Education

How To Develop A First Touch That Is Pure And Soft As Driven Snow

One of the things I am most proud of as a soccer player is my first touch, which is as pure and soft as driven snow – not to mention as controlled as those terrifying door-opening dog robots that are eventually going to kill us all.

You, like me, probably think you have a pretty good first touch. Every footballer thinks they have a good first touch. It's like thinking you're a good driver. You think you're like the folks in the videos below.

This Fun Injury Prevention Warm Up Could Save Your Kid's ACL

Injuries are a part of sports. So it’s only fitting that as you train for soccer, you should also train to avoid injuries. Injury prevention for kids is particularly critical as over 1.5 million kids injure their knees and ankles every year. ACL injuries in kids especially are on the rise, with a 400% increase in the last decade.

When Do The Champions League Knockout Rounds Begin?

The battle for the Champions League group stage is over. The battle for the Champions League knockout rounds is about to begin. But we have to wait a couple months. 

The final group stage matches on Wednesday set the teams for the Champions League Round of 16, with eight group winners and eight group runners-up facing off. The draw to determine the matchups will be held on Dec. 11 in Nyon, Switzerland.

Where Does The Club Name Juventus Come From And What’s Its Significance?

When you hear "Juventus," what do you think? Chances are, you’re thinking about the Turin-based football club that’s won 33 Serie A titles, 12 Coppa Italias and two European titles. You’re probably also thinking about club legends like Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero, Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini, world famous talents that’ve made Juve’s black and white strip famous around the planet. But what does the club name even mean? What are the origins of this iconic Italian team that’s now celebrating its 120-year anniversary?

The Players With The Most Appearances In Soccer History

The list for the players with the most official appearances in the history of soccer stretches from players who played in the 1940s to the present day. Goalkeepers like Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon have both entered the top 20, but there are still many players ahead of the two active legends.

According to Footballdatabase.eu, English goalkeeper Peter Shilton has accumulated the most official appearances with 1,390. 

Watch The Brawl That Triggered The Record For The Most Red Cards Ever Shown

You know a dirty game when you see one. Players go flying into tackles, things get chippy and the referee absolutely loses control of the match. Two or three red cards in a match is enough to make people cringe, but how about 36?

No, that’s not a typo — 36 red cards. In one game.

How To Brush Your Teeth At A Champions League Match

Watching a Champions League match can be exhilarating, but you know what is also exhilarating? Having fresh breath!

One Hoffenheim fan at the club's Champions League qualifier in Liverpool last week decided he couldn't have just one or the other. He needed Champions League football and fresh breath.

¿Por qué a un caño o túnel se le llama “Nutmeg” en inglés?

Si alguna vez has sido víctima de un túnel o caño, sabrás que es lo más humillante que te puede pasar. Por otro lado, para aquellos que han sido objeto de este truco, eres consciente de lo sorprendentemente rápido que puedes sentirte como Neymar e imaginar fácilmente la ( a menudo inexistente) multitud enloquecida.

Why Do Soccer Players Swap Jerseys?

The year is 1931. Ghandi has been released from prison. The Empire State Building has just been completed in New York City, and France has just earned its first-ever international victory over England.

The two nations faced off in Paris with England representing the big bully and France the underdog. Despite the odds, Les Bleus pulled off the upset, recording their first win against their rivals with a commanding 5-2 result. The French were jubilant after the win — they had literally beaten the Three Lions at their own game.

The Grueling Process Behind Becoming A World Cup Referee

They don’t get the credit the footballers do for their performance each game, but referees have to be just as prepared physically and mentally as those players they’re chasing all around the field.

It’s a varied and strenuous training process. The best refs have to be fitter than a world-class midfielder, have to possess an acute awareness for the type of teams, players and tactics they’ll be observing, and they need to be ready to handle all that might be thrown at them psychologically when it comes to high stakes and other maddening elements.

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