World Cup Fever – there is no cure!!

This Friday is the first match of the World Cup with home team South Africa playing Mexico at Johannesburg Soccer Stadium and the whole world will be watching. With this being only the third time South Africa has been to the World Cup compared to Mexico’s fourteenth, Mexico is favoured to win, however, anything can happen.

World Cup Fever is highly contagious and it is spreading like wild fire to every village and town throughout the world. You have probably seen it here in Canada. Flags you don’t recognize flying from cars, on front lawns and pasted to apartment windows. Soon random car horns will be heard and in some countries shots will ring out into the night sky. If sport can bring the world together, then football (soccer) is the sport to do it. With 32 teams from all over the globe, everyone can find a team to cheer for.

According to a Statistics Canada Report published in 2008, Soccer is now the number one sport of children age 5 to 14, beating out swimming, hockey, basketball and baseball in participation rates. So why the sudden popularity of Soccer, especially here in Canada? Some say it’s the game’s simplicity that makes it so popular. Others say it is because it transcends wealth. It is played in every country, by every ethnic group and religion. Any skill level can play the game and still enjoy it. You don’t need a proper pitch or even a goal post. No expensive equipment is needed, just a ball and the will to play.

As the world comes together to watch the games, read about some of the heroes of the sport in SIRC’s Collection.

SOCCER SAVIOR. Wahl, Grant, Sports Illustrated 5/24/2010, Vol. 112 Issue 22, p52

The article profiles professional soccer player Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast, who will play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. A discussion of Drogba's athletic ability and popularity, and of the role that he played in helping to end a civil war in the Ivory Coast, is presented.

A GRINGO'S GAME. Segura, Melissa, Sports Illustrated 5/24/2010, Vol. 112 Issue 22, p60

The article profiles professional soccer player Clint Dempsey of Texas, who was born Clinton Drew Dempsey and will play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. A discussion of Dempsey's athletic ability and unique soccer playing style is presented. Dempsey's soccer playing philosophies are discussed.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF HOPE. Geddes, Mike, FIFA World Dec2009, Issue 7, p48

The article features the Khayelitsha Football for Hope Center, the first of the 20 Centres for 2010 as part of the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The center will be officially inaugurated on December 5, 2009 after the Final Draw, as part of the Football for Hope Center Kick-Off. Prominent personalities attending the event include Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Joseph S. Blatter, Western Cape Province Premier Helen Zille and South African international soccer player Lucas Radebe.

Soccer

Check out the latest SIRC Newsletter -Soccer!

It seems everywhere you look these days you’re surrounded by soccer. Not only is it possibly the most popular grassroots sport, but soccer also has one of the biggest international sporting events. Have you ever stopped to consider how either a player or a coach gets from the grassroots level to the international stage? Here are a few things to think about: what makes a great soccer coach? Are soccer coaches looking for more than just your ability to play the game? What can I do to prevent injuries while playing? Should I just train my body or my mind too? Another great way to improve your soccer skills is to take in a Canadian National Team Event and learn from some of Canada's best players.

http://sirc.ca/newsletters/mid-june10/index.html

Calling It Like It Is

If anyone was watching the FIFA World Cup final match this past weekend, they know that a referee’s job is not always easy. With a final match record 14 yellow cards and one red, emotions were riding high. So how do officials handle highly charged scenarios?

The referee plays a key role in soccer matches. His vigilance, concentration and authority on the pitch ensure the respect of the players and adherence – or enforcement of the Laws of the Game. This is true for any officiated sport. According to Sports Officials Canada and their Code of Conduct, officials are charged with emphasizing the spirit of the competition rather than its outcome, striving to provide a sportsman-like environment, and placing the safety and welfare of competitors above all else.

The following tips to prevent and resolve conflict are central to providing a competition focused on the sport itself as opposed to the personality of those participating.

Tips to prevent conflict:

• Prevention is always better than cure! If action is taken early in the game, conflict is less likely to occur
• Make competitors aware of your presence by reacting immediately to rule infringements (when appropriate)
• Remain objective, no matter what prior knowledge of participants/teams an official has.
• Be definite and firm with decisions and communication
• Look sharp and act sharp - this will gain respect as an official
• Don’t take criticisms personally. Remember that coaches and participants are seeing the game from a different perspective to the officials
• At the beginning of the competition, provide structure and guidance, but also start a dialogue with the participants.
• Acknowledge the participant’s abilities and experience, and invite constructive viewpoints from some participants
• Speak clearly and firmly in heated situations. This will indicate confidence in managing the situation
• Keep cool if the situation starts to get a bit heated

Tips to resolve conflict:

• Be professional
• Remain calm
• Address the problem, not the emotions
• Focus on the person
• Be fair - avoid team or individual bias at all costs
• Be confident and open
• Be firm

References from the SIRC Collection:
Grunska, Jerry (2010). Enough is Enough: Where Should Officials Draw the Line on Coaches? Referee, 35 (2), p.62-63.

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

Canada to host the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup!
by Michele Walker, SIRC

It was officially announced today that Canada will be hosting the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and now six cities across the nation will start the preparations to host this massive soccer event. Seven cities are actually currently on the list as hosts, and one of them will need to be dropped following the site evaluation visits. They are Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Moncton. This announcement also means that Canada will now host the 2014 Women's Under-20 World Cup as a test event.

The announcement was actually expected after Zimbabwe, the only other country vying to host the quadrennial event, pulled out just a few days ago citing that they did not have the bandwidth to hold this tournament to the standards expected. But still, Canada had to wait until the evaluation was completed before FIFA , the world governing body of football (soccer), could award the event to the Canadian Soccer Association.

Held every four years, the first Women's World Cup tournament was held in 1991 (in China), 61 years after the Men's first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930. The current format for women has 16 teams but the 2015 tournament will see the field expand to 24 competing nations – truly a testament to the global popularity of the women’s game. As host, Canadians, old and new, will benefit from the legacy the sport will leave behind, both from a venue and participation standpoint.

Canada successfully and previously hosted the inaugural Women's Under-20 World Cup in 2002, as well as the Men's Under-17 World Cup (in 1987) and the Men's Under-20 World Cup (in 2007).

Contact SIRC for more information on this topic!

Photo Credit: Beata Tyrala

Soccer ... Football. Potato ... Tomato!

Soccer ... Football, no matter what you call it, it’s the most popular sport played on this planet earth.

The International Federation of Association Football (aka Fédération Internationale de Football Association) commonly referred to as FIFA, hopes that the sixth edition of the Women’s World Cup currently going on in Germany, will continue to boost the popularity of women playing the sport somewhere, anywhere, close to the men’s version. Contested every four years, the first Women's World Cup tournament, named the Women's World Championship, was held in 1991 (with 12 teams), 61 years after the men's first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930. The women’s tournament currently consists of 16 teams that compete over a course of four weeks, where the men’s tourney has 32 teams at the start line.

Despite Team Canada’s current standings in the 2011 tournament, and knowing that they didn’t play to their full potential to get them out of their Group, they did have that momentous opener against Germany in front of the sold-out hometown crowd of close to 74,000. Still say women’s football isn’t popular? And what about the true grit and determination of Canadian striker Christine Sinclair who had her nose broken only to come out and score Canada’s only goal of that game on a free kick, making her the first woman to score against Germany (the two-time defending champions) at a World Cup for almost 900 minutes of play?

In Canada, there was a surge in youth participation for girls throughout the 1980s, and by 1995 Canada had qualified for the Women’s World Cup tournament. Great sporting opportunities for youth continues to show that with these opportunities comes advancement, especially in the area of women’s sport. But it takes time. With Canada hosting the 2015 Women’s World Cup, just imagine what this event will do for women’s football participation in Canada.
For more information on soccer contact SIRC!

Additional Resource:
Canadian Soccer Association

New Canadians Have New Opportunties

Statistics show that using sport is one of the most effective and fastest ways that New Canadians can assimilate into Canadian society. SIRC recently attended a “Sport and Diversity” session hosted by SPORT4ONTARIO at the Sport Alliance Building in Toronto, where three organizations presented on how they are expanding their services to insure that there are programs directed towards assisting New Canadians integrate into the rich Canadian sporting community.

The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) was awarded a grant from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Strategic Partnership Initiatives Youth Opportunities Program (SPIYOP). They are hosting 10 Coach Education For Newcomer Youth workshops in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) for newly landed Canadians ages 15-24, who are not currently attending school. The program provides an exceptional education in fair play, responsibility and safety, and child development phases, and each participant receives a coach workbook and resources, as well as a trained NCCP status in the national database. A great start to a new coaching life.

The Toronto Sports Council (TSC) was awarded a grant from True Sport to help increase the number of trained and certified youth sport leaders in the Jane-Finch communities in north Toronto. As a result, the communities will have a greater capacity to provide high quality sport programming opportunities for school age children.

And since soccer is such a global sport, most New Canadians arrive in Canada with a great amount of passion for the game already. The Ontario Soccer Association’s (OSA) “Soccer and Settlement” project connects New Canadians with organized, sanctioned soccer groups in specified communities and by doing so, they are linking communities and developing partnerships with other organizations that will serve to develop coach, referee and volunteer leaders for the future. Currently partnered with the Catholic Immigration Centre (CIC) which works with newcomers in the Ottawa area, they are connecting 66 soccer clubs in the nation’s capital with the OSA’s initiatives. The OSA is also creating a coaching program to train adult newcomers to coach or referee the game.

For more information on sporting programs for New Canadians, please visit SIRC.

Applause is the Parent's New Cheer!

Players play, coaches coach, referees officiate and parents cheer! They all have their role at a sporting event. It is pretty common place that parents cheer some form of encouragement from the sidelines in an effort to guide the child to experience a positive outcome. However, all too often, well intended parents become overly enthusiastic with advice and instruction. Turns out, this could be having a negative effect on the child, leading to embarrassment and affecting their self-esteem, at a time when their energy should be spent focused on the game, decision making and technique. On occasion, overzealous commentary from the stands has even escalated to the point that there is abuse of referees, and parents even getting into fights.

In an effort to curb overly enthusiastic parents during sporting events, organizations are starting to implement policies with respect to the amount and type of encouragement parents can deliver from the sidelines of youth sport. Last week, the Aurora Youth Soccer Club in Ontario, implemented a week of silence for house league matches to remind parents and spectators the game is about having fun, and to present the players with an opportunity to play soccer without constant instruction and noise from the sidelines, while parents were asked to cheer by way of applause and signs.

Hockey, no stranger to experiencing excessive parental coaching from the stands, goes so far to report that the number one reason cited for coaches, managers and officials of all ages leaving the sport is unacceptable parent behaviour. So last year, Hockey Alberta launched the “Respect in Sport Parent Program.” This one-hour online program for parents involves watching short videos on bad parental behaviour with follow up questions, in an effort to demonstrate acceptable, rewarding and respectful forms of behaviour and communication for all parties involved.

In cooperation with True Sport’s “What You Can Do: Parents,” which outlines promoting fair play and respectful behaviour, Sport Manitoba offers "The Guide to Sport Parents", providing scenarios, instructions, and reminders for parents who want to make their kids’ sports experiences as positive, constructive and inspiring as they can.

For more information on this topic, please visit SIRC.

Soccer Fever!

If there is one event that is capturing the world's attention right now it is the Euro2012 Soccer Championships!  Fast, furious and very-very action packed, this game has it all.  While watching these elite athletes on the field, it's easy to forget that they were children once, testing out their mettle on their hometown field.   

What are Small-Sided Games? 

Small-sided games(SSG) are any games played with less than eleven-a-side teams.  The objective of small-sided games is a stair step approach for young players to grow into the adult game.

When you see kids playing, remember they are there to have fun, so parents and coaches should try to take it easy with them.  Children are essentially self-oriented and naturally relate to one or two others, not to large groups, that is why many people are seeing the benefits of a small-side soccer game.

Some great reasons for having a small-sided game:

1. More time is spent with the coach
2. Increased playing time
3. More space to be successful
4. Increased contact with the ball
5. Energetic workouts due to increased participation
6. Children have more opportunities to make quality decisions
7. Kids have more fun!

The object of the coaches/parents is to make the soccer experience of every player and their families as enjoyable as possible and to provide and open and fun environment for their kids to run around and play.  Who knows, by introducing a love of the game at a young age, you might be watching one of those kid's grow up to play in a Euro Championship game of their own!

Resources from the SIRC Collection

1. Caruso A. The value of small-sided soccer. Soccer Journal [serial online]. January 1987;32(1):43-45.

2. Chen R, Yi X, Yang S. Experimental Study of Small-Sided Games in Youth Soccer Training. Journal Of Beijing Sport University [serial online]. 

3. Hill-Haas S, Dawson B, Coutts A, Rowsell G. Physiological responses and time-motion characteristics of various small-sided soccer games in youth players. Journal Of Sports Sciences [serial online]. 

4. Jeffreys I. Coaches guide - classifying and using small-sided games for soccer endurance. Performance Conditioning Soccer [serial online]. 

5. Köklü Y. A Comparison Of Physiological Responses To Various Intermittent And Continuous Small-Sided Games In Young Soccer Players. Journal Of Human Kinetics [serial online]. 

6. Rudolf P, Václav B. HEART RATE RESPONSE AND GAME-RELATED ACTIVITY OF YOUNGER SCHOOL-AGE BOYS IN DIFFERENT FORMATS OF SOCCER GAME. Ovidius University Annals, Series Physical Education & Sport/Science, Movement & Health [serial online].

West Ottawa Soccer U14 Girls Heading to Nicaragua - July 4-13

Six local youth and their support team are off to Nicaragua this week to complete a project for SchoolBOX, a Canadian charity whose mission is to make education possible for those who can’t afford it. The team is part of the West Ottawa Soccer Club (WOSC), which is an organization that encourages its athletes to give back to their community. During their ten day stay, they will be helping to build a school as well as engaging the local youth in some soccer games.

Dina Bell-Laroche who is the team coach, a community leader and a veteran of five Olympic games, believes that this kind of experience makes good athletes, great leaders.

The club has been doing its own fundraising by organizing the 5km True Sport 4 SchoolBOX charity run last year through which they managed to raise more than $1700 in pledges. The club was also a part of the Amazing People Gala, which is a local event that highlights extraordinary accomplishments from ordinary people. It was here that they received a $7000 scholarship with over $50,000 raised for the SchoolBOX project.

The six local athletes are Kathleen Carson, Priya Nagpal, Tiffany Ingram, Gabriele Donnelly, Jessica Aiello and Talia Laroche. The support team includes Peter Donnelly, Lynn Aiello, Karri Dawson, John Carson and Dina Bell-Laroche. Eric Collard, co-chair of the Amazing People Gala will also be joining the team on their travels.

Bell-Laroche is passionate about this project and with giving back - "Sport is more than just a game. Sport can teach life lessons off the playing field that can build self esteem, empowering people to set a goal and achieve it, and believe in something that is larger than them. I'm so proud of the accomplishments of these young athletes and the leadership they are demonstrating to support a community thousands of miles away."

For more information you can visit www.schoolbox.ca.

L’entraînement de l’équilibre

L’entraînement de l’équilibre* est une forme d’entraînement qui développe l’agilité, la flexibilité, la puissance, le temps de réaction, la vitesse et l’endurance. C’est souvent oublié parce que les résultats de l’entraînement ne sont pas toujours rapidement apparents. L’équilibre et la coordination devraient être développés par différentes méthodes – des exercices sur des planches vacillantes*, des poutres d’équilibre* et des ballons stabilisateurs* sont habituellement utilisés pour ce genre d’entraînement.

Pourquoi l’entraînement de l’équilibre est-il important? 

1. Un bon équilibre peut augmenter la performance
2. Il diminue le risque de blessure* - spécifiquement le ligament croisé antérieur (LCA)* et les blessures aux chevilles
3. Il améliore la coordination entre les nerfs et les muscles ainsi qu’une meilleure stabilité et l’efficacité des mouvements
4. Il crée un sens de conscience du corps, de positionnement du corps, d’enlignement postural et de confiance dans les mouvements
5. Il développe la capacité du corps pour se stabiliser et générer de la puissance du tronc 

Se concentrer sur la qualité – pas la quantité 

Pendant l’entraînement, il est fréquent de se concentrer sur combien de poids une personne peut soulever ou combien de buts elle peut marquer. Pour l’entraînement de l’équilibre, l’attention doit être sur la qualité et le contrôle que l’athlète a sur ses mouvements. Les objectifs normaux de l’entraînement de l’équilibre incluent une meilleure proprioception* (conscience de la position du corps), une meilleure coordination musculaire et des temps de réaction plus courts.

Genres d’entraînement de l’équilibre 

Bien sûr, l’entraînement de l’équilibre doit être effectué spécifiquement en fonction des besoins du sport, que ce soit un équilibre statique ou dynamique.

Équilibre statique* – il exige la capacité de maintenir l’équilibre au repos.

Équilibre dynamique* – il est considéré plus difficile puisqu’il exige la capacité de maintenir l’équilibre en mouvement.

L’entraînement de l’équilibre peut être facilement intégré au programme d’entraînement sans impact majeur sur les exigences d’énergie ou de temps. Effectuer ce genre d’entraînement a plusieurs avantages qui s’ajoutent en bout de ligne à l’objectif d’améliorer la performance sportive.

 * Seulement disponible en anglais

Références de la collection de SIRC:

1. Bressel E, Yonker J, Kras J, Heath E. Comparison of Static and Dynamic Balance in Female Collegiate Soccer, Basketball, and Gymnastics Athletes. Journal Of Athletic Training. January 2007;42(1):42-46.
2. Butler R, Southers C, Gorman P, Kiesel K, Plisky P. Differences in Soccer Players' Dynamic Balance Across Levels of Competition. Journal Of Athletic Training. November 2012;47(6):616-620.
3. Gioftsidou A, Malliou P, Godolias G, et al. Balance training programs for soccer injuries prevention. Journal Of Human Sport & Exercise. October 2012;7(3):639-647.
4. Hrysomallis C. Balance Ability and Athletic Performance. Sports Medicine. March 2011;41(3):221-232.
5. Pafis G, Ispirlidis I, Godolias G. Balance Training Programs for Soccer Injury Prevention. Physical Training. November 2007;:2.
6. Ricotti L. Static and dynamic balance in young athletes. Journal Of Human Sport & Exercise. December 2011;6(4):616-628.
7. Twist P. PERFORMANCE BALANCE. Cross Country Skier. October 2009;29(1):28-53.

Balance Training

Balance training is a form of training that develops agility, flexibility, power, reaction time, speed and endurance. It is often overlooked because the training results are not always readily apparent. Balance and coordination should be developed through a variety of methods - exercises on wobble boards, balance beams and stability balls are typically used for this type of training.

Why is balance training important?

1. Good balance can increase performance
2. Reduces risk of injury - specifically anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and ankle injuries
3. Improves coordination between nerves and muscles as well as increasing stability and movement efficiency
4. Creates a sense of body awareness, body positioning, postural alignment, and movement confidence
5. Develops the body's ability to stabilize and generate power from the core

Focus on quality - not quantity

When involved in training it's common to focus on how much weight a person can lift or how many goals they can score. For balance training, the focus must be on the quality and control the athlete has over their movements. Typical balance training goals include increased proprioception (awareness of the position of one's body), better muscle coordination, and reduced reaction times.

Types of balance training

Of course, balance training should be geared specifically to the needs of the sport whether it be static or dynamic balance.

Static balance - requires the ability to maintain equilibrium while at rest.

Dynamic balance - is considered more difficult since it requires the ability to maintain equilibrium while moving.

Balance training can be easily integrated into a training program without have a major effect on energy or time requirements. Performing this type of training has many benefits that ultimately add up to the end goal of improving athletic performance.

References from the SIRC Collection: 

1. Bressel E, Yonker J, Kras J, Heath E. Comparison of Static and Dynamic Balance in Female Collegiate Soccer, Basketball, and Gymnastics Athletes. Journal Of Athletic Training. January 2007;42(1):42-46.
2. Butler R, Southers C, Gorman P, Kiesel K, Plisky P. Differences in Soccer Players' Dynamic Balance Across Levels of Competition. Journal Of Athletic Training. November 2012;47(6):616-620.
3. Gioftsidou A, Malliou P, Godolias G, et al. Balance training programs for soccer injuries prevention. Journal Of Human Sport & Exercise. October 2012;7(3):639-647.
4. Hrysomallis C. Balance Ability and Athletic Performance. Sports Medicine. March 2011;41(3):221-232.
5. Pafis G, Ispirlidis I, Godolias G. Balance Training Programs for Soccer Injury Prevention. Physical Training. November 2007;:2.
6. Ricotti L. Static and dynamic balance in young athletes. Journal Of Human Sport & Exercise. December 2011;6(4):616-628.
7. Twist P. PERFORMANCE BALANCE. Cross Country Skier. October 2009;29(1):28-53.