Nearly a year ago, it would have been much better if epidemiologists and politicians told us that they did not know all that the Covid-19 is about but this is their best guesstimate on what to do, which will require everybody to change their lives. Instead, we received info that was sometimes incorrect. In my […]
Youth Soccer Insider
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Make it your New Year's Resolution to Become a Ref
The Department of Motor Vehicles might not be the usual place to conjure up a nice memory but it happened to me when I renewed my Driver’s License earlier this month. I had made an appointment at the DMV in Hauppauge, Long Island — a long corner kick from my job. When I received a […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Note the baseline when you begin the coaching and learning journey
The following is an excerpt from: Clear Coaching: Harness Clarity To Drive Development by Todd Beane * * * * * * * * * * “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” — William Bruce Cameron * * * * * * * * * * Understand […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
COVID danger in sports: team meals, car rides, shared hotel rooms and whiteboard sessions
As we work through the current COVID-19 surge, with hopes for a vaccine in the near future, it’s instructive to dig deeper into how individuals become infected with the coronavirus and how to decrease risk. In the world of sports we’ve seen multiple NFL players infected, and even in Formula 1 three drivers have tested […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Coaches complaining about parents should reassess their approach
I recently read a survey that said 63% of coaches have quit or considered giving up on their passion for coaching youth due to parental problems. 60% of the coaches in that survey said that parental issues have become worse throughout their coaching careers. Whenever I am in a room with coaches, the parental topic […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
'Underuse' amid Covid-19 is a real problem
The global Covid-19 pandemic seems to have put a halt to the overuse injuries in adolescent and high school athletes that used to be so prevalent. Fewer overuse injuries is a good thing. The problem is that the pendulum of activity has gone the other way, toward far less activity than in the pre-Covid days. […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Indoor soccer COVID precautions: U.S. Soccer assesses risks and provides guidelines
COVID-19 is surging across the USA, breaking records for hospitalizations and new infections, at a time of the year when cold weather in many parts of the country sends soccer indoors — where infection danger is higher than outdoors. U.S. Soccer encourages clubs and coaches to refer to its Cold Weather Guidelines, and to stick […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A Ref's View: Adapt to the changes and stay positive
When soccer games rebooted over the summer here in New York State, the first big change was that Nick Apostolides was no longer assigning me games. Nick hadgiven me assignments since the 1980s and I even officiated a few games with him way back when. Sadly, my old friend died of the virus back in […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The teenager's challenge: Sleep well, play well
(Dr. Dev Mishra’s article on teenage sleep has been among the most popular since we launched the Youth Soccer Insider in 2007. The feedback has included parents appreciating coaches whohelp encourage healthy habits.) * * * * * * * * * * I’m sure anyone who’s raised an adolescent or teenager can attest to […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The Different Paths for Ref Development
The United States is such a large and pluralistic society so it makes sense that there are different paths for a soccer ref to develop, unlike in many other countries. I became a college soccer referee in 1986at the age of 24. I was the youngest ref in my chapter (New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer […]