Reflection 14

Although I feel like I have pretty much reached my goal of being able to curve the soccer ball (with my right foot at least) but I feel like I need more video recordings to showcase my learned skills. I planned on recording earlier today but the weather has grown pretty bad to go and shoot as not only is it windy but it is raining a bit and there is thunder. If worse comes to worse I will have to work with the videos I have but I am trying to avoid that. Unfortunately, time is getting hard to manage recently with me once again as I am receiving a bunch of assignments, but I'll see what I can get done. I'll try to go this week if possible to get film.

Reflection 13

This past week has gone pretty good on terms of trying to reach my goal for my 20% project. I got to record 3 times this week, but I feel only one of the recordings was actually good. The rest were too short as my camera was having issues with storage. Regardless, I feel that although I can definitely shoot perfect curves in the way that Andrea Pirlo does as well as David Beckham, I am not consistent with my shots and a lot of the time they aren't very powerful at all. That is my biggest issue and in an actual soccer game, most free kick attempts will be out at 25-30 yards. At that range, I am struggling to make the ball curve and have sufficient power to get past the keeper. Today when I went filming, I used different cleats so maybe that was effecting why I had insufficient power. I am going to record once or twice more then prepare my presentation. So far I think I'm good

Reflection 12

Welp, I had it all planned it out to record both today and yesterday however things happened and now I'm in trouble. Yesterday, I had to record for a Spanish 3 for most of the day and by the time I came back home not only was it raining, but too dark. I looked forward to today but I had a party to attend for most of the afternoon. So the weekend that I was going to use to film for the final presentation was gone to waste. I haven't been using the weekdays and freetime that I have to film and I feel that's my largest issue in reaching this goal. I'm not utilizing my time correctly. I'm 100 percent going to use all the free time I have on my hands to record. I definitely think I can hit around 7 or 8 good curves out of 10 attempts that I take, so I have for sure made progress.
EDIT: Never published the actual post :/

Reflection 11

This week I finally got some free time on my hands and was able to go and practice my free kick curving. I used Andrea Pirlo's technique on Tuesday and I practiced by myself, so I didn't have a goalkeeper. Therefore, I didn't record at all because I feel that without a goalkeeper it's just not the same. There's not someone in the goal who is trying to stop the ball, so I have nothing to base the judgement of my free kicks on. This weekend is definitely going to be dedicated to shooting free kicks, as I completed my research paper in English and I have some time.

Reflection 9 + 10

The past week and a half (I missed a reflection) not much has been done in reaching my goal. I have been meaning to utilize this free kicking style to try to master my free kicks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdH70abco1s
However, as always work towards this time of the semester and year piles up, and other things have been consuming my time during the weekend, which is the only time I can usually practice and record my shots. This weekend I will for sure have no time to reach my goal as my research paper is due on Monday but as soon as that is handed in I will have some weight lifted off my shoulder and hopefully some free time to reach my goal. Until next time
G

REflection 8

This week I was able to go once again and take shots. I used a specific technique this time, which was the technique from the video "How to Shoot a Curve Ball Tutorial w/ Gündogan". It depicted a technique where you stand very close to the ball before kicking and it is a very simple way to freekick. You hit the ball on the lower left/right portion to get the perfect spin. This type of free kick I found quite easy but the bend I was getting was not that much. This week I'm going to find a different style in hopes that it will suit me better.

REflection 7

This week has been unfortunately the opposite of what I envisioned it to be. I expected to go to the park frequently and record however I didn't go not once this whole week except last Saturday (is that even this week?). I've gone lazy and I did not manage my time at all like I should have. I got nothing accomplished and now I'm going to have to spend all my free time (which is little to nothing) at the park, which I didn't want to happen. As of last Saturday, my free kicks have been able to curve at a rate of probably 5/10 shots that I took, most of them being from around 20 yards out. I'd definitely like to get that number to a 10/10 and then move onto the left foot. This week I'm REALLY gonna try to take shots.

REflection 6

Thankfully, this week I have gone and recorded. I went Wheeler Park in Linden with Jonathan and we recorded for each of our 20% goals (punny). Unfortunately, I was only able to salvage short clips of the practice session at the park because of my camera app malfunctioning. I used the link below to help me when I took these free kicks and I tried to emulate the style shown in the tutorial. I for the most part was not able to completely emulate the style. I believe my run up is the biggest issue but I got one or two lucky shots that were quite nice. If it gets to the point where I can curve/bend the ball perfectly with the my right foot, I will move on to my left foot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYqvAmhxY88

Reflection 5

This week has unfortunately been my most unproductive week in terms of reaching my project goal.  I haven't even watched a video about free kicks this week except Friday during my 20% time. Coming off a stressful week filled with tests, I did Relay for Life this weekend and spent almost all of my Saturday sleeping and trying to recover from that event. I have gotten a bit lazy and I decided that I'll wait for next week to go to the park again. I really have to go this week as time is dwindling and I really hope things don't get too cluttered. Even if it's not within the next 7 days, I still have all of Spring break so I think that I'll be fine.

Reflection 4 $

This week my goal has once again been hindered by this indecisive weather. The spring season commenced with snow, and in turn every soccer field nearby is in puddles and very muddy. So unlike my original plan to start practicing certain techniques I've learned the past 3 weeks, I have watched some more videos on how to curve the ball, but I'm just really itching to record some film and test them out for real. Although thankfully the snow has already melted for the most part, so if the weather is nice by this upcoming Friday I will definitely go and start the recording process. For now, I will simply wait.

Reflection 3

This week has been quite the successful one for me. I was finally able to go to the park and take shots just to get an idea of where I'm at with my shooting. I didn't really use a specific technique nor did I record because, once again, this was preliminary session. Judging by the looks of it, my shot definitely needs more work before I learn how to curve, especially my left foot. The wind might have worked against me but either way it will take time to develop the skills needed. I didn't use a specific technique either when shooting. Thankfully, the weather has started to clear up and the snow has started to evaporate from the muddy grounds which unfortunately make it difficult to play. Other than that, it's time to start practicing. I hope this week I can go again.

Reflection 2

This week once again, to my detriment, the weather and conditions have made it impossible to take shots to evaluate where I am with curving the ball before I even begin to REALLY practice. So, I had to lock myself in my room today and watch some more videos on curving. One tip that I learned today (which I hope I remember when I actually shoot) is to place the ball so that the air valve is facing you. I was hoping to take shots today and although the weather was decent, the snow has yet to melt. So I will wait patiently. I guess I didn't consider weather when I first chose this.

Reflection 1

This week, I have unfortunately done very little towards reaching my 20% goal. The weather and conditions have made it impossible for me to go and practice my free kicks. However, I was able to watch 2 very good videos from freekickerz showing the  technique of curving, so the next chance I get to visit the park and take shots, I will capitalize on it. I am not gifted when it comes to taking free kicks, so I'd definitely like to take at least one day this week if weather permits (and judging by the snow right now, it probably won't) to see where I am in terms of kicking. Other than that, I'll have to stick to watching videos and wait.

Twenty Percent Time Propo$al

    My 20% Time Project is going to be learning how to curve a soccer ball from the free kick position perfectly. I will (hopefully) have the ability to to place the soccer ball wherever I want in the goal at free will, which can be surprisingly difficult. Curving a soccer ball is something that requires a technique that is obtained through consistent practice and repetition.
    My goal is a physical goal, so all there is nothing I need to know. Getting to a park to practice will be relatively easy for me so that I can take shots whenever the weather is permitting. A difficulty that may arise with this project besides learning the perfect technique is having someone assist me in goalkeeping while I take shots. Shooting without a goalkeeper is much easier than shooting with a goalkeeper, and in a real game there will always be a goalkeeper in the net.  After all, in doing this project I want to perfect my free kicks for next soccer season. I haven't played soccer for a team in quite a while, and I want to begin again this year. Free kicks are a great way to start.
    Most of my project will be done outside of class. However, during class I can watch tutorial videos to further my proficiency in curving the ball. I will also reflect during class.

Relfection 15

So at this point I am preparing my presentation. A website would almost be impossible to make at this point, however I have still learned quite a lot of HTML and CSS coding. At this point I'll have to settle for a very simple website and it will not be as good as I planned it to be due to money constraints and domain costs. I'll keep searching though, but time has ran out.

Reflection 14 (or 13??)

I've ran into quite the predicament. I thought that with Cloud Cannon or with any website builder for that matter, that I could publish my website through DropBox or other file sharing services for free. However, I was gravely mistaken. Either way, it costs money to publish a website. So I have still been searching for a good builder. For my presentation I will have present screenshots of my website and pictures of the code that is being used to make it. There is no other way I can showcase what I have learned. I have only learned CSS and HTML after all, and I am no expert in either of the fields. I may not be able to even fully develop the website...

Reflection 13

This week has been Christmas week, and so it has been quite hectic. Also, the past two days my wired internet to my computer has been acting up and dropping connection constantly. However, with all of this going on I have been able to continue my search for the perfect webpage maker to showcase my coding skills. CloudCannon seems like the best webpage maker for me but we'll see.

Reflection 12

This week I have finally gotten to constructing a website. I feel like my coding skills are enough to make a simple website with the help of a websites proprietary website making methods as well. I am deciding whether to use CloudCannon or Silex. Silex I think focuses more on pure coding langauge, while CloudCannon has its own text editors and simpler templates. Both are pretty simple website makers that use DropBox to host the webpage instead of an actual domain and address. An actual domain would cost money which I do not have available. So far, the process is going pretty smooth and I think I can definitely make a good website to show off what I have learned. Here is what I have so far.

Reflection 11

This week I have been closing up my CSS lessons. I learned how to use classes and IDs to be universally selected, so that my customization options can be limitless. I also learned how to exactly position CSS and HTML elements anywhere on a file. On another note, have downloaded Python because I want to test it out to see if it will help me. As I stated when I began, I am a novice when it comes to the compatibility of coding languages, so it may not come in as useful at all. This week has been a bit challenging for me to do much with learning code as my internet connection was down on my computer this Friday and Saturday, and up until 5 PM today.

Reflection 10 (or 9?)

This week I have continued with my CSS instruction on CodeAcademy. I learned how to make my own "button" for a webpage so that one can click on it and it can send you to a desired website. It can make ones website much more appealing and visually pleasing instead of a standard link. I have learned about selectors in CSS and all the different font-families and colors that you can apply to each selector. I have also learned how to position certain elements in HTML using CSS selectors. I am very close to finishing my overall CSS and HTML lessons so I can move on to a bit of Python. I need to begin making my website soon.