In this month’s Heads Up Interview we speak to Maurico Ruiz, Assistant Coach of the University of Central Florida and get his thought on the outlook of U.C.F. Mens’s program goals.

Why are you Coaching at the University of Central Florida?

UCF has the potential to be a national powerhouse, contending for national titles with the best teams in the country. As a former UCF Player, I have a passion and a vision to help with that process. Success doesn’t arrive over night, it takes years to put a strong program together, and we are currently on the verge of something special. The opportunity to be part of a growing program that has the potential to be a top 10 program year in and year old, excites me.

What can you offer potential players that would like to attend U.C.F.?

Opportunity!! Players will receive one of the top educations in the country, be part of one of the 5 biggest schools in the country, and live in one of the best growing cities in the country. On the soccer side of things:

Facilities

   UCF has now one of the top facilities in the country, the athletic department is determined on getting the student athletes the best possible resources for them to perform. Our weight room and medical facility is of first class, our training field is the same quality as our playing field, and our playing turf is arguably the top pitch in the country. Every visiting team has commended us on our facility. Programs such as SMU, Kentucky, South Carolina, University of South Florida, to just name a few, have expressed deep envy of what we have here. These are all established programs that wish they could provide their athletes what we have provided ours.

Competition

UCF currently plays in the Conference USA which is one of the top 5 soccer conferences in the country. Day in a day out, a UCF player will be playing against some of the top prospects in the country. The schools that represent our conference, have accumulated National titles, several final four births, top 10 rankings and have given birth to numerous professional players, currently playing in the United States as well as o

verseas. To be the best you must play against the best. This past season UCF finished third in a conference that had four top 15 National ranked teams during the season. UCF will also play top competition in their out of conference game, playing the likes of Ohio State, South Florida, Stanford, Cal. 

How does the U.C.F. Program work to develop talent?

Players can contact the coaches directly through email, by sending us their resume, a schedule of future dates we can see the player, their grades, and if possible a highlight video of some of their recent games.

James Prosser – Assistant Coach – jprosser@athletic.ucf.edu

Mauricio Ruiz – Assistant Coach – mruiz@athletic.ucf.edu

You must teach all at the beginning what is the picture. What is the Model!!

The United Kingdom has a good Model in terms of a final result with resources maximized. Arsene Wenger of Arsenal might have a profitable one. Many parts of the world still are not maximizing their local resources.

To arrive at a win win between business and community each member must
have the opportunity to experience professionalism. Until
that time, it is only as a dream to the community members in reality.

We are lucky that we live in 2008+, were creating cost efficient
Massive Multi-Training Systems is a reality. SportsPath ( http://sportspath.com/ ) and the Innovative Soccer Network both have working Systems.

Sports Path is directed toward Soccer Parent education. The ISoccerNet’s offering is geared
toward empowering Coaches/Trainers and Players communication with low
cost support information delivery. www.4skills.com/virtual.html

We can achieve the goals of raising the level of world soccer through Professionalism by providing:

1) Information accessibility

2) Opportunities to experience a Higher level/Professional level.

Make both of these available to the grass roots and you will have a winner.

In Innovative Soccer’s effort to achieve this goal, we have chosen to go rather low fi. It is what has kept
the Boy Scouts quality level up for the past 100 years? A Simple Text book.

The X Factor Soccer Training Manuals work to create the soccer artist. Using the deGregory Soccer Training Spectrum (dSTS) as a guide http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmcvmmm_1347cg4tc2g9, we built 4 manuals that explain how to grow mentally and physically to be a soccer player. Stage 2 Simple Individual Tactical is currently available https://www.4skills.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=114 . Stage 1 Soccer Skills will be out before Christmas.

The most important ingredient that is missing from any struggling grass
roots soccer organization is “Soccer Deference” - polite and
respectful soccer behaviour. It is a strange word to use, but we all
know that
the ways of professionals are more efficient then those who are not.
Those who learn from those ways become efficient and can display
professionalism. Soccer Professionalism is displayed by those who know
the soccer behaviours. These books are a guide to keep up both mentally and physically Trainer/Player Behaviour levels.

In releasing of the X Factor Soccer Training System, we have created the
MySoccerSchool Program, that allows for current organizations to
structure non-existent or stagnated revenue streams into healthy
predictable lines, I think those used to be called cash cows in
business school.

Here is an example of a model coming online now in Florida. http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dhmcvmmm_1625tz9xznhr

So Professionalism is possible at the grass roots level.

Everything that has been mentioned is replicable in any other English demographic.

We are doing Beta testing in Florida, South Carolina and Connecticut.

If you would like more information on the MySoccerSchool Program click here http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhmcvmmm_1447d3q7rzcw

Kamal de Gregory
Admin Head
Innovative Soccer Network
www.4skills.com

AST Positives at a glance

• Builds confidence as a soccer player

• Builds touch rapidly

• Creates mental framework for moves to be instinctive

• Allows player to be more accustom to his/her own body movements

• Helps player to understand personal strengths and weaknesses

• Builds or increases quickness of feet

• Builds or increases quickness of ball control and movement

• Increases Leg Strength

• Makes player more accustom to constantly being in the ready position. (Always on toes)

• Helps player to be accustom to soccer specific movements

• Gives player a relaxed feel on the ball, while working hard.

• Basic work out takes less then 10 min.

• Fun, self motivated workout to improve performance.

AST is designed to be a fun and different way to build skills and
promote them through the bodies natural movements. It is plyometricly
based while giving a distinct cardio workout.

Methodology:

Rhythm is the foundation of AST. It is the soul of everything,
including soccer. It is usually referred to as work rate, tempo or
pace. They are all soccer terms that mean rhythm. AST brings this
fundamental of soccer to the forefront of training, not just as a
pleasant byproduct as in other techniques. Most players have the vision
of effortlessly gliding past wrong-footed defenders. I can through
AST give them the ingredients to make these visions reality. Most
dribbling skills are taught as mechanical and separate movements, I
show how they can be linked to become an artistic dance across the
pitch.

AST goes about building skills by repetition of rudimentary
movements that are key in soccer. It works to create uniformity between
both legs by equal repetitions. Also through rhythmically learning, it
is easier for players to adopt movements as second nature. Each
specific movement serves to enhance a player’s relationship with the
ball. AST helps him or her understand body-positioning, amount of
weight needed to be exerted on the ball and personal strengths and
weaknesses. The technique is plyometricly based so it creates quick feet and eradicates the notion of being flat-footed. Also doing the exercises to music takes the mind off the workload and keeps the exercises fun.

Even
though, AST is extremely demanding, it is easy to lose yourself in
the rhythm of the music instead of focusing on the pain of the moment.
Constant movement is mandatory for AST. Rest periods are movements
done at a lesser pace, while work periods could be considered all the
time, since you are constantly touching the ball. Mental concentration
is a requisite when performing all exercises because if not lucid the
participant will spend more time chasing the ball then enjoying the
program.

AST gives you the building blocks to execute any move that you wish.
The movements can be adapted or blended together to give you a desired
outcome that appears spontaneously in any situation. From AST
combinations of moves can be linked together to give your game the
continuous flow that every player is looking for. Every movement in
AST is done quickly, smoothly and in preparation for the next
situation. You will form deftness to your touch that will have you
consistently adapting to your newly acquired skills. Above all
though, the greatest emphasis is on enjoying your personal movements
and being comfortable with your inherent style. I give the building
blocks its up to you on how you want to put it together.

All Smiles on the Field,

Innovative Soccer Network

The general consensus among many professional level youth trainers and coaches is that running two laps is not a sufficient warm up for your players.

What is sufficient then?

Many believe as I do that warming up with a ball is the best way to get players ready for training. Touching and using the ball at the beginning of practice promotes ball control for the duration.

How do we do this?

Fun repetition of basic moves used to control the ball. Consistently touching the ball with the inside, outside, laces, heel, toe and even sole of the foot helps players become used to the actual feeling of having it at their feet. That is the key to improving players comfort level with the ball.

Here is the best suggestion to improving this comfort level.

Aerobics Soccer Training, a new training method that combines ball control, agility training and fun, to push players to their limits and set the tone for the rest of training. The workouts are short 5-12 minutes, perfect for warm ups and set to music so players want to stay with it. It has been used with thousands of u-9 players all the way up to National Teams.

A.S.T. is great to finally have fun and skills blended together. Click here to learn more!