By Mike Woitalla Lucas Mendes stands 5-foot-5 — and is one of the top 18-year-old players in the USA. Playing with adults as a young child probably hassomething to do with his ability to outwit his bigger foes. “When I was 7 or 8 I started to go and play pickup with the men at […]
youth soccer
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Galaxy provides school in quest to produce an American Messi
By Mike Woitalla “This could change how we develop players in this country. And the hope is a Lionel Messi or a Cristiano Ronaldo will comefrom the United States.” — Los Angeles Galaxy president Chris Klein on the Galaxy providing high school studies with its youth program. The quote comesfrom Kevin Baxter of the Los […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rocco 'Mr. Sportsmanship' Amoroso (1926-2016)
All Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) games over the weekend began with a moment of silence to honor U.S. Soccer Life Member and sportsmanship advocate Rocco Amoroso,who died at his New York home on May 5 at age 89. Amoroso, a woodworker from Melville, N.Y., was a member of the Long Island Junior […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The young athlete is not a small professional
By Dev K. Mishra, M.D. It’s totally understandable to want your injured son or daughter to be healed and back playing sports as soon as possible after injury. And sincethe progress of the professional athlete after injury is chronicled in great detail through social media there’s pressure on the young athlete to get back to […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Jitka Klimkova: 'Let players find solutions by themselves'
By Mike Woitalla Jitka Klimkova grew up in a Czech village where girls weren’t allowed to play organized soccer. That didn’t stop her from realizing herdream of playing for the Czech national team. Now 41, Klimkova is a U.S. Soccer Development Coach, overseeing the West Coast Training Centers for girls 11 to 14 and head […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Friedel's revamped U.S. U-19 men lift Slovakia Cup
By Mike Woitalla The U.S. U-19 men’s national team, coached by Brad Friedel, beat Russia, 2-1, to win the Slovakia Cup after reaching the final thanks to group-stage wins over Georgia (5-1) and Ukraine (2-1). In thefinal, the USA came back after going down 1-0 in the 14th minute on goals by Nelson Hunsinger of […]
Posted inAround the Net In Youth Soccer, Story
Families denied apartment leases after kids play soccer on grounds
Families in a Northeast Atlanta apartment building have had their lease renewals denied, reportedly because their children played soccer on the grounds. Management told the FranciscoIgnacio‘s family that his son’s soccer playing on common areas was the reason they couldn’t renew, Channel 2 Action News reported. “These kids are not allowed to playsoccer,” said Atlanta […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
How refs work with assignors
By Randy Vogt Assignors are the people who give referees their schedules. Depending on the league, some assign the entire season at once while others assign on a week-to-weekbasis. One of the most important relationships that refs have is with assignors. I have worked for dozens of assignors during the past four decades and have […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
U.S. U-16 boys beat Brazil
By Mike Woitalla The U.S. U-16 boys national team, after opening the 13th Tournament Delle Nazioni with a 2-1 loss to Croatia and a 2-2 tie with Slovenia, beat Brazil, 2-1, ongoals by Konrad de la Fuente and Marcelo Palomino on Wednesday. Barcelona-based de la Fuente opened the scoring in the 38th minute and Palomino(Houston Dynamo) […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Omid Namazi has done it all in coaching: indoors, women, Iran, now U.S. U-18s
By Mike Woitalla Omid Namazi, who took charge of the U.S. U-18 men’s national team in January, started his coaching career in indoor ball, has coached inU.S. women’s pro league, and was Iran’s assistant coach during its successful qualifying campaign for the 2014 men’s World Cup. He continues to assist Tab Ramos withthe U.S. men’s […]