Interview by Olivia Ruiz Colorado-raised Chris Martinez, who starred for the A-League’s Colorado Foxes and MLS’s Colorado Rapids, now serves a Real Coloradodirector and was named U.S. Development Academy U-15/16 Central Conference Coach of the Year 2015. SOCCER AMERICA: What propelled your transition into coaching? CHRIS MARTINEZ: When I played with the Colorado Rapids, Lorne […]
Youth Soccer Insider
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The Trophy Debate — Give kids some credit
By Mike Woitalla I’m not a big fan of trophies. They tend to be gaudy and overpriced. At the same time, I find it amusing when people get all riled up about kids nowadays gettingtrophies they don’t deserve. As if that’s really a major problem. Many times I’ve heard the diatribes about how when we […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
'Coaches cannot be set in their ways' (Luchi Gonzalez Q&A)
Interview by Mike Woitalla After a seven-year professional playing career, Luchi Gonzalez launched a career in education — he served as Dean of Students andalgebra teacher at Miami’s Gulliver Academy — and youth coaching. A full-time coach at FC Dallas’ academy since 2012, the 2001 Hermann Trophy winner at SMU guided FC Dallas to the […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
World Cup-bound U.S. U-17s prep with Czech Republic tourney
By Mike Woitalla For its first gathering since the draw for the 2015 U-17 World Cup, Coach Richie Williams has named a 20-player squad for the U-17 Vaclav JezekYouth Tournament in the Czech Republic, where the USA faces Russia (Aug. 18), Slovenia (Aug. 19) and Slovakia (Aug. 21) in group play. A final placement game […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Consider the individual when planning practice
By John Cone It’s that time of year in soccer when youth teams are kicking into a new season. The “preseason” phase of training is one of excitement and anticipation, and wellestablished in sports science as a time of increased risk of injury. The result being that a player’s excitement for a new season can […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Why should you care about sports science?
By John Cone For most, it is accepted that injury in sport is a part of the game; a result of bad luck and a risk an athlete knowingly takes on by playing. In youthathletes, it is further accepted that growth-related pain is a natural part of the transition from youth to adolescence and on […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Another U.S. U-17 goes pro as Velela joins Cosmos
By Mike Woitalla Alexis Velela, who signed this week with the NASL’s New York Cosmos, is the latest member to go pro from the 20-player U.S. U-17 national teamsquad that qualified last March for the 2015 U-17 World Cup. The 17-year-old Southern California product, who played for the San Diego Surf and Nomads, started all […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
'You can't communicate too much with parents' (Kim Calkins Q&A)
Interview by Olivia Ruiz Kim Calkins was appointed Washington Youth Soccer‘s TechnicalDirector in July. Calkins, who played collegiate ball at the University of Portland and professionally for the Boston Breakers, brings 15 years of youth, high school and collegiate coaching experienceto the position. SOCCER AMERICA: What are your main tasks and objectives as a state […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
USA gets 'challenging group' at U-17 World Cup
By Mike Woitalla One goal for the USA at the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile (Oct. 17-Nov. 8) will be to win a knockout-stage game for the first time since 1999, when the USAfinished fourth at biennial tournament with a team that included Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Bealsey. After Thursday’s draw, just getting to […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
How Zelalem & Co., are faring since the U-20 World Cup
By Mike Woitalla It’s been nearly two months since the USA’s quarterfinal run at the 2015 U-20 World Cup. The performance included wins over Myanmar, New Zealand and Colombia.Coach Tab Ramos’ team held eventual champion Serbia to a scoreless tie before getting eliminated in a penalty kick shootout. Here are club updates on some of […]