Twelve years ago, the U.S. Soccer Federation dramatically changed its approach to boys youth soccer. It previously limited its role to managing the youth national team program and depended mainly onthe U.S. Youth Soccer-run Olympic Development Program (ODP) for talent identification. The change came swiftly. U.S. Soccer managed to lure enough of thenation’s top youth […]
youth boys
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
After a decade of youth coaching, I'm firing myself
After 28 seasons, a few All-Star tournaments, several coaching license programs that do and do not continue to exist, and more painful losses than I care to count, I have arrived at a candid bit ofself-realization. I’m not a good youth soccer coach. No, you can’t judge things solely by results, especially in recreational soccer. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Three MLS players on U.S. U-17 boys roster for England trip
MLS Homegrown signings Gianluca Busio, George Bello and Joe Scally are part of the U.S. U-17 boys 21-player squad that will face host England(Oct. 12), Brazil (Oct. 14) and Russia (Oct. 17) at the 2018 U-17 International Youth Tournament. Busio, age 16, has made six appearances (one start) for Sporting Kansas City this season. Bello,also […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Caffeine for Athletic Performance: Good or Avoid?
Lots of American adults consume caffeine. It’s estimated that 80% of U.S. adults consume at least some caffeine each week, with 55% consuming caffeine daily (usually coffee) and 25% consumingoccasionally. The average intake is about 200mg caffeine or about 2 small cups of coffee. A very large number of teenage and adolescent athletes also consume […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Low-back pain in the teenage athlete: Early intervention is the key
I’m seeing more young athletes with low-back pain, it seems that the incidence is increasing. Many times, mid-back and low-back pain is muscular. This is typical at the beginning of the season– perhaps combined with the weight of a heavy school backpack. This type of low back issue is a mild to moderate achiness that […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A Parent's Guide to Game Day and Practice — from Kaz Tambi
“If there is one single variable I can isolate as a predictor of success (beyond obviously a base level of talent and ability in the child), it is how negative andcritical the parents are. The more intrusively involved, the more pressure, and the more critical the parents are, the higher the likelihood the kid will […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Your crucial preseason checklist — first-aid kit and emergency action plan
With the spring season kicking off, this is the perfect time to make sure you’ve got the first-aid kit in order — and have prepared an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). Your First AidKit Every youth coach should have a very basic sideline first-aid kit. You should have this at each training session and game. Remember […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Director of Coaching: What's the job?
The role of the Director of Coaching (a “DOC”) of a youth soccer club is often misunderstood — by players, parents, and sometimes even coaches themselves. Unfortunately, it is not even uncommonfor the people that actually hire a DOC to be somewhat confused as to what exactly they are looking for from this position. In […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Youth: U.S. U-15 boys roster includes 14 newcomers
Fourteen newcomers to the U.S. national team program are part of the 36-player U.S. U-15 boys national team roster in camp under Coach Dave van den Bergh in Chula Vista,California, March 4-11. The U-15s second camp of the yearwill include games against mixed birth year players from FC Golden State and Club Tijuana. U.S. U-15 […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
What turf toe is — and how to treat it
The term “turf toe” originally was used to describe injuries of the big toe joint sustained by American football players on artificial turf in the 1970s. The firmness of artificial turf caused the bigtoe joint to bend upward beyond it’s normal range. This often occurred when a player was tackled from behind or stepped on […]