By Dan Woog I coached my first youth soccer team in 1975. For the first decade or so, I handled a couple of teams each spring. Then I came to my senses — I mean, Itapered off — to one. In the first falls there were junior high squads; then came high school freshmen, junior […]
high school boys
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Laughter, Tears, Frustration, Celebration (Book Review)
By Mike Woitalla If there’s a book about a youth soccer coach’s experience as entertaining and insightful as what Dan Woog has produced, I’m unaware ofit. Woog has coached youth and high school soccer for more than 30 years. He’s also a journalist and author of several books, the latest of which — “We Kick […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Refereeing in Different Systems
By Randy Vogt The youngest youth soccer players start out by kicking a smaller ball into a smaller goal on a small-sided field. By the time they have graduated to U-13and often sooner, they are playing 11 vs. 11 with a No. 5 ball on a regulation field with goals that are 8 feet high […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
U.S. Academy goes younger; futsal in the plans
By Mike Woitalla The U.S. Soccer Federation continues increasing its influence on boys soccer. Launched in 2007 with 64 clubs, the U.S. Soccer DevelopmentAcademy enters its 2012-13 season with 80 clubs, and for the 2013-14 season will add a younger age group, U-13/14. Academy clubs currently field one team in each of the two groups: […]
Posted inStory
NSCAA opposed, but couldn't stop, high school ban (Joe Cummings Q&A)
Interview by Mike Woitalla The impact of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s banning its players from high school ball is being felt across the nation as the fallscholastic season begins. We spoke with Joe Cummings, the CEO of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), more than a third of whose 30,000-plus members are […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The Two-Ref System: Its Flaws and How to Cope
By Randy Vogt With many of the thousands of high school games to be played this fall, and with the high school leagues being played in the winter and spring, thetwo-referee system (just two refs and no assistant refs) is an unfortunate fact of life. It is also known as the dual system and two-man […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Don't Skip The Preparticipation Physical Exam
By Dev K. Mishra, M.D. The “sports physical,” formally known as the preparticipation physical exam (PPE), is an important part of an athlete’s summer regimen. Mosthigh schools require a preseason physical exam but one of the ways many young athletes can fall through the cracks is with competitive club sports that typically have absolutely no […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Spain's bright future; U.S. U-20s; high school vs. club
By Mike Woitalla Two weeks after Spain routed Italy, 4-0, to win Euro 2012 – following up on its 2010 World Cup and 2008 Euro titles – came a sign thatSpanish dominance could have a long future. Spain lifted its second straight European Under-19 Championship with a 1-0 win over Greece last weekend and has […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Hydration tips for summer sports
By Dev K. Mishra, M.D. In a previous Youth Soccer Insider we discussed recognizing signsof heat illness. Now we will discuss an even more important strategy — preventingdehydration and possible heat illness through a good hydration strategy. Start your summer sports activity by being properly hydrated. One of the most importantpoints is that the young […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Final NSCAA High School Boys Spring Top 20
[RANKINGS] Lambert High School of Suwanee, Ga., is No. 1 in the final NSCAA High School Boys Spring Rankings with a 21-0-0 record. Oklahoma’s Norman North HighSchool, which finished second in the rankings, was the only other team in the Top 20 to finish with a perfect record. For the top 20 rankings … RankSchool […]