The coaching clinics have two parts.  The public part is held out on a pitch.  Each of the coaches runs a session populated by ODP players.  Coaches and other visitors can watch the demonstrations, take notes and pictures.  There are also lecture sessions.  These provide a great chance for real coaching education and are highly recommended.  Coaches like Klaus Pabst and Efrain Flores share real world professional experiences.

In addition to the coaching sessions, there are a variety of vendors and manufacturers at the expo.  We wanted to highlight a few newcomers that we met there.

First is Goalshot.  This is a fabric cover for the face of the goal mouth.  There are cut-outs at the corners encouraging players to shoot at the negative space and become more proficient at hitting the optimum locations.  This is a much more effective method of training that hanging cones or paper plates from the net.  Goalshot has impressed Kobe Jones and Jose Altadore enough to endorse the product.  Currently, only a full size goal is available, but other sizes are coming.

Another product that impressed us were Shock Sock.  The basic concept behind the product is similar to the Concave boot.  The sock puts a pad over the metatarsal bones of the foot.  This additional padding helps protect the top of the foot from some damage.  There are three varieties of sock: an ankle sock, a crew sock and a soccer sock.  Players interested in using the shock sock should try them with their boots, or bring them to try on boots as it will significantly change the fit.

The last vendor we wanted to highlight is Bownet.  This is a new portable goal design based on tension.  The nets can be configured for indoor or outdoor use.  They are available in a full range of sizes and even applications for other sports.  There is not much to the goals, but they were strong enough to be used in all of the demonstrations.

The expo was filled with other vendors from ESPN to K1 Go Karts to Marriott hotels, all hoping to get the attention of team mangers, coaches and players.  One last vendor that grabbed our attention was the Futboleros.  They offer both a freestyle soccer demonstration team and a game cage for 2 minute one-on-one grudge matches.

See more pictures from Soccer Nation Expo on the AVID Soccer Facebook page and check out a video of the Futboleros.

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.

Free to the Public, 20,000 Soccer Fans Expected During the February 12-13 Event

WHAT: Cal South’s Soccer Nation Expo, the countries largest free soccer show, will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center for 2011. The Expo will take place February 12 and 13 and will feature interactive exhibits, gear and equipment displays, coaching clinics and soccer activities that appeal to fans, coaches and players of all ages and skill levels. , Attendance at Soccer Nation Expo is free. More than 20,000 soccer fans, families and coaches are expected to attend the two-day expo. Past Soccer Nation Expo exhibitors and sponsors have included Nike, Jamba Juice, Los Angeles Galaxy, Fox Soccer Channel, and Chivas USA.

WHY: Soccer Nation Expo was founded to provide fans, coaches, players and their families a free opportunity to enjoy a wide range of soccer events and activities. In its seventh year, Soccer Nation Expo has grown each year to more than 100 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees for the 2010 expo. With the rising popularity of soccer in America and especially in the soccer hot bed of Southern California, Cal South officials are planning for continued strong attendance to the delight of sponsors and exhibitors, who increasingly seek marketing channels and opportunities that reach and impact target consumers.
 WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 ( 9:30 am to 5 pm)

Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 (9 am to 3 pm)

WHERE: Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, Calif.

For more information about Soccer Nation Expo 2011, visit www.soccernationexpo.com.

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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 and United States Youth Soccer. Cal South represents over 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.

Soccer Nation Expo 2010

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (February 22, 2010) Soccer Nation Expo is an opportunity for team administrators, coaches and players to meet with manufacturers and vendors. The conference features a full midway, coaching clinics, demonstrations, samples and a futsal tournament.

When we started attending SNE several years ago, all of the major manufacturers were present. The event has shrunk over the past few years, both in the number of vendors and the number of visitors. Last year, there was no sign of Puma, adidas or UnderArmour. This year, there was no sign of Diadora, Xara and others.

The expo has become a great showcase for small to midsized manufacturers and soccer specialty retailers. Companies like Calle Republic, Copa Cabana Beach Soccer and Reusch continue to make their presence known in their respective specialties. Calle Republic, in their 4th year, focuses on street soccer and uses the event to increase brand awareness and promotion partnerships. Copa Cabana is both a promotions company and an organization of beach soccer leagues/tournaments. They lead the beach soccer movement.   Reusch is one of the premier innovators of goalkeeping. They produce a full range of gloves, apparel and accessories.

Little Feet Booth

Uniform manufacturers like Score, Protime Sports and Century also have the opportunity to meet with league and club administrators. These direct-to-consumer manufacturers along with soccer specific retailers use the event to connect with coaches, team administrators and league boards. It is an opportunity for buyers to compare uniforms side by side and set up deals.

The real value is to small manufacturers. This year, we found a couple of note. The first is Little Feet. They are a socially responsible manufacturer with a great story. For every ball they sell, one is donated to a child in need. Another promising vendor was Cleatskins. The skins cover cleats (from almost any sport, not just soccer) for protection and stability off the pitch.

Nike 5 Futsal Regional Championship

Of course, the big underwriter is Nike. They sponsor the Nike 5 US Futsal Southwest Regional Championship. It takes place on fields on the convention floor. The action is fast and fun to watch. In addition, Nike has a shoe trial to allow visitors to try on the latest and greatest. It is a ways for Nike to connect directly with the players and give back to the community.

We spoke to a number of different vendors. In general, the longtime vendors were there to support local stores or sales staff. Most felt that the cost of the show was high for the amount of direct sales they received, but it was an important to be seen and to support the local market. The new vendors were there for the exposure. It is a way to get their product in front of the soccer press and 30,000 soccer players, coaches and administrators.

Street Soccer Demonstration

Additional Resources:

• Calle Republic
• Cleatskins
• Copa Cabana Beach Soccer
• Little Feet
• Nike
• Reusch
• Soccer Nation Expo
• AVID Soccer SNE 2010 Pictures (Facebook)

Largest Free Soccer Expo in US Sports World’s Top Coaches, Players from Chivas USA and LA Galaxy and Skill Demos for Youth and Adult Players

WHAT: The California State Soccer Association – South, also known as Cal South, will host the 6th annual Soccer Nation Expo — the largest FREE family soccer exposition in the United States. The Expo offers two incredible days of soccer fun and action for everyone — players, coaches, families, friends and soccer fanatics alike. In addition to free admission, the first 500 people to line up outside the doors of Soccer Nation Expo each morning will receive a free goodie bag full of great soccer swag when the doors open.

WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, February 14, 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall

WHY: A number of amazing events lined up for Soccer Nation Expo including:

• Appearances and autographs by professional players including members of Chivas USA and the L.A. Galaxy
• Clinics taught by world-class coaches including Paco Castrejon, Oscar Hernan Gil Rincon, Craig Brown CBE, Klaus Pabst and James Parry
• Skill demonstrations and competitions
• More than 100 fantastic vendor booths
• The Nike 5/U.S. Futsal Southwest Regional Championship: fast and furious, indoor soccer action with 5v5 teams facing off in a series of preliminary matches, with the top two teams in each bracket meeting in a championship final.
• The Soccer Nation Expo Skill Zone – A special area where kids and adults alike can learn soccer skills from world class coaches, and juggling tricks from members of the popular Futboleros troupe. The Skill Zone will hold a special Trick-Off competition, where anyone can compete with prizes going to the top tricksters.

For more information about Soccer Nation Expo, the VIP Coach Pass or the Cal South Awards Banquet, please go to http://www.SoccerNationExpo.com.

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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 and United States Youth Soccer. Cal South represents 230 Member Leagues and Clubs comprising our membership of more than 180,000 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.