Things to consider when buying a football...

1. Beginners should consider a size 5 ball (the biggest standard sizing) as these may be easier to control. Experienced players may wish to consider a size 3 or 4 or even a mini-ball as these, being more challenging to control, can stimulate skill development. Futsal (a popular indoor version of socccer) balls are heavy and do not bounce very well - these are best purchased only if you wish to focus on the indoor game.
   
2. Although it's a personal preference, and quite subtle, if the skin of the ball is 'grippy' rather than 'shiny', it can be a little bit easier to control. This may not be immediately obvious, but if you juggle (or kick to hand) the ball a few times, you may notice the difference.
   
3. The colour or design of the ball probably makes no difference to it's flight characteristics or how it feels, but at the same time, to 'enhance the karma in your personal universe', pick a colour or design that you like. Though colour seems irrelevant, many experienced players voice the opinion that they don't feel comfortable playing matches with anything other than a white ball.
   
4. Official FIFA regulations say that a ball should be pumped to between 9 and 11 pounds of pressure per square inch. This can feel heavy to play with (especially if you've got small feet), and can sometimes hurt your toe if you miskick, so for training purposes, consider letting some air out. This may have the added benefit that the softer ball 'sits' better on the foot/boot when juggling or dribbling. Heading overpumped balls is not only uncomfortable, it's downright dangerous.
   
5. For practice purposes, a training ball, not a match ball, may be advised. Training balls are significantly cheaper and may be easier to use.
6. Consider the conditions you'll be using the ball in. If you intend doing plenty of wall work (i.e. practising striking the ball against a concrete wall using a wide variety of techniques) then the ball is going to suffer much wear and tear. Some balls suffer this better than others. There is no rule of thumb here but good advice may be to experiment with less expensive balls.
7. Buy a pump as well. A highly recommended model that is currently sold in high street shops allows you to store the valve in the head of the pump when you're not using it. This can be handy if you are in the habit of forgetting where you last left your valve (regrettably this can happen an awful lot).
8. World Cup Replica balls are typically great looking and very attractively packaged, but they may not possess any of the desirable properties of their high-tech counterparts.
   

Please feel free to put forward any additional suggestions you would like as a blog comment, or email info@soccerfit.com.au

Regards,

Liam O'Duibhir, Director, SoccerFit

To visit the SoccerFit website, please click here

Community Aligned Non-Elite Sport

Hello and welcome to the SoccerFit Blog,

I hope this blog provides an interesting narrative on all things related to SoccerFit. I will definitely try to stay ‘on message’ but please bear with me if I go off on a tangent every so often.

The programme continues to expand into new locations and this is particularly pleasing to myself and others involved in SoccerFit.

Fitness Skill And Teamplay

Our aim from day one has been to give as many people as possible the opportunity to experience the fitness, skill and teamplay aspects of soccer. In emphasizing fitness, skill and teamplay, SoccerFit distinguishes itself from competitive soccer. We leave it to local, regional and national representative soccer bodies to facilitate those seeking a competitive outlet.

However, regular players of the game (socially or competitively) can and do derive enormous benefits from SoccerFit - it's a great way to maintain fitness, stay mentally sharp, and work on some key elements of game performance.

It's also worth noting that many SoccerFit participants do make the transition from SoccerFit to suitable levels of competitive soccer, so clearly, as well as being a great fitness workout, the programme complements very well the popular competitive leagues running throughout Australia.

Introducing CANES - Community Aligned Non-Elite Sport (CANES)

SoccerFit does not have a minimum fitness or skill requirement in order to participate. Everyone and anyone can join in. It is a non-elite sports and fitness format that is accessible to the whole community. We call this concept Community Aligned Non-Elite Sports, or CANES for short.

When people think of ‘elite’ sports, they generally have televised professional sports in mind. The athletes that participate at these levels are a rare breed – think Juninho, Adam Goodes, Jonathon Thurston, Lauren Jackson – we love to watch and admire these high performers. At best, I expect only 0.01% of the entire human population can realistically aspire to ever perform at this level.

But what about those competing at state, regional or even the lower divisions of local club competitions that don’t typically make it on to our television screens? What percentage of the population can hope to participate at these levels? Again it’s a relatively small number, probably less than 1% of the total population.

Where does this leave the other 99% of the population in regard to participation in sports-oriented activities? Of course not everyone in this group is interested in sports, or even in getting fit, but in line with the CANES approach, it is primarily to this large non-elite group that programmes like SoccerFit try to appeal. It seems almost bizarre to say it, but this group is a forgotten majority. Sport by it’s very nature is elitist (that’s why we love it), but its positive benefits, in particular fitness, skill and teamplay, should be available to all.

The CANES approach to increasing participation in sport and encouraging a more active lifestyle, with the benefits that this can have in tackling health issues such as the much-talked about obesity epidemic, is worthy of consideration at government level.

I welcome your comments.

Regards,

Liam O'Duibhir, Director, SoccerFit

To visit the SoccerFit website, please click here