We’re in that time of year when people start sneezing and coughing all around you. It’s pretty easy to catch a cold or sinus congestion to generally make you feel lousy. And at the same time your teamcontinues to practice and play games. You want to keep playing, so should you just try to play […]
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Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
United Soccer Coaches announces National Players of the Year
United Soccer Coaches announced its National Players of the Year at the youth, high school and college levels and its National Scholar Players of the Year for high school and collegestudent-athletes. The 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy recipients for NCAA Division I men’s and women’s soccer will be named Jan. 5. The National Players of the […]
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Sophia Smith, scorer for three U.S. teams, is Young Player of the Year
Sophia Smith, who scored for the U.S. U-18s, U-20s and U-23s, is 2017 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. The 17-year-oold high school senior, who has committed to attendStanford University in the fall of 2018, plays for he Real Colorado U-18/19 Development Academy team. In February, she scored for the U-18s against England […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Advice for young referees — and a plea to the adults who scream at them
I was asked to give some words of encouragement to young refs who would be refereeing their club’s intramural games. The refs were from 10 to 14 years old and they ref players age 6 to 12. Tworefs to a game, one on each touchline, on small-sided fields, the largest which is 65 x 35 […]
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Youth: U.S. U-17 girls rout Haiti
The U.S. U-17 girls national team got goals from five different players in a 5-0 win over Haiti, which the USA faces again on Friday in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. NC Courage Academy’s ToriHansen opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Sunshine Fontes (Hawaii Rush) added a second two minutes and Samantha Kroeger (World Class FC) […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Let your kids play soccer in the house — with small balls
When I went to China to coach 6-year-old kids in a pilot program at five elementary schools in Beijing, I wanted to see what they were doing before I started with my contribution. All thekids had a big ball. Wrong! Have you ever seen what kids do when they are trying to control a big […]
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Youth: U.S. U-17 girls to face Haiti twice
Coach Mark Carr called in a 22-player U.S. U-17 women’s squad for two games against Haiti during a Dec. 11-16 training camp in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Carr is preparingthe team for the the 2018 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship April 19-29 in Nicaragua from which three teams will qualify for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Nike Friendlies: Kuhlmann scores four in U.S. U-20 women's rout of Finland
Civana Kuhlmann, who last weekend lifted the NCAA Division I title with Stanford, scored four goals in the USA’s 10-1 win over Finland. The U.S. U-20 women, who opened the NikeFriendlies by tying England, 3-3, were up 4-0 by the 30th minute. Kulhman, a Stanford freshman, struck the USA’s third goal in the 17th minute […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Dear Coach, Forge relationships before results
“Winning isn’t everything; it is the only thing.” This Red Sanders quote popularly attributed to Vince Lombardi has misguided so many youth coaches and I was one ofthem. It is so clear, so powerful and so macho that it resonates with every fiber of testosterone in my competitive body. I hate losing, as my friends […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Brazil star Sissi on coaching American girls, appearing in Chelsea Clinton's new book, and what's impressive about U.S. youth soccer
Former Brazil star Sissi, one of the 13 women featured in Chelsea Clinton’s upcoming book, “She Persisted Around the World: 13Women Who Changed History,” coaches girls soccer and is Technical Director at Walnut Creek SC, located 20 miles east of SanFrancisco. Brazil’s No. 10 before being succeeded by Marta, Sissi was the Silver Ball MVP […]