donations of used equipment as well as money to help at-risk youth or other, underserved populations. Others are truly global and use soccer as a primary tool or language to reach out to people in need. Some move the needle at mainstream with celebrity player endorsements while others are content to help a handful of folks in tangible ways rather than worrying about corporate fundraising, grabbing a million Facebook friends, or negotiating Carlos Tevez's ridiculous rider requests. Regardless of size or scope they have all tapped into soccer's universal potential. If you love the game and are sick of being a "ball hog" in real life, there's an org out there that'll ring your cherries, guaranteed. Singer's site is a great place to start -- and he has books planned as well.

To get a better handle on the grand scheme of soccer charity worldwide, we contacted three representative groups doing great work internationally: The Homeless World Cup; Uncharted Play, makers of the revolutionary sOccket ball; and Soccer Without Borders. We asked each group to expound on soccer's appeal when it comes to "giving back" putting to them the trillion dollar question: "Can Soccer (Actually) Save the World?" And, as we found out, these groups aren't just teaching poor kids how to do wicked step-overs or giving balls to impoverished communities -- they're intent on kicking society's many injustices to the curb.


Homeless World Cup

The Homeless World Cup is exactly what it sounds like: a World Cup for homeless people. Seriously. Operating since 2001 out of Edinburgh, Scotland and partnered with Street Soccer Canada domestically, the organisation is as radical as it sounds and boasts a truly impressive success rate of 70-percent -- meaning that seven out of 10 people engaged moved into homes, repaired key relationships etc. (i.e. they got off the bench and back out on the field). To the untrained eye, it might seem like the last thing the homeless guy at your bus stop needs is a pair of Sambas and the remainder of a 5-a-side team to play with, but HWC's big vision and practical methods yield results. Homelessness is an issue in every nation, from the richest in the West to the poorest in Africa, and the HWC has touched the lives of over 200,000 people since its inception. They don't just set goals -- they score them.

"Football is an international language that everybody can understand," explains Mel Young, President and cofounder. "Everybody can play it. We think that football is a perfect motivational tool to make homeless people get inspired and restart again: coming off drugs, alcohol; reuniting with their families, finding a job, getting back into education..."

The most recent iteration of the HWC took place in Paris in August and counted Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger among its most vocal supporters. Superstars Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand, and Emmanuel Petit are global ambassadors. The main tournament is held in a different country each year and 2012's will take place in October in Mexico City with 72 national teams competing, including a record 16 on the Women's side. It really is a world cup except the players are homeless rather than pulling up to the venue in paparazzi-flanked Ferraris.

In Kicking It, a documentary made at Cape Town '06, narrator Colin Farrell (yes, that Colin Farrell) captures the impetus behind the HWC well: "Is a roof over one's head, a place to call home, a sense of belonging and community a lot to ask? These basic human rights are a mere dream to over 1 billion homeless men and women of our planet. Too many of our own live on the fringes of acceptance, exist beyond the boundaries of societal respect, they are not without hope, often without help... Through the simple and beautiful game of football, the complex struggle to find meaning and purpose in life is being won..."


The main tournament is held in a different country each year and 2012's will take place in October in Mexico City with 72 national teams competing, including a record 16 on the Women's side.


By using soccer to energize the lives of homeless people worldwide, the HWC goes far beyond its flagship tournament with the ultimate goal of ending homelessness. Under their guidance, national partners help homeless people with needs ranging from legal help to employment, education and healthcare access. A Queen Margaret University researcher at the Paris 2011 tournament concluded that 97-percent of spectators agreed that the HWC "promoted good values" and 90-precent believed the event "broke down stereotypes about the homeless community." Ninety-two-percent of spectators agreed that the HWC "demonstrates how sport can make a difference."

http://www.homelessworldcup.org/



sOccket/Uncharted Play

The sOccket is a true game changer and the ultimate "lightbulb moment." Imagine a fully functional soccer ball that turns every shot, pass and header into stored electricity that can be used to power vital accessories like an LED lamp, a water purifier, a phone charger or a hot plate. (You might recharge with orange slices but they won't do much when it comes to lighting your home after dark...)

Here's the deal: In many regions of the world, access to electricity is patchy or nonexistent so people light their homes with kerosene lamps that spew noxious fumes. These fumes create the health equivalent of smoking 40 cigarettes a day and are no treat for the atmosphere, either. Given that one in five people on the globe lives without electricity, indoor air pollution of this nature kills 1.6 million humans a year. The sOccket provides an answer that is deceptively simple, green, portable, and -- best of all -- fun. A gyroscopic mechanism inside rotates as the ball rolls, creating electricity from every possible axis of motion. The claim, "Man, she has a powerful corner kick" has never been truer...

Uncharted Play, Inc., maker of the flagship sOccket, is a for-profit benefit corporation with a separate 501(c)3 non-profit foundation. The New York-based company's mission is to: "Encourage people around the world to rethink the purpose of play and keep joy at the forefront of their lives. Life is short. Play more."

"The universal love of soccer made it the obvious choice for a powered by play portable generator," says Melissa Seligmann, VP Business Development, 26. "The inventors were not soccer players, but understood the universal love of the sport and the potential power... Although skeptics (and engineers!) initially believed the ball would not capture a useful amount of power, the sOccket team knew that the ability to harness even a little bit of energy could make a huge difference in the lives of billions around the globe who love soccer and live without electricity."

The sOccket has received props from Bill Clinton's CGI, with the former President saying of cofounder Jessica Matthews, "It's quite extraordinary, really... If ever there was an innovator, she's it."

TED didn't pull any punches: "An idea with revolutionary potential."

The sOccket requires no inflation, is water resistant and has a lifespan of three years, whereas a normal ball might last six weeks in the kind of rough ground that passes for a "soccer field" in most of the world. Testing took place in three African nations and, early this year, 2500 of the newest generation sOcckets will make their way to Haiti, Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica. The group partners with reputable NGOs in developing areas for distribution and funds that distribution by two models: "Buy One, Give One" (B1G1, think TOMS Shoes) and corporate sponsorships.


The sOccket provides an answer that is deceptively simple, green, portable, and -- best of all -- fun. A gyroscopic mechanism inside rotates as the ball rolls, creating electricity from every possible axis of motion.


"Our ‘end users' are children in resource-poor communities as they are often most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of ‘energy poverty,'" explains Seligmann. "The initial response is pure joy – and that is before they even know there is anything different about the ball. Just to have a real, spherical, honest-to-God ball is a blessing in itself... With a little extra electricity, children can spend a bit more time on school work after dark without having to expose themselves to dangerous power alternatives. Additionally, the sOccket concept illustrates for kids that imagination has a place in our world today; we hope that the ball will inspire youth the world over to think creatively about how to address the challenges in their own communities through innovation."

(UP's other genius solutions in the R&D pipeline include fashion accessories that address malnutrition, energy-grabbing bouncy shoes and video games that deal with real-world social injustices.)

Besides lighting up major press outlets, including CNN, and a surge of awards, the still-newish sOccket is supported by world football's brightest stars: David Villa, Dani Alves, Kun Aguero, Thomas Müller, Julie Foudy et al. It even gets support from The Roots so the "cool factor" is proper. If you ever wondered just how feasible the notion of soccer saving the world could be, the sOccket is staring you right in the face, begging to be kicked. Fun can be functional!

http://www.soccket.com/


Soccer Without Borders

Soccer Without Borders is, in some ways, the quintessential footy charity. The group uses the power and language of the beautiful game to reach beyond the field of play and change lives, one at a time.

"While there are many positive sporting experiences, soccer is the most universally accessible," says Mary McVeigh, Executive Director, 30. "At its most basic level, it offers playing opportunities that are low-cost, physically beneficial, inclusive and enjoyable. Soccer also enjoys worldwide popularity, making it the perfect platform from which to develop physically, socially, and individually. [SWB] believes that the potential of soccer to make change is deeper than simply playing the game. Rather, our programs are built around the philosophy that soccer's interpersonal environment has unique potential to meaningfully impact participants..."

SWB concerns itself with giving under-served youth a kind of toolkit they might not otherwise have access to. Many kids who are traditionally excluded from team sports also miss out on the personal growth that comes from "digging deep," working with others, getting fit -- and even occasionally receiving the singular epiphany of a frozen ball in the face. The group works internationally and is headquartered in the US and current programs focus on refugees, immigrants, girls, and indigenous youth.

"SWB responds to the varying community needs and available human/physical resources by leaving space within our program structure to provide resources, programs, and services specific to the target population and local culture," explains McVeigh.

The group's programs have helped young people in North America, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Uganda and elsewhere -- with success stories aplenty. In '09, a Granada participant was named to U-20 Nicaraguan Women's National Team and a NYC refugee participant from Liberia went on to college. SWB Nicaragua recently won the Girl Effect Challenge, hosted by the Nike Foundation and Global Giving, becoming one of 12 featured Girl Effect programs for 2012.

"SWB programs are at least 50-percent soccer [with] the other portion made up of team-building, civic engagement, lessons/workshops, and culture exchange..." says McVeigh. "While playing the game recreationally has its benefits, SWB aims for age-appropriate instruction that builds skills on the field and off, and provides a sense of identity and community..."


The group works internationally and is headquartered in the US and current programs focus on refugees, immigrants, girls, and indigenous youth.


The group keeps coach/player ratios low, requires player contracts for attendance and behavior, and engages parents and local leaders as well. Whatever it takes, right?

http://www.soccerwithoutborders.org


So Now What?

Soccer's pace and inherent production values might not always compete well with the NFL or NBA on TV, and the sport's haters in north America are a loud -- if shrinking -- group, but the powerful platform offered by a sport with such a global appeal and low barrier to entry is undeniable. (As comedian Daniel Tosh famously pointed out: "It costs a ball.") We have no research to back this up yet, in recent history, we'd bet only beer and smiling have broken the ice on more international friendships than "the beautiful game." Soccer might not "save the world" anytime soon but, thanks to organizations like these, the game is helping to make it more livable for millions of people every day and giving injustice the red card.

The non-profits and social enterprises examined here are meant only as representative samples of all the good work being done in the world today using soccer as a platform. A cup of coffee and 10 minutes on Google will yield other excellent groups that mesh with your own philanthropic values, politics, geographic soft spots etc.


Further Reading:

Right to Play: Based in Toronto and operating worldwide, Right to Play is behind the famous "red ball" and is the leading org, "using the transformative power of sport and play to build essential skills in children and thereby drive social change in communities affected by war, poverty and disease."

Grassroot Soccer has a vision of a world mobilized through soccer to create an AIDS free generation. The group has already graduated half a million youth participants through its programs and their site has incredible results tracking and transparency.

Kick It Out is soccer's inclusion and equality campaign. If you follow the international game, this year has seen huge strides when it comes to on-field racism, and Kick It Out has played a big part.

Pelada is not an organization but a great documentary about the community-building power of the beautiful game. Two former college stars set off on a journey, chasing this notion: "From prisoners in Bolivia to moonshine brewers in Kenya, from freestylers in China to women who play in hijab in Iran, Pelada is the story of the people who play."