Alternative Soccer Viewing

Most people associate watching football in the 21st century with going to a soccer stadium, listening to the commentary on the radio or watching the match live on TV, but people rarely mention other alternative viewing. Is this because it is seen as uncool and not classed as following a soccer match properly?

Since the introduction of Ceefax in the 1970s and other technological improvements in the 1990s (like sky/cable television and the internet), there have been other alternative ways to keep track on how a team is getting on which has a kind of ?cult? feeling to it.

The oldest alternative viewing to the traditional avenues is Ceefax (phonetic for ?See Facts?), which was introduced by the BBC in 1974 (who at he time were working on ways of providing television subtitles for the deaf). Their system was the first teletext system in the world. It was a basic information system with the absence of sound, pictures, or anybody giving your basic information.

It was basically simple pages of blue-and-white text that you could access via your television remote. But what does this have to do with football? Well the Ceefax service holds information on a wide range of topics, such as News, Sport, Weather, TV Listings and Business and these pages are kept up to date (usually being the first to report a breaking story or headline).

Most people in the British Isles that you speak to have in the past used Ceefax on a match day (especially before the development of the internet). Everybody looks at football scores on Ceefax as it is the original internet. People will leave Ceefax on in their living rooms on a Saturday afternoon to keep track of how their team is doing and will wait anxiously for the blue-and-white text on the screen to refresh hoping that their team holds on in the dying minutes or scores that dramatic last minute equaliser. Some people are anxious whilst starring at the blue-and-white text and I have know people to spend a large part of the match sat in front of their TV waiting for the black rectangles to change in favour of their team.

Some people would argue that it is sad to sit in front of your TV waiting for the screen to refresh, but it is surprisingly engrossing. If all you are interested in is the score, then it is the ideal medium. Think about it this way, you have no annoying adverts, no annoying analysis from inapt soccer commentators and just the scores which you are interested in. With the plans to replace all analogue TV signals with digital in the British Isles for 2008, sadly this alternative viewing is going to disappear.

A similar version to Ceefax has developed on the internet over the past decade due to technological improvements. There are many versions of the TV Ceefax system on the internet in one form or another and usually comes under the form of ?Live Scores?. If you do a simple search on the internet for soccer Live Scores you will be amazed at how many sites are returned in the results. In essence it is just a modern day version of Ceefax.

Instead of sitting in front of your TV watching Ceefax refresh you are sat in front of your computer watching an internet site refresh. There is no real difference in the service which is provided, just the fact that it is coming from a different medium. Like with the Ceefax service, if you ask most soccer fans in the British Isles who use the internet, they will be able to name a site they use to keep track of their team on match day. If you were to pick out differences between the two it would be the fact that websites take advantage over the number of people accessing the site by placing advertisements alongside the scores.

During the 1990s, Sky Sports was launched in the British Isles and their introduction was to have a massive impact on soccer. Sky revolutionised soccer with their live matches, showing live games on Friday?s, Sunday?s and Monday?s. Sky also introduced a live manned version of Ceefax called Sky Sports Saturday. Their service is just an advanced version of Ceefax on a match day, with an anchorman and various ex professional soccer players talking about the action as it happens.

All that Sky have done is taken hold of Ceefax and expanded on it. They use ex professional soccer players to provide key moments from one of the matches they are watching and they then report back to the anchorman, telling him that player X has just won a free-kick but it?s still 0-0 at Old Trafford. Admittedly it is more interesting then sat watching blue-and-white text refresh as it tells you more, but at the end of the day it is still a basic score service. I would say their service (which is similar to the one that the BBC run) is an overly-manned version of Ceefax with a human face.

The last alternative version to watching soccer is live commentaries which various websites provide. Again this is just another basic version of Live Scores and Ceefax. You will visit a website and have the option to watch live commentary on a match of your choice. It will give you details of the match action as it happens like ?attacking throw-in Chelsea Cole right channel?, but like the other services the score will remain the same.

Soccer fans will class watching Ceefax, Live Scores and Live Commentary as not properly following a soccer match, but to some people this alternative viewing adds more entertainment to the match day. Instead of watching a dire 0-0 match being played out on TV, it is sometimes more entertaining listening to the moans and groans of an ex professional on Sky Sports Saturday as he describes players missing chance after chance. Also alternative viewing gives fans of lower leagues clubs a chance to see how their team is getting on as they are not given the same TV/radio coverage as the more illustrious clubs. Alternative viewing might be seen as uncool by certain fans, but to many it is still cult viewing.

Steven Gore is the editor of SoccerManager.com, the free online soccer game

Soccer Fitness Programs

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is a game that requires great strength and endurance. The game, which goes on for 90 minutes, requires incredible amounts of stamina because of the constant running and jogging involved.

Due to these strenuous activities, soccer players need to constantly maintain a proper fitness regime. Professional soccer players should not be bulky in order to be active and agile on the field. Therefore strength, endurance and aerobic exercises play an important role in soccer training. There are different fitness programs that are specifically designed for soccer players. These programs concentrate on increasing speed, agility, and stamina of the players. They also help in increasing the overall strength and skill of the players.

Soccer demands high levels of physical activity. A professional fitness program can tap the full potential of a player. These programs ensure high standards of performance even with limited practice. Repetitive exercise is very important for endurance training. These programs also have tests after each training session. They periodically test endurance, strength and agility of the participants. The results are then compiled and if necessary, plans are changed to suit new requirements. Stretching exercises increase flexibility that is otherwise an undervalued aspect. All these activities together compile the perfect soccer fitness program.

There are various programs available for soccer players in many of the fitness centers. However, soccer fitness programs are highly specialized and require professional athletes to coach participants. Former soccer players who have played at national and international levels usually conduct such coaching sessions.

Soccer fitness programs are extremely beneficial for players who want to perform at the highest level. Joining these fitness programs gives the players an advantage by increasing their stamina, agility, speed and skills. All these aspects are necessary for those who desire to be the future soccer stars of the world.

Fitness Programs provides detailed information on Fitness Programs, Fitness Training Programs, Golf Fitness Programs, Kid Fitness Programs and more. Fitness Programs is affiliated with Gym Equipment.

A Soccer Dvd Can Help Take Your Game To New Heights

Soccer is the world's most popular game, and consequently there is no shortage of books, videos, and DVD's that focus on the game. Like fans of most any sports, soccer lovers are likely to want to focus on their game even when they are far away from the field of competition. However, unlike sports like football, basketball, baseball, golf, and many others, there is a shortage of television programming that is dedicated to soccer.

That void is especially noticeable when it comes to television programming that is dedicated toward instruction or fundamentals of the game. However, soccer fans can fill that void by purchasing a soccer DVD to help them pass the time, and elevate their game, during their time at home.

Whether you are an aspiring player, coach, or fan of soccer, there is a soccer DVD that is sure to deliver the information you need in an entertaining format. Any soccer lover is sure to enjoy the action oriented DVD titles that are currently available. From titles like The 2006 FIFA World Cup Film ? narrated by Pierce Brosnan ? to Champions of Europe, a highlight film covering fifty years of European Cup action; watching soccer played at the highest levels is sure to raise anyone?s appreciation of the game, and it can even help them develop their game by watching the finest players at their finest moments.

And if retrospective video is what you really enjoy, then no soccer DVD collection is complete without the two disk Special Edition of FIFA Fever. FIFA Fever takes you through 100 years of the greatest action and players in soccer history. From Beckham to Pele, Ronaldo to Zidane; you will find all the greatest players and moments on this special set.

While watching a soccer DVD such as FIFA Fever or Champions of Europe is sure to entertain any soccer fan ? and you might learn a thing or two as well ? if improving your skills or expanding your understanding of the fundamentals is what you seek then there are hundreds of DVD titles that are sure to help you on your way to that goal. A soccer DVD can bring the best coaches and players into your living room where they can pass all their valuable information on to you in a format that allows you to watch it again and again. From tips on coaching premier players from a former elite coach in Europe ? such as David Williams in the Coaching the English Premier League series ? to tips on coaching young children who are just learning the game, the soccer DVD is the perfect medium for passing along this timeless information.

More advanced players and their coaches are sure to make use of DVD titles that address game situations that better players will encounter, and with proper practice and coaching, exploit. The Tactics and Drills series takes players and coaches through exercises in passing and possession, attacking and goalscoring, and zonal defending, and that series is hardly alone in the marketplace. No matter what your skill level or relationship to the game, there is a soccer DVD that will help you raise your understanding, expertise, and skill.

Get all the latest in Soccer know how from the one and only true source at http://www.SoccerDetails.com. Be sure to check our soccer DVD page.

Soccer Betting Odds

Nowadays, the most two popular sports are boxing and soccer, but if we think of sport betting, the first that come to our mind must be soccer. Soccer is a very popular sport in most country, especially in United Kingdom. Most people have their favorite teams, they always watch and cheer their teams on TV, but match result and the exciting of the whole match play does not make them fun enough. Then they try to make it more by betting.

Soccer betting is one of the few forms of gambling that involves more knowledge and skill than luck. To be successful in soccer betting, you must be knowledgeable of soccer and should create your own soccer betting odds. The most important thing to consider when betting on soccer is consistency and attention to detail. For examples, what?s the position they are, how many times they lose or win to the rival clubs, what?s score they lose or win. When you plot soccer betting odds and pay attention to the soccer world, you will find yourself winning more than lose. The more you strategically bet on soccer, the more opportunity you win the cash.

However, if you are not a fan of soccer and do not know the teams very well, or you are an amateur for soccer betting, online soccer betting website has the soccer betting odds posted by maker odds. This could help you to bet on soccer as a professional. Whether you have been following soccer for a long time or just starting to look into this exciting sport, there are many sources of soccer betting odds you can access right on the Internet. You can find the betting system that is simple but efficient in our website.

The best aspect of soccer betting is that luck has a little to do with winning. By diligently tracking soccer betting odds, you can often turn a profitable second income during soccer season. Though the soccer betting can give you a profit quickly, you should realize that if things come quick, they also go quick. Do not be too greedy; be disciplined if you want to last long in this industry.

If you want the reliable system to achieve your soccer betting goal, visit http://www.soccerspecials.co.uk

Teaching Youth Soccer - Fouls And Penalties

When it comes to teaching youth soccer, it is very important for the coach to teach the players about various fouls and the consequent penalties so that they could avoid the same and save their team from getting into problems.

Yellow Card And Red Card

Younger players can easily avoid most of the penalties if they keep their hands away from ball. In soccer, it is not the hand, but the feet that the players have to use. However, you must teach the young players that it is not just touching the ball from hand that can result in penalty, but pushing, tripping or holding the other players will certainly bring penalties.

There are some malicious players in almost every soccer team and when it is about young players, it is very difficult to have a malicious free team. Such players intentionally foul on their opponent players, but the coach must teach them that if they do so, they will get a warning in the form of a ?yellow card?.

If the player repeats the same behavior again, he is ?rewarded? with a red card and is taken out from the field and from the game. A player with red card is not replaced, but the soccer game continues.

Handball

Handball is the term that is used when a player tries to touch the ball with hands in order to get better control of the ball. It does not really matter whether the players do this intentionally or unintentionally ? handball will certainly result in penalty.

The Offside Player

When a player dribble the ball, and dribbling he gets nearer to the goal line of the opponent team than one defensive player and the goalkeeper, the player is offside. The coach must train the players of their team regarding all these little things that may result in penalties.

However, the offside rule is not applicable when it comes to goal kicks, throw-in's or corner kicks. The main objective of the offside rule is just to stop an offensive player from ?camping-out? at the goal awaiting passes.

Other Fouls

There can be various other fouls as well, such as pushing, kicking, striking, holding and charging into an opponent. However, these things may turn into penalties only if the players do the same intentionally. If it was not intentionally, there will be no penalties.

Teaching youth soccer is a challenging job, and the coach needs to train his players from all aspects. Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of teaching youth soccer. His web site, Youth Soccer Drills, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

Nigerian Soccer Coach Vogts explains interest in German-born duo

Super Eagles Coach, Berti Vogts, has explained why he is interested in having Germany-based Chinedu Ede and Dennis Aogo play for the team.

Ede, who currently plays as a striker with German club Hertha Berlin, has already featured for Germany?s Under-19, 20 and 21 sides.

The German coach is also looking in the direction of SC Freiburg midfielder Dennis Aogo, another member of the German under-21 side who could switch allegiance to Nigeria under new FIFA rules.

FIFA?s rules on international eligibility allow a footballer capped at junior level to represent another country as long as he possesses dual nationality and makes the request to change nationality while under the age of 21.

Vogts is hoping to persuade the duo to play in Nigeria?s subsequent 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

?They are both bright prospects that will bring so much to the Nigerian team,? Vogts told BBC Sport.

?They qualify to play for Nigeria because of their fathers and I have been monitoring their performances.

?Even though they?ve played for the German youth sides, I am hoping that with the new FIFA rule we can have them play for the Nigeria national team,? Vogts said.

Berlin-born Ede has a German mother but his father hails from Enugu State.

Karlsruhe-born Aogo has been with Freiburg since August 2002 and has a German mother while his father hails from Ondo State.

The 20-year-old Aogo had apparently been keen on playing for Nigeria in the past but accepted a German under-21 call-up when he felt he had been overlooked by handlers of the Flying Eagles.

?It will be a dream come true to play for Nigeria someday, I think my father would really be proud of me.

?I have a Nigerian team mate (Seyi Olajengbesi) and I know a lot about the country from him, my father and from my last visit there in 2005.

?I?ve read about Vogt?s interests in me and it will be a great achievement to play for Nigeria,? Aogo explained.

Emmanuel Ayomide Praise is a world leading internet entreprenuer and investor. Some of his areas of interest include sport management,merchandise,ownership,internet entreprenuership,investments, media and writing amongst others. Business URL: http://www.emmapraise.blogspot.com

US Women Soccer Superstars - Victims of Their Own Success

With the imminent retirement of long-time veterans Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Joy Fawcett from the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, I often find myself thinking how fortunate my family has been to witness their heroics on the field and their positive influence off of it.

But the last game we saw in person stands out as a very different experience from the first game we saw nearly nine years ago.

Last summer, I attended a soccer match between Brazil and the United States Womens National Team in New Orleans with my teenage daughter, Leah. It was a great game with plenty of action on a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and the U.S. Team won on a Tiffeny Milbrett goal in the 90th minute.

For Leah and I, it was a bittersweet experience.

It was a wonderful dad and daughter 42-hour trip from our home in St. Petersburg, Florida to New Orleans and back again. We talked, we laughed, and we listened to each others music for each of the 20 hours and 1393 miles in the car. During our short stay, we visited Bourbon Street at night and the Cafe du Monde for breakfast.

But our journey's focus was to see our soccer heroes in action again. Thats right, I said OUR heroes. Ever since that rainy night in February of 1996 when we first saw our National Team play in Tampa, these outstanding women became my heroes every bit as much as my daughters heroes.

I remember being awestruck as I watched them for the first time their skills, their strength, and their obvious passion for the game. But it was after the game, that I was won over as a dedicated fan.

Earlier that day, Nicole, my younger daughter, asked me if she should bring her Official U.S. Womens National Team Calendar for autographs. My response - This is our National Team with the best players in the world. I really doubt you will get any autographs," I said. "With the rainy weather, you dont want to ruin your calendar, but bring your autograph book, just in case.

When the game ended, I couldn't believe my eyes. Every single player came over to the bleachers where about 1,900 spectators anxiously waited. Not only were they willing to sign autographs, but EACH OF THE PLAYERS HAD THEIR OWN PENS! They talked with the fans, posed for pictures, and most importantly, they really seemed to enjoy doing it. We were immediately hooked.

Since then, we've been extremely fortunate to witness some of their most important games: the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal match in Atlanta, the historic 1999 Womens World Cup Championship game in Los Angeles, and even Mia Hamms record-breaking moment for career goals in Orlando in 1999.

Weve had several encounters with the players, including clinics, autograph sessions, and we even attended a few training sessions in Orlando. Five years ago, while Leah worked as a junior reporter for the St. Petersburg Times, she wrote five features for the weekly X-Press Page for kids.

Along the way, Leah interviewed nearly every team member and even Head Coach Tony DiCicco. Afterwards, at the age of twelve, she wrote a book, Soccer Dreams, to share her adventure, promote the positive values she learned from the team, and to encourage readers to DREAM BIG! It was published last year and has earned very positive customer reviews at Amazon.com.

So our commitment to the Womens National Team runs deep. As a family, soccer has been a unifying force ever since Leah and Nicole played on the same U-8 team, which I coached. This great sport has provided us with countless memories, as participants and as spectators.

So why, you might wonder, was it bittersweet in New Orleans, to see our team again after more than four years of nothing but televised games? Most of the players were the same, and they all had the same intensity on the field weve come to expect.

But this time, the team had already broken through. Ever since the 1999 Womens World Cup, huge crowds cheer them on wherever they play. In New Orleans that day, they played in front of 15,000 spectators, with a live national television audience and a horde of media members reporting their every move.

They were enjoying all the fruits of their many years of labor. Their dreams of just a few years ago, playing in front of huge crowds, of being recognized, had been realized - repeatedly.

In the beginning, we wanted nothing more than for these players to be given their due, for them to enjoy their success. Now they are living like the superstars they have always been, with fans hanging out in their hotel lobby and screaming for autographs wherever they go. Easy access is probably gone forever. Recognizing and understanding that was an eye-opener.

Imagine being a Bruce Springsteen fan in the early Stone Pony days, before he rocketed to worldwide fame and glory. Perhaps you had a chance to talk to him, maybe even hang out with him. While you knew he was something special and you wanted him to reach the rarefied air of superstardom, once he did, your little secret was out. No more casual chats. No more hanging out. Now youre lucky to get an overpriced ticket in the nosebleed seats from a scalper.

But of course, like Bruce, try as they might, our National Team can no longer satisfy everyone. They still carry their own pens for autographs after the games, but now there are increased post-game media demands.

While goalkeeper Briana Scurry did the post-game ESPN interview that day in New Orleans, forwards Cindy Parlow and Mia Hamm were the first to be interviewed by the local media, followed by forward Tiffeny Milbrett, defender Brandi Chastain, and Head Coach April Heinrichs. The rest of the players signed autographs, but with 15,000 fans, it was simply impossible to accommodate every fan.

Leah didnt try to acquire autographs that day. She already has plenty, and on that day, we also had field photo credentials. Not only is autograph-collecting taboo for "objective" journalists, but our memories of the game will be in the photos we captured.

After the game, as the players boarded the bus, I saw one woman approach a team official. She was ranting and raving that she had driven five hours to bring her daughter to the game and that her daughter didnt get any autographs from the players. The team official explained that the players signed autographs for a half hour INSIDE the stadium, which was true.

Apparently, this woman and her daughter had been positioned in the wrong place and were headed home empty-handed. As she stormed off, she yelled, BOOO Womens National Team!! Ill never come to another game! BOOO!

I am certain other fans left empty-handed as well or disappointed with just one or two autographs. I am also certain this womans experience will be repeated during the current 10-game Fan's Celebration Tour and at future games as well.

Our National Team players are victims of their own success. After working so hard, for so long, to develop their fan support, it is simply impossible for them to continue to be so accessible and provide autographs to every fan who wants one.

So if you are lucky enough to see our National Team play this year or in any other games in the future, go to enjoy the skill, the intensity and the passion these gifted athletes put into their effort. If you are really lucky, and do get an autograph or two, even better.

But you shouldnt be disappointed if you dont get any autographs. And you should forewarn your kids that it might not be possible this time around, which will lessen their disappointment.

Finally, as youre driving home, take advantage of the opportunity to focus with your kids on the positive values (hard work, commitment, perseverance) these incredible athletes exemplify. Those are lessons we should want all our children to learn.

Chris Lauber is the photographer, editor, and publisher of Soccer Dreams, written by his daughter, Leah, to describe her true adventure following the U.S. Womens National Soccer Team, as a fan and 12-year-old Junior Reporter during the historic 1999 Womens World Cup. It is receiving excellent customer reviews at Amazon.com. Purchase Soccer Dreams at Amazon on November 8th and receive numerous bonuses. To receive an update, send us an e-mail to WWCSoccerDreams@aol.com.

http://www.SoccerDreamsBook.com