As a father of 3 boys, it was important to me to get them involved in athletics early in life through a variety of sports programs.  I taught them how to swim, and to play golf and tennis, but then I realized team sports are important too.  So I introduced them to the “All-American” sports of baseball and basketball and coached their youth teams.  However, it was AYSO soccer that was to become their favorite sport.

I asked them why they preferred soccer over other sports, especially baseball, and they told me they didn’t like the “razzing” and heckling they got from the players and spectators and the criticism from their coaches.  Soccer was a positive experience and everyone plays.  This of course is the motto of AYSO soccer and the secret of their success.

I didn’t know much about the game, but since my sons wanted to play soccer and they needed adult coaches; I was drawn into world of soccer.  I soon completed the beginning, intermediate, and advanced soccer coaches training.  The 3 day soccer camp for my advanced certificate was pretty intense, but I hung in there.  I learned a lot from experienced coaches and from the players during soccer practices and games during the season.  It was fun and I enjoyed being with my sons.

When my sons got older and went on to play club soccer and on high school teams, I thought I was done coaching.  That’s when my eight year old daughter asked me, “Well, aren’t you going to coach my soccer team, dad ?”  I forgot to mention my fourth child and only daughter.  Well, how could I say no to her.  She was brought up around the soccer field, and with three older brothers playing sports, she was a natural.

Coaching girls soccer was new to me and I learned quickly, very different.  Girls play with emotion, like the social interaction, and want to have FUN.  They are competitive, eager to learn, enjoy playing and having fun with their teammates on and off the field.  I had to be very positive in my coaching and watch for hurt feelings.  Rebuking at times but then showing more concern and interest in their success lest they become discouraged.  I never had so much fun coaching.

The girls always wanted to celebrate a team members birthday with cupcakes or ice-cream bars at practice.  Parents were very supportive of snacks at a game, yard sale fundraisers to pay for tournaments, pizza parties, and a swim party at my home during the season.  Of course, we always had a year end party to award trophies and for me to present and speak highly of each player in front of their parents, friends, and family.

Now I am completing my 25th year coaching soccer at 61 years of age and coaching my 18 year old daughter’s U-19 team.  And although she has played four years of high school soccer and on the Varsity team, my daughter, Lindy, still wants to play AYSO with her many friends.  To the moms and dads that want to have a unique experience with their children, I have only one thing to pass on: The game of soccer, you’ve got to love it, positively!!

Over the past few years, they have watching the way people play, dress and live the street game.  That is definitely influencing the way there gear has evolved.  We hear rumors that they are creating a new “street” image that will be separated from both the grass pitch and indoor gear.  We have seen some of of this in the fantastic Rilo street shoes (see the ASER review) and the new Smooth Criminal ball.  The next step is clothes that are unique to the street look.

The marketing folks at most of the manufacturers usually make sure AVID Soccer knows about any big release.  Calle has been holding this one very close to the vest.  They wouldn’t even give us pictures for the big contest giveaway… until now.

Calle Republic Prize Package

We just received samples of the prize package that Calle is providing.  It will be a custom package for the contest winner and includes some of their newest and hottest looks from their collection.  They sent us a florescent green Smooth Criminal ball, ladies Lox v-neck, FTP and Antram tees for the guys, a new ball sack (our favorite light bag) and the Willow shorts.  The ball and shorts are a complete departure from what Calle has done before.  Look for reviews on ASER in the next few weeks.

Want some of this cool swag for yourself?  Get your contest entry in soon.

Enter the contest at AVID Soccer (http://www.avidsoccer.com/2010_contest.aspx) or on the AVID Soccer Facebook page.

The name ”JO’BULANI” is inspired by the name “JABULANI”, which means “to celebrate” in isiZulu, one of the eleven official languages of the Republic of South Africa spoken by almost 25 percent of the population. The name “JO’BULANI” is also a tribute to the host city of the final, Johannesburg, or Jo’burg as it is commonly referred to. Designed in white and gold, the “JO’BULANI” is a compliment to both the color of the FIFA World Cup™ trophy and Johannesburg, the “City of Gold.”

Like the “JABULANI”, the “JO’BULANI” features the iconic South African-inspired design along with the newly developed “Grip’n’Groove” profile, providing the best players in the world with a ball that allows exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions. Comprised of only eight, completely new, thermally bonded 3-D panels, which for the first time are spherically molded, the ball is perfectly round and even more accurate than ever before.

This is the second time adidas has designed a special ball for a FIFA World Cup™ final, the first final ball was the golden “TEAMGEIST BERLIN”, which was used on July 9th, 2006. The “JO’BULANI” will be available at specialty retailers throughout the US and on shopadidas.com starting April 21st.

adidas World Cup Final ball called the Jo'bulani

adidas always involves world-class athletes in the development and testing of its products. For the adidas “JABULANI”, adidas partners AC Milan, FC Bayern München, the Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town tested the ball in 2008, contributing to improvements in the surface structure and material composition. The involvement of our players continues to help bring the best soccer products to market going forward.

adidas continues to use innovative technology to extend its global leadership position in soccer production, thus strengthening its position as the authentic symbol of high-performance sporting goods for professionals and amateurs alike. adidas also will continue to unveil more revolutionary innovations in match ball production for future UEFA, FIFA and CAF competitions. The adidas innovation team (ait) is already working on innovations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

More pictures are available on the AVID Soccer Facebook page and the official unveil video is available here (www.thenewsmarket.com/adidas)

Winners are selected in each category based on value, quality and desirability.  Other criterion is category specific.  Winners are selected by a combination of votes from editors, testers and readers.  Details are available at http://blog.avidsoccer.com.

The Best of 2009 are:

• Coolest Lifestyle Product – Nominees include Nike’s Holland Anthem Jacket, the adidas Hero Hoodie.  The winner is the Calle Republic Rilo street shoe.  Calle one over great products from adidas and Nike by creating a shoe ideally suited to the soccer lifestyle and street soccer.
• Best Boot – Nominees include the adidas Predator X and Puma v1.10.  The winner is the Concave PT+.  Any of these boots could have finished first and there was a strong argument for each.  In the end, better grass roots support for the Concave PT+ pushed it ahead of the competition.
• Best Ball – Nominees include the adidas Jabulani and Nike Ascente.  Both are world class professional quality balls, but we selected the value priced (relatively speaking) Puma King XL as our winner.
• Best Kit – Nominees include the Sarson Bonn and adidas Russian National team kit.  The winner is a balance between high quality and value in the Diadora Ermano.
• Innovative Product of the Year – The first nomination for our most important award go to the Woman’s Professional Soccer league for changing the way soccer franchises are marketed in the US.  The second nomination goes to Lotto Team Sports for changing the way uniforms are designed and produced.  Our winner is the Concave striking plate.  It changes the way we think about hitting the ball.  The Concave striking patch may be the equivalent to the oversized golf club.

About AVID Soccer:

AVID Soccer is a grass roots organization that provides information and training to individual players, groups and teams. AVID Soccer consists of coaches and trainers dedicated to improving the image of soccer; the level of training; and the level of play.  http://www.avidsoccer.com

The AVID Soccer Equipment Review (ASER), one of the largest independent review sites, provides objective testing services, reviews and information on soccer equipment and related products. The AVID Soccer Equipment review web log was founded in March 2006.  http://blog.avidsoccer.com

AVID Soccer News presents product announcements, player gossip, team transfers, lifestyle, etc. In short, we present the news and views of the soccer world. Articles are compiled from original content, press releases and reprinted publications.  http://news.avidsoccer.com

Each year, the ASER writers, testers and editor select the products that provide the best overall experience.  That is defined as a balance between quality, desirability and value.

… and the nominee for best…

• Best Boot
  • adidas Predator X
  • Concave PT+
  • Puma v1.10
• Best Ball
  • adidas Jabulani
  • Puma King XL
  • Nike Total 90 Ascente
• Best Kit
  • adidas Russian Federation WC Kit
  • Diadora Ermano
  • Sarson Bonn
• Coolest Lifestyle Product
  • adidas Lampard Hooded Jacket
  • Calle Republic Rilo Street Shoe
  • Nike Holland Anthem Track Jacket
• Most Innovative Product
  • Lotto Team Sport custom jersey system
  • Concave striking plate
  • Women’s Professional Soccer League

Voting opens January 1st.  To vote, click on one of the links above and add your comments or send email to the Review Desk.  Voting will close January 22.  Winners will be announced the following week.

This summer, adidas and UEFA extended and expanded their long-term partnership.  The new deal includes the Champions League, Super Cup and the newly created Europa League. For the first time, adidas will support all official UEFA club football competitions, further consolidating the brand’s position and keeping them at the top of the soccer food chain.

One of adidas’ first announcements under the extension is the introduction of the Champions League Finale 9 match ball and the Europa League match ball. [Look for a review on ASER soon].  The official press release is below the images.

adidas and UEFA unveiled the Super Cup match ball that was used in the FC Barcelona vs. FC Shakhtar Donetsk match in Monaco.

Champions League Finale 9 Match Ball

•  Design is based on the widely recognized, eye-catching starball logo of the UEFA Champions League (UCL)
• All UCL games will be played with the new adidas Finale 9 (a ball for the May 22 Champions League Final in Madrid will be introduced early next year)
• The adidas Finale 9 is available now

UEFA Europa League Match Ball

Design is based on the official logo of the new competition

• All games of the UEFA Europa League – including the Final in Hamburg on May 12, 2010 – will be played with the new ball
• The UEFA Europa League ball is available at retail worldwide now

TECHNOLOGY

•  Both balls feature the new surface structure PSC-Texture that allows players to control and direct the ball perfectly in all weather conditions in addition to guaranteeing optimum grip between ball and boot.
• NOTE: ASER Reviewed the first generation of this technology and found it to be a vast improvement in texture and durability over the world cup ball.  You can see the review here.

Press Release:

As part of its partnership with UEFA, adidas today introduces the official match ball for tonight’s Super Cup in Monaco between FC Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk – photos attached. The futuristic ball features the new surface structure PSC-Texture that allows players to control and direct the ball perfectly in all weather conditions, guaranteeing optimum grip between ball and boot.

In addition to the Super Cup match ball, adidas and FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi have designed a special F50i Argentina colorway boot for today’s match. As a tribute to Messi’s home country, the F50i features colors of the Argentinean national flag (gold, white and sky blue) together with the flag’s sun emblem.

Messi will wear the new boot for the first time today in the UEFA Super Cup and then again on September 5 when Argentina faces Brazil in Messi’s hometown of Rosario. Only three adidas soccer players – David Beckham, Franz Beckenbauer and Uwe Seeler – have received a personal football boot; Messi is the fourth. The new F50i Messi football boot will soon be available at specialist stores worldwide and at Eurosport.

Today, adidas unveiled the Official Match Ball for the UEFA Champions League Final in Rome on May 27th: the adidas “Finale Rome”. The Italian capital is hosting its
second UEFA Champions League Final (following 1996). Europe’s top two football clubs in the 2008/2009 season will compete in the Final in Stadio Olimpico di
Roma, Italy’s biggest sports arena.

The design of the adidas “Finale Rome” is based on the widely recognizable UEFA Champions League star ball. The colors of the new match ball are inspired by the
traditional Roman colour burgundy with gold detailing around the stars. Mosaic figures representing key sporting and Roman values such as speed, teamwork, justice and power are featured in each star honoring the most important European club game.

Like the “EUROPASS”, the match ball for the UEFA EURO 2008™, the adidas “Finale Rome” features the innovative surface structure, PSC-Texture™. This surface structure allows players to control and direct the ball perfectly in all weather conditions. The PSC- Texture™ consists of a sophisticated and extremely fine structure on the ball’s outer skin that guarantees optimum grip between ball and boot. Due to the usage of this material, the ball texture feels like goose bumps. In addition, like the “EUROPASS”, the adidas “Finale Rome” is constructed out of 14 panels using revolutionary Thermal Bonding Technology.

The adidas “Finale Rome” is currently available at retail worldwide. adidas’ experience in football production is unsurpassed anywhere in the world.  adidas has been making footballs since 1963 and is now the world’s leading manufacturer, always at the cutting edge of technology. adidas has supplied the official match balls to all major UEFA and FIFA tournaments since 1970, and since 2008 is also the Official Supplier of the match ball for the Africa Cup of Nations organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

adidas will continue to use innovative technology to extend its leading position in football worldwide. This will further strengthen adidas’ position as the authentic symbol of high-performance sports equipment for professionals and amateurs alike. adidas also intends to unveil more revolutionary ball innovations for future UEFA, FIFA and CAF competitions.

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