Kid’s Corner Kicks eNews Magazine for Youth Soccer Players
INDIANA SOCCER May-June , 2012 Authored by: Steve Franklin Director of Coaching Education
Kid’s Corner Kicks Official eNews Letter of Indiana Soccer Youth Players
The purpose of this eNews Letter is to provide you with monthly tips on training; fitness; recruiting; cool videos; news about you (which you pass along to me) and other interesting tidbits. I hope you enjoy it.
Indiana’s Midfielder Cameron Lindley Asserting Himself with U.S. U-15s, U-17s Being the only eighth grader in the U.S. Under-17 Residency Program took some significant adjusting for Indiana United Fire product Cameron Lindley, but he has adapted quickly to the move to Residency in January. “Going into my first training session, I was very nervous because here are the people you look up to and now you’re taking the same field with them,” Lindley said. “But they took me in. They’re like my older brothers and they’ve taught me certain things to make me a better player.” The 14-year-old Carmel, Ind., native is suiting up for the U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team over the next two weeks as the U-15s travel to Groenlo, Holland, to play in the International Marveld Tournament. Lindley still is the second-youngest player on the team (along with Columbus Crew Academy midfielder Ben Swanson), but his experience with the U-17s under head coach Richie Williams will play a big role for this upcoming tournament as he suits up for U-15 head coach Tony Lepore’s side. “I’m always talking with Tony about what has been implemented with the U-17s and bringing that to the U15s,” Lindley said. “For example, I think we’re very good as far as our chemistry and passing at the U-15s, but when we turn the ball over, sometimes we sit back. Richie is the first person that will tell you that we all have to go win the ball back. If you watch Barcelona, they will turn the ball over. But as soon as they do, they try and get it back immediately.”
Since playing among U.S. Soccer’s youth national teams, Lindley has played a holding defensive midfield role within a three-midfielder set. Earlier in his club days, Lindley was more focused on the attacking side of the position.
“Last year with Indiana United, I was still playing attacking midfield, but since joining U.S. Soccer they wanted to try me at defensive midfield,” Lindley said. “I did pretty well and I’m more familiar with it. I’ve accepted the role, which is an important one. You don’t stand out, so you help the team in other ways. It’s the little things that you do that help the team.” For the U-15s and this tournament, Lindley could find himself doing a bit of both the holding and attacking roles within the midfield. “It will be the same role in the defensive midfield, but I also know that with the U-15s that I have to go forward a little bit more and create more, which I’ve always used to do,” Lindley said. “We’re very familiar in the way we play and I need to create a lot more.”
Lindley has had a busy year with the U-17s. Besides making an important decision to join Residency in Bradenton, Fla., he and the team recently met with the senior national team. Lindley traveled to France in April for the 40th Mondial Minimes tournament. And most recently, Lindley played during the U-17 team’s 3-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo U-17/18 Academy team at the brand-new BBVA Compass Stadium. “It was an amazing opportunity,” said Lindley, who assisted the team’s third goal in the soft opening of the Houston stadium. “As soon as I walked out there, I tried to keep a serious face. But I was so happy. I was hearing nothing but great things about the stadium and there were a lot of people. It was great. That was the most amazing field that I’ve ever played on. It was perfect – like playing on carpet.” Lindley played the full 90 minutes in that match, and he has already proved to be a consistent and vocal presence. “Since the first couple of weeks, I started talking more and the guys responded and accept me as a player,” Lindley said. “You have to communicate, and I’m not afraid to talk. I know I’m playing a very important role and I need to do some of the dirty things and be simple with the ball.” Mentally, Lindley says the move from Indiana to Florida has been a tough one. But once the whistle blows, he is focused at the task at hand. “On the field, you don’t worry about that, but off the field you just try to keep a positive attitude and enjoy your time,” Lindley said. “For the family, it’s a big sacrifice. But they want me to get better and follow my dreams. I have good friends and family who’ve always supported me.
“It’s always a dream to get that phone call or email to play with a U.S. National Team, represent the country and go overseas,” he said. “You’re playing for yourself, for your state and your country.”
US Youth Soccer Show June Show Times* Friday, June 8 @ 6 p.m. ET (Premier) Thursday, June 14 @ 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 19 @ 6 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 27 @ 6 p.m. ET *Subject to change. Check your local listings. US Youth Soccer's monthly program, The US Youth Soccer Show, brings viewers in depth with US Youth Soccer events, players, coaches and more. The 30-minute show airs only on FOX Soccer, the official television partner of US Youth Soccer. CLICK HERE to see the stories that will be included in the June 8th premier.
Program Overview The monthly program, on FOX Soccer, brings viewers in-depth with US Youth Soccer events, players, coaches and more. Each program takes viewers inside the world of US Youth Soccer and offers exciting stories and information for youth players and their families, including interviews with US Youth Soccer alumni on the national team or in the professional ranks, and features on US Youth Soccer's various programs and events. Where should our cameras go in 2012? If you have a story idea or want your story to be seen on TV, email us at theshow@usyouthsoccer.org. For more information about the show, including air times and dates, go to usyouthsoccer.org/the_show/.
This month on the show: …Kings Soccer Academy from Ohio recently qualified for a spot in this summer’s National Championships via the National League. While traveling for National League play, the girls decided they wanted to do something more important with their spare time than just hang out. …winning a National Championship is a dream for many young players. We caught up with a man whose Under-14 West Coast FC team made their dream a reality, and the opportunity of a lifetime that followed. …US Youth Soccer recently teamed up with the United States National Guard, and we recognized former WUSA player turned sargent, Shauna Rohbock, in a different kind of team uniform. …it takes a lot of hard work to make it to the Olympic level in any sport. We take a minute to spotlight one of our own with that kind of dedication. …earlier this year we heard about a player in Connecticut that was definitely worth spotlighting. In fact, he won the 2012 US Youth Soccer National TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year award. He is all about giving back to a program that once gave him so much. ...FOX Soccer commentators Rob Stone and Eric Wynalda answer your questions from our Facebook page. The US Youth Soccer Show, now in its seventh season on FOX Soccer and running each month through December! Watch the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons on US Youth Soccer's free podcast. For more information and to download full shows from iTunes, go to usyouthsoccer.org/podcasts.
FUEL Magazine Home US Youth Soccer FUEL Soccer Magazine The 2011 edition of FUEL Soccer, the magazine for players, parents and coaches, is here from US Youth Soccer. You don't want to miss it. We have a digital mag as well as the iPhone/iPad apps to keep you plugged in. You can read 2010 FUEL and 2011 FUEL online. Look for FUEL this fall at events across the country and on the Kohl's American Cup tours.
20-Minute Warm-Up Reduces Injury A special 20-minute warm-up performed two to three times a week during preseason can cut soccer players' groin injuries by nearly one third, according to researchers at the Center for Athletic Hip and Groin Disorders in Santa Monica, California. Groin injuries, which range from minor strains to hernias requiring surgery, account for five percent of all sports injuries. The researchers enrolled 315 major league soccer players in the prevention program. Athletes in the program had a groin injury incidence of 0.44 injuries per 1,000 hours, compared to 0.61 injuries per 1,000 hours among players who did not participate in the preseason prevention program. The warm-up study included dynamic stretching and strengthening moves. "Our 28% injury reduction rate is highly significant," says Dr. Michael B. Gerhardt, director of the Center. Gerhardt is also team physician for United States Soccer and Chivas USA, a major league soccer team. "We were anticipating a 5-10% reduction rate, so we were pleasantly surprised that the injury reduction number was so high," he said. "While we were able to prevent the total number of groin injuries, we were unable to significantly reduce the number of surgeries," Gerhardt noted. "Once an injury reaches the chronic stage, it is hard to manage with any treatment regimen, including ours. These players typically go on to require surgery." Groin injury is a leading cause of lost playing time among professional athletes. Gerhardt and his study team argue that a simple, cost-effective, preseason training program could benefit teams worldwide. About the Author Jim Brown - Contributing Writer CorePerformance.com Jim Brown, Ph.D. is a contributing writer for CorePerformance.com. Dr. Brown has written 14 books on health, medicine, and sports. His articles have appeared in the Washington Post, New York Post, Sports Illustrated for Women and Better Homes & Gardens. He also writes for the Duke School of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic and Steadman-Hawkins Research Foundation.
The Journey of an Indiana Youth Soccer Player Written by: Tyler Keever #18 Indy Burn ‘90 Indiana Soccer Intern Hello everyone, I am Tyler Keever, a former member of the Indy Burn Eagles 90. For those of you who don’t know, the Eagles were 8 time Indiana state champions (2002-2009). A record that cannot be broken since Us Youth Soccer does not recognize U12 as a state championship anymore. I started my journey with the Eagles entering my freshman year of high school. I played goalkeeper for the team, in my 5-year tenure. The group of guys I came into was already a cohesive, hardworking, group of players. This was one the Eagles best assets as we weren’t just teammates, we consider each other brothers. All of us are still in touch today and a lucky few of us are still playing the beautiful game, Michael Tanke (Rochester Rhinos, USL), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas, MLS), Ray Gaddis (Philadelphia Union, MLS), and some are still striving to reach their goal of playing professionally. The journey through State Cup, Regional’s, and eventually Nationals are some of my greatest memories as a youth. Every year playing for a State Title was a special occasion. We rose to the challenge each year, each year was different, each year we came across different challenges that we had to overcome and we prevailed with 8 State Championships. The Eagles success on the Regional level was not as successful as the State level. We went to Regional’s every year; with the mindset we would take the regional crown home, which was not true. The challenges pushed us more than we could handle each year and we never made it out of our group. Then, came our last hurrah, our U19 year(2009), with everyone coming back with a season of college playing experience under their belt, we felt this was finally the year we would take more than the State title home. We did, we had exceptional run through Regional’s, with a couple of bumps in the road, but we prevailed as Regional Champions. The feeling was indescribable; we finally had reached the goal, which had haunted us for so many years.
The emotional roller coaster that our Eagles had rode for the last 8 years together had one last stop, Nationals in Lancaster, Massachusetts. The finally hurrah, had almost reached the summit we were climbing to, a National Championship (something no Boys youth team from Indiana has ever done). What stood between a National title and us were 4 games, we were confident in our chance in rising the McGuire Cup, the oldest youth cup in existence. It seemed fitting that our journey from U12 State Champions to U19 National Champions, only seemed right. It was not, we had a hard fought first match with Colorado Rush in 1-0 loss, and then played Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (2 time National Champions and eventual champs in 2009) we thought we were back in the hunt up 1-0 in the 89th minute and the wheels fell off we drop the match 2-1 (the details are too hard to explain, basically luck was not on our side this day). We finished with a Nil-Nil draw against NASA from Atlanta, Georgia. Our journey ended a little bitter sweet with a third place finish at Nationals but the experience that I had at Nationals and with the Eagles is something I would never trade for anything. Youth soccer has made me the person I am today and I am very thankful for it.
FOUR THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ... Morgan Andrews, who captained the USA to the Concacaf under-17 women's championship last month in Guatemala City, is the 2011-12 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year, the first student-athlete from New Hampshire to earn the national award. For four things to know about Andrews ... AZERBAIJAN-BOUND. Andrews played every minute of every game as a midfielder as the USA qualified for the 2012 Under-17 Women's World Cup Sept. 22-Oct. 13 in Azerbaijan. The FC Stars of Massachusetts product scored her lone goal of the tournament on a free kick in the 7-0 win over Panama in the semifinals of the Concacaf tournament. PLAYING UP. Andrews has played in the girls national team program since she was 12 years old. She was the youngest player called into the under-23 national team training camp last fall, playing with and against college and pro players. She is playing this summer for the New England Mutiny of the new WPSL Elite. ALL-STATE PLACEKICKER. Andrews, who has one year of high school left, is a three-sport athlete at Milford. She plays soccer, runs track and kicks on the football team. She's such a good placekicker that she was selected to the all-state first team. In soccer, she is a three-time all-state selection with 83 goals and added 35 assists. FUTURE EAGLE. Andrews is verbally committed to Boston College. She's rated the No. 1 player in the Class of 2013 that also includes two other future Eagles in the top 20: Stars of Massachusetts teammate Hayley Dowd and Rosie DiMartino.
Food For Thought A balanced diet is the key to a STRONG HEALTHY BODY! So how do we stay strong and healthy..... Let me give you a few pointers; Carobhydrates = Energy ---> Pasta, Bread, Cereal & Rice! Protein = Builds Muscle ---> Meat, Fish, Beans, Eggs & Nuts! Calcium = Strong Bones ---> Milk, Yogurt & Cheese! Vitamins/Minerals = Health ---> Vegetables & Fruit! Don't forget to drink plenty of water!!!!