This week, Matilda’s coach Tom Sermani goed through the importance of a perfect first time pass to feet in making space and moving the play forward to attack. Tom has a couple of the young Matilda’s with him to help showcase this basic but vital technique. Tom’s tips for this move are:

1. Get into position early to receive the ball and make the most of it
2. Move your feet fast
3. Provide a good quality pass to feet at pace

Watch the podcast here and see how it’s done!

Hosted by FNSW High Performance Manager Paul Bentvelzen, this week’s guest coach is Steve Corica of Sydney FC. Steve runs us through the ‘fake pass’ this week – a very good technique for creating space and goal-scoring opportunities. Steve’s tip for this move is to ‘sell the pass and go!’.

Watch the podcast here and see how it’s done!

Hosted by FNSW High Performance Manager Paul Bentvelzen, this week’s guest coach is Steve Corica of Sydney FC. Steve runs through the ‘Drag Back’ this week – a very good technique for creating space and goal-scoring opportunities. Steve’s tips for this move are to keep your head up and accelerate away from your opponent.

Watch the podcast here and see how it’s done!

This week FNSW High Performance Manager Paul Bentvelzen talks with Jan Versleijen, Head Coach at the AIS and coach of the Young Socceroos.

In this episode, Jan discusses the importance of ‘width’ in play to create space in the middle.  He showcases the need for ball speed in passing. He also discusses the importance of a good ‘first touch’ that allows a player to turn for goal.

The main tip from Jan is to ‘make good quick choices’ when you receive the ball.

Watch the podcast here and see how it’s done!

Hosted by FNSW High Performance Manager Paul Bentvelzen, this week introduces Socceroo and Sydney FC star, Steve Corica as guest coach.  Steve runs a clinic on the ‘Step Over’ in this episode, a move all footballers need in their armory.  It’s particularly good for beating a defender and getting into a goal-striking opportunity.  Watch the podcast here and see how it’s done!

The tip from Steve is ‘remember when you go to use this move in match-play, don’t get too close to the defender and do it at speed’.

Hosted by FNSW High Performance Manager Paul Bentvelzen, this week introduces Australian U/20 and AIS head coach Jan Versleijan who illustrates the correct techniques for effective 1 v 1 – how to beat your man with the ball. He explains that football is a passing game and highlights the importance of individual skills required to take on and beat your opponent in the ‘one on one’ play. He describes the importance of ball speed and accuracy in passing, how switching play will create the space that allows an effective 1 v 1, and much, much more.

The best young talent in Australia generally find themselves at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra at some point in their careers.
 
The Head of the Football Program, Young Socceroo coach, Jan Versleijen, takes time out from his busy day to tell us how they select players from all over Australia to offer them scholarships at the institute, where they will live, study and train with the best in the country.
 
Jan and his team go to each state to watch players in action at their National Training Centres - for those whose skills catch the eye, a year or two of intensive football follows - something the AIS hopes will prepare them for a long future in the World Game.
 
With state-of-the-art facilities, this is the springboard to big things for those that make the grade.  The likes of Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill, Luke Wilkshire, Vince Grella, Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton and many more have been past men's football scholarship holders, while the Women's game has brought greats such as former Matildas captain Cheryl Salisbury, Adelaide United Skipper Dianne Alagich and current Women's Player of the Year, Joanne Peters to the nation's capital.
 
Watch our Socceroo segments to hear the established stars tell you how their time at the Institute not only honed their skills, but gave them friendships which now reach all over the world.