So, take in mind, ladies and gentlemen that I will not play the role of your coach, who tells you obvious stuff that probably all basic weekend players know already.

As most of us usually play indoor or in synthetic grass, I will consider the dynamics in these types of pitches. The match on a football field works differently in each case, with positions fulfilling much more important roles.

In addition, grass (or synthetic grass) field matches often offer more serious tackles and the focus here is to try playing more classy and avoiding these kind of situations.

So, without further statements, let’s get down to the tips. They may seem a bit simple, but I guarantee it will enhance your performance.

- DEFENDING –

The defenders are often underestimated by the crowd, but that’s where the secret of a good, modest team.

A team with a consistent marking prevents the opponent from reaching the goal. The worst of the scenarios for these guys, therefore, would be a draw at 0–0.

So value that aspect — and make sure your teammates value that too — and you will not get off of the court.

1) Marking is your goldmine

If you defend well, you’ll gain confidence for yourself and your teammates. A player that charges the ball and shows consistency in the defence is always respected.

Do you know those typical cries: “good one”? Usually it is when someone takes the ball from the opponent in a moment of danger. It counts a lot, seriously! Often, a guy who defends well but is technically weak is more valuable than another who is technically strong but who compromises in defence.

2) Don’t be in a rush

Another basic and essential tip: when marking, do not be so anxious to retrieve the ball. The idea here is to “surround” the opponent (that’s when the guys scream “stop in front of him,” you know).

You will stand in front of your rival and wait for him to make his move. If you move first, the opponent might pass by you much easily and will have a free way to go.

3) Tired? Go defend!

Probably you do not have the same sixth-grade physique of when you used the play football in the playground, right? Then, you will get tired. It is possible that after the first 10 minutes you are already thinking about beer. That is natural.

But consider this: take a rest while defending. If you rest when attacking, your team won’t score that easily.

Can’t breathe at all? Be the keeper!

- ATTACKING WITHOUT THE BALL –

When your team have the ball, even if it is not with you, you have a decisive role in the move: to make yourself visible for your teammates to pass the ball for you.

Let’s remember that we are not playing eleven-a-side, so each player plays a bigger role when attacking.

4) Stop hiding, man!

The first thing you need to consider when your team is attacking and you don’t have the ball is to not be in the same area as another player on your team. If you do so, it is one possible play less to the guy who is in control of the ball.

Oh, and never — ever — hide during the game. Always make an option for your companions.

- ATTACKING WITH THE BALL –

Having the ball on your feet is the goal of many and the terror for so many others. This will vary according to your football skills. Anyway, this is usually the great grace of the game and it is what makes this game beautiful.

5) Play safe

If you are not a very technical guy, just do the basics: pass and move. That is it, the most important rule: play safe!

For many, the greatest mistake you can make while playing is to miss clear goal opportunity. Instead, losing the ball in defence might create a goal-scoring opportunity for the other side and that can cause your teammates not to trust you with the goal ball anymore.

Now, if you are a more technical guy you can always dare, after all, if nobody dares you will hardly score.

6) Play the ball

One dynamic team works better than one that has a slower running, as we have already said. Football is all about quick touches.

Remember: football is a collective sport. The goal is not for you to shine (no matter how much you insist on it)

7) Ignore the once who do that

No matter where you go, be sure to be prepared. Do you know the type of guys who keep talking, complaining to everyone in the team and make a fun thing come to a nightmare? So, tip is: ignore them. Let them talk as much as they want and make your game as you understand it is best.

At the time it may not be as easy as it sounds now — but that’s how you should do it, otherwise you are not going enjoy the most of your match.

1.Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator (Howard Hughes)

Howard Hughes, America’s first billionaire; He was a director, producer, pilot, aviation proprietor, creator of the H-1 plane, first test flyer, speed record holder, and a deeply involved businessman with the CIA. Howard Hughes had a love affair with world famous actresses such as Katharine Hepburn, Ava Gardner, and Jean Harlow. But died alone in a king’s residence of a hotel in Las Vegas because of his obsessive-compulsive disorder and overdose.

2. Leonardo DiCaprio, J.Edgar (J.Edgar Hoover)

J. Edgar Hoover was the founder and first president of the FBI. His methods, although controversial, have always been discussed and none of the eight presidents who worked with him could depose him from his duties. When both John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King assassinations took place, he was the president of the FBI.

3. Jim Carrey, Man on The Moon (Andy Kaufmann)

Andy Kaufman was the first person to bring the concept of trolling to America and the whole world. Even his death could be troll, as some people believe he’s still alive.

4. Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland (Idi Amin)

Idi Amin was an Ugandan dictator who massacred 300,000 and wounded 200,000 people during his rule, expelling more than 2 million people, especially Asians, from his country. As the years passed, Amin’s behaviour became more erratic, unpredictable, and outspoken until he was finally deposed in 1979.

5. Sean Penn, Milk (Harvey Milk)

Harvey Milk (1978) was an American politician who became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, serving as an inspiration to his community. Sadly he was murdered in 1979 in a hate crime.

6. Cate Blanchett, Veronica Guerin (Veronica Guerin)

Veronica Guerin was Irish crime reporter who was murdered by drug lords. She received numerous death threats by convicted drug criminal John Traynor. The killers attended her funeral service and a prayer for her.

7. Liam Neeson, Schindler’s List (Oskar Schindler)

Oskar Schindler was a Polish businessman who emerged during World War II. Towards the end of the war, Jewish workers who were working in the factories, were sent to concentration camps. He made a list know as Schindler’s List and saved them from genocide by buying them from the Germans.

8. Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game (Alan Turing)

Alan Turing was the father of computer science. He saved the lives of millions of people and changed the future of the world by enabling the deciphering of German secret correspondence Enigma, a password machine used by Nazi Germany during World War II with the purpose of encrypting and decrypting confidential messages in World War II. He was gay and those days homosexuality was a criminal offense. When caught, he was forced to take medication, which drove him to suicide. We need to ask ourselves how important could the fact that someone who invented computer science was gay or not? I hope we all know what the answer is! This should not be a criteria by which we judge someone.

9. Johnny Deep, Black Mass (James Bulger)

Nick named Whitey (James Bulger) is a very famous and high ranking mafia agent. He was once in top 10 most wanted list but got caught it 2011. He is eighty-seven and he is facing two life sentences and was charged with almost twenty murders.

With another decisive match of the Cleveland star in the NBA playoffs, the Cavs win in Toronto by 109–102 and close the series in 4–0 and now the wait for the winner between Celtics-Wizards draw.

Can anyone stop LeBron James in these NBA playoffs? For now, no is the answer. After the Cleveland Cavaliers took Indiana Pacers off in four games only, the team star was again decisive, a 35-pointer on Sunday, and the Cavs “swept” the Raptors, ending in the 4–0 Eastern Conference semi-finals with the 109–102 victory away from home at the Air Canada Center. It is the first time in NBA history that a team begins the playoffs with eight straight wins.

With the result, the current champions of USA national basketball league reach the conference final for the third year in a row. The opponent will come out of the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards clash, and LeBron will try to play his seventh consecutive NBA final.

In addition to the 35 points scored, LeBron took nine rebounds and gave six assists, almost achieving a double-double. Kyrie Irving, with 27 points and nine assists, and Kyle Korver with 18 points and four of six converted three-pointers, also stood out. In a duel that had moments of balance, the 3-pointers of the Cavs made a huge difference: 16 against 10 of the opponents.

The Raptors also tried to at least postpone the Ohio franchise classification, with Serge Ibaka’s 23 points and Demar Derozan’s 22 points, but they could not overcome the rival’s strength. The Canadian team had problems with Kyle Lowry being out of the match, because he could not recover in time from an ankle injury. The Brazilian players Lucas “Baby” Nogueira and Bruno Caboclo also stayed on the bench.

In desperate need of a victory to stay alive in the series, Toronto had a good start to the game and went 11 points ahead thanks to Derozan and Ibaka. At the end of the first quarter, however, Cleveland managed to draw 28–28 with two points from LeBron James and one extra free-throw from the same play after Ibaka’s foul.

In the second period, the visitors passed in front of the scoreboard and went to half time winning by 12 points. The difference grew to 16 points in the third quarter, but the home team did not give up. The Raptors outlined a reaction and managed to turn the game, making it 93–92, with some good plays by Ibaka an extra point in the free throw, after Kevin Love’s foul. But the euphoria of the sad fans in the bleachers lasted for no much longer as LeBron had an unforgettable night and was clearly motivated to play in his career. In the very ending of the match, the Cavaliers once again dominated the plays to secure the last win of the series and reach, once more, the East Conference finals of the NBA.

For the Raptors, it means giving up on their dream of reaching the NBA finals since they were founded, on 1995 and also on the chance of being the first Canadian team to reach NBA finals. For the Cavaliers, such an exquisite win means standing up for the East Conference finals and the opportunity to reach, for the 4th time in their history, the NBA finals. So far, the Cavs have only one NBA title (out of 3 final series played), which was won in 2016, making them the current basketball champions in USA.

Below is an overview of the series’ matches of the concerning East Conference semi-final clash:

(2nd place) Cleveland Cavaliers 4 x 0 Toronto Raptors (3rd place)

Game 1 — May 1st — Cleveland Cavaliers 116 x 105 Toronto Raptors

Game 2 — May 3rd — Cleveland Cavaliers 125 x 103 Toronto Raptors

Game 3 — May 5th — Toronto Raptors 94 x 115 Cleveland Cavaliers

Game 4 — May 7th — Toronto Raptors 102 x 109 Cleveland Cavaliers