The U.S. U-17 boys national team, despite a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Friday, finished last at the 2015 Nike International Friendlies after falling, 3-0, to Brazil on Sunday. England,undefeated in its three games, including a 3-2 opening win over host USA, finished first. This year’s Nike Friendlies, a year-end event for more than […]
youth soccer
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-20 women stumble in World Cup qualifying opener
The USA, up 2-0 after 22 minutes, settled for a 2-2 tie with Mexico in its first game of qualifying play for the 2016 U-20 World Cup. The tie on Friday in Honduras ended the USA’s six-game winstreak over Mexico in U-20 Concacaf Championship play. The USA’s 17-year-old captain Mallory Pugh put the USA ahead […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Report: MLS teams spent roughly $40 million on player development
Matthew Futterman, in his Wall Street Journal pieceheadlined, “When WillAmerica Produce a Homegrown Soccer Star?,” reports that MLS teams spent roughly $40 million this year on player development, running teams for kids as young as 12. Eleven MLS teams now own clubs inthe USL. The league has signed 150 players directly from its academies. FC […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Headgear not recommended in U.S. Soccer's concussion prevention campaign
By Mike Woitalla@MikeWoitalla Much of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s new health and safety program, dubbed “Recognize to Recover,” (R2R) addresses the prevention, recognition and management of concussions. When it announced the launch of R2R on Wednesday, two medical experts instrumental in creating the program were asked about the use of headgear for soccer players. “There’s […]
Posted inAround the Net In Youth Soccer, Story
The common sense behind heading ban for youngsters
San Francisco Bay Area Fox affiliate KTVU’s Claudine Wong interviewed Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla and Benicia Arsenal directorof coaching Alex Lobban about U.S. Soccer’s ban on heading for children 10 and younger, and relayed Women’s World Cup winner Brandi Chastain‘s view on the issue.”It’s common sense to delay heading in youth soccer,” said […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer safety program details concussion protocols
The U.S. Soccer Federation introduced on Wednesday “Recognize to Recover,” a health and safety program aimed to reduce injuries in players of all ages and promote safe play. The program follows upon the heading and concussion guidelines for youth soccer that U.S. Soccer announced early last month. “Recognize to Recover will lead to better awareness […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Reffing Futsal (Part 2): Getting restarts right and goalkeeper limitations
By Randy Vogt My last article was an introduction torefereeing futsal and the taking of kicks from the second penalty mark. Let’s move on to all the other restarts in futsal. As mentioned in my last article, teams have four seconds to putthe ball in play on restarts. If they do not play the ball […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
USA sends young squad to qualifiers for U-20 Women's World Cup
By Mike Woitalla The 20-player squad named by Coach Michelle French for the U-20 Women’s World Cup Concacaf qualifying tournament that begins Thursday in SanPedro Sula, Honduras, includes 12 pre-college players and eight young enough to be eligible for the 2016 U-20 Women’s World Cup as well as the 2018 edition. The roster ranges across […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA names 20 for U-20 Women's World Cup qualifying
Eight collegians and 12 youth club players comprise Coach Michelle French’s roster for the U-20 Women’s World Cup Concacaf qualifying tournament Dec. 3-13 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The roster ranges across four birth years, 1996-1999. Southern California 16-year-old defender Kiara Pickett is the youngest member of the squad. Two players were part ofthe USA’s […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
USA to face Brazil, England and the Dutch at Nike Friendlies
The 12th edition of the Nike International Friendlies, the annual year-end tournament for the age group that will ultimately aim for the U-17 World Cup, will see the USA face the Brazil, England andthe Netherlands in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. This year’s tourney features the new cycle of U-17s — players born in 2000, currently U-15s. […]