By Lisa Lavelle Between finals, proms and graduation ceremonies, you really want to make a smooth transition from high school to college. High school seniors are consumedwith everything from completing finals, graduation announcements to attending those “once-in-a-lifetime social events.” Soon, you will be off to college and starting a new chapterof your life. So, in […]
youth soccer
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
U.S. Soccer's high school ban — why the clubs and the girls should decide
By Mike Woitalla The club vs. high school battle plagued American youth soccer long before the U.S. Soccer Federation banned high school ball for its Boys Development Academyplayers in 2012. Club coaches argued that players aspiring to reach the top must compete at the highest level of youth soccer and get the best coaching — […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The teenager's challenge: Sleep well, play well
(For those parents and coaches welcoming a new generation of teenagers, the Youth Soccer Insider republishes this article, which last appeared in June 2014.) By Dev K. Mishra,M.D. I’m sure anyone who’s raised an adolescent or teenager can attest to the idea that teenagers don’t get as much sleep as they need. For the adolescent […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Girls Development Academy promises to be less expensive for players than ECNL
By Mike Woitalla The U.S. Soccer Federation made it official on Tuesday: It will launch the Girls Development Academy (GDA) in fall of 2017 — a nationwide league with 60to 80 clubs fielding teams at the U-14/15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups. Having launched a boys DA in 2007, the USSF will thus be in […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
'Driven and humble' teenager Christian Pulisic thrives in Germany
By Mike Woitalla Mark Twain once joked that: “A gifted person ought to learn English in 30 hours, French in 30 days and German in 30 years.” All themore impressive then that 17-year-old Pennsylvanian Christian Pulisic mastered fluent German within a year of joining Borussia Dortmund. After becoming the youngest Americanto debut in a major […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Collegians and high-schoolers vie for spots on U.S. U-20 Women World Cup roster
By Mike Woitalla U.S. U-20 women’s national team coach Michelle French has named a 22-player roster for the La Manga Tournament in Spain March 2-6. Thesquad includes 14 players who weren’t part of the squad that finished first at the December qualifying tournament for the 2016 U-20 Women’s World Cup. The U.S. U-20s will face […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Roster: U-15 U.S. girls gather for first 2016 camp
A squad of 26 players will convene for the first 2016 U.S. U-15 girls national team (2001s) camp of 2016, Feb. 27-March 5. The camp will be run by U.S. Soccer Women’s Development coachMark Carr. This age group’s ultimate aim is to qualify for the 2018 U-17 Women’s World Cup. U.S. U-15 girls nationalteams GOALKEEPERS […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Tips for reffing on artificial turf
By Randy Vogt A few years ago, I wrote about the increasing number of soccer games being played on artificial turf. In the past, teams used to say that they needed to get used to playing onartificial turf. Now I am hearing just as many teams say that they need to get used to playing […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
USSF to launch a girls Development Academy in 2017; ECNL plans to forge ahead
By Mike Woitalla The U.S. Soccer Federation is set to launch a Development Academy (DA) for girls in August 2017, replicating the DA for boys that it launched in 2007. Thatthe Federation hadn’t launched a girls DA earlier was attributed mainly to a couple of reasons. One being that because the U.S. women’s national team […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Soccer Park facility director Steve Siebert
“It kind of takes your breath away to see the power of that water just cruising through here. To see water up into the bleachers on the stadium field, it’s pretty sad. You’re just in awe whenyou see it.” — Soccer Park facility director Steve Siebert on the historic flooding of the nearby Meramec River […]