Kostas Chatzichristos’ Post

Flag Football: Back into the Game at 47 Today, I want to share a personal story that took an unexpected turn back into the world of sports. Growing up in the US during the 70s and 80s, basketball and football were ingrained in my childhood. Flag football, initially designed as a way to practice the fundamentals of tackle football without the risk of injuries, has transformed into a highly competitive sport in its own right. The structure of the game provides a unique opportunity for individuals like me, who missed the thrill of competition but didn't want to endure the physical toll of tackle football. It also provides the youth a safe way to hone their skills if they do decide to continue with tackle. At 47, I laced up the cleats once more. To my surprise, Germany had fully embraced flag football, adding their spin to the rules and making the sport even more captivating. With a new sense of purpose, I found myself back in the game, competing, staying fit, and challenging Father Time. check it out https://lnkd.in/d-MNRwa4 I'm still doing them in, taking ankles. Unlike the short lifespan of tackle football, flag football offers a chance to play competitively while minimizing the risk of injuries. Realizing that I wasn't chasing an NFL dream, I focused on training for longevity. I discovered specific exercises and techniques that not only kept me competitive but also ensured my overall health and well-being. Now, you might be wondering, why share this with our friends in Europe? Well, it's because I believe I've stumbled upon the fountain of youth again. Flag football has given me the chance to challenge myself, stay active, and enjoy the camaraderie of the game. It's a sport that transcends borders and offers a unique blend of fitness and fun. In conclusion, my journey back into football, specifically flag football, has been a rejuvenating experience. For those in Europe looking for a way to stay fit, and competitive, and embrace the joy of the game, I highly recommend giving flag football a try. Have you ever tried to flag football? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let's keep the conversation going also DM if interested and want to know more #FlagFootball

European guys are too skilled. - I know very little about basketball. But the best European guys often come to America with incredible fundamentals, basketball IQ, preparation/habits, ability to fit in with a team, etc. Some equally talented American players never figure it out enough to even hang on an NBA roster. Let alone be a star. I like to compare my observations of major American sports to chess. Mainly because I grew up playing baseball, basketball, football but I like chess much more. I found it funny when Tyler One talked about beating elite chess players. I think he was serious. Grandmasters would never consistently allow the positions that are common under 2000 online. As soon as they got an advantage they are too technically skilled as I imagine they’ve spent similar hours studying (not playing) to Doncic. It would be good content to take the winner of each major non-titled event (NFL Blitz champs, gamers, etc.). Then let them play a golf scramble concept against any grandmaster and get hammered. I genuinely think it would be good learning to see HOW grandmasters win when they know they are much better and want to embarrass the lesser player. Like Danny v the world but only the couple winners. https://lnkd.in/gP5Xawmh

The Rise of International Superstars in the NBA 🌍🏀 There’s a new sheriff in town. As the NBA’s American superstars like LeBron James age out 👴, international players have been stepping up, taking the MVP awards for the past six years. We mapped the MVP vote share of US vs international-born players every year since 1984 to dig a bit deeper. A Look at the Three Waves of International Dominance: Attempt 1️⃣ - A Solo Mission (1993-94) Hakeem “the Dream” Olajuwon 🇳🇬 led the charge as the first international MVP in 1994, securing 34% of the vote share. Attempt 2️⃣ - Teaming Up (2005-07) Steve Nash 🇨🇦 and Dirk Nowitzki 🇩🇪 dominated the MVP ballots, peaking in 2007 with 64% of the vote share. Attempt 3️⃣ - Here to Stay (2019-Present) International players like Luka Doncic 🇸🇮, Nikola Jokic 🇷🇸, Joel Embiid 🇨🇲, Giannis Antetokounmpo 🇬🇷, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 🇨🇦 have consistently topped the MVP ballots, capturing 90% of the votes this year. The globalization of basketball has been driven by improved infrastructure, global scouting, and the inspirational network effect of seeing international stars succeed. 🌟 Imagine being in a small town in Slovenia and watching Luka Doncic make it to the NBA finals—I'd give it a shot too! 🏀 #linkedinsports #internationalsports #sportsball #datavisualization

#QandAwithQIAOFENG #Football, #Brazilian Question: why has the Brazilian style of football disappeared, with teams adopting European playing styles, and has this reduced the enjoyment of the game? Answer:Regarding the disappearance of the Brazilian football style, here’s a brief explanation. The Brazilian style is characterized by exceptional individual skills and physical agility. The last notable display of this style in international competitions was probably around the year 2000. Since then, it has become rare to see. Nowadays, stars from Argentine teams like River Plate and Boca Juniors struggle to adapt and secure their positions in European teams. The simple reason is that the South American way of playing football doesn’t hold up against the European style. In a context where winning brings various rewards, ineffective strategies naturally fade away. The South American style is a legacy of older football tactics, where defense was man-to-man, and each player had a typical control area, rarely venturing beyond it or practicing skills outside their zone. For example, it was almost impossible to find a goalkeeper who could pass accurately before 2000. This approach, focused on controlling space, required a fast pace and extensive running. Players from the old system could barely last the first half, let alone the entire game. The clash of new and old forced South American teams to adopt a different strategy, often leaving only one player to sneak attack while the rest, 9-10 players, focused solely on defense. This left little room for midfield organization, making the game dull. The player tasked with offense, despite being talented, found scoring extremely difficult and laborious. Has the enjoyment of the game decreased? Personally, I think modern matches are more entertaining. The sense of pressure in today’s games is much greater than it was 20 years ago. Long passes are accurate, and the moments when a fast, powerful ball is controlled as if it sticks to the foot are more common among regular players. These are improvements we couldn’t have dreamed of before.

Today, the FA (and Premier League) announced changes to the FA Cup competition from next season. Let’s break them down: 🚀 **Enhanced Funding for Grassroots and Women’s Football:** The Premier League and The Football Association (FA) have announced a new agreement to increase funding to the football pyramid. Starting from the 2025/26 season, the League will contribute up to £133 million annually. This is part of their continued effort, contributing 16% of total revenues, or £1.6 billion over three years, across all levels of men's and women's football. The investment will bolster the Football Foundation and the Premier League Stadium Fund, enhancing facilities and financial sustainability at lower league clubs. It will also expand opportunities for disabled players and support the growth of girls' football. 🏆 **FA Cup Schedule Revamp:** In addition to financial commitments, the FA Cup is getting a scheduling makeover. All rounds will now occur on weekends, marking a significant shift from the midweek scheduling of some rounds in previous seasons. This includes an exclusive weekend for the Fourth and Fifth Rounds and Quarter Finals, avoiding any clash with Premier League fixtures. The FA Cup Final has also been rescheduled to the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, focusing all attention on this marquee event. 🌱 **A Commitment to Development and Accessibility:** This agreement not only enhances the competitive structure of the FA Cup but also ensures continuous development across both men's and women's football leagues in alignment with the FA's new National League System Strategy. The increased investment and revamped scheduling reflect a robust commitment to making football accessible and enjoyable at all levels. 💼 **Professional Insight:** Richard Masters, Chief Executive of the Premier League, emphasized the League's pride in supporting all levels of the game, highlighting the strategic partnership with the FA to enhance grassroots football. FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham underscored the FA Cup's critical role in funding and developing the game, celebrating the new agreement as a milestone for the future of football in England. 📅 **Looking Ahead:** The new FA Cup format will kick off next season and is part of an overall calendar approved by the Professional Game Board, which includes the FA, Premier League, and EFL. #Football #FACup #PremierLeague #GrassrootsFootball #SportsManagement #CommunityDevelopment 🔗 [Learn more about the Premier League’s initiatives](https://lnkd.in/gSfAJVS)

Fixture congestion is a growing concern in modern football. The blog below highlights the issue in young footballers 👇.

The skill level in the European leagues and the NBA is often a topic of debate among basketball fans 🏀. Each league offers a unique style of play and showcases top-tier talent from around the world 🌍. In the NBA, players are known for their athleticism, speed, and overall skill level. With high-flying dunks, pinpoint accuracy on three-pointers, and flashy ball-handling, NBA players are among the best in the world 🌟. The level of competition in the NBA is incredibly high, with the best players facing off night in and night out. On the other hand, European leagues are known for their tactical approach to the game and emphasis on team play. While the individual talent may differ slightly from the NBA, European players showcase a high basketball IQ and fundamental skills 🏀. The European style of play is often praised for its teamwork and strategic execution. Overall, the skill level in the NBA is considered to be slightly higher than in the European leagues due to the level of competition, athleticism, and talent pool. However, both leagues offer exciting basketball and showcase the best players from around the world 🌎. #NBAvsEurope #BasketballSkills #GlobalGame

The Premier League 2024/25. 💥 I watched and analysed the Chelsea Football Club v Manchester City Football Club game, with a City focus. Having worked with both clubs, over the last 11 years, I thought it was an ideal opportunity to provide some tactical insight on their Stamford Bridge encounter. ⚽Man City In Possession Formation 3-1-3-3 The formation was initially shown as a 4-2-3-1, this formation will often just be a start point. When City had possession, they pretty much played 3-1-3-3. Lewis pushed into a midfield position as soon as they had possession. If the ball was on the left-hand side, he would also make a narrow movement as well as forward. ⚽Man City Wide Players Swapping Sides By the 13-minute mark, Doku and Savinho had swapped sides. Doku as a right footed player started on the right and Savinho, as a left foot player, started on the left. Once they had swapped, Savinho showed some excellent football as he had the ability to beat Cucurella on the outside, and make a positive movement to the right hand side with being a left footed player. He also demonstrated good movement driving infield with his left foot. Doku was excellent when moving back to the left-hand side. He also moved in field from this position which gave De Bruyne the ability to move very wide on the left hand side. ⚽Man City Playing Out From The Back On 16 minutes, there was an outstanding movement when playing out from the back. Akanji receives the ball on the goal line near the corner flag and makes a square pass, almost across the goal, to Dias. The ball actually goes right across the goalkeeper. Dias then plays left to Gvardiol. Gvardiol then makes an infield pass back to Ederson. He then makes a square pass to Akanji and this enables City to play out from the back. In summary, an excellent first performance of the season from City, and one which makes you think who will compete with them at the top of the table again this season. -- Our NEW Training App will include weekly tactical insight for all subscribers, complete with video. Watch this space…it’s coming soon!! #footballanalysis #premierleague #formations #tactical

Steph Curry put on a basketball clinic with his clutch shooting to lead Team USA to gold. Along with teaching a 3 minute masters business course in the process. Todays Olympic Men’s Basketball was epic - one of the greatest Olympic Games I can remember. And Steph’s 4 3pointers in the last 3 minutes iced the game. But to truly appreciate his greatness - and explore the business lesson - you have to see the last 6 minutes of the game. Right before his shooting heroics began Steph had 2 uncharacteristic and costly turnovers that led France’s comeback. How many times in business have you seen people stop playing or be “taken out” of the game because they made a mistake? Imagine if Steph had that mentality? Chances are high - no gold for USA. Too often in todays business world mistakes freeze us from continuing on with confidence. Next time you make a mistake and are feeling unsure of yourself remember this game and how Steph handled it. The path to gold in business is as hard or harder than being the best in the world at basketball. Don’t stop yourself or let others stop you from reaching the podium - keep playing, keep shooting and keep believing in yourself and your skills. #innovate #USA #persistence #Greatness #sportslessons

American 'Football' is a Lie - The Real Football Uses Feet! ⚽ The Super Bowl just wrapped, crowning the champions of American football. But now that the pigskin has been put away, it's time to revive the never-ending debate - what do we call that other football that is actually played with the foot? As a Blaugrana and a diehard fan of "real" football, I wince whenever someone calls it soccer. So, Soccer or Football? While the Super Bowl undoubtedly reigns supreme in the U.S., the beautiful game has a strong case for being the real "football" with its global following. Now, how did we end up with two wildly different sports bearing the same name? Believe it or not, "soccer" originated in England in the 19th century. It was a shorthand slang term derived from "Association Football," shortening it to just "Assoc."—which, when written, looks like it might be pronounced "Assock." In late 1800s England, at Oxford, there was also a fad of adding -er to some words. And thus, "soccer" was born. But in the 1900s, the British went back to calling it football. The Americans missed the memo, and soccer stuck. It's not just an American thing, either. From Chinese to Portuguese, languages worldwide have put their own spin on the name. The Italian "calcio" comes from the verb "to kick." What about you? Are you offended when people call it "soccer"? So what do you call it? #superbowl #football #sports