Soccer Touch Magazine Summer 2015

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS

THE CHALLENGE OF COMPETITION

Build an understanding of the need for preparation

Soccer Touch

Building Physicality and Character

Vol #1/Issue #1

sport issue | summer 2015

BIOGRAPHY

THINGS TO KNOW

Learn About Dion Jr cover story

THE TEAM

GAME CHANGE

THE DARK KNIGHTS

A SOCCER BEGINNING When soccer

Meet Dion Jr’s Spring 2015 U11 Soccer Team

TRAINING

PLAY BEFORE THE GAME

became more than an activity

How Dion Jr Practices To Hone His Skills

Current Soccer Age Group

U11

PREPARE

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answers

FOR U12 THIS FALL

THE INTERVIEW:

GROWING WITH THE

GAME

Of Soccer

GET ANSWERS DIRECTLY FROM THE PLAYER HIMSELF

Soccer TOUCH Vo lu m e #1/ Issu e #1 S u m m e r 2 015 PRODUCTION: Jay Media Magazines MANAGING EDITOR: Dion Johnson (Sr) CONTACT: dionjohnson318@gmail.com

The Editorial

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Play Before the Game DION JR’S PRACTICE AND PREPARATION

THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS AND HOW THAT RELATES TO DION JR

CON

Game Change

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WHEN SOCCER BECAME MORE THAN AN ACTIVITY FOR DION JR

DEDICATED TO

DION JR

NTENTS READ THIS ARTICLE TO LEARN SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DION JR

The Team

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INTRODUCING THE 2015 U11 GLUSC DARK KNIGHTS

6 Questions and Answers

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The Sports Interview 6 ANSWERS TO QUESTION POSED DIRECTLY TO THE PLAYER

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Things To Know

R.... KEEP ADVANCING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

SPORTS SOCCER TOUCH // SUMMER 2015

MAG

THIS MAGAZINE IS DEDICATED TO A KID THAT LOVES SPORTS AND WORKS HARD TO SUCCEED.

IAL TOR EDI 4

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SUMMER 2015 \\ SOCCER TOUCH

" He practices regularly and plays hard "

>>>>>>>

BY DION JOHNSON (SR)

INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS IS IMPORTANT FOR MANY REASONS. REASONS BEYOND TRYING TO BECOME A FAMOUS ATHLETE OR GIVING PARENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO YELL.

peers and opponents, and exercising sportsmanship, fairness and discipline. Development of these traits is important because they will not only be useful in sports, but also useful in life.

Along with character development, sports are also important for physical development.

Sports help to keep children active thus helping to instill habits that will help to keep them healthier and reduce their risk of contracting several life-threatening diseases.

Dion Jr has demonstrated an understanding of the importance of these goals and his continued development is a testament to that fact. He practices regularly and plays hard.

He is open to contributing in any way necessary, whether he is asked to play in defense, facilitate the offense, lead the offense or play goalie. And he is open to instruction and improvement. He has proven to be a good player and has tremendous potential for continuing to get better. {end}

Sports help to develop critical character traits in children.

Character traits such as having a positive attitude, operating towards a goal with enthusiasm and dedication, putting From character team goals above personal desires, development to physical respecting authority, fitness, sports are

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS

important in a child’s life.

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SOCCER TOUCH // SUMMER 2015

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

LEARN SOME INTERESTING FACTS

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Some thingsto know about Dion A love of sports, specifically soccer is the theme of this magazine, but there are other interesting things to be learned about this player that may surprise you. Read on to learn more.

B

orn May 17, 2004, Dion Johnson Jr is an 11 year old young man that resides in Maryland with his father (Dion Johnson Sr), mother (Christine Johnson) and sister (Christione Johnson). He was recently promoted from elementary school, and will be moving on to middle school in the fall. A Creative and Performing Arts School auditioned, interviewed and accepted Dion into their Media Productions program where he will begin his middle school education in August 2015.

>>> Dion has played in other organized sports.

He’s played (American) football, baseball (where he was named MVP of his team), basketball, and non-competitive tennis. It was soccer that he showed the most interest and promise in, though.

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This is one instance where his school life and personal life intersect, because media productions is actually one of his hobbies, shown by his interest in producing stop motion animation movies in his spare time. Other hobbies and interests include drawing, reading graphic novels, as well as playing Roblox and Minecraft online.

Out of all the interests in his life, Dion’s love of sports, specifically Soccer, stands out, and is the main focus of this magazine. {end}

SUMMER 2015 \\ SOCCER TOUCH

Did you know?

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n Jr Favorite color and food

Dreaming of

being an author One of Dion’s notable accomplishment is that he became a published author at the age of 8. He and his sister teamed up to coauthor a children’s book entitled, “Dreaming of the Letter A”, that was published in 2012. He and his family conducted several promotional events where Dion helped present his book and answer questions. A follow-up book about the letter ‘B’ is in the works, and his love of sports is likely to be a dominant theme in it.

Dion’s favorite color is Red and his favorite food is Hot Dogs and Beans

" Why? Because I’m awesome"

He is grounded, yet confident Dion Jr doesn’t have a huge ego. He works hard and listens well. He has his moments of high confidence, however, evident in the fact that his favorite catch phrase is, “Because I’m awesome.”

------ DION’S CATCHPHRASE ------

Playing and Creating Games

Legos and TV have a place in Dion’s life

Dion likes to play games and one of his favorite games is Yu-Gi-Oh. He doesn’t just play games, though, he likes to create them too.

While at the dinner table or in the car, he likes to create gameshow style competitions for his mother, father and sister, while he plays the host.

When Dion’s not engaged in activities, he likes to play with his legos or watch TV. Among his favorite shows are The Amazing World of Gumball, Teen Titans Go!, and Dragon Ball Z.

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SOCCER TOUCH // SUMMER 2015

interview >>>

the sports

We caught up with our player and was able to ask a few questions.

Let’s find out how those questions were answered.

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What is your favorite sports memory?

The game this season where I played all positions including offense, defense and goalie.

I scored 2 goals on offense, got a lot of tackles and clearances on defense and made several saves as goalie all in a single game.

>>> Keep your eye on the ball " I like the step over and the cross" >>> 8

SUMMER SUMMER 2015 2015 \\ \\ SOCCER SOCCER TOUCH TOUCH

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6player answers from the

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What do you like most about soccer?

The challenge. I like seeing how I and my teammates are able to improve. I also like the fun that we have.

What are your short-term goals?

To become better and quicker with my offensive skills.

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What are your favorite moves/ plays?

I like the step-over and the cross.

How do you feel you’ve already improved?

I think my all-around game has improved the past couple of seasons. Offense, defense and goalie.

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My all-around game has improved

Who do you most like to play with/ against I most like to play with my teammates Vincent and Christian. The are both pretty good and at a similar level as me, so we work well together.

In practice, I most like to play against Vincent because he is a really good offensive player that is always doing moves. Playing against him and working to contain him gives me a chance to improve my defense.

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SOCCER TOUCH // SUMMER 2015

GLUSC 2015 U11 SEASON

Knights THE DARK KNIGHTS HAD A GREAT 2015 SPRING SEASON! MEET THE TEAM HERE.

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SUMMER 2015 \\ SOCCER TOUCH

1. Dion Johnson Jr 2. Vincent Blough 3. Christian Ferguson 4. Sheldon Jones 5. Colin Hicks 6. CJ Rukus 7. Nolawe Temketem

8. Jorge Villalta 9. Kieran Lamb 10. Peter Silski Not Pictured 11. Allen Yadeta 12. Justin Langba

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COACH DION JOHNSON (SR)

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" Goooo Dark Knights!"

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GAMECHANGE A SOCCER BEGINNING STORY DEVELOPING SKILLS AT SOMETHING IS A PROCESS, AND IT’S OFTEN DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY THE BEGINNINGS OF THAT PROCESS. THIS ARTICLE, HOWEVER, DOES JUST THAT. DION JR IS NOT YET A SOCCER STAR, BUT HE IS A VERY GOOD, SKILLED PLAYER AT THE BEGINNINGS OF HIS SOCCER JOURNEY. READ THIS ARTICLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THAT JOURNEY

SUMMER 2015 \\ SOCCER TOUCH

" KICK THE BALL! "

BY DION JOHNSON (SR)

WHEN SOCCER BECAME MORE

THAN AN ACTIVITY year old kids could typically perform both of the two previously stated objectives, while you’d be lucky to get the lesser skilled kids to do at least one of the two.

Dion Jr. was among the skilled kids in this regard, but much like the other kids in his age group, there was little strategy being employed.

“IN THAT VERY MOMENT IT WAS AS IF A LIGHT CAME ON FOR HIM, AND I DIDN’T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING THAT MIGHT DIM OR EXTINGUISH THAT LIGHT. SO I SILENTLY WAITED”

On that sunny Saturday morning, the game in which Dion Jr. participated was no different from any other. The kids operated predictably in that two pronged mode of thinking: 1. Run to the ball and 2. Kick the ball, with the opposing team doing a much better job at these two actions than Dion Jr’s team. In fact, the opposing team seemed to take control of the game I remember it like it was yesterday. My son, Dion Johnson Jr., was around 7 years old and was participating in a soccer game with the local soccer club. Prior to that time, he had been playing soccer, or association football as it is known around the world, for a few brief seasons over the course of a couple of years, and at his age group, the kids in his league largely had two objectives: 1. Run to the ball and 2.

Kick the ball. At the time, while it was a good league, it was not a league that was full of small kids that had been through years of specialized soccer training since they could walk. Most of the “skilled” 7

midway through it by effectively running to and kicking the ball in the left corner of the field not far from the goal that Dion Jr’s team was defending. Having the ball get this close to your own goal was dangerous, because it typically meant that your team would likely get scored on. For this reason, parents of the kids on the opposing team were beginning to get excited, while parents of the kids on Dion’s team were beginning to get concerned. At the same time, all of the kids on the field were even more intent on being the first one to successfully run to the ball and either kick it in the goal or kick it away from the goal.

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SOCCER TOUCH // SUMMER 2015

LOVE FOR THE GAME

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But since Dion was closest to the portion of the field in which the ball was kicked, he was able to beat everyone to the spot where the ball landed. Having completed step 1 (run to the ball), everyone expected that Dion would now execute step 2 by kicking the ball as far up the field, away from his own goal as possible. To everyone’s surprise, however, he didn’t.

Instead, Dion looked up and stood there

on Dion’s team, but he still wouldn’t kick it.

He just continued to look on as the players from the other team closed in on him.

for a moment as several members of the other team ran towards him at top speed, ready to dispose the ball and score. The screams of “kick the ball” came fast and furious from the parents of the other kids

yelling, as a parent and as a coach. In that moment, however, I didn’t make a single utterance. I was seated by the touchline (also known as the sideline) near where Dion Jr stood with the soccer ball and that

While everyone around me was getting increasingly amped up, I remained silent.

My silence was not the result of me somehow being above the practice of yelling instructions from the sideline. I too, have been known to participate in some sideline

Common Soccer Strategy of Young Kids OBJECTIVE #1 RUN TO THE BALL

OBJECTIVE #2 KICK THE BALL

OBJECTIVE #3 REPEAT OBJECTIVES #1 AND #2

SUMMER 2015 \\ SOCCER TOUCH

FOR A SPLIT SECOND THE PARENTS OF THE KIDS ON DION’S TEAM WERE BESIDE THEMSELVES WITH CONFUSION AND DISAPPOINTMENT. seat gave me a good view of his eyes.

His eyes were what compelled me to remain silent, because in his eyes I could see the proverbial wheels turning in his mind. In that very moment a light came on for him and I didn’t want to say anything that might dim or extinguish that light. So, I silently waited as the players on the other team continued to close the distance and the parents on the sideline continued to lose their minds.

Then, just as the pleas of “kick the ball” reached a fever pitch and two members of the opposing team had finally closed in on Dion to the point where there was no way to get around them, he finally kicked the ball… right towards them.

For a split second the parents of the kids on Dion’s team were beside

themselves with confusion and disappointment. I, on the other hand, sat with a slight smirk growing on my face because I knew exactly what Dion Jr was doing. He was not kicking the ball TO the approaching players; he was kicking the ball BETWEEN them. Then after doing so, he quickly split the defenders by running in between them after the ball. He had figured out how to use the opposing player’s momentum against them, and managed to create a field of open

space to run through unopposed. The other team members tried to compose themselves and run after him, but it was too late. He ran completely from one end of the field to the other end and scored a goal, and it was at that moment that I knew that soccer may be more than just something to keep him active during the week. I realized that if he continued to develop a love for the game and continued to practice hard, that he could be a special player. {end}

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PLAY

SOCCER TOUCH // SUMMER 2015

Starts BEFORE

the game

Big game moments actually begin at practice long before the game starts. This article focuses on some of the practice and preparation activities that Dion Jr is involved in.

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SUMMER 2015 \\ SOCCER TOUCH

Hard PracticE WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT GREAT MOMENTS IN SPORTS, THEY TYPICALLY TALK ABOUT SOME GREAT PLAY THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY MADE. Or some streak that was successfully maintained. Very rarely do you hear them talk about practice. The truth about success, however, is that it typically occurs where preparation meets opportunity. And preparation comes as a result of practice.

The greatest sporting successes are a result of players performing activities that they’ve performed hundreds of times in practice and simply found a good opportunity to implement those activities in a game time situation.

Many believe that if they try hard enough during the game that they will be great, but it doesn’t necessarily work that way. While hard work is critical to success, hard work is not synonymous with practice or preparation. Hard work relates to the effort that is put into something. Practice is the repeated performance of an activity over time in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency in something. So if hard work only occurs during game time, a person’s skills are not likely to improve. In order for hard work to be effective, it must be applied first to practice and preparation. Dion Jr has recognized this and makes sure to work hard at practice.

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" In order for hard work to be effective, it must be applied first to practice and preparation"

WHAT DOES PRACTICE REALLY ENTAIL? PRACTICE IS DEFINED AS CARRYING OUT OR PERFORMIMG A PARTICULAR ACTIVITY, METHOD, OR CUSTOM HABITUALLY OR REGULARLY.

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SOCCER TOUCH // SUMMER 2015

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

Dion Jr has a routine that he conducts nearly every day. It involves various strength and conditioning exercises including sit-ups, pushups, sitting side twists and jumping jacks.

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PRACTIC PERF TECHNIQUES AND TOUCHES

Juggling and getting different touches on the ball helps to train the muscles and brain on how to control the ball and how the ball reacts to different surfaces of the foot. Dion Jr understands this and works on this part of his game regularly.

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Training make spectacular loo easy

DRIBBLING & MOVES

Dribbling and performing moves are both critical for being successful at soccer. Dion Jr dedicates time for practicing dribbling and performing moves with the ball.

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CE MAKES FECT

es the ok

SUMMER 2015 \\ SOCCER TOUCH

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TEAM PRACTICES

Dion Jr uses all of the individual training that he performs to help him work hard at the team practices.

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To truly develop skills and a love for the sport, kids must be immersed in it beyond the limited time they are exposed to it in structured practices and games. Therefore, practice must begin at home and then be brought to the field.

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PRODUCTION: Jay Media Magazines MANAGING EDITOR: Dion Johnson (Sr) CONTACT: dionjohnson318@gmail.com

DADDY LOVES YOU HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR MAGAZINE

DION JR