Most parents live on the stuff and cannot start the day without it.

Great for that instant burst of energy and the endurance needed to chase after the little ones.

So what’s the secret to coffee?

Well, unless you’ve been living on the moon, coffee’s key ingredient is Caffeine. Caffeine is known to enhance endurance and is guilty of keeping most adults up in the middle of the night.

There is also growing evidence that coffee can also improve soccer performance.

A group of scientists from New Zealand have studied the effects of caffeine on soccer players.

The mad men wearing the white coats set out to investigate the effects of caffeine in a performance test that stimulated the various demands of soccer.

The Project

22 professional (now we’re interested) male soccer players were used for the experiment.

11 players ingested caffeine (6mg per kg of body mass) and the other 11 ingested a placebo (dextrose) 60 minutes before performing the various tests.

After a week of testing, the players then changed their meds. Caffeinated players received the placebo and vice versa. * The players were not aware of the substance they were ingesting*

The Tests

Each test consisted of 7 circuits in each of two 40-minute halves with a 10-minute rest in the middle to simulate match conditions.

Measurements that were taken included

• 2 Straight-line sprints
• 3 agility sprints
• Power generation in 2 consecutive drives
• Accuracy for passing balls rapidly.

As a former science student myself, there is nothing more exiting than significant results.

The results for all drills (except for second drive power) were so positive that even the scientists raised an eyebrow.

The Results

(while picturing nerds in white coats punching the air and giving group hugs) were

• Sprint Speeds increased over all the 5 sprints ranging from 1% for 20m sprinting speed to 2.9% for tackle sprint speed.
• First drive power- 5% improvement
• Second Drive power -1.2% (negative) reduction
• Passing accuracy- wait for it, 9.6% improvement.

Looking over the findings the scientists could be heard giggling over the 10% finding like they just discovered a new dinosaur.

From the horses mouth,

“The largest and possibly most exiting new finding with caffeine was a 10% improvement in the ability to pass balls accurately while pressured to pass the ball rapidly”

WARNING!

Just a friendly warning before we all overdose on caffeine. The mechanisms behind caffeine’s apparent ergogenic effects are still not understood. However, the Kiwi’s believe it works on the central nervous system to reduce fatigue and permit a higher level of motor drive and motor skills throughout matches.

The above information was found in a medical science journal and does not construe medical advice or even soccer advice. Medical advice can only be given by a doctor, which I’m not, so this information is only intended for entertainment purposes.

Although, 10% increase is a huge result, don’t you think?

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

All young players are amazed and at times hypnotized by the glitz and glam of the big clubs. Most players would give up their prized possessions for a chance to play in these leagues.

My question is this,

All dream about it, but how many players know how to ask for it?

More importantly, do you know how to ask for it? If your goal is to play professionally, do you know how to request this?

Are you scratching your head?

Well, that is the truth.

Most young players don’t know how to ask for what they want.

Do you agree?

Not sure?

Then answer this,

Has anyone taught you the art of making an effective request? Just a complex way of saying, do you know how to ask for something.

Communication skills like asking are not taught in school or at work and I can assure you there not taught at home.

Most young players with lofty dreams wouldn’t know where to begin. They don’t know what is available and they definitely need guidance for the path to stardom is not clear, yet.

The funny thing is this, if our parents didn’t teach us, if we didn’t learn it in school, how are we supposed to ask for it.

Without a shadow of a doubt we all have desires, dreams and ambitions, but how do we ask for help, guidance or even advice.

When I was growing up I was taught lessons such as,

“It’s better to give than to receive.”

I was also taught that it was a sign of weakness to ask for help. That if I kept my mouth shut I didn’t run the risk of getting hurt or disappointed.

The Parent Factor

Believe it or not, I was conditioned by my parents not to ask.

Was it intentional?

But before you shake your head in disbelief, let me illustrate with an example.

When I was young my Godfather used to give me money. My parents would always yell out don’t take it and some how I was supposed to resist. It felt like a game. My parents would say don’t take it while my Godparents would say take it.

My actions would say no, no, no but inside of me I really wanted that money, who wouldn’t as a youngster, right?

So what would happen next?

My godfather would force it into my pocket and the emotional roller coaster was over. No one asked me what I wanted. I was never given the option of asking for money and like most of my friends at the time, were seen not heard.

Many of us grew up in homes where what we wanted was ignored, too expensive or even put down. Our wants and desires were not important because our parents had already mapped out our path whether we liked it or not. We were not given choices, asked or even given preferences.

Sound familiar?

Schools Out For Summer

Remember those old wooden desks with the fold out tops that allowed you to store your apples in them. A quick glance down at the desk would reveal carvings by past students and the year they claimed ownership of this piece of history.

Did the teachers at school teach you how to ask?

If you had the guts to put your hand up to ask something chances are you were labeled “teachers pet” and blacklisted from all the cool kids. Did you ever put your hand up? Everybody wants to be a part of the cool kids, right?

Did you ever ask for help from your classmates without being accused of cheating or being slow or retarded? Did the class ever tell you to stop asking stupid questions?

So how would you ask for something?

What’s that?

You don’t know!

This is one of the main reasons why so many kids will quit the game before they become teenagers. They don’t have the ability to ask for things. Young players have been conditioned not to ask. As a result of this, they no longer participate and lose interest.

Does this sound like you?

Are you afraid of rejection?

Are you afraid of looking stupid and being hurt by others?

Fear Is Not Real, unless, you’re being chased by a man yielding a large knife going by the name of Jason and wearing a hockey mask.

Do you know what fear is?

The dictionary states “a painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of evil or the apprehension of impeding danger; apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm and dread.

Believe it or not, only your mind can produce fear. Fear that is produced in the mind causes you to become passive as a player. Can you improve and develop your game by being passive?

Once this fear sets in you settle for less and start to watch and pass judgment on the players who are getting what you really want. You don’t have the courage to ask and you start to consume all your energies in hiding and trying not to make mistakes.

You cannot improve without practice and without making mistakes. Remember the greatest players in the world continue to make mistakes and continue to learn. The more mistakes they make, the better the player they become.

So start making mistakes. Be the first to volunteer for training drills and get out there and practice. If you’re looking for soccer success, just ask for it!

Could it be genetics?

Technical ability?

Speed?

Strength?

What about attitude and the ability to accept situations and make them work in your favour? My friend Jared Montz has a slogan “Believe in it!” which I endorse whole heartedly.

The slogan is so simple, innocent, but so true. My spin on the slogan is “You only achieve what you believe.”

Think about it.

Losers (probably not politically correct but I’ll stick with the terminology) always look for someone to blame when they lose. They blame their coach, parents and the referee. They might even extend the abuse to the pitch or the weather and look out if you happen to be a teammate.

Winners on the other hand play with their sleeves rolled up and play above their problems.

Soccer is not something that gets served to us, good or bad. It’s how we deal with the issues and problems that arise from the game that separates the good, bad and the ugly.

If I asked you what the most important area or space is on a soccer field what would you answer?

Without a shadow of a doubt it’s the six inches between your ears. Six inches might be a little conservative for those that have a big head like me. In most cases, winning or losing is determined by the players who can remain focused.

Great players never let their opponent disgruntle them or put them off their game. Great players aren’t intimidated by the 1000’s of opposing fans thirsting for their blood. Great players are mentally tough and mentally conditioned to remain focused against all odds and flying bottles.

It’s very easy to lash out when the ball refuses to listen to you. It’s even easier to lose your cool when you can’t shake off those pesky opponents that seem to introduce you to their studs every second of the game.

When the pressures on both physically and mentally it’s very easy to get frustrated and dwell on your mistakes. The level of frustrations seems to follow a linear pattern that produces more mistakes. How many times have you seen a frustrated player get dispossessed only to lash out with a savage, late tackle from behind? After the initial outrage and the dreaded yellow card they never can remember how they got an early shower. Something nasty about their ancestors or their mother usually does the trick.

If your opponent gets inside your head, who wins?

Once you’re boiling with a rush of blood to the head, tackles, mistakes, fouls, referee decisions resemble World War 1 and 2. Once this happens, you’re history. Enjoy the early shower.

Final thoughts.

Play hard!

But always play fair.

We can’t always control the hooligans, supporters, zombie like parents and your opponents, but we can control ourselves and what circulates in that space between our ears. Remember, Champions are made, never born. Ability can get you to the top but it takes character and mental toughness to stay there.

Easier said than done. Fatigue and frustrations makes cowards of us all. To lose to your opponent because you ran out of gas is unforgiveable. To lose to your opponent because he made reference to your mother or ancestors is criminal.

Great players criticize themselves, not their teammates, coaches, opponents or the referee. Think about that next time you’re scrubbing your back while your team plays out the rest of the game with 10 men. Emphasis on the word “men”, not little boy who lost his cool.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

Your self doubt allows you to commit to unrealistic, overambitious training regimes without the required time or resources. Heck it even knows you can’t sustain the levels of commitment you are forecasting.

After a couple of days and a few more hurdles we inevitably hit the wall. Crash and burn would ring true in this instance.

Let’s deflate our ambitions for just one second. Evolution didn’t magically occur over night, did it?

So what’s the hurry?

If you’re searching for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or that elusive manager waving a million dollar contract you better rethink your journey. If you’re chasing that big pay out or the sponsorship dollars, try and organize a bank robbery instead.

Exchange training and commitment for blueprints, security rosters and floor plans and your chances for instant gratification and the big pay out will increase ten fold.

Think about it!

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

When is the best time to start playing soccer?

When is it time to start getting serious about the game?

Hmmm.

The best time to start is when your parents can afford it.

The best time to start is when you’ve finished your homework.

The best time to start is when you’re a little bit older.

The best time to start is when you’re a little taller, stronger and wiser.

The best time to start is when you grab the latest Nikes.

The best time to start is when your coach tells you to.

The best time to start is when you lose some weight.

The best time to start is when you practice some more.

The best time to start is when your grades improve.

The best time to start is when you start behaving.

The best time to start is when you listen to your parents.

The best time to start is when you select the appropriate club.

The best time to start is when the weather clears up.

The best time to start is when the greenhouse effect subsides.

As you continue to R-E-A-D this, you’ve probably got the message. The best time to start was a year ago, 5 years ago and possibly 10 years ago.

The second BEST TIME to start is RIGHT NOW!

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”