LEGACY FALL 2015 by Steel Soccer

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE FCUSA

FALL 2015 FEATURES 11 | REPRESENTING THE STARS AND STRIPES

New FCUSA National U14 boys and girls teams are being created with the goal of traveling to Spain next summer for the prestigious Donosti Cup, one of Europe’s largest youth soccer tournaments. 12 | MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Inaugural FCUSA Coastal Cup hosted in Cape Cod draws nearly 100 teams from different clubs across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 14 | CHANGE IS COMING U.S. Soccer has created new player development initiatives, most notably going to calendar year age groups. The FCUSA National Board examines what they mean for the club’s players and families.

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LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE FCUSA

THEFOOTBALLCLUBUSA.COM INFO@THEFOOTBALLCLUBUSA.COM PRESIDENT / GENERAL MANAGER Craig McGinn NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF COACHING Brendan Doyle TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Paul Turner The Football Club USA 210 Malapardis Road, Suite 101 Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927

EDITORIAL EDITORS Nathan Clinkenbeard Aaron Duckmanton Craig McGinn CONTRIBUTORS Ian Abrey Bill Brady Nick Catt Hannah Dodds Rob Jones Steven Macdonald Joe Quigley Steve Roper Richard Scott Paul Turner Glen Waudby

LEGACY Magazine Has Arrived! WELCOME TO LEGACY! We are proud to announce the arrival of LEGACY, the official digital publication of FCUSA. With several clubs operating across the United States, we believe there is a growing need to showcase our players and teams. Since its inception, FCUSA has grown to five affiliate clubs in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Texas, with another addition planned in 2016. We now boast over 1,500 players on 110 teams and an additional 2,500 players that have participated in programs or summer tournament teams. LEGACY is one of several new initiatives planned to connect the clubs in a meaningful way. While we encourage every player to remain focused on their own progress and the team they represent, we also want you to be proud of the club for which you play. Collectively, we have achieved a tremendous amount in our short existence, and LEGACY will help portray those achievements quarterly throughout the year. We hope you enjoy the inaugural issue, and if you have any suggestions for future articles please reach out to your coach or club DOC. Warm Regards, CRAIG MCGINN FCUSA General Manager

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bernard Delierre ART DIRECTOR Brian Hostetler The information contained in this publication was compiled by The Football Club USA and is provided as a courtesy to its members. Any commercial use of this information is prohibited without the prior written consent of The Football Club USA. ÂŠ Copyright 2015 The Football Club USA

FCUSA / 3

FCUSA NEWS

NEW JERSEY

U14 Girls Win EDP Cup Title FCUSA New Jersey’s U14 girls team had a strong showing on Columbus Day weekend Oct. 10-11 as they won three of their four games on the way to claiming the EDP Cup Premier title in Fort Dix, N.J. The girls tied their first game, 1-1, against Monroe Township SC, and then came back in the afternoon with a dominating 4-1 win over SCP Phoenix. On Sunday, the U14 girls found themselves down in both games, but they fought back to win a 2-1 contest against the Hotspurs SC White from Pennsylvania and 4-2 versus the Salisbury United SC Gold out of Maryland. Coach Richard Scott said his team implemented the club’s playing style and philosophy really well in earning the tournament win. Said Scott: “I was very impressed with the way the team played and was very proud of their achievement.” The tournament win came on the heels of a victory in the first round of the EDP Open Cup on Oct. 3. The U14 girls earned a hard-fought 4-3 win over FC Berna Legacy in a match that went to penalty kicks. Their round of 16 matchup will be played on Dec. 12.

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Facilities Undergoing Renovations Two facilities FCUSA New Jersey uses on a regular basis are being upgraded with renovated and additional fields. Purnell School, a private all-girls high school in Pottsville, N.J., has renovated one field and are currently working on the second. The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, N.J., is adding a second turf field and also adding another indoor space for 2017.

TEXAS

98 Boys Take on World’s Elite at Prestigious Dallas Cup

Player Earns Trip to Train in Spain Spanish soccer has become a model for success around the world, and FCUSA Texas player Cruz Fragoso earned the opportunity of a lifetime this summer by traveling to Spain to take part in Campus LFP, a La Liga camp. After taking part in a creative writing competition, Fragoso was selected as one of six players from Texas to travel to Spain and train at the El Montanya resort in Barcelona. It was a unique chance to experience a taste of Spanish soccer and learn from some of Europe’s elite youth coaches. “I was so happy because I love Barcelona and Messi,” Fragoso said. “I could go and see the Barcelona stadium and learn how they play soccer.” Fragoso spent six days practicing his soccer skills while also participating in group activities such as touring FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium, his favorite part of the trip, and RCD Espanyol’s stadium. The camp itself had a specific focus on technical principles such as individual offensive and defensive skills, and they also worked on group performance. Fragoso felt that the camp made him a better soccer player and in turn helped him improve his performances for FCUSA. “I learned a lot about passing and moving, which has helped me when playing for FCUSA.”

A year removed from being a newly formed FCUSA Texas squad, the 98 boys team experienced the highest caliber of youth soccer by playing in the Dallas Cup over Easter weekend. The Dallas Cup is renowned worldwide and is measured as the biggest youth soccer tournament in North America with teams coming from all over the world. Dallas has played host to over 100 countries across six continents since its inception in 1980. In the first game, the 98 boys got off to a strong start with a 2-0 win against Prepatec La Soccer, a team from Mexico. Despite the nerves and excitement building up to the first game, FCUSA Texas played well and highlighted the win as their favorite game of the tournament. Momentum was key as the team was on a high and playing well. After going up 2-0 in the second game, the team surrendered two goals and finished with a 2-2 tie against the Chargers SC from Florida. The third and final pool game resulted in a 2-0 loss against Arizona’s Alianza FC Cobras. Along with participating in the tournament, FCUSA hosted the Eintracht Frankfurt U18 Academy team from Germany. This was an exciting moment for the players and families, and the players from both sides still communicate with each other. “I can honestly say it was the best coaching experience of my life,” coach Dan Weatherby said. “I was very privileged to coach such an honest, mature and hard-working group of boys. They fully deserved to be a part of the Dallas Cup, to be mixing in with teams held in high regard across the world, and I hope we can be back there for 2016.”

COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS

FCUSA Coastal Hosts Girls Bonanza In an effort to increase participation rates among girls ages 6-9, FCUSA Coastal hosted a Girls Bonanza on Oct. 23 at Sacred Heart High School in Kingston, Mass. All girls were welcome to show up and play at this free soccer event. The Girls Bonanza included games, skills, tournaments, competitions and prizes and was run by the FCUSA Coastal female staff members. FCUSA / 5

FCUSA NEWS

PHILADELPHIA

U11 Boys Go Back-to-Back in Fall Tournaments The FCUSA Philadelphia U11 Boys Black were impressive this fall tallying championships at both of their tournaments, the GTT Fall Kickoff on Aug. 29 and the YMS Columbus Cup on Oct. 10-11. At the Columbus Cup, the U11 boys won the elite division title. After dominating wins in their first two games, the team won a tight 2-1 semifinal match, thanks to goalkeeper Milan Pappas making a brilliant double save to keep the game going to extra time. Philly went on to win the title game over the Cherry Hill Attack, 3-2. The team finished third in Delco Soccer Leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Division I with a 5-1-4 record.

U10 Boys End Fall with Impressive Second Place League Finish The FCUSA Philadelphia U10 Boys Black earned a runner-up finish at the YMS Columbus Cup on Oct. 10-11. They won their first three games scoring 19 goals and giving up just six. In the final, they fell 2-0 to the German American Kickers FC Heat. This fall, the team finished second in Division II of the Delco Soccer League, just one point behind first place. The boys ended the fall league with a 9-1-1 record, scoring 45 goals and conceding 16.

MARYLAND

FCUSA Maryland Sees Major Growth Within Club After starting with just one team a year ago, FCUSA Maryland has four teams and 58 players competing this fall. The original team formed from a group of boys who played together on summer programs for a few years, and they showed an interest in playing club soccer under the FCUSA training model. Under the tutelage of NSCAA Premier Licensed head coach Nicolas Catt and UEFA B qualified assistant coach Ian Abrey, the team had a season of continued de-

6 / LEGACY FALL 2015

velopment including winning their first tournament at Gettysburg, Pa., in August 2014 and finishing as Mid Atlantic Cup finalists this summer. The U16 Black and Green teams are gearing up for their November/December tournament after finishing up their high school seasons. The U12 team just finished their fall season as Central Maryland Soccer Association 8v8 champions, and the U15 team won two tournaments during a strong U14 FCUSA Summer Select campaign.

ASK THE ALUM

CATCHING UP WITH GETTYSBURG COLLEGE’S STAR FORWARD AND FORMER FCUSA NEW JERSEY PLAYER HENRY SMITH Interview by Joe Quigley After playing for FCUSA New Jersey for five years and graduating from Westfield High School in Westfield, N.J., Henry Smith went on to Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania where he has excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Smith tallied six goals and 12 assists for the Bullets this season for a school-best 24 points. His team-best 12 assists also led the Centennial Conference. “Henry Smith has been an excellent personality on our team and is our most creative and technical player,” Gettysburg head soccer coach Mark Mettrick said. “Henry has played in the forward position and led the league in assists in 2015 and has excelled in the classroom while attaining above a 3.0 in his economics major.” FCUSA’s LEGACY magazine caught up with Henry following his junior season to talk about his days with the New Jersey club. FCUSA: What originally attracted you to FCUSA (formerly Everton NJ)? Henry: For me, I felt that I had a strong relationship with all of the coaching staff that had been working with Everton/FCUSA. Their approach in training was to get you prepared to play at the college level and beyond. They make it an obligation to not only build a competitive team but take

time out to work and talk with each player individually. Along with that, the organization does well in exposing their players based upon the tournaments and showcases teams had attended. FCUSA: Who was your coach, and how much of an influence did they have on your soccer career? Henry: My coach was Steve Jones. Words can’t describe the influence Steve had on my soccer career being that he was my coach for most of my life. Without him, I would not be the player I am today. FCUSA: What impressed you about the coach and the club as a whole? Henry: What impressed me most about Steve was his passion and his knowledge for the game. With him there was never a dull moment. He had the rare ability to make tactical sessions fun and would always provide myself, as well as the team, with consistently useful insight. More impressive than that, and my favorite quality about Steve, was the freedom he gave his players on the field. He never said much to us in games, and because of that, the confidence and comfort level the team was able to play with was unparalleled. That goes without being said for the rest of the staff as well. No matter who I played under, I never felt limited, making it that much easier to raise my game and reach my goals. FCUSA: After leaving FCUSA where did you go on to play? Henry: After leaving FCUSA, I went on to play for Gettysburg College, a Division III school in Pennsylvania and a member of the Centennial Conference. FCUSA: How has your experience at FCUSA helped you in college? Henry: Playing for FCUSA has given me so much confidence and happiness in soccer that I try to bring that same mentality on the field when I play now. You play the game cause you love it.

Photo by David Sinclair Photography

FCUSA / 7

FCUSA PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

KATE

Romano Hometown: Keller, TX Team: FCUSA Texas 00 Girls Position: Center midfielder Number: 7 KATE ROMANO is the captain of the FCUSA Texas 00 Girls team, and she’s an outstanding leader from her center midfield position. She is an experienced player with excellent ball skills and close control. Kate is blessed with the ability to pass the ball with accuracy over varying distances, always finding her teammates. “I play soccer because it is the sport I love, and I get to spend it with some of my best friends,” Romano said. “At FCUSA I like my teammates, the coaches and the style of play.” Head coach Glen Waudby has been Romano’s coach for three years, and he has witnessed first hand the strides she’s made on and off the field. “Kate has shown tremendous growth and development, both as a player and a person, in 8 / LEGACY FALL 2015

the three years I have coached her,” Waudby said. “Her soccer IQ keeps her ahead of the game, while her technical ability and tactical understanding allow her to influence games from her position in the middle of the park.” When asked about her best moment on the field while a FCUSA Texas member, she didn’t have to dive too far in the memory bank to pull one out. “Our recent game against Texans FW Red and scoring the headed goal from the corner,” Romano said. “We work so hard on set pieces that seeing them work out is always great.” As for the future, Romano hopes to help lead her team to a promotion into Classic D1, and she wants to use everything she is learning at FCUSA to play college soccer.

MEET THE COACH with FCUSA New Jersey’s

JACK BRIERLEY Interview by Aaron Duckmanton

As FCUSA continues to grow, The Football Club is always looking to recruit more ambitious, passionate soccer coaches to work with our teams. Jack Brierley is one of FCUSA New Jersey’s newest coaches and spoke to us about his experiences with The Football Club so far. FCUSA: Hi, Jack. Talk us through your journey and how you ended up with FCNJ? Jack: I did my level one and two (soccer qualifications) whilst on a scholarship for Blackburn Rovers FC Academy. I went on to work in schools where I met someone who recommended UK Elite Soccer, where I worked for three years before becoming a part of FCUSA and FCNJ. FCUSA: How does FCNJ differ from other clubs and teams with which you have worked? Jack: FCNJ has its own unique philosophy that I have had to adapt to. Teams are taught to pass and receive, and all teams play in specific

formations. Also, the session structures are different to what I’ve done previously, but I have enjoyed learning it all.

beat a tournament atmosphere.

FCUSA: What do you hope to accomplish with FCNJ?

Jack: As a coach at FCNJ I aim to be a possession-based team, to be a patient team that moves the ball quickly. I also promote freedom of thought, creativity and expression in the final third!

Jack: I hope to improve every individual player and the FCNJ team that I work with, and I also want to continue to learn from other FCUSA coaches and improve myself as a coach. FCUSA: What has been a highlight of FCNJ so far? Jack: Taking my teams to tournaments to compete. The players really enjoy playing in them, and I really enjoy coaching in them. You cannot

FCUSA: What are your philosophies as a coach at FCNJ?

FCUSA: Have you encountered any challenges so far in your time with FCNJ? Jack: My biggest challenge has been to adapt to the FCUSA philosophy and session structure. I have enjoyed the challenge very much and look forward to continuing my development with both FCNJ and FCUSA as a whole.

HOT SHOTS We asked four FCUSA MARYLAND players 20 rapid fire questions about their lives on and off the soccer field. Let’s see how they handle these Hot Shots!

Bryce Francis

Griffin Potter

Harry Beckwith

Nate Dresin

One player you’d like to meet

Lionel Messi

David De Gea

Lionel Messi

Go-to pregame song

“679” by Fetty Wap

“No Role Modelz” by J. Cole

“Broken Arrow” by Imagine Dragons

“Paradise” by Big Sean

Favorite drill

Any crossing drill

Possession games

Finishing

Patterns of play

Least favorite drill

Nothing

Anything speed of play

Nothing

Compact defending

Most memorable soccer moment

Scored a goal from midfield

Saving a PK that would have cost us the game

All clean sheet at Lawrenceville Cup

Scoring my first varsity goal

Personal juggling record

140

217

Premier League or La Liga

Premier

La Liga

Favorite pregame meal/snack

Protein bar

Lunchmeat sandwich

Banana

Dark chocolate

Gatorade or Powerade

Gatorade

Favorite school subject

Social Studies

Biology

World History

Math

Messi or Ronaldo

Messi

Ronaldo

Messi

iPhone or Android

iPhone

Android

Last movie you saw

Jurassic World

Django: Unchained

The Transporter Refueled

Napoleon Dynamite

Instagram or Snapchat

Instagram

Snapchat

Favorite soccer team

FC Barcelona

Arsenal

Manchester United

Borussia Dortmund

Age you started playing soccer

Howard or Guzan

Howard

Favorite sport besides soccer

Baseball

Lacrosse

Baseball

Basketball

Left or right foot

Left

Right

Rainbow or overhead kick

Rainbow

Overhead

10 / LEGACY FALL 2015

U16 Green

U16 Black

U15 Black

U16 Black

FCUSA NATIONAL

San Sebastian, Spain

Representing the Stars and Stripes New FCUSA National team traveling to Spain next summer for prestigious Donosti Cup By Aaron Duckmanton

his coming summer, The Football Club USA will be offering U14 boys and girls a new and exciting opportunity to come together and form FCUSA National. This national program will allow players to travel to Spain and represent FCUSA in one of Europe’s largest youth soccer tournaments. Teaming up with industry leading sports tour provider, Global Team Travel, a select group of FCUSA representatives will have the chance to play against some of the best youth soccer players the world has to offer as they compete for the prestigious Donosti Cup on July 3-9. Held in the beautiful setting of San Sebastian, Spain, the Donosti Cup attracts over 450 teams from 25 different countries, allowing FCUSA National players to showcase their talents against the very best teams at the youth level. Next year marks

the Donosti Cup’s 25th anniversary. While the competition will be fierce and tough, FCUSA Director Craig McGinn believes there is no better thrill than representing your team in an international tournament. The competition should prove the perfect platform for players to continue to develop and push themselves. “As a group of coaches, we believe that all players should experience the thrill of international competition,” McGinn said. “Representing your club in an international tournament will challenge and motivate you beyond the boundaries of domestic competitions.” McGinn added: “FCUSA is rapidly increasing its national footprint and profile. This exciting program will provide players from all our clubs with an opportunity to represent FCUSA on a national scale.” Players from each of FCUSA’s regional teams will come together to form competitive teams at the U14 age group, giving FCUSA National one huge presence in Spain. Before the tournament begins, FCUSA National players will have the chance to participate in a three-day training camp in Barcelona with friendly fixtures against local Spanish opposition, culminating with a tour of the Nou Camp, the home of FC Barcelona. The tour departs for Barcelona, Spain on June 29 from a range of U.S. locations. To learn more about Spain’s Donosti Cup, go to DonostiCup.com. FCUSA / 11

FEATURE

N O I S S I M D E H S I L P M O C C A FCUSA Coastal Cup welcomes nearly 100 teams from clubs across Massachusetts and Rhode Island for inaugural event By Nathan Clinkenbeard

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Instead of traveling to someone else’s tournament over Columbus Day weekend, FCUSA Coastal decided to play host to its own. he inaugural FCUSA Coastal Cup was hosted on Oct. 10-11 at Nauset High and Middle School in Eastham, Massachusetts. Nearly 100 teams made the trip to the Cape Cod area for the event, and they represented 23 different clubs from across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. FCUSA Coastal’s Director of Coaching Rob Jones was pleased with the event’s first run, and he identified several factors that went into making it a success beyond his staff’s hard work. “Great weather, overwhelming support and closely fought competition made the Coastal Cup a fantastic tournament,” Jones said. “I have no doubt this annual event will only be bigger and better in years to come.” While the older teams ages U11 and up played a classic style tournament with competitive brackets, all teams in U10 and under enjoyed a friendship tournament to promote having fun playing the game over the idea of winning. The FCUSA Coastal Cup, held in conjunction with Global Team Tournaments and Rock Harbor Sports, featured 16 brackets between U8-U14 with several age divisions featuring two brackets. FCUSA Coastal teams won three championships out of the 11 brackets that claimed a winner. FCUSA Coastal Storm defeated FCUSA Coastal Impact U11 in the U12 Classic final, 3-2. In the U13 Premier championship game, FCUSA Coastal Impact won 2-1 over Duxbury United FC Schortmann, and FCUSA Coastal North Surge took the U13 Classic title with a 2-0 victory over Bruno United FC. “With it being the first FCUSA Coastal tournament it was even sweeter to win the championship,” FCUSA Coastal North Surge coach Keith McCready said. “Every game was competitive, and the girls loved playing in the environment Global Team Events

and the FCUSA Coastal staff created. We can’t wait for next year to try and repeat.” Nauset High and Middle School on Cape Cod was a fantastic venue for the inaugural FCUSA Coastal Cup. With 11 fields all at the same location and teams, players and families filling the sidelines, it helped boost the atmosphere and create a buzz. All participating teams played three games during the weekend, and there were a lot of exciting, closely contested finals. Three of the five boys finals were decided by just one goal, while three of the six girls finals had a one goal margin. Perhaps the most impressive performance came from Cape Cod Reunited FC in the U12 Classic boys division. They allowed just one goal in four games, scored 20 and won the championship game, 8-0. The FCUSA Coastal Cup proved it has all the ingredients for a great soccer event, and it should only get bigger and better.

Great weather, overwhelming support and closely fought competition made the Coastal Cup a fantastic tournament. I have no doubt this annual event will only be bigger and better in years to come.” – Rob Jones

FCUSA Coastal’s Director of Coaching

FCUSA Coastal Cup 2015 Champions Boys +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

U11 Premier U12 Premier U12 Classic U13 Classic U14 Premier

New England B04-05 Rush Chelsea Franklin County FC Knights Blue Cape Cod Reunited FC BU12V United SC B12 JSSA Elite

Girls +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

U11 Premier U11 Classic U12 Premier U12 Classic U13 Premier U13 Classic

Duxbury United FC Liverpool FSC 2005 G Reds CSU U12G NEP Premier I Central FCUSA Coastal Storm FCUSA Coastal Impact FCUSA Coastal North Surge

*All champions from Massachusetts FCUSA / 13

FEATURE

Change IS

Coming

What the new U.S. Soccer player development initiatives mean for FCUSA players and families

By the FCUSA National Board Craig McGinn, General Manager Brendan Doyle, National Director of Coaching Paul Turner, Technical Director

he United States Soccer Federation has announced a series of new player development initiatives that will impact all FCUSA players starting July 2016. It has been determined that change within our soccer culture is a priority for player development and the resulting changes will no doubt pose a number of questions. The information presented within this article is intended to provide a foundation for change. Additional FCUSA club policies will be implemented throughout the coming months.

BIRTH YEAR ELIGIBILITY As a result of this policy initiative, all teams will now be comprised of players born within the same calendar year. This will result in a new age group cutoff date of January 1. As an example, next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U12 age group will consist solely of players born in 2004. The Birth Year Chart below offers a full explanation for all age groups.

BIRTH YEAR CHART U6

U10

U11

U12

2016

Born in 2010

Born in 2009

Born in 2008

Born in 2007

Born in 2006

Born in 2005

Born in 2004

2017

Born in 2011

Born in 2010

Born in 2009

Born in 2008

Born in 2007

Born in 2006

Born in 2005

2018

Born in 2012

Born in 2011

Born in 2010

Born in 2009

Born in 2008

Born in 2007

Born in 2006

U13

U14

U15

U16

U17

U18

U19

2016

Born in 2003

Born in 2002

Born in 2001

Born in 2000

Born in 1999

Born in 1998

Born in 1997

2017

Born in 2004

Born in 2003

Born in 2002

Born in 2001

Born in 2000

Born in 1999

Born in 1998

2018

Born in 2005

Born in 2004

Born in 2003

Born in 2002

Born in 2001

Born in 2000

Born in 1999

Source: U.S. Soccer

14 / LEGACY FALL 2015

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||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| This is a national initiative, and most youth soccer leagues across the United States are mandating change by Aug. 1, 2016. Until then, current team rosters will be used through June or the final competitive game on spring schedules. All tryouts in 2016 will be conducted with this new protocol in mind. This will include summer tournament teams if available within your FCUSA club. To help ease the transition, all FCUSA clubs will be conducting informal pre-tryout age group training sessions. Your coach will contact you with a specific schedule soon.

FCUSA CLUB POLICIES • Birth year age group classification will be implemented starting Summer 2016. • Players will be encouraged to play within their defined birth year. • Players wishing to participate outside (up 1 year) of their birth year will need to provide a written exemption to their relevant Club Director of Coaching prior to tryouts. Players will only be considered exempt from club policy if they are ranked within the top 20% of their desired team roster. • Teams with high school age players (U15 and above) will be allowed under age players within their roster. • Coaching assignments will be made by each Director of Coaching in conjunction with the release of new official rosters following tryouts.

NATIONAL GAME STANDARDS Another progressive change from U.S. Soccer is the standardization of game logistics. This includes field dimensions, number of players and equipment such as goals. The biggest impact for FCUSA will be the number of players on a field and maximum roster sizes. The Standards Chart below illustrates how the new classifications will be mandated within each age classification.

STANDARDS CHART U6

U10

U11

U12

U13

Field Size (yards)

30x20

47x30

75x47

112x75

Number of Players

4x4

7x7

9x9

11x11

Yes

Playing Times (minutes) 4x8

4x8

3x15

2x25

2x30

2x35

Break Time (minutes)

Ball Size

Goal Size (feet)

4x6

6.5x18.5

8x24

OffSide

Yes

Source: U.S. Soccer

At this time, no guidelines have been produced for maximum roster sizes. Potentially each league we participate in may be impacted differently, but we are committed to maintaining a roster policy that allows players to experience an appropriate amount of playing time.

FCUSA ROSTER GUIDELINES

(subject to change regionally)

7v7 Teams – 11 players maximum 9v9 Teams – 14 players maximum 11v11 Teams – 18-22 players

We are fully aware that each club, player, team and family will be affected in different ways as a result of the new policies, but it is our intention as a national club to help guide everyone through this period of change. We firmly believe the success of our program lies with the commitment of everyone involved and we will work tirelessly to navigate this process. Thank you for your support of FCUSA.

FCUSA / 15

TRAINING GROUND Take your dribbling and finishing skills up a notch this offseason Lesson by Richard Scott Assistant Director of Coaching – FCUSA New Jersey

PRACTICE 2 (15 MINUTES) INSTRUCTIONS: Dribbling Y – Set out cones with six yards of space between each. Player starts at bottom of Y and must dribble the ball around all points of the Y before heading back to the center point, turning and finishing on goal. Work both sides. KEY POINTS: • Positive dribble – sharp changes of direction • Innovative turns • Positive attitude to goal – strike firm, locked ankle, head and chest over ball

Keep your game sharp this offseason by fine tuning your dribbling, RWB and finishing skills. This individual technique practice from FCUSA New Jersey’s Richard Scott takes just 45 minutes, and all you need is a soccer ball, cones and a goal. If cones aren’t handy, grab some empty water bottles, shoes or anything else that could be used in place of cones.

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| PRACTICE 1 (15 MINUTES) |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||

INSTRUCTIONS: Start at blue cone and attack the closest side of triangle. Break out and beat final opponent/cone. Finish on goal. Work both sides. KEY POINTS: • Positive touches – forward thinking • Moves to beat opponent – creative/innovative • Head and chest over ball when striking to goal • Use upper laces to generate power

16 / LEGACY FALL 2015

PRACTICE 3 (15 MINUTES) INSTRUCTIONS: Manipulate the ball left-right-left or right-leftright between the red cones. Player then dribbles forward, touch past blue cones and scores in space between cone and post. Work both sides. KEY POINTS: • Manipulate the ball using multiple parts of the foot – sole/inside/outside • Positive, forward touches to attack blue cones • Attack space left or right with large touch • Head up – composure to find corners of goal with strike

A Players Words

An inside look at one high school senior’s experience during the college recruiting process By Hannah Dodds

MY COLLEGE SEARCH STARTED WITH E-MAILING COLLEGE COACHES DURING MY U15 YEAR. EACH TIME MY TEAM WOULD GO TO A TOURNAMENT OR SHOWCASE, I WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE COACHES WHO WERE PLANNING TO ATTEND AND REACH OUT TO ANY SCHOOLS IN WHICH I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE INTERESTED. I shared my soccer resume with the college coaches I contacted, which included both athletic and academic details. My FCUSA Philadelphia team traveled up and down the East Coast, but the coaches who saw us play were not strictly limited to this region. Sometimes there were more than 90 coaches at one game! In addition to playing with my own team in front of coaches, I also attended one-day clinics at schools in which I was highly interested. The summer before my junior year of high school I went to an overnight camp at a large Division I school. At this camp there were several smaller schools in attendance exposing me to many coaches all at one time, including the coach of the school where I would ultimately commit. Although some of my teammates committed

to Division I schools earlier in the process, I found Division III schools wanted to delay the process and wait until closer to application time. At the end of my junior year, several coaches requested my academic transcript to put me through an early read with admissions. In the fall of my senior year, I went on overnight visits to three different schools where I was seriously talking to the coaches. This step greatly helped my decision, as I was able to discover where I would feel most comfortable with the team and the campus. I was fortunate to have three great liberal arts schools from which to choose, and am happy with my decision to attend Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia next year. I am excited to have completed this process and I look forward to my college soccer career!

Hannah Dodds Hometown: Bryn Mawr, Penn. Team: FCUSA Philadelphia School: Haverford High School Position: Center back / Outside back Number: 8

FCUSA / 17

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