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So We Lost: How Soccer Fans Fall Short in the Canadian Game

There is a deep irony in Canadian soccer criticism, where the real problem is with the critics themselves. Earlier this year, our Canadian Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams suffered disappointing defeats in major international tournaments. The Men’s team exited the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the Quarter Final stage after losing 3-2 to Haiti, and [...]

By | October 11th, 2019|2019, Coaching, For Parents, Matches|Comments Off on So We Lost: How Soccer Fans Fall Short in the Canadian Game

The One Most Overlooked Injury Risk Factor in Female Soccer – and What Coaches Can Do About It

Female soccer players are – and have always been – at a high risk of sustaining injuries, especially during their teenage years. Numerous causal factors for this high injury risk have been described and documented in scientific literature, among them the anatomical changes that occur in females’ bodies post-puberty, such as a widening of the [...]

By | September 18th, 2018|2018, Coaching, Fitness, For Coaches, For Parents, Injuries, Science|0 Comments

In Soccer – As In Life – it Doesn’t Pay to ‘Go With Your Gut’

Imagine this scenario: you coach two players who compete for a starting spot at right fullback. In the past four pre-season matches, both players have had equal playing time, and each has started two out of the four matches. One of the players – let’s call him player “A” – has played well overall in [...]

By | September 4th, 2018|2018, Coaching, For Coaches, Matches, Science|0 Comments

Gross Domestic Product is the Best Predictor of Performance in the FIFA / Coca Cola World Rankings – BUT is it the True Secret to Success in International Soccer?

In what I hope will be my final PhD coursework assignment, I was recently required to collect a set of data, and then analyse it using MATLAB, a multi-paradigm numerical computing software used by computer programmers, and biomechanics students like me. Naturally, I decided to collect some data on soccer. My rationale for choosing the [...]

By | August 27th, 2018|2018, For Coaches, Matches, Science|0 Comments

3 Ways Fitness Helped Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

On Sunday, July 15th, in front of a packed crowd at Moscow’s Luzhinski Stadium, the French National Soccer Team won their second FIFW World Cup, beating Croatia – who were making their first-ever appearance at an international final of any kind – by a final score of 4-2. It was an entertaining match which included [...]

By | July 23rd, 2018|2018, Coaching, For Coaches, Matches|0 Comments

3 Things You MUST Do If You Are Injured – Gols Video Blog #70: 1/26/2018

Hi Everyone, Happy New Year! In this edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog, I discuss soccer injuries, what soccer players should do if and when they are injured, and we provide specific suggestions to keep players integrated into training and match play when they cannot fully participate. Hope you like it and as [...]

By | January 26th, 2018|2018, Coaching, For Coaches, For Parents, Injuries|0 Comments

3 Ways that Major League Soccer and Toronto FC can Capitalise on Their Recent Success to Improve the Performance of the United States and Canadian Men’s National Teams – Part 3

Exactly one month ago, on Saturday, December 9th, in front of a packed crowd at BMO Field, Toronto FC defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-0 to win the 2017 MLS Cup.   Their win was decisive; they dominated the possession, defended well, controlled the rhythm of the game, created more scoring opportunities and capitalised on enough of [...]

By | January 8th, 2018|2017, Matches|0 Comments

Using Low “Passing Centrality” in Possession to Beat the World’s Best Soccer Team – Soccer Fitness Video Blog #69: 1/7/2018

Hi Everyone, Happy New Year! In this edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog, I discuss the recent El Classico match between Real Madrid (the reigning 2016 and 2017 UEFA Champions League champions and 2017 La Liga champions) and Barcelona, on December 23rd, 2017. Barcelona won this match 3-0 and dominated from the outset. [...]

By | January 7th, 2018|For Coaches, For Parents, Matches|0 Comments

It's Time to STOP "Holiday" Soccer Camps! Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog #67: 12/31/2017

Hi Everyone, I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Holiday season! In keeping with the Holiday theme, this edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog discusses the prevalence of "Holiday" soccer camps that run throughout the December/January Christmas break, and whether or not it is worthwhile for young soccer players to participate [...]

By | December 31st, 2017|Fitness, For Coaches, For Parents|0 Comments

3 Ways that Major League Soccer and Toronto FC can Capitalize on Their Recent Success to Improve the Performance of the United States and Canadian Men’s National Teams – Part 2

On Saturday, December 9th, in front of a packed crowd at BMO Field, Toronto FC defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-0 to win the 2017 MLS Cup.   Their win was decisive; they dominated the possession, defended well, controlled the rhythm of the game, created more scoring opportunities and capitalized on enough of them to ensure victory. [...]

By | December 30th, 2017|For Coaches, Matches|2 Comments