Soccer training: The weak foot

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Having a weak foot in soccer is perfectly normal. Even the greatest players in the world have a weak foot which of course, over time they’ve trained to make it stronger. And so should you. Here are a few pro tips on increasing the proficiency of your weak foot.


Juggle with the weak foot as often as you can.

Juggling is a great way to increase your control over the ball, and it’s as dazzling to see as it is to do. As such, having your weak foot get used to juggling will make it more adept in overall control when it comes to kicking.


Practice trapping and catching with the weak foot.

Trapping is such an underrated skill for soccer players. Toss the ball up and kill the bounce as soon as it lands with your weak foot. Another way of killing the bounce is catching the ball with your weak foot. Alternate between trapping and catching to increase the weak foot’s control.

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Dribble with the weak foot.

Try running at different speeds, but instead of dribbling the ball forward using both feet, use only your weak foot. This is another great drill for control.


Practice free kicks using the weak foot.

This drill improves control and increases power of the weak foot. Experiment with your shots as though you were using your strong foot. Watch your form as you do this drill.


Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a World War 2 and soccer enthusiast. Follow me on Twitter for more updates.

What parents need to know about young adult lit

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If you’re a parent and you have teenagers in your home, there’s a big chance you’ve seen a young adult novel lying in their room. Young adult (YA) literature has experienced quite a rise in popularity over the past two decades largely thanks to the massive success of the Harry Potter books. Many of the YA series have made their way to the big screen, with again, Harry Potter being the most popular of them all.


Although the YA category has only been labeled recently, there have always been books about teenagers, written for teenagers, or young adults. Books such as “The Catcher in the Rye” and “Lord of the Flies” have teen protagonists but were never called YA until many years later.

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YA books follow a specific formula, with a main teen character, taking on challenges that teens mostly face. They are mostly about coming-of-age, where one is introduced to the world of adults. This introduction mostly takes place via an experience that seems almost ritualistic. Sex, race, politics, and religion also figure into YA lit.


It’s also worthy of note how YA lit treats adults as background characters, and many times, as the antagonists. The spotlight in YA lit is entirely on teens who are almost always struggling with emotions and ideas.


Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a St. Louis, Missouri-based student currently pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature. The cross-disciplinary approach of the program enables students to take courses in philosophy, politics, and culture, while intersecting literature with history. More of my writings here.