Goal Setting For Better Soccer Team Performance

Having goals can increase effort because the players have a means of measuring their performance and contribution against.

SMART goals have long lasting motivation benefits.

When you review performance against set goals and the player has shown an improvement, raise the bar a little higher. Each time the player will be motivated to achieve a new level of performance providing the incremental increase is still within grasp.

If you've not been overly exposed to SMART goal setting then let's run through what we mean by SMART goals and how we can use them with our players.

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Action based, Realistic & Time bound.

SPECIFIC

The more specific a goal is the easier it is to identify when and whether its been achieved. The goal should be a detailed description of what the required outcome is that both player and coach want to see happen.

MEASURABLE

Unless a goal is measurable, how can you establish whether there has been an improvement or not?

Goals should be measurable in terms of quality, quantity, shots, tackles, runs and saves. When players can see they have made progress towards achieving the goal the motivational benefits really kick in.

A baseline starting point should be established and the goal set from the baseline measurement. From this baseline, and having the target, players can measure how far they have come.

ACTION BASED

A player must know exactly what they've got to do. That means you will both have to agree a set of actions that will help the player achieve their goal.

For example, an action based element could read like this... "I will increase the accuracy of my crossing from corner kicks putting the ball into the box on no less than 8 out of 10 occasions."

REALISTIC

Goal have got to be within the reach of the soccer players.

That's not to say that you are going to set "soft targets". Targets that are so within reach that the players aren't motivated to stretch themselves because its too easy.

However, setting realistic goals is a tough balance, make them too easy and the players won't try, make them too hard and the players will give up quickly because they don't believe they can do what it takes.

TIMEBOUND

It is very important to set definitive time limits for each of the players goals. Remember too, that you should build in regular reviews with the players to assess their progress and revise the goals that they have.

Have a go....

Get yourself some paper and a pen and write down a high level goal that you want your team to achieve following the SMART goal setting principles.

Remember, keep them SMART!

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Kids Soccer Drills

Kids soccer drills require you to have a different approach than you use for the other elder players.

Getting All The Kids Dribbling And Shooting

In this drill practice, you have to line up the kids on a single goal line. You will need a large number of balls. Have all the balls scattered over the field. Now, as you say, ?GO?, the kids have to move towards these balls, pick up the same, and put it into the goal on the opposite side. This is quite effective drill that can help the kids improve their dribbling and shooting skills.

Teach To Pass The Ball And Follow Directions

In this drill game, you have to put the kids in a queue at one corner of the field. Count till three and as soon as you say, ?GO?, the kids have to run towards you. While they are running towards you, they all have to try to steal the ball from the one who is kicking it off. Now, as soon as you say, ?STOP?, the one who was kicking the ball off will pass to one of the teammates.

Shooting The Ball With One Touch

Kids will love this drill practice game. In this technique, the coach should divide the team in two lines, and have them stand in a queue at not less than forty feet from the goal post. Place the goalkeeper on the goalpost.

If your team has more than one goalkeeper, you should use one goalkeeper in each session. When you repeat the practice, you should change the goalkeeper, giving the other goalkeeper an opportunity to practice the same. Your position will be somewhere between the two queues of the players.

Toss the ball to one of the queues of the players and instruct them to shoot or pass the ball with just one touch. When any player shoots the ball off to the goalkeeper, the goalkeeper will pass the ball back to you.

Teaching How To Get The Ball Forward Passing All The Defenders

It is important in the game of soccer to keep the control of the ball and get it forward, passing all the opponents. This drill practice requires two players ? one defender and one who gets the ball forward, passing the defender. Allow some point system. For example, if the defender gets the ball, he will earn one point.

Overall, these kids soccer drills can certainly help you make a team that will win you matches.

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of kids soccer drills. His web site, Youth Soccer Drills, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

World Cup Soccer

Who will be ready and poised to win the world cup of soccer this year? Many bets are already being placed. Is it that you have a favorite team or maybe a favorite player that will make you sure that's what is needed.

The world cup is a very much watched sport especially in Europe. It will and can unite the world. The spectators take to the street to celebrate with dancing, partying and drinking. They will rejoice the victory of their favorite team and players.

What makes the World Cup particularly extraordinary is the national pride that it inspires. World Cup history was not only about the winner or winning the title, but about the stories. Stories of players, teams and nations that surprised the world by achieving the unexpected. Each year new and better players are there before our eyes to see the great plays that have brought them to the game they and so many of us have come to enjoy so much. There will be a lot of celebrating and some regrets.

We will all look forward to seeing the favorites we have gotten to know so well over the years. The thrill of winning with many individual feats demostrated for all of us to witness. The way our favorite team will once again come together to play so well we often wonder on that first game seeing this how they ever could loose. Will the European contenders such as Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, England, Germany, Spain, and France have the best team to overcome the South American power forces from Brazil and Argentina, or will the world be dancing to the samba beat again this year?

Armed with impossible hope, win or lose, they are there to defend their national pride, and valiantly defend it they will, sometimes to the very chagrin and amazement of disbelieving onlookers.

As football fans across all continents count down to the opening day of 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, BetUS Sportsbook has launched its 2006 World Cup betting portal for soccer betting enthusiasts around the world. What a day it shall be, June 9th 2006! What a month it shall be, until the truth will set us all free on July 9th 2006!

For more information, please visit http://www.worldcupsoccer4you.com

Barbara Farrar is an avid socceer fan. She played in high school and college.