Interview by Mike Woitalla The hardships faced by gay teens inspired the coming-out of former University of North Carolina star David Testo after nearlya decade of pro soccer in MLS, the USL and NASL. We contacted longtime soccer coach and journalist Dan Woog, the author of five books on gay and lesbian issues, to comment […]
Youth Soccer Insider
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Making sure the goals are safe
By Randy Vogt The goals are 8 yards in length by 8 feet high. The youngest age groups in youth soccer will often use smaller goals. The goalposts must be white.Should referees come to a field with goalposts that are not white, play the game and report the color of the goal posts to the […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Cosmos cash; U-17s on TV; High school rules; MLS teens
By Mike Woitalla The reincarnated New York Cosmos appear to be recommitting to their relationship with Queens club Blau-Weis Gottschee,which had filed a lawsuit against the Cosmos on Nov. 3 after not receiving a promised payment, reports Michael Lewis of The Cosmos, who last August pulled the plug on their Southern California-based CosmosAcademy West, have […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
'They need a guiding hand' (Derek Armstrong Q&A, Part 2)
Interview by Mike WoitallaFew individuals have had as great an impact on American youth soccer as Derek Armstrong, who is celebrating his 30thanniversary as head of the San Diego Nomads, one of the USA’s first fully staffed, multi-team youth clubs. In Part 2 of our interview, Armstrong addresses the USA’s challenge in producingspecial players and […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
'U.S. coaching is first class' (Derek Armstrong Q&A – Part 1)
Interview by Mike Woitalla Few individuals have had as great an impact on American youth soccer as Derek Armstrong, who three decades ago pioneeredthe fully staffed, multi-team club model now prevalent throughout the USA. Armstrong, who is celebrating his 30th anniversary as head of the San Diego Nomads, was also a founding director of US […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
If MLS wants kids to watch …
By Mike Woitalla How do you, a youth coach, address your players when they’re victims of bad fouls, brutish opponents or bad refereeing? Obviously,it’s prohibiting retaliation, clinging to your belief that skillful soccer will prevail, and zero-tolerance in ref abuse. But youth coaches could use some help from the pros. That,in this country, would be […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Sideline coaching — Dump the GPS and let the kids drive
By Scott Nelson While observing U7 games a few seasons ago I got into a conversation with a disgruntled parent. It turns out that this parent was constantly being toldto stop coaching from the sidelines by the team’s actual coach. This parent felt justified “getting involved” from the sidelines because, he explained, the designated coach […]
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(Part 2) Klinsmann Q&A: 'We are on the right track'
Interview by Mike Woitalla Jurgen Klinsmann’s stint as Germany’s national team coach in 2004-06 coincided with the nation’s rebirth as a worldpower. We asked Klinsmann, U.S. head coach since July, to compare the German player development efforts with those in the USA. SOCCER AMERICA: The World Cup is less than threeyears away, but, for example, […]
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Klinsmann Q&A: Parents can set an example (Part 1)
Interview by Mike Woitalla Jurgen Klinsmann, whose playing career included winning the 1990 World Cup title with Germany, took a keen interest inAmerican youth soccer when he moved to California upon his retirement in 1998. He became head coach of the U.S. national team in July and took time before the USA’s November friendlies against […]
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Part 2: Becoming Alex Morgan: Rising star reflects on youth game
Interview by Emily Cohen Alex Morgan, at age 22, was the youngest member of the USA’s runner-up squad at the 2011 Women’s World Cup, where shescored in the semifinal and final. Three years earlier, in the midst of her college career at Cal, she led the USA to the 2008 U-20 World Cup title. We […]