CTE & Soccer – New Stories Out
For those of you who read this blog, you know that I post as much information as I can find about the effects of repetitive heading and brain injuries in soccer players. Yesterday, a story broke about...
View ArticleAjax Video Review Part I: Heroes of the Future, The Ajax Training Concept...
I purchased the video set from Ajax titled Heroes of the Future to get a glimpse at Ajax’ storied youth development model. I will post about different parts of it in a series. 1. Recognition of...
View ArticlePlayer Development Series: The Value of Tournament Play
When I first started coaching teams, as we advanced we quickly distanced ourselves from local competition. Being close to the Houston area, we used tournaments in Houston to find competitive matches...
View ArticleOut-of-Town Tournaments Doubly Expensive for Traveling Teams
Here is one other issue I have. Some clubs require out of town teams to schedule their overnight accommodations through a booking agency. Hotels get placed on the list of available hotels by...
View ArticleCan a parent-coach be a professional soccer coach?
***Note on this blog*** I realize now after writing this that I have wanted to get this out for a while. This is a bit more personal than my usual entries, but these ideas have been banging around my...
View ArticleCoaching Youth Soccer: Teaching Progressions and Building Proper Foundation...
The biggest mistakes I see from youth soccer coaches, whether they be parent, or worse, they are paid to coach, is the failure to follow teaching progressions and failure to communicate with youth...
View Article8v8, 6v6 and SSG: Coaching Fails or, Alternatively, Where a Little Bit of...
Small-sided (“Small sided games” or “SSG”) soccer has been introduced in the States. It has, through the years, trickled down to even the smallest clubs. Courses are taught praising SSG — and that we...
View ArticleYouth Soccer Tryouts – Which Club or Team is right for my child?
It is that time of year again…tryouts for youth soccer teams. Or rather, it is the hunting season for clubs and coaches to recruit players and find new investors. So, having 5 kids in the system and...
View ArticleSoccer Camp – Is it Worth It?
We are halfway through what soccer coaches refer to as “camp season.” This is the time that paid coaches for clubs have available time to make some extra money in the form of “camps.” And that is the...
View ArticleSoccer Camp Review: Manchester United Soccer Schools (“MUSS”)
We made the trip over the pond and took our 11-year-old to Manchester United Soccer School. This is a 6 day camp. The location of the boys camp was Denstone College – a Boarding School south of...
View ArticleHeading and Brain Damage in News Again
If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you will note that I repost or link to articles discussing the issue with heading in youth soccer. Many “head trauma” articles as they relate to...
View ArticleUS Youth Soccer and US Club Reach Concussion Settlement – Heading Restricted
I can hear it now … blame the lawyers. Well, I am one and I applaud the efforts made to affect change. I have posted many articles and links on this blog regarding the issue of repetitive heading for...
View ArticleSebastian Giraldo: Behaviors of Elite Soccer Players
Another great article submitted by Sebastian Giraldo. He has contributed several others before. Thanks Sebastian! Making it in soccer is difficult. Training programs and players have improved...
View ArticleCoerver Coaching: Review of Youth Diploma I Course
I attended the Coerver Youth Diploma Course in Arizona June 2015. Charlie Cook was the instructor. The same Charlie Cook who played for Chelsea and several other professional organizations. What a...
View ArticleSummer Camp Special – Should You Spend the $$$?
This is my annual take on summer soccer camps. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on camps through the year – from England to Dynamo to local colleges to UT to LSU to Challenger. I have 5 kids...
View ArticleHow do I help my kid get better at soccer?
I have been coaching soccer for over a decade. During that time, I have also been raising 5 kids. All of them play soccer, some at very high levels. I think one question I get a lot from parents of...
View Article12 Years In – The Most Important Question I Ever Ask A Player
OK, so those here know I am a lawyer. And, as a lawyer, I am actually a trial lawyer – the ones that go to court, object, cross examine, etc. I love a good question. One thing I loved about the...
View ArticleTraining Session: Player Development Model from Lake City Hawks Guest Carl
I was reviewing my old posts on this site and stumbled across a great reply that we received from an ex-professional player. His name is Carl from Seattle. He included a session broken down by minute...
View ArticleWhy You Should Have 2 Center-Mids in Small Sided Formations (9v9)
Our league (United Soccer Club) transitioned from 8v8 to 9v9 this year. In any event, in any league you play, you will encounter variations of small-sided games. As you balance development versus...
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