Signing new players for a team always creates a certain buzz, whatever the age or competition.  My own recruitment rational is quite simple – to raise the quality of training sessions and provide a platform for a team to play good, winning soccer.  As a youth coach the ‘dream’ is then to see one or two individuals really prosper and reach exciting new heights.

Player Evaluation

Continuity is also vital. Too much recruitment can create a negative effect on Team spirit and Club structure. An over reliance on scouting for new players can be harming for longer term Development.  Especially when you consider that recruitment is often fueled by quick fix finance. It could be argued that a good field coach will work productively for years, a wealthy sponsor may of course not.

I certainly feel that I can help improve players by training them. The reality is that I don’t get enough time with my team. I have a clear desire to work with players who will bring dedication and enthusiasm to each practice session. Strong Focus and Attitude are hugely important for potential squad additions.  I also mark pace as a high priority, therefore highlighting my belief that mental and physical attributes are both essential in successful recruitment.

Ultimately the soccer field remains my office. I do however find myself spending more time writing emails and making phone calls – I guess the modern day coach cannot work in isolation. The game is big business, Clubs budgets are tighter than ever, many teams are going into administration. I’ve also witnessed coaches losing their jobs as a result of failed transfer signings. Others have made millions, won trophies and become heroes. That’s the harsh reality of the best sport in the World.

I know I’ll keep working hard and setting my standards high. I’m a firm believer in improvement, not enlargement when it comes to recruitment.  Especially when it ignites healthy competition for starting places. I won’t forget my real passion though… Being out on the pitch coaching aspiring soccer players.

LONG BEACH, California (14 February 2011) – Each year, CalSouth hosts a big event for coaches and players. Soccer Nation Expo has been shrinking over the past few years with fewer and fewer vendors. This year, even the Nike5 indoor tournament was missing. The one aspect that has continued to grow are charities.

This year, there were three soccer related charities in addition to CalSouth and NSCAA. Returning with a bigger presents was Little Feet. They have a simple mission: give soccer balls to kids who cannot afford them.  For every ball they sell, they give one away. In addition to the balls, they also sell coffee and t-shirts all to raise funds to bring gear to kids.

Another child directed charity is Kick for Hope.  Kick for hope raises money through soccer tournaments. To date they have built wells in Ethiopia, bought books and malaria nets and provided education on HIV. They have raised over $50,000. The next tournament is July 9-10 in San Diego.

Finally, Kick for a Cure is another fund raiser. Kick for a Cure is raising money for Muscular Dystrophy through a tournament and festival. The tournament will be held June 18-19th in San Diego. The festival will include human foosball (demonstrated at Soccer Nation); carnival and sports related games; face painting and other events.

See more pictures from Soccer Nation Expo on the AVID Soccer Facebook page.

Still, it wasn’t all good.  We lost some significant staff member as players moved on to bigger and better things.  As a result, we were not able to publish all that we had hoped. 

The annual awards, dubbed “The Oscars of Football” by SoccerLens will be up this week.  It has been a tremendous year and you might find some surprises in the results.  Between staff turnover and our for-profit work, we didn’t get a chance to post the nomination for reader input.  So, if you don’t like the results, let us know!

Some of the highlights:

• World Cup Write-in Contest – With prizes from Nike, adidas, Calle Republic and Reusch, the World Cup contest became the biggest event of the year for AVID Soccer.  We received entries from all over the country and there are some spectacular stories out there.  It was such a big success that we are making it an annual event.  Get your stories and pictures ready and stay tuned for details.
• facebook – The original idea behind the contest was to launch our facebook page.  It worked.  We started posting more full high resolution shoots instead of just the scaled back story image.  Now we need you to add your comments.
• Shoot-out – This is always our favorite series and the most read of the year.  Unfortunately, we were so busy with some new clients we could only get the boot shoot-out in.  The result was a Puma victory with some of the most comfortable boots we have ever tested.
• Kindle – The hugely popular Amazon Kindle now support AVID Soccer. Both the AVID Soccer News and AVID Soccer Equipment Review are available through the Kindle Store.

AVID Soccer Kindle Edition

Upcoming events:

• Our Annual Awards should be posted by the end of the week.  With no reader input, we had to rely on our test results and comments throughout the year.
• “I am AVID” Write-in Contest – The rules will be similar to last year requiring an article of 200-500 words and at least one picture.  New this year is a picture of you posted to our facebook page holding an “I am AVID” sign.
• New staff and new authors – Want to be heard?  Send us an article and we will review it for posting.  Send us several and you might end up with some AVID Soccer gear.

2010 was a great year, but 2011 will be better.  If you are in Long Beach in February, look for us trolling the Soccer Nation Expo.  The rest of the year, you can find us on pitches all over So Cal.

Let us know what you are looking for in 2011.

So, the “Foot Fairies” have a proposal for all of those American Football players and fans that think Soccer is for wimps.  First, for the fans it is simple.  Start with two stopwatches.  One watch will time how long the ball is actually in play, while the other will measure the total time your favorite player spends on the field.  The ball is actually in play for about 40 minutes over three hours.  Still think that takes a tough, conditioned athlete?  How much time does your favorite player spend on the field, and what percentage of that time was the ball actually in play?

For the players, we suggest a few changes to the rules:

1. The game is now two 30 minute halves, no quarters.  Halftime will be 15 minutes less injury time.  We know you couldn’t play a full 90, so we will go easy on you.
2. No more helmet radios or huddles.  The players on the field have to actually make decisions and play the game.
3. No time-outs, no TV time-outs, no injury time-outs.  The 45 second clock starts from the whistle stoppage.  Any stoppage will be added in at the end of the half.
4. No replay, no challenges.  The referee calls the game.
5. Fouls are spotted at the point of the infraction.  The defense must line up at least 10 yards from the ball.  Offensive fouls result in a change of possession.
6. Flagrant personal fouls will result in a yellow card.  Two in a game will result in a red card, ejection and loss of a player.
7. Any time a player carries the ball out of bounds, it is a loss of possession.  The opposing team must throw the ball in from the sideline at that point.
8. Fouls inside the 10 yard line result in a penalty – One player from each team, ball starts on 12 yard line with the defender on the goal line.  All other players must be outside 20.  When the player picks up the ball, the game is live and everyone is free to play.
9. Each team is allowed to name 18 players to the roster for a given game, 11 starters and 3 substitutions.  That includes the kicker.  Once a player is substituted for any reason, he is out of the game.  No offense/defense swaps.
10. You can keep your pads and helmet.  We wouldn’t want you to get hurt.  Besides, even Petr Cech wears a head protection.

Any football teams willing to play by our adjusted rules, assuming they can still stand afterwards, are welcome to complain about soccer afterwards…

Disagree with us?  Think there are other rules that belong here?  Let us know.

According to Wikipedia, the song was written on a train ride into New York.  Of course, James Cagney’s Yankee Doodle Dandy version is a bit different.  Either way, ALL of us Yanks should be singing this every time our boys take the field, and hoping they perform as well as our boys did in 1917.

You can watch the video below, but of course only the chorus is used.  The lyrics in their entirety follow.

As sung by early-20th century recording artist Billy Murray:

Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.

Take it on the run, on the run, on the run.

Hear them calling you and me,

Every Son of Liberty.

Hurry right away, no delay, go today.

Make your Daddy glad to have had such a lad.

Tell your sweetheart not to pine,

To be proud her boy’s in line.

Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun,

Johnny, show the “Hun” you’re a son-of-a-gun.

Hoist the flag and let her fly.

Yankee Doodle do or die.

Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit.

Yankee to the ranks from the towns and the tanks.

Make your Mother proud of you

And the old red-white-and-blue

Chorus

Over there, over there,

The VIP Coach Pass sponsored by the LA Galaxy returns to Soccer Nation Expo. This year, the VIP pass will enable coaches, parents or other enthusiasts to have exclusive access to various activities and seminars to help them improve their training techniques or learn new game strategies from world-class coaching talent, or network with other coaches from all over Southern California. The pass, which costs $30 and is limited to the first 500 who register, includes:

§  Early, private access to the exhibition hall on Saturday, February 13, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. — one hour before the show doors open to the public at 9:30 a.m. Coffee and pastry will be provided during the early access hour.

§  Free gifts from participating Soccer Nation Expo exhibitors including an LA84 Sack Pack, Cal South T-Shirt, Success in Soccer DVD, and Field Diagram Pad.

§  Reserved VIP seating around the Center Pitch, where coaching clinics by professional, world-class coaches will occur on the hour, every hour, throughout the two-day expo.

§  VIP access to private classroom sessions given by, Oscar Gil, James Parry, Jeff Tipping, Bob Gansler, Klaus Pabst, Jan Smisek, Steve Hoffman, and other Soccer Nation Expo clinicians.

§  Videos of Center Pitch sessions will be available on line after the event.

§  SoccerOne VIP Coach Pass, a discount card offering 10% to 60% off SoccerOne merchandise.

The VIP Pass is available by registering at www.soccernationexpo.com or at www.calsouth.com.

For the first time, an indoor beach soccer field will be set up at the expo. The field, with eight tons of sand, will have a goal and penalty box so that players can practice shooting on the sand, a considerably different pitch for most players. The sand soccer field is being brought to Soccer Nation Expo by Copa Cabana Soccer, which holds beach soccer tournaments on both U.S. coasts.

Additionally, Fox Soccer Channel newscasters Nick Webster, Eric Wynalda and Temryss Lane of Fox Football Fone-In will be attending Soccer Nation Expo and signing autographs from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13.  University of North Carolina standout and U.S.  Women’s Gold Medalist Tobin Heath will be signing autographs in the Nike booth on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1 pm.

Soccer Nation Expo will also feature renowned soccer coaches who are schedule to participate as guest speakers and clinicians. The list includes:

Dave Sarachan, Los Angeles Galaxy. Currently an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Sarachan spent nearly five seasons as the head coach of the Chicago Fire.  In 2003, his first year as head coach, Sarachan took the Fire to the MLS Cup Finals, claimed the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and was named MLS Coach of the Year.  He also led the Fire to capture another Lamar Hunt trophy in 2006. A former pro player in the NASL and MISL, Sarachan spent 10 years as head coach for Cornell, before moving to the MLS as an assistant coach for DC United. He also spent four years as an assistant coach on the US Men’s National Team.

Bob Gansler, former U.S. Men’s National Team & MLS head coach.  Gansler was the Kansas City Wizards’ head coach from 1999-2006, winning the club’s first MLS Cup in 2000 and the U.S. Open Cup in 2004.  He was also MLS Coach of the Year in 2000, and coached the U.S. U-19 National Team (1979-82), U-20 National Team (1987-89), and then the full Men’s National Team (1989-91), taking them to the 1990 World Cup, the U.S.’s 1st appearance since 1950.  Gansler played for the U.S. National Team (1963-69), captaining the 1964 and 1968 Olympic and 1967 Pan-American teams.

Jan Smisek, USSF National Staff Coach. Smisek, who was the first woman to earn an A license, holds a KNVB Dutch National Youth Certificate.

Oscar Gil, Club Atlético Boca Juniors. Rincón is not only the head coach for the U17 Boys Academy of the renowned Club Atlético Boca Juniors, but has also served as the club’s International Director of Coaching and Player Development since 2004. In addition to founding a Boca Juniors Developmental Academy in Columbia, he recently founded a similar academy in Southern California in conjunction with the North County Pacific Football Club.

Klaus Pabst, Soccer Academy Cologne in Germany. Pabst is a former Yugoslav Premier League Player and Coach with FC Vojvodina and was the Head Manager of the National Team of the Malta Football Association for five years.

James Parry, Liverpool FC Youth Academy. Parry recently served as an assistant coach for Liverpool FC’s U18 Youth Academy squad, which he helped guide to the finals of the FA Youth Cup last season. He has worked for Liverpool’s Youth Academy through the last decade in a variety of roles, including as a full-time U16 coach, director of soccer camps, and a development and community coach. He currently serves as a talent identification scout for the Liverpool FC, and also acts as a recruitment identification scout for Fulham FC.

Jeff Tipping. The NSCAA’s Director of Coaching Development, Tipping is a well-respected speaker and clinician, representing the NSCAA at educational forums and other soccer-related events throughout the country and the world. He joined the NSCAA in 1983 as Assistant Director of Coaching, promoted to Director of Coaching in 1996, and promoted to his current position in 2002. Previously the director of soccer at Muhlenberg College for 15 years, he also served as an assistant soccer coach at Hartwick College for four years. He played professionally in the American Soccer League for five seasons, was a four-year varsity player for Hartwick and holds a master’s degree from Lehigh University.

Sacha Van der Most, Chivas USA U18 Head Coach.  Van der Most has many years of coaching experience in different youth levels, starting with Quick’s youth teams in Holland, ranging in age from U-8 to U-16.  He joined the Chivas USA youth system when it was established in 2005.

About Soccer Nation Expo

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the two-day, action-packed and interactive experience, where fans, coaches, players and their families will enjoy free admission and host of events and activities to entertain everyone from observers to seasoned players and fanatics.

The first Expo in 2004 attracted 3,500 people and has grown exponentially each year.  With the rising popularity of soccer in America and especially in the soccer hot bed of Southern California, Cal South officials are planning for record attendance to the delight of sponsors and exhibitors, who increasingly seek marketing channels and opportunities that reach and impact target consumers.

Expo attendees encompass the full spectrum of soccer in Southern California. Cal South members, players and families from local AYSO teams and independent leagues, international ex-patriots and fans of soccer of all ages attend.

The Expo will utilize more than 150,000 square feet of exhibition space in the massive convention center located in downtown Los Angeles. More than 100 exhibitors will be on hand to demonstrate and showcase the latest in soccer gear and equipment, with participation from national and international soccer clubs, and consumer goods and service companies reaching active Southern California families.

Participants include corporations such as General Mills, Fox Soccer Channel, Time Warner Cable, Jamba Juice, Herbalife, Cuties and official sponsor Nike, which will host the popular US Futsal Southwestern Regional Championship open to adults and boys and girls ages 10 and up. Nike’s extensive exhibit space will display the newest spring lines, the latest equipment, and allow attendees the opportunity to test-drive the hottest shoes on the market.

For more information about Soccer Nation Expo 2010, visit www.soccernationexpo.com.

About Cal South

The California State Soccer Association – South (Cal South) is a 501c(3) California public benefit corporation and is the official youth and adult state soccer association of the United States Soccer Federation, United States Adult Soccer Association and United States Youth Soccer.  Cal South represents 230 Member Leagues and Clubs comprising our membership of more than 160,000 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators. The organization, with a service area that extends from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, provides rewarding recreational and competitive opportunities for players of all ages, genders and skill levels.  For more information about Cal South, visit www.calsouth.com.

Former World Cup Player and Premier League football star Warren Barton (currently Lead Analyst at Fox Soccer Channel) will offer his experience and expertise to help the continuing growth of San Diego Soccer Partners (SDSP); which owns and operates the San Diego Flash Soccer Club.

“As someone who has played the sport at the highest level, we are proud that Warren has chosen to join our organization. His extensive soccer resume gives our company several competitive advantages. His knowledge will be invaluable in building the core business of our company; The San Diego Flash Soccer Club.” said Clent Alexander CEO / General Partner.  “Warren is clearly someone who is recognized internationally. His stature in the world soccer community can help us with the execution of our Social Media Strategy; to reach the Global Soccer Audience. He will be available to give us input to create exclusive and relevant soccer content that we can deliver, via the internet, to fans and players of any age; all over the world.” Google: Warren Barton “I have been playing soccer for most of my life. In my eyes soccer has always been a non-racial sport, uniting the world. I like the idea of being able to reach out to every community; privileged and unprivileged. San Diego is a great place to start. I am excited to help with the building of the San Diego Flash Soccer Club. At the recent tryouts, I have seen that there is great talent here. With World Cup 2010 coming, the sport of soccer always attracts new fans. I believe it is a great opportunity for growing fan interest in the Club here in San Diego. Additionally, it is perfect timing for the Annual Charity Exhibition Matches starting this year. We are proud to promote local Non-Profits and awareness to great causes.” said Warren Barton.  “I also agree with Clent’s vision of using Social Media to deliver positive messages and exclusive content to soccer fans and players all over the world via the internet. This is an innovative strategy that no other club I am aware of, is using. With my passion for soccer and the SDSP approach, we’ll be able to affect people’s lives positively and bring communities together; everywhere. This is a rare opportunity that I felt could not be passed. I am proud to be a Shareholder.” (Video Comments from Warren Barton about Pro Soccer in San Diego)

San Diego Flash Soccer Club is a Professional Men’s Outdoor Soccer Club based in San Diego, California. The Club will provide quality soccer entertainment to local San Diego Soccer Fans and conduct soccer camps for youth players. In the near future, under the direction of Warren Barton, The S.D. Flash will create youth soccer clubs in an academy style to serve players of all ages in San Diego.

The Club will also produce exciting content that can be marketed via the internet to a Global Soccer Audience.  San Diego Soccer Partners, Inc. owns and operates the San Diego Flash Soccer Club and all of its content. The Corporation has been structured to allow individuals the opportunity to be Part-Owners / Shareholders.

UEFA president Michel Platini said Tuesday that soccer promotes “peace, tolerance and friendship.” He spoke during a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, an avid sports fan and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.

Platini recalled a 2006 meeting with Peres in Seville, Spain, where the two men helped put together a team of Israeli and Palestinian players for an exhibition against a Spanish squad. On Tuesday, they discussed how soccer can bridge communities around the world.
Platini also said Israel could host a European-level soccer tournament in the near future. The former France captain said the main obstacles were the quality of local stadiums and security concerns.

“If there will be better stadiums, you will definitely be able to host tournaments in the next few years,” Platini said at a news conference with Israel Football Association chairman Avi Luzon.

Israel has been a UEFA member since 1994 and has hosted a European tournament once — the UEFA under-17 championships in 2000. Israeli teams have begun to advance in European club competitions in recent years, with Maccabi Haifa making its second appearance in the Champions League this season.

Source: Release

Less than a year from now, the FIFA World Cup will kick off in South Africa.  Four years later, the eyes and feet of the world will move to across the pond to Brazil.  After that, the cups will be in 2018 and 2022.  Where they will be is up in the air.

FIFA is currently accepting bids for both.  Tradition says that the 2018 bid will be awarded around the time of the South Africa cup.  Nations wishing to host are submitting their bids and drumming up support.  FIFA has also insisted on rotating the cup through the confederations.  That means it is time for REAL football to return to North America. 

The US still holds the record for the highest total attendence of any cup.  That would seem to bode well for a US hosted cup, but don’t buy any tickets yet.  Mexico’s last cup was 1986 and Canada has never hosted.  There is also a strong push to give England the cup.  The FA even offered to play back-up to South Africa if they couldn’t pull it off in time.

For those of us in the US, we now have a chance to help show our support.  US Soccer is asking for AVID fans to sign a petition and help bring the cup back.  Show you care by visiting The Game is in US and signing up.  Then, tell us why you think the US should host.  We will forward the best (and probably all) of the stories directly to FIFA.

World Cup Locations

• Uruguay 1930
• Italy 1934
• France 1938
• Brazil 1950
• Switzerland 1954
• Sweden 1958
• Chile 1962
• England 1966
• Mexico 1970
• Germany 1974
• Argentina 1978
• Spain 1982
• Mexico 1986
• Italy 1990
• United States 1994
• France 1998
• Japan/Korea 2002
• Germany 2006
• South Africa 2010
• Brazil 2014

This is the first in a series of three articles on national coaching manuals.  FIFA is the  governing body in soccer world wide.  Below that, there are regional bodies (Concacaf in our case).  At the national level, US Soccer is the governing body that oversees all national/olympic team, professional (MLS, USSL, PSL, WPL, etc.), and amateur play.

The manual is self described as:

“The definitive playing and coaching manual for youth soccer.  Compiled by the coaching, educational, and technical staff of U.S. Soccer, this book offers extensive information on all aspects of the game: technique, tactics, laws, prevention and care of injury, coaching preparation, organizational structure, model training sessions, and more than 100 practice games suitable for developing aspects of every player’s game.”

Obviously that is a lot to cover in just over 300 pages, but it does a remarkable job.  Most techniques are covered in one or two pages with a description, tips, illustrations and common mistakes.  Goalkeeping actually receives as much attention as the field players.  Since this position is unique, it is usually the focus of or ignored by most manuals.  Tactics are described at an introductory level, but include graphics that explain the text.  The laws are described briefly with some diagrams, but off-sides requires a much better definition.  The coaching section focuses on an age appropriate environment.  There is a small blurb on each age/development group and what to expect from these players.  The book includes details field sizes, warm-up/cool down and injury prevention.

The final section of the book is the games.  They are grouped by technique/tactic in order to make practice planning easier.  Each game has a name, rules/set-up, benefits (targeted techniques or tactics), phase (tactical group size – i.e. individual or large group), and age recommendation.  Some games also have diagrams to explain the field set-up or appropriate player movement.  Most of the games are less than a page in length and would run 10 to 15 minutes in practice.

The book itself is visually stunning.  It has hundreds of full color photographs and 3D graphics to illustrate the material on heavy bond paper.  The margins are wide and there is room to write notes.  It is every well organized and can be read cover to cover or as a hunt and find reference manual.  Unfortunately, it is a paperback with a glue binding.  As I move through the book, I found myself wishing it had been published as a binder.  I would love to be able to insert my practice plans for future session.  I also wanted to lay the book flat to make it easier to highlight and read while writing.  I wonder how long it will take for the binding to break and for pages to start falling out.

 Over all, this manual should be in every coaches library.  For recreational coaches, this probably covers every topic you need.  For club and amateur coaches/players, this provides insight into the US strategies and development program.  For professional coaches, this is THE Official Manual.

Soccer: How to Play the Game; The Official Playing and Coaching Manual of the United States Soccer Federation is published by Universe Publishing.  Universe is a division of Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.