The Grifo cup is not just a tournament it is a scouting event, the staff will be selecting three players from the tournament to attend trials with AC Fiorentina’s youth sector from the Italian Serie A. One player from each of the following age groups will be selected u12-u13 (1), U14-u15 (1) and U16-U17 (1).

Teams entering the tournament will be placed in age appropriate divisions based on history of play. During these matches a staff member will be at each field evaluating individual play.  In addition on the official score card each opposing coach/trainer shall select one player from the opposing team that he/she thought was the standout plyer during the match for the opposing team and note it on the score card. Also the Grifos cup staff member will add their opinions and observations of players if they feel necessary.

At the end of your division’s matches each teams coach will be notified on which players will be asked to attend Mondays round of games. Players selected for the Monday games will be put on trial teams and compete in one hour matches where the Staff can further identify players that will be selected for the trials. At the end of Mondays matches 3 players and 6 alternates will be identified.

The Grifo Cup staff will consult with all coaches to ensure a strong opinion of each player can be made.

For Further information on this event and to register go to www.thegrifocup.com

This International program is being made possible by a relationship between Deeksha Sports Management (DSM) an HTC Group Company and Scuola Calcio, the Italian Premier Soccer School a Soccerkix Company.

Antonio Saviano the Scuola Calcio Director, will travel to India to direct the soccer program for boys and girls ages 6 to 16 years-old and work with local coaches during the week of September 14^th thru 19^th, 2009. 

Saviano, a former North America Director for many Italian professional soccer clubs, including AC Parma Scuola Calcio, AC Perugia Scuola Calcio and Ascoli Calcio Soccer Academy has worked in many different capacities and has been helping, leading and developing coaching and player development programs for over 140 affiliated soccer schools across North America and Europe. Mr. Saviano also serves as the Academy Director for Cape Fear Soccer Association in Wilmington, NC (USA) where he resides. Cape Fear Soccer Association has over 2000 players in its program and is one of the biggest clubs in the state of North Carolina.

“It is very exciting to have the Mr. Saviano come to India to teach our children and our coaches” said, Hemanshu Chaturvedi, DSM President and Managing Director for HTC Group.

“This is really just the beginning,” Mr. Chatuverdi said. “Many people don’t realize the number of children playing soccer in India. We are excited that Mr. Saviano will share his experiences with our youth soccer players and coaches. They will experience some of the best training a program can offer”.

Mr. Saviano feels that the timing is perfect to open doors for youth soccer players in India, to work hard and get noticed by International coaches.

The week long program will use Italian Youth Soccer Development Methodologies to influence positive technical-social growth. “The number one priority is the confidence and lessons the youth soccer players will take away.  The goal is to work with the coaches and players, taking easy steps in order to educate them” said Mr. Saviano.

The training program follows a set curriculum that has been tested throughout the years and is examined in detail yearly by a coaching staff called the “Task Force”. These coaches have the sole responsibilities to improve all aspects of the youth soccer players in the best way possible.

“I am very confident that this event will be a success. We will deliver the best Italian soccer program in India”, said Mr. Saviano.

For more information on the Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer School email: info@soccerkix.com

The All Year Scuola Calcio, Italian Soccer Boarding School will help improve player’s technical and tactical skills while studying in a different country.

Young soccer players from North America and around the world can improve their technical and tactical soccer skills by attending one of the best and one of the most affordable soccer boarding schools in the world. Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer School offers soccer players age 14 and up the opportunity of a lifetime. Players can attend a full year or half year academic soccer school in Italy. Players can attend High School or University in the morning and in the afternoon train with Italian professional soccer coaches, and have a chance not only to learn a new language but also immerse themselves in the daily cultural lifestyle. 

Students who attend the Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer Boarding school program get the chance to see how it really is to live in a country where soccer is the number one sport. “Not only do players improve technically and tactically but they have the opportunity to experience and be part of another culture, from speaking a new language to what they eat. Students learn to be a part of a team outside of their families” said Antonio Saviano, Scuola Calcio North America Coordinator.

Mr. Saviano added” “We kept the tuition fees for this program more affordable compared to other programs alike because we understand how important it is for serious soccer players that want to attend. This gives them a chance to afford to go. We have not raised our tuition fees for the last four years”. 

“Players currently attending the Scuola Calcio Program not only receive quality soccer training but the Highs School subjects they study are exactly what they need for to graduate when and if they decide to come back to the US” said Mr. Saviano.

The Scuola Calcio Boarding School is located in the beautiful city of Perugia. Perugia is located nearly at the center of Italy. It is the capital of the Umbria region, known as the “Green Heart of Italy”. Perugia is a lively medieval walled hill town with many historic buildings, people-filled squares, and modern shops. It’s home to a university and a large Italian language school for foreigners. 

The Scuola Calcio Programs are designed for competitive soccer players, both male and female who aspire towards playing collegiate and/or professional levels of soccer. The boarding schools are for both high school and university level students between the ages of 14 and 24.

Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer School will help all participating students and their families through the process of enrolling, from paper work to applying for the student visa. Scuola Calcio provides full guidance for participating players.

This program will help prepare students for the competitive environment of international soccer. Students train four to five days of the week. Throughout the year, players have also the opportunity to be seen and scouted during specific oriented soccer activities.

Registration is now open for the Italian Soccer Boarding School Program. You can get more information by visiting our website at www.soccerkix.com or by calling 800-954-7086 or by email: info@soccerkix.com

According to Dek Smith, Georgia Coast FA Director who is coordination the camp said “the instructors, who come directly from Italy will provide proven teaching methods to our players around the clock to enhance their Italian Soccer Experience. Players will be exposed to the beautiful game and beautiful language every day, on the field, at the poolside, and at every opportunity”.

The Tuition for the full 16 days/15 nights is a total of $1895.00. Tuition not only includes full room and board, training, airport pick up and drop off but also the entry fee for two National 3 vs. 3 tournament on Jekyll Island.

Antonio Saviano, Scuola Calcio – Italian Soccer School Director said, “Players attending the camp will participate in two 3 vs. 3 tournaments, one the first weekend and one tournament for the final weekend of the camp. The 3 vs. 3 National Tournament is a qualifier for the 2008 Challenge Sports National Championships at Walt Disney World. I am sure they will have a great time!”

For additional details, email: info@soccerkix.com

The Italian Soccer-Language Program is organized annually by Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer School and SISA. The Scuola Calcio Program is well-known mostly for not just promoting Italian soccer but also Italian language so youth soccer players can get the full immersion experience of the Italian cultural side.

This is a two week program during the summer months where many youth players from all over North America will be participating.The Scuola Calcio, SISA and Georgia Coast FA are inviting all North America players aged between 10 and 16 to this event which consists mainly of a daily Italian soccer training and Italian language lessons on the beautiful Jekyll Island, GA.

Players will have the opportunity to train under the guidance of professional Italian coaches and be assessed individually during training sessions and small sided games. Every participant will be receiving a certificate of attendance, a training kit to use during training sessions and all material needed to study and learn the Italian language.  

Apart from learning the Italian Soccer Methodology and the Italian Language, players will engage in other social activities organized through out the two weeks such as bike rides, long walks on the island, visit the NASA Space Center, beach soccer, swimming, etc. Players will also be enrolled in the 3vs3 National Qualifier Tournament. All players who are successful in reaching the finals will be invited to Disney over the weekend of July 26th & 27th to take part in the National Championships.  The dates for this exclusive and fantastic event will take place between June 22^nd and July 7^th, 2008.

Log on www.soccerkix.com or www.Georgiacoastfa.com to read the complete itinerary for this unique program.

Total cost for two weeks: $1895 – Payment can be made over 4 easy payments

Space is limited. Coaches or parents can also join the group as chaperones. For more information you may email info@soccerkix.com

It is been said that the role of the goalkeeper is a single role, but as we know it is always a child that is in the goal and that will become a man through the frequent goalkeepers development stages. The program of the goalkeeper’s technical work can be divided in two great age groups:

1. From 6-12 years old
2. From 12 years old up

From 6 to 12 Years Old

In reality the very young goalkeeper is not a complete goalkeeper yet. The child playing in the goal does not have the mental and physical structure characteristics in order to be a goalkeeper as an adult would. We are dealing with a child that must be developed and we must stabilize his motor and coordinative abilities, which in many cases are harder for a goalkeeper than a field player. Example of some coordinative abilities:

- Trajectories to save
- Agility
- Relation – ball – ground
- Relation – body – ground
- Relation – eyes – hands
- Relation – eyes – hands – body
- Etc.

Furthermore the physical structure can often prevent the correct execution of many technical fundamentals (sometimes it can also be impossible): for example, the simple size of the hands will not allow easy stops, it will not allow an easy re-start play and so forth.

With these premises it is logical that under the 12 years of age (and in particular until 10 years old) the goalkeeper follows a program integrated with the team, therefore the program should have a general broad activity necessary to all the players on the team and that has objectives to reach based on the age we are working with.

Perform normal practices that all teammates benefit, one of them should be using the feet, which in part is very important under most useful ways. However, at least two times per week the activity should be provided, in specific part, to the particular of the goalkeeper and divided in groups of at least 3-4 goalkeepers and for a duration of approximately 90 minutes. As for all the roles of the soccer players as well as for the goalkeepers the techniques must be placed in first place when training. When speaking about goalkeepers, especially “strong ones” we often refer to goalkeepers with solid technical bases developed from a younger age, and that are like a strong foundation for the rest of their career.

The young goalkeepers psychological side is also very important. Much attention goes to those activities that should not exceed the actual abilities of the student, in order not to create failure feelings, having the young goalkeepers overcome fears that begin with the contact body-ground and development of body movement.
To free their strength is a physiological necessity of the children, but to let them have fun and satisfaction, but also have a feeling of authority and prestige, it is a primary task of a good instructor.

The young goalkeepers see and admire some champions on TV who rise to be their idol, they may have and wear their jerseys, may be their caps or gloves, but for sure will not be able to copy the technical movements, because their mental and learning abilities will prevent them from making does decisions. The instructor should remember this important information and convey to the young goalkeepers in a simple way.

From 12 Years Old and Up

At this age the young goalkeepers begin to assume the abilities of the “true goalkeeper”. Now the techniques can and must be learned and without any limitations, they can and they must be repeated to the intend to create the complete necessary development that will stabilize the specific abilities. Now, the mental and the tactical aspect of the development can also be trained:

- Concentration
- Subsequent choices – understanding the game

At this stage, the athlete training will be able to assume greater weight in the activity: for the role of the goalkeeper the strength is the base to support the major part of typical body movements (jumps, quick sprint, executions, etc), the agility, the flexibility and the acrobatic training are an integral part of the development.
The aerobic component should cover the importance of general conditions.

Regarding Strength:

- High expressions: (fast – maximum resistant)
- Under expressions: (flexible volatile – reflected flexible volatile – resistance to the maximum strength – resistance to the instantaneous strength)
- Types of reduction: (concentric – eccentric – isometric – ply-metric)

All of the above has to be taken into consideration with a specific development, but at the same time we should be careful to the structure of a body that is still unbalanced and in a developing stage. In fact the speed or the rapidity is influenced from the strength level of the goalkeeper and are naturally unavoidable qualities. In the training the complete development aspect of the goalkeeper can not be neglected: it is true that the standardized repetitions are important for the reflex, but is also true that if we work in different situations, it will be possible for the athlete to decompose the technical body movements and to use only those parts that time to time will be necessary for that specific need.
I would like to point out that with two-three weekly training sessions of approximately 80 minutes each, we should attain good results.

With the goalkeeper who by now, at this age has exceeded the evolutionary phase, it is moreover fundamental to work on the specific errors. The instructor must maintain a direct contact with his own goalkeeper students. Because it is important to have a direct contact, it is better not to have many goalkeepers for training. But the instructor must also be careful, along with the head-coach, not to isolate the group of goalkeepers from the team, something that happens more then we think.

This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine.

Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed and dedicated to providing first class soccer information for instructors at all levels throughout the North America and the World.

While it is right to speak about field players attaining general understanding of and tactical insight into the game, it is important to talk about a different type of understanding for the role of the goalkeeper.

The role of the goalkeeper is specific and unusual and needs to be addressed in a specific way. Generally speaking, it is true that the goalkeeper must be a complete soccer player, (especially in today’s game, much more than in the past, because of the new rules of the game), but it is also true that the techniques and the typical actions of the goalkeepers are very different from the other roles/positions of soccer players and we cannot expect to simply develop a goalkeeper by just shooting in the goal.

The Goalkeeper could be defined a “super-soccer player”: all technical skills must fully be developed.

For example:
- If a goalkeeper receives a pass back from a teammate and he does not manage the ball well with his feet he could loose trust from his teammates;
- If he lacks tactical understanding of the game (i.e.: offside) the entire strategy of the team could fail;
- If the physical size and physical qualities (strength and quickness) are not above average then we could find ourselves simply with an incomplete goalkeeper;
- If the mental capacities, psychological and personality capacities are not strong, then we could have inconstancy.

Some mistakes may be overlooked for field players but can not be the same for goalkeepers!

The goalkeeper does not carry the number 1 on the back of his jersey for no reasons, the number 1 must be managed and carried with absolute confidence.

For more information click here! – Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed and dedicated to providing first class soccer information for instructors at all levels throughout the North America and the World.