Wild Soccer Facts!

Soccer, the most watched and played sport in the world, has some amazing and weird facts that are truly fascinating! Here are some you might enjoy.

Soccer is one of the easiest sports to learn. This is the easiest way to learn it.

During the first World Cup in 1930 at Uruguay, the soccer balls used were monkey skulls wrapped in paper and leather!

Soccer as we know it originated in Britain.

Soccer shirt number 10, Diego Maradona, was just 16 when he made his debut for Argentina.

Talking about number 10, it is regarded as one of the most prestigious numbers in soccer. Number 10 soccer jerseys have been worn by legends of the game, such as Michel Platini, Pele, Zico, Zinadane Zidane, Rivaldo, Mario Kempes, including Maradona, of course.

Sheffield Wednesday's goalkeeper Kevin Pressman was actually sent off after 13 seconds against Wolverhampton Wanderers, making it the fastest red card in English soccer!

Goalkeepers were not required to wear different colored soccer uniforms from their teammates until 1913.

Soccer became an Olympic sport in 1908.

Former England international, Paul Gascoigne, was arrested and sectioned under the Mental Health Act in Newcastle.

Sheffield FC is the world's oldest club, going back to the year 1857!

Ronaldinho scored all 23 goals for his youth team, during which his team beat the opposition 23:0. He was only 13 at the time!

Italian goalie, Walter Zenga, holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in Cup history. He played 517 minutes without letting in a goal during the 1990 tournament!

Pele is the youngest player to score a goal in the World Cup. He was 17 years and 239 days old when he scored against Wales in 1958.

Cameroonian, Roger Milla, is the oldest player to play in the World Cup. He was all of 42 years and 39 days when he played against Russia in 1994! During that game, he also scored, making him the oldest goal scorer in the World Cup!

In 1990, the United Arab Emirates qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Although they were knocked out during the group stage, two players managed to score goals. Both of them received a Rolls Royce for the goals!

The 1970 World Cup held in Mexico was a landmark tournament since yellow and red cards were used for the first time in its history. Yellow cards were given as a warning, while red cards were used to eliminate players from matches. If a player received two yellow cards, it counted as a red card.

According to video evidence, one of the fastest ever goal scored was in 2.8 seconds by Uruguayan Ricardo Olivera in 1998!

Sweden has actually played against Brazil seven times in World Cup history. No other country has faced Brazil that often.

No host country has ever been eliminated during the first round of a World Cup tournament.
Pele scored as many as 589 goals in only 605 matches for his team Santos!

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Top 10 Soccer Mom Ideas to Improving Your Child's Soccer Skills

The modern day soccer mom or dad is constantly being pulled in all directions. From driving their sons and daughters to practice and games to volunteering their time for concession stand duty, a soccer mom is constantly on the go. Combine this with the demands of a 9 to 5 job, taking care of a household, and having a successful marriage and you have the recipe for the modern day soccer mom. On the surface it seems that there is not enough time in the day to accomplish all that is required to be a successful soccer mom but hopefully my top 10 soccer mom ideas will help you find some balance in your life. These top 10 ideas are in no particular order of importance but rather should be used as a guide to helping you become a better soccer parent.

1. Knowing the Game - It is important to know what your children are doing on the field before you send them off to play. I have found a training program that will help you know what your kids are playing. This can help you encourage them to do better. It can also help you help your kids. You can teach them some techniques they don't know. If you are interested in this program, click here.

2. Organizational Laundry - We all want our children to be successful so it's best that we show them success at an early age. There are many adjectives to describe success but one common thread that resonates with most people is the necessity of having organizational skills. The common villain to being organized is laziness. Thus, what has worked best for my family is that we actually incorporate in our schedule the person responsible for doing laundry which includes the soccer uniforms, cleats, socks and practice clothes. The mountain of laundry for a family of five each week can be a daunting task and that is why my wife and I alternate this endeavor weekly. Doing laundry includes washing, drying, folding and most importantly putting it away. If your family is anything like ours then you must tackle the weekly "Case of the Missing Sock" problem. Any suggestions here will be welcomed because we cannot figure it out.

3. Dedicated Fan - Regardless of the level of enthusiasm your children have for soccer, you should be a dedicated fan. Think about all the time you have already dedicated to raising your children in the sport of soccer. Being a dedicated fan means learning about the history of soccer, learning about the different professional teams and leagues and the prestige of winning the World Cup. By expanding your bubble of soccer knowledge you can impart that knowledge and enthusiasm onto your children who will truly appreciate you taking a genuine interest in what they are doing on the soccer field.

4. Play soccer - When I was younger my dad played a lot of baseball with me but we also kicked the soccer ball from time to time. Those memories will live with me forever allowing me to replay them as often as I wish in my mind. I bet if he were still alive today, he would be out their kicking the ball with the family. My son and I have enjoyed watching soccer games and implementing certain techniques on the soccer field. Both of us have dramatically improved our skills and are learning a lot more about soccer. Although I'm in my 40's, I'm still able to play at a level that both challenges my 13-year old son and encourages him to play harder and smarter. I understand that some parents based on health or age won't be able to actually play with their children so perhaps you can hire a private coach but do what you can to stay engaged and your children will appreciate you for it.

5. Volunteer - From volunteering at the concession stand to being a referee or coach, your time is appreciated by the soccer community. My wife and I schedule our time so that we can maximize our volunteer time and still not miss our son's games. Additionally, volunteering has allowed us to meet and work with other soccer families. The concept of it takes a village to raise a child is at the core of being a productive volunteer. Volunteering allows you to stay in tune with soccer events and essentially makes you an instant role model for children because they view you as part of the leadership of the soccer community.
6. Fundraising - If there are members of your team that are less fortunate and cannot afford the cost of soccer cleats, shin guards, goalie gloves etc., or your team is trying to raise money, then a fundraising role may be your niche. Successful fundraising starts with having a genuine purpose. Asking people to separate themselves from their hard-earned money with no rate of return is anti-capitalism and definitely should not be your purpose. However, if you approach other parents, local business owners, school officials, etc. with a valid and detailed explanation of where and how their money will be spent, it will not only be easy to fundraise but also rewarding. For example, I most likely wouldn't ask people to give money so that we can buy pizza for the children after each game but I would ask for a donation for an end of the season party. Another idea that worked out really well is this past season we (soccer dads) bought matching soccer bracelets for all the kids and matching soccer necklaces for all the soccer moms to show our appreciation.  Parents from a girl's youth soccer team heard what we had done and purchased soccer earrings for all their teammates.

7. Carpooling - Gas is expensive regardless of what part of the country you live in so I recommend carpooling as often as you can. We carpool with the same family that we have dinner with once a week to write the schedule. During our weekly scheduling session, we assign carpool duty throughout the week and ensure that our children are aware of who to expect and on what days. We have also coordinated with our school to inform them that our friends are authorized to pick up the kids and take them to soccer practice. Our mini-van has served us well and without a doubt has been a great investment allowing us to transport our children to all their events.

8. The right soccer gear - When I was younger my grandfather enforced the concept of having the right tool for the job at hand. In the case of playing youth soccer, your children need to have proper fitting soccer cleats, and soccer clothing that is not too constraining. Children can outgrow a pair of soccer cleats in less than a month so it's imperative that you routinely inspect your children's cleats. I learned this the hard way when after a game I saw my son's big toe protruding from his right soccer cleat. I asked him how long he had been playing with his toe sticking out of his soccer cleat and his response astonished me. He had been going to soccer practice and playing with his toe sticking out for over 2 weeks! That night when we got home from the soccer game we ordered him a new pair of cleats from and now I make it my business to visually inspect his soccer cleats.

9. Individualism and Soccer - As a parent we need to ensure that our children grow up to become secure and responsible individuals. It's a task that we cannot take lightly considering the children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Being an individual means knowing your skills and limitations and not being influenced by trend setters whose goal it is to sell merchandise. For example, my son is a natural when it comes to individualism. He doesn't pretend to be someone he is not and he is absolutely happy being by himself and consumed with his own thoughts and ambitions. Our society is loaded with people who fail to grasp their own reality and are dependent on others for what I call their "social want." Social want comes in many different flavors but the bottom line is that it's one person wanting something from another for his irrational state of being. You may be asking yourself, how will being an individual help my children be better soccer players considering soccer is a team sport? The answer is simple: successful teams are made up of successful individuals. It takes each individual player to play at their absolute best for the team to be successful. When my son was younger, I asked him to pinch himself with his fingers. He thought it was an awkward request but nonetheless he pinched himself. I said, "Son I couldn't feel that because it's not me you're pinching it's you! You are your own person and your decisions you make will guide you into the future. So if you want to be a better soccer player then you have to dedicate yourself to the sport." This concept is similar to leading a horse to water but it's the horse who must decide to drink the water. Keep that in mind when you're investing your time in your child's soccer future.

10. Other sports - Your child's soccer skills can be optimized if they play other sports. I highly recommend enrolling your child in gymnastics at an early age because of the demanding strength and precision that is required to perform as a gymnast. My daughters are both gymnast but when they play soccer they look like naturals out on the field. As a gymnast you condition your body daily and you fine-tune muscles that can help improve your soccer skills. Other sports can be beneficial too but in my opinion and from experience, gymnastics is by far the best sport you can get your child to do along with soccer.
Hopefully, these top 10 soccer mom ideas can help you become a better soccer parent and help your child become a better soccer player. I look forward to hearing from you about your own soccer experiences in the blogosphere.

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How to Get Super Motivated for a Soccer Game

Motivation is a key to success. It's what drives you forward to overcome obstacles that are in front of you. Motivation is what allows you to remain focused when most would lose sight of their goals. It is that one thing that lifts you so you can excel in your soccer game.

You must master your focus. That's what counts out there on the field. You can achieve great things if you stay focused on your goal. You must see yourself wining before the game starts. The rest will fall into place by itself.

So how do we get motivated? There really is no perfect recipe because everyone has something else that gets him in the zone. And here is a little secret. You must find your trigger.

First, you need to know the game. If you don't know the ins and outs of soccer, you can't enjoy it. This might help. It's a great training program I found and it is sure to help you get motivated and enjoy the game.

That one thing that gives you a boost of energy, a state of mind so powerful you could move mountains. Maybe it's that special song or type of music for you. An inspiring quote or person. A burning desire to break loose from the pack and succeed. Or maybe you just need to get a little pissed off and think of every reason you have to kick other teams butt.

I myself like to watch amazing videos of goals, tricks and moves. It gets me into I can do anything mindset. And I really give everything I got on that field.

Professional soccer teams have their own fleets of motivational coaches that prepare players to give everything they got on that field. On top of that a lot of players even have their own personal motivational coaches who builds specific motivational programs for them. If professional soccer teams think that motivated players is one of the key factors to win the game so should you.

Motivation is inside all of us. It's what allows you to work towards success and improve every day. Keep working on improving your motivation so you can get super-motivated just when you need it.

You can also put together some great inspirational quotes, videos, songs or whatever inspires you and keep it somewhere near you. This way you can quickly get your motivational level up and keep pushing toward your goals.

So make sure you stay super motivated and keep working when others are slacking off. If you can put in that little extra when preparing for a game you too can become one of the game-changing players.

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2014 FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is one of the most anticipated events in the field of sports. It is also the biggest single-event sporting competition in the world. Held once every four years, football fans across the globe follow the gaming action live, watch their favorite players vie on field and witness new records being set.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association is the international governing body for football. The first inaugural tournament was held in 1930. The 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup is slated for 12th June 2014. The South American country, Brazil will play host for the 2014 games. This is the second time Brazil has been chosen to organize the game. Not only this, they have won the title five times and are the only team to have qualified for every tournament since its inception. The next two world cups will be held in Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022).

32 Teams to Participate

32 teams from across five different continents and confederations will battle it out in Brazil for what is the most coveted football competition title. The list of 32 teams is ALGERIA, Cameroon, Australia, Iran, Ecuador, Greece, South Korea, Honduras, Switzerland, Ghana, Costa Rica, USA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mexico, Japan, Nigeria, Chile, Russia, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Croatia, England, Belgium, Uruguay, Colombia, Italy, Argentina, Germany, Spain and Brazil. The armadillo Fuleco is the official mascot of the game.

Game Format

The tournament lasts for a month; this time from 12th June to 13th July. As already stated above, it is held among 32 teams. These 32 teams are chosen after several qualifying matches held in the preceding three years. The qualifying matches are called the preliminary competition. The Final competition phase in held between the 32 teams. The games during the final competition phase are held at various venues within the host nation.

"We Are One" - The Official 2014 World Cup Song

Every FIFA World Cup is incomplete without an official song. It has given us several hits over the years including Ricky Martin's "The Cup of Life" and Shakira's foot-tapping "Waka Waka". Brazil has earned the moniker "Land of Music" on account for its love for music. As a result, football and music fans alike are looking forward to a musical masterpiece - a blend of pop culture and the infamous Brazilian beats.

The latest news from FIFA's information desk states that the official song for the 2014 soccer World Cup will be composed and sung by American rapper Pitbull and songstress Jennifer Lopez. The song is titled "We Are One" (Ole Ola). There will also be a live performance by Brazilian performer Claudia Leitte. She will perform on stage alongside Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez on 12th June at Sao Paulo. They have hinted at a Samba dance performance. The video once released will be available on YouTube for public viewing. Sony is the official releaser and partner in the song.

With only four odd months left, it's time to gear up for a month of exciting gaming action that will bring you to the edge of your seat. So, save the date!

We all know you want to be the best soccer player. I want to help. Check out this training program by clicking here.

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The Hottest World Cup Group

Although there are still 5 months to go until this year's World Cup starts, football fans around the world are already preparing for the biggest sports event of the year. FIFA World Cup tickets have been released on the market for over 6 months now and there already are availability issues for some matches. Obviously, individuals from any country will buy tickets for the matches that their national team is in, but there are also plenty of people who appreciate an exciting derby and wish to watch it first hand even if their native country is not playing. So what are the most dramatic football matches that this year's competition announces? What are those events that determine fans to buy FIFA World Cup 2014 tickets even though their countries are not on the field? Well, here are some of the most promising football confrontations of this much awaited event in Brazil that promise not only a tight race to the bigger score, but also a great spectacle for the people on the stadium.

Group A doesn't sound too hot when it comes to fierce football competition, but the hosting country is in it, so chances are plenty of FIFA World Cup tickets will be sold for the matches in this group. With Spain and Netherlands in Group B, two of the strongest European countries, there is no doubt that this is a strong contestant for the hottest group in the competition. The Spain vs. Netherlands match is also the first one from the group and will be held on the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, on June 13. The price for the FIFA World Cup 2014 tickets for this match depend on the seat category and range from a little under 300 to almost 2000 euro. Another strong contestant to the name of most acrid group of this year's competition is Group D, which features England and Italy, along with Uruguay and Costa Rica. England vs. Italy will surely be a long expected match, to be played on June 14, at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus. Many of the tickets for this confrontation are already sold out, but if you search the web thoroughly, you will be able to find an online vendor with available seats.

Group E announces spectacle in its France vs. Switzerland match, while Germany and Portugal will definitely keep numerous fans on their toes in their Group G match on June 16, which will also be held on the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador. The World Cup in Brazil will definitely bring some clash of the titans sort of football matches, but it also promises a couple of surprises, so you better stay tuned to the developments and buy your FIFA World Cup tickets as soon as possible, if you want to make sure you find any available seats for the exact matches you want to attend. Don't forget to keep your finger crossed for your favorite team, although it will be much better if you kept them from inside the stadium.

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