CONTENTS THIS ISSUE GPS TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT Who we are .3
SOCCER ASSASSINS Who are the Assassins?
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Technical .4 Tactical .5 Physical .6 Psychological .7 Goalkeeping .8 Parent Zone .9 Coaching Zone .10
Meet the Assassins
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FC BAYERN PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP NEWS
COLLEGE & ALUMNI GPS Alumni News .14 GPS College Commitments .15 WOMENS SOCCER US Womens WC Tour
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Global Premier Soccer Technical Department Who we are and what do we do. GPS has a full-time body of staff committed to the development of all members Associated within the club. The GPS Technical Department provides leadership and guidance in player and coach development in the four pillars of the game - Technical, Tactical, Physical and Psychological. Technical Director Lee Moyce says “we want to be the leading the way in the country for coach, player and parent education”. Sports Psychologist Iain Martin and Sports Performance coach Adrian Salguero are dedicated to the development of the club’s players not only with on field technical ability but also off the field with the development of physically and mentally fit players. Head of Goalkeeping Stephen McDowell has recently joined the club to create a positive environment for the development of GPS goalkeepers. Coach McDowell states “Too often a goalkeepers are isolated from the rest of the team during practice. Our plan is to integrate the GK’s into team sessions and increase our coache’s knowledge and understanding of how to incorporate a GK into a their session plans. As a club we will also provide technical training clinics through our GK School”
Coach Amanda Morton co-ordinates the girls program for the club and plays a major role in the grassroots programming. Craig Von Wielligh heads up our video analysis department. Using the latest software Craig analyses videos of GPS games enabling him to provide coaches with feedback on the teams performance and stats from the game. This footage is also used for coach education in regular coach meetings to keep all coaches aligned with the GPS Style of play.
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TECHNICAL ZONE FOCUS: FOOT SKILLS CHALLENGE
HOW MANY CAN YOU DO IN 1 MINUTE? Foundations Place the ball in between you feet, with your legs shoulder width apart Slightly bend your knees. Knock the ball in between your feet as quickly as you can, using the instep.
Scorea:
Toe Taps Stand a few inches behind the ball Using the sole of one foot touch the top of the ball Switch and then use the sole of the other. Find a rhythm and make sure you hop in between each one, by being on the balls of your feet. Scorea:
Write your name Imagine the ball in a pen and the ground is the paper. Using the different parts of your feet move the ball around to create letters and spell out your name. Example shows letter L
Scorea:
Triangles Drag the ball back with the sole of your right foot at an angle so your legs are shoulder width apart. Pass the ball across to your left foot using the instep of your right. Pass the ball forward at an angle with your left foot. Stop it with the sole of your right foot and continue the process. Do the same exercise but now start with your left foot
Scorea:
Foundations on the move Place the ball in between you feet, with your legs shoulder width apart. Slightly bend your knees. Knock the ball in between you feet as quickly as you can, using the instep and move around.
Scorea:
Toe Taps on the move Stand a few inches behind the ball Using the sole of one foot touch the top of the ball rolling the ball slightly forwards. Switch and then use the sole of the other. Scorea:
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TACTICAL ZONE FOCUS: DRIBBLING
Mastering the Ball
Players need to master the ball at an early age. The first skill, dribbling, involves using all parts of the foot, combined with body swerves, to maneuver the ball to beat an opponent. It is an important skill for developing flair and creativity as well as confidence on the ball. This section is devoted entirely to the skill of dribbling. Players must be comfortable and confident with the ball from an early age. Younger players need plenty of dribbling and ball mastery activities. Our goal is to introduce young players to activities that combine multiple touches of the ball and fast footwork with ballistic movement, which requires coordination.
BACK TO BASICS EYES tracking the ball, while looking up to see space, team mates and defenders
ARMS assisting balance and speed while dribbling, and providing protection from defenders
HIPS producing low center of gravity to allow quick changes of direction and maintaining good balance while in motion
Dribbling to Beat an Opponent This normally involves an attacker facing up against an immediate opponent, dribbling toward them with the ball and beating the opponent with a body swerve, change of direction or acceleration past them. This dribbling involves fast footwork and the use of swerving body movements to unbalance the defender and/or movements in which changes of speed defeat the opponent.
Speed Dribbling Dribbling for speed involves moving with the ball quickly into open space by pushing the ball forward and running after it. The player is encouraged to look up immediately upon touching the ball to assess the position of defenders and teammates. This skill combines contacting the ball with the shoelaces to push the ball into space, sprinting into space and developing vision.
DRIBBLING
BALL kept close to the FEET to allow quick change of direction Using various parts of the FOOT to manipulate the ball
GLOBAL PREMIER SOCCER
Dribbling to Keep Possession Also known as shielding, this skill involves keeping the body between the ball and a pressuring opponent. It requires a low center of gravity and a knowledge of where the opponent is, which frequently involves getting sideways-on to the opponent. It involves the use of all parts of the foot. This is a skill that players playing in forward positions need to master, as they frequently must receive a ball with their back to an opponent. Shielding sometimes involves a movement before receiving the ball to unbalance the defender.
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PHYSICAL ZONE
FOCUS: EFFECTS OF SMALL SIDED GAMES
Small sided games are the players favourite way to end a session. As a coach, SSG’s give you the chance to step back and observe the players trying to put the key points from the session across into a game situation. What other benefits does a small sided game bring to your players and team? High intensity of game and short sharp movements increase aerobic ability. Quick re-starts and continuous format of the game promotes active recovery in players.
Small field and less players reduces decision making time due leading to increased awareness on and off the ball and naturally promotes scanning of the field.
Physical
Technical
Psychological
Tac-cal
Small space and less players means more touches on the ball for each player. The compact field means players need to function quicker and master technique at a quicker rate.
Introduction to team shape playing a diamond formation. Gain an understanding of attacking and defensive principles.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL ZONE GPS SPORT PSΨCHOLOGY: New Interactive Player Workbook for the Fall!
FOCUS: WINNING MENTALITY
GPS Sport Psychology is delighted to announce the launch of a new interactive workbook for GPS players in Fall 2015. The workbook is designed to engage players in the role of Psychology in their game, educate them on Psychology topics and provide their coach with important feedback to help them develop.
Developing a Winning Mentality Whilst at GPS your coach and team will be focused on development, it is also unavoidable that winning on the field is important too. Having players that mentally have a desire and a hunger to win is half the battle to being successful. Players that want to win and, more importantly, know how to as an individual and a team is key to success. That being said, it is impossible to identify one thing that gives a player a winning mentality. This mind set comes from lots of pieces put together. Key areas that we will review in this workbook that contribute to this mentality are:
Self-awareness
Goal Setting
Confidence
Motivation
Resilience / Mental Toughness
Leadership
Attitude
Reflection and Evaluation
The best players in the world have a knowledge, understanding and respect for the areas above. They know about themselves in each of these areas and how to use them to help change or improve their mentality. As a GPS player being able to develop your own winning mentality will provide you with the greatest chance of making it to the top.
GPS Psychology Tip of The Week
Understanding yourself, and having your coach understand you as a person is essential to your development as a player. Use this workbook wisely and honestly to help your overall development.
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GOALKEEPING ZONE FOCUS: SET POSITION What is the “set position?” The set position is the body shape that all goalkeepers should adopt before they make a save. This position gives the goalkeeper mobility, and overall balance. A goalkeeper should be in their “set position” when the ball is within striking distance.
How do we get into our set position? The set position is made up of a series of different movements with the limbs of our body. When learning the set position we always want to start with our feet, and move our way up.
Feet should be shoulder width apart. Our toes should be pointing towards the ball. Our heels should be slightly off the ground – we should be on the balls of our feet. Knees should be slightly bent. Hips should be locked & pushed back. Back should be bent with our chest over the bridge of our feet. When we look down, our noes should be in front of our toes. Now the tricky part! Our elbows should be out in front of our body, but not straight they should be slightly bent! Elbows should be “down” and not “up” like chicken wings! This means our hands will be in the middle and “parallel” with our fingers pointing towards the ball!
Why do we get into our set position? By doing all of the things listed above, you are giving yourself the best possible opportunity to save the ball by being balanced, and mobile.
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PARENT ZONE FOCUS: SIDE LINE MANNER Parents on the side lines can have a negative impact on player performance if the manner on the sideline is loud, aggressive and obnoxious. Parents on the sidelines should not coach, instruct, abuse or insult any player, parent or official.
Do Not Watch games outside of the parents’ sideline including along the end lines, behind the goals or on the players’ sideline. This is a distraction for players, coaches and officials. CRITICIZE calls of the officials. This is simply unacceptable under all circumstances. Shout instructions or “coach” players during a match. This is unacceptable and may result on your child not playing during a match.
Do
Place your chair on the parent side of the field Sit with a dunkin and enjoy the game (soccer parents run on Dunkin) Cheer good play from both teams. Encourage your child during the game
Engage another player before, during or after a game, either on the field or off of it, regarding any play. Coaches and referees control the games and any dialog from an adult to a player is totally unacceptable and grounds for removal. Send your child to games or practices wearing any type of jewelry, wristbands, earrings or anything that could pose a safety issue, including casts of any kind. Absolutely no exceptions can be made. Under no circumstances should you approach a coach immediately before or after a game or practice.
Parents should set up their chairs back from the sideline and sit back and enjoy the game cheering on the team and applauding good play from both teams.
JUST SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY WATCHING YOUR CHILD PARTICIPATE IN THE MOST POPLUAR GAME ACROSS THE WORLD
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COACHING ZONE FOCUS: U11 & U12 DRIBBLING
Players need to master the ball at an early age. The first skill, dribbling, involves using all parts of the foot, combined with body swerves, to maneuver the ball to beat an opponent. It is an important skill for developing flair and creativity as well as confidence on the ball. Here at GPS we run regular Professional Development sessions for our staff to maintain a high level of coaching throughout the club, keep all coaches aligned with the GPS philosophy and to share and discuss new ideas about developing our players. This latest professional development session was focused around the u9u10 age group with this particular practice working on dribbling. Click on the image to watch the video.
The Technical department produces a developmental curriculum for its coaches and also many of the town partners we work with. This is an example of a session used as part of a developmental curriculum. Click here to view the session plan for the above video
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FC BAYERN MUNICH GLOBAL PREMIER SOCCER
PARTNERSHIP NEWS
In November 2014, GPS and FC Some of the key soccer elements Tryouts for the GPS FC Bayern
Bayern Munich developed one of most extensive European Club partnerships ever seen in the USA. FC Bayern Munich is one of the biggest clubs in world soccer and has a proven track record of developing world-class players whilst competing in the highest echelons of world football. Five starting players in the 2014 German World Cup winning team were developed by Bayern.
With over 400 million supporters worldwide, and ranked as the 7th most valuable sports franchise in the World, the reigning FIFA Club World Cup Champion is one of the strongest brands in international soccer. In July 2014, FC Bayern Munich opened a U.S. office in New York City as a first step to bring the Bayern brand and its famed Youth Academy to the United States.
of the partnership are listed below:
Twice Annual Coach Visits - FC Bayern Coaches will visit GPS first two weeks of December, last two weeks in June and first week in July every year. Monthly Conference Call - GPS and Affiliate DOCs will participate in a monthly conference call with FC Bayern Academy. Curriculum Access - FC Bayern provide GPS with access to their existing and developing curriculum – content sent bi-weekly. Annual Technical Visits - Annual GPS visits to FC Bayern where we will be the guests of the Academy, see their methodology in action and catch a first team game, the second of which takes place in November with 20 GPS staff travelling to Germany.
National North teams were completed in October.
The GPS FC Bayern National Team program is for players within the GPS organization who have excelled in their own regional environment. Players should exhibit exemplary work ethic, commitment and have an excellent technical and tactical base. Following tryouts, the Head Coach will select players from the training pool to represent the team at competitive events and tournaments. Those players selected will represent the team at the event. Those not selected will be provided with coaching points for improvement and remain in the pool for the next Training Center. Teams will be playing representing in GPS Thanksgiving event, FSA Turkey shootout & CASL
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GPS Soccer Assassins SKILL SPECIALISTS
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? we are technical skill specialists and we believe creativity is at the heart of our program. Having both been victims of a robotic and blood and thunder academy system we are keen to promote expression and imagination in young players in all areas of the pitch. We believe young players can practice anywhere as we demonstrate in all of our videos. HOW DOES IT IMPROVE MY GAME?
The skills and moves performed by the Soccer Assassins are all focused around ball manipulation and close control. They use all surfaces of the feet and various body parts to move and manipulate the ball which will put defenders into a spin. This close control and ability to make the ball do what you want will give you the edge over opponents and bring an unpredictability into your game. WHERE CAN I WATCH THE ASSASSINS? The Soccer Assassins are blowing up INSTAGRAM with some outrageous soccer skills and tricks and are being followed by thousands of people around the world. Not only do these Assassins have the swagger of the worlds top players they have the skills to match. Follow them on: INSTAGRAM @gps_soccerassassins
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MEET THE TEAM NAME: DANNY GILDEA HOMETOWN:
SCARBOROUGH
SOCCER TEAM:
LIVERPOOL
FAVOURITE MOVE:
SCORPION FLICK
NAME: JOE SMITH HOMETOWN:
LONDON
SOCCER TEAM:
ARSENAL
FAVOURITE MOVE:
SMITH FLICK
INSTAGRAM COMPETITION Soccer Assassins Exclusive T-Shirt Giveaway Competition... How to Enter... - Visit your Instagram account - Like this video (Click image to view) - Tag 3 friends - Comment where you are from, City and Country. Two winners will be picked at random when have at least 50 entries. Good luck and as always, thank you for the tremendous support!
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GPS ALUMNI NEWS Last week saw the kick off for Conferences throughout the Nation. From Division 1 to 3, GPS Alumni were ever present representing and coming up big for their respective Colleges. Read below to find out more news on how various GPS Alumni played over the course of the last week 09/27/15- University of Connecticut 3- 2 University Central Floridan (Orlando, Fl) Huskies Battle to win earn first Conference win! A surge of second half scoring helped number 20 UCONN to battle and defeat UCF on Sunday for its 9th win of the season. Former Renegade Stephanie Ribeiro recorded two assists in this game and stepped up on the 79th minute to take the game winning corner kick for senior Samantha McGuire to head home. 09/27/15- Brown 0- 0 Dartmouth (Providence, RI) Former MPS starlet McLaine Lehan (left) helped Brown secure a point in their first game of the Ivy League. Lehan started and played a full 90 minutes at central defence to record a shut out tie for her team. This was the 9th start for Sophomore Lehan who gathered the NSCAA State Player of the Year (MA) whilst playing for MPS. 09/22/15- Bryant 0 – 1 Holy Cross (Worcester, Mass) After 104 minutes of scoreless play, Holy Cross defeated Bryant 1-0 in double overtime on Tuesday night. Former Renegades star Haley Reddish led the black and gold with 3 shots, placing two on frame. However, it was another GPS Alumni who was the difference. Aly Spencer was on hand to clean up after the Crusaders were awarded a free kick, 25 yards from goal.
09/30/15- Amherst 2- 1 Williams (Worcester, Mass) An assist from Nico Pascual-Leone (right) helped Amherst gain an over-time win at Williams. Amherst are now 9-0-0 for the season and Nationally ranked 4th in NCAA Division 3. Pascual-Leone was also named Amherst College’s student-athlete of the month for September. Majoring in Chemistry with a GPA of 3.66, Pascual-Leone is also a three year starter at Amherst and also a Senior Captain. 09/26/15- Trinity College 1- 1 Colby College (Waterville, ME) Tri-captain Mark Perrault assisted the Bantams only goal to secure them a point in NESCAC play. Senior Perrault a former GPS player from Southborough, Mass has played in every game for Trinity this season.
For anyone that wants more information on GPS Alumni in College or on the GPS College Placement Process, please contact our College Placement Coordinator Louise McFrederick at: lmcfrederick@globalpremiersoccer.com
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GPS COLLEGE COMMITMENTS PLAYER PROFILE: ADAM BRAMSON Adam Bramson Age: 18 High School: Milton Academy
Favorite Movie: Tropic Thunder If I Could Travel Anywhere, It Would Be: Italy
GPS Team: GPS-MA NPL U18
Athletes I Most Admire: Steve Nash, Sandy Koufax, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes
School you have committed to: Lafayette College
Biggest Sports Thrill: Penalty kicks
How did GPS assist your college process: If not for the advice and direction that my two coaches Peter Bradley and Jim Felix gave me during the process, I might not be in the position that I am in today.
People with the Greatest Influence on my Athletic Career: Peter Bradley, Samuel L. Jackson and my dad.
Position: Center Back
Academic Major: Film Career Plans: Comedic Writing Hobbies: Writing, reading comic books, playing basketball Favorite Food: My mom’s potato latkes
Greatest Achievement: Receiving a scholarship offer to play Division 1 College Soccer Who would make your world soccer XI: David De Gea, Jordi Alba, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski
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