Birmingham City 2 Arsenal 2

This game would be remembered for the wrong reasons as a very horrific injury to Croatian striker Eduardo Da Silva.

Martin Taylor was the defender that made a poor tackle on Eduardo in 2 minutes of play and deservedly got a red card. The lunging and 2-footed tackle has been met with red cards this season because of incidents like this that can end a player's career and Eduardo's lies in the balance.

Birmingham playing with 10 men surprisingly took the lead with a good free kick by James McFadden when Mathieu Flamini was adjudged to have brought him down. The decision seemed harsh but Flamini did not have to make the challenge in the first place.

Manuel Almunia would feel that he should have done better with the free kick. Arsenal huffed and puffed in the 1st half with no real penetration. Their best chance of the half fell to Emmanuel Adebayor from a great 50-yard pass from Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas' game has become a little too predictable as most of his passes seem to always be looking for Adebayor and they are easy to read.

In the 2nd half though Arsenal showed more purpose and Theo Walcott that in the 1st half was having a nightmare game came to life and scored 2 quick goals to put his side in front.

It was looking like a routine victory for the visitors until Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini gave Birmingham a lifeline in the 4th minute of injury time by playing like amateurs.

An innocuous looking ball came to Flamini and instead of just clearing his lines, he decided to play a casual pass to Clichy, who in turn left the ball and then realized that a Birmingham player would get to the ball and he stuck out a leg. He may have got the ball but it was still a foolish thing to do and the referee pointed to the penalty spot much to the absolute disgust of captain William Gallas. arsenal news

James McFadden smashed the resulting penalty for an unlikely draw and Gallas refused to leave the pitch in absolute disgust.

It was 2 points dropped for Arsenal with a lot of people including manager Arsene Wenger's decision to take off both Walcott and Hleb contributing to the draw.

But Eduardo's injury was the talking point.

Newcastle United 1 Manchester United 5

Manchester United were given a boost with the events at St. Andrews before they even kicked off and they just romped this game without much fuss.

Newcastle provided little or no resistance and Wayne Rooney along with Cristiano Ronaldo helping themselves to a brace each and Louis Saha completing the rout.

Newcastle United' s consolation was scored by Abdoulaye Faye and they are looking at a relegation battle as they are very poor side in very poor form.

Liverpool 3 Middleboro 2

Following their dramatic midweek win over Inter Milan in the champions' league, Liverpool were looking for only their 2nd win in the league this year.

They quite predictably went behind through Tuncay Sanli and almost inevitably Fernando Torres made it a double in a minute before completing his hat-trick in the 2nd half.

Jeremie Aliadiere got a red card before Stewart Downing scored a late consolation.

Portsmouth 1 Sunderland 0

Jermaine Defoe settled this game with a penalty in the 2nd half when David Bardsley was adjudged to have fouled Nico Kranjcar.

Wigan Athletic 2 Derby County 0

Playing against Derby County at home is a banker and this was no different as Wigan ruined former manager Paul Jewell's return to the JJB stadium having left them at the end of last season.

Goals from Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia in the 2nd half gave Wigan all three points. arsenal news

Fulham 0 West Ham 1

A controversial goal from Norberto Solano settled this all London affair as he seemed to foul Fulham goalkeeper, Anton Niemi and there is no doubt that in Italy or Spain this goal would not have stood.

Another defeat spells grave danger for Fulham as they have to start winning games and soon otherwise they would be playing championship football next season.

Reading 1 Aston Villa 2

Reading's season just seems to be getting worse as they just seem to be suffering defeat after defeat and are another side that have a big relegation battle on their hands.

Aston Villa would feel that they stand a very good chance of Champions league football even though I don't think they have a good enough squad for that but they should at least qualify for UEFA football.

Goals from Ashley Young and Marlon Harewood with Gareth Barry hitting a penalty well wide ensured that Villa won comfortably at Reading whose only consolation was a goal from Nicky Shorey.

Blackburn Rovers 4 Bolton Wanderers 1

This Lancashire derby was settled by goals from 2 Benni McCarthy penalties, David Bentley with 1 goal and Morten Gamst Pedersen's 1st league goal of the season.

Bolton that had a very good midweek result in Madrid where they held Ahletico Madrid to a 0-0 thereby knocking them out of the UEFA cup had Kevin Davies to thank for their consolation goal.

arsenal news

Most people view conditioning for sports as something that should take place in a gym, in a field, on a track, or in a pool, but there are other, more adventurous options. Cross training has become a common practice for most athletes, but most of them think of it as a mix of other conventional sports such as running, biking, and swimming. There are more useful and more exciting ways to cross train for any activity, and many options are in the outdoor adventure field. As a soccer coach, I have used hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, trail running, mountain biking, climbing, cross country skiing, and downhill skiing as training methods that my athletes enjoy, look forward to, and always come out on the other side in much better shape. I want to focus on Grand Canyon hiking, because of its unparalleled upper leg building and general conditioning.

Grand Canyon Hiking Vacations

There are many ways to use a Grand Canyon hike for team or individual sport training. I’ve taken my entire soccer team into the Canyon on rim-to-rim hikes that strengthened the boys’ teamwork as much as their bodies. The rim-to-rim, which entails 4000 feet of downhill hiking and 4000 feet of uphill hiking, can be done in a single day for the super-fit or as a multi-day hike, which works better for teambuilding. The rim-to-rim-to-rim, which includes 8000 feet of downhill hiking and 8000 feet of uphill hiking can also be done in a single day or as a multi-day hike, but should only be tried in one day if you’re willing to trail run much of the way. Either way, hiking between the rims is a feat both physically and emotionally. The hiking is steep and sustained and is absolutely perfect for upper leg strengthening. For the rim-to-rim, most people take the South Kaibab Trail down and the North Kaibab Trail back up, and then back the same way for the rim-to-rim-to-rim. Another alternative though is to take the Bright Angel Trail as a alternative route back to the South Rim.

Grand Canyon Hiking Trips

Another option especially for pre-season trainings is a rafting trip into the canyon and then a hike out. The conditioning isn’t as good with the rafting, but the hike out more than makes up for it. The rafting is one-of-a-kind when it comes to bonding athletes around something outside of their sport.

Guided Grand Canyon Hikes

There are other options that are more and less strenuous. The New Hance Trail is a great option for a more difficult hike, and a mule-assisted trip down to Phantom Ranch is a great way to make it more moderate. Whichever option you choose, just remember it’s critical to stretch and hydrate frequently, and in the Grand Canyon September is the best month because it’s not too hot, and the Fall sports season is just beginning.

We have heard the term “Soccer Moms”. They have kids who play soccer. One would envision mothers anxiously running their children errands in minivans or SUVs while chatting on their cell phones, waiting to pick up their children from soccer practice. God bless them all. This term has also been extended to dads as well, who perform the same “function”. Well done!

Here are some tips for those parents whose children are involved in youth soccer:

Ensure that you child is well rested and adequately fit before bringing him/her to soccer practice or competition game. Because rest and fitness plays an important role in children involved in strenuous activities, as fatigue will increase the chance of injury on the field.

It is best that your child does not eat before a game to avoid cramps.

Ensure that your child takes in adequate fluids, as in any sports your child will loss fluids due to sweating, especially on a hot day.

Make sure your he/she gets adequate warms ups before a game.

Ensure that you as a parent observe good game conduct during a match. I sure you have seen parents screaming and shouting at their kids or the referee, screaming instructions to their kids from the benches. First off I don't think junior can hear you and secondly its down right distracting for the children on the field.

If by any chance you child happens to be the losing team, show that you care with encouragement and a listening ear. Don't leave it as it is, children have feelings too. Never lecture or nag at your child at how he should have won the game or compare.

If you do not know any thing about soccer, its best to do some research or reading up on the matter. It helps when he/she talk or discusses soccer with you. Its good for bonding and maybe you'll stop argue with the referee

Show genuine interest and be your child's best supporter.

Facts About Soccer Balls

Soccer balls are used in the sport of football, also knows as soccer. The rules of the game specify that socccer balls be filled with air. Soccer balls are supposed to have a circumference of 68-70 centimeters and a weight of 14-16 ounces. The pressure of soccer balls is supposed to stay between 8.5 and 15.6 pounds per square inch.

Soccer balls are required to be covered in leather or other suitable material. The weight of soccer balls is measured by dry weight. The standard size for soccer balls is Size 5. Sizes smaller than 5 exist for underage games and as novelty items.

Most modern soccer balls are stitched from 32 panels of waterproof leather or plastic. The panels are twelve regular pentagons and twenty regular hexagons. This thirty two panel configuration is similar to the truncated icosahedron. The difference is that soccer balls are more spherical.

The first of the thirty two panel soccer balls was first made and marketed in the 1950?s but was not hugely popular until after the 1970 World Cup. Thirty two panel soccer balls were popularized by Adidas with their Adidas Telstar soccer balls because they were the official balls of the 1970 World Cup.

The soccer balls made by Adidas for the 2006 World Cup were fourteen panels and were a truncated octahedrons. The Adidas soccer balls for the 2006 World Cup were not made in Pakistan like eighty percent of all soccer balls are. They were made in Thailand.

Child labor has historically been used in the making of soccer balls in Pakistan. This practice has lessened since mass protesting of the practice in 1996 during the European championship.

The protests were effective in that they eventually led to the Atlanta Agreement. The Atlanta Agreement forces manufacturers of soccer balls to make sure that no child labor is involved in the fabrication of their products.

Indoor Soccer A Bunched Up Version Of Real Soccer

Indoor soccer is a game derived from association football, soccer adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf covered hockey arena or skating rink. Indoor soccer is a somewhat common sport in the United States, with both amateur and professional leagues dedicated to it. It is also played outside of the U.S. However, most indoor play outside of North America involves the FIFA-sanctioned game of futsal. Recently indoor soccer has become a popular sport in Mexico, being included as part of the Universiada (University National Games) and the CONADEIP (Private School Tournament), which match University school teams from all over Mexico. In Mexico, indoor soccer fields are commonly built outdoors, and the sport is known as fast soccer.

Rules vary between governing bodies, but some of the nearly universal rule deviations from association football include:
? The arena. Most indoor soccer arenas are rectangular or oblong in shape, with turf floors. In many collegiate intramural leagues, the game may be played on basketball courts, in which case the floor is hardwood. Walls at least six feet tall bound the arena. Ceiling heights vary. Arena sizes are generally smaller than soccer fields, and the goals are recessed into the walls. Goals are also smaller than in standard soccer and generally the penalty area is smaller.
? The team. Virtually all indoor soccer games are played with six active players per team, one of which is the goalkeeper. Substitute players are permitted.
? Play off of walls. The ball may be struck in such a way that it contacts one or more walls without penalty or stoppage. If the ball flies over the walls or contacts the ceiling, play is stopped and the team opposing the one that most recently touched the ball is awarded a free kick at the location where the ball left the arena or made contact with the ceiling. In some areas of North America, these walls are being removed due to their hazardous nature.
? Relaxed contact rules. Standard contact rules generally apply. However, there is a culture surrounding indoor soccer that sees it as a tougher version of the sport, and many referees take a relaxed attitude toward fouls related to contact. Many leagues ban the use of the sliding tackle, though such techniques are less useful on turf or wood than they are on a slick field.
? No offside. Most leagues play without an offside rule.

Beyond these common threads, the sport is structured according to the idiosyncrasies of individual leagues. Most of these rules are adopted from other arena sports like ice hockey.

Soccer: A True World Sport With Team Effort

Football, also known as association football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams, of 11 players each, and is widely considered to be the most popular sport in the world. It is a ball game played on a rectangular grass field or occasionally on an artificial pitch, with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to score by maneuvering the ball into the opposing goal. The predominant feature of the sport is that no players other than the goalkeepers may use their hands or arms to propel the ball in general play. The winner is the team that has scored more goals at the end of the match.

The modern game was officiated in England following the formation of the Football Association, whose 1863 set of rules created the foundations for the way the sport is played today. Football is governed internationally by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The most prestigious international football competition is the World Cup, played every four years, which is also the most widely viewed and famous sporting event in the world.

Football is played in accordance with a set of rules, known as the Laws of the Game. The game is played using a single round ball, the football, and two teams of eleven players each compete to get the ball into the other team's goal, thereby scoring a goal. The team that has scored more goals at the conclusion of the game is the winner; if both teams have scored an equal number of goals, then the game is a draw.

The primary rule is that the players, other than the goalkeepers, may not intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms during play though they do use their hands during a throw in restart. Although players mainly use their feet to move the ball around, they may use any part of their bodies other than their hands or arms.

In typical game play, players attempt to propel the ball toward their opponents' goal through individual control of the ball, such as by dribbling, running with the ball close to their feet, passing the ball to a team mate, and by taking shots at the goal, which is guarded by the opposing goalkeeper. Opposing players may try to regain control of the ball by intercepting a pass or through tackling the opponent who controls the ball; however, physical contact between opponents is restricted. Football is generally a free-flowing game, with play stopping only when the ball has left the field of play, or when play is stopped by the referee. After a stoppage, play recommences with a specified restart.

Positives And Negatives About Soccer Cleats

There are lots of different models of soccer cleats. The GAIA Strike model of soccer cleats is durable and comfortable. These soccer cleats provide great ankle support and are a lot lighter than other soccer cleats on the market. These soccer cleats are also great in inclement weather.

There are a few drawbacks to the GAIA Strike soccer cleats. Owners have reported that they show wear after just a year and that the comfort is actually inconsistent. It has also been reported that it can take some time for the toebox to stretch out to where the soccer cleats are comfortable.

The Adidas Copa Mundial model of soccer cleats is good for gripping the ground. The soft kangaroo leather on the soccer cleats break in immediately and lasts forever. Owners of this model of soccer cleats report no blisters and that the shoes last for years.

Unfortunately, Adidas models of soccer cleats rarely have much of an insole. This causes problems for cushioning the heel while playing soccer. This shoe needs more ankle support, according to some soccer players. Another drawback about the Adidas Copa Mundial model of soccer cleats is that they are fairly narrow and not made for wide feet.

The Nike Sharks model of soccer cleats are high-tops. In spite of the fact that they are high-tops, they are lightweight and breathable. These soccer cleats provide fantastic ankle support.

One owner of a pair of Nike Sharks model of soccer cleats reported that the shoes were made of fake suede-like material that ripped easily when the soccer cleats got wet. He says that his shoes still fit and are comfortable, but they have big gaping holes in them.

Kelme Turf Shoe soccer cleats are suited perfectly for hard fields. They have a wide toebox and are perfect for wide feet. The drawback for these soccer cleats is wet conditions. These soccer cleats will clog in wet conditions.

Soccer Equipment: All Your Needs To Survive A Day Of Soccer

The basic equipment players are required to wear includes a shirt, shorts, socks, footwear and adequate shin guards. Players are forbidden to wear or use anything that is dangerous to themselves or another player, including jewelry or watches. The goalkeeper must wear clothing that is easily distinguishable from that worn by the other players and the match officials.

Each team consists of a maximum of eleven players, one of whom must be the goalkeeper. Competition rules may state a minimum number of players required to constitute a team; this is usually seven. Goalkeepers are the only players allowed to play the ball with their hands or arms, but they are only allowed to do so within the penalty area in front of their own goal. Though there are a variety of positions in which the outfield (non goalkeeper) players are strategically placed by a manager or coach, these positions are not defined or required by the Laws.

A number of players may be replaced by substitutes during the course of the game. The maximum number of substitutions permitted in most competitive international and domestic league games is three, though the number permitted may be varied in other leagues or in friendly matches. Common reasons for a substitution include injury, tiredness, ineffectiveness, a tactical switch, or as a defensive ploy to use up a little time at the end of a finely poised game. In standard adult matches, a player who has been substituted may not take further part in the match.

A game is officiated by a referee, who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed (Law 5), and whose decisions are final. The referee is assisted by two assistant referees. In many high level games there is also a fourth official (and in the world cup a fifth official), who assist(s) the referee and may replace another official should the need arise.

All in all, the players on each team wear a different uniform so that the officials and other teammates can distinguish between each other. The visiting team will usually wear a lighter color uniform and the home team will wear a darker uniform if there are two different uniforms to choose from. The home team can override this if they so desire (to make the team wear black on a really hot day for example).