In these games, the ref can be more of a teacher than an enforcer and I tried to emulate Willy Wonka (the Gene Wilder version).

What is it about the World Cup that arrests me so? What I am chasing every four years?

While I continue to grow older, the ages of those playing soccer remains the same. As a referee, I'm in the same boat as teachers in this regard.

I believe in the value of the FIFA 11 program to reduce ACL and lower extremity injury rates, and make better soccer players.

Anson Dorrance, gave me an invaluable piece of advice when I first started coaching. He advised me to give the girls on the team the first 10 minutes of practice.

Whatever the level of the athlete, team and coach, learning and enjoyment should always be crucial considerations of the training and game environment.

For a book that's chock-full of insight into playing successful soccer, "Masters of Modern Soccer: How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game" stands out.

For many athletes, whether an elite professional or a recreational athlete, dealing with the possibility of missing a really important event can create significant psychological challenges.

Why is it that I might be a relatively average looking guy but I look very good in my photos, including the images in this space? It's because that I'm good at Photoshop.

American soccer, so plagued by the pay-to-play problem. If only there was youth soccer that didn't charge kids so much money.

Let's have a look at a some issues around caffeine consumption for sport performance by age groups.

There is a referee shortage as most youth soccer refs quit in their first two years with verbal abuse being the No. 1 reason for quitting.

We lose most refs in their first two years of refereeing with verbal abuse being the No. 1 reason for refs quitting.

I'm seeing more young athletes with low-back pain, it seems that the incidence is increasing.

"We want the parent's role only to be supportive and encouraging," says Kaz Tambi.