Shows
2021-03-2338 minThe Soccer SidelinesLet's Get Back to the Game!Full show notes can be found here: https://thesoccersidelines.com/returning Connect with me here: https://thesoccersidelines.com/connect/ Returning to play in any sport after COVID lockdowns is something we're all looking forward to, but it is not without its risks. Some of these risks are traditional. Some are unique to a post-COVID lockdown world. In this episode, we explore both and give you a few ideas around what you can do to make transitioning back into youth sports a little easier and safer - whether you're a parent, player, coach, or administrator, there are...
2021-03-1535 minThe Soccer SidelinesReturning to PlayIt's time to put our youth sports system back to work preparing kids for life. Who's returning to play and how are we trying to do it safely?
2020-06-1556 minThe Soccer SidelinesSolidarity PaymentsWhat are solidarity payments, why do we have them, and how do they work? Do they work at all in the United States? Let's talk through a use case. In this episode, we share some recent news, then jump into the concept of solidarity payments. Specifically, we talk through the case of DeAndre Yedlin, featuring Crossfire Premiere, FIFA, USSF, and the MLS. At the end of this episode, I hope that the concept of solidarity payments (and training compensation) are a little more clear.
2020-05-0624 minThe Soccer Sidelines2020 Senior Prom MASKquerade Post a thank you sign, host a MASKquerade, and check in on the DA and ODP.
2020-04-2724 minThe Soccer SidelinesUS Development Academy Shuts DownOn April 15th, 2020, US Soccer Announced that it is closing down the US Soccer Development Academy (DA). Was it merely COVID-19 related or is there more to the story?
2020-04-1620 min
The Soccer SidelinesEssential Workers and Bad InformationThere are two big things worth paying closer attention to today: 1. the great things people are doing during this crisis. 2. The proliferation of bad, incomplete, politically motivated, or deliberately incorrect information being shared all over our news outlets and social media channels.
Gratitude changes everything – handwriting on a napkin with a cup of espresso coffee
Some Great Things Are Being Done
David Barbour from FC Copa is a listener of the show and has responded to episode #122 that I did three weeks ago titled “What can we do during the COVID-19 Crisi...
2020-04-1529 minThe Soccer SidelinesEssential Employees and Bad InformationA big thanks for essential workers and a caution about information being shared in the public today.
2020-04-1329 minThe Soccer SidelinesThe World is Changing for GoodFew people will argue that the world is changing for good after COVID-19. In this episode, we talk about some of the changes, and laugh about masks in banks
2020-04-0525 minThe Soccer SidelinesWhat Can We Do With COVID 19We are surrounded by all talk all-the-time about COVID-19. But what can we DO now to make our new normal lifestyle a little more enjoyable for our kids and for our member families?
2020-03-2122 minThe Soccer SidelinesPositives of a Global PandemicWith so much fear and inconvenience running around, let's talk about the Positives of a Global Pandemic. Put this time to good use!
2020-03-1621 min2020-03-0932 min2020-03-0215 minThe Soccer SidelinesUSNSTPA Statement About The USWNT 2017 2021 CBAMen and Women's National Teams have come together around claims of unfair and inappropriate pay and benefits in US Soccer
2020-02-2436 minThe Soccer SidelinesPresidents Day Weekend 2020Happy President's Day 2020! Big news in the world of US Soccer this week. Full episode coming soon after the holiday. Get ready!
2020-02-1704 minThe Soccer SidelinesUpgrade Your Parent ToolboxNone of us are perfect parents. The best we can hope for is to be a continually improving parent. In this episode, we'll talk about a parenting and work promotion tool that is within your reach.
2020-02-1011 minThe Soccer SidelinesPlaying on multiple teamsThere are both risks and rewards to playing on more than one team at the same time in the same season. Let's talk about them.
2020-02-0325 minThe Soccer SidelinesGender Bias in the GameGender Bias is affecting men, women, and players in the game. What is gender bias, how is it affecting our community, and what can we do about it? Let's talk about it.
2020-01-271h 03The Soccer SidelinesAt USC ConventionShort break this week as I take in the United Soccer Coaches Annual Convention, meet with some friends and spend some time in Winter Camp with the Boy Scouts.
2020-01-2003 minThe Soccer SidelinesFixed vs Growth MindsetDr. Carol Dwerk wrote about fixed vs growth mindset in her 2007 book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. In this episode, we explore the two mindsets, their relevance in a youth soccer environment, and how we might facilitate more growth mindset in our lives.
2020-01-1338 minThe Soccer SidelinesCrisis of TrustSure we have bad sideline behavior, but should we blame parents? What else is at play in our world today that might lead to mistrust, anger, frustration, and poor sideline behavior?
2020-01-0638 minThe Soccer SidelinesHappy HolidaysHappy holidays to you and your family and friends! We'll be taking a short break and returning after the holidays with a new season of The Soccer Sidelines in 2020!
2019-12-2302 minThe Soccer SidelinesComparing Cultures Swimming vs SoccerIn this episode, we explore how we might support our kids in team sport settings in some ways we do really well in individual sport settings.
2019-12-1624 minThe Soccer SidelinesCrafting Your Soccer ExperienceCrafting your soccer experience have a place in the future of youth soccer. Imagine the stuff you want without the stuff you don't need. #nopaytoplay
2019-12-0929 minThe Soccer SidelinesSoccer Alphabet SoupHow is it even possible for parents or coaches to navigate the alphabet soup of clubs and leagues in soccer? Let's explore together...
2019-12-0254 minThe Soccer SidelinesBurnout in Youth SportsDo we pour everything into a sport and flame our kids out by the time they are 10-years-old or do we offer variety, loosen the control, and give our kids a chance to play and have fun well into their teenage years? The stats give us reason to pause and consider.
2019-11-2524 minThe Soccer SidelinesRewarding Development and Suing CoachesIn this episode, we continue the dialog about bad apple officials, introduce some practical ways we can be intentional about coaching character, and share a warning story about a lawsuit against a JV baseball coach that dragged on for 7 years and cost $75,000 for telling a player to slide into third base.
2019-11-1827 minThe Soccer SidelinesGood Eggs and Bad ApplesWe have good eggs in every community and bad apples that ruin it for everyone. In this episode, we talk about listener-provided examples - one of each.We have stories like this going on all over the world. I would love it if you sent me one or two that I can use on the show. This stories inspire people or serve as warnings, and they keep the focus on the stuff that really matters in youth sports!A positive example of a coach strengthening 5-year-old players with encouragement Bad ApplesOur first story came from a tweet earlier this week. A...
2019-11-1117 minThe Soccer SidelinesBad Apples and Good EggsWe have good eggs in every community and bad apples that ruin it for everyone. In this episode, we talk about listener-provided examples - one of each.
2019-11-1117 minThe Soccer SidelinesHow to Win More Youth Soccer GamesThis episode is all about how to win more youth soccer games - tips and tricks for the gotta-win coach or parent. If you're about winning games, this episode is for you!
2019-11-0413 minThe Soccer SidelinesAggression confidence and competitionThere is a lot of stuff in this episode, so make yourself comfortable while we explore the question of aggression, confidence, and a competitive mindset.
2019-10-2828 minThe Soccer SidelinesRelative Age Effect in Youth SoccerRelative Age Effect in Youth Soccer is a bias that highlights the attention we give towards winning vs development. At its worst, it can be cheating
2019-10-2119 minThe Soccer SidelinesThe Travel Tournaments EpisodeTravel tournaments can be full of excitement and fun. What are the pros and cons of travel tournaments for our players and families?
2019-10-1430 minThe Soccer SidelinesMaking Choices in Youth SportsMaking choices in youth sports, more than anything else, determines our fate. On the pitch or off, the choices we make determine our success or failure.
2019-10-0724 minThe Soccer SidelinesChallenges with Varsity SportsIn previous episodes, I spoke of some of the positives of the varsity experience. Varsity sports were huge when I grew up, but it's not all daisies and rose petals. High School sports have their challenges. Let's talk about it.
2019-09-3027 minThe Soccer SidelinesInjury Prevention in Youth SoccerInjury Prevention in Youth Soccer is something we all benefit from knowing about and helping with. In this episode, we will explore five common sources of injuries in youth soccer and how to prevent them.
2019-09-2342 minThe Soccer SidelinesCognitive Mental DevelopmentSupport the Show: https://thesoccersidelines.com/go Developing players in all five stages of development means understanding how players are thinking, and what they are thinking about at each stage. In this episode, I talk about the mental characteristics of each of the five development stages.
2019-09-1632 minThe Soccer SidelinesAccess and Affordability is At RiskAccess to affordable youth sports in our communities is not only important to maintain, but it's disappearing in communities across the US. The volunteers keeping these programs affordable are getting burned out and reinforcements seem harder to find. The inevitable result is 10x cost as paid staff are brought in to do what volunteers can't do with so few participating. 10x the cost means a large number of kids - even more than are left out today - will no longer have access to youth sports.
2019-09-0926 minThe Soccer SidelinesThe Finishing MentalityFinishing in the game of soccer is a string of a complex series of actions and thoughts that end with a net rattle. The finishing mentality follows a flow, from the goalkeeper and defenders through the midfield, to the player taking the shot. Each player in the chain processes a three-part Do loop over and over again in the course of a single attack. As coaches and parents, we can strengthen our player's ability to process and bring a true finishing mentality to the game.
2019-09-0223 minThe Soccer SidelinesPlaying Varsity SoccerMy team came to me two years go with the goal of playing varsity soccer. Today, my team makes up half the varsity bench. They didn't pay thousands!
2019-08-2621 minThe Soccer SidelinesUS Youth Soccer StandardsThere is a good reason to standardize the training environment for kids in their development years. Do you know what the standards are?
2019-08-1923 minThe Soccer SidelinesDealing with Loss and When Young People DieDealing with loss in life can be a profoundly life-changing experience. Learning to deal with loss on a smaller scale before the big life-changing losses affect our lives is a way for us to learn some basic things about staying positive, turning negative experiences into positive ones, and more. In this episode, I share some deeply personal experiences that have changed lives and how they relate to lessons we can help our kids learn on the youth sports field.
2019-08-1214 minThe Soccer SidelinesPassing the MicrophoneThis episode is about YOUR story. I'd like to hear from you! Tell me something about how youth sports has impacted your life and/or the life of your family!
2019-08-0506 minThe Soccer SidelinesIt Takes a Team to WinNo one would take on the New York Giants alone and live to tell about it. It takes a team. It take diversity in thinking and in skills for any team to win!
2019-07-2920 minThe Soccer SidelinesIs Youth Sports In the US DyingYouth sports in the US is dying, not because the business model isn't working, but maybe because it is working a little too well. It's drawing in $17 B at the expense of talent, a huge underserved population, and is creating a population of Overserved kids who are burning out!
2019-07-2219 minThe Soccer SidelinesReliability Matters in Youth SportsWhich player do you think coaches are going to be willing to go out of their way for: the ones who consistently keep their promises and follow through, or the ones who are consistently late and break their promises to show up or communicate? Being reliable is a skill that youth sports can help young players learn. In this episode, we talk about what reliability is on and off the pitch - and even into their adult lives, why it's important behind the scenes, and discuss some ways that you can help your kids learn lessons of r...
2019-07-1513 minThe Soccer SidelinesWatching the Womens World CupVisit the show Become a Patron of the show The women's world cup was yesterday! The USA won 2-0 over the Netherlands. Did you watch the game? I mean did you really watch it? Let's talk about how...
2019-07-0817 minThe Soccer SidelinesCharacter Matters in Athlete SelectionSkills, fitness, physicality... It's all important. And it's often an athlete's Character that helps them make the cut. Character matters.
2019-07-0113 minThe Soccer SidelinesManaging the ClockManaging the clock is another valuable life lesson that youth sports can teach our kids. From planning well in advance to managing the seconds of transition moments, managing the clock is a subject that really matters.
2019-06-2421 minThe Soccer SidelinesExtra Benefits of SoccerVisit The Soccer Sidelines Online Soccer offers students many benefits as they mature through the development years, but benefits don't stop there. In this episode, we explore how the game of soccer can connect us with 3.5 Billion fans around the world and create networking opportunities in situations far removed from the soccer field throughout life.
2019-06-1712 minThe Soccer SidelinesPlay Practice Play in Youth SoccerIn this episode, I explain the play, practice, play training methodology, how it's different from the four-phase training methodology, and what parents should look for in a training experience and the coach who delivers it.
2019-06-1017 minThe Soccer SidelinesBenefits of Watching SoccerWatching soccer games is fun, but it's also a great tool in the toolbox for learning about the game, inspiring improvement and creativity, and increasing all of our Soccer IQ's. Experts all over the country are urging us to watch more soccer. Let's talk about why.
2019-06-0317 minThe Soccer SidelinesAccidental Leadership on the Soccer PitchWhether you're a coach, a parent, or an interested observer, you bring more than your lawn chair to a game. You bring your ability to spot leadership, form a thought about that leadership, the courage to share your thoughts, and an ability to express yourself. These are powerful tools!
2019-05-2716 minThe Soccer Sidelinesyouth sport, coaching, developmentWhen deciding whether to play the ball in the air or not as part of a team or match strategy, we have to consider age, field conditions, practice time and more. Let's talk about the vertical game in soccer.
2019-05-2017 minThe Soccer SidelinesFive Things That True Soccer Insiders Know About The GameAre you a true soccer insider? Here are five things that only true insiders know that often take a while for newbies to figure out.
2019-05-1320 minThe Soccer SidelinesOvercoming the Challenge of Letting Our Kids GoLike any skill, letting our kids go is a process that starts earlier than most people think and it takes practice for most of us to get better at. Let's talk about it.
2019-05-0617 minThe Soccer SidelinesSoccer Team and Players The 12th PlayerMore than a collection of individuals, the Soccer Team and Players work together to produce results. The Team is greater than the sum of its parts. In this episode, we talk about "The 12th Player" on the pitch during a match - reading, supporting, and coaching to the team as a unit.
2019-04-2918 minThe Soccer SidelinesInternational Youth Soccer TourIn this episode, number 76, we complete our journey through the system with an international youth soccer tour in the UK. I will take you inside both the Boy's international youth soccer tour experience and the Girl's international youth soccer tour experience. Come with me as we travel from takeoff to landing back in DC.
2019-04-2225 minThe Soccer SidelinesMental Health in SoccerMental Health in Soccer runs deeper and more silent that most of us have given much thought to. In this episode, I share my thoughts and research after a discussion with a mental health nurse in a UK training camp, then I share three things that we can do as parents or as coaches to help our kids manage some mental health issues before they become issues.
2019-04-1520 minThe Soccer SidelinesParent Engagement in Youth SportsWithout parents, youth sports will not exist. Today, there are few explicit development programs for parents. We forget that parents are developing right alongside our players and that they have needs themselves. They wonder how best to support their kids. They wonder what the coach is working on. They want to understand what is happening and what happens next. In this episode, I frame the problem and talk about some solutions.
2019-04-0123 minThe Soccer SidelinesImproving Access to the GameNot enough kids have access to the game. Language barriers, cultural differences, and financial paywalls are leaving significant numbers of kids on the sidelines. How big is the problem and what can we do about it?
2019-03-2515 minThe Soccer SidelinesBetter Coaching with John O'SullivanAfter a dinner with the Potomac Soccer Association and John O'Sullivan, I will share with you the insights gained from a "5 Characteristics of Best Coaches" exercise we did together as a way to draw out some secrets to good coaching. If you're a parent, you'll want to consider how your child will remember their coach in the future. Will he or she be remembered for how well they taught a 4:4:2 or how much they cared about their success on and off the pitch. Listen and decide for yourself.
2019-03-1811 minThe Soccer SidelinesThe Future of CoachingIt's time to promote social and emotional skills, but how? A team of experts spent the last two years exploring this and have a report worth reading. I spent the day with The Aspen Institute and several thought leaders in the youth sports industry. What I heard there was promising and offers hope for parents, players and coaches that we can have more for our children than we have previously imagined. I'm talking about wins beyond the scoreboard! Come with me as I explore the "Calls for Coaches" report and presentation.
2019-03-1113 minThe Soccer SidelinesPlay Up and Play Down Situations in Youth SoccerPlay up and play down situations happen every season in youth soccer. In this episode, we talk about the who, what, and why of the play up and play down scenario.
2019-03-0417 minThe Soccer SidelinesVolunteer Jobs That Support KidsVolunteerism provides billions of dollars of value to our economy. More than 1/3 of our neighbors are doing it at least once per year. It shows good citizenship, sets a great example, and you don't have to be a coach or snack parent to do it!
2019-02-2513 minThe Soccer SidelinesHow to Be a Good CoachFind Show Notes here: https://TheSoccerSidelines.com There isn't a polo shirt, a certification, or a hat with a badge that make someone into a good coach. Whether you're trying your hand at coaching yourself or you're a parent looking to find a good coach for your child to follow, here are 10 things that separate good coaches from bad ones.
2019-02-1827 minThe Soccer SidelinesChildhood ObesityObesity is a growing problem in America. We're already the most overweight country in the Anglosphere. Obesity-related cancers are now affecting millennials at a rate almost twice that of Baby Boomers when they were the same age. Obesity as an adult often starts as childhood obesity. We can have a tremendous impact on this problem by getting our kids involved in healthy lifestyle choices like youth sports and good nutrition.
2019-02-1110 minThe Soccer SidelinesPlaying Soccer in CollegeGetting recruited by colleges is a process. Along the way, there is a recruiting process all athletes go through. While some paid recruiting services may be great, there are a lot of free or nearly free options you can use to give your athlete the best chance they can have in order to get into the college athletic circuit.
2019-02-0422 minThe Soccer SidelinesCompetitive Youth SoccerCompetition is a natural ingredient in the process of strengthening hearts, minds, and bodies. Without competition and struggle, we miss out on valuable opportunities. The question in this episode is: Why do we compete? What's the end game? Is it to play on the world stage or is it to create stronger healthier adults? In this show, I discuss two valid perspectives: youth sport as a way to compete globally, and youth sport as a way to create strong adults in whatever field they chose. In the end, the answer you like best is up to you. ...
2019-01-2815 minThe Soccer SidelinesFollow the Golden RuleBe nice to everyone. You never know who may be watching - and remembering - who you are and how you presented yourself. Not only will you set an example for young players, but you will set the tone for relationships you will likely need in the future!
2019-01-2106 minThe Soccer SidelinesPlaying Chess with a BallThere is so much more to watching a soccer game than watching the player with the ball. Come along with me as we explore some of the history, the formations, the styles, and the 99% of the game that is played without the ball. Come away with a better sense of the game and how you can appreciate watching your kids play the biggest sport in the world.
2019-01-1416 minThe Soccer Sidelines#62 Cooperation Human SuperPowerHumans came down from the trees because of cooperation. Today, our superpower of cooperating is growing weak. Here is a discussion about how we can energize and leverage our human superpower to solve real local problems like keeping character, development, and fun in the center of the youth sports experience.
2019-01-0715 minThe Soccer Sidelines#61 Finding Success in Real LifeYouth Sports affects our lives and our kids lives off the fields and out of the pools in profound ways. Many great men and women got their start learning lessons as youth athletes. In this episode, we will talk about success in life as a result of youth sports.
2018-12-3114 minThe Soccer SidelinesPay to Play in Youth SportsPay to play is unequal, it's unfair, and it is bad for youth sports and the future of our country. It also doesn't have to be the way it is. We can make a difference in a very local way and help stick a fork in the pay-to-play model. Join me as I open the pay-to-play model, discuss three things that are terribly wrong with this model, and share three solutions that you can put into play today to help turn this around.
2018-12-2436 minThe Soccer Sidelines#59 Parents are not PerfectLike little birds that need to leave their nest, little humans need to separate from their parents. This is a normal part of the growth and development process. This is not an easy process for the child or for the parent. In this episode, we talk about cutting yourself some slack and realizing that conflict and separation are a normal part of development.
2018-12-1719 minThe Soccer Sidelines#58 Developing a TeamWe start every season as individuals, and we hopefully walk off the field at the end of every season as something more. The question is as a New Jersey coach fundamentally asks: what can we do to help our players come together as a Team?
2018-12-1030 minThe Soccer Sidelines#57 Take Advantage When The Development Window is OpenBefore you know it, your young athlete will be walking out the door for their first year of college. This comes fast! It’s important to realize that our kids are only on loan to us for a short period of time. Here is one way to make the best of it!
2018-12-0318 minThe Soccer Sidelines#56 The Mind GameThe crucial difference between an elite performer and one who is good is often not visible to the casual observer. Having a good Mind Game can make all the difference! What is a good mental game and how do we help our young athletes develop this critical skill?
2018-11-2613 minThe Soccer Sidelines#55 Referee RespectReferees need our backup, our respect, and a little love! This weekend, a referee team in Virginia earned a "Reffie" from me. Find out why and what you can do to ensure that we see more Reffies in the world of youth soccer!
2018-11-1910 minThe Soccer SidelinesCommon Soccer InjuriesI'm literally typing with hunt and peck, and getting ready to head out to the Emergency Room (ER) as I produce this episode. Lot's of good information here about soccer injuries, but I don't have a lot of time to chat this week. I'm taking my own soccer injury to the doctor this AM. I should have been seen last week when the injury first happened, but I fell victim to what many of us do: I had a game to coach. My team "needed me." And I put my injury aside - hoping it would go away. My injury di...
2018-11-1212 minThe Soccer Sidelines#54 Common Soccer InjuriesSoccer is a pretty tame sport when compared to sports like American football, but injuries can and do happen. When they do, it’s important to let the doctor help. In this episode, I will quickly go over some of the most common injuries, the injuries I’ve personally seen the most of, and leave you with a tip that could keep your athlete in the game longer.
2018-11-1212 minThe Soccer SidelinesBad RefereesHow would you deal with a bad referee? I had occasion to find out how I would deal with a bad referee this weekend. It didn't go as well as I would have liked What would you do if you were faced with a bad referee situation?
2018-11-0524 minThe Soccer SidelinesHeart of a LionIt is possible to leave the field as a winner - even when the scoreboard shows otherwise. Let's talk about how we can support more winners - no matter what the scoreboard says!
2018-10-2916 minThe Soccer SidelinesBeing Beside THAT Mom or DadHeckling from the crowd, knocking out teenaged referees, acting like a fool - all of these things have happened in just this season alone. Go with me as I act as sideline referee in a travel game this past weekend and listen to what some of the parents were saying and what you can do to make a bad experience a little more enjoyable on the sidelines.
2018-10-2225 minThe Soccer SidelinesKeeping Warm on Cold DaysYou deserve to be warm on cold days on a soccer field. In this episode, I talk about not only the importance of getting and keeping players properly warmed up, but also what moms and dads can do to stay warm on the sidelines.
2018-10-1515 minThe Soccer SidelinesThe Coaching PathwayWhether you are thinking about being a coach, already coaching, or a parent considering the coach who will be coaching your child, understanding the coaching pathway is important for you to know.
2018-10-0817 minThe Soccer SidelinesSetting the Bar Through Youth SportsSetting the bar for one another is an important aspect of what youth sports brings not just to players, but to parents, coaches, officials, and volunteers. In this episode, we talk about youth sports as a platform for issuing challenges, raising the bar for one another, and feeling grateful for the times other people brought their A game so that we could improve.
2018-10-0116 minThe Soccer SidelinesCommitment Through Youth SportsCommitment is one of those traits that is a building block in the foundation of youth character. In this episode, we explore how Commitment is practiced by players, parents, coaches, and volunteers - and how together we can help kids absorb the important lessons that commitment teaches for life.
2018-09-2418 minThe Soccer SidelinesSideline RelationshipsWe can not overlook the importance of the energy we create in the community surrounding our kids. Positive relationships between parents, coaches, officials, volunteers... Taken as a whole, it creates an emotional soup that our kids feed on. If we love what we're doing and the people we're working and playing with as adults, kids will feel safe and cultivate a positive emotional response.
2018-09-1719 minThe Soccer SidelinesYour Child and Physical LiteracyThe Soccer Sidelines Website We usually associate literacy with reading books. But what happens when we expand the definition to include the way the body and brain interpret and react to the world and people around us? In this episode, we talk about multi-sport kids and the way sports affects our overall intelligence - especially during key development years.
2018-09-1013 minThe Soccer SidelinesEffective Weather Policyhttp://TheSoccerSidelines.com Email me at:Podcast@TheSoccerSidelines.com Not just "How's the weather," but how the weather and weather policy affects our experience on the field. Staying safe, Proper lightning protocol, cold and heat tables for when to adjust clothing and game times... lots here worth listening to.
2018-09-0324 minThe Soccer SidelinesDifferent Soccer Ball SizesSoccer balls come in many sizes. In this episode, I talk about the various sizes from 1-5 and which ball size goes with which age groups and why. Listen to this before you go ball shopping!
2018-08-2709 minThe Soccer SidelinesResilience in SportsYouth Sports provides one of the best environments for young people to come to understand the power of perception - and as a consequence, the power of resilience. Getting knocked down and getting back up... experiencing failures and celebrating victories... Learning the relationship between the work we put in and the impact it has on our bodies, our minds, our spirit, and our team... Youth sports gives us the gift of thousands of teachable moments. We just need the ability to find and activate those moments to score in life in a big way.
2018-08-2017 minThe Soccer SidelinesGaining Confidence Through Youth SportsHelping players to find confidence pays huge dividends in soccer and in life! It shortens learning curves, it helps players to take risks, to be more decisive, to have more fun, and to share more positive energy with other players on your team. If there is only one thing you can do for players - whether you're a coach or a parent - that will add tremendous value to your youth sports experience, it's helping your players find their confidence.
2018-08-1317 minThe Soccer Sidelines#32 Earning and Owning What You DoIt Goes Back Thousands of Years
If you wanted to be a medicine man (a Shaman) you couldn't get there without some help. You needed to be recognized by your community as a Shaman before you could officially call yourself a Shaman. Someone else would have to see the Shaman in you and name what they saw. Your community would give you the title. In this way, you would know that you have earned it.
No matter what your passion - being an artist or a shaman - being recognized by the people you serve as the thing you strive...
2018-06-1113 minThe Soccer Sidelines#28 – Empowering Our Kids to SucceedWho is Youth Sports For?Sometimes we forget one of the most important elements in youth sports - who everybody is working for. It's not the coach, the Club President, mom or dad... it's our future. It's our future expressed by, shaped by, and executed by our children. I don't mean to suggest that kids have the knowledge or sophistication to tell everybody what to do in the youth sports environment, to modify or enforce the rules, or should be allowed to control the ways things are going - at least not in an explicit way or across the board. I...
2018-05-1419 minThe Soccer SidelinesFundraising For Youth Clubs and TeamsThis is About Your MissionFundraising is about finding more fuel for your club or organization. We simply can't do what our mission calls us to do without money.As a youth sports club, a school, or a not-for-profit, even if you think you're all set, the reality is: there are people we could and should be serving, who we can't reach without capital.In the USA, youth clubs are funded primarily through membership or registration fees (bottom up). Some clubs get sponsorships, many do fundraisers, some offer additional clinics and camps. Every Club needs money for one really good reason...
2018-04-3025 minThe Soccer SidelinesEmpathy Through Youth SportsBeing able to connect and empathize with teammates and our opponents is a powerful skill that youth sports helps us to develop. In this episode, we talk about learning empathy through youth sports - what it looks like, good examples, bad examples, and some things to look if you're coaching character development in your program. Too often, we overlook the lesson of empathy through youth sports as soft or less valuable than other lessons, but as we'll discover, this can be one of the more important lessons our kids can learn in the youth sports environment. "Empathy is seeing with the...
2018-04-1619 minThe Soccer Sidelines#12 – Get Ready to Enjoy a Tournament![spp-player]
So much of the tournament experience happens beyond the pitch. Building esprit-de-corps, enjoying local food, experiencing the hotel, and checking out many different game and coaching styles are just a few!
In this episode, we explore two real-world soccer tournaments that are hosted in the Maryland area. As co-owner for both of these tournaments, David shares some insights on the value of tournaments and how to prepare for them by setting a budget, a plan for the area, and making registration deadlines well in advance.
In the early part of the year is the perfect time to think about wha...
2018-01-2209 minThe Soccer SidelinesWhat the Heck is FutsalVisit the show notes: https://thesoccersidelines.com/what-is-futsal/ Support the Show: https://thesoccersidelines.com/go/ The game of futsal looks like a simple game of soccer on an indoor court, but there is more to it than this. In this episode, we break down the game of futsal and will compare it in some ways to the game of soccer. When you’re done listening to this episode, you’ll have a good idea of the lens to view futsal through. Show Notes: https://thesoccersidelines.com/what-is-futsal/ History of Futsal [Timestamp="00:03:11"]: Learn about the history of futsal - a game that has...
2018-01-0129 min