E Coaching Magazine
HEADS UP! March-April 2012
Contents 1. Upcoming License Courses Offered by Indiana 2. National Youth License 3. WPSL ELITE Home Schedule 4. TOPSoccer Coaching Course 5. Parents Should Hush on the Ride Home 6. Planning a Community Soccer Day 7. Should kids train for sports outside of school and club sports? The experts at Responsible Sports weigh in. 8. 2012 EURO Schedule 9. Elite Soccer Magazine: Pre-Match Warm-Up 10. Indiana Soccer Foundation Golf Outing 11. Photo of The Month
Indiana Soccer Association joined Facebook on March 26th Visit our new page by simply clicking on: Indiana Soccer Association Don’t forget to LIKE us!
Upcoming License Courses Offered by Indiana Soccer The following courses available at this time (click on the course that you want to register for If you do not see a course offered in your area and would like to request one, simply contact your local club Director of Coaching in order to arrange one. (see above)
USSF "D" License Course March 22-25th, and March 29th - April 1st, 2012 University of Evansville USSF "E" License Course April 13-15th, 2012 - Portage High School. NEW USSF "D" License April 13-15, and April 20-22, 2012; Zionsville Youth Soccer Association, Whitestown, IN Youth Module 1 & 2 April 23, 2012; Fort Wayne Sport Club Youth Module 1 & 2 June 18, 2012: Fort Wayne Sport Club US Soccer National Youth License - July 9th-13th, 2012; Bloomington, IN (Karst Farm Soccer Park) USSF "E" License Course - July 13-15th, 2012; Butler University NEW USSF "D" License Course - July 20-22 and 27-29, 2012; Butler University NEW USSF "E" License Course July 27-29th, 2012; Batesville Soccer Club.SEI United NEW Youth Module 1 & 2 August 30, 2012; Fort Wayne Sport Club USSF "C" License November 3-11, 2012; Town and Country complex, Wilder, KY (South of Cincinnati)
National Youth License Calendar of Courses Required Reading The National Youth License is designed to provide club directors of coaching, youth coaches, physical education teachers, and soccer administrators with the knowledge to successfully structure soccer environments for children aged 4-12. The role of the coach as a facilitator is explored; the physical, mental and emotional needs and capabilities of players from 4-12 are explored; the lessons from developmental psychology are explored; and the art of teaching is explored. Candidates are videotaped for analysis during live training sessions. For more information, contact the Coaching Department at dtaylor@usyouthsoccer.org.
WPSL ELITE Home Schedule FC Indiana face a daunting task of taking on three former WPS teams, all away, to begin their 2012 WPSL Elite campaign. The Lionesses face a tough opening day fixture as they travel to Rochester, NY to take on 2011 WPS winners WNY Flash (May 12), followed by away trips to Boston Breakers and Chicago Red Stars, on May 18 and 20 respectively. First home game will be played on 25th May against Chicago Red Stars followed by another home game against star-studded Boston Breakers a week after. Season will end on 21st July with an away game against New England Mutiny. MAY 25 CHICAGO RED STARS JUNE 01 BOSTON BREAKERS 08 CHESAPEAKE CHARGE 10 NY FURY 14 NEW ENGLAND MUTINY JULY 05 PHILADELPHIA FEVER 12 WNY FLASH ALL FC Indiana Home matches are played at: Michael A. Carroll Stadium – 1001 W. New York Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
TOPSoccer Coaching Course On Sunday, February 26th, 2012, Indiana Soccer hosted its third TOPSoccer Coaching Course. This course was held during Indiana Soccer’s Workshops and AGM. Nearly 20 candidates from all over the state of Indiana participated.
TOPSoccer was formed to perpetuate the US Youth Soccer mission statement which is, in part, "to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America's youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition." There are thousands of children with disabilities who need, and can be provided with, the opportunity to play soccer through the TOPSoccer program. If you would like to start a TOPSoccer program within your organization, please contact Joy Carter at joy@soccerindiana.org. You’ll be glad you did!
Parents Should Hush on the Ride Home By Mike Woitalla "What is your worst memory from playing youth and high school sports?" That was the question posed to college athletes in a survey by Proactive Coaching. The overwhelming response was: "The ride home from games with my parents." Children, not surprisingly, don’t enjoy a critique of their performance when they settle into the backseat. Who, no matter what age, would? Imagine a rough day at the office -- an office that resembles a typical youth soccer game. Your boss screams instructions while you work and lectures you before and after. Then you ride home with your parents. They’ve witnessed your mistakes. So they offer you advice. No matter how well-intentioned, their advice will likely register as admonishment. And they’re denying your desire – your right -- to wind down and contemplate your feelings on your own terms. If a parent actually did have some advice for a young player that might help the child, after the game - when the kids are physically and emotionally spent – is certainly not the time. In that same survey, the athletes were asked what words from their parents they remembered most fondly. The by far most common response was, "I love to watch you play."
Planning a Community Soccer Day The template below is meant to serve as a guide for all recreation (community) and travel clubs to implement a “Community Soccer Day”. The template below works off of four themes that can be used as a guide to put all of the pieces together for the community to embrace. While the themes for clubs can vary below is what US Youth Soccer uses for its theme every year for Youth Soccer Month. Those four themes are: Fun, Family, Friendship, and Fitness Fun Contests (juggling, dribbling, shooting with radar guns) Shooting “dunk” tank Create an African “Rag ball” then have the children play with them. Chip the ball into an open top washing machine (local sponsor – appliance sales store or laundry detergent company, etc.) TOPSoccer/Special Olympics game with community soccer player/local celebrities in the game. Clowns-Face Painting, Balloon Shapes (making animals out of balloons), etc. Family Mother/father-child soccer match. Mother/father and child play with each other against coaches or another team that is assembled the same way. Competitions could be both small and full sided matches. “All Comers”-all in the family are invited to participate in both soccer and non-soccer related contests. Family 5K, 10K walk or run. Families sign up together to participate. Fitness BMI measuring or information on how to do it. The purpose is to measure child’s BMI and then measure again at the end of the season. Nutrition facts (including proper hydration) Anti-smoking and drug literature Dental/Hygiene information Have a 5K or 10K walk or run for the entire community. Friendship (Connection with community) Invite local police and fire departments - DARE Truck/Police Dog exhibition - Fire truck - Fireman Hose Relay races? - Police vs. Fire Department Relays - Police and Fire Department presentations to children (stranger danger, stop, drop, and roll) Invite Library - Each child gets a library card - Reading Clubs Invite Civic Duty organizations - Demonstrations - Information for children Invite local Historical and Art Society - Demonstrations - Information for children Invite Civic/Theater groups - Getting involved - Exhibition or concert (local orchestra/band) Host a “Celebrity” soccer match in the middle of the day - Invite local town heroes, coaches, mayor, police chief, radio and television, etc. - Celebrities pay to “play”. Proceeds can go to a scholarship fund, purchasing new equipment, etc. Food drive by individual teams or families Coat drive by individual teams or families
Should kids train for sports outside of school and club sports? The experts at Responsible Sports weigh in. Last month, a Responsible Sports Parent wrote to our panel of experts to ask: Should a high school athlete be allowed to train for sports outside of his normal already-busy school sports schedule. Bert wrote in and asked: "There is a 16-year-old 3-sport high school sophomore in our school who is interested in running a full marathon during competitive soccer season. This athlete has never trained for a marathon, plays soccer, hockey and runs intermediate track distance events. One of his parents is a runner who has successfully completed 3 marathons, and feels that the son is capable of participation without detriment to schoolwork/other interests/commitments and wishes the son to enter/compete in the next one. But the other parent is not a runner, and feels the son may not fully understand the impact of training/participation and does not want the son to train or participate due to commitments to high school sports teams/studies and possible wear-and-tear injuries. What would you advise?" We asked two of our experts to weigh in. Sam Snow - Director of Coaching, US Youth Soccer, weighed in and had this to say: "I would not recommend running the marathon during the soccer season or the season of competition in the other two sports in which this athlete participates. Why? Physical – Clearly running a marathon is physically draining and it will take a minimum of three days to recover, and that’s for a trained marathoner, not a 16-year-old soccer player. So for a few days before the marathon and for a week after the marathon the player would be unable to train or play with the soccer team. Social – because of the time the marathon would take the player away from the soccer team before, during and after the marathon the team would be without this player. The commitment the player had made to the team will not be fulfilled. Letting down your teammates is not what team sports are about. Conflicted Training – the training for running a marathon (aerobic) and for playing soccer (largely anaerobic) are at cross purposes with one another. For the S.A.I.D. principle (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands) takes the body about six weeks to fully adjust. The physical and mental training for these two sports are simply too far apart from one another. The athlete will not be properly prepared for the demands of either sport." And Tina Syer, Chief Impact Officer from Positive Coaching Alliance answered: "I believe the parents’ role in this sort of situation is to help guide their child through a decision making process that will result in him making the best decision about whether or not to train for and compete in this marathon. From what you’ve written, it certainly does sound like this student athlete has a full plate, but if he’s hitting his goals in the classroom, with his already existing sports commitments, and with other family obligations, then it seems he’s earned the right to add more to his plate, if he determines he’s passionate enough to do it. As a former high school coach, I would also encourage him to talk with his soccer coach. He might just go to the coach and say, "I want to talk with you about my desire to run a marathon later this spring. I realize that’s during our season, so that’s why I’m here to talk with you about it."
If after talking with his coach, he still wants to move forward with the marathon, I’d have my son talk with an athletic trainer or sports medicine doctor about his training plans. They can give him specific tips on how to avoid overuse injuries – and perhaps even give your family some warning signs to keep an eye out for during training. We talk about sports’ ability to help kids learn life lessons, and figuring out whether or not it’s the right move for him to participate in this marathon is a wonderful process for your 16-year-old to go through at this time in his life." Do you have a youth soccer question you’d like to pose to our panel of experts? Visit us online and ask your question today! We regularly post answers on ResposibleSports.com and each month we’ll feature one question here at US Youth Soccer.
2012 ERUO Schedule
4th Annual Golf Classic
Each of us knows of a child who gained self-esteem, learned sportsmanship, or became a more social person because of their involvement in soccer. For many of us, that is the greatest gift we received from soccer — not increasing in specific physical skills, but the growth and development that came from our involvement. That's why we want OUR children involved in soccer. The Indiana Soccer Foundation believes that youth is a time of promise. We believe that the many benefits of soccer should be available to ALL children throughout Indiana — regardless of barriers. This is particularly critical to children today. Because of the extreme economy, more children than ever are being cut off from the self esteem, sportsmanship and social values taught by soccer-vital values that last a lifetime. Made up of volunteers just like you who care about Indiana's youth, the Foundation has a carefully thought out vision, mission, and objectives for achieving that mission. However, those objectives cannot be achieved without passionate, caring people who are willing to assist us. The opportunities for you to help are numerous — from volunteering time to giving financial assistance. Please consider helping tomorrow's leaders through the Indiana Soccer Foundation!
Dean Vinten Dean Vinten President, Indiana Soccer Foundation
Join us for the 4th Annual Golf Classic on Monday, July 9, 2011, at the Wood Wind Golf Club in Westfield, Indiana. Schedule 7:30am — Registration Practice 7:30am — Practice Range Open (Lunch Provided) 9:00am — Shotgun Start Scramble Noon — Lunch Provided 1:30pm — Lunch and Awards
Cost $550 per foursome group $150 per golfer $25 per lunch guest only Fee includes: Greens fee, cart fee, lunch, hole-in-one contests, and individual awards.
Team Awards 1st Place Teams-$400 cash | 2nd Place Teams-$200 cash | 3rd Place Teams-$100
RMA Jersey Winner Rick Fiege being presented an autographed Danny Welbeck Manchester United jersey from Erwin van Elst at the 2012 Indiana Soccer AGM