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Goalkeeping

Announcing the Rush Goalkeeping Curriculum!

This article was written by Sean Connors, Rush Soccer’s Global Goalkeeping Director.

The main objective of this Goalkeeping Curriculum is to provide all Rush Clubs with the structure and framework to best teach the goalkeepers in their club. The goalkeeper position is unique within soccer and needs to be treated differently than the rest of the team. By providing goalkeepers additional and specific training outside of regular team training, clubs are making a commitment to individual improvement which will directly benefit the entire club’s success.

CLICK HERE OR IN THE IMAGE BELOW TO CHECK THE GK CURRICULUM!

This curriculum gives advice about how to best coach different ages, specifically addressing physical and mental needs. When putting together GK training groups we advocate grouping players based on their ability in the goal rather than by age. Coaches still need to be aware of players’ individual needs, but grouping based on ability will push the level of the goalkeepers and encourage the development of younger talented GKs. This will also allow the club to demand specific competencies of their goalkeepers as part of their development.

Please also take some time to acquaint yourself with our history, goals, policies & procedures, programs & services: The Rush Way, and if you need any additional help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].

Enjoy the process of developing goalkeepers! Remember that the position will affect children differently. The weight and responsibility of being the goalkeeper can be a burden for some. The coaches must create a safe environment that allows learning and growth, and also address how to handle directly impacting the success of the team as a whole. Teach with passion and have fun!

We are The Rush, all together.

December 21, 2021

Futsal · News · Players

Toe Poke, A Finishing Art

This article was written by Chris Rue, Rush Soccer’s Futsal Manager.

Scoring and denying goals are the main missions during a match. So much time is spent on the training ground in the buildup phase to create chances and deservedly so, but how often are sessions void of individual guidance in techniques to put the ball in the net?

Scoring goals is extremely difficult and an artform that few possess which is why these players are coveted the world over. Master finishers have an innate understanding of where to be and what technique to apply in order to score. One of the more recent finishing trends that has been employed is the near post, top corner blast by the keeper’s ear. For a long time, strikers have been taught to go across the GK to the far post, but this new technique has become quite effective. Sergio Aguero highlights will give prime examples. The premise is to surprise the keeper. The modern GK is big and agile. When they can see and read the ball strike, the save is imminent unless a deflection has occurred.

Almost a forgotten technique, and one that futsal players are adept at, is the toe poke. The surprise element of this technique cannot be overstated. The speed at which this can be applied is why it is so effective. Minimal back lift does not allow the GK to get set and typically catches them off guard. Romario, from Brazil, was a master of the toe poke. He had the ability to move to his left and quickly apply a right foot poke to slip the ball past the keeper. He used it with such regularity and effectiveness in his professional career, surely, he had massive repetitions using this technique on the futsal court in his developing years.

During your next training session, introduce the toe poke finish and work on the intricacies of the technique and when to apply it. Encourage it in your futsal sessions. The rewards of teaching this will pay massive dividends in your team’s ability to, as former announcer Tommy Smyth would say, “bulge the old onion bag”.

December 8, 2021

News

Train @ Home Winter Edition: Renewed & Ready To C-Rush It!

December 13th – Save The Date!

Are you Passionate? Accountable? Tenacious? If so, join hundreds of Rush Players for the Fifth Edition of our Train @ Home Program! Next Monday, December 13th, we will kick off our 12-Week Winter Edition, with brand new, exclusive top quality content for the Rush Nation.

Get BETTER, FITTER, SMARTER, TOUGHER and BRAVER! Develop and improve your ball mastery skills, fitness, game understanding, mental toughness/high performance and goalkeeper training through our five Tracks.

This cycle will also have World and Club Leaderboards, dynamic throughout the program, in which we will focus on rewarding the consistency of the player and giving them the opportunity to compete against other Rush players from around the world.

SUBSCRIBE NOW! As a Rush Player you count on special discounts, contact your club directors to obtain you discount code. Take a glance at the program watching the video above and/or learn more through this program presentation document. Contact [email protected] for any inquiries.

No matter the rain, the snow, nor the heat of the summer. We keep training!

November 27, 2021

Goalkeeping · News

Using Video To Improve Goalkeeper Training Sessions

This article was written by Sean Connors, Rush Soccer’s Global Goalkeeping Director.

In a world where video is now everywhere, video should be a part of Goalkeeper training to improve feedback and learning!

In this podcast I was joined by Jay Cooney; Philadelphia Union; Director of Video Analysis and former Goalkeeper Coach at the University of Stanford, NWSL, and WUSA teams.

“I used to use the other goalkeepers to teach. You watching my video of what I was doing wrong helped you more than watching yourself. Have them dissect the problem themselves of the other goalkeepers. At times they can learn more from each other than they could from me.”
Jay Cooney.

Using iPhones, or iPads can provide immediate resource and proof of what is exactly happening on the field to GKs of all ages. A simple set up using a tripod and a device (camera, iPhone, iPad) mirrors what is being used at the highest levels of soccer when recording Goalkeepers. Having a camera eye level gives a real view and replicates what GKs are seeing during live action. By using an iPad it provides a great screen to be referenced right there at the field in the moment it happens.

“The video of a training session for goalkeepers has to be reviewed within twelve hours. It’s more impactful if it is right there on the field”, Jay specified.

Too often coaches will film training or games and the video is only seen by the coach! If the film never leaves your computer and the feedback doesn’t make it into the head of the goalkeeper, what’s the point! The objective of taking film is to help provide feedback and improve the play of the goalkeeper. They are the focus on the process.

For more in-depth thoughts on using video in training and maximizing the effectiveness, enjoy the Podcast with Sean Connors; Rush Soccer Global Goalkeeping Director and Jay Cooney; Philadelphia Union; Director of Video Analysis!

November 23, 2021

News · Players

Juggling Club: The Linski Brothers, From Rush Canada To The World!

Alex and Daniel challenged themselves and reached a whole new level. Between both, they did over 4500 Juggles and Keep Ups! Check their amazing records, which are already part of our Leaderboards.

Hundreds of Rush Players keep working hard to push themselves and continue to improve. In this opportunity, the Juggling Club received two amazing videos from new players: the Linski brothers, from Rush Canada!

Alex and Daniel sent their Juggling Records and, between both, they did more than 4500 juggles and keep ups! They are now part of the Elite Division, in which Alex -2498 juggles- is on the 7th place and Daniel -2071- reached the 11th position.

Oh, and they are both teammates of the current Record Holder, Luka Mandic. Three amazing players, all in the same team. This shows great consistency and desire to be their best version! Congratulations to Rush Canada, coach Davor Cepo and, of course, the Linski brothers!

Send your Juggling Video and win awards! See Below Alex and Daniel’s Juggling videos:

ALEX LINSKI (RUSH CANADA 2009B) – 2498 JUGGLES/KEEP UPS

DANIEL LINSKI (RUSH CANADA 2009B) – 2071 JUGGLES/KEEP UPS:

November 19, 2021

Futsal · News

Sole Of The Game

Written by Chris Rue, Rush Soccer’s Global Futsal Manager.

In a recent MLS Next U19 match, a defender drove an instep penetrating pass to a checking striker. The striker effortlessly stopped the ball using the sole of his foot in stride and rolled it to turn. I looked to my assistant coach and we both nodded in agreement that this kid was a baller. One undisputed fact amongst soccer players that exists, the use of the sole command’s attention. The ability to control the ball with the sole during the chaos of a match is a trait that few youth demonstrate with consistency.

A former coach of mine, and who I have since emulated, used to lob a ball with his hands to a player’s feet as a test. He had an internal barometer to judge a player with this interesting technique. Based on the way the player received the ball was his determining factor of the level of player he was dealing with. Some, he said, would “trap further than he could kick” in an ironic manner consistent with the phrase. Others would settle the ball using the laces to cushion the ball, letting the ball fall to the ground after. Some would juggle the first touch. His belief was the player who deftly pinched the ball using the sole was THE player. He suggested that the player was ready for the next action immediately in this position. Shielding, escape pull back, side roll, and penetrating roll were on for the next action. More importantly, the body shape to produce the trap typically puts the player in an athletic position to begin with, making the next action fluid. He admitted there was a bit of a flaw in this rating system, but he was convinced.

Futsal is all about the mastery of the sole and it translates to the outdoor game considerably well. Jay-Jay Okocha comes to mind. Watch the modern player on TV. Mbappe, Neymar, Ronaldo, all adept with the sole. A few years ago, Zidane, Maradona, Ronaldinho, Riquelme, had mastery of the sole as well. A lot of tight space skill begins with the sole. Futsal provides the repetitions for players to enhance this part of their game and training with the sole should be introduced at an early age. We are not talking toe touches, which are part of most PT’s regimen. Receiving the ball, rolling the ball, pulling the ball back with one foot, a slight movement of the ball to freeze a closing defender are technical aspects that players can train while playing futsal with flats before they are comfortable enough to do with cleats.

Next time at training, toss a ball at a player’s feet and you decide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFhWEKDoSXA

Learn more! Futsal & Futsal Proper: Differences And Benefits Of A Key Development Tool.

November 2, 2021

Coaching · News · Tactical

The Rush Coaching Manual (U13+): Three Zones Game To Press Up High

Find the full ‘Three Zones Pressing Game’ activity on The Rush Coaching Manual!

Play this three zones game to get many repetitions and opportunities to press up high!

GAME PHASE & COLLECTIVE ACTION

DEFENDING, PRESS: Deny Build Up. Regain the ball or prevent opponent from breaking first line of pressure.

ORGANIZATION & DESCRIPTION:

Make a 60 x 44 field with a five yards zone in the middle from one goal to top of the center circle (box width) and divide the players in three teams of five with two goalkeepers.

The game starts with one team playing out of the back. That team needs to keep possession for six seconds (starting to count when the first defending player steps on their zone) to be able to play the ball to the team on the opposite side of the field. The remaining team is in charge of pressing, but can only cross four out of the five players. The remaining player has to stay in the middle zone trying to intercept the ball.

If the team pressing wins the ball back, the five players are allowed to finish it as quickly as possible trying to score in the zone they’re pressing. If they fail to win it back, they reorganize crossing four players to the opposite zone to restart the press. When the ball goes out of bounds, the team that lost it presses on the opposite zone. The team pressing earns points from scoring and the others from managing to escape the press and playing to the other zone.

KEY COACHING POINTS (PICK TWO-THREE MAX FOR ONE SESSION):

Together! Pressing is a collective, team action. When we go, we all go!
Cues to Pressure: Apart from specific situations (like a goal kick), recognize bounces, bad first touches, technically poor players, and opponents playing back to goal as individual cues for pressuring.
No foul! Avoid the foul when you’re pressuring, you’re solving the problem for them when you do.
Lead to ‘hotspots’: Define where we want to lead their play to apply high pressure, where the ‘hotspots’ will be. There are many ways of doing this. That’s up to you coach to decide.
Shadow Press: As the first defender in the press, utilize a curved approach that removes a passing line and offer a pressing direction to the rest of the team. This approaching run most frequently attempt to lead play to the sideline and ‘cut the field in half vertically’ but that’s not a rule and fully depends on the coach’s pressing strategy.
Find the man on the strong side, balance on the weak side: If the first defender ‘cuts the field in halves vertically’, the team behind should quickly identify the strong side (where play is being led to) and the weak side (the opposite side). On the strong side we need to quickly apply pressure over every passing option, while on the weak side we balance, adopting intermediate marking positions.

Find Guided Q&A, Activity Animation and Additional Comments on The Rush Coaching Manual!

October 28, 2021

News

Now Hiring!! Check Rush Soccer’s Job Openings & Career Opportunities

Develop your career within the Rush Nation! Rush is proud to provide our coaches new job openings and career growth opportunities. Below are our current Job Openings available that we are now hiring. Do not hesitate and apply today!

TOURNAMENT OPERATOR – NATIONWIDE

Rush Soccer is currently looking for Tournament Operators to join our staff. These remote, part – time, commissioned positions are a great opportunity for a coach or professional considering making soccer their career. As part of our Tournament Operations Team you will be directly responsible for recruiting teams to participate in Rush Tournaments, organizing the event from start to finish and being on-site to ensure everything runs smoothly. These roles will require the ability to dedicate the time necessary to plan and execute all components of the tournament; typically 5-10 hours a week in the 4 to 6 weeks leading up to the tournament. Additionally, these positions require the ability to travel and to be on-site during the event performing manual and physical tasks. Tournaments may take place over the weekend and occasionally on holidays.

As our Tournament Operator you must possess a solid understanding of the soccer community in the United States and have superior written and verbal communication skills. This position utilizes technology to accomplish tasks and requires knowledge of registration platforms, database systems, G Suite, MS Office, email marketing, tele-conference and a willingness to learn new software and systems. We are looking for candidates who possess superior time management and problem solving skills combined with a strong work ethic and attention to detail. Top candidates will thrive in dynamic environments and have experience in event management.

Our coaches and staff benefit from the best coaching education system in the nation, a worldwide network of coaching colleagues, pro team career pathing for top players and established programming. Are you ready to become part of The Rush? APPLY NOW!

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – NATIONWIDE

The Technical Director role at Rush is the central leadership position both on and off the field. To be considered for our Technical Director roles we are looking for candidates who possess 7 years of coaching experience (at least 2 years at the director level) a minimum of a B level coaching license (A is preferred) and the ability to manage staff (including volunteers). Top candidates will possess experience working with budgeting, exceptional communication skills (both verbal and written), a proven track record of program management, the ability to multi-task and experience growing membership and successful player development. We know our clubs are a vital part of the community and the technical director is typically the face of the club. Must enjoy connecting with community members, networking within the soccer community and getting to know membership and staff.

If you are looking for more than just another job; if you are hungry to join a team of elite coaches with 1 mission around the globe, then your path to victory begins here. Send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] for consideration.

RECREATIONAL DIRECTOR – TWIN CITIES RUSH (Blaine, MN)

If you are passionate about youth soccer and your purpose is to develop next level players our Recreational Director may be your new career home. We are looking for candidates with 5 years of coaching experience; a minimum of a D level coaching license and 5 years playing experience. Program management experience is preferred.

Our Rec Director is a hands-on position developing players, coaches and programs. The ability to manage and train staff including volunteers is key to success in this position. Top candidates will possess exceptional organizational skills and enjoy managing the back office aspects of youth club soccer as well as embracing the active aspect of the position developing our U3-U15 players. Individuals need to be able demonstrate soccer technique and tactics on field to players.

APPLY NOW!

RECREATIONAL DIRECTOR – RUSH UNION (Milton, GA)

We are looking for candidates who possess 5 years playing experience, 3-5 years of coaching experience, a C coaching license and are ready to be part of something bigger. Top candidates will possess exceptional communication skills (both verbal and written). This is an active role teaching the techniques of soccer to young players and developing coaching staff including volunteers.

Our coaches and staff benefit from the best coaching education system in the nation, a worldwide network of coaching colleagues, pro team career pathing for top players and established programming. If you are ready to take your passion for soccer and make developing players your purpose, APPLY NOW!

October 27, 2021

News · Webinars

RAE Presence in Rush Select with Ben Wilbor From Chicago Rush

Pablo Toledo, Rush Soccer’s Sporting Project Director, host an enriching Webinar in which Ben Wilbor, Chicago Rush’s North Director Of Coaching, presented his research on Relative Age Effect (RAE) presence in our Rush Select Program.

“Player development should obviously be at the forefront of our club’s philosophies and our coaching philosophies. What we do to develop them at the younger ages is obviously extremely important. As an organization that provides opportunities for athletes at multiple levels, our aim should be to create an environment that promotes athlete development by providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to be successful”.
Ben Wilbor – Chicago Rush’s North Director Of Coaching.

Ben Wilbor actually said those words by the end of the webinar hosted by our Sporting Project Director, Pablo Toledo, but it seemed like a good starting point to discuss the Relative Age Effect within our club. Ben prepared his thesis researching on the Rush Select Program: “I was recently completing up my Master’s degree and I’ve been looking quite deeply into relative age effects (RAE) and sort of led me to completing this project, which comes from what I want to achieve as a coach, so for me it’s like we as coaches can provide the correct development opportunities for the players that we are coaching. The great part of being part of a national organization such as Rush is obviously having that uniqueness to be able to explore topics such as how RAE can impact our athletes across the nation”.

“RAE is generally most common in athletes between ages 11 and 15. The players I examined for this particular study were the Regional and the National born in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and selected in the 2020 season. To examine the data I used what was called the ‘Chi-Square Goodness of Fit Test’, which allows us to examine the early age distribution of the players that were selected”, he explained.

Ben showed a picture of the Chicago Rush U14 Select team, in which 50% of the 16-player roster were born during the first quarter of the birth year (January/March): “If you look at the physical appearance of some of the athletes it’s notable that the ones born in January, February and March are the taller players within the group. So, it does go with that generalization of the RAE”.

KEY FINDINGS:

242 (43.2%) of athletes born in Q1: 119 of 279 (42.7%) of male athletes born in Q1 and 123 of 281 (43.8%) of female athletes born in Q1.
138 (24.6%) of athletes born in Q2.
109 (19.5%) of athletes born in Q3.
71 (12.7%) of athletes born in Q4.

“Obviously, if we look at it as a whole, the percentages from Q3, Q2, and Q4 are considerably lower than the numbers in Q1, which is consistent with the generalization that the relatively older athletes are commonly identified as more talented”, Ben stated.

PT – “That’s massive anyway. You’re saying that 70% of the players were born in the first half of the year. That’s a big difference!”.

BW – “We can’t expect a player born in December to have the same physical capabilities of a player born in January of the same year because there’s nearly a 12 month difference between the two”.

“The question is: ‘What can we do as coaches, as clubs, as an organization to help these individual players?'”

“So, one of my first suggestions would be to structure biobanded practices within you local club programs. Another solution would be adopting a ‘Flexible Chronological Age Approach‘, this would mean treating each athlete as an individual and pinpoint the ones that would developmentally benefit from playing with an older or younger team. Also, split players by smaller age gaps, for example three or six month age categories as opposed to 12 months”, Ben suggested.

PT – If we think specifically about our Select Program, where do you think the problem is starting? This is the first thing that I thought when I saw your research.

BW – Let me give you an example. I actually coach a player on our Chicago Rush North Program. She’s a 2007, she’s probable nearly six-foot now. Is she an effective player? Yeah, she’s good at what she does for the most part. But would I pick her out from my team as above everybody else? Probably not. Now, the amount of other coaches that come to me after games say ‘hey, that number 13, she’s a real handful’. And I might think she’s had a bad game. But sometimes there’s a perception that, as she is tall and faster than others, so she’s automatically put into that category where she is a talented player. Don’t get me wrong, she is a talent, but she’s maybe not as standout in my eyes as what other coaches are seeing.

Thanks Ben for your research and your time. Hope you find this interesting, coach!

October 25, 2021

News · Players

The Rush Juggling Club: We Have A New Leader On The Royal Division!

Hundreds of Rush Players continue to work hard an improve their Juggling and Keep Up abilities. In this opportunity, we are glad to announce a new leader on the Royal Division!

AVA, FROM 10th TO 1st PLACE!

Ava Wenzel, from Coastal Rush, sent her juggling video with the amazing mark of 487 juggles! This made her the brand new leader of the Royal Division (250-500 Juggles).

Her previous mark -304 Juggles- put her on the 10th place. She didn’t settle, worked hard and now sees her name on the first place!

Ava leads the Royal Division, but we also have the White Division (100-250 Juggles), Black Division (500-1000 Juggles), and Elite Division (+1000 Juggles)! Check all the Leaderboards HERE!

SEND YOUR VIDEO AND WIN AWARDS!

Use this LINK to upload them directly from your phone, tablet or computer. Please add a description to the video letting us know the player name, club, and record.

The best videos, photos, and records will be shared through Rush Soccer’s social media and the Rush Daily Show. Are you the best at tricks? Then show us! We want to see some magic!

October 21, 2021