North Texas provides an example of how the youth landscape is changing now that MLS has entered the fray.
Category: Soccer America Magazine
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
MLS: A Heavy Responsilbility
As MLS expands so does its need for players. Five players in MLS this year typify categories of players on which the league must depend because of financial constraints and other factors. Each carries a heavy responsibility in his team’s fortunes.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
2009 MLS Preview: Western Conference
1 – Salt LakeTeam on the rise has eye on the big prize Clint Mathis says he’s healthier and fitter than he’s been the past few years, and that could be bad news for the rest of MLS. “I feel good,” said Mathis after scoring both goals in a 2-1 Real Salt Lake win over […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
2009 MLS Preview: Eastern Conference
1 – ColumbusWarzycha takes over top job at top team One might forgive fans of the Columbus Crew if they feel somewhat aggrieved despite celebrating their first MLS Cup triumph just four months ago. Head coach Sigi Schmid, who in three seasons transformed the Crew from bottom-feeder to top dog, bolted for Seattle, and in […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: Matkovich ‘s Double-Duty Coaching
“Guys who want to please you compared to guys who want to make a living” is how Mike Matkovich describes the general difference between youth and pro players.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
College Women: Recruiting Success Is All The Rage
It is a Thursday evening in early February, and the Pleasanton Marriott in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb of Pleasanton is a study in contrasts. The parking lot is full, but the hotel restaurant is empty and only a handful of folks are sitting at the lobby bar. It's only when you stroll down […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
College Men: Zips Head Men’s Elite Eight
Recruiting in men’s college soccer is a fluid process. Players can change their plans on whether to enter college or go pro. Foreign players are often signed at the last minute. With that in mind, here’s how the top men’s recruiting classes ranked in mid-February:
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Soccer: World Cup Chief Bidder Interview
Former television executive David Downs is spearheading the U.S. efforts to land either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
USA-Mexico Game: New Year, Same Story
The frigid conditions of eight years past didn’t materialize this time at Crew Stadium, yet the Americans still beat Mexico, 2-0. Opening the Hexagonal with a valuable three points provided a few glimpses as to how the team may develop as it prepares for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: The Camp Economy’s Wide Reach
Soccer camps are a big part of the nation’s multi-billion dollar summer camp business and impact several levels of the American game.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
MLS: Expansion Benchmarks Are High
MLS’s remarkable run of success with its expansion teams will be put to a test when two new teams join.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
MLS: Sounders Mania – Back To The Northwest
In picking Seattle to be its 15th team, MLS hopes to repeat its fabulous luck with a 13th team in Toronto. Both are major international cities with diverse populations, a downtown stadium well serviced by public transport, strong ownership groups steeped in professional sports and robust season-ticket sales.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: Wheddon’s Camp ‘Holiday’ Leads To Gold Medals
Phil Wheddon came to the USA from England in 1990 the way many young British players do: To see the nation while working at youth soccer camps.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
World Cup Qualifying: No Surprises In The Bunch
The USA’s five opponents in the Hexagonal, which kicks off Feb. 11, are all familiar foes. It’s faced each team at least once in the final round of Concacaf qualifying. All five teams have at least one player who came through the U.S. youth or college ranks.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
World Cup Qualifying: Central Casting
U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has several candidates to fill the central midfield positions for the Hexagonal. He’s earned only 16 caps since debuting for the national team in 2005 yet Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark could be a major player.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Women’s Professional Soccer: A More Modest Proposition
Women’s Professional Soccer couldn’t have picked a worse time for the launch of a new league, but officials are confident that they can achieve success where WUSA, the previous attempt at women’s pro soccer, failed.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: Field Play Makes Better Keepers
Is the USA’s ability to produce great goalkeepers threatened by early specialization?
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
My View: Can USA Qualify With Flair?
The USA won’t have much trouble qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, but we should expect more. Getting its first win in Mexico and playing impressive soccer would be nice.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
MLS Preseason Preview
A new team in Seattle, the fifth expansion franchise added by MLS in the past five seasons, added drama to the MLS SuperDraft. As the teams prepared to start preseason training, most of them are facing further personnel moves based on their selections.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Best Girls Youth Clubs
A banner year propelled the Dallas Texans back into the top spot in Soccer America’s Best Girls Clubs rankings.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Best Boys Youth Clubs
For the first time, the Baltimore Casa Mia Bays are No. 1 in Soccer America’s Best Boys Club rankings.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
’08 Women’s College Awards: Nogueira Takes Advice To Heart
Player of the YearCasey Nogueira Casey Nogueira, who wanted so badly to play for North Carolina that she moved from her home in Cedarburg, Wis., to Raleigh to be near the Tar Heels in high school, has backed up her commitment with superb performances in two Women's College Cup finals in three years at UNC. […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
08′ Men’s College Awards: Zakuani Makes History
Player of the YearSteve Zakuani Steve Zakuani, Akron’s gift to American soccer, is only the second sophomore to win Soccer America Men’s Player of the Year honors after Claudio Reyna, who won the first of back-to-back awards in 1992. Unlike Reyna, Zakuani was a total unknown when he arrived at Akron in 2007. New Zips […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
World Cup 2010: South Africa Lures Foreign Fans
South African organizers are rooting for all the big European powers to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. They will need all the good luck they can get as the countdown for the 2010 finals continues amid a severe economic downturn.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Soccer: Kids In The National Teams
The first national teams most people hear about are the U-17s, who compete in biennial World Cups for boys and girls. But the U.S. Soccer Federation runs U-15 national teams for both genders.