As a parent, you are constantly faced with decisions that have a profound impact on your child’s future. I believe it is important to examine some of these issues as they relate to youth soccer and all youth sports today.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“We are scratching our heads just like you guys are but it goes to show what hard work and commitment to each other can bring. Soccer is a funny thing. Any time you come away with a shock win you need to take your chances in front of goal and we defended like bandits. We rode our luck today.”
— U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard after the USA beat Spain, 2-0, in the Confederations Cup semifinal. (Fifa.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dallas withstands barrage
[MLS] Colorado maintained its unbeaten home record (3-0-3) at home by tying FC Dallas, 1-1, Wednesday, but needed a late strike to earn that point after fluffing a bunch of chances.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Toronto downs Red Bulls, again
[MLS] Whatever might cure Red Bull road ills it won’t be found north of the border. For the second time in 11 days, New York visited BMO Field, and the outcome didn’t differ. Paulo Vitti and Dwayne De Rosario scored on either side of halftime in a 2-0 TFC win that extends New York’s winless streak in all competitions to nine games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Tied up in New England
[SUPERLIGA] Group B action Wednesday night action at Gillette Stadium saw New England share points with MLS rival Kansas City in a 1-1 stalemate while all-Mexican clash between Santos and Atlas produced no goals
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA is Excelente!
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] Techniques and skills and physical attributes may vary, but in any high-level competitive sport, nobody excels without withstanding pressure. U.S. coach Bob Bradley knew his players would be tested by a Confederations Cup semifinal with Spain on Wednesday, for the Spaniards’ swift, flowing fleet of attackers can apply pressure anywhere in the attacking third, and its midfielders and defenders are tough to evade when in pursuit of the ball.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
World-class efforts from Donovan & Onyewu
[USA-SPAIN REPORT CARD] As befits a stunning upset win over the European champion and top-ranked team in the world, high marks abounded for the Americans who shocked Spain, 2-0, on Wednesday. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The world reacts to U.S. win
[USA-SPAIN] Beating the world’s top team drew stunned the international press. For a collection of headlines from around the world …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The goals, the saves [VIDEO]
[USA-SPAIN] For video highlights for the USA victory. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Images from Bloemfontein [PHOTOS]
[USA-SPAIN] Spanish daily As captured some of the most dramatic images from the U.S. triumph.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sol extends lead to 13 points
[WPS] The Los Angeles Sol extended its lead at the top of Women’s Professional Soccer to 13 points, its largest lead of the season, with a 2-1 win at the Saint Louis Athletica. In Wednesday’s other game, Boston moved into second place with a 1-0 win over the Washington Freedom.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Flip-Flopping
[TV WATCH] How does ESPN color commentator and former U.S. international John Harkes feel about play-acting? Apparently it depends on who’s doing the faking.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Where does the Spain victory rank?
[MAKING A LIST] Here’s a look at the top 10 wins in U.S. men’s history, as selected by the editors of Soccer America. Though some historic results have been recorded in friendlies, the significance of wins in competitive events – both for their domestic value as well as international status – takes precedence.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The USA’s Best-Ever Game?
Bob Bradley is definitely the man of the hour here – but hold on, Bob – let the man you so soundly beat have the first say: “They had huge energy, were very quick in attack, and caught us by surprise,” – the words of Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Denilson Lasts Less Than a Game
Brazilian world champion Denilson, who spent half a season with FC Dallas in 2007, lasted just half a game in Vietnam. Denilson scored on a free kick for Hai Phong Cement FC in its 3-1 win over Hoang Anh Gia Lai. He then announced he had aggravated a leg injury and said he was quitting […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Basketball and Soccer Talent Mix It Up in NYC
The second annual Showdown in Chinatown will take place tonight at Sarah D. Roosevelt Park in lower Manhattan. A fundraiser for the Steve Nash Foundation and the Claudio Reyna Foundation, the event features a mash-up of NBA stars and international soccer stars playing small-sided soccer at a Park that is "an oasis in an urban […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
ESPN to Create New Channel in Britain
ESPN, which recently won the rights to show 46 Premier League matches in Britain next season, will set up a new stand-alone channel to screen the games as it seeks to build a powerful presence in British sport. Lynne Franks, the ESPN executive who brokered the Premier League deal, said: “Buying the Premier League rights […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Toronto Fans Must Wait to See Gerba
Canadian fans who have long waited for Ali Gerba to join Toronto FC will have to wait a few weeks more before they can see the national star dress for their team. On Tuesday TFC announced the signing of the 27-year-old striker from England's Milton Keynes Dons, but because the MLS transfer window doesn't open […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Iran’s Turmoil Spills Into Soccer
Iran’s political turmoil has spilled onto the soccer field. The country’s authorities have reportedly dealt lifetime bans to a group of Iranian players who wore green wristbands in last Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier as a symbol of protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad‘s disputed re-election. According to the pro-government newspaper Iran, four players – Ali Karimi, 31, […]
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It is our first loss in a year. But this makes us a better team for the future.”
— Former Dallas Sidekicks player and coach Tatu, looking on the bright side after his Sting team lost on penalty kicks to CASL Spartan Elite in the U-14 girls semifinals at the U.S. Youth Region III Championships (Dallas Morning News)
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Heartbreak for Sting in Region III semifinals
The Sting, the longtime Dallas girls power, had five teams reach the semifinals of the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships being played in Frisco, Texas, and all five teams lost. For all the Region III boys and girls semifinal results and goal scorers …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Six Red Bulls called in for U-14 camp
Six members of the New York Red Bulls Academy program were among the 36 players called into the U.S. U-14 Boys National Development Program’s training camp that runs through Sunday at PDA in Zarephath, N.J. For the complete U-14 roster …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Four players make cut for U-17 camp
Four non-residency players — Keith Cardona (New York Red Bulls Academy), Victor Chavez (Real So Cal), Marquez Fernandez (Baltimore Bays Chelsea) and Riley Wolfe (Los Angeles Galaxy Academy) — are among 30 players who are participating in a U-17 national team camp in conjunction with the Development Academy Playoffs in Greensboro, N.C.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Wolves seeded No. 1 in both Academy playoffs
The field in the 2008-09 U.S. Soccer Development Academy has been narrowed down to 32 teams each in the U-15/16 and U-17/18 age groups. The Derby County Wolves of Michigan are the top seeds in the playoffs, which begin Friday at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C., and continue through Monday. CASL Chelsea FC Academy and Albertson SC are the 2-3 seeds in the U-17/18 group, while Arsenal FC and Sockers FC are 2-3 in the U/15-16 group. For all the playoff teams …