What are the challenges involved in youth sports?

As a former player and now a coach, heavily involved in the youth soccer scene, I often see and hear many things that cause people to grumble. This might be the inability to communicate with teammates, the problem with changes in schedule, and the simple challenge of keeping everybody updated. As a coach, I have my own set of issues. I am constantly having to change my games around to fit into schedules. This becomes a huge issue when you think about the amount of people involved, and the number of conflicting schedules. If a new game time works for me, it may not work for some other families. It is certainly a balancing act. This is only one of many other things that come up each week.

Families with multiple kids and multiple schedules must have a torrid time. Balancing practice times with piano lessons, and homework, and a parent working late – problems and conflicts can quickly occur. The kids that I coach often have more of an idea of who we are playing than I do!!! As a coach, and an avid supporter of youth sports, I am interested in how life can be made a little easier for all involved.

Please send me your stories, challenges, and issues. I would love to hear them. I am sure somebody has an idea of how to help……

Players are sponges….

As a coach of young girls and boys, I have quickly realized how intelligent these young people are. It is a huge mistake to think 9 and 10 year old’s cannot absorb information and apply what you say on the soccer field. They do. I see it every week. Some concepts of course are beyond their capabilities, but it is all attainable. Lay the foundations for future success early on. For me, the focus must be teamwork, work rate, energy, enthusiasm, and communication. If you have players who want to give their all, and play with imagination and commitment, you can teach the rest. You can teach a player to pass a ball from point A to point B, but it is much more difficult to have them run from point A to point B as fast as they can every time.

Challenge players early on. If you set expectations and build an environment in practice of quality and competitiveness, the future will be bright. Build the habits that you want as a coach, and reinforce it. If a player doesn’t close the ball down, tell them. If they are sloppy and lazy in their passing, tell them. Once a player develops bad habits, it is incredibly difficult to break them of it. Players who work to their maximum during practices and games learned these vital traits at an early age. It is paramount that a player immerses themselves in a playing environment that is both fun and challenging. Playing with a smile on their face is number 1, and it is their early youth coach that allows that smile to stay throughout their career.

Which company has the best soccer cleats?

This is an ongoing debate in many soccer circles. Which company has the best cleats? Which company has the best equipment? Which company has the best balls? I wasam an advocate of Nike, after wearing them for so long. UNC was sponsored by Nike, and then I came to the Sounders a few years after college, and they were sponsored by Nike. I often changed footwear though. At first I wore leather Tiempo’s, and then the plastic coated shoes began to surface with the Mercurial’s and the Total 90’s. I liked them because they didn’t stretch and they had a great fit. However, they were extremely hot in the summer, and often baked your feet.

Then as time passed on, the plastic coated cleat changed. It got smaller and smaller in weight and design. I remember trying the Vapor’s for the first time, and they gave me the worst blisters within minutes. But some people love them. It is all preference. After several foot injuries, I eliminated the plastic’s from my rotation, and reverted back to the leather Tiempo’s. I came full circle, and enjoyed the old comfort of leather.

Adidas are obviously an incredibly strong company in soccer and other sports, and they have some fantastic gear. Copa Mondial were always the cleat of choice when I was young, but we weren’t able to wear them very often. The pitches in England were often mud heaps, and you couldn’t take more than two steps if you wore a pair of hard ground cleats. Adidas continue to design and produce some great footwear, from the classics, to the Predator, to the F- series. I have now returned to the simplicity of the Copa, and the comfort it allows.

As the world of soccer continues to evolve, Nike and Adidas will build their levels of power and influence. Puma, Diadora, Reebok, and other manufacturers will attempt to maintain their stature, but it will become more and more difficult. Not only do Nike and Adidas have good products, but they have the marketing clout to tell everyone about it. Nobody can escape this, because as a young player you want to emulate your idol, and the easiest way to do this is by wearing their shoes. But be willing to spend, because soccer cleats don’t come cheap…..

Referee’s……

Being involved in soccer for so many years, I have had my fair share of conflicts with referees as a player and as a coach. But what I do sincerely appreciate is their continued dedication to our sport.

As a player, I had a different viewpoint. I was angry when referees made poor decisions, because ultimately, those decisions cost us games. If referees at the professional level have trouble calling a game and have trouble controlling the game, then they should not be on the field. Referees should be judged like players – if you are good enough then you play, if not, you are benched.

What I do feel strongly about, is the way some coaches and parents treat our youth referees. They commit their time and energy to help. It amazes me when a parent or coach feels so strongly about a u’12 game, that they feel compelled to scream and shout at a boy or girl who is barely older than the kids playing the game. Is it not intimidating enough to referee a game against kids your own age? But then they must deal with the verbal abuse that can be thrown at them. They try their best, they try and make the right call, but sometimes they are wrong. They are not trying to make an incorrect call.

I am not here to dismiss the right to voice an opinion, we all do. But we must keep it in context, and we must be aware of who we are shouting at. We want the youth referees to continue to call our games, so that we have 3 officials at every game at every level. They are a crucial part of the game, and we must create an environment where they can enjoy the game, just like everybody else does.

Sunblock for soccer players….

Coaching and playing in the sun can expose us all to sunburn. We have canopies to protect us when we are off the field, and icy towels to cool us down. But as a player, I never figured what type of sunscreen was the best to use when I played. I often found that the sunscreen would run into my eyes, and would burn. I know there are sports versions, that are designed to absorb into the skin and prevent the excess from streaming down our faces.

To be comfortable when playing is important, but we must also be protected from sun rays. Even though in Seattle we are exempt most of the year from the baking sun, our skin is not prepared for it when it does come. Try some different sorts and see what works best for you. My fiancee recommends Aveeno face sunscreen because it is oil free and light on your face. For the body try a spray rather than a rub on. It has a better coverage, especially if the child is the one applying it. Don’t forget the top of your ears and the parting in your hair.

When all this is applied, we still have to deal with the dreaded soccer tan, or farmers tan. Our lower arms, face, neck, and portions of our leg can have great color, it’s just a shame the rest of us looks like it has never been outside. Enjoy the great weather as a player, fan, or coach. Whichever way we look at it, soccer is July is far more enjoyable than December or January.

Tournament time….

The summer is not only a time for sun, sea, and sand – it is time for soccer. If you play soccer, coach soccer, or you are a soccer parent, you understand what lies ahead. Summer tournaments are the highlight of the year for many kids. You are surrounded by hundreds of players and supporters. Everybody is there to compete, to get a little better, and to win a medal. The organization that goes on for these tournaments is incredible. It starts with selling the tournament to teams and coaches. You want to fill the brackets with competitive teams, and you want to market the weekend as something not to be missed. Once you have teams, then everything else on the list begins to take shape. You need to confirm venues and fields, vendors and sponsors, medals, t-shirts, scheduling of games, volunteers, parking…. This is to name just a few things that make up the ever increasing list of things to do.

But for the rest of us who just turn up and watch or play soccer, we just hope for nice weather, good performances, and smiles on the kids faces. My first tournament of the summer starts today, at Starfire in Tukwila. It’s the first time I am coaching my new teams, so fingers crossed it all goes well.

Black rubber pellets….

Having coached and played on turf for many years now, I can’t seem to eliminate the constant mess of the black rubber. It’s everywhere. It’s in the car, in the house, in my bags, and even in my fresh clothes drawers. It is an ongoing battle to keep things clean, and keep the carpet and floor clear of it. There is no escape from it though I guess. If you take out the rubber, the fields quickly turn rock hard, and it becomes miserable to play on. After years of playing at PGE Park in Portland, I can tell you how uncomfortable and difficult it was to play on field turf minus black rubber.

Another negative against the black rubber is the heat it generates during the summer. If you have played on turf fields in the middle of the day, you know what I am talking about. The discomfort is even greater if you play with tight fitting cleats or with shoes that are covered with the plastic coating like those Nike shoes. It can be unbearable at times. I would see players tiptoeing around sometimes, barely able to run because their feet were so hot. During water breaks, the feet would get more fluids poured over them than would be consumed. But then the cycle would start again. Instant relief would then turn into sustained misery as the heat would return, and the water which had soothed your feet, suddenly becomes the catalyst for increasingly stifling heat due to the moisture.

I did see white rubber pellets used to ward off the issue of heat, but it never really passed the test. Even if white rubber was used to reduce the heat on the field and feet, they would still litter our houses and cars…..

World Cup bid

It is now common knowledge that the US is challenging several other countries for the right to host the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup. Nobody can deny the success of the 1994 tournament, and the impact that it had on soccer in this country. MLS was launched in the aftermath, and continues to flourish and grow. The US has held several other major sporting events, including the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. The Gold Cup and Women’s World Cup showcase that the facilities and the means to execute a plan are all in place.

The World Cup in South Africa next year is a landmark occasion. It is the first time the tournament has been held in Africa, and the excitement is mounting. However, problems are evolving. Stadiums have yet to be completed, and Sepp Blatter has even put England on call in case things fall through. Such a scenario could never happen. It would be devastating for South Africa and the entire continent. Soccer would be on the front pages for all the wrong reasons, and FIFA would be held accountable. As the saying goes, ‘it will be alright on the night’, and I fully expect to see the spectacle of soccer grace the African continent and envelop all the passion and color that South Africa encapsulates.

So the US is putting their bid together, along with England, for the right to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament. Henry Kissinger has been drafted in to add some additional bite to the committee, and hopefully leverage the US bid on the international scene. But why wouldn’t the USA be nominated? It has everything. The stadiums and facilities are spectacular, the support is growing exponentially, the domestic league is established, and there are people in place who have big tournament experience and have a love for the game. The only negative aspect I see is the weather. It can be incredibly hot in the summer.

It would be great to see the World Cup in this country once again. It would be even better to be involved in the planning stages of this bid. I wonder how one can become involved in that ?

Premiership race is hotting up….

The race for the premiership title is getting really interesting after this weekends results. Man Utd lost, Chelsea lost, and Liverpool had a resounding win against Aston Villa. Everybody thought that Man Utd had the title won, but it’s fascinating to see how things can turn around so quickly. Fulham not only took three points from Man Utd, but they also made a huge statement to the rest of the league. Manchester United are not invincible.

Liverpool on the other hand are on a surge. They have won their last 3 games by a combined score of 13-1, all against top quality opposition. Steven Gerrard is now considered the very best player in the world, according to Zinedine Zidane. He does have everything a midfield player would wish for. He has a great engine, an ability to play on both the defensive end and offensive end, and he has a knack of carrying the team on his back. I can’t even begin to count the amount of times Gerrard has turned a game or won a game on his own. Think about all those European nights, from the Champions league final to the most recent display at Anfield against Madrid. He’s one of the best to have played in a Liverpool shirt, but we all wish he could perform the same heroics for England.

Easter weekend is always important. I remember when Blackburn beat Man Utd and went on to win the title in 1995. This year will be no different. It’s going to be an exciting time to watch soccer….

Pacific NW – new hotbed for MLS soccer

Seattle came first, then Vancouver, and now Portland is going to be introduced as the 18th team in MLS. Seattle has made a huge statement in regards to the infrastructure, organization, and business operations it has put together. They now have a team to front all the off the field work that has been done. Vancouver and Portland are great choices. They have the history and the support to develop two great franchises, and with their close ties to Seattle, they have the means to get advice and help needed to supersede what was accomplished here. The bar has been set very high.

The most exciting element for all of the former players and fans who experienced the tenacity of the NASL and USL games, is the reintroduction of these great rivalries. MLS can see the potential in this energizing corner of the US and Canada, and this natural competitiveness among these three teams is something that cannot be replicated anywhere else.