What’s really important about the U.S. Soccer Federation’s ambitious move into youth soccer isn’t just the U-16 and U-18 boys leagues of its new U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Category: Youth Soccer Insider
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Keys to good corner kicks
The corner kick is an incredible opportunity to score, and it’s something players can practice on their own, because unlike a cross that you’re hitting during the run of play, the corner kick is always taken from the same distance, give or take the few yards by which the width of fields varies from stadium to stadium.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A meaningful version of ‘Soccer Dad’
The expression “Soccer Mom” has become a cliché. Sadly, some moms can be obnoxious spectators, too. Often, they learn that behavior observing men. Imagine the good that would come from being a highly visible and meaningful version of “Soccer Dad?”
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Tryouts: The whys, why-nots and maybes
In a typical club system where parents fund their child’s experience and pretty directly the club and its employees — team formation can be the most difficult part of the year.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The Coed Question
Prior to puberty, there is no gender-based physiological reason to separate males and females in sports competition. However, sex-separate programs may be appropriate because of non-gender differences in skill or experience.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A Case for High School Ball
Club coaches and high school coaches can work together to develop a player not only in technical and tactical skills and awareness but also with the intangible experience for playing for something greater than themselves: their community.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
From Passionate to Frenzied
Believe it or not, there was a time not so long ago that families spent Saturday mornings together at home or someplace other than a soccer field. … When I was growing up, youth sports were dominated by boys, and kids generally didn’t get started in team sports until 3rd grade at the earliest, joining seasonal teams like football, baseball and basketball, with some kids not getting involved until middle school and almost no one getting serious till high school. Soccer changed all that, with programs starting in kindergarten and close to 50 percent participation by girls.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Clubs Face Major Transformation
Youth clubs try to generate revenue to support their ambitions by appealing to players whose families are willing to pay higher fees. The competition for players and in some cases, “warm bodies,” is exposing a major chink in youth soccer armor.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Intelligent Crossing
One reason so many crosses don’t end up producing a scoring chance is because players too often send them in blindly. They figure that if they’re on the wing, just whip the ball into the middle. Even in the pros, you see this time after time. A player moves down the wing and launches a cross even if there are no teammates in front of the goal. If you haven’t got a forward waiting for the cross, then you’ve got to look for other options, like turning back and looking for a midfielder.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
How Much Soccer is Too Much Soccer?
How much soccer is too much soccer? From my perspective as a sports medicine specialist, I know when a player has played too much when various types of “overuse” injuries start appearing.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Time for a Children’s Revolt
Some of the things I’ve heard adults yell at children at soccer games are just downright hilarious. Like the coach who yelled at a 6-year-old, “Give him a target on the flank!”
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Filling a player’s ’emotional tank’
A player’s “emotional tank” is similar to a car’s gas tank. When the tank is full, the player runs well. With an empty tank, the player does not run at all. Coaches, parents and players can fill or drain tanks, depending on how they communicate.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Small-Sided Games: What’s all the fuss?
For quite a few years now US Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer, AYSO and the NSCAA have advocated playing less than 11-a-side soccer for our younger players.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
How To Save Your ACL
“You’ve torn your ACL.” That’s a phrase no player wants to hear. In the United States it is estimated that 250,000 people tear an ACL each year, and a substantial number of them will undergo reconstructive knee surgery. But recent studies suggest that specific training methods can reduce the number of ACL tears sustained by soccer players.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A Positive Approach to Player Development
Player development is critical to U.S. soccer success. Without a pipeline of prospects, the USA cannot compete with the traditional world powers. The best way to build, fill and maintain that pipeline is to help kids fall in love and stay in love with soccer.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The question we must ask
By Ian Barker I work for a youth soccer association and I am convinced that the majority of our youth players have a very good experience in the sport. Beyond that I believe many come to develop a passion for the sport that extends beyond college and into full adulthood and this will create the […]