Winter 2012 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 w i n t e r

2012

eastern pennsylvania youth soccer

Workshop, 40th Anniversary Celebration & Awards Gala March 3, 2012

Referees _ Why We Do It pg. 7

National League pg. 24

Michael P. Roman pg. 13

Player Profiles pg. 27

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HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

By Bob McDade, President, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer I hope that everyone had a happy holiday and Happy New Year! Now that the holiday season is over we can finish with our plans to celebrate our 40th Anniversary.

For 40 years, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer has been a leader in the development of the game. We have been the hosts for numerous special events and international games. Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer played host to our US men’s national team when no one else would, setting attendance records that stood for decades at Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium. We hosted the women’s national team at UGH, Lehigh

and Upper Dublin long before hosting the Women’s World Cup in 2003 at The Linc. We led the charge to make Philadelphia a World Cup city and placed number one in the country in petition support.

You should all be very proud of the work you’ve done. Together, we have changed the landscape of youth soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania for the better.

We look forward to seeing you at the 40th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Gala on Saturday, March 3rd at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Downtown Philadelphia. This event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased, so be there to be a part of history. I encourage you to send in any pictures, jerseys, memrobelia, etc. into the office to be a part of the celebration.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer!

40 Years of Soccer

By Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary! 2012 is an exciting year for Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. We will be celebrating our 40th anniversary. Our association came into existence in 1972 as the national state association for the United States Soccer Federation. We have been serving and supporting the soccer community ever since.

Youth soccer was certainly being played on our region prior to 1972. The Philadelphia area had long been the hotbed of soccer. Several of our current members were established long before we were: The United German Hungarians began in 1910; Inter County Soccer League in 1960 and Lighthouse Boys Club were winning the McGuire Cup (U19 national championship) an unprecedented five times between 1938 and 1967. What began 40 years ago with hundreds of kids in the city, grew into thousands of kids in the suburbs, and has grown into over 130,000 kids throughout the entire state association –from Kensington to Carbondale; from Easton

to Gettysburg.

Since 1972, we’ve seen many players go on to gain national and international fame.

We’ve seen our coaches take teams to celebrated heights and we’ve had several administrators lead their way into national prominence. We’ve also seen great things happen right here at home. Individuals and clubs have taken the game from small numbers to great numbers. We’ve gone from sharing one dirt field with other sports to building multifield soccer only complexes with field turf and lights. We’ve evolved from “no girls allowed” to “girls rule!” We’ve moved out of basements and garages to club houses and laptops. We have grown. We have thrived. We are a great position for the future.

2012 is the year to celebrate the past forty years. We look forward to celebrating and remembering over the next twelve months.

Please, share your stories, photos, and other souvenirs with us so we can share with future generations. We’ll formally celebrate at a gala event in Philadelphia on March 3rd. The Annual General Meeting will follow the next day.

We hope you’ll join us.

Happy 40th Anniversary to everyone- to all who created and cultivated and grew youth soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania! epysa.org

Vol. XXXV • January 2012 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

4070 Butler Pike, Suite 100 Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 Phone: 610-238-9966 Fax: 610-283-9933 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 & Events Coordinator Kylea Meredith Membership Services Specialist Beck Kleinert ODP/Coaching Administrator Kelly Connor Assistant Director of Coaching Gary Stephenson Director of Camps Sheldon Chamberlain Receptionist Morgan Sims Accountant Serena Karlson 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 of Sales David Watson VP, Executive Accounts Dayne Maasdorp Art Director Jason Tedeschi Graphic Designer Stacey Foster Web Developer Nicole Hess Account Executives Chris Vita, Andrew Fisher, Kristy Limotta, Dustin “Doc” Lawson Office Manager Jamie Smith The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted; all rights reserved.

Articles may not be reproduced or reprinted without written permission from EPYSA and AE Engine Media/Marketing. Advertising space in Touchline is purchased and paid for by the advertisers. None of the products or services are necessarily endorsed by EPYSA or its affiliates. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of EPYSA or its advertisers. Printed in the United States of America.

Contents Departments President’s Message….................................................1 Chief Executive Officer’s Report…................................1 Youth Soccer Injuries....................................................3 Director of Coaching Message..................................…10-11 Social Media Corner.......................................................16 Soccer Calendar............................................................20 Upcoming Education Courses......................................25 Player Profiles.........…....................................................26 Coaching: The Overlap..................................................28 Features Coming This Spring...................…..................................5 Referees –Why We Dot It..............................................7 Award Winners...............................................................9 Michael Roman, Hall of Fame.....................................13 Tournament MVP’s........................................................18 Touchline Tales..............................................................20 Greg Bibb Profile...........................................................22 National League............................................................24 Junior Supporters Club................................................25

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Youth Soccer Injuries: The 3 R’s Risk Assessment, Rehabilitation and Reduction

By Brad Papson, PT, DPT, OCS

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outh soccer demands an equal balance of strength, stability, mobility, explosiveness, and endurance. Unfortunately, when breakdowns in this balance occur, injuries happen. Recent studies have found that 50% of youth sports injuries occur from overuse1. Meanwhile, there is a growing epidemic of ACL injuries occurring among younger athletes2.

The greatest predictor of an injury is a previous injury.

What is wrong with that statement?

Have our athletes fully recovered from their previous injury?

These questions would seem to have obvious answers. Unfortunately, “fully recovered” is not objective.

With such a high demand placed on our young athletes, more and more of them are breaking down. Medical providers need to look further into the influences over injuries.

Risk Assessment The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is one method of measuring an athlete’s likelihood of becoming injured3. It can also be utilized at the end of an athlete’s rehabilitation to assess their “readiness” to return to sports. While it does not have any direct correlation to playing a sport, it does provide insight into an athlete’s movement patterns. The screen will provide the athlete with a breakdown of their movement patterns and those that need continued correction to help minimize injury risk.

During the rehabilitation process, the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) can decipher functional versus dysfunctional movement patterns that may have an influence over the athlete’s pain.

Corrective exercise strategies may be used to help return to functional patterns.

The Star-Excursion Balance Test and Y-Balance Test have both been found to be good risk assessment tools. An athlete who has a decreased ability to balance and reach also has a 6.5x increase chance of injury4.

Rehabilitation Proprioception, more simply stated as your awareness of your body in space, is a major component of one’s balance, and body control, namely motor/muscular, are imperative in the return to play continuum.

All too often, that seemingly innocuous mild ankle sprain becomes recurrent.

Approximately 30-40% of ankle sprains become recurrent. Following the snowball effect, that mild ankle sprain results in a loss of motion, which in turn can become a predictor of a knee injury. This now traumatic non-contact ACL injury could have been prevented through a simple course of physical therapy.

Soccer is a high demand activity requiring an equally demanding rehabilitation. A lot of time is spent on one foot, running, and jumping. These activities can be and need to be practiced in therapy prior to returning to sports order to make sure they are not

impaired. It is imperative that you seek a therapist that is going to provide careful attention to such details when you are recovering from an injury.

Reduction of Injuries Neuromuscular Training Methods (NMT), built on dynamic stretching, motor control, agility, and plyometric training, have become trendy with great reasoning.

15-20 minute warm-up programs, easily adaptable for practice and pre-game routines, have a significant impact on injury reduction.

The PEP program, started by Santa Monica Sports Medicine Foundation, has a 2 year study showing a one year 88% decrease in ACL injuries and two year 74% decrease in ACL injuries among 3,000 female soccer players aged 14-186.

A NMT program developed by Dr. Cynthia LaBella, showed a 44% decrease in noncontact lower extremity injuries and a 34% decrease in non-contact ankle sprains, while Canadian researchers found a NMT program cut the injury rate in half for 13-18 year old soccer players8,9.

What should we be looking for?

Yes, there is still a high rate of traumatic injuries, and the staggering numbers continue to climb, but these readily available programs are devised to REDUCE injury rates, not necessarily prevent injuries.

A thorough program will not only assess the athlete’s current injury, but it will also utilize the most current evidence-based practice available to make sure the first injury is fully recovered. This program will include a full body movement analysis, risk assessment, functional training/ testing, educational materials, and should be tailored to provide a lasting exercise program to make weaknesses strengths and strengths stronger.

Ultimately, “hindsight explains the injury that foresight would have prevented.” Let us work together to eliminate the games that are lost.

References 1) www.aaos.org 2) http://well.blogs.nytimes. com/2011/10/26/a-new-breed-ofknee-injury-in-young-athletes/ 3) www.functionalmovement.com 4) J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2006; 36(12):911-919. doi:10.2519/ jospt.2006.2244) 5) A Joint-by-Joint Approach to Training, www.strengthcoach.com/public /1282.cfm

6) www.smsmf.com 7) www.fifa.com 8) Effect of Neuromuscular Warm-up on Injuries in Female Soccer and Basketball Athletes; Cynthia LaBella et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165(11): 1033-1040 9) Emery and Meeuwisse, 2010, Br J Sport Med

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Brad Papson, PT, DPT, OCS is the Clinical Manager for Premier Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Associates in Folsom, PA. He also co-chairs the Athlete’s Advantage Program developing rehabilitation and prevention programs for local high school and travel teams. For more info contact Brad Papson at: bpapson@premierortho.com or 610-586-7000

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Eastern Pennsylvania Turkey Hill Challenge Cup • Open to all teams playing in an Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Sanctioned League in the U9 through U17 age groups.

• There is no further competition outside of Eastern Pennsylvania.

• Turkey Hill Challenge Cup is playing in a World Cup format. Teams will need to progress from group play into playoffs.

Eastern Pennsylvania President’s Cup

Eastern Pennsylvania state Cup

• Open to all teams in the U13 through U17 age groups, playing in an Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Sanctioned League.

• Open to all teams in the U12 through U19 age groups, playing in an Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Sanctioned League.

• Champions in the U13 through U17 age groups will represent Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer in the US Youth Soccer President’s Cup Region I Championships.

• Winning teams will represent Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer at the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships.

• Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer teams U14 through U17 who win the Region I Championships will represent Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and Region I in the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup.

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• Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer teams U14 through U19 who win the Region I Championships will represent Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and Region I in the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

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Referees – Why We Do It

By Geoffrey Spector

2nd from the right, Geoffrey Spector

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grew up in the town of Manchester, Connecticut. I played soccer for approximately seven years in the local recreational leagues and I loved it, but I was in poor shape and the skills I had weren’t really of a high caliber.

I did not want to give up playing the game, but despite my love of soccer I had to abandon the idea of playing at a higher level.

When I was 13 I met the State Director of Instruction for the Connecticut State Referee Program. He presented me with the option of becoming a referee and I took it. It was an interesting way to stay involved in the action, make some money, and showcase a different set of skills from the players.

As a teenager, the first few games I “reffed” triggered dollar signs in my eyes, but I soon realized refereeing is not a self-sustaining profession. The pay is okay, but the problem is that the number of games you

have to work to make a significant wage is not realistic. It is a misconception that we do this for the money. Frankly, you won’t get rich refereeing in this country.

I have been told by various sources that even the best referees in the country, the ones that do Major League Soccer games full-time, have other jobs and only make enough for a small car and small apartment from their games. At my current level, if I do four to six games in a week; I can just about offset the cost of my groceries. Some might say that the compensation doesn’t fit the level of abuse we have to take and in some ways I would agree.

I remember doing a men’s amateur game a few years ago. I sent off a goalkeeper for violent conduct, and he proceeded to tell me I was “blanking” stupid and that my uniform looked – let’s just say he didn’t like my uniform. On his way off the field he spit on me. Friends of mine have been outright assaulted on the field, literally punched, shoved, and in one cased choked and thrown to the ground. We can usually deal with verbal insults fairly well, but to take such disrespect as to be spit on

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or assaulted is never right, and not worth any amount of pay.

I think that people fail to realize referees are people too. We seem to be seen as autonomous drones that just patrol the field looking to aggravate people and never getting a decision right, but we’re just like any other player out there enjoying the game and the company of our fellow teammates while trying to keep the game safe and fair.

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t met many of my closest friends through my time as a referee. As referees we tend to become very close friends because of the fact that during our games we’re always supporting and looking out for each other. In a lot of ways this makes us like siblings. When something goes wrong in my life I know these are the people I can call that will be there for me.

I am new to the Philadelphia area because of graduate school, but I already have some very good friends who are referees here. As referees we don’t always work together in the same crews, but we work together frequently enough to begin to learn how we each think and feel. Off the field we spend a lot of time training together as well. Just like any sports team, you play the best when you are very close with your fellow players and almost like family. Referees are not any different, we are the third team on the field, and we trust each other unequivocally.

So why do I do it? My answer may be shocking, but I simply love the game.

That’s why I keep coming back. I truly love what I do and everything else I have gotten out of it has just been a bonus. I’ve met great people, traveled to great places, gotten myself in great shape, and had fun doing it. It’s not about money; it is about much more than that. Despite things that have been said and done to me, I just keep coming back. It is unfortunate a lot of young referees quit because they can’t handle the abuse or the workload of a game. But for those of us who stay with it, we will ref until we physically can’t move anymore. I have been a referee since August 2000 and I have no intention of stopping for a long time to come.

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AWARD WINNERS Thank you to all nominees

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astern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is extremely proud to announce the winners of the 2011 Annual Awards. Each award winner will be recognized at the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer 40th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Gala that will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia on Saturday, March 3.

“These individuals are being recognized not only for the impact they made in the local community,

but as well as across Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer,” said Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Officer. “Congratulations to all of our award recipients and to all the members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer family for yet another great year.”

All of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer award winners are automatically nominated, for their respective awards, for the Region I Awards.

Region I will also choose a recipient for each of the awards and the Region I winner will become a candidate for the US Youth Soccer award. US Youth Soccer will present its awards at the 2012 Awards Gala that will be held on Friday, February 17, during the US Youth Soccer Workshop in Boston.

The 2011 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Awards Winners are: Name Award Hometown Organization Bob Kaporvich Recreation Coach of the Year, Girls Downingtown East Brandywine YA Bud Amentt Recreation Coach of the Year, Boys Havertown Haveford SC John Madeira Competitive Coach of the Year, Girls Allentown Parkland Area SC Albert Prickett Competitive Coach of the Year, Boys Yardley YMS Hallie Berger Young Referee of the Year, Female Downingtown Spirit United Kyle Smith Young Referee of the Year, Male Ephrata LDC United Bobby Ali Volunteer of the Year Darby Junior Lonestars FC Diana Urbanski Administrator of the Year

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40th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Gala Coaches of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

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Young Referees of the Year

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year

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observations and opinions Mike Barr, Director of Coaching

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very club coach should cancel their training and avoid useless indoor or outdoor competition, when the opportunity presents itself to watch Barcelona play on television. Find a big screen television, get some healthy snacks and bring your entire team to watch them play. I find that watching Barcelona play provides perfect pictures of what coaches should be reinforcing continuously with their players.it also offers coaches and players visual images to improve and aspire to greatness in their own game. Observing the cooperative and collective play of Xavi, Messi, Sanchez, Puyol, Iniesta, Fabregas, Pique, Ramos, Villa and others will provide an immediate impact for any age player, boy or girl. barcelona soccer The recent Barcelona versus Real Madrid Clasico showed two distinct styles of play.

Viewers witnessed the counter attacking of style of Real Madrid and the relentless

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team build-up attack of Barcelona. As a club coach it was a wonderful occasion to sit with your team, watch the action and bring out points to observe and later discuss after the match.

If a coach were to provide to his or her players a simple hand-out to guide them on what to look for during a Barcelona match, the team will become more astute about the game of soccer, and recognize the overall areas they may be weak in individually and as a team.

The guide should be broad and include the following: A) The value of the first touch B) Runs off the ball C) Noticing the number of options for distribution presented to the player with the ball D) Team shape on attack E) Transition from attack to defense and defense to attack F) Individual and team demeanor during the match G) Body position when receiving the ball under pressure H) Runs inside the box and defending inside the box I feel that the members of the team should be given the directive to just watch and enjoy. Forcing the players to take notes becomes an assignment and will lessen the value. A half hour discussion after the match related to the topics of the guide will enhance the influence of watching the match. The impression of watching Barcelona play will assist the club coach in striving towards better play on the field and purposeful exercises during training.

tournaments. Eight or nine year olds enjoy activities. Passion should not be part of any parent’s vocabulary when describing children at this age.

Marinovich was referred to as Robo QB and the Test Tube Athlete in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He achieved amazing success in high school and college and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders but was most noted for the unorthodox training methods forced upon by his father from the time he was six months old.

The undue pressure to fulfill his father’s goals eventually led to severe depression, persistent major drug and alcohol dependency and lengthy jail time. His father’s efforts and demands led Todd to focus on only football and nothing else.

Ironically he is now an accomplished musician and artist, who rekindled a relationship with his father through their love of art.

This documentary should be required viewing for some soccer parents who may be following the same path but in a less direct way as Todd’s father Marv Marinovich.

Allow your children to make choices about their lives, especially when they reach their teens. Expose them to other sports, art, music and hobbies. Your children will not be measured by their play in youth soccer, personal soccer accolades or tournament victories but in their character and achievement. Your children’s character and achievement will be how you will be measured as a parent.

Surprisingly Todd and Marv reconciled and have collaborated on amazing art projects up and down the west coast.

Todd Marinovich ESPN recently aired “The Marinovich Project” and I suggest every parent who has their child competing or attempting to compete at a high level in any sport watch and examine their intentions. I am still astonished when I hear a parent say their eight or nine year old is passionate about soccer and does not mind the extra training two nights a week in addition to his or her normal club team training, matches and

High School Soccer US Soccer’s Developmental Academies will soon be telling their players to not play high school soccer or any other high school sports. Most parents of these elite players will buy into the decision, much in the same way they believe it costs thousands of dollars to assure their child becomes a strong player and receive that two thousand dollar partial scholarship. Not surprisingly, the developmental academies

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will now be forced to charge more for training and travel.

It seems within youth soccer ideas are implemented with little thought, time, trials or research. We have become a soccer country that relies on the innovations of other countries without coming up with ideas of our own that reflect our society and culture.

The claims that high school soccer is detrimental to development seem to resonate from coaches and administrators who are involved with the Academy programs at the national level. In my opinion high school soccer should remain an important part of our youth sports landscape and parents should examine the pros and cons before making such a decision that could impact their child’s future. I will attempt to unravel the facts for parents: 1) Playing with the academy team and with elite players will enhance my son’s soccer skills.

Yes, and could possibly inhibit his growth, if he is now a substitute or locked into a position that limits touches on the ball and erodes at confidence. He could go from the player to play through or target in high school, to relinquishing roles on the field because the strength of other players on his academy team are seen to be stronger.

2) The quality of coaching at the Academy level is stronger than at the high school level.

This may be the case in some instances but there are many high school coaches who are more capable and more qualified than many academy coaches and many high school coaches have a vast amount of experience at club and ODP. 3) Quality of competition is stronger at the academy level.

Again, it may be the case in some matches but many high school games are much more competitive than Academy play, especially when teams are competing for a league, district or state title.

4) He will enjoy Academy play more.

Talk to almost any elite or high level player within the last fifteen years and

almost every player will tell you that playing for their high school team was more enjoyable than club or their college playing experience. High School soccer still replicates the neighborhood club teams of years ago and the entire community still identifies with high school soccer as their own. Playing with your close peers and representing your community is something special. Attendance at high school soccer matches always attracts more fans than any academy matches, because a community cannot get behind a program that has kids from up to 50 miles away associated with a team.

5) Playing high school will impede development.

An elite high school player begins play against players who may be four years older who are faster and stronger. Young players are forced to develop fast and develop a strong first touch. As they move into their junior and senior years they assume a role as leader and carry more responsibility to their team and themselves.

Playing within the academy structure very few players assume or are introduced to the role of leader.

6) Playing Academy will provide up to four nights of training and matches on the weekend for ten months.

Try to imagine the difficulty of maintaining quality grades if every day you are in a car for two hours, in addition to training for two hours. When will a player be able to experience the after school experiences we all enjoyed as high school students?

There will be little or no time to attend

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social functions, participate in music or theatre, clubs and play other sports. During the college interview many colleges and universities are looking for a well-rounded student. Will playing in the Academy actually hurt my chances to get your child in the school of his choice?

Since we have adopted the academy philosophy of European clubs; possibly US Soccer should replicate these programs and have only developmental academies directed by each MLS Club. All training, travel and expenses would be covered by the club. Each player brought into an MLS academy would realize they have the potential to play professionally.

There still is something special to playing with friends in front of parents and peers and experiencing the thrill and social aspects of high school sports. Quite possibly we could see a resurgence of players staying with their own local clubs and make soccer a reasonably priced sport to play once again.

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Michael Roman inducted into Girard College Hall of Fame

By Maribeth Schmidt

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effersonville Resident to be Inducted into Girard College Hall of Fame Soccer “guru” Michael P. Roman will receive accolades for more than 60 years of dedication to the sport When Mike Roman took the field for Girard College in 1950, representing the school’s undefeated team for the Philadelphia High School Soccer Championship, it would have been impossible for him to foresee the impact his love of the sport would have over the next 62 years. The Jeffersonville, PA resident, originally from Hazleton, Pa, but sent away to live at Girard College in Philadelphia when he was seven years old, will receive the ultimate recognition for his soccer passion. He will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Girard College Founder’s Hall.

Following Roman’s successful soccer career at Girard, he went on to play four years varsity at West Chester State College (1951-1955), including being named to the National Soccer Coaches All-American

as coach of the Audubon Youth Soccer Association, part of the Inter-County Soccer League, from 1977 through 1983, where his son Michael played. Roman rounded out his coaching career with a head coaching stint at Norristown Area High School in 1983 and 1984; and then as head coach at Conestoga High School from 1988 through 1995, where his team won the PIAA State Championship in 1988.

The now-retired, previously selfemployed physical therapist has been a fixture on the sidelines of the Neshaminy High School football team since 1995.

With his son-in-law, Mark Schmidt, at the helm, Roman has overseen Neshaminy’s placekickers, and most notably lent his vast coaching expertise to four-year starter Kevin Kelly, who went on to become the third-highest scorer in NCAA football history as a placekicker for The Pennsylvania State University.

Team. He graduated with honors from West Chester, and continued his academics at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a degree in Physical Therapy in 1956. His soccer career progressed with participation on the Ft. Sam Huston Army Team in 1957 and the Kensington Blue Bells in the First Division Philadelphia Soccer League in 1959.

Settling in the Norristown area with his wife, Diana, to raise a family in the mid1960’s, Roman’s intense interest in a sport that had not yet taken hold in the United States, which was truly ahead of his time.

In the mid-1970’s, Roman was instrumental in initiating West Norriton Township’s very first intramural youth soccer program, alongside Township Recreation Director Bob Davis, and coached the township’s travel team to undefeated seasons in 1984 and 1985. He officiated dozens of PIAA and NCAA soccer games, served as Assistant Coach of the Swarthmore College soccer team in 1976 and Spring Garden College soccer team in 1980. He also served

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L

AUNCHED IN 2010, FUEL SOCCER IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CONTENT PROVIDED

BY USYOUTHSOCCER.ORG AND THE US YOUTH SOCCER SHOW ON FOX SOCCER. THE MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS AND BUILDS ON CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PLAYERS, PARENTS AND COACHES.

FUEL Soccer is available online and soccer fans can read the magazine for free at USYouthsoccer.org/FUEL and through the iTunes store or via the ‘FUEL Mag’ app for iPhone or iPad. You can order a copy of FUEL Soccer for your family and team for $2.95 at USYouthSoccer.org/ FUEL/orders.asp The 2011 FUEL Soccer follows a day in the life of Women’s World Cup standout Alex Morgan of the U.S. Women’s National Team and Sporting Kansas City’s Teal Bunbury.

The edition also includes a feature story on New England Revolution’s Kevin Alston’s positive attitude and determination to return to the game he loves after injury.

FUEL Soccer dedicates a section to the question, “Are You Ready?” to help players take their game to the next level.

Also, professionals who have made a career out of their love of the game are featured, including Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated.

In addition to nutrition, training tips and inspirational articles, readers will find other topics addressed in FUEL Soccer like recruiting, downtime, education, prevention and more.

download the app now for your iPad or iPhone!

SEARCH: FUEL SPORTS MAG

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EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH SOCCER

The Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Workshop consists of over 1,500 soccer coaches, administrators, referees and enthusiasts. The event, the area's largest of its kind for youth sports, features more than 35 educational workshops and demonstrations kicking off on Saturday morning and runs through Saturday late-afternoon. Check out the up-to-date list of classroom sessions and clinician coaches below. We will be adding more as we get closer to the event!

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WE ARE LOOKING FOR PHOTOS, MEMORABILIA, ARTIFACTS & ANYTHING

ELSE THAT HELPS TELL THE HISTORY OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH SOCCER OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS ALL ITEMS WILL BE RETURNED! IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO BE INCLUDED, PLEASE CONTACT ROB BROWN AT RBROWN@EPYSA.ORG.

BUY TICKETS HERE: EPAYOUTHSOCCER.TICKETLEAP.COM/2012-WORKSHOP/

Social Media Corner, The Next Step

by Brandon Rost, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Social Media Consultant

N

ow that your club has a better understanding of the different social media channels that are available from our Is Your Soccer Club Social article in the last touchline, it’s now time to really focus on building up your communities. Having your presence is great but only if your targeted

community knows that you are in that space and communicating important messaging through it.

There are several different ways that you can work on building your community of fans/followers. Below you will find some of the important steps to take to accomplish this.

Before you can start sharing your page with people you should secure a unique URL for your fan page on Facebook. In order to do this, visit www.facebook. com/username to secure a unique URL. This will allow your fan page to go from having multiple numbers after the .com to securing something easy to remember like www.facebook.com/epayouthsoccer.

Your Twitter handle is already set up to be unique to your Twitter handle. For example Eastern Penn’s is @epayouthsoccer.

Now that you have secured unique urls to

drive people to it’s time to spread the word!

First add the social media icons to your website so when people visit your site they will see the social icons and be able to click right through to your channels and link in to your communities.

Next, start adding your social media icons/addresses to your signatures sent from the club for all board members and officers. Additionally most clubs utilize email newsletters and the email system to spread important club information and news. Start including your social icons on these emails and templates to drive people back to your Facebook fan page and Twitter handle.

Lastly, begin giving incentive to your fans and followers with different opportunities to receive cool gifts.

In the next issue of Touchline we will be providing you an in-depth look at Google+ and the opportunities available for your clubs. For more information or if you have any questions on the above article please feel free to contact Brandon Rost at Brandon@bemarketingsolutions.com

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Tournament MVP’s

By Chris Bleam, Region I Staff Coach

T

ournaments are an integral part of youth soccer and present many positive opportunities for players and teams to test their work from training in the game environment. Fantastic fundraisers, tournaments also provide opportunities for host clubs to join forces in the organization and daily operations, provide service opportunity and valuable social networking.

Participating teams gather for weekends at a time to experience competition against a variety of opponents, travel to a different part of our country or even abroad and to bond as players and families.

I have found many tournament directors and committees have implemented a most valuable player award to be presented by each coach to a player on the opposing team following each game. Recognizing players who stand out or excel is a noble idea and may in fact provide extra motivation for some players, especially in a match where team success is not present.

For sure, the satisfaction a player receives when recognized by an opposing coach is extremely positive. There is no doubt the idea has merit and is full of the most positive intention. However, my observations have led me to question whether the positive feedback obtained by a

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limited few is worthy of the doubt the process may instill in the majority of the tournament participants.

As a coach, my primary focus is on the development of each player on my team. Using training and games to develop the technical, tactical, physical and psychological abilities of each player is my primary challenge. I must also develop a positive team climate so that each player can become accepted and believe his role is useful. A player who is not secure will be challenged to develop at the same pace as his team, if at all.

It is my belief that the team supersedes the individual at all times. No doubt, we all have our impact players, our “blue collar” workers and our role players. Each is a vitally important individual cog in the whole unit. A goal scored is a team success and a goal allowed is likewise a team setback. Each player works within his role in any given match to contribute to his team’s success.

Each individual employs his technical skill and tactical ability to support the whole. Allowing recognition for a “game MVP” does more potential damage to the development of the whole team than good for the recognized player.

A player who stands out is likely to be recognized by the opposing coach. The goal scorer, the creative midfielder, the fast wide player or the goalkeeper who makes great saves are all players in the spotlight and most likely to receive recognition. In many cases, a single player is likely to be recognized on multiple occasions.

The player who does the behind the scenes work necessary for the impact player to shine is not nearly as likely to be recognized although she may be the true MVP of the team for that game. I have too often witnessed that “lost” look on the faces of many of my team members when the opposing coach recognizes an individual who may or may not have been deserving, and I can only imagine what goes on in the mind of our many hard-working-role players who are key components of team success, when they watch the impact players receive recognition time and time again.

Even more lost is that look on the face of some terrific young people when a player who is not a very hard worker or who is not the most positive contributor to their team’s chemistry is recognized. While they may have had a positive impact on the game in question or perhaps had

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one special moment that changed the game and caught the eye of the opposing coach, their recognition may serve as negative reinforcement for the consistently performing team members who are the keys to team success.

Even when the most deserving player is the one recognized, they can only have that positive impact with the team surrounding them.

Many of my colleagues handle this MVP process in different ways, as I am sure they are cognizant of the same impacts on the psychological dimension of the player and team. Some ask me who I think should get the award on my team. Others ask me to avoid awarding a player from his team who had been recognized in an earlier match. Some admit they have no idea who the best player or MVP was and simply hand over the award for me to present. It is clear the process presents a common challenge for many of us.

Coaching education prepares us with some common ideas to implement as we develop the physical, technical and tactical aspects of the game with our players and teams. A wall pass, the step over move, and the need to pressure the player with the ball are consistent for players of all ages, gender and ability level. However, developing and maintaining a positive psychological environment is an aspect that is terribly different for each coach and team. It is affected by many factors including but not limited to: gender, age, ability level, recent success and lack thereof. Further, this psychological dimension is one which can serve to keep a team moving forward in times of difficulty or possibly, lead a talented team to under perform due to “off field” challenges.

It is my position that tournament directors reconsider the individual game MVP award, save the money spent and put it toward player development in their own club. This will allow teams to enjoy tournament play as whole units and avoid the disappointment, uncertainty and sometimes tears that follow each MVP award whether it was accurate or not. The good players know who they are and receive recognition enough from their personal performance. The rest need the assistance of their coach and parents to reconcile and accept their role within the team and to understand the value each team member presents.

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Touchline Tales

By Rob Brown

Kylea and Gary

E

astern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, has added two more set’s of hands to it already great staff. With all of the programs and events we are gearing up for we needed a couple of more people to fill out our staff.

One of the newcomers is Gary Stephenson, who has been working with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer on an interim basis as an education administrator. In his new role, Stephenson is responsible for the coaching education including coordinating the coaching curriculum, coaching courses, and the general education of coaches throughout the Association.

Gary will work directly with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Director of Coaching Mike Barr to enhance the development of coaches and players in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Gary has coached in the USA for eleven years, working across various levels from under-five players to NCAA Division 2 and 3 programs. Gary holds a honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, England. He has also been a member of the Olympic Devel-

opment Program coaching staff for 4 years.

Stephenson holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” coaching license and he also holds National Youth License as well as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, National Goalkeeping Diploma, Director of Coaching certificate.

A few weeks earlier, on November 7th, Kylea Meredith came onboard as the Marketing and Events Coordinator for Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. In her new position Meredith will assist in the implementation of marketing goals and direct Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s annual Workshop.

Kylea graduated from University of Pittsburgh in 2009 with a double major in Psychology and Sociology and a certificate in Children’s Literature. After graduation, she worked as an Early Childhood Education Teacher at a Pre-school in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the past few years she has also worked for Thom Meredith, Inc., a sports marketing and events company, as a Project Manager for the 2011 US Youth Workshop in Louisville, KY, as well as the upcoming 2012 US Youth Workshop in Boston, MA. Meredith recently moved to Philadelphia.

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH SOCCER CALENDAR 7

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8 8

11-15 14

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January 2012

U15 Boys Horizon Services Indoor Cup | Riverfront, Scranton U15 Girls Horizon Services Indoor Cup | Riverfront, Scranton Indoor Technical Training U9 Boys Horizon Services Indoor Cup | In The Net, Palmyra NSCAA Convention, Kansas City U14 Boys Horizon Services Indoor Cup | Wyoming Valley Sports Done Indoor Technical Training U14 Girls Horizon Services Indoor Cup | Wyoming Valley Sports Done MLK Day | Offices Closed U13 Boys Horizon Services Indoor Cup | Riverfront, Scranton Indoor Technical Training U13 Girls Horizon Services Indoor Cup | Riverfront, Scranton

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29 29

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U16 Boys Horizon Services Indoor Cup | In The Net, Palmyra Indoor Technical Training U16 Girls Horizon Services Indoor Cup | In The Net, Palmyra Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Outdoor Cup application deadline

5 12

Indoor Technical Training Indoor Technical Training

3

3 4 15

Workshop, Region I Girls Symposium and ODP Showcase Games 40th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Gala Annual General Meeting Roster Freeze Date deadline

TOUCHLINE

February 2012

March 2012

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Grand prize winner receives a 55” 3D TV!!!

Check out www.verizon.com/fiosplayoftheweek for details.

Professional Hoops, Soccer Roots

By Trevor Adams

Gregg Bibb

G

reg Bibb recalls the first of October 1997 as if it was just yesterday. Only a year before, Greg had completed his bachelor’s degree in communications at Marist College, and now he found himself standing in front of the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Arena, prepared for his first day working in professional sports.

“I still remember the excitement I had to get started,” Greg said.

Greg began his career as the Director of Public and Media Relations for the Harrisburg Heat, a now defunct professional indoor soccer team.

“In a lot of ways, those first years in sports, with indoor soccer, were some of my best in terms of pure enjoyment, in terms of learning opportunity, and in terms of realizing that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my professional career,” Greg said.

Greg remained with the Heat until February of 2001, before taking the same position at the National Professional Soccer League office (NPSL). During his time there, the NPSL transitioned into the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).

After his stint working at the league office in Connecticut, Greg moved south, to Philadelphia. In January of 2003 he took the job as Executive Vice President/General Manager for the Philadelphia KiXX, another member of the MISL.

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While Greg worked in Philadelphia, the KiXX experienced success both on the field and off, reaching the MISL semi-finals twice and increasing their average attendance in each season.

In September of 2005, Greg took his first giant step forward in the sports world. He left his position at the KiXX to become the President of Hantz Group Sports and Entertainment LLC and the newly formed Detroit Ignition, an expansion MISL team.

“It was a great personal learning opportunity for me,” Greg said. “It was a true startup: a desk, a telephone, and a computer; and eighteen months later we were in the championship game, playing in front of a sold out crowd, on a regional sports network.”

Ironically enough, Greg notes, that championship game was played against his former employer, the Philadelphia KiXX. “I can’t recall who won that game,” Greg jokes.

The Detroit Ignition lost the game, but Greg’s first and only season at the helm of the Ignition was a clear success.

Greg continued to move forward in leaps and bounds. On October 1, 2007, exactly ten years to the day from his first day with the Harrisburg Heat, Greg started as Chief Operation Officer for the Washington Mystics of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBA).

“I enjoy the WNBA. It sort of presents an opportunity somewhere between that of indoor soccer and the NBA,” Greg said.

Greg continues as the Chief Operating Officer of the Mystics today, but also took the job as the Executive Vice President of Business Operations with Washington D.C.’s National Basketball franchise, the Wizards in 2010, finally taking the plunge into one of the major sports leagues in the United States.

“Obviously the stage is bigger, in terms of number of people following the business and being involved in the business, but the template of the business, how you go about moving forward and being successful is very similar,” Greg said.

Greg describes the WNBA as more granular than the NBA. The accessibility and interactions with the fans are more pronounced, he explains. Despite the WNBA’s early struggle, the Mystics have solidified their business success through relationships with their fan base,

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often achieving one of the season’s highest average attendance values. Greg has continued that tradition.

While Greg insists that the business aspects of sports are similar everywhere, he is also quick to stress the fact that the WNBA has an underlying issue that other league’s do not: women’s equality and opportunity.

“It’s only year sixteen for the league, and I am very bullish on the future of the WNBA and women’s sports in general,” said Greg.

In a sports culture where lesser sports and women’s athletics are often degraded or swept under the rug simply because they are new or different, it is refreshing to hear such a strong opinion pulling in the opposite direction.

“I also value it because I have a daughter, and I want her to see the opportunities that are available to her, and I have a son, and I want him to understand that women can do whatever men can do and there is no ceiling whether you are a boy or a girl,” said Greg.

Greg currently resides in Arlington, VA with his wife, Tara, his 4-year-old daughter, Adelyn, and his twenty-one-month-old son, Caden.

They are too young to be involved competitive sports, but Adelyn recently started her first sports class, according to Greg.

Greg also notes that he was part of the last generation of kids who did not play soccer.

“But obviously soccer has been very good to me,” Greg said. “I owe a lot to soccer. It provided me with two things: one it provided me with my professional mentor Steve Ryan, who is the former commissioner of the MISL and NPSL, and Steve has done more for me professionally than anyone else.”

Soccer also played the matchmaker for Greg, introducing him to Tara, through her father, who was the majority owner of the Harrisburg Heat.

“I have found that the people who are involved in soccer, from the grassroots level to the top professional level, all have one strong common bond, and that is a deep, deep desire to move that sport forward and to do whatever it takes to do so,” Greg said. “I think much like women’s sports, the outlook for soccer has never been better.

There has been a tremendous job done by leadership across soccer at youth level and all the way up to MLS.”

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National League

By Ali Williams

U

S Youth Soccer National League, entering into its fifth season, is for top Under-15 through Under-18 Boys and Girls club soccer teams, with each team having an individual proven track record of continued success in US Youth Soccer programs.

In 2011-2012, the 120 teams chosen to compete in the league represent 32 of the 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, including five teams from Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer: U-15 Boys Lehigh Valley United 96, U-16 Boys Lehigh Valley United 95, U-18 Boys Penn Fusion Celtic, U-18 Boys PSC Coppa 93 and U-18 Girls FC Penn Strikers.

In 2010-2011, 22 of a possible 36 slots in the US Youth Soccer National Championships were taken by National League teams; twelve teams earned automatic berths via winning their National League division while another 10 teams won their respective US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. During the 2011 National Championships,

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National League teams took eight of a possible 12 spots in the championship games, with three being named national champions.

“The US Youth Soccer National League continues to prove it is the nation’s most elite competition as each team must prove itself to gain entry into the league, regardless of hometown or club affiliation,” said Paul Luchowski, National League commissioner. “Our consistently high level of play challenges teams to raise their level of play to compete for a top spot in the National League standings.”

The National League is an extension of the highly successful US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues [US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Premier League, Midwest Regional League, Region III (South) Premier League and Far West Regional League] in which the top teams are eligible to continue the path of success into the National League where the ultimate prize is qualifying for the prestigious US Youth Soccer National Championships.

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The first place team from division age groups Under-15 through Under-17 will earn a spot to the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championships along with the four US Youth Soccer Regional Champions. Since its inception, National League teams have captured a combined 13 national championships.

As is the case with the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series events and the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, the National League creates another significant opportunity for the nation’s collegiate, professional and national team staffs to see players in an environment of meaningful play.

To follow the National League: www.usyouthsoccer.org/national_league

Philadelphia Union Junior Supporters Club

T

he Philadelphia Union Junior Supporters Club offers young fans an exclusive opportunity to get involved with the team. In 2012, Junior Supporters will be able to get involved in a whole new way. The Club offers three brand new membership packages, the Spirit Package at $25, the Rattlesnake Package at $45 and the DOOP Package at $100.

Spirit Package Includes:

Rattlesnake Package

DOOP Package

Membership Card Autographed Player Card Union Magnet Union Bumper Sticker Union Folder Union Pencil Union Cup

Includes all Spirit Package benefits plus:

Includes all Spirit and Rattlesnake Package benefits plus:

Union T-shirt Union Rally Towel Autographed Pennant Union Mini Scarf

Replica Jersey Mini Ball Post-game player meet and greet Voucher to attend an open practice

Being a Junior Supporter Club member also comes with exclusive privileges. All members will receive a monthly newsletter as well as having the opportunity to participate in the Union’s Junior Supporter’s Club night at PPL Park. Junior Supporter Club members who check-in at home games will get their membership cards stamped in order to receive rewards.

The first 5 members to check-in at the Junior Supporters table

at home matches will be taken on field for player warm-ups.

The first DOOP package holder to check-in may go on field for post-game autographs. DOOP Package holders may also request a behind the scenes stadium tour before the game (must be scheduled in advance). In order to sign up, simply visit www.philadelphiaunion.com and click on the fans tab. Be the first to join!

Upcoming Coaching Education Certificates/Courses Course Date Location Club Sponsoring E Certificate Jan 27 to 29 Lititz LYSC E Certificate Mar 5, 7 & 9 Quarryville SYSA E Certificate Mar 23 to 25 York PSC G Certificate Mar 24 West Chester WCUSC F Certificate Mar 25 West Chester WSCUSC Please check the Education section of the website for further information about current courses and 2012 course schedule

epysa.org

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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

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Barca

Hurricanes

Shakhtar

Thunder

Sabertooth Rats

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

Anastasia Barrett

Colin Bateman

Griffin Kaifer

Harrison Malone

Shelby Young

Age:

Age:

Age:

Age:

Age:

Team Name:

Team Name:

Team Name: Hurricanes

Team Name:

LMSC Sabertooth Rats

Team Name:

I will be 11 on 01/10/12 Thunder

Organization/Club:

12

11

Shakhtar

11

14

SUSC U15 Barca

GCVSA

Ukrainian Nationals & ODP 99s

Organization/Club:

Organization/Club:

Organization/Club: Lower Merion

Spirit United Soccer 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 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?

Midfield or striker. I like to assist and score goals.

What is your nickname?

Stasia

Who is your role model?

Why? Leonardo Da Vinci because he used nature to make amazing new ideas

What is your favorite soccer team?

Swedish National team because my uncle and aunt live in Sweden.

What is your favorite movie?

Midfield and forward C- Bates

Who is your role model?

Why?

Frank Lampard – center midfielder like me and takes free-kicks

What is your favorite soccer team?

Enchanted by Taylor Swift

Number the stars

What is your favorite book?

What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

What is your favorite s port outside of soccer?

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

Loud noises

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

Sweden because it is a very beautiful country

Frank Lampard – like the way he plays

What is your favorite soccer team?

Chelsea

What is your favorite movie?

Star Wars

Goal

What is your favorite book?

Running

Who is your role model?

Why?

What is your favorite song?

What is your favorite song?

Mocking Bird by Eminem

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

Griff

What is your favorite movie?

What is your favorite song?

Grape tomotoes

Forward and Goalkeeper

Chelsea

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows

Guardians of Ga’hoole series

Mason Dixon SL

Steak

Basketball

My little brother Danny

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

England to see an EPL game

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Songs by Little Wayne

What is your favorite soccer team?

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

My brother Mason

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

England to see Chelsea play

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Soccer player

What is your favorite soccer team?

Philadelphia Union

What is your favorite movie?

Grown Ups

What is your favorite song?

What is your favorite book?

The Wizard of Oz

What is your f avorite song?

The Classic “Who Let the Dogs Out” by the Baha Men

What is your favorite book?

What is your favorite food?

Pretty Little Liars

Macaroni & Cheese

What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

Mashed Potatoes

Lacrosse

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

Being late to anything - and if I am not 30 minutes early, I am late!

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

I would go to Spain to watch FC Barcelona train and play.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Art teacher

My sister Kylie.

She is two years older than I am and she sets a perfect example for me with the family, in her studies, and the way she treats other people.

What is your favorite movie?

Crash by Jerry Spinelli

Basketball

Shelbo

FC Barcelona

What is your favorite food?

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Lionel Messi. He has great sportsmanship on and off of the field and is a great soccer player.

Party Rock Anthem

pizza

Mostly a forward but also a midfielder.

H-Bomb

What is your favorite book?

Haven’t got one

Pro soccer player

Forward – or whatever Biff (my coach) asks me to do!

Organization/Club:

A professional soccer player or college soccer coach

What is your favorite sport outside of soccer?

College and Pro Football

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

When people are not polite.

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

Italy, because I would like to see the ancient architecture and taste different types of Italian food.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

An Artist and Baker

epysa.org

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH SOCCER

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TOUCHLINE

27

The Overlap – Promoting movement off the ball

By Gary Stephenson, Assistant Director of Coaching The Overlap explained

The player with the ball (1st attacker) passes to a team mate on the flank (2nd attacker) within 10-15yds. The 2nd attacker receives the ball dribbling across the center of the field horizontally engaging the nearest defender. The 1st attacker makes a run (bending, see diagram) past the 2nd attacker – utilizing the space created by the 2nd attacker on the flank. The 2nd attacker’s dribble acts to disguise the run made by 1st attacker pulling the defender on the flank with him. The 1st attacker calls for the ball to be played when alongside the 2nd attacker. The 2nd attacker players the ball in to space (through ball) for the 1st attacker to run onto.

Overlapping Diamond

Organization • Mark out a diamond 20 x 30 yard • A players placed on the two cones, two players at each of the ends • One ball at each end Sequence & Progression • Player B checks away from player A towards the pole, turns and calls for the ball. Player A plays the ball to B. Player B dribbles infield. Player A bends a run past B. Whilst alongside B, player A calls for the ball. Player B play ers a through ball for player A to run onto. Player A passes to the other end.

• Switch the center players

4 v 4 to End zone

Organization • Mark out a grid 20 x 30 yard with two 5yard end zones • Two teams of 4 players Sequence & Progression • Each team must try and pass into opponent’s end zone and be in full control of the ball. Once a team scores they must turn around and attack the other end zone.

• Score double points if an overlap is performed in the build up

28

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH SOCCER

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TOUCHLINE

epysa.org

Warm up Organization • Players in threes with a ball – passing and moving – dynamic stretching

Coaching Points • Sharp pass A -B • Player B dribbles inside – creating space • Player A run is bent • Player A doesn’t call until alongside Player B • Good weighted through pass

Coaching Points • Good communication • Read the defensive teams shape • Engage the defender to unbalance the defense • Correctly weighted passes • Speeding up and slowing down the pace of the game Remember when working on the overlap that you want the players to be adding disguise to their play but more important to take the visual clues from the defensive teams position

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