LSA Blog: Recent News and Updates

2014 Winter Calcio Clinic

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Latest blast in Kona Crush Soccer Academy Philosophy, written by DOC Vince La Porta

KCSA wants to remind all parents that winning youth soccer games on the Big Island is a dead end road.  There is nothing that comes next!  Therefore it is not focused upon.  Only investments are focused upon.  An island championship is not an investment.  Its the end of a road, a small road in the middle of the ocean for that matter.  Teaching players how to persevere, focus, believe, work hard, and be teammates...that's an investment.  Those roads are long and valuable, and can be traversedwin or lose.  No coaches at KCSA are focused on results.  All are focused on performance.  Performance = development.  Winning = standings.  Standings mean nothing.  By focusing on performance we free the children to be creative, take risks, and use their brains to play.  We do not force them to play in passing patterns, or stand in certain parts of the field.  These decisions are to be made by them, organically throughout their play.  Soccer is a random game with thousands of decisions to be made every match.  At KCSA we teach players the skills and the concepts that guide these decisions.  With our background and extensive knowledge upon the highest levels of soccer both at the youth and adult venues, we create a curriculum that is fun, challenging, and effective.  And most importantly, no soccer glory is ever worth the cost of character development.  No player shall be denied this guidance.  

KCSA - a developmental youth mentorship program, using the venue of youth soccer to teach life to our kids.    

Thank you to you all for trusting KCSA with your children!  Should you have any questions at all about the program, the training schedule, or your child's soccer loving life, call the DOC.

 

ALOHA

Musings, Soccer Advice and Knowledge sharing from Coach Vinny!

La Porta Soccer Academy : Tip of the Day

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Vinny La Porta, and the game of soccer defines me.  

There are three equal parts to a well rounded soccer player; technical ability, tactical ability, and mental ability.  Without a proper balance between all three one will never achieve their true potential.  

   Technical ability:  This is summed up by the players’ foot skills on the ball, their ability to master shooting, passing, long balls, driven balls, chipped balls, and the weighted pass.  Technical ability also determines first touch control on the ball which is vital all across the pitch.

   Tactical ability:  This is summed up by the players’ ability to understand the game of soccer and its rhythm.  Grasping the knowledge of offensive and defensive positioning, the ability to organize teammates, and formulating answers to questions like, “how do we beat this team today?”  Tactical ability can be taught but it is only mastered through experience.

    Mental ability:  This is summed up by the players’ self perception being coincident with how they are perceived by those around them.  Mental ability, or mental strength as I like to call it, is the most important aspect of a well rounded soccer athlete, for without mental strength, amazing technical and/or tactical ability is useless.

     For example, lets take a 15 year old student, male or female, who possesses outstanding talent in both the technical and tactical aspects of soccer.  As a result this individual has been hearing praise and compliment their entire soccer playing lives, so much so that by the age of 15 their talent defines them.  Pressure thrives in this player’s head as they feel a necessity to live up to their ever-present talents perceived by those around them.  These individuals then re-define themselves by every touch on the ball, every pass, every shot, every decision, every tackle, and every second of every game.  This pressure builds and eventually causes an overload during high pressure situations. The brain locks up and their focus level is then demolished.  Without a relaxed and keen focus level, one’s technical and tactical abilities cannot thrive.  Therefore mental strength is a pivotal asset for all aspiring students of the great game of soccer.  To players that suffer from mental weaknesses I say you are not alone, for it took me six years to gain a proper balance of confidence on the pitch.  Step one, listen to all those around you and learn, but take in the opinion of only one, the ball.  What’s it got to say?