In light of poor results at this year's U-17 World Cup, the launch of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, and MLS's move into the youth arena, it's time to reassess U.S. Soccer's 9-year-old Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. The preparation process for the USA's first appearance at the U-17 World Cup, in 1985, didn't much […]
Tag: youth boys
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Reviving the pickup game
There can be many reasons why so few pickup games happen in youth soccer. They include a sedentary lifestyle, the vacant lot doesn’t exist any longer, even the design of neighborhoods nowadays means there is little or no yard on which to play, parents are reluctant to let their kids play away from home without adult supervision, soccer facilities are closed except for scheduled events, or the kids simply don’t know how to organize a game.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Armstrong steps down as UCSD coach for health reasons
[RETIREMENT] After nearly 26 full years at the helm of the UC San Diego men’s program, pioneering coach Derek Armstrong announced his retirement on Monday afternoon for health reasons as he readies for surgery later on this week.
Posted inGrassroots Soccer Biz, Story
Tournaments: Who To Blame When It Rains?
What can a host club do when rain pours on its tournament?
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The Conflicting Models
Competitive pressures are encouraging elite clubs to professionalize training at younger and younger ages. But is this development good for youth soccer as a whole, or even the kids on the select team?
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
High School Boys Fall Rankings
Washington, D.C., area power DeMatha Catholic is the No. 1 team in this week’s NSCAA/adidas Boys National Rankings. The Zags tied Gonzaga, 2-2, with both goals scored by junior Chris Hengi, and O’Connell, 0-0, in their most recent games. For the Top 25 boys teams …
Posted inGrassroots Soccer Biz, Story
Getting grants takes persistence
Grants may be a potential funding source for your soccer club or organization.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy kicks off with Depot showcase
U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy is set to debut competition with the inaugural Fall Showcase Weekend Oct. 6-8 at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif. Forty teams from 20 elite clubs will participate in the three-day event, which includes teams at the U-16 and U-18 age groups.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: U.S. Soccer Development Academy
The U.S. Soccer Federation has integrated the country’s top youth clubs into the national team program. This fall marks the launch of a youth league in which every game will be an audition for the national team program. By creating the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, for U-16 and U-18 boys, the Federation is in effect […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
The Soccer Life: Soccer Smoothes the Path
Soccer helped cure homesickness and eased the challenge of adjusting to a new land for a group of young stars we met at this summer’s adidas ESP scouting and development camp for the nation’s top teen players. Enzo Martinez (Rock Hill, S.C.)‘HOW LUCKY I AM’ When Uruguay played Australia for a spot in the 2006 […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Buying the Right Cleat for Your Foot
The temptation as a parent purchasing cleats for a growing child with a growing foot is to buy cleats that are a bit too large, thinking that your child will “grow into them” and thereby save you some money in not having to buy another pair too soon.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
General Principles in Cleat Selection
Soccer is constantly immersed in a dynamic of strategic change and physical demand as players become stronger, faster, more agile, and fit at younger ages. Manufacturers of soccer cleats are now required to meet the needs of youth and adolescent players by integrating concepts previously reserved for the elite professional player.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Is an elite team right for your child?
Committing to travel-team soccer can have a profound impact on family life.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Cultivating optimal parent-coach relationships
“What is the optimal parent-coach relationship?” That’s what Positive Coaching Alliance trainers address during the Double-Goal Coach and Second-Goal Parent workshops we conduct throughout the country. The answer appears in the very names of the workshops.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Soccer: Why the Development Academy?
Whether to pursue entry into U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy wasn’t an easy choice for many of the nation’s top clubs, particularly in areas like North Texas and Southern California, where clubs are already entrenched in highly competitive leagues.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth: Gottschee Embraces New Era
Members of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for its inaugural 2007-08 season are mainly suburban clubs that grew out of the late 20th century’s youth soccer boom. But New York City’s BW Gottschee has been fielding youth teams for 50 years. Ben Boehm isn’t your typical Director of Coaching. He doesn’t earn tens of thousands […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Sun and shadows on high school soccer
There is much to do as a high school soccer coach. New uniforms have been ordered and sent to the silk-screener. Balls have been stored in the garage waiting for the night when I will pump up each one. Assistants have been lined up and forms distributed. The fall schedule has been carefully worked out with dates and times. An accident to one of our goals required a piece be sent to a local welder to be repaired.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer fills out 64-club Development Academy
U.S. Soccer named the final 13 clubs to join its Development Academy, bringing the total number of clubs taking part in the first year of the new program to 64. For the complete list broken down by conference …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New Jersey clubs claim Super-20 titles
Mike Konicoff of Boston College scored two goals and Bryan Martinez added a third goal to lead PDA to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Fire Premier in the championship game of the the men’s Super-20 League North American Finals. Merrilyn Esteve scored the only goal to lead Parsippany SC to a 1-0 win over Quickstrike FC in the Super-20 women’s final in Epping, N.H.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Red Bull National League Results
Defending champion Nomads and the Irvine Strikers are the only unbeaten and untied teams after the first three days of under-17 boys play in the 2007-08 Red Bull National League in Orange, Calif. Four players are tied for most goals in 2007-08 RBNL play with three: Steven Haltom of the Dallas Texans, CASL Elite’s Mike Smith, Colorado Rush’s Zach Foxhoven and FC Delco’s Kyle Soroka. Pateadores fielded the youngest player to ever take part in the RBNL, 13-year-old midfielder Luis Gil. Results and goalscorers of Days 1-3 …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Improving performance by improving the experience
It is possible to scientifically understand the youth soccer culture, to consider the experience of all constituents, and to take practical and developmentally solid steps to do a better job.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Terryville shocks Arsenal FC in U-18 boys championships
Terryville Fire of New York pulled one of the biggest upsets in the history of the US Youth Soccer National Championships when it beat Arsenal FC twice in two days, ending the Southern California club’s bid for a fourth straight national title in its age group. With Arsenal having already clinched a berth in Saturday’s final at the Pizza Hut Park complex in Frisco, Texas, the Fire edged Arsenal, 1-0, on the final day of group play to reach the final, where it again prevailed, 1-0.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships Results
Complete results and goalscorers from the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Frisco, Texas.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Best Practices
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.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships Schedule
The U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships begin Wednesday at Pizza Hut Park, home of FC Dallas, in Frisco, Texas. For the complete boys and girls schedule …