The Network - May 2017 by Varsity Communications

Missouri Youth Soccer Association 2230 Bluestone Drive Saint Charles, MO 63303

VOL 1 • NO. 1 • MAY 2016

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TRYOUT SURVIVAL GUIDE

COACHES TOOLBOX

Missouri’s all-new “NETWORK” newspaper

brings everything you need to know for the soccer season ahead

Network editor Brian Beaky tapped into the minds of coaches to find out how to get yourself noticed — and on the team — this spring BY BRIAN BEAKY Editor, The Network With most associations and clubs starting their fall registration period in June, the months ahead will see thousands of young players statewide trying out for recreational and competitive clubs and teams. No matter what level of soccer your young player is trying out for, there are a few questions that every parent and soccer player will likely have as they prepare for this busy — and often stressful — time. Questions like, “What are the coaches looking for?” and “Which club is the ‘best?’” That’s why this month, we’ve talked to coaches to learn the secrets to a successful tryout — what matters more, ball skills or athleticism? What are some little things you can do to make yourself stand out? In addition, we’ve added in a few useful tips for players and parents to keep in mind in this often nervewracking time — from how to choose the right club, to making sure that you’re at your best when the big day arrives. Good luck!

The “best” club is the club that’s best for you

No matter how many State Cup titles a club has won, or how many Division-I college players it has produced, there is no soccer club in the world that is the best fit for every player. Each club’s website or brochures should give an indication of the time commitment, travel requirements and financial investment required by that club, as well as the expectations they’ll have of each player. Some players might be ready for the greatest challenge, while others might just want to have fun and play with their friends. Before going to tryouts, make sure that the goals

of the club you’re trying out for align with the goals of your player. The Club Directory at MissouriSoccer.org is an excellent resource for finding and comparing clubs and associations in your area.

Preparation breeds confidence, and confidence breeds success

Preparing for tryouts involves much more than just practicing skills. In addition to honing your stepover or fine-tuning your shot, it’s important to prepare yourself mentally — both for failure, and success. During the tryout, you may make a mistake (in fact, you almost certainly will, at least once) or coaches may surprise you by asking you to play a position you are unfamiliar with or that you don’t consider your “best.” Be prepared for these situations, and respond positively. Soccer games are full of unexpected developments and difficult moments for each team — the players who respond the best in these challenging moments in a tryout will be certain to catch a coach’s eye.

Be ready to work when the tryout begins

Without fail, each of the coaches we spoke with mentioned players being late, or arriving unprepared, as one of the biggest negatives during a tryout. Arriving late to tryouts shows the coach that you don’t value his or her time, or that of the other players, and suggests that you’re not completely invested in the tryout process. With dozens of other players on time and eager to make the team, it sets you apart — in a bad way. Instead, arrive at least a half-hour early, to give you plenty of time to put on all your gear, warm up, and pass the ball around with a friend or fellow player. Not

only will you feel more relaxed and confident, but a coach who arrives at the field to see players already warming up and passing the ball is sure to take note. And if a coach’s first impression of you is that you are a well-prepared self-starter, you’ll be starting the day at the top of his or her list.

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Make yourself known M

FUN&

GAMES F

D C S S S A O E H N When the coach arrives, walk over and introduce F S A T N I S W E Z U M S L R A E U Q K yourself. Don’t let your parents do it for S you; a F E A C E P P C F T L W B G player who looks their coach in the eye, Hgives aS R O M H A T M I R T S H T O I L A A D A E O O E P firm handshake and introduces themselves Nexudes J Y N I T H R C L T F R O K I P G S A confidence and maturity, two qualities that every T A H C N D L E H A F U E F H C C B H H A O coach desires. Don’t interrupt the coach if he’s Atalking L R L S A L W I A T E Y B Z L A U R Y to someone else; wait your turn, then say hello.RThank O T L T A U L P B N D U P R L O L R D I the coach for the opportunity to tryout, and express R P O K H I O O L Y A S E O E O C P S your sincere desire to be a part of the team this Gyear. E L F Y S E O R K I S O F P T E Y P G A P Said one coach: “It’s much harder to break the I I I O R D T R U X R O N B L R U C E S P S heart of a player whose hand I’ve shook, and who has E N R U O Y A T Y K P E D T E I B E I T looked me in the eye and smiled and said thankR you, O S T C E N A O U Z E T R G A R N E O X E than it is a player I never talked to at all.” A N G Y A R O I

WORD SEARCH

Control only what you can

There are things that you, as a player, can control — your amount of rest, your amount of practice, your pre-tryout meal, your clothing (one coach we spoke to recommended, if allowed, wearing a brightly colored shirt or socks to help distinguish yourself from the other players). There are other things you can’t control — the weather, the skill level of the other players at tryouts, and the attention of coaches. If you accept going in that you can only control certain factors — and concentrate on achieving peak performance in those areas — you’ll Continued on page 4

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THE NETW RK

2017 MAY

What Is The Network? And Why Am I Receiving This? The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted; all rights reserved. Articles may not be reproduced without written permission. The advertising space in The Network is purchased and paid for by the advertiser. None of the products or services are necessarily endorsed by Missouri Youth Soccer or its affiliates. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of its advertisers or Missouri Youth Soccer. Printed in the United States of America.

Official Publication of the Missouri Youth Soccer Association is published four times per year by Varsity Communications, Inc., and mailed to over 40,000 Missouri Youth Soccer families.

MYSA OFFICERS: Jim McCarthy — President Chris McDonough — Vice President Warren Brown — Treasurer Robyn Gross — Secretary Steve Pecher — Member-at-large

DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: Stephanie Daugherty — Central Mike Deane — Eastern Dan Wichmer — Southern Kenda Childers — Western ALTERNATE COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Blackburn — Central John Nohava — Eastern V.A. “Sam” Samaranayake — Southern Chris Dean — Western

MYSA STATE OFFICE: Nik Bushell — Executive Director Denny Vaninger — Director of Coaching Kirk Nelson — Technical Director Kathy Arnold — Programs Coordinator Kelly Jenkins — Member Services Mitch Cissell — Communications CONTRIBUTING AFFILIATE: Steve Ole Olson — Webmaster & Social Media

DIRECTORS MESSAGE BY NIK BUSHELL MYSA Executive Director Welcome to the first printed edition of the Missouri Youth Soccer Association’s all-new communications tool, The Network! If you are reading this, you are a member of a soccer team, club or league that is affiliated with the Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA). MYSA is the largest youth soccer organization in the state, with more than 40,000 registered players, and is dedicated to promote, foster and perpetuate the game of soccer in the state of Missouri. Furthermore, MYSA is state affiliate of U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer; members of Missouri Youth Soccer Association automatically become members of these two organizations, which are responsible for identifying and developing the top soccer players in the country. Other benefits of membership in MYSA include medical insurance, background checks on coaches and club officials, coach and referee training and more, all of which is included in the fee you pay to your local soccer club each year. In the current communications climate, where each of us receive hundreds of emails, text messages, iPhone notifications, social media updates and — yes, occasionally — printed mail as well, it’s becoming harder and harder to determine which messages to focus on, and what information is important. Our goal with The Network is to consolidate the most important and helpful news and information, as it relates to youth soccer in your community and our state at large, into one, easily digested location. Starting with the digital issue we sent out in March, you will receive four issues of The Network each year — digital e-newsletters in March and December, and printed newspapers in our busiest times of the year, May (as spring leagues wrap up and State Cups take off across the state) and September (when the fall season — including all of our recreational teams — kicks off, and tournament registration deadlines are first posted).

Each issue of The Network will provide you with a variety of news articles highlighting issues of interest to parents, coaches, referees, players, administrators and each of the other important constituencies that make up our Missouri Youth Soccer family. In this issue, we highlight: • Questions and answers about competitive team tryouts • An inside look at what coaches look for at tryouts, and how to stand out • Missouri players attending the Region II ODP Camp • Sample lesson plans and coaching education courses • Community service projects and other local news • Articles for parents and referees • Fun games for kids • And more! Future issues will focus on the further growth

CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS Executive Director’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

PRODUCTION: Varsity Communications, Inc.

From The Sidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

EDITOR: Brian Beaky

Referee Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

PHOTOGRAPHY: Steve Ole Olson, soccerSTL.net GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Robert Becker • Katie Erickson

Coaches Toolbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Fun and Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Features 2017 Tryout Survival Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Ian Civey (425) 412-7070 ext. 102 ian@varsitycommunications.com Varsity Communications, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tryouts . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES: (636) 946-0958

Debunking Nutrition Myths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

PRINTING: NPC

Region II ODP Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Coaching Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Managing Playing Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Discover Soccer Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 New Field Complex Coming to O’Fallon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lindenwood Summer Soccer Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

www.missourisoccer.org

THANK YOU SPONSORS

and development of our game — specifically, on helping our coaches and referees be more successful, on making life easier for our administrators, and providing each and every soccer family in our state with the tools and information they need to ensure that their child gets the most out of their youth soccer experience, whether playing on a Under-6 recreational team, or competing for a State Cup championship. Now, it’s YOUR turn. What are the stories you’d like to see told to our members? Do you have questions that you think might be of interest to the greater MYSA community? Do you have an outstanding coach, team, player or volunteer that you want to see receive the recognition they deserve? Please send any suggestions for future articles to Brian Beaky at brian@varsitycommunications.com, and we’ll follow-up as we can. Thank you again for joining us in this exciting new venture. We look forward to helping grow the game together.

VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 1 • MAY 2017

THE NETW RK

MAY 2017 Continued from page 1

be better prepared mentally to succeed in any situation.

Stay focused

A tryout can be a long process, and there will be times that you feel you aren’t being noticed. But do you know what else is a long process, with periods of activity separated by stretches of inactivity? A soccer game, and a soccer season! Coaches will be looking for those players who remain focused and attentive at all times throughout the tryout. When the coach is speaking, look him or her in the eye; it’s a natural human reaction to return eye contact — if you’re looking at the coach, it’s likely he or she will be looking at you as well, and noticing that you care about what he or she has to say. Likewise, don’t mess around with your ball, or talk to friends between drills, or while the coach is talking. Keep your ball still and your eyes on the coach, and you’ll show the coach you’re focused and serious about what he or she has to say.

Station Wagon Syndrome FROM THE SIDELINES BY BRAD GRIM US Youth Soccer Reprinted with permission

For some kids playing soccer, their biggest battle doesn’t occur on the field, but rather in the backseat of the car on the way home, as one or both parents give their minute-byminute recap of the game. They cover why Johnny has no business starting at forward and how Jason playing on the right as opposed to the left is a travesty. This situation was identified as “station wagon syndrome” by University of Missouri School of Law professor Douglas Abrams, and the name alone should suggest that this isn’t a new revelation, but rather an issue that has been around for a couple of decades. Abrams describes station-wagon syndrome occurring when, “The youngsters are a captive audience in the back seat on the way home, but they deserve to ride in peace without being unwilling victims of their parents.” For US Youth Soccer Director of Coaching Sam Snow, the conversation after a match or training session should be short and sweet. “The only thing parents need to say is, ‘I love watching you play,’ end of story,” Snow says. “I know it sounds overly simple, and it is harder to actually carry out.” Coaches can have enough issues trying to portray a consistent message to their players while parents attempt to coach from the sidelines — a situation in which coaches have at least some control. However, their jurisdiction ends when the kids enter the car. “Parents want to be sure that they are not coaching, whether it is on the sideline or afterward in the car,” Snow says. “If you do that, then you could intentionally or unintentionally contradict what the coach is saying, and that is only going to confuse the player.” Snow explains that this is prevalent on the entire spectrum of youth soccer, ranging from five-year-old recreational players to 17-year-olds playing in the most competitive environment. The range of soccer knowledge a parent has is also vast, but both of these should be irrelevant

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in regards to a parent coaching a player. “Parents have to keep it in the forefront of their minds that this is their child’s game and not theirs, whether the parents are a former player or not,” Snow says. “While there happen to be spectators at the match, this isn’t for the spectators. It is for the kids.” At some point, it is inevitable that a parent is going to disagree with what a coach is doing, and in this situation, Snow simply recommends the parent make an appointment with the coach, as opposed to voicing concerns right after a match or training session. “You don’t want to voice your concerns right after a match or training session, because emotions are going to be high. You wouldn’t go complain to your child’s teacher immediately after the exam in the middle of the day, would you?” Snow says. “It is the same thing with a soccer coach, and if you wait 24 hours to schedule an appointment, then a discussion can occur.” While Snow is a strong advocate of parents not contradicting their child’s coach with or without the coach present, he insists it is imperative that parents represent a support system, especially if the player begins to play in more competitive environments. “If a player gets older and decides to commit more effort to start playing at a higher level, he or she is going to need more of a commitment from the entire family,” Snow says. “There are going to be a lot of highs and lows associated with playing at a higher level, and it is very important for a player to have an emotional safety net.” Ultimately, it comes down to the mindset parents have in approaching their child playing soccer, and for that, Snow references friend and colleague Andy Coutts, Director of Education for Minnesota Youth Soccer Association. “You ask the parents if they are looking at their child playing soccer as an investment, or a gift. If it is an investment, then you are looking for a return on investment, whether it is a college scholarship or pro contract. But, I tell them that will only end in heartache, and you are better off putting that money into a financial service to pay for college,” Snow says. “However, if you look at it as a gift and you don’t expect anything in return, like a birthday present, then the world is open for them, and both the kids and parents can enjoy it for as long as they want.”

When training, focus on ball skills and athleticism

You’ll notice that we have gone six items in, and are just now getting to anything that has to do with actually playing soccer. When hundreds of players attend a tryout, it’s inevitable that only a few will stand out (good and bad), while the vast majority will be of a similar skill level. That’s why it’s important to try to set yourself apart from the pack in ways beyond just your soccer ability — things like showing up early, making eye contact and introducing yourself to the coaches can make the difference when coaches have to choose between dozens of players of similar skill. That said, the two on-field skills that are easiest to judge in a tryout are athleticism and ball skills. Work on ball control, particularly trapping the ball and dribbling in tight spaces — practice dribbling at pace around cones, with the inside and outside of your foot, until you can do it quickly without losing control of the ball. Most tryouts will begin with smallsided games, where the limited space makes ball skills of superior importance. In addition, work on building your speed and ability to change direction — in the fullfield game, the fastest players always stand out.

Communicate

Silent players are easy to ignore; verbal ones are not. Just as when you introduced

yourself to the coach before tryouts, keep communicating when you’re on the field. Positive communication — calling out marks, anticipating passes and runs, etc. — demonstrates both leadership abilities and teamwork, two qualities all coaches look for. Just be sure to keep all communication positive; don’t criticize other players’ actions or decisions, or complain if something doesn’t go your way. Trust the coach to understand went wrong and why, without you having to point it out.

Keep moving

A high motor will get noticed. When moving between drills, jog — don’t walk. Be the first one back from water breaks (in fact, if you didn’t get a chance to introduce yourself before the tryout, a water break is a great time to do so). Should you be tackled or beaten during the tryout, don’t stop and pout or cry foul — chase the ball and win it back. Coaches don’t want players who complain or give up — they want players who continue to compete hard no matter what the circumstances are against them.

Let the coaches coach, and the parents parent

This one is for the parents. It’s hard to watch your child be evaluated against others. We all want our kids to be the best, and to have the chance to achieve their goals. Before the tryout, make sure that your child knows you love and support them — an encouraging hug and loving words can be just as inspirational (or even more so) as a fiery motivational speech. During the tryout, don’t coach from the sidelines, and avoid talking with the coaches. Let your child’s play on the field speak for itself. Immediately afterwards, don’t add your own analysis to that of the coaches — whether your child made the team or not, a hug from you will be the best thing you can give them.

Most Important: Have Fun! While success is great, nothing is more important than having fun. No matter how prestigious the club or team, if it’s not fun for you or your player, it’s not worth it. Players will gain more enjoyment — and likely have more success — in situations where they feel that their goals (team success, personal improvement, exposure to college coaches, or even just competing among friends) are being met. Follow these tips to make sure you’re prepared to do your best this spring — whatever that might be!

SEND STORIES you’d like to read in future issues of The Network to Brian Beaky at brian@varsitycommunications.com FOR ADVERTISING inquiries contact Ian Civey at ian@varsitycommunications.com

THE NETW RK

2017 MAY

Commonly Asked Questions About Tryouts BY BRIAN BEAKY Editor, The Network Your local club’s tryouts are right around the corner, and you have questions — Where to go? What to bring? Do I have to say yes if my child makes the team? Many of these questions can be answered online at MissouriSoccer.org, the official home of youth soccer in the state of Missouri — click on the “Player and Team Administration” box, then on “2017-2018 Tryout Information.” It’s also a valuable resource for parents with further questions once tryouts are over, including information on travel and insurance, and all the necessary forms your player, coach or team may need throughout the upcoming season. Below, we’ll answer a few of the most common questions we receive. If you don’t see the answer to your question here, visit the website above, or contact the Missouri Youth Soccer office at 636-946-0958. Also, don’t forget to check out the Tryout Survival Guide article in this month’s issue for more insider tips from coaches who shared exactly what they look for at tryouts, and how your player can stand out. Whether you make the team or not, remember to have fun! We can’t wait to see you on the pitch. When do tryouts begin? Tryouts begin the weekend of June 9-11 for all age groups across the state. In the Western District, tryouts for ages U12 and below begin Friday, June 9, with U13 and above kicking off Saturday, June 10. In the Eastern, Southern and Central Districts, tryouts for all ages will begin Sunday, June 11. If you are not sure what district your club is in, visit MissouriSoccer.org and click on the “Clubs” tab at the top of the page. Do I need any special forms? Any player currently on a competitive roster, that wishes to participate in activities with another team or club prior to the opening of tryouts in their District must first get a signed “Permission to Participate” form from their current coach and club. This applies to any and all team activities where a selection process or recruitment will take place. (Note, this applies only to current competitive players looking to change teams or clubs; recreational players seeking to tryout for a competitive team do not need a “Permission to Participate” form at any time.) To learn more, or to download the form, visit the “2017-2018 Tryout Information” page at MissouriSoccer.org, referenced above. Are there any exceptions? In some areas, yes. In both the Western and Eastern District, there is an additional evaluation period known as the “Open Contact Period,” which is designed to give players the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a club or team before committing to a tryout. Between the start of the Open Contact Period on May 28, and the tryout date for that age group in that district, a player may attend an organized soccer activity (practice, training, etc.) with another team or club without having to complete the “Permission to Participate”

form. This only applies to Western and Eastern District clubs. Am I or my player allowed to talk to other teams’ clubs or coaches prior to tryouts? Coaches, clubs and teams are free to give out general information about themselves, including their philosophies, costs and requirements at any time — however, discussion of roster decisions or specific player evaluations are explicitly NOT allowed. We encourage parents and players to fully investigate all options that are available to them at the competitive level. Parents should take the time to review all documentation required by the team or club and fully investigate what financial requirements are included in the document. Note that signing a player contract with a club does not guarantee you assignment to a particular team within that club unless it is specifically noted in the document. Read the Tryout Survival Guide in this issue for more information on choosing the right club and team for your player. The coach said that if we paid our fees before tryouts, we could guarantee our spot on the team next year. Is this true? No, clubs and teams in Missouri Youth Soccer cannot collect fees or seek commitments prior to tryouts. Coaches may ask for a parent or

player to give a verbal commitment, but this is not binding for the player. Of course, remember that this flexibility of commitment goes both ways — just as you cannot be required to commit to any one club prior to tryouts, a club has no obligation to a player or parents until a financial commitment is received and documentation is signed by the parent. Under Missouri bylaws, these binding events cannot happen until after the tryout, once a player has been evaluated and formally offered a position with a club or team. Can coaches or clubs recruit players from other teams? No, recruiting is explicitly prohibited outside of the formal tryout environment. Recruiting is an attempt by any person (this includes club directors, coaches, trainers, managers and parents) to entice a player to move during the current or upcoming season to join a club or team that is outside of their current club or team affiliation. It is important to note that recruitment can happen anywhere — school, home, etc. — and is not restricted to soccerrelated activities. Any individual or organization that is found guilty of recruitment by a hearing committee can face harsh suspensions and fines as allowed in the Registration Policy Manual. Note that recruitment rules still apply during the “Open Contact Period.”

What if we change our minds after signing with a club or team? Once a document has been signed and the registration paid, the player and club are committed to each other for the length of the seasonal year (Aug. 1-July 31), unless specifically indicated otherwise in the player agreement. Players may leave a club or team during the current season only under certain conditions. Upon submitting a request to transfer, your current club has 10 days to approve the request, collect any gear or loaned equipment and any outstanding monetary commitments as spelled out in the signed player agreement. If, at the end of that period, the club or team decides to approve the request, your player may transfer to another club or team mid-season for a fee of $175, paid when applying for the transfer in the player’s GotSoccer account. Should the club or team submit an objection to the state within the 10-day evaluation period, the state will review the positions of both the player and club and make a ruling as to whether to allow the transfer to proceed. It is important that players and parents have a full understanding of their membership within a club or on a team and the financial obligations and responsibilities that may surround it. We urge you to ask questions and seek opinions to make the best decision for your player for the upcoming 2017-2018 season.

THE NETW RK

MAY 2017

Functional Training by Position Using a Small-Sided Game COACHES TOOLBOX

5v5 Plus Goalkeeper

By the fall of 2017, every US Youth Soccer State Association will have transitioned to the new USSF small-sided games mandate. This new mandate, passed in 2015, sets standards at each level for the number of players on the field, with fewer players at the younger ages, scaling up to 11v11 by U13. The benefits of small-sided games for players include more fun, more touches on the ball and more tactical decisions. The style of play will allow players to learn different positions, learn tactics quicker, increase fitness and allow players to be more emotionally and socially involved — creating a more fun and enjoyable game. In addition to playing with small-sided numbers in games, small-sided games can and should be used in practice to set up certain situations, and work on specific techniques and tactics in various areas of the field. Practice activities should be purposeful — that is, with a specific tactical or technical (or, in some cases, both) goal in mind; should be targeted to a specific position or positional group (attackers, defenders, etc.); and should (whenever possible) be set in the area of the field appropriate to the lesson being taught (i.e., an attacking activity should take place in the attacking third; an activity on building from the back in the defensive and middle third, etc.). Following is a training/practice idea from Tony Colavecchia, the former head coach at Louisville and player at England’s Lincoln City FC, which appeared at USYouthSoccer.com. This training highlights how you can use a smallsided activity, following the basic principles above, to teach your players the tactical and technical roles of their positions on the field: Overview • 5v5 plus GK • Area – Quarter field • Objectives – To get players functioning both individually and collectively (technically and tactically) within a smallsided game When I was coaching at the University of Louisville, I always found pre-season was a time that I needed to work with the players as much as possible at forming tactical relationships using small-sided games. In other words, get the players to understand how they need to play together. For example, using this method I would develop, in a 5v5 game, both the outside back and wide midfielder working together, both in their own defending third, in the middle third and in the attacking third. (I use this method coaching youth teams also 13-18 years old.) I knew the positions where I wanted to the play the players in the formation (4-4-2), but I needed to design practices where we could get the most technical and tactical repetition in a game environment — plus, it had to be relevant to the areas of the field where the players would realistically perform their roles, both in attack

and defense. I placed the emphasis on both attacking and defending responsibilities in the practice (economical training), and allowed the players the opportunity to engage themselves in a competitive game situation that, hopefully, they can translate back to the full-sided field. For higher-level players, this could be a critical aspect of your coaching method as players tend to lose their focus and intensity if the practice contains too much stopping and starting. This practice organization allows me to coach in the flow of the activity. Here is how I organized the practice. Setup Play 5v5 plus GK for functional positional training in a small-sided game, played on one quarter of a full-size field bordered by the end line, touchline and center line, plus a row of cones from the center spot to the mid-point of the goal. Set up two small goals just beyond the center line for counter-attack opportunities. One team is the defending team (black, above) and tries to regain possession and score in the two counter-attack goals. The defending team’s players

perform the functional roles of a goalkeeper, center back, right back, central midfielder, wide fielder and a forward (six players). Technical: Receiving techniques under pressure, shielding the ball, turning with the ball with back to the opponent and playing a forward pass. Tactical: Organize defensive pressure on the ball, second-defender covering, plus work on tactical communication. Regain possession of the ball and try to play to the target player, push out and support the transition to attack. The other team is the attacking team (blue, above), going to goal. The attacking team’s players perform the functional roles of two central midfielders, a left back, left-side midfielder and a forward (five players). Technical: Dribbling techniques, running at the man or gaps, receiving techniques under pressure. Techniques for crossing to the near post area, finishing and long-range finishing. Tactical: Attack – combination play, wide play.

Defense – high pressure. Rules • If the ball goes out at the coned line, restart with a kick-in (quick free kick) • From throw-ins, try to maintain possession. • Play corner kicks, practice short corners. Coaching Philosophy This could also be a good way to begin to introduce young players to the various positions and roles played within the game. I am not saying or promoting that we should play players just in one position. However, I do feel we need to seek ways to create the right learning and game-situation environments where our players can continue to develop their understanding of the game. Variations Move the game to be played at the half-way line. Players play their roles technically and tactically in the middle third of the field. For more coaching plans like this one, visit the Coaching page at USYouthSoccer.org.

Register For a Missouri Youth Soccer Coaching Course! To raise the level of coaching and therefore raise the quality of instruction and standard of play within the state of Missouri, coaching education and development is a continuous and ongoing affair. Each year, Missouri Youth Soccer offers several coaching courses throughout the state designed to provide coaches with opportunities to seek a greater understanding of the game, and bring their newfound knowledge back to the players and teams they coach. Some courses, like the entry-level USSF “F” Course, can be conducted entirely online; others might consist of classroom and field sessions held over a weekend or, in some cases, multiple weekends. Many clubs will support their coaches’ educational efforts by refunding any or all of your course fees — consult with your specific club to find out how you can take advantage of these programs. Following are a list of upcoming coaching courses in the state of Missouri. New courses are added frequently; to register for these courses, or to stay informed when courses are

added to the calendar, visit MissouriSoccer.org and click on the “Coaches” box. Youth Coaching Certificate The Youth Coaching Certificate Program (State Coaching School) is part of an overall program designed to instruct and teach soccer coaches so that they will become better informed on not only the game and its finer points, but also on the physical requirements, mental requirements, team management aspects, injury care and prevention, as well as

understanding the laws of the game. The ultimate goal of this program is to provide the coaching participants with quality information so they in turn are able to develop their players to the best of their ability, no matter of the level of competition or the individual’s coaching experience. Missouri Youth Soccer will host a Youth Coaching Certificate Program on Aug. 23 in St. Peters, at the St. Peters City Hall. For more information or to register, visit the coaching page at www.MissouriSoccer.org.

USSF National “D” License The National “D” License is a 36- to 40-hour course designed for the experienced coach who has held a National “E” License for a minimum of six months, and is recommended for coaches of 13- and 14-year-old players. The focus of this course is to improve a coach’s ability to positively influence individual players and teams. The course consists of a series of lectures and field sessions, and attendance is mandatory for the full duration of all course meetings. The course will be offered in St. Louis the weekends of May 19-21 and July 22-23 at the former Rams Training Facility, located at 1 Rams Way in Earth City. The first weekend is the instructional phase, beginning with a meeting on Friday, May 19, from 6-9 p.m., followed by 9 a.m.-6 p.m. sessions both Saturday and Sunday. Following the instructional phase, candidates are sent home to conduct further training sessions over a minimum of 10 weeks before returning for the performance review phase on the second weekend. Visit www.MissouriSoccer.org to learn more about this or any other coaching course.

THE NETW RK

MAY 2017

Tips For Managing Playing Time

Debunking Soccer Nutrition Myths

Balancing a win-at-all-costs mentality with equal playing time can be tough, so here are some tips to help BY DAVID JACOBSON Positive Coaching Alliance One of the most challenging issues facing a Responsible Coach is the allocation of playing time. You, as a Responsible Coach, want not only to win, but also to use sports to teach youth athletes life lessons. And, warming the bench will not provide all of the life lessons that sports can teach. Playing time issues are a matter of keeping the sport fun so that players work and play hard in practice and return season after season to reap the physical, mental, emotional and social benefits of sports. These issues also concern the value of “meaningful minutes” (i.e., time in the game while a win or loss remains at stake) so that all players are immersed in the joy of competition. No matter how much your players learn about the game and about life in your practices, there is nothing like meaningful minutes to show players what they’re made of, what they can achieve, and how hard they must work to succeed. Appropriate use of those minutes will help your team win more games and develop your youth athletes as players and people. Here are a few ideas that will help keep players and their parents engaged and supportive of your playing-time allocation — even if they are not the stars of your team: Set the Table In your pre-season meeting, let players and parents know your approach to playing time. If reduced playing time is a consequence for missing practice, for example, say so. You might also want to explain your philosophy for balancing the pursuit of scoreboard wins with your attempts to get everyone a reasonable amount of meaningful minutes. “Reasonable” will vary depending on your community’s standards, players’ ages, and quality of the competition. Considering those factors, be honest, especially with yourself. We might all like to think we’d allocate minutes evenly even in a close game, but you will spare a lot of grief by explaining, for example, “I hope to give every player substantial playing time in every game while the game’s outcome remains in doubt. However, our travel team places a higher value on winning than house league, so if a game is close at the end, I am likely to stick with the players most capable of getting us the win.” Assess Your Team’s Schedule If you know at the start of the season the quality of competition you will face in each game on your schedule, you can identify certain games for allocating more playing time to substitutes without risking a scoreboard loss.

In practices leading up to those games, you can give your substitutes more reps and experiment with different combinations of players in your line-ups. You may be pleasantly surprised with chemistry that develops, and you can keep those combinations in mind for future development. That way, you are improving your team’s overall performance and finding ways to maximize the benefits of playing time for more of your players. Ask parents and players to identify schedule conflicts in advance and let you know. That way, you can prepare for that one game against top competition where you know that you will be without key players; in games leading up to the one where you will be short-handed, you might take extra care to find the playing time necessary for the players who will substitute for your soon-to-be-absentee stars. Help Players Earn Playing Time In practice, set up contests where players earn playing time. That way, you commit publicly to adding more playing time for certain players in the next game, and you are more likely to live up to that commitment. The contests themselves should reward effort or an intangible, such as communication, rather than rewarding skill, because the object is to find more playing time for your lesser-skilled players. If, for example, you want your players to yell out plays so their teammates can hear during games, you can run a scrimmage in which the player who best yells out the appropriate strategy earns additional playing time in the next game. This helps the whole team by reinforcing a key task that lends to improved game performance, by helping the player who wins the contest recognize an important way to contribute to the team, and by keeping all players mindful that you are a Responsible Coach, who keeps practice fun, improves the team and gives everyone a chance to earn playing time. This is in line with the Responsible Coaches code of Honoring the Game, where we respect the rules, opponents, officials, teammates and ourselves.

For more information about the Positive Coaching Alliance and the Responsible Coach program VISIT

www.positivecoach.org.

You would not send your child onto the soccer field without the right shoes and shin guards, or let them stay up into the early hours the night before a big game. Proper preparation for sport is as important for children as it is for adults, and the right diet is as key — if not more so — to achieving peak performance as having all the right gear. We are all aware that a balanced diet is vital to our overall health. Essentially we all need foods that contain: • Proteins (build-up, maintain and replace body tissue): meat, fish eggs, beans, cheese • Carbohydrates (broken down to provide energy): bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereal, fruit • Vitamins and minerals (important for growth, bone development, blood production, wound healing): fruit, vegetables, red meat, breakfast cereal • Fats (not the enemy; the right amount aids growth and vitamin absorption): meat, dairy products, oily fish, nuts However, there remains a good deal of confusion as to the correct balance for young athletes. This is added to by the sometimescontradictory advice coming from dietary and nutrition experts. A recent survey conducted by the American Dietetic Association’s sports nutrition practice group highlighted the confusion among parents. Findings and recommendations 1. Nearly 60 percent of parents thought a high-protein diet was the best way to build muscle. In fact, kids involved in sport build muscles through a balanced diet with high-carbohydrate content (50-55 percent carbohydrate, 10-15 percent protein and 25-30 percent fat) 2 More than 70 percent of parents thought children should drink when thirsty, rather than have a regular routine. In fact, by the time children feel thirsty, they have probably already dehydrated. Drink regularly in smaller quantities before, during and after exercise. 3. More than one-third of parents believe protein-rich foods provide the best fuel for young athletes. High-protein diets remain popular despite overwhelming research showing carbohydrate-rich foods are the best shortterm fuel. According to youth sports nutritionist

Suzanne Nelson, “The results are cause for concern, given that more than 30 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports in the United States each year. With all the conflicting nutrition information out there, parents are having a hard time separating fact from fiction and there’s a huge need to get the right information out.” Gender differences There are no major differences in diet recommended by nutritionists for active boys and girls between the ages of four and 18. The only slight variation is in calorie intake, with boys requiring fractionally more than girls. For example, at age 12, the recommended calorie count per day for boys is 2,600 against 2,200 for girls. However, this only tells half the story. Especially among teenage girls, on whom there is much external pressure to stay slim, it is far harder to convince them to meet their daily calorific needs than it is with boys. Closer parental monitoring to avoid susceptibility to injury and health problems, including potential eating disorders, may be needed. Drinking Drinking right is just as important to general health and match-day performance as is the correct diet. Dehydration — a lack of fluids — can often occur during and after sustained physical exercise and lead to fatigue, lack of concentration and muscle cramps. To avoid dehydration, a sufficient intake of water is necessary. However, it is not always that easy to persuade young athletes to drink plain old water. A recent study of sports camps conducted by the University of Connecticut found that between 50 and 75 percent of participants were significantly dehydrated despite a ready availability of water. Liquids should be taken before the game (up to 16 ounces over a two-hour period), in small gulps during breaks in play, and up to 24 ounces within two hours after the game. Sports drinks provoke much debate. Some parents see them as over-priced soft drinks or gimmicks. However, another recent study showed that while kids drank only 50 percent of the fluids required when offered water, they drank 90 percent of the required amount when offered sports drinks. Not only is it easier to encourage children to take sports drinks on account of the taste, there is also a growing consensus that the minerals they contain, particularly sodium, help combat fatigue and cramping, and the carbohydrate element does improve energy levels. Follow these tips and your young player will be properly fueled to perform their best this season!

THE NETW RK

2017 MAY

Missouri Youth Soccer OIympic Development Program Sends 67 to Region II ID Camp BY STEVE OLE OLSON MYSA Digital Coordinator The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) is the original Olympic development program. With programs in all 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations, it is available to any player. US Youth Soccer ODP is the only elite player development program that can claim as alumni members of Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League, as well as the majority of current and past national and youth national team members. That is the goal — to reach the top of the pyramid and represent your country. It begins at home with desire, training and coaching. Any player in the state can try out for Missouri ODP. Tryouts are usually held in November and December; players and parents can visit MissouriSoccer.org to stay informed about when tryout dates for the 2018 season will be announced. Benefits of participation include: • Development as a player by training with and playing against the best players in one’s age group. • Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches. • Quality competition, including games against other states’ ODP teams. • Exposure to collegiate, professional, regional and national team coaches. • The opportunity to represent one’s state, region, or country in competition. Once identified, players train together on a monthly basis throughout February, March and April, and compete at tournaments throughout Region II. Top players may be invited to attend Region II Camps, from which regional teams, and subsequently, national teams are formed. This year, 30 boys and 37 girls from Missouri have been invited to the Region II

ID Camp being held in Saginaw, Mich. These individuals were chosen from the Missouri State teams that can be viewed online at MissouriSoccer.org. An invitation-only affair, the Boys ODP ID Camp will take place July 5-9, with the Girls ODP ID Camp to follow, July 11-15. Boys and girls born from 2000-2004 will participate. These camps are designed to provide highlevel competition and training for participating players. During this training and competition, players who are capable of performing at a higher level of play are identified for possible national team camps, pools, or team participation. Missouri Youth Soccer’s Tristan Stotler (Lou Fusz Geerling) talked about the benefits of ODP in an interview this past December, following his participation in the Region II Inter-Regional Camp the month prior. “I’ve always wanted to play for the national team, and this was my chance to be seen by the scouts,” Stotler said of his recent Regional Camp experience. You can see the whole interview online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrqK6SRvG7c. To summarize Tristan’s points, the high level of competition and the opportunity to be seen by the different college coaches and National Team scouts are a significant positive benefit of ODP. Tristan competes for Lou Fusz Geerling, which has been part of the US Youth Soccer National League for the past two years, and has made multiple trips to the Region II Tournament via their success competing in the Midwest Regional League. Yet, despite his club team’s success, there are still growth opportunities for him via the Missouri ODP program, where he can continue his climb up the competitive ladder in pursuit of his teams. Boys and Girls ODP will begin in the fall with tryouts and practices, with registration details to be provided in late summer. Check out the MissouriSoccer.org website and the fall issue of The Network to learn more.

Congratulations to all of the Missouri Soccer Players invited to Region II ODP camp! GIRLS 2000 Sammi Fulson . . . . . . . . Brianna Hatfield . . . . . . Emma Kersten. . . . . . . . Abby Parson . . . . . . . . . Kaitlyn Theriot. . . . . . . .

FC Kansas City SLSG Sporting Springfield Sporting JB Marine Mo Thorns/FC Missouri

2001 Lily Farkas. . . . . . . . . . . FC Kansas City Hallie Klanke. . . . . . . . . FC Kansas City 2002 Kaeli Benedict. . . . . . . . Caitrin Chismarich. . . . . Cyrie DeJong. . . . . . . . . Alexandra Flynn. . . . . . . Asha Hanebrink. . . . . . . Aeryn Kennedy . . . . . . . Lauren Kennedy. . . . . . . Emily Piel. . . . . . . . . . . . Sara Sanabria. . . . . . . .

Sporting STL Fillies Sports St. Louis FC Kansas City MYSA Panathinaikos Sporting Springfield Sporting STL Panathinaikos SLSG

2003 Kinley Brown. . . . . . . . . Olivia Foster . . . . . . . . . Avery Malloy. . . . . . . . . Mercedes Schroer. . . . . Riley Smith . . . . . . . . . . Josie Wicks. . . . . . . . . .

SLSG SLSG Sporting JB Marine SC St. Louis Hawks FC MYSA FC Kansas City

2004 Ayanna Clark. . . . . . . . . Abigail Clippard. . . . . . . Greycen Erisman. . . . . . Jericho Frigon. . . . . . . . Sophie Harlan. . . . . . . . Payton Hartig. . . . . . . . . Madison Hendershott. . Lily Hendrickson . . . . . . Grace Moresi. . . . . . . . . Lakin Rold . . . . . . . . . . . Madison Sibbing. . . . . . Eleanor Stafford . . . . . . Sydney Waldron . . . . . . Navi Washington. . . . . . Saige Wimes. . . . . . . . .

SLYSA Missouri Rush Sporting Lee’s Summit FC FC Kansas City Sporting Lee’s Summit FC Sporting JB Marine Sporting STL FC Kansas City SLSG Sporting Lee’s Summit FC Sporting Lee’s Summit FC Sporting Lee’s Summit FC MYSA Sporting Lee’s Summit FC MYSA

BOYS 2000 Nolan Cosgrove. . . . . . . Chad Hamler. . . . . . . . . Maurice Lewis. . . . . . . . Tristan Stotler . . . . . . . .

Lou Fusz SLYSA Lou Fusz Lou Fusz

2001 Jack Flink. . . . . . . . . . . . Isaac Frederick . . . . . . . Mason Leeth. . . . . . . . . Carter Reiss. . . . . . . . . . Javier Soto . . . . . . . . . . Sam Stovern . . . . . . . . . Isaac Swanson . . . . . . .

Synergy FC Lou Fusz MYSA Lou Fusz Lou Fusz Springfield Demize Sporting Springfield

2002 Ethan Bromaghim . . . . . Stanley Ding . . . . . . . . . Ethan Mayo. . . . . . . . . . Aaron VanDyke . . . . . . .

Sporting STL SLSG Sporting JB Marine SLSG

2003 Giuseppe Carr. . . . . . . . Jacob Groark. . . . . . . . . Noah Heath. . . . . . . . . . Alex Hunt. . . . . . . . . . . . William Kelly. . . . . . . . . Kyle Klostermann . . . . . David Pham. . . . . . . . . . Carter Redford. . . . . . . . Stephan Saladin . . . . . . Jack Winter. . . . . . . . . .

SLSG SLSG SLSG SLSG Ajax St. Louis SC Lou Fusz Alliance FC Sporting STL SLSG SLSG

2004 Draven Barnett . . . . . . . Nico Catarinicchia. . . . . Mitchell Ottinger. . . . . . John Rheinheimer. . . . . Dalton Visconti . . . . . . .

Sporting Springfield Real STL Sporting JB Marine SC Sporting JB Marine SC KC Select

Discover Soccer Project Brings Soccer To Underserved Communities

BY STEVE OLE OLESON MYSA Digital Coordinator The Discover Soccer Project is designed to bring organized Youth Soccer activities to communities currently lacking this opportunity. The project is an initiative of Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA), in conjunction with Jennings High School and the University of Missouri-St. Louis women’s soccer team. Programs have included multiple Youth Soccer Camps hosted by Jennings High School, and a Back-2-School Jamboree hosted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis women’s soccer team last summer. At the Back-2-School Jamboree, the Tritons had eight players — including Kayla Delgado, Lauren Lottmann, Lee Strande, Skye Clark, Rose Crabtree, Cara Wilfong and Alexa Griffonetti — teach soccer skills to several Jennings students. “It was exciting to see the kids enjoying themselves while playing a sport that isn’t as popular as others in their community,” said Lottmann, a sophomore midfielder. “Knowing that we can change their perspective of a sport and encourage them to try something new in a short amount of time is a reward in itself.”

Clark, a freshman goalkeeper, agreed, saying, “They were so excited to learn,” while Strande, a sophomore midfielder/back, added, “They seemed excited about coming back this fall to continue to play with FC1821.” Since kicking off the Discover Soccer Project last summer, other events have included Triton players coaching Saturday youth programs. More than 70 children from the Jennings School District participated in the programs last fall, learning both the technical and tactical skills required to succeed in soccer, while also developing life-long habits with regard to teamwork, peer relationships and healthy living. Indeed, Jennings students repaid the favor later that fall, turning out to UMSL games to cheer on their mentors. The program was so successful, in fact, that a second, spring session was scheduled this past April, starting Apr. 8 and running for eight weeks. The UMSL women’s soccer team returned to share their passion and knowledge of the game, as well as build strong community relationships. To learn more about Discover Youth Soccer, and how your club, team, high school or college program can be involved, contact MYSA global programs coordinator Kathy Arnold via email at kathy@moyouthsoccer.org.

Missouri Rush Brings New Facility to Eastern District

Missouri Youth Soccer Association member club Missouri Rush announced in April that they will be building an all-new soccer facility in O’Fallon, Mo., just off of Highway 40. The Missouri Rush Sports Park will consist of four all-weather, lighted, turf fields, a clubhouse and sand volleyball courts, along with a sports-themed restaurant with a rooftop balcony overlooking the fields. Construction was expected to begin in May, with field completion set for fall of this year. “It is a monumental addition to our already remarkable offerings at Rush,” says Nick Teater, Missouri Rush’s executive director. “This park will provide our teams an all-weather training facility as part of our club fee, which will remain one of the most affordable.” Teater says that in addition to training for Missouri Rush teams, the facility will also host games, tournaments, camps and other events throughout the year. Visit the Missouri Rush website for higher resolution images of the new facility and further details.

THE NETW RK

10 MAY 2017

Become A Referee for Missouri Youth Soccer!

BY BRIAN BEAKY Editor, The Network When I was in high school, I needed a job. The only problem was, I lived in a small community, one where the number of eager teenagers looking to make a buck exceeded the number of available jobs. I loved soccer, loved being outdoors and loved meeting new people (OK, I was a teenage boy ... maybe “loved” is a little strong for that last one). One day, I was particularly frustrated with a referee at one of my high school games, and when our coach heard me complaining to a teammate on the sideline, he cut in and asked, “Do you think you could do a better job?” “Of course!” I replied, with the overconfidence and self-assuredness that only comes with young age. He rolled his eyes and we left it at that, but as the days passed, I found my mind wandering back to that conversation, and the question, “Do you think you could do a better job?” Perhaps, I thought, I had found a solution to my employment problem. Over the following months, I trained and eventually registered to be a referee, first at the youth level and later of adult games throughout the local area. To me, it was easy money — all that was required was a strong understanding of the rules of the game, the confidence to make calls with authority, a good ability to interact with others, and a decent sense of humor. I’d spend an hour running around a soccer field a few times a week, and twice a month, a paycheck

would arrive in my mailbox. It was heaven! Now, that isn’t to say that it was always perfect. I learned quickly that, just like playing the game, refereeing isn’t as easy at it looks. Even when you know the rules, it’s sometimes difficult to tell exactly what happened in a split-second play, where you may have been screened by another player (particularly, as was the case in the adult games, when there were no linesmen to consult). I don’t know that I ever reffed a “perfect” game — just as I have certainly never played entirely error-free, either. I found, though, that if I ran the field, made authoritative calls, gave clear and concise explanations when needed, and treated the players with respect, they generally accepted my decisions, and recognized that I was doing my best, just as they were. All in all, it was a tremendously positive experience, and one that not only put money in my pocket, but taught me important lessons about responsibility and respect that I have carried with me to this day. Does that sound like something that would interest you, or perhaps someone else in your life? Missouri Youth Soccer is seeking eager men, women, boys and girls to pick up the whistle and become a youth soccer referee. Training is offered in every district in MYSA, takes one day, and makes you immediately eligible to referee youth games throughout your local community. To learn more, visit the official website of the Missouri Referee Development Program (MRDP) and click on “Training.” We’ll see you on the pitch!

MYSA’s Annual Lindenwood Summer Soccer Camp Returns In June Spots are filling up fast for MYSA’s annual Lindenwood Summer Soccer Camp, taking place June 12-16 at Lindenwood University in St. Charles. Hosted by Denny Vaninger, the Director of Coaching & Education for Missouri Youth Soccer and a member of the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame, the week-long camp is designed to improve individual soccer skills and team tactics in boys and girls ages 6-16, in a fun learning environment. Players will be motivated by age-appropriate activities and small-sided games. Emphasis will be on individual technique in a soccer-related environment. The entire staff will ensure all players enjoy this fun, unique soccer experience. The experienced staff includes current and former college coaches and players, led by Vaninger himself. A former professional player in the North American Soccer League and a member of the U.S. National Team — and six U.S. Soccer National Championship teams — Vaninger has become one of America’s most respected youth soccer coaches. He currently holds a U.S. Soccer “A” Coaching License and U.S. National Youth Coaching License. The staff’s main focus is to ensure that all players enjoy this fun, unique experience. To learn more or to register, visit www.MissouriSoccer.org!

THE NETW RK

2017 MAY 11

FUN GAMES HiddenWORD

Can you FIND all of the words below? A

Ball

Far Post

Hat Trick

Running

Sweat

Box

Field

Header

Scores

Sweeper

Champs

Foul

Kick

Season

Team

Cleats

Flank

Nationals

Shin

Tie

Club

Goal

Net

Shoe

Touchline

Coach

Goal Box

Penalty

Soccer Ball

Turn

Corner

Goalie

Red Card

Sock

USSF

Defender

Grass

Referee

State

Winner

Fans

Guard

Regionals

Striker

Yellow Card

Have Fun

Good Luck!