Practice Observations: The Machine

[3rd Degree]

Practice Observations: The Machine
Wednesday, 9:30 AM, Field #1
February 11th, 2009 . By: Buzz Carrick
http://www.3rddegree.net/
Not a bad day from training, although it’s a bit windy. If not the brisk north wind that the mid 60s temp would be quite comfortable. FCD has a scrimmage against Memphis this weekend, it will be interesting to see what kind of team FCD puts out there.

[stopper4]

I was hoping for an instant scouting report on the machine.

I think this team needs another forward just as much as it needs another good midfielder. And I'm not sure that the midfielder needs to be a central player.

[boneall]

Glad to hear, at least for now, Dax and SH are being adult about things and moving forward.

[3rd Degree]

I was hoping for an instant scouting report on the machine. Ricchetti jokingly asked if it could take free kicks for them.

[boneall]

Is this the machine?
http://seattlesportsciences.com/sidekick.htm
YouTube - SideKick Soccer Training Machine

[3rd Degree]

yes

[texgator]

$8,000 for one of those things.

[cowtown]

$8,000 for one of those things.

Does that go on the cap, or is the machine Generation Adidas?

[texgator]

Does that go on the cap, or is the machine Generation Adidas?

Luckily the Machine was created in the US....so we don't have to us an International Slot to acquire it.

[Quills]

The real question is... does it play instant defense?

[cowtown]

Luckily the Machine was created in the US....so we don't have to us an International Slot to acquire it.

I don't know. Looks like it has a big leg, but it seems like it MIGHT be even more of a traffic cone than Davino.

[jeffenbauer]

The important question is whether or not it will fit on the bus.

[ttujosh]

clearly a bunch of dads on this board....

[SeventhRowScreamer]

I was tempted to get jazzed and toss my dad joke into the mix but then the price of that thing got stuck in me brain. I can see that machine being usefull for conditioning outfield players and teaching them to get on the end of passes but for 8Gs? Seriously? Here's a tip... get a player or two that can put 10-20 crosses in a relatively precise area! Save the coin! When in a game are you going to defend against a machine? when are you going to recieve a through ball or cross from a machine? It's like all those stupid gadgets sold on FSC. Go to the city streets of Rio or Sao Paulo and watch kids play the sport in any condition and with any object. A lot of kids in African countries don't even wear shoes. I was in a village in Guatemala and the kids played on a clear cut area that was wore down to pure clay. They played every evening and most evenings is rained. Not only that, it was completely dark AND they wore rubber boots. They knew every trick I've ever seen.
Anyway, I'm not even in a ranting mood:D All of these opinions were based on conjecture!

[Zé Bill]

this one probably lacks some features of "the machine" but then it saves you over $5 grand:

http://www.fogdog.com/fog-jugs-soccer-machine--pi-240179.html

I wonder if the $8,000 one can be programmed to vary back and forth in launch speed, one ball to the next, better to hone that "ready for anything" mentality?

or, a little less expensive:

http://www.fogdog.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1989330&cp=694066&parentPage=family

long lecture on " fluent transition from hard kick to cushion-y redirection" obviated

[chazsoccer]

I was watching the machine in action at practice - it was giving the goalkeepers a workout! By the time the last GK was up to face the machine there was obvious reluctance to stand up to it.

I thought they should name the shot settings 1] shanksalot 2] beckham 3] Roberto Carlos

When a ball from the machine hit the bar - it was so hard and fast that it went straight up into the air about 40 feet. But the documentation says "...up to 70 mph" - it seemed a lot faster than that.