Starting at about the U13 age group, high level soccer players will likely be faced with a number of options to choose from for continuing their accelerated soccer development. But, determining which of these options is best for a particular player can be very difficult and confusing. Which youth soccer league is the best in…
Soccer camps sure sound like a lot of fun. Everybody loves a “camp”, and these promise soccer development and identification under the watchful eyes of some apparently preeminent and well-qualified coaches — for a price. But are soccer camps worth the time and money? Unfortunately, usually the answer is no. Two Types of Soccer Camps…
Soccer cleats are a weakness of mine – in a good way. I love shopping for and purchasing cleats. When I was a kid, soccer cleats were usually black and nondescript. Now, they’re full of color with some fantastic designs and interesting technologies. That said, cleats should be matched to the playing surfaces — especially…
As with most youth sports, soccer is a balancing act. You want your player to develop without burning out. You want to push your player’s limits without injuring them. It’s difficult to know where to draw the line – what is optimal. So, how often should kids practice soccer? US Youth Soccer recommends the following…
Soccer is a very active sport that involves a LOT of running. If fitness is one of your goals in picking a sport for your child, soccer is a great activity. But, how many miles do soccer players run in a game? Youth soccer players can run between 2 miles and 10 miles in a…
I love soccer traveling tournaments. I loved them as a player. I loved them as a coach. And I love them as a parent. There is no better way for players to get closer to their teammates, and for parents to get to know each other. But, if you’re not prepared, a traveling tournament can…
In 2016, US Soccer changed the age groups for youth soccer from a system based on school year cutoffs of August 1 (i.e. matching the grade the participant was in) to a system based on birth year cutoffs of January 1. The intent was to align the age groups with international standards. Surely the US…
There are several great websites that provide youth soccer rankings. These are the best: Value of Youth Soccer Rankings Winning should never be the primary goal in youth soccer. The primary goal should be development (see What’s Wrong With Winning). That said, youth soccer rankings have some value. First, rankings are a fun way for…
You just put your child on a soccer team. Now what? What will he/she need? What will you need, as a parent? While some of the answers to these questions vary based on the level of soccer being played, the age of the player, and the league or club the player is playing in, this…
The situation in the world today reminds me a little bit of being grounded as a kid. Back in the 80’s, though, being grounded may have even been worse than it is now. We didn’t have cable or streaming TV, Pong was the only video game and there was no such thing as the…