Final Score Magazine
Mass Youth Soccer
Where Every Experience Tells a Story
Concussion myths and facts
In the fast-moving game of soccer, athletes are bound to collide with each other, the ground, or a goal post. Sometimes this leads to concussion.
Do you know how to spot a concussion? Are they inevitable when athletes are playing hard? Test your knowledge with these concussion myths and facts.
Myth: If the athlete doesn’t lose consciousness, they don’t have a concussion.
Fact: Lost consciousness is only one sign of concussion. Other symptoms include headache, dizziness, blurry vision, nausea, and confusion.
Myth: It’s OK to keep playing with a concussion if it’s an important game.
Fact: No game, no matter how important, is worth the risk of serious injury and delayed recovery that comes with playing through a concussion.
Myth: There’s no way to prevent concussions in soccer.
Fact: Players with better ball-handling skills are more likely to be aware of their surroundings and less likely to collide with other players.
Myth: Concussions cause permanent brain damage.
Fact: Many athletes recover fully from concussions, but it’s important they receive prompt medical attention and plenty of rest before returning the field.
Parents, coaches, and athletes can all play a role in reducing players’ risk. First, know the signs of a concussion and second, learn what to do if you suspect one.
Learn more about the Sports Medicine Division or book an appointment.
Choosing a soccer coach for your child can be a challenging process. What qualities should you be looking for? We spoke with Peter Motzenbecker, Assistant Technical Director at Mass Youth Soccer, about an article he recently authored on the subject. Check out our conversation in this episode of the Mass Youth Soccer FINAL SCORE podcast.
HOWTO CHOOSE ACOACH
Mass Youth Soccer and our DEIB Committee extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who took part in our 2nd Annual Donation Drive for Safe Homes during MTOC weekend. We were honored to make this donation on behalf of our members, volunteers, and employees, whose contributions made this initiative possible. Thank you!
League: Coastal
Date: 8/25/2024
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: Kington Intermediate School League: BAYS
Date: 8/26/2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Brooks Field
League: CMYSL
Date: 8/26/2024
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Douglas’s Veterans Field
League: Essex
Date: 8/26/2024
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Haverhill High School
League: Roots
Date: 8/27/2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Roots Athletic Center
League: Essex
Date: 8/27/2024
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Village Elementary School
League: Coastal
Date: 8/27/2024
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Location: Marshfield High School
League: Middlesex
Date: 8/27/2024
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Howard Park
League: Middlesex
Date: 8/28/2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Conway Field
League: CMYSL
Date: 8/28/2024
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Pappas Recreation Center League: Berkshire
Date: 8/29/2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Route 102 Field
League: South Shore
Date: 9/4/2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Larry A Burke Soccer Field League: BAYS
Date: 9/4/2024
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Location: Rice Complex
Champions
GIRLS:
Braintree 5/6 D1
King Phillip 5/6 D2
Needham 7/8 D1
Belchertown 7/8 D2
North Reading 9/10 D1
Dedham 9/10 D2
Dartmouth PG
BOYS:
Newton 5/6 D1
Acton Boxborough 5/6 D2
Pembroke 7/8 D1
Newton 7/8 D2
Weymouth 9/10 D1
North Andover 9/10 D2
Needham PG
Sportsmanship AwardWinners
Congratulations to our MTOC Sportsmanship Award winners! Your commitment to fair play and great attitude set the standard for us all.
Girls 5/6 D1 - Mendon Upton (CMYSL)
Girls 5/6 D2 - Groton Dunstable (Nashoba)
Girls 7/8 D1 - Norton (South Coast)
Girls 7/8 D2 - Middleboro (Coastal)
Girls 9/10 D1 - Franklin (BAYS)
Girls 9/10 D2 - Malden (Middlesex)
Girls PG - Littleton (Nashoba)
Boys 5/6 D2 - Halifax (Coastal)
Boys 7/8 D1 - Agawam (Roots)
Boys 7/8 D2 - Littleton (Nashoba)
Boys 9/10 D1 - Harvard (Nashoba)
Boys 9/10 D2 - Newton (BAYS)
Boys PG - Needham (BAYS)
It is our values that largely guide our behaviors.
If our children value sportsmanship, they will be sure to sportingly acknowledge the other team and referee at the end of a match. If our children value hard work and personal effort, they will likely put in a bit of extra determination at the end of practice. If our children value leadership, they will be sure to demonstrate respect to the leaders on their team and be strong leaders themselves.
We work hard to instill proper values in our children. We sneak in conversations loosely related to values at the dinner table, we instill them by utilizing words of wisdom as we tuck them in at night, and lessons in values are heavily laced into moments of discipline.
As parents, in fact, these may have been actual discussions you had with your spouse when your first child was born. What kind of parents do we want to be? What is most important to us when it comes to raising our child? What do we want our children to grow to value most?
We largely seek youth sports for our children as an opportunity for them learn lessons related to values such as hard work, resiliency, solidarity, teamwork, and more. And yet, too often our youth sports environment is failing our children in so many ways.
As parents, we need to take partial responsibility for this failure.
We have not demanded an environment that best suits the various needs and tolerances of our varied children. We have allowed too much stress to creep in, what amounts to unhealthy levels of competition for some children, and decisions to be made too early about their future in the game. We have tolerated bully coaches and crazy parents and we have allowed some clubs to not appreciate our contribution to our children's environment demonstrated by their lack of communication with us. There is too often a diminishing sense of community found in our youth soccer culture. In some ways, we've allowed ourselves to be tricked by environmental bias' towards children who are bigger earlier or assuming certain developmental pathways make sense simply because it's the way it's been done for so many years.
It's time for parents to ask themselves - not what do I want my children to value, but instead:
As a parent, what are my soccer parent values?
What are my non-negotiables when it comes to my child's soccer environment? My must haves when it comes to coaches, clubs, competition, and camaraderie? When we do this and let these values guide us, we will find the clubs and coaches who share similar values and our children will feel inspired and thrive. To help parents in determining their personal soccer parent values, we have developed the 6 Soccer Parent Value Statements and we welcome you to ponder, reflect, and take them on as your own!
For more resources and to explore the library of content, parents and coaches, take advantage of your pass to the Soccer Parent Resource Center provided by Mass Youth Soccer: https://soccerparentresourcecenter.com/register/massyouthsoccer/.
TO THE AZTEC 2007 GIRLS NAL TEAM ON BECOMING USYS U17 GIRLS
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALISTS
Scores from Nationals:
Aztec 5, Wisconsin 0
Aztec 9, Cal South 0
Aztec 2, Utah 0
Semifinal: Aztec 3, Idaho 2 Championship: Michigan 3, Aztec 2
Giuliana Ligor of North Reading High School was recently announced as the 2023-24
Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Ligor is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from North Reading High School. The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Ligor as Massachusetts’ best high school girls track & field athlete.
A rising senior, Ligor was MVP of the North Reading High School Track and Field Team over the past two years and was the Cape Ann League Athlete of the Year and the Massachusetts Track and Field Athlete of the Year She holds several school records from 200 meters up to 800 meters including hurdles and multi-events, is an All American in the Pentathlon and recently set the all time New England Record at the state Meet of Champions for the 400 Meter Hurdles at 58.97 seconds. She ranked No. 8 nationally
among competitors this past spring and in addition to winning the 400 hurdles also won the 400-meter dash, leading the Hornets to the state title.
Ligor was recently named one of the Captains of the team for the 2024-2025 season by Coach Sotirios Pintzopoulos who describes Giuliana as a “determined hard working athlete with a humble yet driven athletic demeanor which her peers and rivals respect.” Ligor excels in the classroom as well and volunteers her time for several youth based activities In commenting on her award, Steve Sawyer of Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School said “ She’s a multi-event athlete who competes at a very high level in so many events She’s not afraid to challenge herself and always finishes her races with strength and speed”.
As part of the award, every Gatorade Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Ligor selected the TOPSoccer program where she has volunteered as a Buddy over the past several years. TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community based program that provides a constructive and accommodating soccer experience for children and young adults ages 4 to 19, with cognitive and/or physical needs. Each athlete is partnered with a high school student (Buddy), who comes alongside them and supports them in accessing the game. TOPS provides opportunities for fun, fitness, development, friendships with other athletes and Buddies and building community through soccer. TOPS has been run through and supported by North Reading Youth Soccer since its inception in 2015. In the past year North Reading has partnered with Andover to further expand access and programming.
The program currently has over 50 buddies and over 50 players participating
For Ligor, being named the Gatorade Player of the Year is a great honor, but being able to give back to the community has made it that much more awarding, “I have been a buddy for TOPS over the years, and it makes me so happy to watch the kids faces when they play soccer. For me, it is great to give back to others who may not otherwise have an opportunity to participate.”
“TOPS is incredibly honored that Giuliana selected us for this award. The Buddies are the anchor of our program. They typically join the program to earn volunteer hours and very quickly realize they have embarked on the experience of a lifetime. Many long lasting buddy/player friendships are made each season. We are so thankful for Giuliana’s incredible contribution as a Buddy and now as an accomplished athlete, selecting TOPS to receive this grant. Her legacy will live on in our TOPS program, as well as on the track The program has been focused on accessibility and this donation means we will be able to ensure access for even more children by purchasing much needed equipment including beep soccer balls, visual cuing equipment and adaptive technology for wheelchair users” said Program Director for TOPSoccer Ann Suny.
“This is one of those moments when you realize that the TOPS program is obviously for the participants and their families, yet is for the buddies and the volunteers as well To have someone think of TOPS which is a part of North Reading Youth Soccer, as the charity to receive this grant, is really meaningful and is truly a great gift not only for the program but for the entire North Reading soccer community” said Becky Riley, President of the North Reading Youth Soccer Board.
GIRLS:
District 6 U11
District 5 U12
District 5 U13
District 6 U14
District 5 U16
District 6 U19
BOYS:
District 6 U11
District 2 U12
District 4 U13
District 5 U14
District 5 U16
District 6 U19
