Football Boots (Soccer Cleats) The History

Football Boots: Earliest Recorded - King Henry VIII in 1526

King Henry VIII's football boots were listed within the Great Wardrobe of 1526, a shopping list of the day. They were made by his personal shoemaker Cornelius Johnson in 1525, at a cost of 4 shillings, the equivalent of £100 in today's money. Little is known about them, as there is no surviving example, but the royal football boots are known to have been made of strong leather, ankle high and heavier than the normal shoe of the day.

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Football Boots - The 1800's

Football Boots (Soccer Cleats) The History

Moving forward 300 years saw football developing and gaining popularity throughout Britain, but still remaining as an unstructured and informal pastime, with teams representing local factories and villages in a burgeoning industrial nation. Players would wear their hard, leather work boots, which were long laced and steel toe-capped as the first football boots. These football boots would also have metal studs or tacks hammered into them to increase ground grip and stability.

As laws become integrated into the game in the late 1800's, so saw the first shift in football boots to a slipper (or soccus) style shoe, with players of the same team starting to wear the same boots for the first time. Laws also allowed for studs, which had to be rounded. These leather studs, also known as cleats, were hammered into the early football boots, which for the first time moved away from the earlier favoured work boots. These football boots weighed 500g and were made of thick, hard leather going up the ankle for increased protection. The football boots would double in weight when wet and had six studs in the sole. The football boot had arrived...

Football Boots - The 1900's to 1940's

Football boot styles remained relatively constant throughout the 1900's up to the end of the second world war. The most significant events in the football boot world in the first part of the twentieth century were the formation of several football boot producers who are still making football boots today, including Gola (1905), Valsport (1920) and Danish football boot maker Hummel (1923).

Over in Germany, Dassler brothers Adolf and Rudolf formed the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) in Herzogenaurach in 1924 and began producing football boots in 1925 which had 6 or 7 replaceable, nailed studs, which could be changed according to the weather conditions of play.

Football Boots - The 1940's to 1960's

Football boot styles shifted significantly after the end of the second world war, as air travel became cheaper and more international fixtures were played. This saw the lighter, more flexible football boot being worn by the South Americans being thrust onto the world stage, and their ball skills and technical ability amazed all those that watched them. Football boot production shifted to producing a lighter football boot with the focus on kicking and controlling the ball rather than simply producing a piece of protective footwear.

1948 saw the formation of the Adidas company by Adolf (Adi) Dassler after a falling out with his brother that was to form the cornerstone of football boot maker rivalry for the preceding years up to today. Brother Rudolf founded the beginnings of the Puma company in 1948, quickly producing the Puma Atom football boot. This led to interchangeable screw in studs made of plastic or rubber for the first time, reputedly by Puma in the early 1950's but the honour is also claimed by Adidas (Read the Story on Footy-Boots). Football boots of the time were still over the ankle, but were now being made of a mixture of synthetic materials and leather, producing and even lighter shoe for the players of the day to display their skills with.

Football Boots - The 1960's

The technological developments of the sixties bought a momentous step-change in design which saw the lower cut design introduced for the first time in football history. This change allowed players to move faster and saw the likes of Pele wearing Puma football boots in the 1962 World Cup Finals. Adidas, though, quickly emerged as the market leader, a position it claims until the present day. In the World Cup Finals of 1966, an astonishing 75% of players wore the Adidas football boot.

The 1960's also saw several other football boot makers joining the market with their own brands and styling including Mitre (1960), Joma (1965) and Asics (1964).

Football Boots - The 1970's

The seventies began with the iconic 1970 World Cup Finals which saw a sublime Brazilian team lift the trophy with Pele again at the helm, this time wearing the Puma King football boot. The decade itself will be remembered for the way in which football boot sponsorship took off, where players were being paid to wear only one brand. In terms of design and style, technological advancements produced lighter boots, and a variety of colours, including for the first time, the all-white football boot.

In 1979, Adidas produced the world's best selling football boot the Copa Mundial, built of kangaroo leather and built for speed and versatility. Although Adidas remained dominant, several other football boot makers joined the fray including Italian football boot maker Diadora (1977).

Football Boots - The 1980's

The greatest development of recent times in the design and technology of football boots was developed in the eighties by former player Craig Johnston, who created the Predator football boot, which was eventually released by Adidas in the 1990's. Johnston designed the Predator to provide greater traction between football boot and the ball, and football boot and the ground. The design allowed for greater surface areas to come into contact with the ball when being hit by the football boot, with a series of power and swerve zones within the striking area allowing the player to create greater power and swerve when hitting the "sweet spots". The eighties also saw football boots for the first time being made by English company Umbro (1985), Italy's Lotto and Spain's Kelme (1982).

Football Boots - 1990's

1994 saw Adidas release the Craig Johnston designed Predator with its revolutionary design, styling and technology making it an instant and lasting success. The Predator by now featured polymer extrusion technologies and materials allowing for a more flexible sole as well as the conventional studs being replaced by a bladed design covering the sole, giving a more stable base for the player. In 1995 Adidas released their bladed outsole traxion technology which are tapered shaped blades. Puma hit back in 1996 with a foam-free midsole football boot, known as Puma Cell Technology, to which Adidas responded again, this time with wedge shaped studs in the same year. The nineties saw new football boot producers Mizuno release their Mizuno Wave in 1997. Other new football boots came from Reebok (1992) and Uhlsport (1993) with other companies also joining the ever increasing, lucrative and competitive market place. Most significantly the nineties saw the entry of Nike, the world's biggest sportswear producer, immediately making an impact with its Nike Mercurial soccer boot (1998), weighing in at just 200g.

Football Boots - 2000+

As technology advanced still further, the application of the new research and developments were seen in the years into the new millennium right up to the present day and this has led to a reinforcement of the market positions of the big three football boot makers and sellers, Puma, Nike and Adidas (incorporating Reebok since 2006). Fortunately, there still remains room in the market place for the smaller producer that does not have the big money endorsement contracts at its disposal, such as Mizuno, Diadora, Lotto, Hummel and Nomis.

Recent developments since 2000 have seen the Nomis Wet control technology producing a sticky boot (2002), the Craig Johnston Pig Boot (2003), shark technology by Kelme (2006) and the exceptional design of the Lotto Zhero Gravity laceless football boots (2006) all of which underpin the successes that these smaller makers can achieve by producing specialised and technologically advanced football boots that provide a distinct differentiation from the mass produced products of the big three. Laser technology has also helped to produce the world's first fully customised football by Prior 2 Lever, which is perhaps the most exciting and innovative of the recent developments.

Current favourite football boots include Adidas' F50, Tunit and Predator; Nike's Mercurial Vapor III, Air Zoom Total 90s and Tiempo Ronaldinho, Reebok Pro Rage and Umbro X Boots.

Football Boots - The Future

As the debate rages with regards the lack of protection given by modern football boots, and the repercussion in terms of player injuries, there seems little to suggest that the major manufacturers are going to give up their quest for the lightest football boot for a more protective one. The proliferation of big money sponsorship deals, namely Nike Ronaldinho, Adidas with David Beckham and Reebok with Thierry Henry, has become a huge factor that drives the success and sales of a football boot maker, but is viewed as at a cost of injury and stagnation in football boot research and development. All we can predict for the future is integration with sensor technology, lighter and more powerful football boots and more outlandish designs and styles.

Football boots have travelled a long way since King Henry strutted onto the fields of England in the 1500's: the football boot has gone from an everyday protective apparel to a highly designed and cutting edge technological product which is a vital part of the player's equipment. Whatever the colour, the design, the style or the player - we love footy boots!

Football Boots (Soccer Cleats) The History

Footy-Boots.com

What is Plyometric Training?

Plyometric training is a form of exercise training designed to increase muscular power. Athletes such as basket ball players, football players and boxers have incorporated plyometric training into their training regimen, adding explosive power to their game. Athletes can gain a tremendous advantage using plyometric training in their workouts, provided the exercises are done safely.

Plyometrics training is a high intensity work out and only well conditioned athletes should use them as a training tool. Even then athletes should be under the supervision of a qualified coach or trainer. It is also suggested athletes check themselves for signs of injury and over training.

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Contractions are what cause muscles to move. Athletes have observed after an eccentric their muscle contractions are much more powerful. An eccentric contraction is when a muscle is contracting even while being stretched. This principal allows boxers to punch harder and athletes to jump higher and run faster.

What is Plyometric Training?

The main focus of plyometrics training is to shorten the time between stretching and contracting muscles. The exercises required take the form of explosive work outs such as jumps hops and bounds which in turn cultivate explosive bursts of speed and power.

Plyometric shoes are used to increase the athletes speed, quickness and power for running faster and jumping higher.

Before doing a plyometric work it is vital that the athlete do a proper and thorough warm up. The eccentric contractions are the same contractions that can result in pulled muscle injuries such as pulled groin and hamstring muscles. It is also essential the athlete be in good condition and well monitored. It is easy to perform these exercises wrong and end in injury.

In conclusion, plyometric training is stretching muscles while they are contracting, teaching them to have and explosive contraction after the muscles are stretched. These workouts properly executed will increase speed, power and quickness, adding to an athletes on field performance. Athletes should first check with their coach or trainer to see which exercises would best suit their program for plyometric training.

What is Plyometric Training?

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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:

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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.

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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

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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:

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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

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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.

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