Robbie Rogers, like all players who make it to the higher levels of the game, spent a lot of time playing soccer on his own, away from the organized practices and games. And like most such players, he has a tale of indoor destruction.

One thing we hear a lot from the foreign clubs coming to the USA is how they're aiming to help Americans produce better soccer players.

What are the keys to a club providing an optimal experience for the different levels of teams under its umbrella: from comp to rec?

"We play sports because we want to be a part of something," says Briana Scurry, who was a big part of two U.S. Olympic gold medal wins and famously saved the penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup final victory.

The latest edition of our "When They Were Children" series looks at Lee Nguyen's youth soccer experience. The 28-year-old's 18 goals were fourth best in MLS this season, the most by an American, and led to a call-up for national team duty by Coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

A Director of Coaching at a club needs to possess many talents. The DOC must be a good listener and also hard of hearing at some times. He or she must be determined to stay the course and, also, make changes for the betterment of the organization.