The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
I was in Saskatoon the weekend of April 7-9 taking a coaching course with the Saskatchewan Soccer Association. The course was held in the new indoor facility on Attridge Drive. If you're in the city you have to check it out. I've had the pleasure of seeing some fantastic facilities in Canada and Europe, but this one beats them all. The indoor playing surface is 'fieldturf', the latest generation of artificial grass. Players wear outdoor cleats, so the play is exactly the same as if outdoors. The outdoor field is also 'fieldturf' complete with floodlights allowing play to continue into the evening. The indoor surface can play either four junior or two senior games at once, and the outdoor field can play two full size games simultaneously. I had the good fortune to be coached by U of S Huskies coach, Bryce Chapman, plus Percy Hoff technical director with the SSA. Their technical knowledge was outstanding, hopefully the lessons I learned can be applied here. Final registration for soccer is over, and soon teams will be formed. The hard work now will be to get the fields in top condition. If you have put your name down to help, we will be contacting you. Don't forget the youth coaching clinic being held in Flin Flon on May 6-7. The only way to improve coaching skills is to learn from senior coaches. The better the skills of the coach, the better skills of the team. Women The Canadian women's team will play Italy in a friendly match in Toronto on June 25, 2006. Former Norwegian national coach, Even Pellerud says the Italian team is the team he has wanted to play. Italy has been consistently high in the international rankings, and for Canada to play them on home turf is a great opportunity to judge their progress towards the next World Cup. If your summer vacation takes you to Etobicoke in June, this is one game you do not want to miss. Also from the women's national team, Kaylin Kyle from Saskatoon, Erin McNulty and Desiree Scott from Winnipeg have been selected to play in the upcoming U18 games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. If you're in the Humboldt region this summer, check out the Humboldt Hurricanes soccer games. Their outdoor season starts on May 1, with games from U6 to U18. In Saskatoon, the ninth annual Grevers Eastside Soccer tournament takes place in Saskatoon on June 23-25. Entry deadline is May 24. Contact [email protected] for more info. Check out www.womensoccer.com for all the latest news in women's soccer. Great site with links to the worlds best women's soccer leagues. Europe As I write this column, both Chelsea and Manchester United won their respective games this weekend in the English Premier league. Only seven points separate them with five games left and 15 points to fight for, including a six pointer when they face each other at old Trafford on April 29. Can my mighty reds do it again? Kirkham's coaching tip of the week Ð drive passes. Last week we talked about short passing. Drive passing is the long pass along the ground that players such as Steve Gerrard Captain of Liverpool and England are famous for. The pass is fast, low and accurate and is used to open up the play. To make this pass work, you have to use the part of the foot that soccer players call the laces, the top of the foot. The approach to the ball is fundamentally the same as a short pass-approach the ball at a slight angle so that you have room to follow through. Place your non-kicking foot close to the ball, and keep your eyes on the ball, using your arms for balance. To keep the ball low, you must keep your knee over the ball, never lean back. If you lean back, the ball will lift and lose power. Strike the ball with the laces of your kicking foot and remember to keep your heel up-follow through for maximum power. This pass opens up the attack. Next week Ð heading basics. Major League Soccer In the MLS both Kansas City and Dallas have taken early leads in the standings. The game of the week this weekend should be Kansas City versus New England. Watch New England take this game in a thriller. David Beckham announced that he wants to end his playing career in the MLS. With his current contract expiring at Real Madrid in June of 2007, will he be playing on this side of the Atlantic next year? He owns a soccer academy in Los Angeles, so expect him to be wearing a Galaxy jersey soon. Until next week Ð keep on kicking!
