Penn State, USWNT coach Erica Walsh headlines “Celebration of Women’s Athletics” event at William & Mary
Erica Walsh, assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team and current head women’s soccer coach at Penn State, took time out of her packed schedule to address a gathering at the Third Annual Celebration of Women’s Athletics at her – and my – alma mater, the College of William & Mary, last month. The […]
Thank you, Vienna Youth Soccer Striker Parents
Author’s note: I just finished six weeks working with the Vienna Youth Soccer (VYS) Strikers, 3 teams of U14 girls soccer players who compete in WAGS and ODSL. They are professionally trained by Gerardo Ramirez, Elise Fasick and Andon Tsarev. They invited Fit2Finish to introduce soccer-specific fitness and injury prevention. Dear Striker Parents, You have a […]
GMU Women’s Soccer, Playing to Win Like Women
Do you struggle to help your female athletes play confidently because they’ve been raised to step back? Check out today’s Soccer Wire to read my article about the “leadership council” initiated by Head Women’s Soccer Coach Diane Drake. She has created and defined an environment where the cooperation natural to women plays host to internal […]
Youth Soccer Players: What College Coaches Want You to Know
Are you ready for big time soccer? Here is what Diane Drake, head women’s soccer coach at George Mason University, has to suggest to the player investigating the college soccer ranks. Know the rules for contacting coaches and when they can contact you. You can contact college coaches with your interest or questions at any […]
Youth Soccer Cross-Over Programs: Is My Kid Ready for More?
She’s always where the ball is. She’s aggressive. Nothing gets past her. Other players defer to her on the field. She scores 4 goals single-handedly. You cheer. You smile. She’s only six years old, but you are sure she’s headed for stardom. Should you be? Diane Drake, head coach of the George Mason women’s soccer […]
Girls Soccer Needs Less Force, More Finesse
Boys play differently than girls do, even at the top levels of the youth game. Take a couple minutes to watch this video from US Youth Soccer National League championship play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU1zrybZG8I It begins with boys games, then at about 4 minutes it shifts to the girls’. Watch how the girls are heavier on their feet. They come […]
Runners:5 Easy Ways to Stay Motivated
How’s the motivation coming? Somehow, things are easy to start. And when we see the finish line, they’re easy to finish. The problem comes in the middle. How do you stick to your training plan when you’re on down the road but don’t yet see the finish line? Here are 5 hints to help you […]
Soccer Stretches for Coaches and Athletes
These stretches will take just a few minutes after each practice and game, but it’s time well spent. One coach contacted me to say his biggest challenge was parents who would want to whisk their kids away. Yes, we are in a hurry these days. Just email those team parents and let them know you […]
Coaching Fitness by Being Fit
What is the most important thing you can do to encourage good fitness in your players? a. have them run? b. have them do calisthenics? c. give them a home program for non-practice days? d. be fit yourself As an exercise physiologist, I certainly believe running, strength and home programs are important to help kids […]
Soccer Stretch: Dynamic Before, Static After
I get this question a lot: should they stretch? YES Follow up question: when and how? Before and after. Here’s how. Before practice they should perform a dynamic warm up, moving the body parts to be used in a controlled and increasingly intense manner. That means: forward, backward, at angles, in rotations, at increasing pace […]