OCTOBER 2017 EDITION | VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 23
OFFICIAL US YOUTH SOCCER MAGAZINE
US Youth Soccer training plans will help you
Excel in college
USWNT Forward Lynn Williams P. 26
P. 39
TOP COLLEGE PLAYER FAVORITES P. 9
DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW mls veteran kelyn rowe P. 29
UNC Midfielder Joanna Boyles P. 32
Q&A with a Two-Time UAA Coach of the Year P. 42
US YOUTH SOCCER FUEL FOR october
O C T O B E R
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CONTENT
2
Player of the Month
P. 5
Faces of US Youth Soccer
P. 6
Pics From the Pitch
P. 13
APP Attack
P. 25
preparing for college
P. 39
FACES OF the game P. 28
q&a: with college coach p. 42 the college experience p. 44 New Products
P. 48
capitol cups p. 49 Quick Meals
P. 50
lunch Time
P. 51
nutrition
P. 52
workout plan of the month
P. 55
nutrition plan of the month
P. 56
fun pages p. 57 fun pages: answer key p. 61 credits
P. 62
PLAYER FAVORITES P. 9
gettting a jump on college P. 46
day in the life p. 53
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
CLICK HERE
Nominate your tournament to receive free burgers for your concession stand! BUBBA burger, the official Family Fun Burger of US Youth Soccer, is
Recent Winners: Club: Farmington Soccer Club | State: Connecticut Club: Millennium Soccer Kids | State: Texas Club: Reynoldsburg Alliance Soccer Club | State: Ohio Club: Saint Louis Youth Soccer Association | State: Missouri Club: Michigan State Youth Soccer Association | State: Michigan Club: Vail Valley Soccer Club | State: Colorado Club: Crystal Lake Soccer Association | State: Illinois Club: West Florida Flames | State: Florida
The BUBBA burger Tournament Burger Bundle includes:
here to support select youth tournaments this year by providing free
• Vouchers for 17 free boxes of BUBBA burgers
burgers to sanctioned soccer tournaments and events.
• Burger bags
By completing the form below you can nominate your
• One BUBBA burger chef’s apron
US Youth Soccer-sanctioned tournament to be eligible to receive
• 2 BUBBA burger hats
a BUBBA burger Tournament Burger Bundle, which will help your
• 1 sign to be displayed in your concession / grilling area
tournament offset expenses and deliver a great tasting burger to your fans attending the event.
Club: Herndon Hurricanes Black | State: Virginia Club: Lebanon Junior Soccer Club | State: Connecticut Club: West Florida Flames | State: Florida
Enter to Win at fuelsoccer.com/bubbaburger/
US Youth Soccer
Explained
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U
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S Youth Soccer is the largest youth sports organization in the U.S. and consists of over 3 million youth players ages 5-and-Under to 19-andUnder. The organization is the largest member of the U.S. Soccer Federation and is comprised of 55 State Associations that provide structure and support within these state boundaries. In short, US Youth Soccer is all about fostering the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through soccer at all levels of age and competition. Our job is also to make it fun, and instill in young players a lifelong passion for the sport. US Youth Soccer offers great programs for players! Learn more at USYouthSoccer.org
Where Do I Fit In?
US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program was formed in 1977 to identify players in each age group from which a National Team will be selected for international competition. US Youth Soccer ODP is all about high-level training to enhance development of players and coaches.
Soccer Across America is designed to introduce the sport of soccer to communities not yet served by existing clubs and leagues. Focused on making soccer available to lower-income children in underserved communities, Soccer Across America provides soccer training and administrative guidance.
US Youth Soccer National Championship Series consists of the annual State, Regional and National Championships. Teams earn their way through the Series based on success. More than 10,000 teams compete each year, ultimately seeking the eye of college coaches and to hoist the National Championship trophy at the end of July.
US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to those with mental or physical disability.
US Youth Soccer National League is an extension of the highly successful US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues (US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional League, Midwest Regional League, Southern Regional Premier League and Far West Regional League) to play for the league title and earn a ticket to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.
Youth Soccer Month The National Youth Soccer Month campaign celebrated its 15th year of educating the public about the joys, rewards and benefits of playing youth soccer, and offered a variety of resources to learn more about youth soccer and get involved.
Yokohama Skills Challenge US Youth Soccer recently partnered with Yokohama Tire Corporation and have collaborated together to create the Yokohama Skills Challenge, a unique, interactive experience for US Youth Soccer players and fans from across the country. Players will get a chance to test their dribbling and passing skills as well as their shooting accuracy!
Target United Cup The US Youth Soccer Target United Cup provides recreational youth soccer players with an opportunity to experience a consistent, high quality tournament, in a fun familylike atmosphere. This program fosters stimulation and excitement about soccer in an effort to increase the recreational players’ interest in and love for the game.
US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup provides a competitive experience to teams from the state to regional to national level. The Presidents Cup gives players an additional opportunity to compete against teams from across the country at a high level for the joy and the challenge of the game.
Teams
Leagues
Associations/ Clubs
US Youth Soccer
US Soccer
FIFA
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
u s y o u t h s o cc e r e x p l a i n e d
OFFICIAL TIRE OF
+ +Player of the month
E
ach month, we will recognize one male and one female player as the US Youth Soccer Player of the Month, whose accomplishments on and off the field stick out among the rest. The players who are selected will represent a balance of athletic achievement, sportsmanship and citizenship.
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++Emilie | South Jordan, Utah
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Emilie helped her Utah Soccer Alliance squad to a 5-2 win in the US Youth Soccer Utah State Cup championship game. With her team facing a two-goal deficit in the second half, Emilie contributed two goals and two assists, as USA scored five goals in 20 minutes to earn the victory. The ninth-grader is a 4.0 student, and she is a starting forward on the Herriman Varsity soccer team, for which she has 18 assists and five goals in 16 games as a starter. Additionally, she’s a member of the National Honor Society, and participates regularly in community service. Emilie has compassion for others, and is consistently looking to serve and lift those around her, including her two siblings.
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++Cody | Hubert, N.C. Cody is a smart and creative player, who has worked hard to be confident using both feet for all skills. As a leader by example, he brings a positive attitude to his team and makes new players feel welcome through his actions and communication. Cody takes all of his positive aspects as a player and applies them to the community, as well. He has participated on his school’s chess team, is a member of the Perrysburg Conservation Club, and he participated on his school science team. He is an outstanding student who has been on the principal’s list, maintaining an A+ in all subjects for two years in a row. Cody is also enrolled in the AIG program for both math and English language arts.
Nominate a Player of the month HEre
©2017 Yokohama Tire Corporation
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A snapshot of players who personify US Youth Soccer
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Ryan Bass
Gabriel Medina
Riley Meckley
FC Dallas Tri Columbus Crew
BUSA
Albertson Fury
Tennessee
Alabama
New York
Pennsylvania
New York
Sixth
Fifth
Eighth
Sixth
Third
Goalkeeper
Forward
Midfield
Forward
Forward
Favorite Class
Math
Physical Education
Earth Science
Math
Math
Favorite Movie
Batman
The Boss Baby
Elf
Moana
Jurassic Park
Favorite TV Show
Teen Titans Go
Teen Titans Go
America's Got Talent
Henry Danger
Minecraft Videos
Favorite Exercise
Shots on Goal
Rondo
1v1 Challenges
Ladders
Running
Least Favorite Exercise
Running Drills
Nothing
Burpees
Suicides
Push-Ups
Favorite Healthy Food
Peanut Butter
Bananas
Broccoli
Bananas
Watermelon
Vegetables
Peach
Spinach
Cabbage
Lima Beans
Beastie Boys
Pitbull
Lady Gaga
N/A
All
Mom and Dad
Lionel Messi
Tobin Heath
Alex Morgan
Mom
Pro Soccer
Study Abroad
USWNT
Be Happy
Club State Grade in 2016-17 Position(s)
Least Favorite Healthy Food Music You Train To Role Model
Future Aspirations Architect or Surgeon
Brooke Kolar
Tyler Nolan
Hollidaysburg Hurricanes Long Island Premier FC
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
fFA a cCeES s o OF f sSO o cc C CeER r
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A snapshot of players who personify US Youth Soccer
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Hailey Jolliff
Alejandra Melendez
Maverick Badillo
Kai Leaver
Maggie Buckley
Club
AFA Fillies
California Thorns
La Roca South P1
Casper Soccer Club
Perdido Bay Futbol Club
State
Missouri
California
Utah
Wyoming
Florida
Eighth
10th
Ninth
Second
Fourth
Midfield
Midfield
Defense
Midfield
Defense
Favorite Class
Math
Biology
Math
Science
Physical Education
Favorite Movie
N/A
IT!
Gladiator
Despicable Me
Beauty and the Beast
Favorite TV Show
N/A
The Office
Big Bang
Pokémon
Once Upon a Time
Favorite Exercise
Ball Drills
Technical Training
1v1
Foundations
Open the Gate
Least Favorite Exercise
N/A
Running
Jumping
Scissors
None
Favorite Healthy Food
Fruit
Strawberries
Tacos
Bananas
Salad
Green Things
Spinach
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Vegetables
Variety
The Weeknd
Drake
Varies
Taylor Swift
Coach Jason
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
My Dad
Mom and Dad
College Soccer
College Soccer
Great College
US Olympic Team
Nurse
Grade in 2016-17 Position(s)
Least Favorite Healthy Food Music You Train To Role Model Future Aspirations
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
fFA a cCeES s o OF f sSO o cc C CeER r
+ +Favorite Way to Improve Conditioning
+Favorite + Pregame Ritual
Adam Michel
Rockhurst
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Rockhurst
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Adam Michel, the senior forward/ midfielder from St. Louis (Vianney HS), was a 2016 All-GLVC selection as a junior after netting five goals and five assists. He was GLVC Second Team AllConference. “My favorite way to improve my conditioning is through the Manchester United fitness test, which is a 100-yard sprint in 25 seconds followed by a 100yard recovery in 35 seconds for the first 10 rounds. After each round, you lose a second on the sprint and gain a second on the recovery time. I believe the Man U improves my sprinting technique and overall endurance to prepare for the season.”
++what is YOUR favorite Way to Improve Conditioning ? Share with us on facebook.
Kaleb Jackson Kaleb Jackson, the senior forward from St. Louis (DeSmet Jesuit), ranks ninth among active Division II players with 68 career points, and is tied for 11th nationally among active players with 26 career goals. He had a team-high 12 goals and five assists last year for the Hawks. “My favorite pregame ritual is to listen to the speech ‘Any Given Sunday.’ We all gather together in the locker room and just listen to the speech. It is something that really gets us going.”
++Favorite Way to Improve Soccer Skills Kameron Bush Arcadia
Kameron Bush (Palmyra, Pa.) is a senior back at Arcadia who has appeared in 30 career games, making 21 starts. He started all 21 games last season at center back as a junior. His club team, CAPA 95, won several showcases and reached the semifinals of US Youth Soccer Pennsylvania State Cup. “Growing up I always thought a player’s first touch was so important. I worked on this by juggling for hours in my yard or even before and after practice. I did this to improve my touch, and it ultimately improved my first touch in games.”
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
M Y FAV ORI T ES
++Favorite Quality in a Teammate
+Favorite + Off-Field Activity
Maria Munoz
Nazareth College
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Florida Institute of Technology
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A sophomore at FIT, Maria Munoz started 16 games and was second on the team with three goals last season as a freshman. She was named to the Fall Sunshine State Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll and to the FIT Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. She was Broward County and Miami Harold AllStar First Team for Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla. “My favorite quality in a teammate is work ethic and focus. I have a lot of respect for teammates who not only want to get better for themselves, but also the team. I appreciate when a hard working team member corrects me on something because it helps me develop the necessary skills needed to provide my team with my best efforts.”
+What + is your favorite Quality in a Teammate? Share with us on facebook.
Brian Wilkin
Brian Wilkin is a freshman goalie for Nazareth College. He helped lead his US Youth Soccer club team Empire United to 2012 and 2013 New York State Cup championships. “Since the early age of 5, my favorite off-field activity has been downhill skiing. The feeling of being on the mountain, shredding the fresh powder, and catching big air is why skiing is my favorite activity off the soccer pitch. It has given me the opportunity to travel the country, meet new people and be with my family.”
++Favorite Professional Player Zac Sitler
Palm Beach Atlantic University Zac Sitler, the senior Seneca S.C., (Montverde Academy), made seven appearances off the bench before battling the injury bug last season. As a sophomore, he scored four goals and picked up an assist for nine points on the season. “My favorite player growing was Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s someone that has come from nothing to become one of the greatest players of this era. The hard work and determination on and off the field is something I admire and strive to replicate in my own play.”
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
M Y FAV ORI T ES
++Favorite Soccer Skill
+Favorite + Thing About Soccer
Evan Enders
Connor Keane
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Florida Institute of Technology
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Evan Enders was named NSCAA All-South Region Second Team last year as a junior. He played club soccer with Space Coast United for four years. “Dependability in all situations. No matter what environment we play in, whether it be 100-degree weather, terrible pitch conditions, or even a bad ref, I want to be able to count on a teammate to perform to their fullest potential and maintain a positive attitude. When the times are tough, a stable teammate can conglomerate the team to help us win. Dependability not only provides a stable foundation for the team, but it also inspires the other members to work harder and emulate the aforementioned player.”
+WHAT’s + your favorite soccer skill? Share with us on facebook.
Saginaw Valley State University Connor Keane, a sophomore goalkeeper, is a native of Manchester, England. As a freshman, he racked up 46 saves that contributed to the team’s 15 wins and recorded seven shutouts. “Having a player who is committed to the team just as much if you’re winning or losing is the real difference between a good team and a successful team. Having everyone pull in the right direction brings a togetherness which you only find in soccer.”
++Favorite Club Memory Barak Benyehuda Buffalo State
The senior midfielder from Syracuse, N.Y., Barak Benyehuda, started in 13 games last year for Buffalo State as a junior and eight as a sophomore. His first career goal was a game-winner on Sept. 18, 2017 in a 1-0 win over the University of Rochester. “The entire club soccer experience was memorable, and beneficial for me as a player and as a person. The most memorable moments were competing at the New York West State Cup every year.”
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
M Y FAV ORI T ES
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14U Girls SDFC Yellow (NJ) vs. Tennessee SC Showcase (TN) at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships. Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/Rick Yeatts
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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16U Boys Tampa Bay United (FL) vs. LVSA 01 Red (NV) at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships. Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/Rick Yeatts
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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13U Girls Lonestar 04 Red (TX-S) vs. San Diego Surf (CA-S) at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships. Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/Rick Yeatts
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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15U Boys St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC Elite (MO) vs. Tuzos Academy 02 (AZ) at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships. Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/Rick Yeatts
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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Target United Cup action in Ontario, Ohio. Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/Whitney Francis
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D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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Target United Cup action in Ontario, Ohio. Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/Whitney Francis
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D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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Target United Cup action in Ontario, Ohio. Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/Whitney Francis
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14U Boys Downtown LA Soccer Club 03 (CAS) vs. Sporting Wichita Rojos (KS) at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup. Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/JoEllen DeLeon
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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14U Girls FC United 2003 Predator (IL) vs. Eagles SC 2003 (CA-S) at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup . Courtesy of US Youth Soccer/JoEllen DeLeon
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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STAY UP TO DATE WITH MLS GET THE FREE APP
FOLLOW @MLS
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PES 2017 Pro Evolution Soccer: Take total control of every action on the field in a way that only the PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER franchise can deliver. Natural player movements, precision passing, and in-depth tactics bring the true experience of the beautiful game to your mobile device. Build your ideal club and play online matches against players from across the globe, all in real time. FREE
download app
click here
Venmo: Collect money for the team gift or the year-end pizza party; split up the costs of groceries, dinner or the hotel bill from an out of town tournament without all the hassle. This app takes the awkwardness out of asking people to pay up. Venmo links to your bank account or debit card and takes funds out or deposits them into your account. FREE
download app
CLICK HERE
Instacart: If you travel out of town to tournaments, this App will change your life. No need to find the local Costco or hit the grocery store when you arrive. Now you can do all of your shopping online and instacart sends out one of their personal shoppers to pick everything up and deliver it to your front door or hotel room. FREE
download app
CLICK HERE
GameChanger: Can’t make it to one of your kid’s games? You can still keep up in real time with this app. A favorite of sports parents. Gamechanger provides live play-by-play, in-game alerts and recaps of your childs’s games. GameChanger provides simple - yet powerful - free scorekeeping tools, advanced statistics, live updates and team management solutions. FREE
download app
CLICK HERE
GroupMe: This is an app that allows you to send group messages to your contacts across multiple platforms. Good if you are the coach or team mom. Great for reminding parents about practices, game times, etc. Allows you to communicate with anyone you want in the group you have set up. Simplifies group text messaging. FREE
download app
CLICK HERE
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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a p p a tta c k
FA C ES OF T HE G A M E : US W N T By Terry Jacoby
On the Rise on the World Stage
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Lynn Williams Getty Images
here is a youth movement going on in women’s soccer and Lynn Williams is one of the faces fans are going to see a lot more of over the next few years. It’s a face that has overcome indifference and injuries to reach the highest level. After the USA left the recent Olympics without any hardware, the coaching staff decided to go younger, faster, stronger. And after a breakout season in just her second NWSL season, Williams seems to be a perfect fit for the new direction. What about soccer grabbed your attention? “I started playing soccer when I was 5. I was a kid with a lot of energy so my parents put me into sports at an early age. I also come from a sports family so soccer was kind of a natural for me to try. I also ran track at the same time. I didn’t know which one I wanted to do in college.” You had some injuries in high school. How frustrating was that and how much did that set you back? “I had foot surgery at the beginning of my freshman, sophomore and junior years of high school. So I had some injuries I was dealing with and not knowing why I kept getting hurt.
I also didn’t realize colleges were recruiting players at such a young age. I wasn’t recruited until my junior year.” Then Pepperdine came to the rescue? “Yeah, they came and offered me a scholarship and I was so excited. And the rest is history.” How did Pepperdine end up recruiting you? “San Bernardino, which is a D-3 school, saw me play. They looked into my grades and everything and saw that they were good so they contacted Pepperdine and said ‘Hey this girl is too good for us. You should take a look at her.’ They drove down one night and saw one of our practices, then invited me up to the campus and it was a match. It all happened really fast.” There seems to be a lot of change going on with the U.S. women’s national team. Is it exciting to be a part of that? “Yeah, it’s so exciting. It’s been my dream for so long. I thought I might have missed my time with all the injuries and everything so when I got the call it was so surreal. And every time I get called in I am so honored. I’m still shocked that I’m part of the team. It’s amazing.”
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
Lynn Williams, USWNT
FA C ES OF T HE G A M E : US W N T
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+ +Six FACTS 1
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Williams attended Bullard High School (Fresno, Calif.) where she played on the varsity soccer team and earned all-league and all-area honors all four years. She also competed in track and her 4x100 relay team took fifth place at the state meet and won a Valley championship. Both parents, David and Christine, ran track at Fresno State and her father also played football. Williams graduated from Pepperdine University in 2014 after accumulating 24 goals, 15 game-winning goals, and 398 shots, which ranks 1st in Pepperdine women’s soccer history. She also finished her career with 39 assists and 102 points, both which ranked her second in school history. As a senior, Williams led her team with 14 goals and 10 assists, leading Pepperdine to an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Following her impressive comeback from injuries and her strong collegiate career, Williams was selected by the Western NY Flash in the 2015 NWSL College Draft (No. 6 overall). She signed a contract with the Flash on March 17 and had 17 appearances for the Flash, including 13 starts. Williams was named the WNY Flash’s Offensive Player of the Year for 2015.
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Her second season playing in Rochester was another strong one for the fast and flashy forward. It was a year that proved she could play with the best in the game. In 2016, Williams started in all 19 games played, logging 1,670 minutes for the Flash. She scored 11 goals and tallied five assists in 2016, making her the NWSL Golden Boot winner and League MVP. In 2017, Williams was called up to participate in the U.S. Women’s National Team January training camp in Carson, Calif. She was called up for two international friendlies against Sweden (6/8/17) and Norway (6/11/17). In 2016, she made four appearances and scored one goal for the USWNT. In 2015, she was a member of the U-23 Women’s National team in La Manga during the Six Nations Cup. She scored the game winner against England to lead her team to victory. When not playing for the U.S. Women’s National Team, Williams is a key player on the North Carolina Courage. The team got off to a quick start in the NWSL and quickly established itself as one of the top teams in the league. The Courage went a league-best 15-6-0 in their first 21 games. Williams started in nine games, playing 810 minutes while recording three goals, two assists and 46 shots.
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Williams played club soccer with the East Fresno Fusion for three years after playing for both CVSA (two years) and Bullard Valley FC (three years). She won a state championship and was a regional quarterfinalist with the Fusion as a U-19 player. “I loved it there,” she said of the Fusion. “We had an amazing coach. And I got to play with some amazing teammates. And that’s actually where I was seen to get to go and play college.” The Fusion had one club team so Williams had to play up a level. “We were a small club so we didn’t get into the big tournaments like Surf Cup,” she said. “We played a lot of smaller tournaments that the big colleges never sent any coaches to watch. We had some success though. We played in Idaho once for regionals and got destroyed. We won a lot of small tournaments.” Williams said club soccer was a big step in her development. “It took me a few attempts to find the right club team that was a perfect fit for me,” she said. “There is a lot of talent in Fresno but the talent got spread out so there was never that one great team. I was playing catch-up.”
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
++Hear This
+ +Power Tips
W ++Hear This
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“It took me a few attempts to find the right club team that was a perfect fit for me.”
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Lynn Williams Getty Images
illiams’ entire career has been, as she says, “filled with injuries.” She tore her quad her freshman year at Pepperdine. Her sophomore year she was having a great season when she tore her meniscus and had surgery. During her junior year she was having another strong season when she tore her labrum in her hip and shattered her elbow. “Hip surgery was a tough recovery,” she said. “I even questioned whether I wanted to keep playing. I was questioning whether it was all worth it.” Her senior season she stayed healthy the entire way and helped lead Pepperdine to the Sweet 16. So, yeah it was worth it. “Pepperdine was the place I was meant to be at,” she said. “It was a smaller school and it gave me more structure. It was a great fit for my personality. The coaches were great and developed me as a soccer player and as a person. They want to build people of character and that was my experience there. I owe them so much for where I am today.”
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A Humanitarian on the Pitch
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Kelyn Rowe New England Revolution
elyn Rowe is a six-year pro with at least five goals and five assists in each of his last four seasons with the New England Revolution, and he has played three games in 2017 for the U.S. Men’s National Team. A third-overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Rowe has started at least 21 matches in each of first five MLS campaigns and set a career high with 31 starts in 2016. He ranks second in club history with six career goals in the U.S. Open Cup and one of just seven players in club history to record at least 25 goals and 25 assists. Off the field, he was voted 2016 Santander Most Valuable Player by fans and named the Revolution’s Humanitarian of the Year in three straight years from 2014-16. Rowe was named to the U.S. Men’s National Team for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. You were named to the U.S. Men’s National Team for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup and made your debut against Ghana in July. What was that experience like?
“There were some nerves going in for sure. Putting on that USA crest for the first time is pretty incredible. It’s a dream come true all in one game. It was great to represent the USA.” And then you scored a goal in the USA’s 3-0 win over Nicaragua in Cleveland. What were you thinking when you scored? “I was just trying to get better every game and we needed a lot of goals so I was fortunate to be able to provide one. I can’t explain the feeling. It was like fireworks had just been shot off. Then I realized I just scored a goal for USA and it was my first ever.” You got an assist and then a goal and then silence. You haven’t played since with the Men’s National Team. How difficult is that? “Of course it’s tough to take. It’s not something you want. But for me it’s just more fuel for the fire. I started out and played pretty well. Now I have to get better to get back to that position. I’m back with the Revolution and the (national team) coaches will be watching, so I need to play well and get better and play consistently at the highest level.”
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Kelyn Rowe, New England Revolution
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During his two seasons at UCLA, Rowe earned two AllConference honors and was selected as the 2011 Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore after scoring seven goals with 10 assists (eighth most in the nation). He helped UCLA reach the NCAA College Cup in 2011, scoring in the semifinal match against North Carolina. He had six goals and a conference-leading 10 assists as a freshman. During his rookie season with the Revolution in 2012, Rowe appeared in 30 regular-season games, starting 21 times. He scored three goals and tied for the team lead with five assists, which were also tied for the most among MLS rookies. He scored in the Revolution’s U.S. Open Cup Third Round match and made four appearances in the MLS Reserve League. There was no sophomore slump in Rowe’s MLS career. In fact, he took his game to the next level in 2013, making 33 league appearances, including 26 starts. He tallied seven goals with eight assists, both still among career highs for the talented midfielder (he also had seven goals in 2015). In all competitions, Rowe scored 12 goals and added 10 assists in 38 games.
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In 2016 with the Revolution, Rowe tied for second on the Revolution with 33 appearances, starting a career-best 32 games. He registered five goals and finished second on the team with seven assists, logging minutes at every position aside from goalkeeper and center back. He started three U.S. Open Cup matches, totaling 279 minutes. He was voted Santander Most Valuable Player by fans and earned his third consecutive Humanitarian of the Year award. Rowe seemed like a long shot to make Bruce Arena’s Gold Cup roster in the summer of 2017, but the talented midfielder landed a spot among the final 23 players selected. He made the most of his opportunity, scoring his first career goal for the U.S. Men’s National Team in a 3-0 win over Nicaragua. Rowe received a diagonal ball from Alejandro Bedoya in the 56th minute and with the outside of his right foot, tucked a shot inside the near post to give the U.S. a 2-0 advantage. Rowe gets a text from his dad from his father before every match. “I get a text before every game from my dad to always have fun, always be creative and make sure that no one works harder than you,” Rowe said. He has followed his dad’s advice to the highest level of soccer.
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Rowe played youth club soccer with Crossfire Premier Academy, being named to the U16 West Conference Starting XI in 2007 and 2008. “I have great memories of playing club soccer,” he said. “I went through the academy system with Crossfire under Bernie James and we actually had a very good team. We made it to the finals before I went out to college at UCLA. “I love the system that’s been put in place. It gives young players a chance to travel all over the country, to play against the best players. I think it’s gone a long way in helping develop great players in this country.” It also develops players off the field. “I have many friends from those days and many good buddies from that team still playing or supporting me,” he said. “I get texts and calls from those guys all the time and it means a lot to me.” A fan favorite for his work off the pitch, Rowe has been heavily involved in several philanthropic efforts, most notably the Jessie Rees Foundation and Team NEGU (Never, Ever Give Up). His work earned him three consecutive Humanitarian of the Year awards from the Revolution in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
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Kelyn Rowe New England Revolution
“I have great memories of playing club soccer … I think it’s gone a long way in helping develop great players in this country.”
ven the best players playing at the top of their game strive to get better. After scoring his first goal with the U.S. Men’s National Team this past summer in a 3-0 win over Nicaragua, Rowe took it as a challenge to get better. “I’m not going to stop learning,” he said after scoring his first goal for the big club and earning 61 minutes on the pitch in a Gold Cup match in Cleveland. “Any day I go out and play and I get to talk with the coaches, get a video session, and get on the field, is a lesson,” he said after the match. “These guys, who have been around and played all over the place, are guys you want to learn from.” Rowe learned some valuable lessons early in his soccer playing days and has some advice for younger players just starting out. “When I was young I played soccer every day,” he said. “I even played up a year so I could play better competition. And after practice I remember we would stick around and keep playing with guys two or three years older than us playing on the higher club teams. My dad had to pull me off the field.”
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Joanna Boyles, UNC A Triumphant Return
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Joanna Boyles UNC
he redshirt senior triumphantly returned to the University of North Carolina lineup in 2017 after two ACL tears sidelined her for nearly two years. In August, she scored and added an assist on the game-winning goal in Carolina’s 2-1 overtime win over rival Duke. The Raleigh, N.C., native has played both attacking and holding center midfield. Boyles began playing with the U.S. U-15 National Team and also was a member of U.S. U-17 National Team. She was a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team player pool and trained with the U-20 squad for most of 2014 and was one of the final cuts before the team was taken down to 21 players for the U-20 World Cup in Canada. What about soccer grabbed your attention as a youngster? “My cousin played soccer at Clemson, so I grew up loving soccer from the first time I could kick a ball. I played basketball and tennis and swam and did every sport I could up until the point when I had to focus only on soccer.” What about the game did you like? “All of it. I really wanted to be like my cousin. I loved the competitiveness of soccer.”
What was your first experience like playing on a national team? “I was called into the very first U-14 camp and kept getting calls ever since. Claire Wagner (Clemson) and I were playing at nationals and right after we lost we had to get on a plane and go to California for camp. It was very exciting and an incredible experience.” How exciting is to represent your country? “It’s incredible. Some of the players from those teams are some of my closest friends today. Every national team player has their ups and downs.” A few years back you were one of the last players cut from the U-20 team. How did you deal with that? “It was extremely tough, but it just adds more fuel to the fire and increases my drive to get back there. I’m an extremely hard worker, and after two ACL tears I’ve rediscovered my game and feel I’m a better person and better player now.” What are your goals for your senior season at UNC? “We lost in the Final Four last year, and we are looking to get back there and win a National Championship.”
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Boyles began proudly wearing the USA jersey at an early age. In 2010, she was named to the U.S. U-15 Women’s National Team before being promoted to the U-17 Team. She played in 2009 and 2010 US Youth Soccer ODP Thanksgiving Interregional in Sunrise, Fla., with U.S. U15 WNT. She also attended the 2009 U-14 U.S. Soccer ID Camp and in 2009 was a U.S. Soccer Adidas Golden Boot recipient. Boyles began her international play with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2012. She played on the U.S. U-17 Team at World Cup in Azerbaijan in 2012 and was a member of U.S. U-17 squad, which won CONCACAF Championship in 2012. She also was a member of U.S. U-17 National Team that won the 2010 Nordic Cup. In 2011 and 2012, Boyles was a NSCAA Youth All-America selection and was MVP in all four games at 2012 US Youth Soccer ODP Costa Rica International Tournament while captaining the Region III team.
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In her freshman season in 2013, Boyles appeared in 23 games as a reserve midfielder and showed tremendous improvement during the course of the season. She played a total of 626 minutes during the season and scored the gamewinning goal against No. 9 West Virginia in the 44th minute, converting one of the best free kick goals in recent UNC history. She made the 2013-14 ACC Academic Honor Roll. Boyles began her sophomore season at UNC in 2014 by earning the starting position as Carolina’s attacking center midfielder, taking over at the spot Crystal Dunn played in 2013. She started all 20 games and was second-team All-ACC and made the All-ACC Academic Team. She ranked third on the team in minutes played with 1,392 and had three goals and a team-high eight assists. During her junior year at North Carolina, Boyles played in 19 games during the season, starting 17 times and playing 1,203 minutes. She was 2015 second-team All-ACC, third-team NSCAA All-Southeast Region, and made the 2015-16 All-ACC Academic Team for women’s soccer. She was named to AllTournament Team at the ACC Tournament and named to Top Drawer Soccer preseason third-team Best XI in the midfield.
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Boyles has encountered her share of adversity at UNC. She was the team’s leading scorer as a freshman in 2014 – only to suffer two major injuries later in her career. She has learned the value of taking care of her body through recovery. “On my days off, I do my best to do all the correct things in order to recover as quickly as possible,” Boyles said. “This includes ice baths or any other treatment that is needed. I also try to relax my mind. I might watch a movie or go to eat with my family that lives close. It’s all about relaxation and recovery.” As she makes her return to the level of play she was accustomed to before her injuries, she is reconsidering the possibility of achieving all of her soccer dreams. “Every girl’s dream is to play in the Olympics and World Cup,” Boyles said. “That’s been a goal of mine ever since I got the call to the U-14 camp. But things can happen in a second and you have to be ready to react. It’s hard to plan five years down the road because things change. So right now I’m focused on Carolina and our goals here.”
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Joanna Boyles UNC
oyles decided to redshirt the 2016 season to ensure a full recovery from her ACL tear in her left knee suffered in November 2015. But in August 2016 she was dealt another blow when she tore the ACL in her right knee. “After my second one, there was no doubt that I would be even better than I was before,” Boyles said. “That was kind of the way I approached my rehab and approached everything getting back on the field. “My immediate goal was to be ready for the spring season in 2017. Every single day I did everything I could do in order to be ready. I just had an incredible drive to get back. Coming back was one of the most gratifying things I’ve ever done.” She said she feels faster and stronger and better than she did before her injuries. She also spent some time studying the game of soccer from the sidelines. “It was a chance to reset my body and my bio mechanics and identify areas I needed to be stronger in,” she said. “I worked on my strength and speed. “When you are playing, you really only focus on your position.”
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FA C ES OF T HE G A M E : m e n ’ s c o l l e g e By Terry Jacoby
A Leader for the Badgers
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Chris Mueller University of Wisconsin
hris Mueller, an extremely competitive player with high-end technique, is a senior forward with the University of Wisconsin men’s soccer team. He enjoyed a breakout season last year for the Badgers, who finished second in the Big Ten. He was a Third-Team All-American in 2016 as a junior, enjoying a record season, leading the Badgers in goals (8), assists (11), points (27), shots (60) and shots on goal (30). Mueller also garnered first-team All-Big Ten and Midwest All-Region first team selections, becoming the school’s first honoree for both accolades since 2013. He was Wisconsin’s eighth NSCAA All-American. During his sophomore season, Mueller also proved to be a finisher with the soccer ball. He led the team in goals with five and in points with 13. Mueller, a native of Schaumburg, Ill., was ranked in the 2014 Boys IMG Academy 150 Player Pool and was rated a four-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer.com. What about soccer grabbed your attention at young age? “I wrestled and played baseball. But soccer seemed to be my favorite. It was the sport I was the best at when I was young.” Did you play for your high school? “No, I never did. I just stuck with club. Looking back
I wish I had played at least one year. It would have been fun.” Put on your recruiter hat. What would you tell a young soccer player considering Wisconsin? “The athletic facilities are first rate, and the resources are great from the coaches to the tutors who help with classes to the academic advisors. It’s one really big family and everyone helps everyone reach their goals. The professors are understanding with our schedules and that’s a big help.” You led the Badgers in goals and points as a junior. What do you attribute your success to last season? “My teammates, for sure. Everyone was clicking and it made my job easier. The team played as one and it helped me accomplish that. They did what they do best and that allowed me to have a good season.” You finished second in the Big Ten Tournament and third in Big Ten conference play. How didn’t you get an NCAA bid? “I don’t know. It was bizarre and disappointing. We took a huge leap as a team from my sophomore season to last year and even though we didn’t win anything, it was a great experience and was a success.”
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Chris Mueller, Wisconsin
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In 2015 as a sophomore, Mueller started 11 of the 19 games he played in with the Badgers, leading the team in goals with five and points with 13. He tallied 37 shots, 19 of them on goal and scored his second career and game-winning goal against St. John’s on Sept. 19. He was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week after scoring his first career and game-winning goal at Rutgers on Sept. 11. Mueller on why he choose Wisconsin: “I elected Wisconsin due to the reputation of the school, the prestigious academic programs, the extraordinary level of soccer, the character of the coaching staff and the prominent alumni network which encompass the best opportunity to reach all of my future goals.” Wisconsin Coach John Trask on Mueller: “Christopher is another in a long line of Chicago-based players who have helped Wisconsin soccer over the years. He is a coach’s dream, both technical and hard working with the ability to unbalance opposing defenses in a number of different ways. Chris can play multiple spots for us, and I believe when he gets settled within the team great things will come from him.”
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Mueller was named to the honorable MAC Hermann Trophy watch list before his final season in Madison kicked off in 2017. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. This year’s winners will be announced Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. The senior forward was one of three Wisconsin players to receive preseason recognition from the Big Ten Conference. Mueller and senior teammates Mike Catalano and Philipp Schilling were each named to the league’s preseason honors list. The Badgers were predicted to finish third in the conference standings. UW finished second in the Big Ten regular standings last season with an 11-4-4 overall record and 4-2-2 conference record. Mueller competed with the U14 IYSA National Championship team, U15 U.S. Club National Championship team, plus two years in U16 Academy and one year in U18 Academy. After he finishes his senior year at Wisconsin he hopes to play at the next level and someday the highest level. “That is the hope,” he said. “Maybe playing overseas will be an option. But for now, I need to focus on this year and one thing at a time.”
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Mueller went to Wisconsin after spending nine seasons with the very successful Chicago Sockers Academy program coached by David Richardson. He was in the Sockers FC Top Talent Program and First Team Metro League after the Sockers were 2011 State and Regional Finalist, Midwest Regional League (MRL) Champion and winners of the Manchester Premier Cup. “I started playing club soccer when I was 9 and played with the Sockers the entire time,” he said. “Club was interesting. I learned a lot from a lot of good coaches. I played for five or six different coaches who taught me things I use to this day. It was a very valuable experience and helped get me to where I am today.” In 2010, the Sockers were US Youth Soccer State and Regional champions. They also were Regional champions in 2009. “We had some good teams,” he said. “It was a blast, and I still keep in touch with a lot of those guys today. There was a run there for a few seasons where we rarely ever lost a game and that was such a good time. We were just so dominant and really clicking.”
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“I played for five or six different coaches who taught me things I use to this day.”
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Chris Mueller University of Wisconsin
laying college soccer at any level requires a major commitment, not only during the season but the entire year. Many players live a soccer life the entire year and have done so for years playing club soccer at an early age. Growing up in the Chicago Sockers program, Mueller learned the right ways to train and prepare for not only a game but an entire season. “Training with the team is very important,” he said. “You have to be prepared every time you walk onto the field. “A lot of young athletes don’t focus on nutrition and recovery. I know when I was playing I didn’t do a good enough job focusing on those areas. And they are very important. Stretching is very important. So is the amount of sleep you get, so make sure you are going to bed at a decent time and getting enough sleep. Eating the right foods is important because it all ties in with your conditioning and preparation. I treat my body like a temple now and if I could reach back and tell myself something when I was younger, it would have been to eat healthy.”
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YO U OC TH S
The Freshman Experience Navigating the Transition to College Can Be Tricky
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reshman orientation is always a little tricky – for everyone involved. But most players get through it and many adjust quickly to soccer – and life – played at a little faster pace. Here are a few players’ experiences from different perspectives on playing college soccer as a freshman at a high level and what the challenges and expectations are for most newcomers. “A Team-First Thing” It can be a difficult challenge to deal with. Think about it. You are a senior captain fighting for playing time. You want to be on the field, playing the game you love and representing the school you wear on your jersey. The player wants to play but the captain is asked to lead and support and help the new players get used to the college game
and college life. In other words, help the players trying to take your job. Sometimes, those two things can collide especially for the Michigan Wolverines, who welcomed 11 freshmen to this year’s lineup. For Michigan senior captain Alyssa Dillon, it’s simple. It’s the front of the jersey that matters – not the back of the jersey. The block ‘M’ is what matters most at Michigan and the only “enemy” is the team wearing the other jersey. “It’s always been a team-first thing for me,” said Dillon, a four-year varsity soccer player and two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. “It’s hard because this team is so competitive and has so many good players. You hear about teams that get into fights or lose team chemistry over playing time but that’s not the case here.”
Michigan senior captain Alyssa Dillon helps integrate the freshmen into the program.
Dillon played US Youth Soccer for the Michigan Hawks. “Club soccer was a time where I developed my skills as a soccer player,” she said. “Club is a much bigger commitment than high school soccer, and it was a big part of my life. A great time of my life. The traveling was a big part of it and it helped make me the player I am
today.” That player is one who enjoys her role on the Wolverines, whether on the field or off of it. “One thing that is very special about this team is that everyone wants everyone to succeed,” she said. “We are all helping each other and rooting for each other. Even when players are coming off the
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field, they are always encouraging and supportive of the player taking their spot.”
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Sacramento State Freshman Dennis Cole ‘You have to Be Really Organized’ Dennis Cole, a freshman at Sacramento State, says the transition from high school to college has been an “adventure.” “It’s like a whole new world compared to high school,” said Cole, a talented forward who was a standout player at Dunn School in Los Olivos, Calif. “Everything you have to do is up to you now. There is no one here to help you and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s preparing you for the real world. It’s just different. There are a lot of resources here, but it’s up to each person
how and when to use them.” Cole said the biggest challenge came when classes were added to his schedule. Most soccer players arrive on campus long before school starts because practices begin well before the school bell rings. “When we first got here, we were just focusing on playing soccer so it’s not too difficult a schedule,” said Cole, who is majoring in business. “But then when school starts and the academic side is added, it can be challenging at times. So now I have two or three classes during the day and still have to get ready for practices or a game. You have to be really organized.” Cole is used to playing the game of soccer at a high level. He spent four seasons with the Santa Barbara Soccer Club (CA-S), which won the 2016 US Youth Soccer National Championship. “[The college game] is a fast pace and a little bit of a change, but it’s not too difficult,” he said. “Club soccer helps prepare you for college. We had a lot of success and competed in the big tournaments every year. This past year was the first year we didn’t make it to Nationals. We had some good runs.”
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Georgetown Sophomore Paula Germino-Watnick ‘They Want You to Figure It Out on Your Own’ Paula Germino-Watnick got to experience history in her first year of college soccer. As a freshman last season, the forward/midfielder played a key reserve role in Georgetown’s historic run. The Hoyas advanced to the NCAA College Cup for the first time in program history and lost to eventual national champion Southern California, 1-0, in a national semifinal in California.
“It was a challenge adapting to the faster pace of play, but our coaches are very patient and they are forgiving to the freshmen,” she said. “They want you to figure it out on your own. It’s important that you learn as a player what you can and can’t do on the soccer field. They help you, but it’s more beneficial if you figure it out.” Last year when she was a freshman, she felt welcomed by the veteran players and now it’s her turn to roll out the welcome mat for the rookies. “Everyone was very supportive last year and want what’s best for the team,” she said. “I didn’t approach it as how many minutes I was getting but more how could I help the team, and I think that’s a good approach to have. And now I am the one helping the freshmen get used to soccer and college and a new chapter in their life. You help them with their schedules, what to do and what to avoid and just share my experiences with them and what I learned.” ‘Don’t Take Not Playing Personally’ Ben Di Rosa knew he was stepping into
a challenging situation with the Maryland Terps, a Top-10 team loaded with veterans. Just getting onto the field was going to require a quick learning curve and adjusting to the college game in a hurry. “I knew this year’s team had a lot of returning players,” said the talented defender from nearby Washington, D.C. “I knew coming in it would be tough to get playing time, but I also knew that my biggest goal was to contribute to the team in any way I could. It didn’t matter in what role.” Di Rosa said he has sat out some games but also has gotten on the field for extended minutes in others, including an early start against Cal Poly (a 1-0 win). “I don’t take not playing personally or need the coaches to come explain it to me,” he said. “There are just a lot of really good players on the team, but that’s one of the reasons why I came here. I just to need to be ready when they do call on me.” Di Rosa was a four-year starter for Bethesda Academy and also has participated in U.S. Soccer regional
Maryland Freshman Ben Di Rosa training centers. “At academy, there are really good players, but they are all your age,” he said. “It’s a big jump to go to college even from that level because you are playing against juniors and seniors who have a lot more experience than you do. “The game is faster and players are stronger and better skilled. Your touches have to be better and passes have to be on point or you are going to lose possession.”
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University of Chicago head coach Mike Babst
Scoping Out the College Scene College Coach Talks Recruiting, Prep for Next Level By Dan Guttenplan
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ike Babst is starting his fifth season as the head coach of the University of Chicago men’s soccer team. During Babst’s tenure, the Maroons have broken 10 team records and set or tied six individual school records.
Babst is a two-time UAA Coach of the Year and one-time NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year. Prior to coming to Chicago, Babst worked as an assistant coach at Northwestern University, South Carolina and
Duquesne. What advice would you give a high school player who is looking to start the recruiting process? “I think there are two big things. No. 1 – If you’re playing club, you should initially start by putting together a big list of schools you have interest in. Notify those coaches of the events you’ll be playing in. If they’re putting a list together for events, they might get a chance to see you play. “No. 2, I always tell kids starting their sophomore years, if you can go to a college camp or two, sit down with your parents and map out a plan. You’re not making a final decision at this point, but you can go through the process and say, ‘These are the top two schools, let’s go to an ID camp at each school.’ You get an idea of where you fit in during the recruiting process. Next year, it might be different schools, but you’re honing in on the programs that fit you.”
Would you recommend that a high school player reach out to a college coach via phone call or email? “Email is always best. Say you’re looking at Duke. They have a full staff, so you can email the assistants. If it’s a Division III school, just send an email to both coaches. Be realistic. If you’re an arriving sophomore and you email the UNC head coach thinking he’ll show up to your next game, you’re going to be disappointed. With a Division I staff, it’s better to reach out to assistant coaches. For Division III, email both coaches.” What’s the best way for a potential recruit to make an impression at an ID camp? “They’re tough environments walking in. You might not know any of the other players. Step into everything with a goal of having a positive impact on how the group works. You might step into a 5v5 drill or 11v11. Help push the team. Interact with players of all
levels. Have the mentality that this is the hand you’re dealt, and ask yourself, ‘How can I make it best for everyone?’ Show some personality and competitiveness, along with an ability to interact positively with other players.” Should a player introduce himself/herself to the head coach at an ID camp? Or would you prefer a player respect your time? “Our camps are small enough where that’s not going to be a problem. We’re going to get a chance to interact with every player. We’ll have a chance to get a read on every player. If it’s a larger camp, and you have a chance to say hi to the coach and give your name, go for it. Some camps are different, depending on the size of the camp and the personality of the coach. Some coaches are engaged, and some stand back. Use it as an opportunity to introduce yourself if you can. But trust the process that if you do a good job on the field,
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Q & A w i t h C o l l e g e C oac h
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they’ll work to find out your name.” If a player is not being recruited by the staff at his/her dream school, when should he/she move on to a second option? “The timelines are all so jumbled. There are going to be players that are late-bloomers. There might be a team that has some scholarship money left toward the end. If you don’t give up and improve a lot, that might line up with a program’s needs. Be realistic about your conversations with each program. For a lot of kids, if there is interest from a college coach, that coach will be engaged. If you’re not getting much feedback, just know that every program is dealing with a constant volume of kids. If you’re not hearing much, then it’s time to be open-minded about other opportunities. Broaden the scope. But I’ve seen late-bloomers get in with a new team late and become top recruits for those schools.” What can high school and club players be doing to better prepare for college? “In our model, we’re looking for
personalities. We’re looking for competitors. It doesn’t matter if it’s the last day of camp, and we’re playing a Rondo game, or if it’s some warmup. You want to have someone out there driving the energy that wants to win. They know there’s something to be gained every time they step on the field. Ultimately, in recruiting, you’re looking at 16- and 17-year-olds and guessing who will be best when they’re 19 and 20. We find the best way is to identify a player who is constantly getting after it.” What conditioning advice would you give to incoming freshmen? “When their senior season ends, they can get on the college team’s summer program. You can’t commit as a sophomore and start communicating with the college team’s strength coach, but you can during that senior summer. You’ll get feedback if you commit. Coaches might get out to see you play; they’ll let you know what they see. It’s pretty standard that as soon as a high school player graduates, the team will get them on the same strength and fitness program.”
MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
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Three Michigan midfielders are starting as freshmen
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By Terry Jacoby
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hen the Michigan women’s soccer team ran out onto the field for its first game of the season on Aug. 18, the Wolverines featured plenty of new faces after making the NCAA Tournament the previous year. That included an especially new core of the team, as coach Greg Ryan went with an all-freshmen lineup in the midfield. The Wolverines fielded Sarah Stratigakis (Woodbridge, Ontario) and Lauren Long (Chicago) on the outside and Alia Martin (Carmel, Ind.) in the middle against the visiting Washington Huskies. It all worked out, as Michigan won, 2-0. A soccer game is often won or lost in the midfield, so fielding three freshmen
at those key positions took a giant leap of faith – or at least a lot of confidence in the players. “I thought they played fantastic,” Ryan said after the opening win. “(Washington) has all seniors in the midfield, including two who play with the U.S. National Team, and one who plays for Mexico’s National Team. We have three brand new kids playing against their experienced players, and I thought we did very well. They are going to be a great midfield for us for four years.” In Michigan’s 2-1 win over Indiana in September, freshman Nicki Hernandez (Naperville, Ill.) netted a goal and freshman Hillary Beall (Laguna Beach, Calif.) earned the win in goal. The Wolverines, 10-5-5 last year, have 11 freshmen on this year’s roster, including Martin, who is in the middle of it all as the team’s center midfielder. Martin was a standout player for four years at Brebeuf Jesuit High School, leading her team to the Indiana state title in 2015 and runner-up in 2016. She was a Gatorade Indiana Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2015 and Indiana Sports Awards Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2016. She also was a four-
Alia Martin is starting for Michigan as a freshman. time First Team All-State selection. “Jitters at first,” Martin admitted after playing her first regular-season game with the Maize and Blue. “We had a couple preseason games, which helped with the adjustments to the college game but still everyone is pretty amped up for the first real game.”
Especially for a freshman playing a very important position on a soccer field. “Coming in as a freshman and knowing I was having to play a key role at center mid/holding mid, the coaches did a great job preparing me for (the opener),” said Martin, who wears her smile as comfortably as that Michigan home
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
The College Experience
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Alia Martin is part of an all-freshmen midfield at Michigan.
white jersey. “We were going against some great, experienced players on Washington. It was a great game and super exciting to play.” Martin, who played club soccer with the Eclipse Select and Indiana Fire, has experience, skill and that “it” special quality few players ever
and watch and track player’s runs and pass them off to your defense.” While she has danced on the national and international stage, Martin says getting her feet used to the college game is “a whole different level.” “It’s not just the speed of the game but the intensity of the game,” she said. “Players are amped up and really want to win.” Ryan, in his 10th season as head coach of the Wolverines, was pleased with the play of Martin in her debut and likes the way his youngsters are The freshmen at Michigan have adjusting to the college game. contibuted immediately. “I have tremendous confidence in our freshmen develop. And she feels quite a home this year,” he said. “It’s a fantastic roaming the midfield. group of kids, both on and off the “Playing center mid is a lot of field. I knew they would be fine (in anticipation,” she says. “You have the midfield). But they did some to keep your head on a swivel, learning over the course of the especially in that holding mid. You game. There was stuff happening are distributing from the holding that they hadn’t seen before, so they mid but you also have to anticipate were learning on the fly.”
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The College Experience
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GETTING A JUMP ON COLLEGE
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More High School Seniors Are Graduating Early to Begin Training on Campus By Terry Jacoby
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hen legendary coach Anson Dorrance took over the North Carolina women’s soccer program 39 years ago, he had a simple philosophy that playing time was earned not entitled. The best players played regardless of what grade they were in and that philosophy has never changed over the four decades in which the Tar Heels have won 20 National Championships. Two freshmen who have earned starting spots this year for Carolina are Lotte Wubben-Moy and Alessia Russo. Both standout players are from England and Dorrance never hesitated putting them in the starting lineup as soon as
they arrived in Chapel Hill. But when the two players had to return home for a week in September to play for their country’s U-19 National Team, Dorrance was left with two holes to fill for a game at Florida State. Again, he didn’t check his roster to see what seniors he should play. He went with the best players, including another freshman, Taylor Otto, who Dorrance calls “an absolutely fantastic player.” Dorrance said such a philosophy is dependent on having strong senior leadership. “It’s where the nobility of your leadership is tested,” Dorrance said. “If you truly are a leader, then you don’t let prejudice or your own self-interests creep in to how you treat a freshman. You embrace your role and support the team in its goals and mission, even if that means less playing time for you. “Competitive athletics comes down to who wins the playing time and who wins the spot. Some seniors feel they are entitled to playing time because they are seniors, and I’ve had some like that over the years. But it doesn’t work like that nor should it. If the freshman is clearly better, you play the freshman.” Otto redshirted in 2016 while
North Carolina Coach Anson Dorrance
competing with the U.S. U-20 National Team as a starting center back at the World Cup. But before she headed overseas last year to play for her country, she reported to Chapel Hill and played during the 2016 spring season for the Tar Heels. “I think that time here helped her earn a starting spot on the U-20 team, and it also showed us that we had a fantastic player coming to us in 2017,” Dorrance
said. “And she was one of the reasons we won the Florida State game. She was taking the position of the starting center back (Wubben-Moy) who went back to England. So the fact that we had a player on our team who had played that position in a World Cup ready to go was a huge benefit for us and she played a very good game and was one of the margins of victory for us.” Dorrance said he is seeing more
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North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance has never had a problem with starting freshmen. players like Otto finishing high school early and arriving in Chapel Hill in the spring to get a jump on not only soccer, but school. “We certainly encourage it,” he said. “They get to establish themselves academically in a semester where they are not overwhelmed with a soccer
schedule. The spring soccer schedule isn’t what it is in the fall. “These players are competitors and it’s a huge advantage for these kids to come in a semester early and try to win a starting spot in the fall. And let’s face it, most of the second semester for high school seniors is just treading
water. Why not get to college and challenge yourself immediately instead of coasting for a few months in high school?” Carolina has never had an issue playing freshman. Dorrance, a former U.S. Women’s National Team head coach, said this year is a “continuation of that philosophy.” And he has the numbers to back it up. The Tar Heels started six different freshmen in just the first month of the season. That class included the two English players, Otto and Emily Fox (forward, Ashburn, Va.), a longtime member of U.S. national teams. Fox was a member of U.S. U-20 team in 2017, with trips to Birmingham, England and Rheine, Germany, and a pair of team camps in California. “We’ve been in a position to recruit some fantastic players over the years and have never hesitated to start a freshman,” he said. “I was very happy with this year’s class and knew it was a good class.”
North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance.
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Nike Mercurial Superfly V CR7 SE FG Cut to Brilliance
Nike X EA Sports Hypervenom 3
MSRP: $325
MSRP: $350
‘Cut To Brilliance’ marks the fifth chapter in a series of seven boots hailing the biggest moments in Cristiano Ronaldo’s unrivaled career. The boots feature a diamond-inspired graphic on a white base that sparkles under the lights. The upper includes multi-color knit details that mimic the multitude of colors that diamonds refract. On the medial side of the boot, a textured CR7 logo provides a tactile representation of the diamond graphic, while the heel counter provides a topdown view of a brilliant-cut diamond accompanied by the date of Ronaldo’s Madrid debut. The high heel reads “El Sueño Del Niño” (the dream of the child) as these were the words Ronaldo shared with Nike’s design team to describe how he felt about joining his new team.
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The limited-edition Nike X EA SPORTS Hypervenom 3 is the second collaborative boot with the video game maker and testament to the Nike footwear design team’s obsession with both playing the game and the nuances of its production. Fittingly, the graphic treatment on the upper is a nod to Real Player Motion Technology, which was leveraged for the first time in creating the 2018 version of the game. This new motion capture technology brings data to life to ensure gameplay accurately represents players like Cristiano Ronaldo, who graces the cover of the game. The motion capture wireframe graphics highlight the strike zone of the boot, which features a reflective Swoosh. There is also reflective branding on the heel, where a graphic inspired by the iconic EA SPORTS power bar is depicted. Additional EA SPORTS touches appear on the sockliner, lace aglets and shoebox.
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DribbleUp Smart Soccer Ball
The Smart Ball connects to the DribbleUp iOS (iPhone & iPad) and Android app to take your game to the next level. Practice ground work, juggling and shooting skills in real time with the virtual trainer. The DribbleUp Smart Soccer + app takes your game to the next level with interactive training.The ball has been specially designed for tracking, crafted with an embedded optical marker for tracking.The app provides interactive training with a virtual coach that guides you through interactive drill videos and grades you based on your performance. High quality regulation size and weight soccer ball will reveal your strengths and weaknesses over time. New interactive drills are regularly added to the DribbleUp app for free. Includes tripod for your iPhone/Android device.
MSRP: $89.99 BUY
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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n e w p r o d u ct s
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Quality is Key
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I
f you want to win, quality is an important part of any team. From training to playing to coaching, quality must weave its way through the whole organization. It is the foundation for strength, resilience and success. Your choice in a fundraising partner is no different. Capitol Cups Fundraising is an example of a quality fundraising program where all the products are Americanmade. They control the materials, safety and quality on every single cup they put into the marketplace. They’re all BPA-free, environmentally friendly plastics that are rugged and reusable for years. Their technology creates designs that maintain color through years of microwaving and
top-shelf dishwashing. When you sell quality tumblers and travel cups from Capitol Cups, you’ll minimize effort while you max out profits for your team. It is as close as you come to guaranteed success! For more information www.capitolcupsfundraising.com.
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power recipes ++Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks
++Classic Goulash
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Ingredients
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Directions
+ + 1 tablespoon 2% reduced-fat milk + + 2 large eggs, lightly beaten + + 1 pound halibut fillets, cut into 20 (1-inch) strips + + 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) + + 3/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided + + 3/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided + + 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided + + 1/4 cup light sour cream + + 3 tablespoons canola mayonnaise + + 2 tablespoons finely chopped bread-and-butter pickles + + 2 teaspoons minced capers
Ingredients
Directions
+ + 2 pounds lean ground beef + + 2 large yellow onions, chopped + + 3 cloves garlic, chopped 3 cups water + + 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce + + 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes + + 3 tablespoons soy sauce + + 2 tablespoons dried Italian herb seasoning + + 3 bay leaves + + 1 tablespoon seasoned salt, or to taste + + 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
Combine milk and eggs in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add fish, and toss gently to coat. Place panko, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large zip-top bag. Add fish to panko mixture; seal bag. Shake bag gently to coat fish. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add half of fish; cook 4 minutes or until done, turning occasionally to brown all sides. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and remaining fish. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, pickles, capers, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Serve sauce with fish.
Cook and stir the ground beef in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, breaking the meat up as it cooks, until the meat is no longer pink and has started to brown, about 10 minutes. Skim off excess fat, and stir in the onions and garlic. Cook and stir the meat mixture until the onions are translucent, about 10 more minutes.Stir water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, and seasoned salt into the meat mixture and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir macaroni into the mixture, cover, and simmer over low heat until the pasta is tender, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, discard bay leaves, and serve.
MAKES: 4 SERVING (serving size: 5 fish sticks and about 1 1/2 tablespoons
MAKES: 8 SERVINGS
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R �
quick meals
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The next time a parent asks you the age-old question, “What’s for lunch?” throw one of these recipes back at ’em. Both you and your body will love them!
+Apple + Curry Turkey Pita + + 2 tablespoons olive oil + + 1 cup sliced onion + + 2 tablespoons lemon juice + + 1/2 pound cooked turkey, cut into chunks + + 1 tablespoon curry powder, or to taste +California + Melt + + 4 slices whole-grain bread, lightly toasted + + 1 avocado, sliced + + 1 cup sliced mushrooms
+10 + Minute Soup + + 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, in juice + + 1 rib celery, roughly chopped + + 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth + + Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper +Cold + Peanut Soba Noodles with Chicken + + 12 ounces soba (buckwheat) noodles + + 1 cup frozen shelled edamame + + 1/2 cup peanut butter + + 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned) + + 1 tablespoon soy sauce + + 2 teaspoons grated peeled ginger + + 1 teaspoon sesame oil
++ ++ ++ ++
1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced 3 pita bread rounds 1/2 cup plain yogurt 10 to 12 whole-wheat pita minis (3 inches), lightly toasted
+ + 1/3 cup sliced toasted almonds + + 1 tomato, sliced + + 4 slices Swiss cheese
+ + 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup + + 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice + + 1/4 to 1/3 cup cream
+ + 1 teaspoon Asian chili sauce (such as Sriracha or sambal oelek) + + Kosher salt + + 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken + + 1 cup diced cucumber + + 1/2 cup chopped scallions
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
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lunch time
A Fueling Strategy for Game Day
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By Dan Guttenplan, FNF Coaches Managing Editor
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acqueline R. Berning, PhD, RD, CSSD, chairs the Health Science Department at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She offers tips for nutrition on Game Day.
What to Eat Before the Game 3-4 Hours Before Game Time Try pre-game meals like: • Turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread with low-fat cheese, yogurt, fruit or granola bar • Pasta with 3-4 ounces of meat sauce, bread sticks, low-fat milk • Steamed rice with vegetables with 3 ounces of chicken and a piece of fruit • French toast or a small stack of pancakes with limited syrup, 1 egg, lowfat milk and a piece of fruit
2 Hours Before Game Time • Small bowl of a whole-grain cereal and low-fat milk • Whole-grain toast or a small low-fat muffin • 1/2 whole-grain bagel, low-fat yogurt and fruit • Fruit smoothie made with low-fat yogurt or milk 1 Hour or Less Before Game Time • Liquids that contain 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates from a sports drink or gel What to Eat After the Game Berning recommends that players refuel before even leaving the field after a game. That could include a mixture of carbs and protein, which is available in most recovery drinks. Then, a player should eat a full meal within two hours of the game’s conclusion to resynthesize the muscle protein.
The post-game meal is a meal that focuses on healthy portions of vegetables, fruit, lean protein and whole grains, and the fat that is found in the meal is a
healthier fat such as monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids.
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
nutrition
Paula Germino-Watnick Georgetown University
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aula Germino-Watnick was a key reserve who saw action in 23 games last year as a freshman at Georgetown. She was a four-year starter at Bethesda-Chevy Chase, where she was an All-Met First Team selection in 2015. Germino-Watnick played club for the Maryland Rush Coyotes and earned the US Youth Soccer National Championships Golden Ball in 2012 while helping her team to the Under-14 National title. She was also a member of the US Youth Soccer Nationals Best XI from 2012 to 2014. “That was amazing,” said Germino-Watnick, a native of Chevy Chase, Md. “It was one of my best soccer moments. It was so exciting to win an event on a national stage.” This past summer they reached the finals again in their last year of club soccer. “Our team had been together since most were like 6 years old, and we were successful because we played like a team,” she said. “We had great team chemistry and the sum of our parts were greater than any one individual.”
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Paula Germino-Watnick game-day routine 8 a.m.: Wake up “I like to get at least eight hours of sleep.” 8:15 a.m.: “My breakfast is a bagel or some oatmeal and fruit.” 9 a.m.: Class 10 a.m.: Class 11:30 a.m.: Lunch is “half a sandwich and a salad.” Noon: “If I have time I will definitely get in a nap,” she says. “Just an hour is all I need.” 2 p.m.: Team meeting. “We go over our assignments and talk strategy.” 2:30 p.m.: Pre-game stretching 3 p.m.: Walk up to the field
T i p s f r o m ta v i a GAME DAY EVE: “The entire day before I try to drink a lot of water,” she said. “You need to stay hydrated. I also will have a dinner with a lot of carbs like pasta and vegetables. I also will watch some Netflix just to relax because I think that’s important.”
PLANNING TIME: After her 11 a.m. class on Friday, Germino-Watnick will schedule the weekend. “I like to figure out my weekend schedule when it comes to studying and how much time I am going to need to get it all done,” she said.
COOLDOWN: “Recovery is very important because we will be playing another game in a couple days,” she said. “We stretch and hit the ice bath. And I have a very big meal after the game. We have a great tailgate after our games with really good food.”
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
a day i n t h e l i f e
a day i n t h e l i f e
Dennis Cole Sacramento State
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By Terry Jacoby
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D
ennis Cole is a freshman forward at Sacramento State. He played four years for coach Mark Geriak at Dunn School in Los Olivos, Calif., where he was a two-time all-CIF First Team selection. He helped lead the team to two CIF Championships in 2015 and 2017 and was Offensive MVP in 2015. He played club soccer for Santa Barbara Soccer Club for four years and helped lead the team to a 2016 US Youth Soccer National Championship. He was named to the Best XI after tallying three goals and four assists at the National Championships in 2015. Cole was three-time Regional Champion with Santa Barbara.
8 a.m.: Wake up 8:30 a.m.: Shower 9 a.m.: Breakfast. “I usually eat scrambled eggs and sausage. That’s my go-to breakfast in the morning.” 9-noon: Classes Noon: Lunch. 1 p.m.: “I go back to my room and relax. I might watch some TV or play a video game.” 3 p.m.: Head over to the training room and begin stretching and warm up. 3:30 p.m.: The whole team has to be in the locker room and ready to go. “The coaches will then come in and go over tactics and assignments and goals for the game.”
Tips from evan THE NIGHT BEFORE: Cole goes to sleep around 10 p.m. the night before a game and makes sure to get a minimum of eight hours sleep. “I like to get as much sleep as I can,” he said. “It’s important to be well rested because game day is a long day.”
EARLY ARRIVAL: Cole likes to arrive early in the locker room to get some things done before the rest of the team arrives. “I will find a trainer and get a good stretch in and also do some work on the bike,” he said. “It helps get my legs ready for the game.”
FIND ME IN THE TUB: Many teams stretch and do light exercises right out on the field, but Cole takes it another step. “I like to take an ice bath,” he says. “It really helps my legs recover. I only did it a couple times before I got to college, but it’s one of those things that is here for us and it does help me recover quicker.”
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
dennis cole game-day routine
Chris Brennan Bowling Green University By Terry Jacoby
C
out for us but before that I believed in running a lot to stay in shape,” he said. “I would mix it up. Two or three times a week I would run at night and go for about three or four miles. During the day I would run track intervals and go over to my high schools and A three-time All-Ohio First-Team work on sprints on the turf field. We selection, Brennan was named Ohio’s also have a hill on the side of our high Mr. Soccer in Division I in 2014. He left school stadium and I would use that for Copley HS as the all-time leading scorer running up and down hills.” with 76 goals and 35 assists (187 points). He would also hit the weight room. He played club soccer for seven years “I would lift weights two or three with Team Challenger Crew Juniors times a week but my focus wasn’t on out of Medina, Ohio. “We won two getting big,” he said. “It was more on State Cups and went to Regionals two getting fit. Being in shape is one of the or three times,” he said. “In club soccer most important parts of the game.” everyone has a common goal and that’s In the weight room, he focuses on to get better as soccer players and play the entire body. And while he works as a team,” he said. “That environment on his core every day, he lightens up really fueled my desire to get better.” on the weights during the season. You Getting better also includes working don’t want to get hurt lifting weights out and for Brennan that includes a because then you are letting your variety of different workouts. teammates down when you get injured “Now we get our workouts planned outside of regular workouts.”
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hris Brennan had an impressive freshman season in 2016 for the Bowling Green Falcons. The Copley, Ohio native finished second on the team in scoring in his first collegiate season with 12 points on the year after playing in all 19 matches.
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Chris Brennan
Th r ee Ti ps fo r M a x i m izi n g Wo r ko ut s
Bring a stopwatch: When Brennan goes out on his night runs (3-4 miles) he always brings a stop watch. “I time myself not to try and get faster, but to make sure I’m running at a decent pace,” he says. “They are more light runs but I still want to maintain a good pace.” Check your heart rate: Brennan says the strength and conditioning staff at BGSU “times pretty much everything we do fitness wise.” “We also wear heartrate monitors to test our heart rate and try to get to a certain number which shows how hard we are working,” he says. “The coaches will use the data to help determine how hard to push us the next workout.” Stretch: “Stretching is something you should never take for granted,” Brennan says. “The older you get the more important it is to stretch and be loose. You can’t just hit the field at full speed.
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wor ko u t Pl a n of t h e M on t h
Ben Di Rosa University of Maryland By Terry Jacoby
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Ben DiRosa
en Di Rosa is a defender for the University of Maryland Terps, who despite being only a freshman, has seen playing time on a veteran team ranked among the top 10 in the nation.
Before Maryland he was a four-year starter for Bethesda Academy helping lead the team to the playoffs his freshman and sophomore years. Di Rosa, whose twin brother, Matt, also plays for Maryland, has participated in U.S. Soccer regional training centers. When it comes to nutrition, Maryland, like many schools, serves up healthy choices for their student-athletes. And most of them take advantage of this resource throughout the season. “We have food in the locker room before and after workouts,” Di Rosa said. “It’s all very healthy and we also have a nutritionist who helps us plan what we eat.” But like every college campus, Maryland does have places where the food isn’t necessarily the best for you – yes, even McDonalds or the popular pizza joint is within a direct kick of campus. “It’s not hard to find food that isn’t good for you,” says Di Rosa. “We have like 12 different pizza places to choose from and it takes some restraint. But after games and before games we eat as a team so it’s easy to eat right. It’s the other times you have to be careful and eat right and drink a lot of water.”
3 T i p s to H e a lt h y Nutrition Give Time to Digest: “I will have some pasta, chicken, rice, bread … a lot of carbs is important,” he said. “We also drink a lot of water so we stay hydrated which is very important. I might eat a light snack a couple hours before the game.” Educate Yourself: Coming from a “professional environment” like Bethesda Academy, Di Rosa was already educated in the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. “Our coaches there were really big on nutrition and we would practice five times a week and then play games so we needed to eat right. I don’t want to eat anything before practice that makes me feel full. You want to play light.” Support Teammates: A team that plays together, eats together. And supporting your teammates to do the right thing – on and off the field – will go a long way. “My roommates are all on the soccer team so we all have the same eating habits which makes it easier,” Di Rosa says.
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Nu tri tion Plan of the Mon th
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find the 10 differences in the photos below
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Answers on page 61
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f u n pag e s : w h at ’ s t h e d i f f E r e n c e ?
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search terms:
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1. Slide Tackle 2. Pass 3. Shoot 4. Scissor 5. Step Over 6. Maradona 7. Elastico 8. Blanco 9. Cruyff 10. Rabona 11. Rainbow 12. Scorpion Kick 13. Island 14. Bicycle Kick 15. Around the World 16. Panenka 17. Wall Pass 18. Overlap 19. Far Post 20. Hocus Pocus
Answers on page 61
D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”
FUN PA G ES : w o r d s e a r c h p u z z l e
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original artwork
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coloring page
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f u n pag e s : c o l o r i n g pag e
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what’s the difference
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1 8
10
2
3
4
7
5 9
6
1. Under Armour logo missing
6. Player socks are now “Gold”
2. “1” missing from jersey
7. Player logo crest missing
3. “3” missing from jersey
8. “US” missing from field sign
4. “2” missing from jersey
9. Player has “Orange” socks on
5. Under Armour logo missing
10. Player has “Blue” jersey
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