Atlanta Footballnet February 2011

February 2011 Volume 2 Number 6 FREE

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The Lancaster Academy The Lancaster Academy is the brain-child of Martyn and Mysti Lancaster to help improve the performance of the serious sports player. The Academy gives specialized instruction in Soccer and Tennis with emphases on instruction from the best European and American coaching professionals in the sports field.

The Academy is geared for a player in any sport to excel at the highest level. Proven training methods from Europe, where the passion of the game at it's highest level will show on the field for teams and individuals that take advantage of this specialized instruction. Look for more announcements about the Academy as the summer approaches. Atlanta Footballnet will be working closely with the Academy as the summer approaches and the Academy doors open for player training.

www.TheLancasterAcademy.com

February 2011

The Gumshoe and The Dame (1920's Revisited)

As a private eye I’ve grown accustom to sizing up my clients and putting them into one of two categories; good or bad. And in my line of work you learn how to swallow down the bad with whatever good you can find. If no good can be found I settle for whatever is in my flask. If it’s empty that was a sure sign that no good was coming my way.

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However, this day was different. My flask was full of Jack and I don’t even remember the last time I filled it. This beautiful dame walked up to me and told me the she needed my help to prove her innocence. As she unfolded her story to me my mind immediately classified her as a bad client and a bad idea. But the deeper I looked into her face the more my heart believed in the purity coming from her eyes. My heart would not let me type cast her with some of the prior garbage characters I had dealt with.

And so I took her on as a client without any reservations which was my first mistake…

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With more than half of the season now in the record book, what has been the result so far? The race at the top and the bottom of the D1 table is heating up as we get to the back end of the season.

Notable, Majestic remain in pole position as they defend their league title from a year ago. But right there with Majestic are perennial powers B&H International, Melchester Wings and AC Silverbacks. In with a shout is Inkhead.com who are featured in a story in this issue. In all 3 divisions, D1 is arguably the most unpredictable as very little separates the clubs at the top of the table.

Parellel at the foot of the table, Dasani is making the relegation race a bit more interesting as they push for more positive points as they spar with Real Pish to climb out of the relegation zone.

All very interesting stuff as this compelling competition moves toward an interesting point of the season. We'll be here to report on it all for Atlanta Footballnet.

Drefooty Corner

PAGE 3 GIRL: ESTHER There is something new and different about our page 3 girl this month. Each issue from here on, the monthly lovely will be immersed in a story fantasy to further explore what it truly means to be an Atlanta Footballnet beauty. Enjoy!!!

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Images Frozen In Time January 2011 Matches

Images Frozen In Time for January 2011

Images Frozen In Time for January 2011

Images Frozen In Time for January 2011

Images Frozen In Time for January 2011

Wings Will Soar!

Ramiro Canovas

The Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League has provided the city with compelling sporting competition for many years. Ramiro Canovas is one of its leading stars and is a major factor in why the league displays such quality. A flair player for the division one team, Melchester Wings and has been a major factor in the team's success the last few years. Ramiro invited us into his home to discuss his involvement in the league and his outlook for the future of soccer in the city.

AF: Ramiro, I want to thank you for allowing us into your home to ask you a few questions about your career.

RC: No problem at all. I appreciate the work you do to promote the league and I want to help in any way possible.

AF: First of all, we'd like to get a bit of background on you. Where are you from originally?

RC: I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I grew up there

for 18 years and actually came over to the US on a soccer scholarship for Mercer University.

AF: OK, but as you were growing up in Buenos Aires, how were you first introduced to soccer?

RC: Soccer is apart of the culture in Argentina and I was exposed to it at a very young age. I believe I was about 5 or 6 when I began to play regularly. And actually, the high school I later attended has a very good soccer program there and that led to a scholarship to Mercer University some years later.

time of your life, all the brothers are involved in soccer, but for you, what were your thoughts about soccer as you went into school?

Did you have an idea of a career in the sport?

RC: Oh, I did want to play professional and anyone who is growing up there would say the same thing. I have always love the sport and as a kid growing up, it was a dream to play at the highest level.

AF: Were your other family members also involved with the sport?

RC: My father played professional Rugby and it was a very big influence on the family as well.

There was encouragement from family for the boys in the family to pursue rugby. My older brother in fact did play rugby for awhile, but switched to soccer later and my other brother and I followed his lead into soccer.

AF: Are your brothers in Argentina?

RC: Yes, they both live there and have families there too. Both are really good at the game and my oldest brother played professionally and had many offers to continue playing on professionally. But where I come from you have to make a choice to either pursue soccer or pursue your career. It's very difficult to do both successfully. My brother chose to pursue his career though he still plays amateur to this day. He just felt it was a better decision for himself and his family.

AF: That's interesting. So at this

Opportunities did come up for me when I 15 and 16 for trails with professional teams but I was injured a week before the official trails and lost the chance to make an impression at a very critical time. I had terrible luck with this because it always seems things would go wrong as I tried to get with professional clubs in Argentina. It just never worked out to well.

AF: I know that is an occupational hazard related to football. Injuries and timing can work for or against you.

RC: Although I really wanted to play professionally in Argentina, it was not working out to well and I

began to think that it would be better to move to the United States to pursue my academic degree whild playing for the school.

AF: Before I get into your trek to the US, I wanted to ask you about your influences at this time you were in Argentina. Who were your heros in the sport.

RC: I was a fan of River Plate which is one of the biggest clubs in Argentina.

AF: What about individual players. who were your playing heros?

RC: Well, this might sound a bit different, but when I follow a player, I'm influenced by more than what he does on the field. I really am impressed by the players off the field as well. For example, I do have a respect for Cristiano Ronaldo, but he is too cocky on and off the pitch and it's a bit of a turn off. So if you ask who was a hero to me, I have to name a Uroguayan player who played for River Plate named, Ezno Francescoli. Maybe he is not widely know, but regionally, he was very well known.

Today, Enzo is one of the owners of Gol TV. But he was a player that prosonified what it means to be a roll model in football. In fact, he was nick-named "The Prince" because he was such a gentleman on and off the field.

As for leagues, I initially followed the Italian and Spanish leagues. It was partly influenced by the number af Argentinian players going there.

It's funny that back then, I did not like the English league becuase I thought of it as very boring.

However, once I did come over to the US, I got a chance to see more English games on satellite and saw that the English leagues were actually right up there as one of the best leagues in the world.

AF: OK, now this brings me to another question. I was wondering how the transition to the US happend for you. How did that transtion take place?

RC: Well, at that time, my mom was a gym teacher for one of the schools there. The company she worked for had the task of taking athletes from Argentina and placing them in schools in the US. My mom came to

me and asked if I would want to go to the USA though she didn't think I would say yes. But I shocked her when I said that I would like the opportunity and the whole process to transition to the US began from there. The help was really useful as I was offered multiple opportunities with a host of schools.

It was truely a new beginning for me.

But all things were strange from the food right down to the football. I had never experienced anything like it. It took some adjustments for me to settle.

AF: So, out of the options that were presented to you what did you choose?

RC: My brother came over with me for a couple of weeks to help me settle before going back, but I was the only one to make the move to the US.

RC: Well a huge factor in the decision was my skill in football.

This factored in my choice for school. Mercer University was the school I chose for the combination of academics and soccer.

AF: When you came to the States, was there a cultural shock in the States.

RC: It was a very big cultural shock. I had only been to the US previously on vacation, but you don't really get a good idea from the country from such a visit. I had no idea what it was like to be in the USA or what the school system was like so yes, you might say it was a big shock to finally get to school here in the US.

AF: So are you the only one from your family who is in the States?

AF: So you mentioned that the football was different. How so?

RC: Back in my country, the skill of the player was emphasized and you had space in possession to create. In the US, you did not have the time on the ball and the play was much rougher. If you dwelled in possession, you were liable to get injured. It was a new football world for me to get use to, but adjust I did.

AF: How was your career at Mercer University.

RC: I believe we had the best team in the conference. The time that I

was at Mercer, we won the conference championship 3 of the 4 years there. We went to the Nationals' twice and it was a quality squad. We had a very international squad, with guys from England, Sweden, Italians, Brazilians, etc.

AF: How did you fare personally.

RC: I did very well for the most part. I believe I played an important part in the success, but I was disappointed in my senior year because I was injured early in preseason. It wasn't an injury bad enough to keep me from playing,but it did hamper my play during the season and looking back, it was relatively a disappointing time for me personally.

AF: What about after college? Did you want to go on to play professionally or did you have other plans?

RC: I did want to play professionally after college but at the same time, it was a difficult time for graduates to find jobs due to the economy so that was weighing heavily on my mind.

One of the factors in my decision was a tryout I had with the Silverbacks back before the Jason Smith era but it was a huge disappointment.

AF: How so?

RC: Well, it was a tryout that a coach from Georgia State had helped to arrange. I had played for him in a Georgia Select team. But at the Silerbacks try-out, there were more than 100 players there and honestly you hardly got a look. It turned out to be a waste of time. I was very disappointed and decided that this was not a good option for me.

AF: Was this the time you started playing for Melchester Wings?

RC: Well, I was already playing for them and while it wasn't professional, it was of a high quality and I had the freedom to play as I wanted.

I also had obtained a very good job for my working career and when I weighted the options, I felt the best thing for me was to continue my career post-college and play in the ADASL. It was the best decision for me personally and has really contributed to a good quality of life.

AF: So no regrets going forward at that point with your decision?

RC: No regrets at all, and it's kind of funny that after the coach saw me play for Wings, an offer was then made to me to come and play with the Silverbacks.

AF: Really? Now that I did not know. So what did you do with the offer?

freedom and competition that fulfills my love of the game.

RC: It was an oppourtunity but at the time of the offer, I was doing well with my career and it was not worth it to interrupt my career to take a chance on playing for the Silverbacks. The offer was not very good financially and thinking about the bigger picture, it just wasn't the time to go in that direction.

AF: I'm hearing that more and more from the top players in the ADASL. Love of the game is a total motivator for why they play on this level and this is why I personally gravitate to the league.

But if you ever had an offer again to play professionally, would you consider it if the situation were right for you?

Don't get me wrong. I never played soccer for the goal of money or to be rich and famous. I play for the love of the game. That is why I can be satisfied playing the game with Wings in the amateur leagues. It's a good level of soccer and as I said before, it really give me the

RC: I would never say "never". If the situation was right, I would certainly consider it. But for now, I like the situation I'm in. I have a great job and I play on a great team in the ADASL. Many of the players I play with on the team are my good friends. Some are ones I brought

from Mercer from my college days.

This means more to me than just the label of playing professionally. But I take things one step at a time and what Wings have given me is a great life in football. The make-up and close-knit nature of the team is a factor in the success of Wings over the years.

AF: Well Rama, I want to thank you for opening up your home to discuss your life and football. It's stories like yours that puts a real face on the game and we look forward to talking to you again soon.

RC: Well, it's always a pleasure to talk to you and the fans about this league and football in general. We'll see you out there at the games!

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RED DAWGS TRANSFORMATION The Story: Just one season ago, a team named Creswell FC had jumped from the 3rd division all the way to the 1st after a record setting performance. Their 1st season in the top flight started out in barnstorming fashion bubbling up the D1 table in 1st place. After the winter break was a different story. Only one victory and a collapse so great they ended up in the relegation places by season's end. But again, due to special circumstances, Creswell FC was reborn and back in division 1 as Inkhead.com. A new name and a new team and this time around it looks as if the management has gotten it right. 3 of the leaders of the team sat down with Atlanta Footballnet at a local watering hold to talk football.

AF: Guys, this has been a interview I've wanted to do since I heard that Creswell FC had morphed into Inkhead.com.

Thanks for taking time out to discuss the circumstances of the team's transformation.

AF: First off, I'd like to discuss last season with Creswell FC. All 3 of you were a part of that team.

There were some good things and some bad things that happened with the team. Could you elaborate on the circumstances?

Andy: No problem! We're glad to talk about the team and the new direction.

Andy: Sure. The issues surrounding the team involved players that were not wholly committed to the long

range goals of the team. We had trouble with consistency especially during the second part of the season.

In the off-season, a lack of dedicated players almost ended the future of this team. But Jason and Chris saw the potential of this team and worked hard in the off-season to find the right type of player to compete as a team in the first division. I owe them a lot of credit

for the hard work they put in to save the team and build one that contains the type of player dedicated to winning and working together as a team. It's a close-nit group that genuinely likes to play together and that type of commitment is what has made the difference so far this year.

AF: And what did you do to find these players?

Jason: They were players that we knew from the 7v7 league at Silverback park or that Chris knew from UGA. We knew that we had access to players that would be a good fit for this team. We looked for and found players serious about getting to the next level. D1 in the ADASL is a very serious league and we needed more than "rec" players to play here.

We needed players that would not be out drinking the night before a game and who were disciplined to not only attend games but participate in practices. We now have that team.

to keep the team alive as he believed in what we had. We had worked hard to get to D1 and we wanted to stay there and compete with a dedicated team.

were a lot of players out there that were looking to play at this level and it was great for us to find enough of them to make a difference with the core players we retained.

AF: When did you definitely know that you were going to keep the team and not fold?

Chris: I believe that once we had a team in the first division last season, that is when it fell apart. We just didn't have the right caliber of player for that level of play in D1.

What we had were really good "rec" players, but what we needed were serious D1 players. Now we definitely have that. I knew there

Jason: Yeah, along with the core guys that stayed and were dedicated, I knew a number of guys who I played with during the week at Silverbacks Park that agreed to join and they knew guys as well that would add quality to the team and that was pretty much the confirmation I needed to talk to Andy about keeping the team.

Andy: It really came down to about 2 weeks before the deadline when we were required to register our team. I basically got a call from Jason at that time and he urged me

AF: I know that Creswell FC was heavily influenced by former UGA players. After-all, you are known as the "Red Dawgs". But as Inkhead.com, do you still have a close relationship with UGA? Chris: Oh yeah, definitely! I still have a lot of friends up there playing and we have a good relationship with the coach and staff up at UGA. There is no reason why that should end and I foresee that relationship continuing.

AF: So do you see that as the glue holding the team together and getting better results?

Jason: Yes and no, at the moment.

What I mean by that is that it is true that we have a lot of new talent in the team, but it is taking time to gel into a true squad. That's why we are still losing winnable games by a goal and giving up late scores when we shouldn't. There is still some fine tuning that needs to happen. And I think we need a game-time coach to really man-managed the game on the fly.

Chris: Yeah, right now we do it ourselves as individual players, and although it is working to a certain

degree, we will need a game-time coach to really bring it together.

Jason: Yeah, I am sure in covering our games, you have seen us go out in front in the first half and lose a close game at the end. We must do a better job at making game time adjustments as our opponents have learned to do against us.

AF: So would you say you are actively looking for a coach this season, or is it more of a goal for next?

Chris: Good question. I wouldn't say we were 'actively looking'. I mean... what would you guys say about that?

Jason: Yeah that's right, not a priority concern, but eventually needs to be addressed. We are doing well enough now and just need to get a bit more disciplined ourselves and I still think we can challenge for a title or 2 this year.

Andy: Yeah, it's like night and day to last year though. It can be a bit chaotic, but at least we are all pulling together. No one complaining about playing time and we take care of each other.

The maturity level has definitely gone up with this new squad. I'd have to say that my number one problem last year was discontent in the squad. That is why I give these 2 guys a lot of credit (points to Chris and Jason) in putting together good mature players that know what the meaning of "a team" is. It's fun to play again.

AF: What is the out-look for Inkhead now that you have the squad that you wanted?

Jason: One of my goals is to work for a professional soccer team, so I wouldn't put any limits on what we can do as Inkhead. I guess our first priorities are to win the league and the Perrin Cup and move on from there.

Chris: I agree with the idea of moving forward without limits. I haven;t thought about moving on professionally at this point, but I will not rule anything out. I'm open to anything we can do together as a team.

Andy: Well, my playing days are numbered at the moment, but I have real ambitions of working with a team as general manager or some

position in the front office where I can help make decisions about a teams structure and growth. I believe Inkhead.com is a good start for me in this respect.

AF: How did Inkhead Promotional Products get involved with the team?

Jason: Inkhead is a company I started with a couple of partners and I knew that we could invest in the club and that was another factor in the teams revival. Funny thing, in order to get approval from the company partners, we needed to change the name from Creswell FC to Inkhead.com. It's as simple as that.

AF: Well that's typical isn't it?

Naming teams after company sponsors as part of the sporting partnership is common in Europe.

You are following that pattern and in turn, Inkhead is getting it's brand name raised in the community.

Jason: Quite right. It's a good situation for both parties and looks to remain a good partnership into the future.

We also sponsor the women's Silverbacks team. We were ready to sponsor the men's team, but they folded a couple of years back. With the return of the men's team though, there might be renewed opportunities to work with them again.

AF: Now I'd like to know your thoughts on the rest of the season.

Who have been your toughest opponents and who will be challenging for honors this season?

Jason: Melchester obviously have been tough opponents and will be favorites. Majestic are a strong team and tough to play. They play the ball very disciplined and will be favorites in both the league and the Cup. But I think we will have something to say about it before it's

all said and done. We are in great shape in both competitions and will be there if we can stay consistent.

Chris: I don't think there is anyone that we can't compete with in the league. I have to think we can come back in the league and we have a great chance in the Cup. Jason is right about Majestic. That is a stand out team that plays the ball around well and will be hard to beat. But I fancy our chances as well.

Andy: I think we play as well as any team in the league, but we do need more time to gel. Majestic along with ourselves are my picks in both competitions. But we have to learn to man-manage better in our games to make the difference. Stay tuned I guess... (laughter) AF: Well guys, thanks for taking time out on a Saturday afternoon to talk to us and the the fans about Inkhead.com and your history and future with the club.

We'll definitely be keeping tabs on the squad and look forward to a long history of the team in the ADASL. Andy: Thanks for what you have done for the team in the past and for what you are doing for the league now. We really appreciate it.

Chris: I agree. We love what you do and we hope to be a part of the positive stories about the league in the future.

Jason: Thanks for doing the article.

We hope the fans continue their support of the team and the league.

We'll be here!

January 2011 Atlanta Footballnet Awards Sponsored by Images Frozen In Time Photography

Atlanta Footballnet sponsor, Images Frozen In Time Photography is proud to present the monthly player and manager of the month awards for January 2011. This award is to recognize significant contributions a player and manager has made for his team. Participants in Division One are eligible for the awards. Award presentations will typically be performed the last playing weekend of each month in the season and covered here in Atlanta Footballnet Magazine.

The goal of this award is to recognize player and managers that excel at the highest level and also to raise the awareness of the contributions these players make each month for their teams and in turn the league.

Congratulations to January 2011 Winners: 2011 January Player of the Month

Alex Pineda (Majestic)

Majestic standout midfielder, Alex Chacon, is the recipient of January's Atlanta Footballnet Player of the Month award. This award is given to the player determined to have contributed the most to their team either by an outstanding performance or superb team leadership. Participating Atlanta Footballnet staff and Facebook supporters give their input on the award each month.

January's award determination was made based on Chacon's leadership on and off the pitch for Majestic.

Although the league program was interrupted by a winter break and weather delays, Chacon's consistent play is a major facto in why Majestic ended January in first place. Chacon, a Honduran soccer legend, will also be coaching with the Atlanta Silverbacks pro team this year.

2011 January Manager of the Month

Chad Wiseman (Majestic)

Majestic scored a brace of awards this month. Chad Wiseman, is the recipient of January's Atlanta Footballnet Manager of the Month award. His second of the season. This award is given to the manager who has inspired outstanding performance from their team in the selected month. Participating Atlanta Footballnet staff, Facebook and Twitter supporters give their input on the award each month.

January's award determination was made based on the consistent play of Majestic despite the interruption of the league program. Though Majestic have been a target for being the league champions, no one has so far been able to knock them from their perch. Majestic is also one of the favorites in the Perrin Cup this season.

Look For Us On The Web:

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by Jason Longshore The returning Silverbacks will partner with Atlanta FC

Paul Buckley against Rocket City United in NPSL action at Riverwood High School's Hoskyn Stadium

In addition to my work with Soccer in the Streets that I wrote about last month, I've also been a part of a National Premier Soccer League franchise here in Atlanta for the past 3 years called Atlanta FC. This week, we were able to announce a partnership with the returning Atlanta Silverbacks to become the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves. It's the culmination of a great deal of work, and a big piece in the puzzle on the player development side of the game here in Atlanta.

Ricardo Montoya, our Program Director at Soccer in the Streets, asked me to help with a U23 team he was putting together for the USASA National Cup in 2007. I helped with the administrative side of things, as well as scouting opponents at the Region III tournament.

Lawrenceville FC, named so because the bulk of the players came from Liga Lawrenceville, steamrolled through the round robin tournament, clinching the title with a game to spare.

With the Regional title secured, the fun really began.

The National finals were in Seattle in 2007, not exactly a cheap trip. Thanks to some dedicated volunteers and a core group of sponsors, we were able to pull off the trip.

Lining up across the field in the National semifinal was the famed Scott Gallagher club from St. Louis, defending national champions and sporting several D1 college players. Our team of guys no one had ever heard of went on to shock them and advance to the final after a 2-1 win. The run ended in the final, losing 2-1 to Oregon United.

After that experience, we were approached by the National Premier Soccer League who was expanding to the Southeast. We put together a group of investors and entered the league for the 2008 season. With a team primarily coming from the successful U23 squad, mixed in with some experienced former pros from South and Central America, we went on to the win the inaugural season of the NPSL Southeast.

What stood out to me was that these players did not come from the elite youth clubs like most of our opponents. These guys were discovered in the local Latino and Caribbean leagues. The roster of 22 came from 13 different countries. They played an attacking, high pressure, high tempo style; most opponents simply could not keep up.

Lawrencefille FC after winning the 2007 USASA Region III U23 Championship

Dixie Reyes signed to play with Real Juventud in Honduras. Junior Sandoval and Shaka Bangura are playing with the defending second division champions Puerto Rico Islanders. Many other players have been able to use the exposure from playing with Atlanta FC and parlay that into college scholarships.

Captain Eduardo Liza receives his medal after winning the 2007 USASA Region III U23 Championship

The win put us into the playoffs against the winner of the Midwest region. Going into the last two weeks of the season, the race came down to Chicago, Madison (WI), and St. Paul (MN). With St. Paul needing a miracle to win and time running short to book flights, we decided to fly into Chicago. Of course, St. Paul got their miracle. Changing the tickets would've cost more than we had spent for the entire season, so we had to make the long drive from Chicago to St. Paul for the game, and then immediately back to catch our early morning Sunday flight home. After an incredible effort, we came up short and lost 2-1. If we had went into extra time, we probably would have missed our flight home.

By partnering with the Silverbacks, this project can break through Atlanta soccer's glass ceiling. Players with the Reserves will train and play under the watchful eye of the Silverbacks professional staff. Players will move up to sign professional contracts with the Silverbacks. Starting in 2012, the NPSL will allow teams to take on professional players so the 1st team would then be able to send players down in need of games and playing time.

The most amazing thing is that in this day of pay-to-play soccer, we've been able to do these things with tiny budgets. Ricardo and I, along assistant coach Alejandro Pombo, have done this for no pay. In fact, we have pulled money from our own pockets when necessary.

This partnership is the reward for our work and our sacrifices. More importantly, it's going to provide so many more opportunities for player development in Atlanta. For the fans, more soccer to watch is always a good thing, right?

Come see all of the Atlanta Silverbacks teams at Silverbacks Park this season.

2009 saw our most important accomplishment, qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. This had been a long time goal for Ricardo, who had come very close with a few different teams. We were drawn to travel to Charleston and face the previous year's finalist in the Battery. Charleston was also leading the USL-1 at the time. Giving up a goal in the first minute made the task even tougher, along with a red card midway through the first half. The task ended up being too much, even though our players fought all the way until the end of the 2-0 loss.

The main goal of Atlanta FC has always been to provide opportunity. Players who never had the means to play at the highest levels due to cost or access were able to play against ten-time Honduran champion Real Espa単a. Enio Novoa went on to win a championship in Peru and play in the Copa Libertadores.

Leo Sanchez against Chaleston in the 2009 Lamar Hunt Open Cup 1st Round at Blackbaud Stadium

It’s the New Year, and 2011 is a great year to take your game to the next level! Contained in this month's article from Lancaster Academy, are three simple ways to improve your performance on the soccer field.

To tell you a little bit about Martyn Lancaster, he is well known in the Atlanta area soccer scene. His stand-out play for the Atlanta Silverbacks made him a fan favorite. After another European tour playing against top professionals, Martyn now stars for the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL. Martyn has a strong desire to help raise the level of quality for the serious soccer player in the United States. He is opening an academy right here in the Metro Atlanta area to help with these goals.

As an extension of Academy, Martyn will regularly supply helpful instructional guides like the one in this issue of Atlanta Fooballnet. We'd like to thank Martyn for his interest and efforts in helping soccer in America. You can follow The Lancaster Academy on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with all the latest.

Take Stoke City, Bolton Wanders, and Sunderland for example. These teams do not have the same skills or the billions of dollars to spend on superstar players as soccer powerhouses like Manchester United, Chelsea, or Arsenal. But, season after season, these teams defy the odds, survive relegation and usually have a respectable mid-table or higher finish. “Why?” you ask. They may not have a Fabregas or Rooney orchestrating the midfield, but they do have extremely fit, hard working athletes fill their rosters.

Fitness should be a soccer player’s backbone. If you are not the most skilled or tactically aware player but you are in great shape, you will always be an asset to your team. Fitness will give you more confidence in the games knowing that you will still be strong come the 90th minute. It will also aide in injury prevention.

There are a wide variety of fitness regimes to follow via the Internet, books and magazines.

Make sure your regime has a combination of aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) activities. First, you must build an aerobic base. This can be achieved by doing long runs (two-three miles) or lengthy interval runs. After you have increased your aerobic capacity, it is time to work on your anaerobic fitness.

Anaerobic training, such as sprinting, plyometrics and explosive movements, will help your body become more efficient in using your glycogen stored fuels and help you deal with the oxygen debt you face in games.

We all admire the graceful dribbling from Messi and Ronaldo and the goal scoring ability of Tevez and Drogba.

We long for these skills, but we only see the finished product, not the hours of endless practice sessions it took to develop them.

Not all of us can devote every minute of the day to training, but being involved in soccer year round will be a huge advantage. For instance, sign up for an indoor team or find local pick up games during you off season.

If you live in the sticks like me and your local field is turned into a four-wheeling track, you will need to improvise. Juggling is not a skill you normally need in a soccer game, but it is an exercise that will help you develop better ball control. If you cannot juggle, let the ball bounce between touches. Start a record and try to beat it each week.

Next, find a wall or somewhere you can get touches on the ball. I personally use a racqetball court. Repetition is a key ingredient to mastering an accurate pass, shot, volley or header. Make sure you work on the proper technique of both striking and receiving the ball. God gave you two feet so use both of them! Working on your weaker foot will make you more versatile as a player. Finally, work on dribbling. There are hundreds of skills and fancy moves you can learn, but focus on mastering only two of them. Make them your own so that you are comfortable taking on a defender.

There is no replacement for knowing the tactics of the game. Being a smart player is often a great equalizer. Players who are not as skilled or as athletically inclined become superior soccer players because of their knowledge of the game itself.

The easiest way to improve your knowledge is to watch a professional game on television. There is a reason they are paid millions of dollars to play soccer. Pay attention to the players in your particular position. Be aware of the decisions they make on the field and try to incorporate these into your game.

Ask yourself, what runs do they make on and off the ball? When do they defend? When do they attack? If you have a DVR, rewind and study certain phases of play involving your position.

If not, record the game and watch it over again.

Take John Terry for example. There is nothing fancy about the way he plays, but if you watch carefully, you will realize that he controls the back and is able to make last ditch clearances because he is almost never out of position. His ability to read the play, his impeccable communication skills and the fact that he puts his head where most people won’t even put a stick makes him one of the most sought after defenders in the world!

By following these three simple tips, I guarantee that you will become a better soccer player in 2011. If you would like more tips or information about Lancaster Academy, please visit www.TheLancasterAcademy.com or email Martyn at Martyn@TheLancasterAcademy.com.

Featured Games from January 2011

FEATURE GAME 1

Sting Gold Georgia Tech FC

6 2

Kopman Field at Weber School

Copyright 2011 by Images Frozen In Time Photography The first game we covered after the winter break was this action packed affair between Georgia Tech FC and Sting Gold at Weber School. It finished 6-2 in Sting Gold favor after a lack luster performance from Tech with Sting putting in a disciplined and experienced performance.

Perhaps the hangover from the holidays and long layoff affected the less experienced Tech team. It's an issue that the Tech management vowed to answer in the coming weeks.

Sting on the other hand got a haul of 4 goals from

man of the match Stephan Gathany as well as one each from Garrett Brown and Neal Dixon.

Tech's goals came from Chris Collins and Don Pottinger. Both teams lie in mid-table land in the standing and positive points are a must if they hope to make sure they stay safely in D1 for next season.

Man Of the Match:

Stephen Gathany (Sting Gold)

FEATURE GAME 2

Melchester Wings B&H International

2 0

Agnes Scott Field

Copyright 2011 by Images Frozen In Time Photography One of the games of the month put these 2 powerhouses against each other at Agnes Scott School. Melchester Wings defeated B&H International in a lively match by the score of 2-0.

needed to threaten the Wings keeper. At the other end, Wings were countering well and managed to score when it counted to claim all 3 points in the match.

This was a very entertaining match that Wings got the edge in possession and control. Although both teams had their changes, Wings took there an B&H failed to find a way to unlock the Wings defensive line.

Both of these teams will be in contention in both the Cup and the league when all is said and done.

The strategy of tightly marking B&H's Emsad Zahirovic paid off as he could never find the rythm

(Melchester Wings)

Man Of the Match:

Rama Canovas

FEATURE GAME 3

Georgia Tech FC Melchester Wings

0 0

Southern Poly State University

Copyright 2011 by Images Frozen In Time Photography Georgia Tech showed heart and creativity as they played the contenders for the D1 title to a scoreless draw.

the standings, all points gained will be cherished.

The league is setting up to display quite the dramatic end.

Very little separated these 2 on the day and after recent form, Tech will count this as a point gained instead of 2 points loss. It's just the type of performance that can help turn Tech's season around.

Tech look certainly safe in D1 and are still in the Perrin Cup. Wings have a chance at another D1 title if they hold to consistency till the end of the campaign.

Man Of the Match:

Melchester played well and after the previous weeks big victory against B&H, they may have felt aggrieved at not getting a better result here. But it is positive points and with the race so tight at the top of

Patrick Murray (Georgia Tech FC)

FEATURE GAME 4

Pelicans FC Blue Sting Gold

2 1

[Perrin Cup] Wade Walker Field

Copyright 2011 by Images Frozen In Time Photography The first real upset in the Cup this season. 2nd division's Pelican's FC Blue upset favored Sting Gold in a spirited match at Wade Walker Field near Stone Mountain.

Pelicans found a way to frustrate the play of Sting and Sting just didn't get the breaks needed when they counted to advance in the Cup. For this hard working Pelicans team, it's a deserved advancement to certify the hard work they have been putting into the season.

Mike Skurski has his Pelican's team in fine form in

the Cup and still with a good chance at the promotion places if they can get a bit of a break in the balance of the season.

Sting now must concentrate on keeping their nerve in the league where they look to be safe for D1 survival.

Man Of the Match:

Ricky Wells (Pelicans FC Blue)

FEATURE GAME 5

FC Ljiljan Imperial Pint FC

2 1

[Perrin Cup] Wade Walker Field

Copyright 2011 by Images Frozen In Time Photography A spirited Imperial Pint FC ran out of time in their bid to create a 2nd Cup upset in as many days as FC Ljiljan had just enough to avoid the blushes of losing to lower division opposition.

FC Ljiljan breathed a sigh of relief as Mahir Sinotic and Scott Nyowo supplied the goals to send FC Ljiljan on through. Pint did have their chances and played well for long spells of the game, but in the end, it was FC Ljiljan's experience and skill that won out over Pint.

Being eliminated from the Cup, Pin will now need

to concentrate on D2 survival as they are uncomfortably close to the relegation places. But they are not alone. FC Ljiljan are finding the going rough in D1 as well. Just a single place above the relegation places, they will need to hold their nerve to survive in D1. But they look to be in form enough to return to the Cup final and push to win it this time around.

Man Of the Match:

Scott Nyowo (FC Ljiljan)

FEATURE GAME 6

FC Ljiljan Georgia Tech FC

0 4

Wade Walker Field

Copyright 2011 by Images Frozen In Time Photography After a slow start to the month, Georgia Tech FC finished January in emphatic fashion. A 4 - 0 decision against FC Ljiljan who were playing their 2nd game in as many days.

Fatigue must have been a factor for Ljiljan but Tech was not in a charitable mood as they took the game to Ljiljan and got goals from Ciro Pelliccia, Evan Brown, Jeff Carpenter and Steven Jensen.

The win is a valuable 3 points in the race for D1 survival, but Ljiljan will take comfort of the

circumstances and know that too have plenty to play for in the Cup and in the league.

Keep an eye out for both of these clubs in the closing stages of the season both in the league and in the Perrin Cup where they may meet again.

Man Of the Match:

Patrick Murray (Georgia Tech FC)

Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League www.adasl.com ADASL.com is the website to go to for all the official results and league information. A great source of information on the league and Perrin Cup. Check it out!

Experience the Action!

If you are interested in joining the ADASL, please contact the ADASL league administrator who will supply you with more information about how to join the league, registering a team, registering players and the general cost of play. Check out their site at:

www.adasl.com