Category: Soccer

Introduction

The fact that modern technologies have made an enormous progress over the years should not be overlooked, and it is necessary to find new uses for some of the devices that have been developed. One of the most interesting devices that should be discussed is a miniature camera that has been used for many purposes and is commonly used in many areas.

One of the most significant benefits that must be mentioned is that it can be used to record both video and audio in progress, and it is completely wireless (Tatum and Harris par 3.). Also, it is paramount to note that many companies have tried to take advantage of this technology because it has enormous potential that still has not been realized.

Discussion

The idea that is suggested is to develop miniature cameras that would be attached o shirts of soccer players that would be used to record and stream video from the perspective of a particular individual. It is necessary to mention that similar approaches have been considered in the past by football associations, but opportunities that have been introduced with the development of virtual reality technologies still have not been fully explored.

Also, it is imperative to have an understanding of the fact that video editors and directors will have to deal with numerous difficulties because the number of cameras increases significantly, and it is entirely possible that they will need a lot of time to get used to such technologies.

Technology

It is paramount to mention that soccer can be regarded as an appropriate choice in this case because it is relatively low-contact most of the time (Trenholm par. 5). However, numerous incidents in the past have led to many injuries and other problems. The issue that should not be overlooked is that it is necessary to make sure that the camera is well-protected because such devices are quite expensive, and any damage could lead to severe losses.

Also, it is necessary to make sure that the camera does not affect the process of the game for players, and they do not have to be worried about its position and if the vision is blocked. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that it is stable to provide viewers with the best possible experience.

It is understandable that some technical difficulties may occur, and it could lead to questionable decisions by referees. Also, it is necessary to make sure that the quality of video that is recorded is incredibly high because the demands of viewers are always increasing.

Several aspects should be considered during the process of design, and their role should not be overlooked. A picture needs to have an outstanding resolution to be viewed on flat screens, and it is extremely likely that this aspect will require the most attention.

The issue is that some of the motions and rapid movements may lead to confusion, and it is paramount to take all the necessary measures to make sure that the level of stability of is acceptable. Also, it is imperative to understand that this device would require testing, and it will have to pass through several phases to reduce the possibility of risks and complications. Many prototypes should be developed to analyze which one is the most efficient.

A lot of attention should be devoted to cost of the miniature camera lens because it is one of the most important parts, and it is necessary to find the right balance between the quality and price (Bates 13). Another aspect that may be quite problematic is possible issues with the weather because they may affect the level of visibility in some cases, and it is imperative to make sure that miniature camera can provide high-quality videos under all conditions.

Also, it is necessary to understand that the device may be displaced or covered in dirt in some cases, and the overall goal is to minimize the need for interference because the sport is valued by viewers for its speed and action. The fact that the demand for VR videos is going to be incredibly high also needs to be considered. Many companies have focused on the development of 360-degree cameras that would relatively cheap and affordable (Phillips and Demuro par. 2).

Also, another aspect that is worthy of a discussion is that audio should be regarded as a vital part of the overall experience, and it is necessary to take this factor into consideration because an ability to hear even the smallest details would be valued by viewers (Rappaport par. 6). However, the issue is how appropriate the use of such devices would be during a soccer match, but it can be said that this approach has potential.

Such camera should be able to record videos at the rate of sixty frames per second for an optimal experience for viewers, and this is an aspect that should not be disregarded during the process of design (Mejia par. 2). It is understandable that the quality of such videos is not going to be the best possible at the start because high-end video cameras are currently used to direct such movies.

However, it is likely that the situation is going to improve in the future with the introduction of new technologies and techniques. Overall, the focus should be on the minimization of possible expenses. TV companies and football associations are willing to support the development of such technologies, but it is important to understand that this product may have to deal with numerous competitors.

Benefits

It is imperative to mention that such product would have a broad range of advantages that need to be discussed. New devices such as Samsung’s Gear View that have been recently introduced can be used to view matches from different parts of a stadium, and one could get a feeling of being present at an event (“A Totally New Way to Look at Sports” par. 5).

An ability to see all the action from the perspective of a particular player would be highly valuable, and it is expected that such videos would be incredibly profitable. Many viewers would like an ability to replay some of the moments, and virtual reality will help to enhance the experience because actions of others players can also be viewed.

It is paramount to mention that such approach has been well-received, and it is evident that collaboration with companies that produce VR devices can be quite beneficial in this case.

Also, it is necessary to understand that an ability to review such replays would be valuable because it would help with the development of new strategies and tactics because it is much easier to identify possible mistakes and understand how they could have been avoided.

Another aspect that should not be disregarded is that a broad range of other similar products may be considered if this one is successful. Also, another factor that should not be overlooked is that it would increase an ability of rival teams to analyze the play style of a particular player, and the amount of other data that can be collected with a use of such technologies is enormous.

Also, it is necessary to mention that such cameras would help to improve decision-making of referees significantly. The issue is that it is nearly impossible to make an appropriate decision in some cases because the view may be obstructed in some situations. However, this device would help to address some of the issues that are currently present.

For instance, diving is regarded as especially problematic, and it may not be clear if the player does it intentionally or not if only a single replay is viewed. The problem that needs to be addressed is that it is a practice that is tolerated most of the time because it requires enormous skill and players that have been caught trying to cheat have to deal with severe consequences. However, it may affect the image and reputation of the sport, and necessary measures are not taken to prevent possible errors (Torres par. 4).

The ability to view it from the perspective of a particular individual would be highly valuable. On the other hand, many referees think that it would affect the game, and review of such replays would take too much time and will be incredibly distracting in most cases.

It is understandable that the game has been popular for many years, and such dramatic changes may not be appreciated by some of the fans. It may be necessary to establish a group of referees that would review replays of questionable moments to identify if rules were broken or not.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is hard to argue with the fact that this product has enormous potential, and football associations and viewers would be extremely interested in it. It is understandable that this approach is not new, and has been used in some other sports. However, the development of new technologies leads to numerous new opportunities that have not been discovered in the past.

One of the most significant problems that should not be disregarded is that several challenges for the implementation of such miniature cameras are currently present. For instance, many football associations prefer approaches that are more traditional. Also, the process would require significant amounts of resources and time.

However, this technique can be tested to evaluate if it is efficient and expenses are justified. It is necessary to keep track of latest trends in the industry to identify any improvements that can be made to the product, and gain a significant competitive advantage. Moreover, it is paramount to understand that the support from soccer associations is of utmost importance.

Overall, it is evident that there is a need for new technologies that would help to improve the decision-making process of referees because some of the decisions that are made are incredibly controversial, and such cameras can be used to keep track of all the events that happen in the soccer field.

Works Cited

“A Totally New Way to Look at Sports with Samsung Gear VR.” Samsung Newsroom. Samsung, 2015. Web.

Bates, Rob. “The Modern Miniature Camera Objective: an Evolutionary Design Path from the Landscape Lens.” Advanced Optical Technologies 2.1 (2013). Print.

Mejia, Ozzie. “Zero Point” Director Explains Filmmaking with Oculus Rift“.” Shacknews. Shacknews, 2014. Web.

Phillips, Chadwick, and Rich Demuro. “Affordable 360 Degree Camera Lets Anyone Create Virtual Reality Videos.” KTLA. KTLA, 2015. Web.

Rappaport, Max. “How Virtual Reality Will Change How We Watch Live Sports.“. Complex, 2015. Web.

Tatum, Malcolm, and Bronwyn Harris. “What Is a Spy Camera?” WiseGeek. 2015. Web.

Torres, Cesar T. “On Diving: Soccer’s Integrity is at Stake.” The New York Times. 2009. Web.

Trenholm, Richard. “Cameras in Players’ Shirts Put You in the Heart of Sporting Action.” Cnet. 2015. Web.

Recently, there has been an increased demand for the development of sports science. This area is recognized as an academic discipline and as a valid are of professional practice. The use of the technologies allows players to evaluate their performance by looking at the situation from a perspective of a viewer. Specifically virtual reality technologies have gained major recognition in the area of sports games, especially soccer.

A variety of new applications and programs are being created for training and educating soccer players to make adequate decisions during the course of the real game. The following work will focus on the analysis of the use of Virtual Reality in the training of soccer players with the evaluation of the practices adopted by particular soccer teams.

Science and Soccer

In order to evaluate the most significant sports performance parameters, scientists have come up with a variety of methods and systems. Such systems were developed to evaluate the performance in the areas of physiology, behavioral neuroscience, and biomechanics.

The physiological analysis can help in understanding the human movements and their energetic costs; the behavioural neuroscience can evaluate the strategic choices players make during the game while biomechanics can offer dynamic and kinematic data for the optimization of particular movements of the players (Bideau et al. 64).

Despite the fact that there has been very little empirical literature that explored the use of virtual reality technologies in field sports, a team of computer scientists from the University of Michigan have created an innovative system for training American football players using such technology.

Virtual reality can offer practitioners a variety of exciting opportunities for developing realistic training stimuli in the future, but at present there are some technical difficulties, mainly linked to the reduction of the image quality, and practical barriers that are based on the financial aspect that ensure that video remains a preferred method of capturing the performance of players.

The main bulk of research has attempted to improve the ability of players to understand the visual cues and a small amount of research have focused on trying to improve other perceptual-cognitive skills such as the ability to recognize patterns of play and to properly predict the probability of likely events.

When it comes to soccer, Williams has made an attempt to improve the abilities of players with the use of situational probabilities when predicting the destination of a pass in a soccer game. Although the process of the performance review is rather informal, relying mainly on the observation of edited match footage access, there is a scope to include more quantitative information regarding the probabilities associated with the moves and actions typically performed by forthcoming opponents.

For instance, an analysis may reveal that the opposition is usually playing in a particular pattern or that the attackers are predictable in the pattern of their movement. Being aware of such points significantly improves the ability of the players to make accurate predictions when it comes to the actions of their opponents. This information can be built ob the basis of training with the use of particular practices and drills (Carling, Reilly and Williams 64).

Another question to pose for scientists and practitioners is how should the effectiveness of this type of training be evaluated. The smartest solution to the issue is probably best achieved through the collaborative work of scientists and practitioners. The opinions of coaches could be gleaned before and after training by developing behavioral assessment scales whereas a panel of expert coaches could be used to assess anticipation and decision-making skills over a number of matches to improve objectivity and reliability, respectively.

The validity of the assessment scales could be substantiated by identifying behavioral indicators of anticipation and decision-making along with quantitative and qualitative video analysis. Moreover, many sports keep seasonal records on various aspects of performance such as the proportion of penalty kicks saved, a number of pass interceptions per match or successful pass completion rates.

Although it may be very difficult to apportion improvements directly to the intervention employed, data obtained using these types of records may help substantiate the validity of the training protocol. It may prove much easier to assess training improvements in more ‘closed skill’ situations such as the penalty kick in soccer. In the latter situations, quantitative data on success rates usually exist, and components of performance may be examined by using modern measurement technology such as high-speed film analysis (Carling, Reilly and Williams 65).

Virtual Reality Advantages

Due to the fact that there are technological limitations in software and hardware, the video playback method has been the most successful and simple method in exploring players’ behavior in a sports game, especially soccer. However, the video playback method is only limited to the viewpoint of the camera during the actual recording which results in the lack of interactivity.

Virtual reality (VR) is the method of overcoming the limitations the video playback method has by offering a virtual environment with the numerical simulations (Bideau et al. 64). The concept of Virtual Reality designates a system of techniques and principles used in the design and creation of software that will change the way a person perceives the surrounding reality (Lacrama and Fera 137).

An important advantage of the Virtual Environment analysis is its interaction with objects in real time. Furthermore, there are devices that capture the body of the player in motion. An example of such a VR environment is the MASCARET platform designed to help soccer players practice and learn the tactics decisions during the situations close to the environment of the game. To mimic the decision-making process of professional soccer players in a real game situation, the developers of the platform created avatars.

The avatars then were used for training the beginner soccer players to make practical tactical decisions by the means of presenting the tactical problems. However, the limitation of the platform was in the fact that it required a soccer player to imitate an action rather than demonstrate a particular skill or movement required in a soccer game.

According to Pasco, “Using VR technology in physical activity setting is new and is considered having great potential. One advantage of using VR is to eliminate the risk of injuries in physical training. Another advantage is to provide learners with the information that is not readily visible or available when learning in the real world, but that can play an important role in learning” (434).

The VR Process

Sherman and Craig defined Virtual Reality as “a medium composed of interactive computer simulation that senses the participant’s position and actions and replaces or augments the feedback to one or more senses, giving the feeling of being mentally immersed or present in the simulation (a virtual world)” (qtd. in Krieger 1).

The analysis of the player’s performance in soccer (or other sports game) with the use of VR can be divided into three steps. The first step in this analysis is connected with the action of capturing the movements of the player in a soccer game. These actions not only create a basis for the animation of virtual players but also offer a way to compare the actions of the player in created and real situations.

The second step is connected with the creation of the animations and their assimilation to particular constraints in case some modifications will be required. Lastly, the third step in the VR analysis is linked to the actual presentation of the virtual environment (Bideau et al. 64).

AZ Alkmaar Experience

Nowadays soccer is taking a major role in the exploration of the player’s Virtual Reality training and the analysis of their potential. An example for this is the fact that the Dutch Eredivise team AZ Alkmaar has signed a contract with a company that specializes in the reconstruction of matches in the virtual reality environment. Furthermore, Beyond Sports has also offered an option of creating a training program on the basis of the simulated matches with the use of the Oculus Rift technology (Barker par. 2).

The team now is planning to put a focus on the Beyond Sports’ technology for the further development of their youth program. The technology will allow analyzing soccer matches on a completely innovative level. Soccer players are able to view the games from an individual perspective as well as gain new knowledge on the level that will not be possible without the technology. Thus, players will learn to criticize themselves which is an important skill in soccer (Barker par. 3).

The Beyond Sports technology will create custom training scenarios side by side with the team coaches. Such interactive training scenarios will be used to educate players in accordance with the tactical ideas of their coaches (“Beyond Sports” par. 4).

Every soccer coach will say that even if the player has the most outstanding physical abilities, bad decision-making can crack the successful soccer career aspirations. With the use of the new VR technologies, the participants of the youth program will not only be technically savvy but also will be trained in the decision-making process and offer young players a more versatile set of skills.

Conclusion

The Virtual Reality technologies offer a variety of training option in a motivational and purposeful contexts (Birrer 1). Computer technologies have made a great impact on the majority of aspects of human life. Furthermore, their influence is evident in the organization of major soccer tournaments. Such technologies have also influenced the commercial component of the game. The further technological developments should benefit for soccer coaching, coach education and entertainment at home (Reilly and Williams 282).

There is no soccer coach that will argue with the fact that the decision-making aspect of the game is as important as the physical one. And while the advances in technologies that offer the option of Virtual Reality will never replace the hard work on a soccer pitch, if used in balance with each other, the results will be incredible (Rappaport par. 13).

Works Cited

Barker, Matt. Dutch Soccer Team to Generate Virtual Reality Game Simulations Based on Actual Game Data. 2016. Web.

Beyond Sports. n.d. Web.

Bideau, Benoit, Richard Kulpa, Nicolas Vignais, Sebastien Brault, and Frank Multon. “Using Virtual Reality to Analyze Sports Performance.” IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 16.1 (2010): 64-71. Print.

Birrer, Karin, Tabea Schuler, Alexander Koenig, Lucas Zimmerli, Susan Merillat, and Lars Lunenburger. “Research Influence of Virtual Reality Soccer Game on Walking Performance in Robotic Assisted Gait Training for Children.” Journal of Neuro-Engineering and Rehabilitation 7.15 (2010): 1-9. Print.

Carling, Christopher, Thomas Reilly, and Mark Williams. Performance Assessment for Field Sports. New York, NY: Routeledge, 2007. Print.

Krieger, Aaron. The Potential of Using Virtual Reality Technology in Physical Activity Settings. 2015. Web.

Lacrama, Dan, and Dorina Fera. “Virtual Reality.” Computer Science Series 5.1 (2007): 137-144. Print.

Pasco, Denis. “The Potential of Using Virtual Reality Technology in Physical Activity Settings.” Quest 65.4 (2013): 429-441. Print.

Rappaport, Max. How Virtual Reality Is Changing the Way Teams Prepare for Games. 2016. Web.

Reilly, Thomas, and Mark Williams. Science and Soccer 2nd ed. 2005. New York, NY: Routeledge. Print.

Introduction

Soccer, also often referred to as football or league football is a game in which two teams play using a round ball, with each team consisting of eleven participants. At the beginning of the 21st century, the sport was played by an excess of 250 million players. This was in over 200 nations, and this made the game the planet’s most popular game that is played by teams.

The sport is played on a grass pitch or a synthetic lawn that takes the form of a rectangle. Goal posts are set in the center of each of the short ends. The aim of the sport is to get a score(s) by taking the ball into the opponent’s goal. In normal play, the only team member permitted to touch the ball using their hands or arms is the goalkeeper.

Pitch players normally make use of their feet to boot the ball into position, making use of their upper body or head to cut off a ball above the ground (Amos 1). The side that will have put in the most goals at their opponents’ side by the ending of the game is the winner.

In cases where the scores are the same for both teams at the end of the game, either a draw is affirmed or the match proceeds into extra time and/or a penalty shootout. All these will rely on the arrangement of the competition.

In the usual match play, participants try to make goal-scoring chances by individual direction of the ball. Activities include dribbling, passing to teammates and by shooting at the opponent’s goal that is defended by the opponent goalkeeper. Opponent participants may attempt to take back the ball through the cutting off passes or by embark upon the opposing player having the ball.

On the other hand, bodily contact between opposing players is not allowed. The game of soccer is usually a free-flowing game, with play coming to a stop just when the ball has gone out of the pitch of play or in a case where the match official has signaled so due to a violation of the rules of play. Following a stop, play gets back with a clearly signaled start again.

At an expert stage, many matches produce just a small amount of goals. For instance, the 2005-2006 season of the English Premier League ended up with a mean of 2.48 goals for every game played. The regulations of the sport do not stipulate any participant positions save for that of the goalkeeper. However, a number of specified positions have developed. These positions entail three key groups (Stuart 1).

Strikers are also referred to as forwards, and their key role is to get scores. Defenders are the players who focus on putting a stop to their opponents from getting any scores. Midfielders are mainly tasked with depriving the opponent players of ball possession in a bid to pass it to the strikers on their team. Participants in these three main positions are called outfield players to differentiate them from the goalkeeper.

These play positions are split in relation to the position of the pitch in which the player takes most time. For instance, there are central defenders and left and right midfielders. The outfield participants may be organized in any arrangement. The amount of participants in every position decides the form of the squad’s play.

Extra strikers and reduced defenders generate a more forceful and attack-minded game, whereas the opposite generates a duller, more defensive form of play.

Despite the fact that participants spend much of the game in a certain position, there are hardly any limitations on player movement, and players can swap positions at any instance. The arrangement of a squad’s players is referred to as a formation. Coming up with the squad’s formation and strategies is normally the choice of the team’s manager.

The regulations of the sport were initially systematized in England by the Football Association in 1863, and a number of alterations have been incorporated from then. Soccer is run globally by the body FIFA, which arranges the FIFA World Cup after every four years.

The development of soccer in the past century

Over the past century, soccer has developed dramatically, some say positively, and some say negatively. From the positive perspective, new tactics, schematics, competitions, player movements to foreign clubs and the economic gains from the game have all made it the most popular sport on the face of the planet (Adams 1). The game has become so professional in that various forms of play have been developed.

In the developed world, there are soccer academies where young talent is nurtured for the future. Coach and official training institutions have as well been developed, and all these have taken the game to the next level in that one can take a career in any of the disciplines of the game, and live comfortably just like any other professionals like doctors or engineers.

Top notch and entertaining club and national competitions have also been developed. These are highly significant in the sporting calendar(s) world over. Accompanying all these are the positive economic gains that cannot be ignored. A talent in the sport has become a sure way to financial freedom.

Talented players can now play in foreign clubs so long as they meet the regulations for working in that country. Other than financial gains, clubs and national teams have increasingly gotten into deals with leading firms for financing and sponsorship. Such companies gain from the publicity they get by being associated with these teams.

The game has hitherto become global as compared to the commencement of the 20th century when it was not played much outside England. The Football League and the FA Cup were substantially instituted in Britain. However, outside this serious football competitions were not so.

In and of itself, football in the past century is best retraced back to the year 1904. This year was momentous since it saw the coming up of FIFA. This body was established in May of that year in Paris to administer worldwide contests. Its first head was Robert Guerin.

With the coming up of FIFA, a worldwide football competition soon came up. This was in 1908 when the first Olympic football competition was staged. A small number of teams took part in the competition. As one would have expected, Great Britain emerged the winners and their win was attributed to their longer experience in the sport as opposed to other nations at the time. They beat Denmark 2 – 0 in the final (Adams 1).

Later on in 1930, the FIFA World Cup was founded. Uruguay was the first host nation of the competition. They went on to become the first team to win the competition, beating Argentina 4-2 in the final.

In the 50s decade, more nations from Europe took up the sport. Following this, UEFA came up in 1954 as the administration body for European football. It did not take a long while, and the first European club competition was established. This was to feature the continent’s top teams.

At first, 16 teams participated, and this was in 1955. The tournament was won by Real Madrid form Spain. The establishment of this competition was followed by two other club competitions. These were the UEFA Fairs Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup.

The development of these competitions saw the 60s being a peak for the game. The FIFA World Cup was held in England in 1966 and the host nation emerged victorious after beating Germany in the final.

The 70s saw Holland possibly having a number of the best teams. They got to the World Cup final twice in the period but did not emerge victorious in any of their appearances. Ajax as well had a number of the top club squads and emerged victorious in the European Cup.

The 1980s marked the coming into effect of 3 points for a win in any game. This suggestion was settled on by the FA in the early years of the decade and was applied in the English Football League. Almost immediately, this would turn into a typical amount of points for teams that triumphed in league matches.

The 1998 FIFA World Cup was occasioned in France, and it featured 32 teams. The host nation won the competition by beating Brazil in the final (Adams 1). Many felt that it was appropriate for France to lift the trophy at the end of the century since the competition owed a lot to the nation.

Numerous negative developments were observed in the sport as it developed. The problem of racial abuse has always been experienced, and the world governing body of the sport, FIFA has to be given credit for fighting to eliminate the practice. Racially abusive players and fans have had to pay hefty fines, and thus the practice has gone down in recent times.

In the past, discrimination was not just founded on racial grounds, opposing team supporters form the same country, or even locality was experienced especially in England and Italy. Riots and attacks were experienced, but fortunately, the beautiful game seems to have put such incidences behind as safety has been enhanced for every player, official, and spectator.

Conclusion

Football in the past century saw the coming up of some of national and club competitions. Taken as a whole, the FIFA World Cup emerged to be the most high-ranking, whereas some like the Olympic football went down in significance.

At the club stage, the coming up of the Champions League in 1992 has as well led to other club competitions like the Cup Winners Cup and probably the UEFA Cup go down considerably. However, in the face of this, soccer is currently much liked thanks to FIFA and other regional and national bodies for their vigorous support of the game.

Works Cited

Adams, Mathew. “History of soccer in the 20th century”. Helium. 2010. Web.

Amos, Julie-Ann. “The History Of Soccer – Over 2000 Years Of Sporting Evolution”. The HistoryOf.net. 2008. Web.

Stuart, Darrell. “History of soccer”. Darrell Stuart. Com. 2010. Web.

Leisure and play activities fulfill an important role in modern society. Through these events, people are able to relax and obtain some level of enjoyment. In addition to this, the activities enable the participating members and observers of the games to socialize with each other. Soccer (referred to as football by the Saudis) is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia.

This paper will describe this game and explain its history in Saudi Arabia. The paper will discuss the Soccer Al Nasser Saudi Club in order to show who participates in the sport and who observes it. The elements within the game that contravene prevailing attitudes among Saudis and those that reaffirm them will be discussed.

Football, a sporting activity commonly referred to as soccer in North America, involves players from two opposing teams who attempt to control a ball and score against each other. Each team has eleven players working harmoniously to score goals and avoid conceding any. The players hit the ball across the field to pass it over the opposition’s goal line. The team that has acquired the greater number of goals by the end of the allocated playtime is declared the victor.

Soccer has been a part of Saudi culture since the formation of this nation in 1932. The sport was introduced to the Kingdom following the relations between the Europeans and the Saudis in the 20th century. After Saudi became a nation, soccer went on to become the national sport and it has remained popular to date.

Saudi Arabia has been a part of the international football scene for decades. The nation founded its football federation in 1956 and over the following years, many football clubs have been established in the country. One of the most popular clubs is the Soccer Al Nasser Saudi Club, which was formed as an amateur association but grew to become a professional club in 1960. This Club has won many trophies including the Saudi Primer League and the prestigious Asian Champions League.

The participants in Saudi football are male amateur and professional footballers. Amateur teams engage in competitive games as well as non-competitive ones mostly at the local level. Professional footballers are often involved in competitive events. The Soccer Al Nasser Saudi Club is very active in Saudi professional football and it has won many titles.

Only men play in the team and the team’s coaches and managers are male. The club has many supporters in Riyadh and the rest of the country. A vast majority of these supporters are men of different ages. The supporters attend major matches and they engage in loud cheering for their team.

In some ways, football in Saudi Arabia contravenes prevailing attitudes in the country. For example, Saudis are very respectful and friendly to strangers. This friendliness is not obvious when playing football as each team has to view the opponents as rivals. The football fans engage in loud cheering for their team while they jeer at the opposing team.

This public display of resentment for other people is not a part of Saudi culture and it only takes place in the context of the football match. When not engaging in the sport, Saudis are very friendly people who treat friends and strangers with great respect and consideration.

There are some instances where Saudi football reaffirms patterns within the culture at times of non-play. To begin with, the sport reaffirms the segregation between men and women in Saudi society. Women do not mix with men in the public and this is evident in soccer. Men carry out the games and the observing fans are mostly men. In addition to this, there are no clubs for women in Saudi Arabia due to the societal roles of men and women in the country.

Some aspects of the self-perception of Saudis can be deduced from their participation in football. Saudis value relationships between people in the society and efforts are made to make connections. Football is used as a forum for getting to know other people in the community.

During the sporting event, the spectators engage in dialogue with each other and form friendships. The aspirations of the Saudi people to be winners can also be seen from the game. Professional and amateur footballers dedicate a lot of time and effort preparing for each game. After a victory, the team members and their fans celebrate the victory.

Football is a sporting activity that fulfills an important role in Saudi society. This paper has described the game and shown its history in Saudi Arabia. One of the major football teams in the country, the Soccer Al Nasser Saudi Club has been described. Its participants and observers have been identified as being men.

Football contravenes the prevailing attitudes of Saudi friendliness and hospitability. It affirms the segregation between men and women in society. From reviewing this sport in Saudi Arabia, it is clear that the Saudis value community life and these people view themselves as victors.

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) innovation is going to be part of the daily lives shortly. It demonstrates an assortment of changes in research, occupation, and diversion. Preparation is dependably an imperative part in soccer matches. The nature of the preparation impacts the players’ change, as well as their execution in sports. This proposition concentrates on how biosensors can offer soccer players some assistance with improving themselves. Likewise, it examines a few issues in soccer preparation like harm and physical breaking point. Biosensors could give soccer players considerable measure advantages. Also, the change of players means a great deal to the club.

Development and history of biosensors in sports training

Researchers have created numerous frameworks and techniques to assess the most critical parameters in games execution—especially in areas, for example, biomechanics, physiology, and behavioral neuroscience. Biomechanical investigations provide mentors with kinematic and dynamic information to advance specific developments or embrace new methods through quality and molding preparing programs.

Physiological investigations depict the fiery expense of human development and how a person’s metabolism system adjusts to training. Behavioral neuroscience can clarify the vital decisions that sportsmen make amid sports, for example, foreseeing a rival’s activities or ideally moving to block a ball.

A biosensor is a scientific gadget that changes over a biological reaction into an electrical sign. The expression “biosensor” is regularly used to cover sensor gadgets utilized as a part of a request to decide the convergence of substances and different parameters of organic interest even where they do not use a natural framework straightforwardly. Biosensors stand for a quickly extending field, at present, with an expected 60% yearly development rate; the real driving force originating from the social insurance industry yet with some weight from different territories, for example, food quality evaluation and ecological checking.

The evaluated world diagnostic business sector is around 12,000,000,000 year of which 30% is in the social insurance territory. There is a tremendous business sector extension potential as under 0.1% of this business sector is now utilizing biosensors.

The majority of this present effort concerns potentiometric and amperometric biosensors and colorimetric paper catalyst strips. In any case, all the fundamental transducer sorts are prone to be altogether analyzed, for biosensors utilization, throughout the following couple of years. An effective biosensor is a must-have in any event a portion of the useful components. The biocatalyst must be very particular with the end goal of the investigations, be steady under ordinary stockpiling conditions and, aside from on account of colorimetric compound strips and dipsticks, demonstrate great security over countless assays.

The response ought to be as autonomous of such physical parameters as mixing, pH and temperature as is sensible. This would permit the investigation of tests with insignificant pre-treatment. On the off chance that the response includes cofactors or coenzymes, these ought to, ideally, likewise be co-immobilized with the compound. The reaction ought to be exact, on point, reproducible and direct over the helpful diagnostic extent, without weakening or focus.

The part of biosensors in soccer training is a theme that has been effectively talked about in the course of the most recent couple of years, and a portion of the advancements that have been as of late discharged can be used to make such methodologies fruitful. Besides, the nature of virtual situations has likewise been expanding, and they are to a great degree reasonable. Moreover, it ought to be seen as an exceptional open door since this region is generally unexplored and numerous innovations that can be utilized to enhance the biosensor experience are at present being created. Above all else, it is important to add to an arrangement of targets and gather the information.

The virtual environment must be designed accordingly and then put away on a hard drive. Additionally, this system should be introduced on PC/tablets. A player will utilize a head-mounted presentation and a feedback gadget to cooperate with VR, and his or her execution might be broken down with the utilization of an LCD projector.

The evaluation of the player’s execution in soccer with the utilization of biosensors can be partitioned into three stages. The initial phase of this examination is associated with the activity of catching the development of the players in soccer or game preparation. These activities do not just make a premise for the liveliness of virtual players; additionally, they offer an approach to looking at the activities of the player in simulated and genuine circumstances. The second step is associated with the formation of the movements and their absorption to specific imperatives in a situation where a few alterations will be required. Ultimately, the third step in the biosensor examination is connected to the genuine presentation of the virtual environment.

Be that as it may, video playback is constrained because the perspective is settled to the camera position amid recording. This averts intuitiveness—something critical if the player wishes to move to better get important data. Additionally, video playback relies on which moves were made at a particular time. Inferable from changes in innovation and processing power, virtual reality (VR) can defeat these constraints by giving numerical reenactments and immersive, intelligent situations.

How biosensors help in soccer training

Biosensors are utilized to ponder the perception-activity circle in competitors: how observation impacts decisions about which activity to undertake, and how those decisions impact resulting recognition. We research which perceptual data is imperative by requesting that players anticipate what will happen in specific situations—for example, the direction the ball will take when the ball is tossed. At that point, we acquaint the activity part to complete the circle.

To execute such analyzes, we planned a system that uses computer game innovation, including an advanced animation motor. We utilized this structure to direct two contextual analyzes: The first was an observation just to assess rugby players’ capacity to distinguish beguiling movements. The second entailed a recognition activity undertaking to evaluate handball goalkeepers’ reactions (activity) when confronting distinctive ball directions (discernment). These contextual investigations show the benefits of utilizing biosensors to better comprehend the observation activity circle and in this manner to examine sports execution.

The biosensors framework

Utilizing the innovation of biosensors to break down game execution includes a three-stage process. The initial step includes catching competitors’ activities in a particular game. These activities are helpful for the virtual characters’ simulation as well as to give an approach to analyzing the subject’s developments in genuine and drenched circumstances. The second step entails the simulation of the virtual humanoids and their adjustment to particular limitations to alter just a part of the reenactment. The third step entails the presentation of the virtual environment. Although the initial two stages are regular for every one of the applications we exhibit here, the third relies on the particular application since each immersive showcase framework has its particular points of interest and burdens.

As of late, there has been an expanded interest in the improvement of game science. This range is perceived as a scholarly scope and as a legitimate sector of expert practice. The utilization of the advancements permits players to assess their execution by focusing on the circumstance from a viewer’s point of view. Virtual reality advancements have increased real acknowledgment in the territory of game recreations. An assortment of new applications and projects are being made for soccer matches. The accompanying work will concentrate on the examination of the utilization of biosensors in the preparation of soccer players.

The efficiency of biosensors in soccer training

Keeping in mind the end goal to assess the most noteworthy games execution parameters, researchers have concocted an assortment of techniques and frameworks. Such frameworks were produced to assess the execution in the ranges of physiology, behavioral neuroscience, and biomechanics. The physiological investigation can help in comprehension the human developments and their lively costs; the behavioral neuroscience can assess the vital decisions players make amid the diversion while biomechanics can offer elements and kinematic information for the advancement of specific developments of the players.

Notwithstanding the way that there has been almost no exact writing that investigated the utilization of biosensors advancements in games; a group of PC researchers from the University of Michigan has made an imaginative framework for preparing American football players utilizing such innovation. Biosensors can provide experts an assortment of open doors for creating reasonable preparation motivation later on. Some professional football teams are attempting to put virtual reality into their preparation. This turns into an improvement inclination in competitions, so soccer clubs ought to focus and check whether they can make virtual reality into great use.

How soccer training works

The part of programming is essential for this situation since situations must be fantastically reasonable and various inward and outer components ought to be considered amid the procedure of improvement. Security vulnerabilities likewise ought to be considered because opponent groups might access essential data about the soccer training programs and methodologies that are utilized. The significance of equipment additionally ought not to be neglected, and various advances are utilized to exchange the information and improve the experience of a person. It is likewise basic to concentrate on such viewpoints as the rate and productivity.

The general objective of this methodology is to guarantee that a player is given all the essential apparatus for soccer training and the level of coordination is huge. Also, a few gadgets ought to be utilized to record and store the information since it might be unfathomably important. Creative instruments identified with haptic criticism must be utilized because other info gadgets are obsolete for this situation. They additionally build the viability of soccer training because an individual might feel an effect (Bales 440).

Because of the way that there are mechanical constraints in programming and equipment, the video playback technique has been the best and straightforward strategy in investigating the players’ conduct in a soccer game. In any case, the video playback technique is just restricted to the perspective of the camera amid the genuine recording which brings about the absence of intuitiveness. VR is the technique for defeating the impediments the video playback strategy has by offering a virtual domain with the numerical recreations.

The idea of Virtual reality assigns an arrangement of systems and standards utilized as a part of the outline and production of programming that will change the way a man sees the encompassing reality. Utilizing the video playback as a part of physical action setting is new and considered having awesome potential. One point of interest in utilizing video playbacks is to dispose of the danger of getting injured during soccer training. Another point of preference is to give learners the data that is not promptly obvious or accessible when learning in this present reality, yet that can assume an imperative part of learning.

Even though video playback is new and has a considerable measure of clear parts in Soccer training, a few organizations begin to chip away at it. An illustration for this is the way that the English Premier League team, Manchester United has marked an agreement with an organization called Beyond Sports that represents considerable authority in the reproduction of games in the video playback environment. They are making a training manual on the premise of the reproduced matches with the utilization of the latest technology. The expenses would be another that needs focus and emphasis.

Advantages and disadvantages of current soccer training

Even though it is still in its earliest stages, biosensors will substantially affect future trends in soccer. VR as of now has gained astonishing ground in the realm of sports execution, and it is anticipated to tremendously affect regular life also. VR, when more accessible, will have different utilizations running from diversion to fundamental correspondence. The uses of VR in football, occupations, and examination will have both positive and negative consequences for the general public.

VR in soccer can be characterized as an innovation that empowers the footballers to enter into a PC created universes and interface in a 3-D format through sight, sound, and touch (Peterson 8). Virtual reality consolidates PC recreation and perception into a solitary, lucid entire (Newquist 93). Analysts say it typifies an endeavor to wipe out the conventional qualification between the player and the machine. VR is proposed to give a method for normally and astutely communicating with data. VR is fighting to be the interface without bounds, permitting normal clients to utilize their senses to connect with complex information.

A biosensor is another innovation utilizing progressed and complex hardware. The video playback takes into consideration for the players to go a long way past just focusing on the PC screen. These fiber-optic sensors can decipher body movements. This gear considers the player’s finished transformation into a 3-D PC-created model of reality (Carr 37). The utilization of two-way information exchange is the thing that empowers this cooperation with a substitute reality to happen.

Fiber-optic and electronic links are connected to the biosensor hardware with a specific end goal to record the client’s developments (Newquist 93). The representation in the model is transformed when the motion data is transmitted via the links. The new data is then remitted to the player’s headgear, showing a realistic and sound world that conforms to his or her developments. It is a direct result of this cabling process that the activity/response data is constantly overhauled.

Keeping in mind the end goal to adequately make a 3-D environment for the players, virtual reality joins the components of engagement and intuitiveness. Engagement is the player’s communication with the biosensor technology with all the relevant senses as would be prudent. The sense of touch, the sense of hearing and the sense of sight are included. The level of a player’s immersion into a substitute world relies on what number of senses is connected with the VR gear. Intuitiveness incorporates the idea that the player can move around, feel things, and make a speech in this virtual environment (Carr 39). Together these components make conceivable the impact of a reasonable environment.

VR has come a long way past the enthusiasm of just PC researchers and designers. It has additionally created enthusiasm for some different fields including soccer training, correspondence and telecom sector, specialists, the entertainment business, the sports field, the military, and significant organizations and commercial enterprises. While once accepted to exceed expectations in predominantly types of entertainment like innovative computer games, VR is quickly turning into a propelled mode for correspondence. The VR innovation takes into account for the players to watch and get to data in various ways. It is this angle that is progressively speaking to expansive organizations and enterprises. VR once idealized, will have across the board use in these specific fields.

A portion of the positive ramifications of biosensors will be utilized as a part of a request to avert slip-up or experimentation. For instance, in football training simulated games would serve in the preparation of both amateur and professional expert players. Experimentation with new systems on simulated games could get to be conceivable too. In soccer, the utilization of simulated games has been a practice for a considerable length of time. The utilization of biosensors would give significantly more progressed, sensible circumstances for soccer training in the field and off the field. VR in football teams and football clubs would give a gigantic method for correspondence and equivalent access to information. For instance, as opposed to searching through file organizers on a PC desktop, the client will have the capacity to open the record drawers and flip through the documents in person (Carr 40).

There are likewise a few disadvantages to this innovative development and its predicted broad consolidation into the general public. The present expense and the inconveniences with the biosensor gear are two of the fundamental setbacks confronting researchers. For instance, the headgear in some cases cannot stay in the position with the constant movements of the player’s head and body (Biocca 14). It is significant to our presence that we keep up a humanistic mentality and not get to be invaded by an innovation drenched world. The video playback technology, if as across the board as anticipated, could bring about a noteworthy lessening in human communication in this present reality. It’s beneficial for building more grounded teams in organizations; yet what will our general public transform into if everybody is strolling around in goggles and gloves imagining they are someplace that is like a fantasy world?

Conclusion

The significance of biosensors in training is a theme that has been effectively talked about in the course of the most recent couple of years, and a portion of the advances that have been as of late discharged can be used to make such methodologies fruitful. Additionally, the nature of virtual situations has likewise been expanding, and they are to a great degree sensible. Moreover, it ought to be seen as an exceptional open door since this region is moderately unexplored and numerous innovations that can be utilized to enhance VR experience are right now being produced. As a matter of first importance, it is important to add to an arrangement of targets and gather the information.

The virtual environment must be designed and then put away on a hard drive. Besides, this system should be introduced on PC/portable workstations. A player will utilize a head-mounted showcase and a feedback gadget to associate with VR, and his or her execution might be investigated with the utilization of an LCD projector.

The objective of this paper is to give biosensors innovation’s future in soccer preparation. It offers an assortment of preparing choices for soccer players. VR innovation demonstrates a few focal points in soccer preparation. It can diminish the frequency of player injuries on the training ground. Players do not need to be anxious as it spends them an excessive amount of stamina. However the expenses of VR may not be modest, but rather with the development of the players, the soccer team could get a ton of advantages.

Works Cited

Bales, Fred. “Task roles and social roles in problem-solving groups.” Readings in social psychology 2:4 (2008): 437-47. Print.

Biocca, Frank. “Communicating Within Virtual Reality: Creating a Space for Research.” Journal of Communication 42.4 (2002): 5-22. Print.

Carr, Clay. “Is Virtual Reality Virtually Here?” Training and Development 46.10 (2012): 36-41. Print.

Newquist, Harvey. “Virtual Reality’s Commercial Reality.” Computerworld 30.1 (2012): 93-95. Print.

Peterson, Ivars. “Looking Glass Worlds.” Science News 4.2 (1992): 8-10. Print.

Introduction

The soccer is one of the favorite sport games of millions of people in the world. It has a long history and has already become the industry. The soccer players market is the sphere of the multimillion transactions. The aim of this essay is to provide the insight into the soccer players market and to describe some of the deals.

The Main Part

Although the roots of the soccer game can be found in the early history of mankind, it became popular in the 1880s. During the XX century, soccer developed rapidly. It was legalized as the professional sport game and the number of the sport associations and organizations were created to regulate the rules of play and provide the independent judging. The increase in the popularity of the game led to the creation of the soccer clubs all over the world. It became the national sport game of many countries. Undoubtedly, such tendencies attracted the business. Soccer became not only the passion of people but also the mean of earning money.

Nowadays, we can say about the existence of the soccer players market, the one where the clubs buy and sell the players in the deals. Top deals of 2012/2013 included Hulk (Givanildo Vieira de Souza), who was transferred from FC Porto to Zenit St. Petersburg for 55 000 000 euros, Thiago Silva, who changed AC Milan for PSG with the transfer fee of 42 000 000 euros, Eden Hazard, who was transferred from Lille to Chelsea for 40 000 000 euros, Javi Martinez, who left Athletic Club and joined Buyern Munchen for 40 000 000 euros, and Lucas (Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva), who was transferred from San Paolo to PSG for 40 000 000 euros (“Top-Transfers 2012/2013” n.pag.).

The situation in the soccer market shows that the average transfer fee was around 40 000 000 euros for the top players. Raphael Varane is considered to be the most valuable player (“Top-Transfers 2012/2013” n.pag.). Varane takes the position in the defence of Real Madrid CF. He is only 20 years old and his market value is 25 000 000 euros. Falcao is the most expensive player (“Top-Transfers 2012/2013” n.pag.). He is the former striker of Atletiko Madrid. Falcao was transferred to AS Monaco for 60 000 000 euros.

The biggest increases in the market values reflect the rise in the availability of the player. According to the most recent data, the market value of Oscar (Chelsea player) increased by 200% during the past year, Christian Benteke from Aston Villa is currently worth 600% more than the year before, and Matija Nastasic from Manchester City increased in value by 281.8% during the same period (“All About Market Values” n.pag.).

The news from the soccer players market is updated regularly. Perhaps, the new information came every day. The clubs seek new players and take the active part in the negotiations. One of the most recent news released on January 8, 2014 was about the intention of Liverpool to buy Abel Hernandez, Uruguayan forward (Saikatmandal par.1). The club is going to make the deal this winter. Currently, Hernandez plays with Palermo (Saikatmandal par.1).

The determination of the transfer fee is rather complicated process. Generally, it is based on the probability of the soccer player to score a goal. However, there are numerous other factors including age, fitness, and participation in the premier leagues. The researchers emphasize the number of goals scored in the previous season as the primary determinant of the transfer fee (Preston 2).

It is sometimes said that the modern soccer is the transfer soccer. The main idea of the transfer soccer is that the determination of the transfer fee depends on the talent of the player, not on his skills. The money dominates the soccer players market and this fact partly explains the focus on the achievements of the ‘stars’. Needless to say, the development of the soccer players market impedes the stability of the team’s line-up. The focus on the transfer of players affects the mastery of the soccer school. There is less need to develop new techniques and to train the current players. It is much easier for the club to buy the players. The most successful clubs have their schools. They do not rely completely on the transfers. The perfection of the technique of playing the game is the fundamental of the real mastery.

The transfer contracts regulate the relationships of the player with the club. The terms of the contract are set in accordance with the rules of FIFA and include the term of playing with the team, salary, bonuses, and the responsibilities of the parties (“Football Player Contracts” par.1).

Conclusion

In order to sum up all above mentioned, it should be said that the soccer players market represents the sphere of interest of the majority of the world’s soccer clubs. The transfers have already become the integral part of soccer game. The transfer fee is determined by various factors including the number of goals scored, age, fitness, and participation in the premier leagues.

Works Cited

“All About Market Values”. Transfermarkt.com. 2014. Web.

“Football Player Contracts”. Inbrief.co.uk. n.d. Web.

Preston, Thomas, The Determinants of Football Transfer Market Values: An Age of Financial Restraint. n.d. PDF file.

Saikatmandal, 11 Goals in 17 Games: Liverpool Targets Luis Suarez’s compatriot, Soccerlens.com. 2014. Web.

“Top-Transfers 2012/2013”. Transfermarkt.com. 2014. Web.

Becoming professional soccer is a time-consuming and intricate process that requires a lot of effort and hard work. It includes a wide range of various training drills aimed at developing new skills in playing techniques and tactics, speed, endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and agility (Morgans et al. 253). A positive result can only be achieved in the case of developing a training program that would include the activities and exercises that help achieve the best results in meeting the requirements mentioned above.

First of all, what matters for becoming a professional soccer player is physical strength. However, it is nothing without endurance and speed. Professional players have a strict training program that varies depending on the period of the year and the stage of the league. For example, during a pre-season, they train more intensively with specific attention to strength, endurance, and speed training activities, while during the season training activities are rarer because the players work heavily during the games. Even though endurance, speed, and muscular strength are of significant importance, what is even more vital is the tea spirit and the knowledge of playing techniques and tactics. It is what coaches should focus on because, without these skills, there is no chance to become a champion.

There is a wide range of training methods that can be used for training professional soccer players and helping them gain knowledge and develop skills in tactics and techniques. In general, these methods can be divided into two groups: theoretical and practical. Theoretical methods include getting primary theoretical information on the new tactic or strategy from the coach, watching video records of the games or watching a coach demonstrating some new moves that can be used for becoming a better player. As of practical methods, they involve any activities regarding putting newly received information to practice.

For example, it might be studying new tactics or asking a bench team or young team to use the tactics of the team of opponents during the drills or conducting drills for smaller groups of players, not the whole team. Each of the methods mentioned above has its particular advantages and disadvantages.

The study of the training methods in professional soccer will begin with the first theoretic method. Here a coach gathers his team and shares theoretical information regarding the new tactics or strategy the team will use while planning. Some of the advantages are probably the possibility to find out some new techniques in playing soccer and an opportunity to have some rest because it does not involve any physical activities.

As of the disadvantages of this method, it is, for the most part, limiting because using only words cannot help in developing new skills in the case of professional soccer players, as they need visualization of the information to perceive it and learn how to use it in the future. For this reason, the coaches might choose to show some photoshoots of the moves or schemes of the tactics described in the theory. What should be stressed about this method is that it is effective for outlining the new strategy of positioning the players on a soccer field because it is better to see a picture a hear some information about it and then put it into practice.

Another theoretical method is demonstrating some new moves or helping the player correct some mistakes if he has some. It involves the coach who shows the players how to do something right without any additional pictures or video records (Irvine 55). The major advantage of this method is the visualization because every player gets an opportunity to see what he is taught in real life. Moreover, the coach has a chance to help the players reach perfection in their moves because there is the possibility to make sure that they do everything right and correct their mistakes if they make any.

It is especially acute in the case of young teams. Another advantage is that seeing the move in real life makes it easier to comprehend if compared to the case when they are shown as the fragment of a video record of a game. Speaking of the disadvantages of this method, it might as well be a little limiting because it does not give the players a chance to see how they move or the strategy is used in the game when the whole team is involved because no visualization tools except for the coach’s body are used.

Finally, one more training method is showing video records of the games to the team. It can be of extreme importance in two cases – when the team just started its professional growth and when it prepares for the game with the opponent. This method has numerous advantages. In the case when the team is young and has just started its professional journey, watching video records of the games can help significantly improve the tactics and serve as a motivation tool because the players see what brought successful teams to where they are. In addition to it, watching videos might be some kind of a guide to teamwork that is especially acute for young professionals.

When we speak about the preparation for the game with opponents, this method might add to the chances of winning a match because the players have a perfect opportunity to study the team’s tactics. Moreover, watching the video several times can help find out whether the players have some secret signs they use while playing. In general, this method helps choose the tactics, develop a new strategy of playing or improve the existing one. Nevertheless, it has some disadvantages.

First of all, this method implies that the players simply watch the video fragment. They have time to reflect on what they have seen, but they do not have a chance to feel the whole experience as they do not see all sides of the game but see it only from some perspectives. Moreover, while preparing for the game with the opponent, there is no guarantee that they have not changed their strategy or chosen some other so that it does not necessarily lead the team to victory.

Furthermore, there are some practical training methods exercised in professional soccer. The first example of such methods is used when preparing for the game with opponents. In this case, the coach asks the players from the bench or young teams to use the tactics of the opponents. The primary advantage of this method is that the team has an opportunity to exercise in the game with similar tactics. However, it is impossible to foresee what strategy will be chosen.

Moreover, young players are not those with rich experience in playing soccer. They exercise only that elements of tactics that they have seen on a video fragment or in real life, but they are not those who the team will play with. In addition to it, this method has a psychological side because subconsciously players might expect the tactics that were used by a bench, so it might decrease the chances for the victory.

Finally, what is often used is breaking the team down into smaller groups and conducting training drills for these small groups, e.g. 4vs4 or 3vs3 (“Soccer Smaller Sided Games” par. 2). The essence of this method is organizing a game inside a team. This method is advantageous in cases when there is no need to involve the whole team. For example, it may be used while improving attack or defense strategies when only several players are involved. In addition to it, this method might be useful in developing passing skills. As of the disadvantages it has, it might ruin the team spirit because some players might take these games too seriously, so it might lead to conflicts and confrontation.

So, what can be said about the training methods of professional soccer is that they all have some advantages and disadvantages. Because of it, it is inefficient to choose only one of them. What is more significant is that only a comprehensive embodiment of all methods mentioned above into training program might entail positive changes in a team’s tactics, help players develop new skills, and lead a team to victory and championship.

Works Cited

Irvine, Robert. The Analyze-Involve – Model (AIM) Soccer Coaching Process. 2012. Web.

Morgans, Ryland, Patrick Orme, Liam Anderson, and Barry Drust. “Principles and practices of training for soccer.” Journal of Sport and Health Science 3.4 (2014): 251-257. Print.

Soccer Smaller Sided Games. 2015. Web.

Introduction

Although the idea that there are people with greater talent who are being paid more money seems fair, in reality, it is not necessarily a fact that soccer celebrities possess extraordinary talent. Instead, it seems that in most cases, their accomplishments are only slightly above star players’ recorded exploits, and yet they are paid excessively larger salaries than their slightly less accomplished teammates. Although this practice might seem unfair on the surface, the small difference between superstars and regular players results in impressive revenues for the club, hence the reasons for treating sports stars in the manner described above.

Analysis

Fame as a social phenomenon often leads to unexpected outcomes. This is especially evident in the area of sports and sports celebrities. For instance, the cases in which famous sports figures receive considerably higher salaries than those who play at a medium level can shed a lot of light on human nature, as well as on the way in which people treat celebrities. The phenomenon in question is typically referred to as the ”superstar effect” (Christiansen & Sieversten, 2008, p. 11).

In other words, after specific players are identified as superstars, their accomplishments and the outcome of their efforts are amplified and their wages rise accordingly. From a realistic perspective, however, superstar players’ actual results are only somewhat better than the performance of star and average players, at best. Therefore, the minor difference in the effort one of these athletes makes results in a large difference in the payment provided to the two types of players (Lucifora & Simmons, 2003).

Though the phenomenon under analysis might seem unfair, the Superstar Effect has rather solid reasoning behind it. The key reason for star football players to be treated as they are is that their actions are especially beneficial to the club. As a result, the heads of the football communities heavily endorse sports leaders, so that football celebrities can bring an increased amount of money to the club and its representatives.

A closer look at the subject matter will prove that the Superstar Effect has little to do with basic principles of fairness. It might seem that it subverts traditional ethical values, replacing them with excitement over the people who have, only once or twice, made their admittedly impressive contribution to the success of the team. However, on second thought, one will agree that the Superstar Effect contributes to the general promotion of the sport and the commercial success of the team (Lucifora & Simmons, 2003).

Conclusion

While being only somewhat above average in most cases, football stars are provided with much greater salaries than the rest of the team members. Therefore, the slight difference in the quality of the game causes a significantly larger difference in wages. The Superstar Effect, which manifests itself in football stars receiving incentives and financial rewards that other team members do not, can be viewed as a graphic example of the phenomenon analyzed.

Although it might seem that the concept of the Superstar Effect has an admittedly unfair basis and, therefore, needs to be reconsidered, a closer look will reveal that the phenomenon triggers impressive revenues for the players’ club. Therefore, the further promotion of this phenomenon can be viewed as not only understandable but also reasonable and quite legitimate, both economically and ethically.

Reference List

Christiansen, N. A., Sieversten, H. H. (2008). Superstar effect in Italian football. Web.

Lucifora, C., & Simmons, R. (2003). Superstar effects in sport: Evidence from Italian soccer. Journal of Sports Economics, 4(1), 35-55. Web.

Any sports game is the entertainment for the crowd and only then the professional sports activity. Basketball, football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, and the variety of other team sports develop these days and gain popularity among millions of people because of the power of media. Television has brought sports to the new levels of professionalism and amounts of money involved in this industry.

Modern superstar players in soccer, for example, receive millions of Euros and dollars per year while median players have substantially smaller salaries. This situation is similar to the involvement of Hollywood superstars in a movie. The movie with a superstar or two has more chances to have a profitable box office than the movie without any. The importance of the “superstar effect” in soccer is hard to overestimate because superstar players generate more revenues for the team by drawing more interest to it, providing it with better sports results, and being the highly valuable asset to invest in by team owners.

Television plays a key role in the popularity of any sports event. It provides billions of people with the opportunity to observe the games of their favorite teams and players (Porter par. 8). Soccer, probably, is the most popular team game in the world, so superstar players have very distinct roles in it. Such players as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Pele, Maradona, and other top players of the past and present soccer have always created the difference in the field because of their exceptional talent.

This talent helps (and helped) their teams to win the particular matches, national and international championships, and strengthen the belief of fans that their favorite team will always be successful. It leads people to the stadiums where they purchase tickets for a match or the full season (Porter par. 11). They also buy various t-shirts, soccer balls, scarfs, souvenirs, and anything related to their favorite team and star players.

The successes of the powerful teams eventually draw more superstar players to the national leagues as it happened in Spain, England, Italy, Germany, and some other countries of the European Union that are considered to be the top soccer leagues in the world. This, in turn, allows the television channels to broadcast more matches of these national leagues to the fans around the world and sell commercials’ time to the interested parties (Porter par. 13).

The revenues of all parties involved increasing drastically. None of these links of this chain would be possible without the “superstar effect” generated by the talented soccer players. It is the reason why the salary of the superstar players in their clubs is much higher than the salaries of the median players. Another side effect of the presence of the superstar players in a team is the credit of trust the club has.

They may not be in the best shape and show mediocre game results for a while but the fans always know that it will pass, and Cristiano or Lionel will play at their best, giving Real Madrid or Barcelona the chance to become the winners of the Champions League, national championship, and any other tournament in which they decide to participate. This trust is the key to the “superstar effect” because the trust makes fans stick to their favorite team with adored start players, support it, and thus, generate the revenue for it.

Works Cited

Porter, Eduardo. “How Superstars’ Pay Stifles Everyone Else.” The New York Times. 2010. Web.

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world in terms of viewership and participation. It involves a football game in which two teams comprising of eleven players each try to kick or head a ball into the opponent’s goal (Goldblatt 20). Despite the sport being played and highly popular in almost every country across the world, the situation in America is quite different. What Americans identify and describe as soccer is known as football everywhere else.

This is necessitated by the fact that Americans prefer other sports to soccer, especially considering that they have their version of football called American football. Soccer was first introduced as a sport in America in the 1850s by immigrants who came from Germany, Italy, Scotland, and Ireland (Goldblatt 27). Several years later, the sport is still struggling to gain a footing in America even though it is among the most developed countries in the world. The question of why soccer has taken this long to gain acceptance in the country continues to linger in the minds of many, as other sports such as basketball, baseball, and American football continue to grow further with every passing decade (Gorn and Warren 69).

One of the main reasons why soccer has taken so long to catch in America is the country’s culture. Studies have shown that several aspects of soccer are parallel to the social setting and beliefs in the country, thus making the sport unattractive for Americans (Gorn and Warren 81). For example, Americans cannot stand a tie score in sports. In soccer, a tie is one of the possible three outcomes in a game unlike in other sports like basketball where every game has to produce a winner.

American culture is also characterized by the obsession with being the best in everything they do and love. American history is dominated by numerous wars, whose sole aim was to earn the country superpower status (Collins 9). This element has defined Americans all through and soccer has not been an exception. The fact that America is not the best in terms of producing the best soccer talents explains why the sport is not very popular. Baseball, basketball, and American football are the most popular sports in the country because America is the best at each one of them (Gorn and Warren 105).

Americans also have a big obsession for big things, a behavior that reflects a lot in the sports they support. Basketball, baseball, and American football are sports characterized by big score lines. In soccer, the situation is different, as it is possible for a game played for close to two hours to finish goalless. Americans do not find any excitement in such results, thus the reason soccer is still struggling for acceptance. Another element of sports that Americans love in big numbers is the height and weight of players (Collins 43).

The average height of players in traditional American sports is 6.1 feet and for weight, it is 200 pounds. These elements fit the description of a big player that Americans find exciting and impressive. In soccer, the situation is different, as a player does not need such physical attributes to play or have a successful career. Goalkeepers are mostly the only soccer players that have to be tall to play. Small-sized players in soccer make the sport unappealing to Americans because it does not fit in with their social beliefs (Gorn and Warren 139).

However, the American culture has transformed a lot over the years and soccer is slowly gaining popularity in the country as evidenced in the number of existing soccer teams, fan participation, and the consistent appearance of the national teams in major tournaments. The American national women’s soccer team is the reigning world champion.

Americans are globally considered exceptional because they love to stand out from everyone else and maintain the status quo (Collins 61). The biggest casualty of this American culture has been soccer in terms of its growth and acceptance in the country. For example, it is hard to understand why the winners of the Super Bowl every year are crowned as world champions in a sport that is played only in America and by American teams.

Arguably, it is ridiculous for anyone to brand the United States as having the best American football players, yet almost every player of the sport is American. Unfortunately, they have failed to apply the same strategy in soccer because the sport is global and more competitive. Despite its superpower status, the American soccer national teams have been lowly ranked over the years in terms of competitiveness (Gorn and Warren 141).

The exceptional nature of Americans is to blame for the continued struggles that have characterized soccer in the country, as well as the failure of socialism. Americans are known to be materialistic and will only invest their time, energy, resources, and emotions in things that have the potential to make them as much money as possible. The fact that they like to pursue things with as few limitations as possible also explains why the concept of socialism failed in America (Collins 100).

In sports broadcast, the biggest source of revenue is advertisements. Over the years, major television channels in America have not made enough efforts to promote soccer through broadcast because they consider it commercially unattractive (Goldblatt 237). They prefer to broadcast sports whose format allows room for as many advertisements as possible. Baseball, basketball, and American football have formats where teams take several breaks in a game, thus allowing the broadcaster to air several advertisements. In soccer, the only time a broadcaster can run advertisements is a few minutes before kickoff, and at halftime.

This format makes the sport unattractive to broadcasters, thus making it less popular because viewers will have the choice of other sports (Gorn and Warren 171). Although soccer has gained a lot of popularity in contemporary America by bringing big football stars like David Beckham and Thierry Henry to play in the Major League Soccer (MLS), it is still far behind the likes of basketball, baseball, and American football as the culturally hegemonic activities in the country.

However, the huge potential for the growth of the soccer culture in the United States is undeniable. During the regular MLS season, stadiums across the country are often full of fans cheering on their favorite teams. Youth soccer in the country is also a spectacle, as many parents are encouraging their children to attend soccer camps and academies as an alternative to traditional American sports.

Works Cited

Collins, Tony. Sport in Capitalist Society: A Short History. Routledge, 2013.

Goldblatt, David. The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football. Penguin Books Limited, 2007.

Gorn, Elliot, and Warren, Goldstein. A Brief History of American Sports. University of Illinois Press, 2004.

Guttmann, Allen. The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games. University of Illinois Press, 2002.