#Types of football juggling

[qinluofu]

ㅤㅤㅤㅤrhodochrosite 🫧 shidou ryusei x gn!reader

in which shidou tries his best to comfort you from your toxic ex rin + asshole rin is very real in this au so beware

sfw work + 400++ wc

"it's me or them"

You couldn’t even look at Rin, trying to hold your tears. You could feel his gaze upon you, as you waited for an answer.

Rin sighs, “don’t make this difficult for me”

“I just want to know”, in your heart you already knew a definitive answer, you just wanted to hear him say it, say it so you can know he doesn’t love you, so you can move on

“I’d choose them”

And that’s all you needed to hear to never look back at him ever again.

You know that feeling when something heavy falls onto your stomach and you start crying uncontrollably? Yeah something like that

During the first day, you lay in bed all day with no appetite for any food and especially the pastries from the coffee shop just down the street (he always bought you the egg tarts). You kept checking for your messages, never blocking Rin just to see what he had to say, staring at the chat histories.

During the second day, everything sinks down to you and you realize you have lost the only person that cared about you. Were you really not enough? You tried to find fault in everything, everyone, but at the end there was still no one by your side.

During the third day, you felt rage inside you. You wanted to ruin his football career, you wanted to ruin his new partner, you almost could feel the motivation to get out of bed and properly confront him, to get the closure you deserved.

because rin isn’t the type of person to just cheat out of nowhere. because rin isn’t the type of person to be able to fake his love for someone for 5 years because you can’t accept the fact that he doesn't want you anymore

shidou knocks on your door. he knows your home, he knows you broke up with rin, he knows your sad.

despite his external layer of brassiness he knows well that its time to invade your personal space and rescue you from the pits of your bed before you suffocate of emotional damage.

shidou has to juggle between beating rin up or giving you a hug, beating rin up can satisfy his personal needs but might intensify your sadness so the latter seems more promising.

you slowly opened the door after knowing it was him after seeing the cameras and he nervously holds out his hands to embrace you, unsure if you would accept his hug.

surprisingly you didn't push him away. his hug felt warm, warmer and more sincere than any hug rin itoshi could ever give you. shidou slowly closed the door and coo's at your crying.

"everything's gonna be fine from now on."

a/n: there's gonna be a part2, i think.. this has been sitting in my drafts for a considerable time so i hope this was fine to read

[would-this-pokemon-be-a-friend]

Would A Raboot Be A Good Pet?

No, your eyes don’t deceive you: we’ve got an A tier pet from a starter evolution line! Raboots would actually make great pets, a major outlier among tragically risky fire-type pokémon!

At two feet tall and nearly twenty pounds, raboots are certainly not too large to be a good pet (though they’re a good bit bigger than most real-world rabbits!). They’re known to get along well with humans, and they’re receptive to training, as their evolution line is a common first partner pokémon for trainers in the Galar Region.

Unfortunately, we don’t have that much data about the biology or behavior of wild raboots. We know that they’ve adapted to living in colder climates by evolving thick and fluffy fur to keep their internal body heat high, which increased the heat of the fire they can generate (Sword). Speaking of fire: sure, raboots can generate and expel fire like many fire-type pokémon. However, they can only naturally learn 2 fire-type moves! Neither Ember nor Flame Charge carry as large a penalty as many other fire-type moves. While these two moves could certainly pose the risk of starting a house fire, the fact that there’s only two moves to worry is a big plus: with proper training, it would be much easier to teach a raboot to not play with fire inside than pokémon for whom open fire is a part of their biology or feeding behavior.

The other bit of data we know about raboots is delightful: they love to play! In the wild, raboots kick berries off of trees and use them to practice their ball juggling and footwork like a human football player (Shield). You just know that raboots would love to play with all sort of toys! I know there’s a lot of people out there who would love to have a pet they could play football with! Unlike their evolution, cinderace, raboots don’t set these improvised balls into fireballs, so this play is safe for everyone involved.

Overall, raboots would be excellent pets! One would need to make sure to invest in training their pet, though not to an extent that would be inconvenient for many owners. It would help to have an active lifestyle as well, since these little guys love running around and playing!

[24hrsoda]

Do you have anymore thoughts about deaged Ra's al ghul au??? Cause now i'm invested!

Yes!

So, Damian comes back to Gotham, very annoyed and confused about what to do with his grandfather that has been turned in to a baby.

Bruce of course immediately puts it upon himself to care for the little guy and try to fix things because as much as he wishes Ra’s Al Ghul was not a thorn in his side, he can’t leave Ra’s in this state.

The Lazarus pits did this to Ra’s, so Bruce is juggling playing babysitter and detective.

He comes around to re-engineering Lazarus resin and more or less makes a “bad” batch of resin that has opposite effects (aging instead of restoring youth). He’s cautious so he only gives it to Ra’s in small controlled doses every few weeks and it ages him at a somewhat steady pace but he has to be very careful to not overdo things and harm Ra’s.

As a baby, Ra’s doenst do much. He just cries and sometimes giggles and sleeps a lot. Typical baby behavior.

Bruce is surprised to find that Toddler Ra’s is actually very very sweet. He is SO smart and approaches just about every person and situation with curiosity and fearlessness. Even when he is afraid of things (Like Goliath, or Superman, he still faces them head-on and brave. It’s cute.) He also seems to show concerns when Bruce and Damian come back from patrols with bruises and scrapes. He can’t understand why, but he knows they’ve been hurt to some extent and he feels bad for them because…they have ouchies :(

His most favorite people are Bruce, who takes care of him. Damian, who plays with him. And Ace, who’s old and slow and doesn’t mind being petted 4736833 times a day and fed the scraps that Ra’s doesn’t eat off his plate.

When Bruce gives him another dose and it ages him up in to an older child, he’s very studious. He loves to read, he often spends a lot of time in the study flipping through various (age-appropriate) books that Bruce has kept from his kids over the years. Any opportunity to learn something new, he takes on as a challenge. He enjoys going out in the yard to play with the others, things like catch at first, and then eventually backyard football type games where he can be a little competitive.

When later doses age him up to his teen years, he only gets smarter and more ambitious. And nosy, lol. He discovers the Batcave and the family’s vigilante identities, and that’s when he discovers that Ra’s’ stubborn streak truly rivals his own.

Bruce is having flashbacks to when Tim and when Damian first came to the family. Always having to chase them around going “No!” and “Stop that!” and “Get out of there!”. The only difference is that Ra’s is probably still a lot nicer than Tim or Damian ever were, LOL.

[possibilistfanfiction]

lilith

[obsessed with this ask, first of all. second of all, lilith pov from footy au for @unicyclehippo.]

//

you meet beatrice for the first time when you’re fourteen, and she’s thirteen. you’re in different club academies but you vaguely, before this, had heard of her: girls around you talk, hushed, when she walks in, because she’s the youngest and everyone is already saying she’s the best, a generational talent — beatrice xin, the next great center midfielder, the future of football. that’s what you want to be, so badly you can taste it, so badly that when you miss an easy tap in the first day of camp you bite the inside of your cheek so hard you draw blood.

it’s not your first time at national team camp, but it is hers. maybe because you’re serious and driven, or maybe because you don’t find enjoyment in the pranks other girls like to play, and you don’t eat the junk food they sneak in in tampon boxes, they have her room with you. you were the youngest once; you remember.

you’re both reserved and careful, not particularly friendly, but beatrice’s stems from awkwardness, from a split second of figuring out how to read social cues around her while everyone else laughs. she’s thin and kind of small, her face full and young. she has freckles and braces and little wisps of her hair escape her bun; she unpacks efficiently into the little dresser on her side of the room: simple underwear, sports bras, joggers, hoodies. she pulls out a little leatherbound journal and a book in a language you don’t know and a pen and lines them up with military precision on the desk. she sets her little shower caddy on top of the dresser and neatly places her toiletries in it: acne cream, shampoo and conditioner, a fresh bar of lavender soap, lotion, sunscreen. ‘i’m going to freshen up before dinner,’ she says, impossibly formal and a little funny, honestly, but it doesn’t seem kind — not yet, anyway — to tease her about it.

you wait for her to come out of the bathroom at the end of the hall and back to your room. her black hair is in a neat braid, the wet ends darkening her t-shirt, which she’s tucked into a pair of joggers, which, for some reason, hurts you a little bit. 

‘ready?’

she seems surprised when you’re still there; you’re in a hoodie and shorts and slides, and you wait for her to neatly tie a pair of — admittedly, very cool — sneakers and then nod. ‘lilith,’ she says, gently and tentatively touching your elbow, ‘thank you.’

‘for what?’

‘for waiting for me.’ i’m used to being alone, she means, and she’s quiet throughout all of dinner, only adding into the conversation when someone brings up a type of bird they saw this morning, which she knows the latin name for and all of its characteristics, and she eats with the most exacting bites you’ve ever seen.

i’m used to being alone, she means, as you both settle in your small, twin beds later — ‘goodnight, beatrice,’ you say. you’re not alone, and neither is she.

‘sleep well, lilith.’

/

beatrice is, you can admit by the time you’re sixteen, the best in the world. maybe not yet — although, some days, when you play with her and watch her beat players twice her age without breaking a sweat, one after another through the midfield, or in a tight space around the 18, or even on the touchline if she drifts for a give and go — you think maybe she already is. 

her time on youth sides is running out, you know, because she is a generational talent, because everyone wants her already. she seems, mostly, unfazed by it all, still stoic and focused and brilliant. she gets her high school diploma at fifteen; she tells you, quietly while you juggle together in the courtyard of the hotel you’re at one tournament when neither of you can sleep, that she’s enrolled in online college classes and has enjoyed the challenge so far: she’s learning german, and she’s taking a revolutionary chinese history course, and her favorite is calculus iii. she’s kind of bizarre, but you’re fond of her. sometimes she texts you pictures of her cat between camps, and you send her any meme that makes you laugh privately.

you’re a little surprised when she’s on the u-20 world cup squad with you, mostly because you had honestly thought she might get pulled into the senior squad, at least for some friendlies, but you’re glad she’s here: you’re nervous, and restless. when you had told your mother that you’d gotten called up, tamping down any expectations for excitement as hard as you could, she had said, ‘as we expected of you,’ and continued on with her day.

‘do you have a boyfriend?’ you ask into the dark. 

you hear her roll around in bed for a few moments, probably turning to face toward you, and then she says, ‘when would i have time to have a boyfriend?’

you shrug. ‘i don’t know; seo-jun and nora have boyfriends.’

‘i guess.’

‘so that’s a no, from you.’

she laughs. ‘do you have a boyfriend?’

‘ew, no. have you met sixteen year old boys?’

‘i know. disgusting. i don’t know what the point is of boys, anyway. i’m too busy with football.’

you understand the point of boys, in a way: you like looking at mohammed’s arms when you’re training together, the way they press and cut when you’re doing push-ups. you’ve kissed him; you kiss him often. ‘yeah,’ you say, because it’s not your truth to name for her. ‘gross.’

/

it’s unsurprising to you when you get signed to the same club team beatrice debuted for two years ago, when she was sixteen. they’re building a franchise around her, bringing in young talent and trading for the world’s best veterans. she’d been on loan abroad for a spell, came back even more lethal, even more deadly — she’s taller, now, and still thin enough trainers are always on her to put on muscle. she spends extra time in the weight room — she spends extra time doing everything — and you’d never tell, but beatrice is the best in the world because she doesn’t allow herself anything else, even when she’s hurting and exhausted.

you have nothing better to do, and you’ve, admittedly, missed her, so you agree to spot her while she does more squats. when you see the weight she racks up you’re glad for the state of the art recovery facilities they have, and for the rest day you have tomorrow. 

she pushes through her first set, her face turning red but her expression perfectly calm, her quarterzip neatly tucked in, and it’s kind of terrifying. ‘you’re kind of terrifying.’

she racks the bar and steps out from under it, takes a big deep breath, shakes out her shoulders. ‘i’m small.’

‘you’re eighteen.’

she considers it. ‘i have to get bigger.’

it’s a razor’s edge, football and greatness: beatrice will train until she can’t; beatrice will eat exactly what she’s supposed to; beatrice will run until she throws up; beatrice will sleep exactly as she’s supposed to, and take all of her recovery seriously, and —

‘after this set, do you want to get a drink?’

‘a drink?’

you laugh at her indignation. ‘yeah, one drink. dinner, maybe? i don’t know any good spots around yet.’

‘oh,’ she says, ‘i don’t really go out, and i don’t drink. but —‘ it takes her a moment — ‘yes, we can. mary and shannon like a place across from the grounds.’

‘is it quinoa bowls?’

she blushes, steps back under the bar. 

‘i want a burger and a cocktail, beatrice. please.’

she does her other set, straining for the last two, unable to keep it off her face. ‘fine,’ she says, out of breath once she finishes, ‘fine.’

/

you’re twenty-one, at a celebration after a championship, and you’re drunk. beatrice is laughing, her hair somehow pulled out of its bun; she’d won the golden ball, which, since the first touch of preseason, seemed inevitable: she is, very concretely, the best in the world. 

‘come dance!’ ashante says, tugs on her hands, and she shakes her head but when you say, ‘yeah, beatrice, come on,’ she sighs and follows you out onto the dance floor. there are plenty of hot boys, and beatrice is beautiful, you can easily admit. she’s weird and a huge nerd — she has a bachelor’s degree in ecological anthropology, which she’d worked on for fun — but you love her. she’s your friend, and you want to celebrate with her. she hasn’t been drinking, so she’s stiff and awkward, even more than usual, in loose slacks and a collarless button down which she lets you unbutton down to the middle of her chest without any fanfare. a few guys walk up to you — beatrice xin, holy shit — and then you’re dancing. it’s easy, after a few shots, to close your eyes and let everything drift away around you. 

but then you hear beatrice say, ‘stop,’ and the guy she was dancing with doesn’t, not quick enough, not immediately, and you see red.

you get kicked out, which only avoids the media because the bouncers let you leave through the back. beatrice clenches her jaw and her hands and your knuckles smart, already bruising.

‘i can handle myself,’ she says, although you see the way her body is trembling.

‘i know,’ you say, because you do. ‘but you don’t have to, not all the time.’

you wait in the alley, shivering, for a car; it’s silent and just after a spurt of rain, and, after a beat, she laughs. ‘did we get into a bar fight?’

you grin over at her. ‘who says we don’t know how to have fun, huh?’

/

‘are you gonna do the pride thing?’

beatrice looks far too calm for being in an ice bath. ’no, not publicly.’

‘yeah, that’s cool,’ you say. ‘mary and shannon are, like, the couple, anyway. marketing has an easy out there.’

she snorts. ‘easy out.’

you roll your eyes. 

‘i’m —‘ she takes a deep breath — ‘i’m a lesbian.’

‘okay,’ you say, and fight the desperate urge to laugh and say yes, beatrice, everyone and their mother knows, that’s why i asked if you were going to be in the pride campaign. ‘obviously, that’s cool with me.’

horrifyingly, she starts to cry. ‘i’ve never said it out loud before.’

she’s twenty-one, so, fair, you guess, but it also makes you so sad. ‘well, now you have. in an ice bath, no less.’

‘yes.’ she sounds a little in awe of herself. ‘i have.’

‘do you, like, want me to hug you?’

she wrinkles her nose. ‘no. but, thank you.’

‘anytime.’ you pause, then try your luck, ‘so can we find you a girlfriend now, or —‘

she splashes you with a flick of water and you could kill her, you really could.

/

‘beatrice!’ you shout into her intercom. ‘let me in!’

it takes about a minute, and you’re about to, like, scale her giant fence or something, but then the gate opens and you drive through. it’s not that you care about her — she makes it hard; you make it hard right back — but she’s your captain and you’re not going to win a fucking world cup if she’s not recovering from surgery.

‘lilith,’ she says, dry, even though it’s a little slurred and she looks wobbly on her crutches.

‘mary and shannon sent me.’ you hold up a bag of food, stupid healthy shit she insists on eating, even when she’s on pain meds. ‘i can knock you over, right now, so you have to let me in.’

‘fine,’ she says, lacking its usual precise clip. you follow her to her kitchen, slowly, while she carefully crutches, exactly how a physical therapist showed her, you’re sure. she’s exhausted, you can tell, her hair down and a little messy, her hoodie crooked on her shoulders, just in a pair of tight nike boxers and a sock on the foot opposite her cast, as if you’d woken her up from a nap.

‘were you sleeping?’

‘i’m on — a lot of medication.’

‘you can go back to sleep, if you want. i can put the food in the fridge and warm it up in a bit?’

she seems to weigh her options, slowly, but her eyes are drifting closed and she sways a little. ‘okay. you can watch anything you want. or leave, if you don’t want to wait.’

‘oh, i’m fully taking advantage of your gorgeous house and your giant tv. i’m not crazy.’

she had ankle surgery two days ago, so you know she really is exhausted. disgustingly, she was watching what looks to be like game film on her tv. ‘disgusting,’ you tell her, and she doesn’t seem to really pay you much mind because she situates her casted ankle on top of a few pillows and then pulls a soft blanket over herself and snuggles down into the couch. she’s asleep almost immediately, and you put on schitt’s creek, just in case she drifts in and out and wakes up. she doesn’t; you have to shake her awake two hours later at a normal dinner time. you warm up her food for her, as promised, and eat your bowl beside her, then get her water and her next dose of pain medication.

‘we’re signing ava silva,’ she says, marginally more awake for a good five minutes. 

ava silva, wunderkind with the worst injury you’ve ever seen; a 9 too. ‘i thought i was replacing shannon.’

‘i’m sure you will,’ beatrice assures you. ‘we need a sub, at least.’

‘you think she’ll be good.’

‘we both know she’s good, lilith.’

she settles back into the couch. ‘you think she’ll be great.’

she smiles a little absently, but genuine all the same. ‘let’s hope so.’

eventually, you wake her up and help her to bed, despite the fact that she tries to do it herself, even up her steep stairs. i’m used to being alone, you understand still. 

she gets situated in her giant, gorgeous bed in her perfect house, all gossamer curtains fluttering in the salt breeze off the ocean. ‘thanks, lilith.’

‘sleep well, beatrice.’

/

(and ava silva, it turns out, is great, although you’d rather die than say it out loud. beatrice stands in front of the full length mirror in the fitting room and smooths down the non-existent wrinkles in her traditional chinese wedding outfit, bright red and embroidered in gold. it’s probably the most incredible piece of clothing you’d ever seen.

‘what do you think?’

it’s an insane question, really. ‘you look… you look really beautiful, beatrice.’

she smiles, shyly; you’re thirty, now, old enough to be able to feel an easy fondness. ‘thank you.’

‘you owe me a burger and many, many cocktails after this, though.’

‘sure, sure.’

if you cry at their wedding while ava stands in a wispy, open-backed dress and smiles so big her eyes almost close and, with steady hands, promises everything to beatrice, to, maybe, your first friend — well, no one says a word.)

[beesmygod]

So in like novel writing circles (the ones I jerk in at least) the advice is to just cut the "boring" stuff as much as possible if you can't make it ya know not the boring bit- even if you just fill it with fun character interactions or something- BUT obviously webcomics are a different medium and one known for its ability to go on very long times and (at its best at least) use that sorta allowance to explore a lot of a world etc etc, so after seeing your posts about people maybe not liking the AGS "boring bits" (note: I've never particularly felt AGS had them if only on the basis of like filling it with fun character stuff etc) what you think about that in terms of structure and pacing and such in webcomics

its a relief to hear that people arent bored stiff by a comic that started out as a "monster of the week" type and has drastically changed into slice of life with criminal conspiracy or whatever it is now. it has a point, i swear. it took me some time to see it forming in the ingredients i laid out but i see it clearly now

the slow drip-line nature of webcomics is what makes the medium truly uniquely exhilarating and also uniquely frustrating lol. most webcomics update a single page at a time, right? and you have to keep in mind while making your longform story-driven webcomic that you're juggling entertaining two different readers: the archival reader and the per-update reader. these readers are, by the nature of the medium, going to have wildly different experiences with the text. what is quick and breezy for the archival reader can be prolonged torture for the per-update one. the per-update reader might have been waiting to finally pay off for literal years, building a type of tension that the archival reader will never be able to experience themselves.

a comic a week is a breakneck speed for people doing all the lifting themselves, but only ("only") equals out to 52 pages a year. i do 2 a week so for me its approx 104 and its been 10 irl years to get to this point in the story. i also make my money "per page" because i think i should only be paid for work i actually do. so each individual page has a literal dollar amount attached to it that hovers over my head like the axe i mentioned earlier. it is extremely hard to try to make every page "worth" what people pay for it, knowing how precious money is when times are tough. and also just, you know, because people going out of their way to click on my page should see something worth seeing.

i spend more time with these pages than anyone so i get sick of looking at and thinking about them long before anyone else even sees them. one problem ive noticed is that i will come up with what i think is a funny joke and by the time the page is done, its not funny anymore and i struggle to imagine other people laughing at it. then i think "i dont want to read this, why would anyone want to read this. this sucks."

recently i had to re-read my own old pages, something i dread having to do, and was dismayed by how it read in the archival sense. in my attempt to make every page "worth reading/making" every page ended with a punchline and developed a monotonous rhythm i've been trying and failing to get out of. iambic pentameter ass comic.

i forgot my point. uhhhh san dimas high school football RULES

[onboardsorasora]

I had a few random thoughts about your kawaii otaku twitch streamer Daniel and sim racer/ fifa god twitch streamer Max maxiel au.

Max, Yuki and Daniel are finally doing a collab and are reacting to highlights of euro cup games (or any ongoing football cup) so that Max can maxplain football rules, historic beefs and maybe some lore behind the players. Yuki is listening attentively at first but Daniel immediately switches it to a game of smash or pass when the national anthems are played at the beginning of each match. And maybe Daniel avoids saying smash to any blond dudes on screen because he doesn't want Max to know that Max is very much his type. But Max is internally screaming because does this mean he needs to go dye his hair???

Max is super proud of himself when he finds a compilation of football players being weebs. However, Max immediately regrets showing Daniel the video when in the subsequent weeks Daniel becomes a fan of Borussia Dortmund, one of Max's least favourite club. Daniel is obsessed with Adeyemi and Brandt's One Piece celebrations. Maybe months later, Daniel even gets to do an interview with some of the players and Max almost cries when he sees Daniel giggling with every men on the pitch and impressing them with his bizarrely good juggling skills.

Daniel is on a mission to find the right introductory anime for Max. It proves extremely difficult because Max turns out to be extremely picky about the type of media he likes to consume. Daniel feels a little dejected when Yuki finally manages to find something Max likes before him.

I don't know these are just thoughts that I summoned while I was walking my dog yesterday :D

Oh my GOOOODDDDDDDDD Lef I love these!!!!

Ok so I do have Daniel being good at FIFA but maybe he also doesn't actually watch football lmao. Here's a snippet from where Max is watching one of Daniel's streams and his FiFA team is physically hurting him

Daniel chose his team and Max groaned at the selection. His team was completely unbalanced, there was no way it would be any good. He wanted to log onto his account and hop into Daniel's game, but that would be way too conspicuous.  [couple more paragraphs of stuff] Daniel cheered when he scored, his fucked up team winning against someone else’s super team. Max bit back the urge to go toe to toe with him.  “Does anyone want to play me? I think it could be kinda fun.” Daniel asked, leaving the screen on his room code. Max felt like he was being tested, he stood up to throw his trash in the bin. He wouldn't play Daniel, he had no interest in it. Max booted up his system and logged into his personal account. The one he played his friends on, not the one known online.

So I absolutely can see Max trying to teach him or at least show him what the players actually are supposed to look like lmao. Max having an existential crisis about it is icing on the cake. Yuki being a menace as always

Oh Daniel would imprint on those players immediately!! add them to his fucked up squad lmao. oh these are amazing!!!

Daniel thinks he has the best idea and Max makes a comment about a show Yuki showed him and he thinks it cool. Maybe its one of the sports anime when Daniel was thinking a fighting anime would be a good start. Daniel is grumbling the entire time Max maxsplains the plot and animation to him

naur these are amazing i crrryyyyyy. thank you thank you thank you!!!!

[elmaestrostan]

@protect-daniel-james sleuthing under the cut (I typed it in my notes then realised it wouldn’t paste into comments of your post in the app, doh!

Ok, so to preface this when I first found myself crushing on Unai, I was like nope, just going to be chill, not like past crushes, soooo I’m certainly not going to operate a tumblr in his honour or be intrigued about his private life, nope, just admire…

That lasted until it didn’t, because nothing apparently intrigues me more than a mysterious man, so the part of me that digs being an unpaid FBI agent kicked in 😅

I’d read that story (from 2020) the London gf sold to the papers not long after he joined Villa, but (other than the football watching in bed stuff making me like him even more, despite the situation), I didn’t go back to that until mid December last year when curiosity got the better of me…

So there’s Luisa, his first wife, and her name is still out there as such, which is where a lot of the confusion comes from because he obviously openly talked about her and their son loads earlier in his career, then… nothing. I’ve seen her comment on his Instagram posts (usually when he’s pictured with Lander), and it seems like they’re still close and she seems sweet (they apparently quarantined together, I’ll come back to this shortly).

Then there’s Lucila (and for the love of god could he have picked a woman with a more similar name to his ex, didn’t he know amateur sleuths would get confused by this? So inconsiderate 😂). They appear to have been together at least since some point during his tenure at Sevilla (possibly well before that), definitely in Paris (she’s the ‘wife’ mentioned by the press when their apartment was burgled, and the one in that photo with him in the tux that gets labelled as Luisa), and then I guess she must have stayed in Spain or travelled back & forth a lot when he was hooking up with the lady in London. That gf seemed very convinced he was single and just didn’t want to settle down, so he must have been juggling two women & the Arsenal bin fire… (I mean that’s almost impressive tbh… I don’t have enough energy for my own very low key life lol).

A couple of months after the original story dropped there’s that article where its revealed he’d been dating a woman long term back in Spain at the same time, that her name is Lucila, and that friends said they’d been together 10+ years at that point. Now whilst reading through the comments (deranged way to waste time, yeesh) on the Daily Mail version of the London gf’s original story I spotted an interesting one: someone clearly knew his situation well and said they’d lived near him in London, that the reason he hadn’t introduced the gf was because he was long term with Lucila who is Argentinian (this is about two months before any info about her comes out into the press so they clearly knew a fair bit), that she’s rude (I hope not, but they commented on her appearance too so bitter commenter maybe?), that she’d given up on having children because of him, and that they’d been together since he’d split from his wife who he was quarantining with back in Spain at that point.

So yes, I then clocked it’s Lucila in the Hondarribia medal ceremony video, so they obviously patched up after his… dalliance in London.

.

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Little bit more goss and it’s a big/sweet one:

.

.

They have a baby! She must be about a year old now. When I was down this wormhole I was intrigued enough to have a gander on Instagram to see if she had a profile, and it’s private but at the time she had a profile photo of her holding the baby at VP 🥹 When I was at the final game the other week I was fairly close to the tunnel and spotted her hand him the baby as he came off the pitch (I’m honestly surprised no one else clocked that or thought enough of it to post anything on Twitter or whatever).

Annnnd… just to add to the theme… One of Lucila’s surnames is Vila 😂 Of course it is 😂 She has the name Valentina in her profile so I’m assuming that’s the daughter’s name? But I hope that’s the maternal name she’s passed on because how perfect?🥲

I’ve been keeping that under my hat for a while (and will probably delete/private this post in a day or so once you’ve read it). He’s clearly so private and guarded now post Arsenal and all that stuff coming out. Talk about an enigma wrapped in a mystery 👀

[miloscat]

[Review] Sega Pocket Arcade: Ecco the Dolphin (1995)

A rare dolphin treat.

A while ago I bought the Sega Pocket Arcade: Ecco the Dolphin from 1994 (pictured on the left, below). Much to my dismay, problems with the unit design caused hardware issues that rendered the game unplayable. Still, it’s a great collector’s item in a unique form factor. However, a much rarer item is the second Ecco the Dolphin handheld from 1995-according to the back of the unit (pictured on the right)-or 1997 going by the packaging. Although Tiger is often credited for the initial “red label” games in this line, their branding is absent from the packaging so Sega of America may have internally developed the first model and manufactured it in the US, but the 1995 blue label model was certainly and proudly developed by the experienced LCD game company Tiger and made in China… and by the way, the hardware did not almost instantly fail on me.

Sega’s initial Pocket Arcade line had a few different case designs, some with slide-out screens. Their clamshell units included Ecco, Columns, and Football. When Tiger took over, all of their line, such as this second Ecco, Nights, and the enticing Panzer Dragoon, used the screen-protecting clamshell design. They also seem to universally use a much smaller inset screen compared to the first lineup, no doubt a cost-saving measure that unfortunately hampers playability somewhat.

Now, observe the two units side by side. Note the differences in screen layout and button distribution. These are in fact two completely separate games with differing design, graphics, and controls. Both have Ecco auto-swimming to the right, avoiding hostile sea life over a number of levels, but each has unique features. The first game has an active sonar mechanic, which can reveal tunnels to swim through (similar to the OG dolphin game, Activision’s Dolphin) and interact with glyphs. It has a speed control mechanic, hazardous seagulls above the waves, and dolphin family members to rescue, not to mention descriptive level write-ups in the manual.

By contrast, this second unit seems simpler, more of a straightforward survival game. But there’s enough depth for an LCD game, with three planes of action and the life/air bars to juggle. Surfacing for air is necessary but sometimes blocked by a jellyfish, and health can be refilled by tapping the Eat button on the lower lane when a fish comes along amongst the coral. There are many hazards on the bottom layer to be wary of, though.

The biggest foe is the octopus who emerges from the right to menace two lanes with tentacular ferocity! Combine this with a jelly up top and you’re in a right pickle. However, a back-dodge can grant temporary sanctuary especially when chained together. More types of sharks appear as the levels progress to threaten each lane, and other, more difficult to identify, creatures add to the dangers of the deep. This game features a passive sonar to help you avoid the larger threats, with a sort of status bar that displays the direction of imminent attacks.

There are six levels in total (compared to the first unit’s seven), with the action speeding up as you advance. Beat level six and you win the game, or so the cardboard insert claims. The pace of gameplay and the intense rate at which your air depletes at this stage meant that I couldn’t manage to clear it. Your number of lives resets to 3 on each stage, so there’s no way to stock up or lasting penalty for taking a few dings. The game also tracks your score, which as far as I could tell just increases naturally as you progress regardless of your actions. It seems a little pointless, especially because it maxes out at 9990 partway through level five!

The soundscape is a few mere beeps and dare I say boops governed by your actions, and the majority of the backdrop is just a blue gradient… of course, this means it doesn’t obscure sprites like some other LCD games’ busy backgrounds. Those sprites are lovely, distinctive and detailed. Well, most of them anyway; some of the enemy critters don’t show up well on this tiny screen.

From what I could tell of the first unit, it tries to make each level somewhat distinctive, with an adventure feel as you can start from any stage you’ve unlocked, while this second one is content to just up the speed and add a couple of new enemy types as you advance, making it more of a score-chasing action game. It does have some nice little touches though, like the land edges that border each stage, and the lightning storm in the skies above, while the printed sandy coral layer on the sea floor mitigates the lack of the stunning sky vista the first game had. The two complement each other well, and I feel a lucky collector indeed to now own both, even if the first one is busted and the second has an ever so small screen. I just love dolphin games that much!

[zyafics]

give me some hint of whether i’m right or wrong but here is what i kind of think happened…obviously the pregnancy put a lot of stress on their relationship, what with rafe having to work to make money, and also trying to juggle football. this probably made him feel frustrated and trapped, especially since ward had told him having the baby would ruin his future. even if he didn’t want to believe it, the words might have stuck in his mind. when he said “love you too” instead of “i love you,” it could show he was starting to feel less connected to her, maybe even blaming her a little for how hard things had gotten. over time i think that the stress and his ward’s influence likely pushed him to distance himself from her. they probably broke up because he felt trapped, and she probably felt like he wasn’t supporting her. she most likely kept the baby, and now she’s raising them on her own while rafe likely doesn’t know and maybe he went and told ward that they weren’t together anymore and that’s how they started back talking and he started supporting him financially again.

some aspects of it is correct. some are incorrect. rafe feels a mix of emotions in this moment (past)—from frustration at being put in this position, stress because of how much he has to handle, anger (at his father mostly) but, not going to lie, he does feel resentment.

he’s the type of person who’s always in his head but no being able to vocalize his thoughts. him thinking all the time leads him to come back to the conclusion that this could’ve been avoided had reader not talk to his father, had reader not reached out, had his father not known reader is pregnant right now, he’s not resentful that she’s PREGNANT, he’s resentment about all their circumstance and how she’s to blame.

and he doesn’t know how to navigate these emotions. he feels obligated to her, but he also feels like he has to provide for her. it’s very much complex and it’s frustrating to have these conflicting emotions storming inside of him.

so, to him… it’s easier to not confront them.

[calvincell]

As someone who has often sort of envied those gamers who get hooked & grant hours & hours to those types of extremely odd & niche gameplay experiences such as Euro Truck Simulator, House Flipper, Dwarf Fortress, Football Manager etc. I think I’ve finally found my own odd & unconventional game obsession in the 911 & 112 Operator games. The stellar theming of the game alongside the hectic plate-juggling nature of trying to address every fire, crime & medical emergency the games’ cities can throw at you successful hits right on my exact brain chemistry. It’s exactly the type of game series that only myself & like 15 other people worldwide would absolutely flip over if a trailer for any follow up entries show up in our YT recommendations or in the show reel of a gaming presentation

[neve1007]

From strangers to lovers-

georgia stanway x reader

it was a cold night in germany as you and your friends walked into a popular club, straight away you headed for the bar and ordered shots for one another, a few shots down u we’re starting to feel tipsy. You were singing to a song with your friend when you got pushed you into a girl, immediately going to apologise you were caught speechless as you looked at the gorgeous woman stood in-front of you. Her name was Georgia Stanway, an english midfielder for Bayern Munich, you had already briefly met as your best mate is good friends with Lina Magull but only with a quick hug and a hello. Georgia was there with her german teammates after winning their league cup as a celebration, Georgia looked into your eyes for a few seconds and accepted the apology greeting you with a hand to shake “ hey again i’m georgia nice to meet you”. she softly laughed. “Y/N” you quickly replied with. “Nice to meet you too georgia ” you smiled, as she looked you up and down with a grin.

As the night grew colder you and Georgia had bumped into each-other a few more times whereas this time was different. “i’m so sorry Georg-“you got cut off when she placed her hands on your hips and pulled you in closer. “Y/N would you like to dance?” Georgia asked politely. “if only it means with you then yes” you responded. Well that was it, you and georgia were on the dance floor all night long getting closer and closer and getting more drinks as the night went on.Eventually you looked around yourself and georgia only to realise that no one else was in the club except your best friend and Lina Magull Georgias German teammate. “i think it’s a bit late” georgia laughed. “yeah we’re the only ones here besides them” you chuckled pointing at your best mate laughing at Lina. Georgia had placed her hands back on your hips and asked for your number saying you need to meet up again another time, agreeing, you happily let georgia type her number in and walked toward your mate and told her it was time to head home. After 20 minutes you arrived at your hotel leaving your best mate to go off into your separate rooms and looked down at Georgias contact laughing at the fact she save it as “Stanners 😘” coming from the jokes you shared that her brothers always called her it.

A couple of weeks had passed and you and georgia were getting along very well and had went on a few coffee dates -well that’s what she called them- it was the end of the season for georgia as she had suggested you and her went on a walk down to the beach to watch the sun set , of course you said yes and had brought the football she had gave you after scoring a hatrick for bayern. You met at your usual spot , the coffee shop which you both visited regularly, you got to the shop before georgia and was just juggling the ball in your feet when you heard a familiar voice speak out to you. “look at you go! almost as good as me” georgia spoke with a smirk coming from the sides of her face. “i learnt from the best” you winked at her. “oh really who was it that you learnt from i might have to go to her myself” georgia questioned sarcastically. “ oh i just went to a girl named Lina Magull she’s such a good footballer she taught me the best” you teased back at georgia. georgia pushed into your shoulder as you made your way down to the beach. taking your shoes off as the sand filled the gap between your toes you had sprinted off with the ball at your feet as georgia chased you calling you a cheater for starting earlier. Very quickly georgia caught up to you hugging you from behind and picking u up away from the ball and taking it away from you. “Hey that’s not fair give it back” you complained to georgia only getting a cheeky laugh in return. Sighing, you set up two goals using your shoes as two posts and your jumper and Georgia’s shoe as the other, seeing as she had the ball she kindly gave you the ball to kick off with knowing she’d be getting it back within 2 seconds.

You played for hours until the sun was beginning to set, you and your “stanners” as you now called her had sat down on a blanket she’d brought with her and layed down next to each other as you listened to her awful jokes that she chewed your ear off with. “ so y/n, got any boyfriends recently” she questioned. “who said i was dating boys?” you replied. “oh i’m sorry i thought u weren’t interested in girls” she apologised. “don’t you worry stanners but yeah i do like girls, well a girl”you boldly confessed. “ omfg y/n y/l/n likes someone” she shrieked. laughing you asked “who do you like georgia stanway anyone in particular” georgia smirked at you “well i do like a certain girl but i’m not sure if she likes me back” georgia admitted. “ well stanners why don’t u just ask the lucky girl i think she likes you back in fact i know she does” you smiled. “oh does she now y/n/n and how do you know that” georgia asked. “ i have my ways G i have my ways” you smirked at her. looking away at the sunset georgia was staring at you, you could feel her stare on your face only to clench your jaw making her blush more than she already was. “y/n” she said softly. “yes my love” you replied smiling at her. “would you like to be my girlfriend” she nervously questioned waiting for an answer. “but wouldn’t your crush not like that?” you teasingly questioned smiling. “ of course i’ll be your girlfriend georgia i’ve liked you since i first layed eyes on you” you blushed. georgia smiled while pulling you in for a kiss which only deepened as the sound of waves crashing against the already damp sand and the sun lighting up the sky in an orange pinky type colour.

It had been 6 months later when your contract had ran out at bayern and you had got offers to move to the uk. The offers had came from, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs. Seeing as you moved to bayern from utd you obviously had to make an iconic return to your former club. Your decision was not whatsoever easy in the slightest, but ever since you got that offer you hadn’t been able to get it off your mind. Just a week later you and Georgia had sat down and talked about this. G took this hard, she was really upset that her girlfriend would’ve been leaving her and moving 797 miles away from her. Although seeing Georgia upset you knew this was the best for your career.

A week passed and it was the day you had to finalise your move to manchester, you were quite upset not only because u had to say bye to your best mates and your girlfriend but because you and Georgia had a massive argument the night before and Georgia went to stay over at Lina Magull’s house and you and G had ended on bad terms and just to top everything off you woke up to a post-it note on your bedside table with a box of chocolates from her the morning you were leaving to say she didn’t want to be with you anymore and said “it was for the best”, now this broke you but you had to look on the bright side and we’re looking forward to starting your new season in the WSL.

Everything was going amazing at united you had got 6 goals and 5 assists in 9 games, you were on fire and was quick to be a fan favourite. Being manchester’s number 9, you had massively increased in population and we’re always on people’s minds wether it was media or your opposition, you were living your best life in manny and had almost forgot about your moment with georgia the day before you left, however what you didn’t realise was that Georgia always watched your matches and had staked your social media and because Bayern had a week off georgia decided to do something fun.

Manchester united vs Manchester city, this was your first ever derby in the WSL and you were pumped up for it, the music in the changing rooms and the vibes between everyone on the team you just knew this was going to be a good day. Marc had called out the staring 11 and of course you were up top, right in the middle. Marc gave you a job of trying to be a nuisance to city’s defence (which you really were) and to wind them up like crazy. You were the one kicking off the ball earning your side facing away from the stretford for the first half and facing them for the second. It was the first ten minutes and you were already dribbling past the likes of Alex Greenwood and Steph Houghton in defence. Skipping to the 25th minute, you were awarded a free kick just about 25 yards out. Seeing as you had a history of scoring dozens of free kicks in your past, Marc had put you on them. As the ref blew the whistle you took 4 steps back and took a breath. You ran up to the ball and struck it with a spin and curl, well that’s all you needed because it ended up tucked into the top right hand corner leaving Ellie Roebuck on the floor barely even reaching the ball. You sprinted to the corner flag doing your signature celebration as you had one hand grabbing the badge and your other hand pointing to your head which was the first celebration you done when you first joined the club. The referee blew the half time whistle and the fans gave you a standing ovation as you and your teammates walked through the tunnel. The second half went quick as you sealed a solid 3-0 derby victory over man city you scoring 2 and assisting Geyse with her first for your club. Everyone was pumped in the changing room as you walked in with your “player of the match” award, everyone started chanting your name and cheering for you as you sat down in your cubby as you started getting changed. Eventually, all your teammates starting leaving the room to get to the coach and you realised you were the only one in there. You picked up your phone and went on instagram only to find the story your ex - georgia stanway- had posted, it was a photo of her and your former teammate Lina Magull holding hands and looking out to the sunset with the caption “Meine Liebe für immer und ewig” well that made your heart sink and you immediately had a lump in your throat. Looking around at the blurry room from your tears forming in your eyes you said to yourself “Fuck you G i can’t believe you” you didn’t regret saying it because you firmly believed that she had already moved on just after 7 months after you had been bawling your eyes out most days due to your break up. “Well that’s not very nice is it” a very familiar voice had said to you “congratulations my love i’m so so proud of you” georgia had praised to you. Confused, you could feel the tears falling down your face, “G..what are you doing here you should be in Munich why have you come here” you quickly questioned her. “shhh Meine Liebe i’ll explain it to you all about it later” she quickly shushed you as she came closer grabbing your hips and softly kissing your lips. You missed her touch dearly and you felt a sense of comfort and warmth the minute she touched your bare skin seeing as you stood there with a nike sports bra and some shorts.

[fuzziekins]

CINDERACE

An Asexual Pokémon Its name is a combination of the words cinder and ace; referring to its fire-type moves and asexuality respectively. Cinderace show little to no interest in other Pokémon physically and prefer to focus on their soccer* skills. By juggling a small pebble, they are able to turn it into a burning ball. It is strong enough to leave any opponent burned. Cinderace feel more fulfillment in soccer than with other Pokémon. They are best known for their signature move Pyro Ball. It is skilled in both offense and defense. It may find itself in trouble if it begins showboating. Many confuse this with celebration as Cinderace are rather expressing their joy in being recognized and accepted. Cinderace are accustomed to ignorance and exclusion for their identity and, as a result, they thrive off of cheers and encouragement. *Soccer is better known as football in some regions.

Dex+ Entries: Arodactyl. Anorith. Venomoth. Talonframe. Bichu. Tranquill. Ledian. Pantump. Nonbuneary. Bilotic. Zacian. Cyndaqueer. Dedemi. Litwick. Chespin. Masquoirain. Hitmontran. Pansage.

[patrywoso]

It's alright baby I'm used to being stressed it gets worse closer the Christmas aswell because everyone wants everything done immediately and there is no one working so I always end up doing it all. I trying to move some of my work trips so I can go to Norway this month instead of when I'm supposed to be on holiday. Thank you so much baby it means alot

I think I will see how the chats go and if it goes on for to long I will just explain to my boss I need to do work and that we can talk at a different type

I get you with being in boring meetings. I'm currently in an online meeting and no one her knows why we are in the meeting because it is irrelevant to us

-🍀

Oh beautiful, I’m so sorry you’re dealing with so much stress, especially with the holidays coming up. It sounds like you’re always carrying so much, and I really hope you can figure out your work trips so you can enjoy your holiday in Norway, you deserve that time for yourself.

It’s a good plan to feel out the football chats with your boss and just set some boundaries if it starts eating into your work time. You shouldn’t have to juggle even more when you’re already so busy.

And irrelevant meetings? I feel your pain. It’s the worst when you’re sitting there and can’t figure out why you’re even there. Hopefully, it ends quickly for you so you can focus on more important stuff, or at least take a well-deserved break after.

You’ve got this. Don’t forget to take care of yourself too.

[rfcfootball]

How to Improve Your Dribbling Skills for Better Game Performance

Dribbling is one of the most essential skills in football, allowing players to maneuver past defenders, create space, and set up scoring opportunities. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, improving your dribbling skills can significantly enhance your performance on the field. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to develop and refine your dribbling techniques for better game results.

1. Master the Basics

Before diving into advanced techniques, it’s crucial to have a solid foundation. Start by practicing the basic dribbling techniques. Focus on using different parts of your foot, such as the inside, outside, and sole. Set up a few cones in a straight line and practice dribbling through them, using all parts of your foot to maintain control. Aim to keep the ball close to your body while maintaining a low center of gravity. This will help you avoid losing the ball to defenders and allow for quick changes in direction.

2. Increase Your Speed

Speed is vital in football, especially when dribbling. To improve your dribbling speed, incorporate sprinting drills into your football training routine. Start with the ball at your feet and sprint while maintaining control. You can also practice short sprints while dribbling around cones. Gradually increase the distance and complexity of your dribbling exercises to build your speed and confidence in tight spaces.

3. Practice Different Dribbling Techniques

Different situations on the field require various dribbling techniques. Here are a few essential ones to practice:

Simple Dribble: Use this technique when you have space to run. Keep your head up, and push the ball slightly ahead to gain speed.

Feints and Fakes: Use your body to deceive defenders. A quick shoulder drop or head fake can create space and throw off your opponent's timing.

Change of Pace: This technique involves slowing down before suddenly accelerating. This unpredictability can leave defenders off-balance.

Nutmeg: This is a high-risk but rewarding move. If executed correctly, you can pass the ball through a defender’s legs and regain control on the other side.

Practice these techniques regularly, ideally with a coach from a reputable football academy, to receive personalized feedback on your progress.

4. Work on Your Ball Control

Having excellent ball control is crucial for effective dribbling. You can improve your control through various drills, such as juggling the ball or performing toe-touches. These exercises help enhance your touch and make it easier to maneuver the ball during a match. Set aside time during your training sessions to focus solely on ball control, ensuring that you can handle the ball under pressure.

5. Train Your Vision

A common mistake among players is focusing too much on the ball instead of their surroundings. To improve your dribbling, practice keeping your head up while dribbling. This allows you to identify passing opportunities, openings in the defense, or impending challenges from opponents. Vision drills, where you dribble through cones while looking away or at a specific target, can help develop this skill.

6. Use Your Body

Effective dribbling isn’t just about footwork; using your body can provide an advantage as well. Learn to use your body to shield the ball from defenders. Position yourself between the ball and the opponent, keeping your body low and balanced. Practicing with a partner or during football coaching sessions can help you improve your shielding techniques.

7. Play Small-Sided Games

Engaging in small-sided games is a fantastic way to practice your dribbling skills in real-game scenarios. These games typically involve fewer players, creating more opportunities for one-on-one situations. Playing in a confined space forces you to think quickly, make decisions, and enhance your dribbling under pressure. You can join a local football academy or club that offers these types of training sessions to gain more experience.

8. Review and Reflect

After every training session or match, take the time to reflect on your dribbling performance. Analyze what worked well and what needs improvement. Recording yourself during training can be beneficial; watching the footage will help you identify areas for development. Discuss your observations with your coach to receive tailored feedback that can enhance your skills.

Conclusion

Improving your dribbling skills takes time, practice, and dedication. By mastering the basics, increasing your speed, practicing different techniques, and training your vision, you can elevate your game performance. Consider enrolling in the best football academy or participating in structured football training programs to receive expert coaching and further develop your abilities. With consistent effort and the right guidance, you’ll become a more effective dribbler and a valuable asset to your team.

[edream93]

Hi folks! My friend, Ravynn Stringfield, has her first book, “Love Requires Chocolate, coming out on August 8th, 2024! Check out the blurb below and consider pre-ordering it!

Preorder: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714283/love-requires-chocolate-by-ravynn-k-stringfield/

ABOUT LOVE REQUIRES CHOCOLATE

A new romance series that’s Emily In Paris meets A Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! In this first book, budding theatre nerd Whitney Curry studies abroad in Paris, France, where she meets her match in a cute, aloof footballer.

Whitney Curry is primed to have an epic semester abroad. She’s created the perfect itinerary and many, many to-do lists after collecting every detail possible about Paris, France. Thus, she anticipates a grand adventure filled with vintage boutiques, her idol Josephine Baker’s old stomping grounds, and endless plays sure to inspire the ones she writes and—ahem—directs!

But all is not as she imagined when she’s dropped off at her prestigious new Parisian lycée. A fish out of water, Whitney struggles to juggle schoolwork, homesickness, and mastering the French language. Luckily, she lives for the drama. Literally.

Cue French tutor Thierry Magnon, a grumpy yet très handsome soccer star, who’s determined to show Whitney the real Paris. Is this type-A theater nerd ready to see how lessons on the City of Lights can turn into lessons on love?

[wospacstagess]

Seek state-of-the-art individual drill training at WOSPAC’s soccer school!!!

 At the World Sport Academy (WOSPAC) in Spain, individual drills are a cornerstone of the training regimen, playing a crucial role in developing the technical and mental prowess of young soccer players. These drills are meticulously designed to enhance specific skills, ensure personalized feedback, and foster a deep understanding of the game. The emphasis on individual drills ensures that each player receives the focused attention necessary to refine their abilities and achieve their full potential.

Tailored Technical Training

Technical proficiency is fundamental in soccer, and school soccer individual drills are geared towards honing these essential skills. Coaches design exercises that target key areas such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and ball control, ensuring that players develop a strong technical foundation.

Dribbling Drills: Dribbling is a critical skill that allows players to navigate through opponents and create scoring opportunities. WOSPAC’s dribbling drills often involve maneuvering through cones or other obstacles, emphasizing close ball control and agility. Players practice using different parts of their feet to manipulate the ball, enhancing their ability to change direction quickly and maintain possession under pressure.

Passing Drills: Accurate passing is vital for effective team play. Individual passing drills at WOSPAC focus on various types of passes, including short passes, long passes, and crosses. Players practice passing with both feet, ensuring they become versatile and confident in their ability to distribute the ball accurately. Drills often include targets or moving partners to simulate match conditions and improve precision.

Shooting Drills: Scoring goals is the ultimate objective in soccer, and WOSPAC’s shooting drills are designed to improve players’ finishing abilities. These drills involve shooting from different angles and distances, with an emphasis on power, accuracy, and technique. Players practice various types of shots, including volleys, headers, and free kicks, to become well-rounded attackers capable of capitalizing on any scoring opportunity.

Ball Control Drills: Excellent ball control allows players to maintain possession and create space in tight situations. WOSPAC’s ball control drills involve exercises like juggling, trapping, and first-touch control. Players learn to control the ball with different parts of their body, improving their ability to receive and manage the ball in various game scenarios.

Personalized Feedback and Continuous Improvement

One of the key advantages of individual drills at WOSPAC is the personalized feedback that players receive from coaches. This targeted feedback helps players identify their strengths and areas for improvement, guiding their development and ensuring continuous progress.

One-on-One Coaching: During individual drills, coaches provide immediate and specific feedback to each player. This one-on-one interaction allows for a detailed analysis of the player’s performance, highlighting both technical and tactical aspects that need attention.

Progress Tracking: School football like WOSPACemphasizes the importance of monitoring and tracking progress over time. Coaches use performance data and video analysis to review players’ development, set goals, and adjust training plans accordingly. This systematic approach ensures that players are consistently working towards improving their skills and achieving their objectives.

Building Confidence and Resilience

Individual drills also play a crucial role in building players’ confidence and resilience. By mastering specific skills and receiving personalized coaching, players gain the confidence needed to perform at their best during matches. The focused training environment allows players to push their limits, overcome challenges, and develop a resilient mindset that is essential for success in competitive soccer.As far as my opinion is concerned, WOSPAC is a worthy school soccer camp providing out-of-the-box football program to let players achieve goals.