Youth Soccer Fun http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/ en Copyright 2012 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:28:14 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thanks, Manny Schellscheidt! Perhaps no man has had as great an influence on as many American coaches as Manfred "Manny" Schellscheidt, who retired in 2011 at age 70.

By Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2012/01/thanks_manny_schellscheidt_1.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2012/01/thanks_manny_schellscheidt_1.html Commentary Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:28:14 -0800 'Put best coaches at youngest ages' (Q&A with Mustang's Fred Wilson) The Youth Soccer Insider continues its interview series with youth club leaders by talking with Fred Wilson, the Boys Coaching Director of Northern California's Mustang Soccer, a club-slash-league with nearly 5,000 players under its umbrella.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/12/put_best_coaches_at_youngest_a.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/12/put_best_coaches_at_youngest_a.html Coaching and Player Tips Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:22:39 -0800 Tackling gay issues in sports The hardships faced by gay teens inspired the coming-out of former University of North Carolina star David Testo after nearly a decade of pro soccer in MLS, the USL and NASL. We contacted longtime soccer coach and journalist Dan Woog, the author of five books on gay and lesbian issues, to comment on the importance of pro athletes coming out and to offer advice for coaches on how to combat the homophobia that can torment gay and questioning teens.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/12/tackling_gay_issues_in_sports.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/12/tackling_gay_issues_in_sports.html Commentary Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:47:53 -0800 'They need a guiding hand' (Derek Armstrong Q&A, Part 2) In Part 2 of our interview, Armstrong addresses the USA's challenge in producing special players and the U.S. Soccer Federation's role in player development.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/they_need_a_guiding_hand_derek.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/they_need_a_guiding_hand_derek.html Youth Development Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:45:22 -0800 'U.S. coaching is first class' (Derek Armstrong Q&A - Part 1) Few individuals have had as great an impact on American youth soccer as Derek Armstrong, who three decades ago pioneered the fully staffed, multi-team club model now prevalent throughout the USA.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/us_coaching_is_first_class_der.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/us_coaching_is_first_class_der.html Youth Development Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:43:10 -0800 If MLS wants kids to watch ... How do you, a youth coach, address your players when they're victims of bad fouls, brutish opponents or bad refereeing?

By Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/if_mls_wants_kids_to_watch.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/if_mls_wants_kids_to_watch.html Commentary Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:40:51 -0800 Klinsmann Q&A: 'We are on the right track' (Part 2) Jurgen Klinsmann's stint as Germany's national team coach in 2004-06 coincided with the nation's rebirth as a world power. We asked Klinsmann, U.S. head coach since July, to compare the German player development efforts with those in the USA.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/part_2_klinsmann_qa_we_are_on.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/part_2_klinsmann_qa_we_are_on.html Youth Development Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:37:12 -0800 Klinsmann Q&A: Parents can set an example (Part 1) Jurgen Klinsmann, whose playing career included winning the 1990 World Cup title with Germany, took a keen interest in American youth soccer when he moved to California upon his retirement in 1998. He became head coach of the U.S. national team in July and took time before the USA's November friendlies against France and Slovenia to discuss American youth soccer issues, including the parents' role, pay-to-play, differences between European and American youth clubs, college ball -- and he offers some advice to youth coaches.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/klinsmann_qa_parents_can_set_a.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/klinsmann_qa_parents_can_set_a.html Youth Development Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:35:08 -0800 Richie Williams: Remember when you were a kid After playing 14 years of pro ball and serving half-a-decade as an MLS assistant coach, Richie Williams now focuses full-time on the youth game.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/richie_williams_remember_when.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/11/richie_williams_remember_when.html In The News Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:06:01 -0800 Tab Ramos: 'I know what Jurgen's looking for' No other coach of a U.S. national team on the men's side had as illustrious career in the U.S. jersey as new U-20 boss Tab Ramos, who played in three World Cups, two Copa Americas, the Olympics and the U-20 World Cup. One of the most skillful players in U.S. history, his dribbling skills have arguably yet to be matched by an American player. Upon retiring in 2002, Ramos founded the New Jersey youth club NJSA 04. In 2008, he coached the NJSA 04 Gunners to the U-14 U.S. Youth Soccer national title. He served as assistant coach to previous U.S. U-20 boss Thomas Rongen.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/tab_ramos_i_know_what_jurgens.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/tab_ramos_i_know_what_jurgens.html Youth Development Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:00:26 -0800 Cruyff: 'Everyone grows'; Coaches' sons; U.S. Foundation grant cycle opens Johan Cruyff, speaking with Rob Draper of the UK's Daily Mail, recounted seeing Pep Guardiola for the first time - shortly after Cruyff had been named Barcelona coach and Guardiola was a "scrawny teenager" in Barcelona's youth team.

By Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/cruyff_everyone_grows_coaches.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/cruyff_everyone_grows_coaches.html In The News Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:58:02 -0800 Patience key when coaching boys in transition (Q&A with Manny Schellscheidt) For insight into coaching boys* when they hit puberty and how to challenge early-bloomers, we spoke to U.S. Hall of Fame coach Manfred "Manny" Schellscheidt, who had been the technical director of U.S. Soccer's U-14 boys National Identification Program since 1998 and is one of the nation's most experienced youth coaches.

Interview by Mike Woitalla (From Soccer America's YouthSoccerInsider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/patience_key_when_coaching_boy.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/patience_key_when_coaching_boy.html Health & Fitness Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:16:20 -0800 Minors take on Major League Soccer challenge Not very long ago, Zach Pfeffer was still fine-tuning his skills in the basement of his Pennsylvania home with his twin brother, Jared.

By Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/minors_take_on_major_league_so.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/minors_take_on_major_league_so.html In The News Sat, 08 Oct 2011 22:55:57 -0800 Top U.S boys clubs get Report Cards U.S. Soccer has been evaluating the clubs that comprise its Development Academy league since its launch in 2007, but it has now made those evaluations, in which clubs get rated on a 5-star system, public.

By Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/top_us_boys_clubs_get_report_c.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/10/top_us_boys_clubs_get_report_c.html In The News Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:06:19 -0800 U.S. Academy 'closing the gap'; MLS teen debut; Why no keepers at U-8 level As the U.S. Soccer Development Academy entered its fifth season this month, nearly a third of its 78 clubs moved to a 10-month season, no longer taking a three-month break during which players would commonly play high-school ball, or in the case of Southern California, in the Coast Soccer League.

By Mike Woitalla (from Soccer America's Youth Soccer Insider)

]]> http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/09/us_academy_closing_the_gap_mls.html http://www.youthsoccerfun.com/2011/09/us_academy_closing_the_gap_mls.html In The News Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:03:49 -0800