It's amazing how much more technical and organized soccer training is now. When I was growing up, we practiced twice a week (three times when I got older) and played one game on the weekend, unless there was a tournament, and I didn't start playing in tournaments until I was 11.

Today, with year-round soccer (which I didn't play until I was nearly in college), there are an incredible number of games being played. Too many in my opinion (but that's another story).

Children in sports are often overly organized. Informal play gives them the opportunity to be independent, creative, and self-motivated. They dictate the place, the time, the rules, and the structure - or lack of it. When I was young, aside from formal practice, I was out on my front lawn everyday, juggling or kicking a ball. I'd play with the neighborhood kids or my brother.

Click here to read the rest of the article....

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Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! And May Day.

May Day (May 1st) is celebrated and recognized as the International Workers' Day and is one of the biggest public holidays world-wide.

Mayday repeated three times is the international distress call that originated from the French expression "venez m'aider" - "come to my aid."

None of which applies to us because we are still in the month of April. Around these parts we don't recognize month's with less than 31 days. So as far as the April edition of the Byte Size Coaching Newsletter is concerned it is April 31st. Just joking. We are just a tad late in publishing.

Welcome to the April 2008 Byte Size Coaching Newsletter.

In the April edition of our World of Soccer Newsletter we highlighted college athlete's scholarships and what was good and not-so-good about them.  

If you didn't see it you might want to take a quick peek before reading on, click here for the article Soccer Scholarship Chase: Fact & Fiction

Marc Cadden, a former board member of SAY Soccer (Soccer for America Youth), responded to the article. Marc has had two children go through the system - both getting some sort of scholarship.

I think you will find it interesting. Click here to read " Soccer Scholarships."

Elsewhere in this article, I highlighted our new Byte Size Coaching partners, the Calgary Minor Soccer Association and their symposium two weekends ago. John Walker, the women's soccer coach of the highly successful University of Nebraska program, presented on the topic of athletic scholarships. With his permission, we're including his PowerPoint presentation. You may have to fill in the blanks somewhat as this is what John used to support his verbal presentation.

And check out Never Give Up on a Dream - Part II.

Hope you Enjoy and would appreciate your feedback

In doing a little upgrading of the site inevitably Murphy's Law kicks in and a little becomes a lot - as things don't quite fit back into place.  

We are back Online

Welcome to Edition #22 of the World of Soccer Newsletter. 

In the April World of soccer newsletter we are making some claims that the United States and Canada may not be behind some European countries, including the UK, in development programs for our youngest players. And this may be reflected in the World Cup results in future years - particularly in the United States. Click here to read "Are we at a disadvantage? Don't believe it!"

In the Boot Room we take a semi-serious look at All-Star Games and testimonial Matches - including the game played for Stanley Matthews over 40 years ago. Click here to read "The All-Star Game! Time well Wasted? Or a Waste of Time?"

Soccer scholarships raises its ugly head. In many ways college scholarships drive the development of teenage players in the United States and Canada but there is a darker side to all of this. Click here to read "Soccer Scholarship chase: fact & fiction"

In our practice section instead of presenting games and activities this month, we look at the ingredients we need to factor into a practice session to make it enjoyable and purposeful for the players. Click here for "Give the Player a FEAST"

Hope you enjoy

Revs coach Steve Nicol let loose a bitter tirade against referee Baldomero Toledo after he punished a clumsy tackle by Jeff Larentowicz with a straight red card in the seventh minute of New England's 4-0 loss at Chicago last week.

Nicol ranted after the game, claiming such tackles don't warrant reds anywhere else in the world.

Two days later, TFC midfielder Kevin Harmse flew into D.C. United's Gonzalo Peralta with a two-footed tackle and referee Mark Geiger immediately sent him off.

Of the two fouls, Harmse's carried more menace and left Peralta stretched out on the grass. Larentowicz didn't injure or maim Brandon Prideaux. Yet Toledo's ruling, while harsher, wasn't incorrect. Both were deemed to be "serious foul play."

A well-executed slide tackle robs the opponent of the ball. In the best-case scenario, the defending player ends up with the ball at his feet, jumps up, and launches a counterattack. At the very least, the successful slide tackle puts the brakes on the attacker, perhaps by knocking the ball out of bounds. But a missed slide tackle leaves the defender down with nothing to show for it, eliminating him from the play.

Click here to read entire article .....  

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This DVD concentrates on 'how to coach' not 'what to coach'. It's essential for both player development and your skills as a coach, to understand the importance of creating a positive learning environment and to recognize the individual learning needs of your players so that they may develop to their full potential not only as soccer players but as young people.  Click here to read more....