By Mike Woitalla In our continued coverage of the debate over clubs that don’t want their players taking part in high school ball, a position supported by U.S. Soccer for its boys and girls Development Academy leagues, we hear fromLaura Kerrigan, who coaches the girls and boys teams at North Carolina’s Cary High School, where […]
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Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Offside Decisions: Defender's Deliberate Play vs. a Deflection
By Randy Vogt Flushing, Queens is home to U.S. Open tennis and Citi Field, where the New York Mets play. It also has a huge Asian-American population. So when a junior collegecoach asked me to meet him at a restaurant in Flushing over a year ago, I checked to make sure that his team was […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Big U.S. U-17 wins a 'snapshot of good signs of progress'
By Mike Woitalla Last August, at the Torneo de Naciones in Mexico, the U.S. U-17s fell, 6-3, to Mexico after taking a lead in the second minute and being tied, 2-2, at halftime,tied Portugal, 3-3, and beat Qatar, 2-1. Afterward, U.S. coach John Hackworth said the performances demonstrated that the U.S. national team program’s emphasis […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Stunning win by U.S. U-17 boys: 7-1 over Portugal
By Mike Woitalla The Nike International Friendlies tournament, launched in 2001 for the U.S. U-17 boys national team, has long provided early glimpses of future stars. In 2008, a16-year-old Neymar played for the Brazil team that in Lancaster, California beat a U.S. team that included Juan Agudelo. Coutinho, the currentLiverpool star, scored twice in Brazil’s […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
North Koreans deliver a beating to USA at U-20 Women's World Cup
By Mike Woitalla Not all of the North Koreans’ play against the USA in their 2-1 semifinal win at the U-20 Women’s World Cup was admirable. Three key U.S. attackers,Ally Watt, Mallory Pugh and Ashley Sanchez, needed examination for possible head injuries following Korean fouls. Watt, a 66th-minute sub,was thumped from behind by Ri Un […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
High School vs. Club: Three questions for Brandon Silva
By Mike Woitalla The bashing of high school soccer reached new heights with the U.S. Soccer Federation launching a Development Academy for girls (in 2017) and technical director AprilHeinrichs recently stating that high school ball is “not a playerdevelopment environment. In fact, it develops bad habits and complacency.” Brandon Silva coaches the girls varsity team […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
USA takes step toward quarterfinals of U-20 Women's World Cup
By Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla After opening with a scoreless tie against France, the USA beat New Zealand,3-1, to take the Group C lead at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea. Ashley Sanchez, Coach Michelle French’s youngest player at age 17,opened the scoring in the third minute when she robbed New Zealand defender […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Stalemate start for USA at U-20 Women's World Cup
By Mike Woitalla The USA, facing what is likely its strongest Group C opponent, opened the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea by tying France, 0-0. MalloryPugh had the best U.S. chances, after dribbling from midfield, in the 31st and 62nd minutes. But her shot on the first chance went to France keeper […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA ties France in U-20 Women's World Cup opener
The USA tied France, 0-0, in its U-20 Women’s World Cup opener in Papua New Guinea. Mallory Pugh had the best U.S. chances, after dribbling from midfield, in the 31st and 62ndminutes. But her shot on the first chance went to France keeper Mylene Chavas — her only save of the game — while Pugh’s […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
U.S. U-20 women vie for world championship in Papua New Guinea
By Mike Woitalla Will the third time be a charm for the U.S. women’s national team program in 2016? After the USA exited last summer’s Olympics in Brazil in thequarterfinals, ending a streak of three straight gold medals, the USA was eliminated in group play of the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan. Now it’s […]