Soccer Shoes and Cleats: Winning Traction and Control Over Outdoor, Indoor and Artificial Turf

Winning at soccer starts with your feet! What's on your feet? Whether you need soccer shoes or soccer cleats for men's, women's or youth divisions, or whether you are a beginner or an enthusiastic travel player, there are factors to consider when buying soccer shoes or cleats. Particularly, what kind of traction and control do you gain, and which are the types of fields on which you'll play? This brief guide provides you with answers to these questions. After all, success on the field will come from examining the best soccer player's greatest weapon: his feet.

Know Your League Regulations
Leagues require you to wear the proper soccer shoes or cleats during practice and play. You can check with your coach or local league association for details. Also, take your coach's suggestions for the right shoes for your practice field, and inquire if any league regulations are in process to change. Before spending a bundle on your soccer shoes, check your league regulations regarding shoes and the key one's are summarized here:

Football Cleat

The National Collegiate Athletic Association: "Shoes shall be worn by all participants in a game. Shoes with soles containing aluminum, leather, rubber, nylon or plastic cleats, studs or bars, whether molded as part of the sole or detachable, are allowed as long as the referee does not consider them dangerous. The NCAA allows metal soccer cleats in addition to soft or hard rubber cleats."
High School Soccer: Each state, local section and league creates some unique rules. A rule that is generally accepted and enforced by them is set by the National Federation of State High School Association. It reads: "The bottom edge of the cleat may not be higher than two inches above the ankle."
Boys' and Girls' Youth Soccer: The standard regulations for Youth Soccer confirm that screw-in cleats and cleats from other sports may not be used. In addition, metal cleats are not allowed for safety reasons.

Soccer Shoes and Cleats: Winning Traction and Control Over Outdoor, Indoor and Artificial Turf

Shoe Construction and Materials
With soccer's worldwide popularity and the game's strong competition, research and development for better soccer shoes is always on-going. The result are shoes that are a perfect combination of improved features and new technologies. Their main materials of construction are:

Rubber or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, a very elastic plastic) produces superior traction which is especially good for grassy playing fields. This is the most common material in soccer shoes due to its ability to prevent slipping.
Leather provides breath-ability, strength and durability for soccer shoes. Soft leather provides a comfortable feel when dribbling or shooting the ball. Comfort and fit increase with each use. Leather is extremely flexible and it wicks away more water and moisture than synthetic shoes.
Synthetic blends are great for all levels of soccer, and shoes made of them are easy to clean and dry out. These types of shoes generally include a water treatment to help the cleat last longer under poor playing conditions, including wet grassy fields.

Youth Soccer Shoes
Young soccer players need footwear that provides ventilation, durability and the feeling of stability and protection. Youngsters should choose molded cleats for safety reasons since the bottom of the shoe is rubber, not metal. So, check out the soles for the regulation rubber cleats that provide traction and stability.

Although an adolescent or teenager is still growing, buy a shoe that fits. A shoe that is too big can cause blisters and sprained ankles. A snug fit is the right fit, and when the shoe is outgrown in size, buy the next size so you don't affect the growth of the feet. To get the right size in the first place, try on the soccer shoes with soccer socks and shin guards to guarantee a proper fit. The shoes should be snug at the top as this will allow for better control of the ball when passing, dribbling and shooting. As the shoes get worn in, the uppers will stretch and become more comfortable. Keep in mind that leather stretches and then molds to the foot so this is a good choice for growing feet and stability.

Men's and Women's Soccer Shoes
Men's soccer has produced many stars known for their speed and power. Even before the popular film, Bend It Like Beckham, the women's game, too, is equally represented by soccer stars known for their agility. In order to achieve the skillful edge necessary for the success of our soccer heroes, both men and women players need soccer cleats that maximize mobility while providing full foot protection. Generally, soccer cleats are usually narrower than other types of athletic shoes and this supports greater control of the ball. To guarantee that you get that winning support when buying a new pair, lace the shoes up tightly and walk around to make sure that the inner seams don't irritate the foot but give that tight fit. Since having the proper footwear will be men's or women's players best ally on the field, new technological advances give us the ability to provide soccer cleats that have superior traction and control without sacrificing speed or flexibility.

The world of soccer shoes has evolved and whether you play indoor, outdoor, or on artificial turf, there are soccer shoes that are right for your feet with a fit crucial to your performance. Here is a brief guide to the types of soccer shoes targeted to the various surfaces the game is played upon:

Firm Ground/Molded Soccer Cleats
These shoes are perfect for beginning to advanced soccer players since they are versatile for most field types and various conditions. They are designed for all surfaces and allow you to keep your footing while making quick turns so you can possess the ball with ease. It is formed on the bottom to help provide traction and control. The cleats come in different patterns, but the cleats themselves are always made of non-detachable hard plastic or rubber. They work well on a traditional grass field and turf. The non-removable molded studs are in either a circular or blade shape and these shoes have between 10 to 14 of these individual cleats in locations critical for pivoting and traction. The cleats are harder polyurethane in the tip for durability. Softer cleats are at the sole and stud base for less pressure on the foot.

Soft Ground/Removable Soccer Cleats
The intermediate to advanced soccer player can play in these on soft surfaces. In fact, they are better for players with more experience who can tailor the removable cleats to their playing field and weather conditions. The removable studs allow players to adjust their length depending on how muddy the field is and how slippery the conditions are. The studs on the bottom can be screwed on and off and replaced easily, and players can choose between metal or plastic studs. The studs are designed so that they are widely spaced to prevent mud from clumping. Most models have four studs under the ball of the foot and two to four studs under the heel.

Indoor Soccer Shoes
Flat-surfaced outsole shoes provide greater grip and traction, and the control and foot traction for lateral cuts and pivots. Speed, traction, and ball control are important for the indoor game. These shoes have light construction and this enables a good feel for both the turf and the ball itself when passing or shooting. The indoor game involves a lot of quick cutting from side-to-side, and lighter shoes are critical for these movements. The shoes are durable, with real leather or synthetic leather uppers and strong stitching designed to withstand regular ball contact and other impacts.

Hard Ground Cleats
The hard ground cleats perform best on a hard, dry-grass field or synthetic grass. They provide players with superior traction and are most useful in dry conditions when fields may not be watered adequately. They feature molded round plastic studs that are much shorter and they have more studs than firm ground cleats. Studs on these cleats rest on the top of the playing surface to provide traction without digging into the ground. The hard ground cleats most often have a dozen shorter circular studs with a group of four near the toes, four between the ball of the foot and arches, and four in the heels.

Artificial Turf Shoes
For artificial turf, non-stud shoes have specialized rubber soles geared toward either playing indoor soccer or playing on artificial turf. The shoes contain various raised patterns on the bottom in place of studs. These are generally good training shoes that can be a back-up game pair for hard-surface conditions.

To sum up, your soccer shoes and soccer cleats are an extension of you on the playing field, so find a style and colors that reflects your personality. Some cleats have a new stud shape which allows increased stability and improved lateral movements. For this sport of concentration, precision, team work and speed, your soccer shoes or cleats will give you the skillful edge necessary for success, and such new technologies and materials will maximize your mobility and provide outstanding foot protection. Now it's onto the field to break in new cleats and to break old records!

(c) 2012 Elizabeth McMillian

Soccer Shoes and Cleats: Winning Traction and Control Over Outdoor, Indoor and Artificial Turf

Elizabeth McMillian enjoys writing about her personal interests, including travel, exercise and cycling. She is an architectural historian, a former editor at Architectural Digest and the author of five books and numerous articles. To prepare for your soccer career, a good workout at home will keep you fit. Learn more about home equipment at http://www.Gym-Equipment-for-Home.com/ and where to look for athletic shoes at http://www.Top-Athletic-Shoes.com/

Pele Soccer - The King of Football

Pele, the legendary soccer player, was born in Três Coracoes, Brazil on October 23, 1940 son of a renowned football player Dondinho. Edison Arantes Nascimento or commonly known as Pele is a former Brazilian football player who was rated by many as the greatest footballer of all time. He was able to gain the title as the Athlete of the Century given by the International Olympic Committee.

Pele grew in poverty and earned extra money by shining shoes at the Bauru Athletic Club. At the age of 15 he joined the Santos FC junior team. He was able to earn his fame and fortune through his talent on the playing field.

Football Cleat

Pele was considered as a national hero for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport of soccer. Because of his achievements in the sport, he was officially declared by FIFA as the Football Ambassador of the world. During his career as a soccer player, he was also known as "The King of Football". He is also a member of the American National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Pele Soccer - The King of Football

Pele is the first ever soccer player to achieve numerous international commendation and his name is regularly mentioned in news events of soccer. As Pele have the heart for the poor, he dedicated his 1,000th goal play to the poor children of Brazil and being acknowledged for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of his constituents.

Since his full retirement in soccer on 1977, Pelé has been an ambassador for the Football League and receive various citations and awards such as the prestigious Laureus World Sports Lifetime Award from the South African President Nelson Mandel in 2000.

Pele Soccer - The King of Football

Learn more about Pele soccer

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10 Reasons Why I Hate Football

Fellow Americans, before you sign my death warrant, know that I am talking about American Soccer, otherwise known as Football in the rest of the world. So relax - it's okay - I'm only poking fun at Soccer!

I have been watching Euro 2008 on television, although I can't tell which games have already been played (taped delay anyone?). Oh well - I don't know any of the teams, players, or coaches, so ignorance is bliss.

Football Cleat

After watching a few key match-ups (as I am told by the announcers) and ingesting a few slices of pizza and cheap American beer, I have reached the following conclusion: Soccer Stinks.

10 Reasons Why I Hate Football

I actually played Soccer for years. The sport is fun during your childhood, but somehow the pleasurable, family atmosphere turns into a boring and violent theatre filled with male drama queens. Over the years I have watched Olympic Soccer, World Cups, and some German League matches (we had great cable channels when I was young).

Let me reiterate: Soccer Stinks. While watching some fine Soccer matches I actually wanted to kill myself. So without further delay, I humbly present 10 Reasons Why I Hate Football:

1. Drunken Fans

In American Football stadiums, we actually close the beer and booze stands before the end of the game. When do European and Latin American stadiums turn off the juice? My money's on NEVER.

If I wanted to see drunken, violent Europeans in action, I would wear my Dodgers cap, grab a pink Polo short and some Nike sneakers, and visit an English pub. Or maybe attend a Prodigy concert in Berlin.

American sports fans do the wave. We tail gate and cook burgers. We bring our families and play catch with our children. We also eat ice cream and leave games early to beat the traffic.

World Soccer fans kick the crap out of each other. Period. I can't say I blame them. After ninety minutes of back-and-forth and beer in the hot sun, I would probably beat the hell out of my best friend. Soccer fans are time bombs waiting to explode.

And by the way, when European fans paint their faces and then riot, I am reminded of the brutal war scenes in Braveheart. Maybe World Soccer teams needs cute mascots to lower the testosterone. Miami Dolphins anyone?

2. Boredom

If you can finish your taxes and not miss the action, you are watching a boring sports event. Soccer has the lowest scoring totals of any sport in the history of the world. Kick. Run. Fall. Repeat.

I cannot deny the physical skill possessed by World-class Soccer players. However, when that skill is spread out over a few touches over ninety minutes, one word comes to mind: BORING. Soccer clinics are more interesting than actual matches.

3. Penalty Kicks

Let me get this straight - you run around for ninety minutes and then if the score is tied when the whistle blows, you don't play overtime? Are you kidding? Penalty kicks are unfair and unusual. A team game is reduced to individual effort in a completely different format. Must be the beer. Fans will start passing out if an overtime period is allowed.

4. The Women (or a lack thereof)

Have you ever noticed the lack of women in attendance? Soccer is male domination at its finest. How can you have a family atmosphere when women don't come to the games? I think men planned it that way. Perhaps a Soccer match is one big male bonding seminar. Complete with beer, riots, and boredom.

5. Third World Success

Many third world countries are pretty good at Soccer. For those economists out there, think low barriers to entry. Youngsters need only a ball (or a close approximation thereof), a dusty or grassy plain, and a few friends. Perhaps that is why Soccer permeates the lives of many third-worlders. Unlike material wealth, Soccer skills are easily attained and careers as Soccer players are within reach for the best talent, regardless of income.

Conversely, Americans like sports that require high-tech training, nutritionists, and expensive equipment. Think American Football, Baseball, or Hockey. We excel at sports where our infinite resources provide an edge in World competition. Soccer is the exception, so therefore we dislike the sport and produce rather unexceptional teams. All our real athletes play other sports!

6. The Nasties

I used to think that hockey players were pound-for-pound the meanest athletes on the planet. Watching Soccer has changed my mind.

Soccer players are nasty and talented individuals. That makes a dangerous combination. Cleats as weapons, goal posts as battering rams, fists as clubs - get the point? At least provide some protection for these guys - maybe a helmet or stick would help. Perhaps the players need an outlet for their pent-up aggression. I suppose their aggression is aggravated by the boredom inherent in standing on a hot field for ninety minutes in front of thirty thousand drunk men, with no women in sight. Yep, that'll do it.

7. The Theater

In American sports, when a player goes down it usually means a serious condition. In Soccer, these male drama queens feign death and then miraculously jump and run when a foul is called against the opposition. What other sport allows and encourages such theatrics? Does the referee get mad when a player fakes an injury and then scores a goal? Don't Europeans know the story of the "Boy who cried wolf?" I would hand out yellow cards to any sissies that go down and cry wolf. How do the trainers know when real injuries occur? Is there some sort of secret code ("hold your left ankle to fake, hold your right ankle if you need help")?

8. Wasted Space

I think the layout of Soccer stadiums and fields closely match Football fields. Think of how much American Football could be played overseas without investing in sports infrastructure? Repaint the lines and let's play some ball. And in this age of environmental activism, can't we boycott countries that waste precious land on stupid Soccer fields?

9. Culture Wars

Soccer or Football? Too much confusion. I wish the Soccer/Football luminaries would get together and decide once and for all. Here's the problem - I think Football is the correct term! But considering the French and German attitudes during the Iraq War, I for one refuse to concede the point. It is a matter of national pride. Unfortunately American Soccer is the victim of this ugly culture war, but hey, sacrifices must be made. As long as American Football is unscathed, they can have their bloody Football!

10. Americans Stink at Soccer

We Americans simply cannot play Soccer. We are a nation inflicted with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), so what more can we expect? We need action, women, and points. Soccer's boredom is a permanent blight on an otherwise beautiful sport. So when does Football season start?

(C) Copyright 2008 Robert J. Leitner

10 Reasons Why I Hate Football

Robert J. Leitner

Cheerleading Uniforms & Shoes - Fundraising Ideas

The cheerleading season is now in full swing and your team needs to be ready for the first football game. If your team is in need of new cheerleading uniforms, cheer shoes or just needs some funds for an additional activity fundraising may be a necessity. At some point, your team will look at doing a fundraiser this year. Not only are fundraisers a great way to earn money but they are a great way to improve your team work and to become active in your community.

Before you decide what your fundraiser will be, there are a few things you will need to do to be prepared and, most of all, to be successful:

Football Cleat

Establish a goal.

Cheerleading Uniforms & Shoes - Fundraising Ideas

Figure out how much money you need to raise and what date you need to raise it by. Don't forget to also factor in any upfront costs associated with the fundraiser itself. This will help keep your team motivated and also helps in determining what fundraiser would be best for you. You may wish to have more than one fundraiser. Direct each fundraiser toward a specific goal. You may hold a cheerleading clinic for elementary students to raise funds for new cheerleading uniforms and then have a penny drive to raise money for an upcoming competition. Just be sure to space your fundraisers out a bit.

Know what others groups are doing for fundraising in your area.

You will not be very successful if a local church is having a bake sale on the same weekend as your or if the girl scouts are taking orders the same week you are selling cookie dough.

As a team you can accomplish anything!

Remember that fundraisers are a lot of work but if you work together it will be a sure success.

There are countless ideas for fundraisers. Some may not be practical for your location, season or budget, but here are some ideas to get you started. No matter what you choose to do, show your spirit. Wear your team cheerleading uniforms or cheer warm ups. Show your school colors with hair ribbons or pins. If you show your spirit, others will too!

o Sell spirit or mascot items, or any other items relative to your city, state or region. Spirit Sticks are always a hit!
o Have a raffle. Sell tickets and raffle off prizes. Prize possibilities: 50% of the money you collect, community donated coupons or gift cards, gift baskets (have each team member make a themed basket such as chocolate lover's basket, pasta dinner basket, etc...), or any services or goods you can get a community organization to donate.
o Make Cheer Cans out of old coffee cans. Decorate them, including your fundraising goal, and add a hole in the top for donations. Take them around to local stores and gas stations and ask if they will display them. Attach a Pom Pet to the top of the can, you'll be sure to catch the customer's attention!
o Recycle! Collect bottles and cans. Many local recycling centers will also buy old cell phones and ink cartridges.
o Have a penny drive for each classroom for one month. The classroom that raises the most gets a pizza party.
o Offer services around the holidays. Gift wrapping at Christmas, babysitting on Valentine's Day...
o Make a school calendars and sell it. Don't forget to have game days pre-marked on the calendar!
o Have a rummage sale or bake sale. Cheerleading Post-Its would make great labels for your bakes goods!
o Take advantage of the holidays. Have a picnic and sell bagged lunches for 4th of July, an egg hunt for Easter, sell pumpkin pies just before Thanksgiving, a party with trick or treating for Halloween.
o Make a cookbook. Gather recipes from other students, parents and teachers. Deliver them in gift bags in your school's colors!
o Hold a clinic for elementary students. Teach them a few cheers and have them perform at a game. Don't forget poms for your students...Rooter Poms would be perfect in your school colors!
o Donate your time at a local business for a day. Ask local businesses to allow your team to work for them for a day for a portion of the profits or for donations. Gas stations and drive-thrus are great places to start.
o Sell flowers for spirit week or holidays. Arrange with a florist to sell the flowers ahead of time and have them delivered at a later date. Sell red roses or carnations for Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day, carnations in a school color for homecoming, poinsettias for Christmas, etc.
o Have a carnival. Set up a carnival in the school gym or football field. Have booths with different games and activities. Remember face painting for the kids or try face tattoos!
o Have a car wash.

Whichever fundraiser you choose to do, be sure to keep the community informed of your goals. Let them know what you are raising the money for, how much you are trying to earn and how much you have earned thus far. Don't forget to send a thank you to any person or organization who donates their time or good to your fundraiser too. Use cheerleading stationary for a fun touch! With team work and a lot of spirit, your fundraiser will be a success no matter what you choose!

Cheerleading Uniforms & Shoes - Fundraising Ideas

Visit our website http://www.cheerzone.com for more cheerleading resources!

Youth Football the Texas Tech Mike Leach Way

Many of you probably watched that incredible Texas Tech-Texas game Saturday evening like I did. The sheer entertainment value of the game alone was worth the time investment, with Michael Crabtree scoring the winning touchdown on a thrilling play with just 1 second left on the clock. Mike Leach is a story unto itself, definitely a man that follows the beat of a different drummer. On the Texas side of the ball, athletes abound and Mack Brown is a true gentleman, a modern statesman of the game.

The Youth Football Lesson in This

Football Cleat

As youth football coaches what can we learn from Coach Leach? First let's look for a moment at Coach Leach's background. With the exception of one year of sitting on the bench of his High School football team as a Junior, he never played organized football. He got his Bachelors at BYU and then his Law Degree from Pepperdine. At age 25, married, with his second child on the way he decides he wants to be a College Football coach. Yeah right, After stops at College of the Desert, Cal Poly, Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, Finland and Kentucky he is now the head coach of Texas Tech, Not bad for a self described "Christian with serious obedience issues". He seems to look at things from a slightly different perspective, maybe even a sort of an "outsiders" viewpoint.

Youth Football the Texas Tech Mike Leach Way

He has amassed a 74-37 record at a school that rarely, no let's rephrase that, never gets the top tier or even second tier talent in the state of Texas. Those players are reserved for Texas, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Those kids go to the big money, big stadium, big tradition schools, not to Texas Tech and it's tiny 57.000 seat stadium with a masked pirate Zorro mascot. Just getting to Lubbock is a major undertaking, like something out of one of those "Dead Zone" commercials, the place none of the Big 12 Media crews relish going.

Leach does it with quarterbacks no one else wants, 6 foot kids with offers to just Tech and maybe a mid major school. He has started a number of quarterbacks for just one season, many being fifth year seniors like BJ Symons, who passed for 52 touchdowns in his only year as a starter. The following season Symons was replaced by another fifth year senior, Sonny Cumbie, who passed for 4.742 yards, the sixth best in NCAA history. This season Cody Hodges a fifth year senior with four years of bench sitting experience is leading Tech's quest for it's first ever Big 12 Title and even a shot at the National Championship.

Now what does this all mean to us youth football coaches?

The Leach Formula

Mike Leach saw when he came to Texas Tech, that there was no way he would ever be able to match up with Texas, Oklahoma, A&M and the big boys by doing more of what they were doing. He was always going to have to settle for the second and third tier players. He focused on bringing in fast, smart kids that were maybe a bit undersized or odd shaped, kids that maybe didn't look like football players. Certainly former bag of bones quarterback Kliff Kingsbury fit that mold. He looked like he would need weights in his shoes to hold him down when the stiff winds of West Texas blew around Lubbock. Listed at 175 pounds, this weight number was about as accurate as the weight listed on a 45 year old woman's drivers license. Tech running back Taurean Henderson looked more like a skinny Munchkin from the Wizard of Oz with really bad hair than a Big 12 Running Back.

How do you win with talent like this? I'm sure that is what Leach asked himself 10 years ago when he started at Tech,

This is What He Did:

He widened the offensive line splits, so his diminutive quarterbacks would have lanes they could see and throw through as well as to make the edges so far outside that his quarterbacks would have more time against the incredible athleticism many Big 12 Defensive Ends have. Over the course of a game those long pass rushes tire out these monstrous defensive ends so by the fourth quarter his quarterbacks have all day to throw. The offensive line splits vary dramatically from 3 to 9 feet. This also gave his smaller offensive linemen nice angles for those big defensive linemen aligned in the gaps.

He committed to passing the ball first, with most seasons averaging over 55 throws per game.

He committed to throwing the ball with just a few concepts, All Curl, 4 Verticals, Y-Stick, Shallow, Bubble Screens and Mesh, The laminated play card for his quarterback had just 26 offensive plays on it for the Texas Game. Coach Leach does NOT have a huge play card filled with hundreds of plays and down and distance material, he has a simple piece of non laminated paper usually folded up into fourths, like some kind of crumpled up crib sheet, with about 30 plays on it. If a play works he writes an O next to it and runs it again, if it fails he writes an X next to it and doesn't . In the Texas game, All Curl must have had an O next to it because he threw it least 5 times.

He committed to running those few concepts out of many formations and looks. So while Leach may be called the "Mad Scientist", his playbook is relatively simple. Those TV pundits have no clue.

Why does it work?

How and why does it work? The precision of his receiver's routes are second to none. Watch them sometimes, you will not see anything like it anywhere. The timing, the execution in uncanny. There is nothing revolutionary about these football plays, it is the execution that is flawless and revolutionary. The pass protection is equally as flawless, the Tech quarterback has been sacked just twice so far this season.

The Youth Football Equivalent

As a youth football coach we have to look at what we have to work with and how that compares to our competition. Can we afford to run what everyone else is in the league is running and expect the kids to have success? Should we run the exact same football plays and formations as our bigger and faster competition and expect to compete? Or do we have to be creative and run something different? Tech decided to run something different.

Do we need 40-50-60 plays in our playbook? Tech did it on Saturday with 26 football plays and Tech gets to practice 6 days a week nearly year round. They are masters of a few concepts run out of multiple formations.

Do We Throw in Our Chips With Leach?

When coaching youth football does this mean you should commit to throwing the ball 60 times a game and widening your splits to 6-9 feet with your football team? No, not at all. In youth football, we don't get to practice 6 days a week nearly year round or cut anyone (most teams), Texas Tech doesn't have to worry about getting every player into the game regardless of game circumstances or have squad sizes of 25 instead of 150. Your kids aren't going to be able to widen splits out to 9 feet, when you are starting an nonathletic future computer nerd at one offensive line spot and the future tuba player of the marching band at another. Those kind of kids can't fill a 2 foot gap let alone a 6-9 foot gap. Most youth football teams aren't going to have 2-3 good well trained backup quarterbacks waiting in the wings for when the starter gets hurt or is sick. Even your best quarterback attending every QB camp known to man isn't going to throw to a streaking wideout and hit him with pinpoint accuracy on the outside tip of his sideline shoulder on a 25 yard sideline streak route like Tech consistently does ( impossible to defend). But what we youth football coaches can learn from Leach is to compete, you don't have the biggest and most athletic team in your league, but you have to be different. You don't have to have 60 football plays in your playbook, but what you do need are complementary plays that you execute to absolute perfection. That's why my teams run the Single Wing offense and why we have a limited number of 100% complementary play series we perfect every season.

Tech still has a tough row to hoe with Oklahoma State up next, but they are always fun to watch. Heck if Tech hadn't converted on a 4th and 6 from their own 35 against Nebraska 2 weeks ago in a narrow win, we may not even be having this conversation. But Mike Leach thinks 4th and 6 is a makeable down even from his own 35. When his "no play" failed, Crabtree delivered with a "broken play" 65 yard TD catch, which was the difference maker in the game. Mike Leach is an enigma.

Youth Football the Texas Tech Mike Leach Way

Dave Cisar-

Dave is a Nike "Coach of the Year" Designate and speaks nationwide at Coaches Clinics. His book "Winning Youth Football a Step by Step Plan" was endorsed by Tom Osborne and Dave Rimington. His personal teams using this system to date have won 94% of their games in 5 Different Leagues.

To Sign up for his free tips and drills newsletter or to view 325 free youth football coaching tips go to: Football Plays

A Video Taste of Dave's teams: Youth Football Plays [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-699579089183056593&q=youth+football&ei=6CJRSJ-gEJOg4ALIt5W8DA&hl=en]

Tennis Shoes

When you were a kid you had at least two pair of shoes. One pair was your "good" one your mother referred to as your "dress shoes," while the other pair was your "everyday" shoes, most probably of athletic nature. These shoes, specially designed for sporting activities, were given the generic name "athletic shoes," which is still considered a category that consists of running, basketball and tennis footwear. Originally introduced as part of the sporting apparel, athletic shoes are now worn as part of a casual look. Going for a walk, running across the shore, or playing outdoor games, are examples of the instances that people of all ages select to wear them. But how did all begin and why do more and more different types of athletic shoes being produced?

It is much more than the supply and demand curve, but it all comes down to that. Modern sneakers have beginnings in various sports shoes. One ancestor is the expensive British upper-class footwear of the late 1800s, used for lawn tennis, cricket, croquet, and at the beach. While at the turn of the twentieth century, football and baseball players wore essentially the same shoe type as before, the leather high-topped lace-ups with leather soles and cleats, the need to have footwear that provided a good grip onto the ground was the reason why a variety of lightweight shoes were introduced. Special shoes that would allow runners to move and lead to positive results, like increasing their speed and thus, their competitiveness, were ordered. Thus, as the need for greater speed increased, so did the athletic shoes' number and styles. By refining and improving the shoes' traction, sportswear companies created a subcategory in sports apparel; the shoemaking industry that is now worth billions. The sneakers' demand emerged as athletes drew spectators to games and scientists invented new ways to accelerate human limits and improve athletes' scores.

Football Cleat

The dictionary defines the athletic shoe or sneaker as "a sports shoe usually made of canvas and having soft rubber soles; also called tennis shoe." As today, uppers can be of leather, nylon, canvas, plastic, or combinations of these, and the shoe bottom surface has come to include any type of natural or synthetic rubber soles, tennis shoes are not equivalent to any other type of athletic shoe types. Sure, the term "tennis shoes" has become a generic term for athletic shoes, but this should not give the wrong impression to people that all sports shoes are the same or that one should wear them interchangeably regardless of the game/sport played. Running shoes on a tennis court, for example, are a sprained or broken ankle waiting to happen. Running shoes are built with a thick, soft heel to maximize cushioning for straight-forward, heel-to-toe foot impacts. Playing tennis is all about sudden starts and stops, as well as moving quickly from side to side. The trouble is that, during extreme stopping, cornering, and pivoting, if the sneaker's outsole is too rigid, the tennis player loses contact with the playing surface, which results in a loss of footing. In addition, since runners do not usually move sharply sideways, while "on the run," the running shoe sole is totally unsuitable for the sideways movements a tennis player makes.

Tennis Shoes

From Keds, which were the first tennis shoes in 1917, to today's extraordinary designs and expensive advertising budgets, shoemakers continue to design shoes with an eye towards accommodating various types and shapes of feet. When one adds to this equation, the trendy variety of styles, the outcome speaks for itself. There is always an option available for our feet will feel comfortable while playing a friendly match of tennis.

Tennis Shoes

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Tennis, Recreation [http://recreationsource.net/], and Games [http://fortheloveofgames.net/]

Hammer the Hamstrings For Extreme Football Speed

The question about how to get faster for football come into my inbox at least a dozen times per week. I thought we had the whole football speed thing figured out, but, recently I was forced to train in a commercial gym...sadly, this was a wake-up call that most football players have ZERO idea how to get faster.

It's rare that I step into a commercial gym to do any football strength and speed training with my football players these days. But, on the rare occasion that I am forced to go into one of these creep-joints, I'm always struck by two strange phenomena's:

Football Cleat

1. Most guys look like light bulbs; all upper body, no legs

Hammer the Hamstrings For Extreme Football Speed

2. The leg training done by most "athletes" is an embarrassment

The great majority of the leg training effort is going into leg curls, leg extensions, leg presses and maybe the occasional squat...usually done with no more than 225-lbs bar. This may be fine for the average guy, but, for those football players who ask, "How can I get faster for football, you need to train the legs hard and heavy.

Most football players should take a page from the playbook of Powerlifter's training: you must absolutely attack the hamstrings and glutes! The oft-mentioned posterior chain (PC) is of utmost importance to athletic ability. The hamstrings, glutes, and lower back are key to being fast and lifting heavy weights in the Deadlift and Squat. Any football player can get faster and more explosive, yet many never do.

These athletes usually neglect training the muscles most responsible for speed development: the muscles of the PC.

In training the hamstrings, a few important points must be emphasized.

· The hamstring group is made up of the biceps femoris, the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles. All must be worked hard for maximum strength and speed.

· The hamstring muscles have two functions: bending the knee and hip extension; both motions must be trained.

· The hams are made up of a high percentage of fast twitch muscle fibers and therefore must be trained heavily. These muscles respond better to lower reps - even as low as singles!

· Because of the high amount of fast twitch fibers, the hamstrings respond well to eccentric work.1

· If they've been neglected, the hamstrings will have to be worked more often until they catch up to the powerful quads.

Keep these points in mind when designing a training program for the hamstrings.
The following 12 exercises will hit the hams and glutes hard and heavy.

Choose one to three of them and add them to your training. I suggest putting in one of these movements after your main leg exercise of the day (i.e. Deadlifts or Squats). Shoot for 4 - 6 sets of 4 - 6 reps per movement.

Glute-Ham Raises

You will need a special Glute-ham bench for this exercise. The movement looks something like a back hyperextension except that your legs are bent at the knee and you pull your self up with the hamstrings, glutes, and even the calves by pressing your feet into the toe board and flexing the hamstrings hard. Every gym should have one of these. For more info on this exercise and the Glute-ham bench, check out some of the writings of the Westside Barbell Club, who really popularized this exercise.

The Glute-Ham raise can be done after ever session if using only bodyweight. Or, you can add weight and use it like any barbell exercise. This is one of those rare movements where I doubt you can ever do too much.

Romanian Deadlifts (RDLs)

RDLs are similar to a straight-leg deadlift, with the exception that instead of simply bending at the waist and pulling up on the bar, you have the hips travel backwards when bending over. For many, the SLDL neglects the hamstrings while overworking the lower back. This is especially true for short-leg, long-torso lifters.

The RDL will probably do more for your hamstrings and glutes than any other exercise, with the exception of Deadlifts. It really is a very underrated movement for both athletic performance and for aesthetic appearance. The RDL can do wonders for those wishing to get faster for football.

Be sure to keep a flat back; you can use both clean and snatch grips for variation. This is a movement where you definitely want to keep the reps low. 4 X 6 is a good set-rep scheme to start with. Really push those hips back, stretch those hams out, then pop up.
This can be made more difficult by using one DB at a time.

One-Leg Deadlift

I picked up this little gem from Pavel Tsatsouline. This brutal exercise is performed with two dumbbells or Kettlebells. Place the DBs on the other side of the foot of the leg you are working. With a slight bend in the knee, bend forward at the waist and grasp the DBs.

The non-working leg should be well behind you and off the ground. Go as high as you feel comfortable with. Now, with straight arms, pull the DBs up to waist height while dragging the back foot forward until you are standing erect on two feet, with the DBs at waist height.

This is a great movement to improve football speed because it works the hamstrings one leg at a time, very similar to running.

Snatch Grip Deadlifts

I got an email the other day asking why I advocate using the Snatch Grip Deadlift (SnDL) so much and why not other variations.

Well, there are several reasons, however, all variations of Deadlifting should be used in your football strength program... especially if you want to be as fast as possible!

· Snatch Grip Deads just force you into a lower position, thus forcing the hamstrings and glutes to work harder. Plus, the benefit of the work the entire back gets.

Whenever you can involve the hamstrings more, the better off you are for building leg strength and especially for speed! If your hams are weak, forget being fast.

I would use straps on a SnDL because of the wide grip.

But, don't go crazy wide on the grip. I'm 6′1 and my index fingers are about an inch outside of the outer rings on a York bar. I know you've probably seen O-lifters use the collar to collar grip, but, even when I competed in O-lifting, I didn't go out this far.

Some would say to simply pull off of a platform, which is fine, but it's a different movement. Part of the fun of SnDLs is how hard you must also force your abs to work to keep you from falling forward. This exercise really teaches you to sit back when pulling from the ground; an invaluable lesson for anyone wanting to improve their Deadlift.

Snatch Grip Deadlifts from a 4-inch Box

Let's take a brutally effective exercise and make it even harder by performing it on a 4" box (or block of wood). This exercise will absolutely terrorize the hamstrings and glutes...with a nice added bonus of hitting the upper back and traps quite nicely. One thing you'll notice with RDLs and SnDLs is that the upper back and traps are usually pretty sore the day after. Anytime you have to hold a heavy bar and then do multiple reps in a pulling movement, the traps and upper back have to work hard to stabilize the load.

The 4" box will create a greater range of motion but isn't so high as to alter body mechanics significantly. If you find your form breaking down at 4", try using a 3" box.

Focus on sitting back and letting the hams and glutes do all the work. If there's one mistake I see over and over again on this movement, it's that when the weights start getting heavy, lifters start using their arms...that is a recipe for disaster. If you find that you are arm pulling, lower the weight a bit and build back up.

This exercise can also be used as a Max Effort (very heavy) movement or it can be used as an accessory lift.

Band Leg Curls

This is a great movement to train the hams in a dynamic way. The bands will help train the legs to stay strong through the entire range of motion because the exercise will get harder as you get closer to the finish.

Choke a band around the uprights of the rack, sit on a bench and place the band around the back of your ankles. The band should have some tension while your legs are extended. Now, contract the hamstrings hard and do a fast, explosive leg curl.

Band leg curls can also be done one leg at a time. 3 - 4 sets of 8 - 12 is sufficient.

Dynamic Lunges

Lunges have gotten a bad rap because most dummies at the gym use a 3-inch stride and 2lb DBs. However, when done with more moderate-heavy weights and in a Dynamic (explosive) fashion, the lunge can be a tremendous tool in your strength training toolbox.

· The lunge should be a fairly long stride, and instead of simply stepping forward and then back, once your foot hits the ground on the forward stride, explode back up.

Lunges performed in this manner are also effective because the athlete actually opens and closes the kinetic chain while performing the movement, and the lunge also helps the athlete become strong in supporting a high percentage of his bodyweight on one leg, very similar to running.

Don't be afraid to go heavy on the lunge. No one said you must do them for sets of 15! 3 or 4 sets of 4 - 8 will hit the hamstrings and glutes thoroughly.

Dynamic Medicine Ball Leg Curl

This exercise works great as a finisher and also helps develop explosiveness in the legs.

Begin by lying face down on the ground with your legs together. Have a partner roll the medicine ball down the back of your legs.

When you feel the ball get to your ankles or the backs of your shoes, explode the ball back up to your partner with a leg curl-type motion. It may take a few reps to get it perfect, but when you do, the ball will fly up and back toward your head and your partner should catch the ball at about waist height. This is a great movement to train the hamstrings in an explosive, curling manner. If you are prone to strained or pulled hamstrings when running, give these a shot. You can up the reps on this exercise; sets of 8 - 10 would be advisable.

Please make sure to get a partner who can catch the ball.

Towel Leg Curl

You can probably tell by now that I'm not a huge fan of regular leg curls. The machines are just so limited in their movement patterns and resistance.

However, you've noticed I included three leg curl variations in this article. Why? Well, as I said in the beginning, both aspects of the hamstring function must be worked. But, the machine leg curl is for weenies. Both the Band Leg Curl and Medicine Ball Leg Curl are great for training the hams in a dynamic fashion, but the resistance is limited.

Enter the Towel Leg Curl. Lie face down on a bench with your legs hanging off the edge. Have a partner wrap a towel around the backs of your ankles; now do a leg curl.

This method is superior for several reasons:

1) Variable resistance: you can have your partner increase or decrease the load as needed

2) Increased resistance during the eccentric phase; simply have your partner pull harder during the lowering portion of the lift and you fight against the resistance.

3) Variable paths: you can go wide or narrow, one leg or two, during the exercise. Switching up the path of the movement will do wonders for complete development.

The Towel Leg Curl can be done for medium (4 - 8) reps. 3 - 4 sets done can be done toward the end of the session.

Kettlebell Swings

Swings are one of the best, yet most misused, exercises to train the hamstring. The Swing is performed by most as a Squatting-type movement. This style was popularized by those using the Swing as a fat loss tool, which, when done for high reps, is quite effective.

However, we are after performance and hamstring strength here, so that is not the style we'll be using. The true KB Swing; one that is done for speed, strength, and muscle development is a much longer range of motion with a definitive "snap" at the bottom of the movement.

Notice in the video below that at the bottom, when the K-bells are all the way back, I snap them forward. It's that reversal of momentum that is of the utmost importance! If you are doing a slow swing, you are doing a worthless swing. Make sure you pop the hips on the way up to involve the glutes as well.

Don't be afraid to go heavy on these. It is not written in stone that you have to do ultra high reps. Actually, you should shoot for 3 -4 sets of 4 - 6 reps. They now make Kettlebells up to 106lbs, so that should keep even the strongest among us working hard. A dumbbell can be used if no Kettlebells are available.

With football players, I've found this movement to be great when performed as a warm-up to a Max Effort (heavy) leg exercise. It's great in that situation for waking the hams and glutes up and letting them know there's work to be done!

Swings can also be used after a heavy movement, on speed day or at the end of a session as a finisher.

Upright Sled Walks

Pulling sleds and pushing Prowlers is a great way to condition, but it can also be used as an alternative way to develop the legs. When most pull or push a sled, they do so on an angle. In order to target the hamstrings you must pull from a very upright position.

This is best done while wearing a harness, but can be done by attaching the strap to a lifting belt. When you begin pulling, keep your body as upright as possible and rather than just walk, use your feet to "pull" the ground toward you. To see this in action, next time you walk your dog, get behind him and notice how dogs (all animals) step and pull the ground towards them.

You'll know if you are doing this correctly because when you do you'll feel an intense tightening in your hams.

Sled walks can be done in place of any of the other hamstring/glute exercises listed above. Start with 3 trips of 30-yards, and try to work up to 6. At that point, add weight.

Sprints

If there's one thing that makes the cardio crowd gasp in horror more than me telling them I think cardio is a waste of time, it's when I tell them that instead of jogging on some God-forsaken treadmill, I go out and sprint!

Sprints are the long lost training tool that can improve your conditioning, torch bodyfat, and develop a killer set of hamstrings. Even if you are not an athlete, sprinting is still a great idea. The very act of sprinting places a tremendous and unique stress on the hams, glutes, and hips. Just take a look at the legs of any sprinter or NFL Cornerback, and you'll get a good idea of what sprinting can do for your legs!

Remember, for the purposes of hamstring development, we will keep the sprints short. We are not after conditioning here (that's another story for another article).

Start with 4 - 5 sprints of 30 yards. Build up to 8. Then, you can start playing with distances; try 30's, 40's, 50's, and even some Backpedal Sprints. If you haven't sprinted in a while, start slow! You may not feel much while you're out there running, but sprinting can cause big time soreness.

Treat sprints like the Upright Sled Walks: they can be done as an alternative to any of the other hamstring exercises or they can be given their own day. I've found that most athletes like to knock the sprints out right after their dynamic (speed) lower day. Some like to do them at the end of a heavy leg session. Experiment and see what works best for you.

There you have it. If your hamstring training is lacking pick two or three of these movements, put them in your program and watch your hamstrings produce Extreme Football Speed!

Hammer the Hamstrings For Extreme Football Speed

To get Free Football Training Reports please visit The Explosive Football Training Program [http://www.explosivefootballtraining.com/explosive-football-strength-training-program] and Explosive Football Training [http://www.explosivefootballtraining.com]

Steven Morris is a Football Strength & Speed Coaching Specalist in the Philadelphia and South Jersey areas and owner of Explosive Football Training. He has been lifting weights for over 15 years and has been helping people achieve their fitness and strength goals for over a decade.