2012 Fall Touchline

L E A D I N G

Y O U T H

S O C C E R

T I O N P U B L I C A f a l l

2012

eastern pennsylvania youth soccer

Another Great Year in the Books New Season Now Under Way!

FC Penn. Strikers Win National Title pg19

From Lancaster to Denver: Julian Valentin pg23

2012 Scholarship Recipients pg9

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Continue the Fun

By Bob McDade, President, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer It’s hard to believe we are approaching the fall season and will be heading back to the fields. It’s an exciting time, a busy time and should be a fun time for everyone.

As I have commented before, our sport far too often becomes one full of tremendous pressure and anxiety; rather than being a positive experience, soccer becomes a source of frustration. We tend to lose the most players at around 12 years of age, and the No. 1 reason players give for quitting is “it’s not fun anymore.”

Here is my preseason advice to everyone: Let’s continue to make it fun.

Fun can come in many forms and I have some suggestions that may help: 1. Keep things in perspective--the missed shot, lost game, or any other perceived “negative” is not a big deal. This isn’t life or death. This is a game.

2. Stay diversified--you have committed to a club or team, and you need to fulfill that commitment, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything but soccer. Play basketball, watch the Eagles on Sunday, join the Scouts.

3. Focus on enjoying the moment-recognize that parents and children have very little time together. Remember Harry Chapin’s song “Cats in the Cradle”? It’s all too true--make the moments you have together good ones. Be upbeat and positive toward teammates, children, referees, coaches. If everyone is enjoying the moment, it’s hard not to have fun.

You may read my suggestions as hackneyed or even trite--maybe so, but they are sound recommendations and ones that I will almost guarantee will make the upcoming season fun.

To each of the administrators, coaches, parents and volunteers: Thank you, as always, for supporting our children, our communities and our wonderful sport.

To each of the players: Good luck in the upcoming season, try your hardest, and make sure, before anything else, have fun.

Olympic Ideals

By Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer As the games of London concluded, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge called on the youth of the world to assemble in Rio in 2016. It is time again for the youth to assemble on the soccer fields of Eastern Pennsylvania.

During the Olympics, we saw the joys of winning and respect for all competitors.

As we enter our new soccer season, I hope we can keep in mind the Olympic Ideals of excellence, respect and friendship.

The first ideal, excellence, is an aspiration. Excellence should not be a demand of our children, but a learned experience. Children need to learn excellence by example. Excellence should not be a burden, but an encouragement to achieve

and continue to grow and learn.

The Olympic movement defines respect as “putting humans first.” Coaches, parents and other spectators should remember that children are on the field. Comments should be nothing but positive. Our game officials should not be subject to undue harsh criticism or comments. And as I’ve written before, racism and violence have no place on our fields.

“Forging friendships among athletes” is an ideal supported through the Olympic Games and should be supported through our teams and clubs. Remember, people you see on an opposing sideline for a few hours could become neighbors, schoolmates, congregation members or work colleagues later that day.

So, as we begin this new season, I call on everyone to assemble and unite, for a safe, healthy and positive season. I wish the best of luck to all. Play hard, play fair, have fun. epysa.ORG

Vol. XXXVIII • September 2012 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

4070 Butler Pike, Suite 100 Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 Phone: 610-238-9966 Fax: 610-283-9933 info@EPYSA.org www.EPYSA.org EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Robert McDade Vice President, Recreational Brian Talerico Vice President, Travel Jim Kuntz Treasurer Herb Maguire Secretary Jeff Sommer Registrar Donna Outt State Youth Referee Administrator John Campbell COMMITTEE CHAIRS Arbitration & Risk Management Rick Tompkins TOPSoccer Program Diane Spencer Soccer Across America John Kukitz Cup Commissioner Dave Ash Rules & Revisions Tom Dougherty Scholarships Dave Edgecombe STATE OFFICE STAFF Chief Executive Officer Chris Branscome Director of Coaching Mike Barr Director of Soccer Operations Frank Olszewski Communications Manager Rob Brown Marketing and Events Coordinator Kylea Meredith Assistant Director of Coaching Gary Stephenson Membership Services Specialist Beck Kleinert ODP/Coaching Administrator Kelly Connor Director of Camps Sheldon Chamberlain Accountant Judy Curran TOUCHLINE Editor-in-Chief Rob Brown

A.E. Engine 11880 28th Street North, Suite 101 St. Petersburg, Florida 33716 (727) 209.0792 / Fax: (727) 209.1776 info@ae-engine.com www.ae-engine.com Publisher Craig Baroncelli VP, Sales David Watson VP, Executive Accounts Dayne Maasdorp Art Director Jason Tedeschi Graphic Designer Stacey Foster Account Executives Chris Vita, Ron Trytek, Kristy Limotta, Dustin “Doc” Lawson Web Designer Nicole Hess The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted; all rights reserved. Articles may not be reproduced or reprinted without written permission from Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and A.E. Engine. Advertising space in Touchline is purchased and paid for by the advertisers. None of the products or services are necessarily endorsed by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer or its affiliates. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Socceror its advertisers.

Printed in the United States of America.

Contents Departments President’s Message Chief Executive’s Message Association Calendar Director of Coaching Perspective Social Media Corner Upcoming Coaching Education Courses Profile: Julian Valentin Player Profiles Coaching: Combination Play

1 1 5 10-11 17 21 23 27 28

Features 2012 June Cup (NCS) Champions What is Soccer Business?

Scholarship Winners Announced ODP Tryouts US Youth Soccer Region I Championships FC Penn. Strikers National Champs Phila. Union Jr. Supporters Club Coaches Connection

3 7 9 13 14-15 19 25 25

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QUARTERLY CALENDAR September 2012 | Youth Soccer Month* September September September September September September September September

1 3 9 9 19 21 23 23

September 30

Seasonal Year Begins Labor Day, State Office Closed ODP Tryouts Soccer Day @ Please Touch Museum Angelo’s Soccer Corner 20% Off Day Deadline for 2012 Award Nominations ODP Tryouts VIP Experience Contest @ Phila. Union Game

IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO BE IN TOUCH WITH TOUCHLINE!

Army/Navy Men’s Soccer Game @ PPL Park

October 2012

We would love to hear your stories about the players, coaches, refs and parents who are making a difference in our Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer community for an article about them in Touchline or on our EPYSA.org website. Send your story suggestions, photos or videos to Communications Manager Rob Brown at rbrown@epysa.org.

October 1 Registration Fees and Databases Due October 8 Columbus Day, State Office Closed October 18 Union League Good Citizenship Award

Nominations Open October 22-26

Indoor Cup Application Opens

November 2012 November 22-25 Thanksgiving, State Office Closed *Youth Soccer Month Full Schedule Available: http://bit.ly/EPA-YSM

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What is Soccer Business?

By Andrew Wenger, Montreal Impact | Excerpt from the blog at http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/

Andrew Wenger

T

he business of a soccer club is to produce a winning team. Too often, though, actions taken place in the board room or at the negotiating table take away from the entertainment on the field.

At times, the aggressiveness and sometimes greediness of clubs leads to failure on the field.

Specifically, the mountains of debt some European clubs have amassed in recent years often do more harm than good for a club.

Last year, players in La Liga — one of the world’s richest leagues — nearly went on strike when one club failed to pay wages. Earlier this year, Rangers FC entered administration after they could not pay some $77 million the club owed in taxes. The same has happened to FC Portsmouth for the second time in as many years. The financial problems were the result of poor management decisions.

In 2005, Malcolm Glazer used the financial tool of a leveraged buyout (LBO) to purchase Manchester United for $1.5 billion and make the company private. This hampered the team’s ability to keep or purchase new star players. Manchester United sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a record transfer fee of $132 million. Even with the sale of Ronaldo, United has been unable to manage their debt payments and recently reissued shares of the club on the New York Stock Exchange for public purchase. Glazer raised $300 million dollars in the IPO; half will be used to pay down the $663 million in remaining debt.

Glazer has outraged many fans of Manchester United, who consider that he has taken the club from them. They have a point. After

all, as a “brand” a club is not only made up of its players and managers, but also of the fans and the tradition they carry with them.

Another instance of over spending and debt damaging a club is Leeds United, formally of the Premier League. Rather than piling on debt through a LBO, the club borrowed to purchase players. Leeds was a big club in the 1980s and 1990s, culminating in a Champions League semi-final place in 2001. But the club was ultimately undone by their Chairman Peter Ridsdale’s idea to go for it. He proceeded to purchase players with borrowed money using future ticket sales as collateral. It failed and the club had to sell assets at a blistering pace as the club entered administration. Great players were sold at a severe discount due to the team’s financial troubles. The club also suffered demotion to England’s third tier and has since had to claw themselves back from the brink of extinction.

The idea of corporate borrowing is nothing new. Most companies must borrow to fund future growth. But there is a line between intelligent borrowing and getting caught in a credit crunch. In Europe, several countries are trying to reorganize debt in order to make payments.

Fiorentino Perez, the Chairman of Real Madrid is in the midst of de-leveraging in his business, A.C.S., the largest building services companies in the world. As he has done with Real Madrid, Perez has orchestrated huge loans, creating $12 billion in debt that the company has since had to sell assets to cover.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, is currently $500 million in debt because of the money it has spent creating the “Galacticos.”

The authors of the book “Soccernomics,” Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski, make a compelling argument that the outlandish transfer costs that have become the norm in professional soccer are not the way to success.

“We studied the spending of 40 English clubs between 1978 and 1997, and found that their outlay on transfers explained only 16 percent of their total variation in league position. By contrast, their spending on salaries explained a massive 92 percent of the variation.”

They conclude that the market for player wages is efficient while the transfer market is inefficient.

Many clubs feel that they must take on such debt to keep up with the “Jones’s” — clubs

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like Manchester City and Chelsea, whose billionaire owners are not worried about the bottom line of the clubs they own. Qatar’s Sheik Mansour bought Man City for $330 million, then proceeded to spend close to double that on stocking his team with talented players. He was only following the lead of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

UEFA reported that more than a quarter of the 650 soccer teams in Europe are spending $16.50 for every $13.50 of revenue. Running a deficit is fine for the super rich owners who care about nothing else than winning.

Unfortunately not every team is owned by an owner with bottomless pockets.

The massive television contracts in Europe are giving clubs increasing revenue. But even with the rising revenue teams are still forced to borrow to compete with the billionaire owners of the world. European teams currently run a collective $1.5 billion deficit.

Some are trying to stop the process. Michel Platini has launched the Financial Fair Play (FFP) plan, which is meant to force European clubs to balance their books by the 2013/14 season. If clubs fail to balance their books they will be excluded from UEFA competitions.

What if Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City refuse to follow the rule and are kicked out of the Champions League.

Perhaps the Financial Fair Play plan will alter a shift in professional soccer in Europe. Barbara Berlusconi has underlined the need for change: “Soccer teams will have to transform into proper companies. If you can only spend what you get, then you have to keep costs in check and increase revenue. It’s a challenge that can become an opportunity.” This change in soccer will be a positive one if it improves what is produced on the field, or simply forces owners to be smarter with how they spend their money.

Soccer clubs are not like regular companies.

The authors of Soccernomics say it best: “The business of soccer is soccer,” they note, and clubs “are more like museums: public-spirited organizations that aim to serve the community while remaining reasonably solvent.” What is happening today in so many clubs is that running a soccer club with pressure to make money may contradict the goal of winning on the field.

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Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Announces 2012 Scholarship Recipients

By Rob Brown

Madison Vitelli

E

Kaceyanne Cerankowski

Evan Lynn

ach year, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer seeks out leaders amongst its graduating youth population, and awards scholarships to individuals who exemplify strong leadership abilities, maintain high academic performance and seek financial support.

sity track team and was voted most valuable player in track in 2011. Along with many other volunteer works, Kaceyanne acted as a tutor at her high school as well as for special needs children. Kaceyanne will attend Elizabethtown College as a biology major, and plans to continue playing soccer there.

Madison Vitelli attended Central Bucks South High School in Warrington. Madison had a notable academic record in

This spring, Kaceyanne Cerankowski won the 2012 Bill Whitney Memorial Scholarship, Madison Vitelli won the 2012 Charlotte Moran Memorial Scholarship, and Richard S. Bruno, Jr. and Evan Lynn each received the 2012 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Scholarship.

The four, $1,000 scholarships are awarded annually for post-secondary education. The selection criteria include community service and giving back to the game of soccer. The scholarships are awarded to honor the memory of former Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer leaders Charlotte Moran and Bill Whitney for their outstanding services for soccer and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer.

Kaceyanne Cerankowski attended Neshaminy Senior High School in Langhorne. As a member of The National Honor Society in High School, Kaceyanne accomplished high scholastic marks, accumulating a 4.06 GPA and graduating in the top five percent of her class. Kaceyanne played as a member of the FC Bucks Prowlers as well as for the Neshaminy High School squad. Along with soccer, Kaceyanne captained the Neshaminy var-

high school, graduating with a 4.04 GPA and achieving distinguished honors all four years. Madison was as a member of the National and French Honor Society, as well as Student Council Treasurer. She was captain of both varsity girls basketball and soccer teams in her senior year.

Madison also competed with the Warrington, Montgomery, and Rush Soccer clubs throughout her club soccer career.

She was a member of her school’s Key Club, a community service group, while also coaching and counseling at CB South Basketball Camp. Madison will attend Penn State University.

Richard “Ricky” S. Bruno, Jr. attended

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Ricky Bruno

Exeter Township Senior High School in Reading. Ricky currently plays for the Premier Soccer Team, of which he has been a member since he was 10 years old.

A standout soccer player, Ricky also has excelled in track and field where he has set school records, won state and district medals, and was named Burks County MVP. Along with his athletic achievements Ricky has completed over 80 hours of community service and in 2010 achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Ricky plans to attend Alvernia University and major in Criminal Justice.

Evan Lynn attended Sun Valley High School in Aston. While in school Evan was a superior student maintaining a 4.96 GPA. Evan received multiple scholastic awards including AP Scholar with Honors Award, Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, and a member of the Distinguished Honor Roll every semester.

Evan has been a member of the BYC Earthquakes since 8th grade and has acted as the Earthquakes captain since 9th grade. He also captioned his high school varsity soccer team his senior year. In addition, Evan has volunteered his time as a tutor at his high school and at the Riddle Memorial Hospital. Evan will attend Drexel University as a Biomedical Engineering major.

“Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer strives to develop players’ skills as well as their characters. All of four of these recipients have taken the important life lessons that soccer offers its participants and given back to the game and their communities,” said Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer.

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My Perspective

By Mike Barr, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Director of Coaching

‘SEABISCUIT,’ ‘MR HOLLAND’S OPUS’ AND SOCCER PLAYER METAPHORS I have to admit sometimes it is frustrating attempting to get parents and coaches to do the right thing for children. I decided to use some dialogue from two movies to create metaphors to bring my points across.

Meaningful scripts and dialogue seem to get lost as moviegoers want high-tech and bigger-than-life action. Quite possibly the following lines from quality feel-good movies can enlighten coaches and parents to reestablish priorities when dealing with young children.

SEABISCUIT Trainer Tom Smith (describing Seabiscuit): “You want something that’s not afraid to compete ... you want something that’s not

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gonna run from a fight.”

You want your players to be competitive in training and matches. A young player at 8 or 9 years old who may not have the skills but tries to be the best should not be ignored. This type of attitude produces champions. If a coach decides that he or she has no need for a player who may not demonstrate the required technical skills at such an early age, he or she is doing damage to that child and a disservice to him or herself as a coach. (describing Seabiscuit): “He was a small horse ... a limp in his walk, a wheezing when he breathed.”

We decided to not select this player because he or she was just not ready. We did not see potential. Imagine a coach making that decision about any child at 7 or 8 years old—quite possibly a child born eight to 12 months later than the so-called exceptional, identified soccer player.

“They made him a training partner to better horses, forcing him to lose head-tohead duels.”

A young player gets placed on a B travel team with a volunteer parent coach. How can that player receive the same training as the A-team player who has the professional coach and the quality training? Whenever there is a scrimmage between the two teams, the players on the B team play down to the potential that is expected and lose the confidence they once had when they originally got involved with soccer.

“Soon he grew ... bitter and angry ...

Champions were large, they were sleek, they were without imperfection. When they finally did race him, he did just what they had trained him to do. He lost.”

A young soccer player never given chances or opportunities at younger ages follows the path they were provided and becomes frustrated. By age 11 or 12, their play is listless and they become uncooperative in training. They finally decide that soccer is not for them.

“We could all learn a lick or two from this little guy. Oh, and by the way, he doesn’t know he’s little. He thinks he’s the biggest horse out there. ... See, sometimes when the

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little guy, he doesn’t know he’s a little guy, he can do great big things.”

Look no further than the Barcelona squad featuring Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Never give up on a child that may not have the speed, size or maturity at an early age. Be aware of the wide range of development, both cognitive and physical, in children.

Let’s provide quality training to all children and not just the elite player or the players whose parents are willing to pay thousands to private trainers.

‘MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS’ In “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” the governor walks to the stage at a music recital honoring Mr. Holland, who has decided to retire because funds are being cut from the music department (a more common occurrence in today’s economy with the lack of state and federal funding). The governor is a former student of Mr. Holland.

“Thank you, Principal Kiernan. I’m sorry I arrived late and spoiled the music, but we’ll get right back to it. I came here today to say my thanks to Mr. Holland. I remember him well … He had a great influence on my life. On a lot of lives I know. And I have the feeling that Mr. Holland considers a great part of his life misspent. He wrote this symphony of his to be performed, possibly to make him rich, famous or both. That is the American dream … that is how we measure success by being rich and famous.

On that scale Mr. Holland is a failure but I think he has achieved success beyond riches and fame. Look around you, Mr. Holland. There is not a life in this room you have not touched. And each one is a better person for meeting you, or being your student. This is your symphony, Mr. Holland.

These people are the notes and melodies of your opus. And this is the music of your life.”

Coaches, as you grow older, you will not be judged by wins and losses but by the positive impact you may have on a child’s life. Soccer is only a small part of life, and as a coach, you are responsible for every player—not just the elite or gifted player.

Your guidance, instruction and comments carry more weight than you can imagine.

Be knowledgeable and kind in your instruction. Provide your best to every child in every session. Take the responsibility to think beyond the next practice, game or season and imagine this little girl or boy 70 years from now enjoying life and contributing to society because of your words, your instruction or your caring about them. Coaching is just teaching in a bigger classroom where all of a child’s senses come into play!

tufts of grass, dirt and rocks—a field many Eastern Pennsylvania club coaches, so used to their wonderful, manicured fields, would deem unplayable (common complaint during our State Cups).

It made no difference as the kids came to camp with huge smiles and coaches arrived in the evening anxious to take the course. Both the kids and coaches truly love this game and have not become burdened with too many games, parents wanting results, travel teams or academies. Coaches have the same goals to make better players and make sure the kids are having fun. Soccer is not a priority 24/7. In fact, basketball seems to be their favorite sport, and the national sport is softball.

My highlight was the opportunity to train the national men’s team. They accepted me and my training exercises from the beginning. They have a real sense of pride in their team, and just like us, they want to see their national program improve.

Never underestimate the impact that providing used balls, soccer shoes and uniforms may have on less fortunate children. During camp, I saw T-shirts and uniforms from many clubs in Eastern Pennsylvania. Used soccer shoes from garages and closets in our state made some children very happy.

I came away from the islands feeling better about myself and rejuvenated about coaching!

British Virgin Islands I spent a week’s vacation working in a camp on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and also provided an E License Coaching Course. Surrounded by incredible beauty, I could not help but appreciate the wonderful children and coaches I met. We trained in the national stadium, but the field was only

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the road to victory is a

Proud Partner of the Philadelphia Union

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ODP TRYOUTS 1st Tryout - Sunday, September 9th 2nd Tryout - Sunday, September 23rd

Each interested player in participating in the 2012-2013 ODP season MUST register online prior to tryouts.

We will not be accepting walk-up registration at tryouts. With everyone pre-registering, this will ensure all player registration information is correct and also that the registration process at tryouts will be a lot faster. Visit your team page for more information about tryouts, schedules and coaches.

For times and locations please visit: http://bit.ly/ODP_Tryouts.

ODP age is different than club/league age | ODP age is by calendar year.

U-12 PLAYERS BORN IN 2001 (6 teams) U-13 PLAYERS BORN IN 2000 (3 teams) U-14 PLAYERS BORN IN 1999 (2 teams) U-15 PLAYERS BORN IN 1998 (1 team) U-16 PLAYERS BORN IN 1997 (1 team) U-17 PLAYERS BORN IN 1996 (1 team) The goal of the U-12 and U-13 Age Groups is player development. By keeping larger pools of players, we are providing an opportunity for more players to participate in ODP, take part in exclusive playing opportunities, and receive coaching from some of the best coaches in Eastern Pennsylvania.

For the remaining age groups (U-14 through U-17), the teams will train at one location. U-14 Age Group (Players born in 1999) will have two teams. U-15 through U-17 teams will have one team.

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Opening Ceremony

Clipper Magazine Stadium | June 28, 2012

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FC Bucks

FC Penn Strikers

LVU

YMS

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Your local Tri-State Toyota Dealers’ Association is proud to be The Official Vehicle Partner

of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and Philadelphia Union. toyota.com

Options shown. *Based on NHTSA Final Industry MY10 CAFE data for Toyota Motor Sales. 12012 EPArated 34 highway mileage for Corolla with manual transmission. Actual mileage will vary. 22012 EPA-rated 28 highway mileage for RAV4 4-cyl. 2WD. Actual mileage will vary. 32012 EPA-rated 51 city mileage for Prius. Actual mileage will vary. 42012 EPA-rated 44 city mileage for Prius v. Actual mileage will vary. 52012 EPA-rated 35 highway mileage for Camry 4-cyl. Actual mileage will vary.

Let the Fall Season Begin … with the use of Social Media

By Lauren Kolowitz, BE Marketing, Official Social Media Consulting Firm of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

T

he soccer community is its own world with its own traditions, language and schedule. The community includes not only players, but coaches and parents as well.

Social media is a simple and effective means of communication during the preseason, prime season and postseason. In this quarter’s Social Media Corner, we discuss how you can use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and

blogging to keep the soccer community in your area connected.

Facebook is an essential tool to create excitement and engage players and parents before tryouts, games or ceremonies.

Through Facebook, members of the soccer community can share feedback about the experience and have their questions answered.

Posting pictures, polls and details will inform and energize the audience about an event. In addition, Facebook makes it easier for fans to find accurate dates, times and locations for all events.

Another social media outlet, Twitter, allows followers to receive information instantaneously as posted by other members of the soccer community. Officials can post about rain delays or cancelations by using messages and @mentions. The handle @EPAYouthSoccer is an easy way to access current soccer information. What’s more, if you are unable to attend an event, Twitter allows for direct updates on games and ceremonies as other fans post on the subject.

Through Pinterest, athletes and coaches

can relive the game. Players, parents and coaches can post pictures to albums so that they can share memories. Coaches can also use the pictures as a constructive tool. In some cases, they can physically show their players any mistakes they are making and make suggestions for improvement.

Blogs provide a first-perspective view from the soccer community. Players can provide a firsthand account of how they felt when a point was scored, coaches can provide analysis, and parents can express their excitement or even anxiety. Blogs allow everyone to see a different perspective and celebrate achievements from a different point of view.

Social media creates a circle of information with feedback, comments and anticipation for an event. From an event posted on Facebook to testimonies on blogs, communication is essential for your club and members. It allows parents, coaches and players to become a team themselves. How is your club using social media this fall season? www.bemarketing.com

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FC Pennsylvania Strikers win FIRST US Youth Soccer National Championship!

By Rob Brown

T

he U-18 girls soccer team, FC Pennsylvania Strikers, representing Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and Region I, captured the 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship in Rock Hill, S.C., and won the U-19 Girls Francis J. “Frank” Kelly Cup. “Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is proud of the accomplishments of the players and coaches on FC Pennsylvania Strikers, and we congratulate them for winning the 2012 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship in the U-18 girls Francis J. “Frank” Kelly Cup,” said Chris Branscome, chief executive officer of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. “Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is lucky to be represented so well at national events by great teams like the FC Pennsylvania Strikers. We look

forward to these players being leaders in the future, whether on the soccer field, the classroom or the community.”

FC Pennsylvania Strikers’ road to the title began when they won the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer State Cup on June 17 in Wallingford, Pa. The team then went on to win the U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships on July 3 in Lancaster, Pa. In Rock Hill, FC Pennsylvania opened the tournament with a come-from-behind win. Twice during the game, the team fell behind by a goal to La Roca (Utah) and battled back to equalize. They then went on to claim a 4–2 victory. Stacy Blair gave La Roca the lead in the fourth minute, before Gabriella Carbone leveled for FC Pennsylvania Strikers three minutes later.

Blair struck again in the 23rd, but Cassandra Pecht netted the equalizer just before halftime. Carbone and Pecht each added a second-half goal to secure the win.

On Day 2 (July 26), the FC Pennsylvania

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Strikers finished with a 4–0 win against Cincinnati Soccer Alliance Elite (Ohio-S).

And on Day 3 (July 27), the team finished with a 0–0 tie against Brentwood 94 Premier (Tenn.).

The same two squads, FC Pennsylvania Strikers and Brentwood 94 Premier, faced off again in the National Championship finals on July 27. The Strikers broke open a tight game against Brentwood SC 94 Premier and won 6–0. Despite wearing a brace, Daija Griffin led FC Penn to become the leading scorer in the division with four goals on the week and strikes in the 17th and 80th. Cheyenne Spade opened the scoring in the ninth minute and completed her double in the 77th, while Gina DiTaranto and Stevi Parker added secondhalf goals.

The FC Pennsylvania Strikers completed a trophy sweep this season, claiming titles in the state cup, Region I Premier League, Region I Championships, National League and now the National Championships.

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Joe Smith, a five-year-old from Campbelltown, PA, had his first “driving lesson” – behind the wheel of an antique Turkey Hill Dairy milk truck in the Turkey Hill Experience. He also picked up some psychology when he learned how his personality relates to tea. To top off his day, he acted in his very own ice cream TV commercial. Write your own story at the Turkey Hill Experience. Lancaster County’s new “must see” interactive attraction is located in Columbia, PA.

Profile of Julian Valentin: From Lancaster to Colorado

By Rob Brown

Julian Valentin

J

ulian Valentin has had a whirlwind career that has taken him through the youth soccer system, to Major League Soccer (MLS), and then to Major League Baseball—an unusual finish for a player who played soccer his entire life.

Valentin started out in his hometown of Lancaster, Pa., when he played for FC Leeds United, which later became PA Classics. He went from an aspiring soccer star to assistant editor of interactive marketing & publications for the Colorado Rockies.

Valentin’s memories of youth soccer involve waking up at 5 a.m. to get to tournaments and his time spent at the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. “I’m really happy with how I [grew] up: small town, small club, good development,” Valentin said.

The Lancaster-Central Pennsylvania area has produced a number of professional players including Dave Horst of the Portland Timbers, current DC United Coach and former player Ben Olsen, and Valentin and his younger brother Zarek, who now plays professionally in the MLS for the newly formed Montreal Impact.

Valentin played one year of high school soccer at Manheim Township High School before moving to Florida for the residency program. He chose to attend Wake Forest University, where he took the soccer program to new heights, including its first Final Four appearance and National Championship title in 2007.

Reflecting on his college career, Valentin said, “Playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference prepared me for the next step, and in each game, you’re playing top competition. Jay Vidovich (head coach of Wake Forest University) is as good as it gets when it comes to developing college players, and I met some of my best friends in college.”

Valentin’s training and hard work over the years at FC Leeds, the U.S. Residency Program, and Wake Forest finally led to the day that he was drafted by the LA Galaxy. “It was a good feeling, and the fact I was able to share it with friends, family and all those who helped me along the way was special,” he said. “With all that said, I had a broad perspective on what the draft actually is and always knew it meant nothing more than an opportunity.”

Injuries and tough competition led to a frustrating experience with the Galaxy, and Valentin only had one cameo role with the first team. He became the reserve team captain and practiced hard every day to improve the quality of training. Then while playing

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with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the National Arena Soccer League, Julian’s career path took an unexpected turn.

“I was bored in the offseason and randomly went on the Rockies’ website one day and saw a job that I thought sounded cool, the kind of thing I knew I wanted to do long term,” he said. The Rockies publish a 152page magazine each month of the season and Valentin, along with his boss, the editor and designer, plans the content, assigns stories and works with freelance writers, writes editorial content and features stories himself, does light design work and edits and proofreads the magazine. He’s also the man behind the Rockies social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and more. “I didn’t have a resume, cover letter, or writing samples, so I put something together and mailed it to Denver.”

Valentin continued to play for the Rowdies until one day, “I got called by the Rockies, flew to Denver for an interview, and the rest is history,” he said.

Valentin accepted the assistant editor position—a job that combined his love of sports and writing. “Sports are such a big part of my life that I can’t see myself doing anything else,” he said. “I’ve always loved writing, as displayed by my portfolio of blogs and articles I wrote when I was playing and by my degree in English. I was thrilled that the opportunity with the Rockies fell in my lap.”

Based on the way Valentin speaks about his career path, he wouldn’t have it any other way. He sends a strong message to any kid who is thinking of playing at the next level and beyond. “Think of it this way: the vast majority of players never play professionally, so make sure you’ll be happy with your decision outside of the game,” he said.

Valentin also offered advice for kids starting the recruiting process: “My advice ... would be to see the whole picture. You’re not just a soccer player and it’s important to make sure that the school is fit. Academics should match your abilities, the social scene must be what you’re looking to find, and meshing with your teammates is key.”

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Coaches Connection Are you a coach? Would you like great information about how to be a better coach that is easy to understand and at a great price?

If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, keep reading about how you can get connected to the Coaches Connection.

The US Youth Soccer Coaches Connection provides members with a link to the US Youth Soccer Coaching Education Network: National Staff Coaches, plus 55 State Association Directors of Coaching Education and their staffs, as well as guest lectures from around the world!

The Connection is all about connectivity and the ability to communicate with educators from across the country. Get connected with leaders in the field of coaching and player development. Stay current with discussions on such hot topics as small-sided games; recreation vs. competitive soccer; ethics and morals in sport.

Keep connected with continuing education opportunities online at USYouthSoccer.org. Get the latest information on training youth players, learn the latest in age and gender appropriate training activities, and find out where and when special events will be in a location near you!

Coaches Connection benefits include the monthly Coaches Connection e-newsletter, access to sample training activities and seasonal planning guides, and discounted admission to special clinics and events, as well as coaching aids.

Members also receive a subscription to Success in Soccer magazine, which covers topics such as how to organize interesting and effective practice sessions, exercises on age-appropriate technical and tactical sessions, how to improve defending and attacking abilities, how to improve power, strength, agility and speed, in-depth information on sports psychology and motivation, the newest training techniques for goalkeepers and analysis of professional match and training information.

To get connected and improve your players’ development, register for the Coaches Connection for only $29.95 per year, or $50 for two years, by visiting the Coaches tab at USYouthSoccer.org.

Philadelphia Union Junior Supporters Club

B

ecome a member of the Philadelphia Union family! The Philadelphia Union is proud to recognize and engage with its younger fans.

The Junior Supporters Club (JSC) offers three different membership packages and is available for fans from ages 3 to 14. The packages and benefits available include: SPIRIT PACKAGE ($25)

Rattlesnake Package ($45)

DOOP Package ($100)

Membership card Autographed player card Union magnet Union bumper sticker Union folder Union pencil Union cup

Union T-shirt Union rally towel Autographed pennant Union mini-scarf

Replica jersey Mini-ball Post-game player meet-and-greet Voucher to attend and open practice Behind-the-scenes pre-game tour of PPL Park

Every member is invited to this year’s Junior Supporters night at PPL Park on July 14 at 7 p.m. Members in attendance will have a chance to participate in pregame presentations. Before each game, JSC members have the opportunity to check-in and have their membership card stamped by the Major Molly’s Army promotional team. Junior Supporters can also participate in an enhanced game-day experience: epysa.ORG

The first five supporters to check in at each game get to watch player warm-ups from the field. The first DOOP Package member to check in is allowed on the field for a postgame meet and greet.

The Union is proud to support a family feel at all games and among its fans. The Junior Supporters are an extension of that camaraderie and help get their fans DOOPing as early as possible.

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Hey, Kids!

(And adults, too!)

Want to appear in an upcoming issue of Touchline?

There is an exciting new feature in the magazine where Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer players, coaches and parents get an opportunity to be seen and heard by the rest of our readers.

And perhaps you have said to yourself, “I want to be in Touchline Magazine!”

Well, now is your chance! If you would like to be considered to appear in an upcoming issue, simply answer the 11 Questions that appear on our website and fill in the bio information, and email it back to rbrown@epysa.org. Most importantly, you need to send a photo of yourself with the email, the higher quality, the better. If there is not a photo, then we can’t use your entry in the magazine. Entering is also not a guarantee of getting published.

We wish you good luck, and who knows? Perhaps when you open the next issue of Touchline Magazine, you will find yourself staring back at you!

To register go to:

http://www.epysa.org/touchline_profiles.aspx

pARKWOOD

fc europa

schuylkill

pa classics

valley venmon

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH SOCCER Player Profiles See page 26 to learn how you can get profiled in the next issue of Touchline!

Emily Peleschak

Landon Rice

Matthew Wanamaker

RC Williams

Shayna Rodriguez

Age:

Age:

Age:

Age:

Age:

Team Name: Schuylkill Fury

Team Name:

PA Classics U9 Academy Team

Team Name: Valley Venom

FC Europa (FCE)

Team Name:

Team Name:

Organization/Club:

Organization/Club:

Organization/Club:

Organization/Club:

Organization/Club:

What position do you play or what do you do on your team?

What position do you play or what do you do on your team?

What position do you play or what do you do on your team?

What position do you play or what do you do on your team?

What is your nickname?

What is your nickname?

What is your nickname?

What is your nickname?

Who is your role model?

Why?

Who is your role model?

Why?

Who is your role model?

Why?

What is your favorite soccer team?

What is your favorite soccer team?

What is your favorite soccer team?

What is your favorite movie?

What is your favorite movie?

What is your favorite movie?

What is your favorite song?

What is your favorite song?

What is your favorite song?

10

Associate team of Pine Grove Area Youth Soccer Association

What position do you play or what do you do on your team?

Forward/Striker

What is your nickname?

Emmy

Who is your role model?

Why?

Eric Franks because he is the caption of the Philly Fury and he shows me how to train.

What is your favorite soccer team?

Philadelphia Fury

What is your favorite movie?

Soul Surfer

What is your favorite song?

We Are Young

What is your favorite book?

Top Secret

What is your favorite food?

Steak

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

Basketball

What is your pet peeve (what thing makes you mad or drives you crazy)?

When people pick their nose

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Cancun, Mexico because it is always sunny and warm

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A professional soccer player

7

8

PA Classics

Striker/Midfield Lando

Who is your role model?

Why? Messi, he is the best player in the world and he is short like me.

What is your favorite soccer team?

Valley Soccer Club

Center Forward Mattman

My Dad, he taught me to work hard for something I want Philadelphia Union

Barcelona

What is your favorite movie?

Real Steel

Home Alone

What is your favorite song?

TNT by AC/DC

Payphone

What is your favorite book?

Big Nate

What is your favorite book?

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

Spain to meet Messi

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I grow up I want to be a Pro Soccer Player.

Striker or Goalie

Attacking Mid RC

My brother because he does well in sports.

Shay

Hope Solo for being an amazing soccer player.

Manchester United

Philadelphia Union

Bridesmaids

The Longest Yard

Chicken Fried

Mercy

What is your favorite book?

What is your favorite book?

What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

Cereal

Baseball

What is your pet peeve What is your pet peeve (what thing makes you (what thing makes you mad or drives you crazy)?

When teams don’t play fair! mad or drives you crazy)?

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Devils

TEYSA

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Basketball

Little sister

Parkwood

Any Goosebumps book

What is your favorite food?

Pizza

15

13

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

England to watch soccer

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A soccer player for the Uniont

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Child Called It cheesesteaks

A caesar salad n/a

Basketball

What is your pet peeve What is your pet peeve (what thing makes you (what thing makes you mad or drives you crazy)? mad or drives you crazy)?

When my sister takes my soccer balls.

When people tell me what to do

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I would go to England to participate in soccer.

A successful soccer player on a major league team.

Ireland because it is beautiful there.

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH SOCCER

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COMBINATION PLAY

by Gary Stephenson, Assistant Director of Coaching Warm up – ½ Dutch Diamond

Organization • Three players with one ball • Set of three cones (1 set per group of 3) Sequence & Progression • The player at the point of the triangle is the “wall” player • Server A passes the ball to the wall player, the wall player then plays the ball 1-touch towards Server B, who controls the ball then passes back to the wall player who passes to Server A • Sequence is repeated for 1-2 minutes – players rotate position

Main Activity – Offset diamond

Organization • Mark out a diamond (point to point 25yds) • Two players placed at each end with a ball, two players as wall players Sequence & Progression • Player at the point of the diamond has a ball, they play the ball to the wall player (player A to wall player A) Wall player plays the ball first time into projected run of the player that played the ball to them. Player then passes the ball to the player at the other end and follows pass. Meanwhile the other side of the diamond is performing the same process. Complete 10 passes then rotate position

Main Activity – 4 v 4 (+2)

Organization • Mark out a field 20 x 30 yard with goals • Two teams of 4 (GK & 3 field players) • Two neutrals, one on each side line Sequence & Progression • Each team must perform a wall pass with either neutral before going to goal.

Variations • Neutrals play on the field.

28

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Coaching Points • Pass to the wall player is played in front/across the player • The wall player moves so their body is open to the direction they are going to play the ball • Pass with the inside of the foot (push pass)

Coaching Points • Communication from the player with the ball • Pass to the wall player is played in front of the player • Wall player - one times the ball into the path of the run. Not at the player

Coaching Points • Understanding if the wall pass is on • Neutral must stay in front of the ball • Communication from player on the ball • Look for the space to drive into before the combination is performed • Speeding up and slowing down Remember when working on the wall pass you want the players to understand if the pass combination is on, space beyond the defender to drive into.

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