School Soccer + Club Soccer May Spell Too Much: Beat Overtraining Injuries with the 6+ Program
When my daughter’s team hit the fields for the spring season tune up, I was happily surprised by the healthy depth of their roster. I keep track of this stuff, as a mom and a sports medicine professional keeping a close eye on the injury tally. “Just wait,” her coach cautioned, “spring is overlap season. […]
Taking Action Against Concussions: 8 Things You Can Do with Your Team Right Now
Concussions are a terribly important issue in sports today. You’ll get no argument from me. I came into the conversation early digging up the facts and shaking out the recommendations. Read my investigations here: Concussions: Not Just a Bump on the Head Concussions: What Parents, Coaches and Players Can Do The conclusions: We need to […]
How Much is a Good Coach Worth?
How much do you really know about that guy or gal who showed up to coach your team? With the explosion of youth soccer in the United States, many clubs are beating the bushes for coaches at the grassroots level. Thousands of well-meaning, servants of the game check the “I’ll be head coach” box. Thank […]
Dynamic Warm up for Soccer Players
Schedule time for dynamic warm up, skills training and play at every practice. Here are the first 2 phases of warm up: Gathering – when they arrive, have something for them to get started with. Otherwise, girls will chat and await instructions. Boys will see how far they can kick it into the woods. A team […]
Len Oliver Can Predict Your Playing Position by Your Personality
Len Oliver has been playing and teaching the basics of soccer coaching approximately forever, I suspect. He’s a fixture in Washington, DC and the Mid-Atlantic region and is a USSF ‘A’ licensed coach and referee. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1996. Of course I didn’t know any of […]
Pain AND Gain: On the Edge of Injury AND Glory
I got to spend my mornings last week with the First Ladies of soccer, the Washington Spirit. I have never seen that kind of soccer quite so up close and personal. These women are phenomenal. Just standing by, I can hardly believe the power and accuracy and quickness of their ball drills and their small-sided […]
Everybody Wants a Piece of My Kid: Calculate, Don’t Negotiate
If I told you that rest builds and work breaks down, would you rest them more? This is the question I pose to the well-intended but extremely competitive AAU basketball coach who is negotiating with the families of his starters. He needs those top three and, you see, they also play travel soccer. Spring soccer […]
Dear Abby, when you have a concussion, please take a seat on the sidelines
I read in Washington Post columnist Steve Goff’s recap of the Spirit vs Flash 1-1 tie that Abby Wambach “remained in the match and assisted on her team’s 85th minute goal. But at the final whistle fell to her knees and later required medical attention.” This in light of Spirit Goalkeeper, Ashlyn Harris’ comments: “She got […]
VYSA Conference this Weekend
This Saturday, February 2nd, come on down for the Virginia Youth Soccer Association Conference at the Richmond Convention Center. There will be some great soccer workshops and teaching sessions from 8-5 plus vendors and exhibitors with the latest ideas, gear and give-a-ways. Plus, you can meet Caroline Miller, UVA soccer star and member of the […]
Just Don’t Get Hurt – How do you play that game?
When our daughter took the field with the high school soccer team, these words of advice were our best attempt at injury prevention. “Just don’t get hurt.” What a game plan, eh? How do you play the “just don’t get hurt” game? Here are some options: Take the field but don’t engage. Get out of their way […]