VOLUME 30 NOV. VolumeISSUE 30 Issue 6 2 March 20172017
MINNESOTA
SOCCER TIMES
JUMPING JOY for
Fall State Championships Recap & Photos Inside
Soccer Times Minnesota Youth Soccer Assoc. 10890 Nesbitt Ave. S. Bloomington, MN 55437
NON PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO 90105
IN THIS ISSUE Coaches Corner • Page 4 Space for ‘Rents • Page 10 TOPSoccer • Page 12
KICKS FOR KIDS
Page 15
MINNESOTA
SOCCER TIMES The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted; all rights reserved. Articles may not be reproduced without written permission. The advertising space provided in Soccer Times is purchased and paid for by the advertiser. None of the products or services are necessarily endorsed by MYSA or its affiliates. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of its advertisers or MYSA. Printed in the United States of America.
Minnesota Soccer Times Official Publication of the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association is published six times per year by Varsity Communications, Inc. U.S. Subscription Rates: $9.95 for 1 year; $19.95 for 2 years; Single copy: $2 Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Officers: Steve May – President TBD - Vice President John Conte - Treasurer Mark Mahowald - Secretary Member Representatives Marty McDermott - East District John Kinsey - North District TBD - Northwest District Todd Loose - South District Matt Nielsen - Southwest District Susan Farbo - West District Minnesota Youth Soccer Association State Office 10890 Nesbitt Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55437 Tel.: (952) 933-2384; (800) 366-6972 Fax: (952) 933-2627; www.mnyouthsoccer.org State Office Staff Kent Campbell - Executive Director Chato Alvarado - Coaching/Player Dev. Administrator Andy Coutts - Director of Education John Curtis - Dir. of Coaching & Player Development Katie Flakne - Manager of Special Events Sue Gjerset - Website/Technology Manager Ayla Lokkesmoe - Member Programs Specialist Norine Olson - Financial Specialist Cam Stoltz - League Commissioner Iván Woyno - Director of Member Services Production Varsity Communications, Inc Editor Brian Beaky
Minnesota Celebrates US Youth Soccer Month By Katie Flakne | MYSA Manager of Special Events
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n September 2017, the National Youth Soccer Month campaign celebrated its 15th year of educating the public about the joys, rewards and benefits of playing soccer. Youth Soccer Month focuses on four key themes that make up the meaning of this month. Week 1 - Fun: Whether recreational or competitive in nature, involvement in soccer is easy, affordable and rewarding. Week 2 - Family: Playing soccer ties families together as schedules, vacations and family time are coordinated. Week 3 - Friendship: The relationships and fun generated through playing soccer and their extension beyond the field. Week 4 - Fitness: The health and fitness (physical, psychological and social) benefits of playing soccer. In honor of Youth Soccer Month, MYSA partnered with the Minnesota Gophers, Minnesota United FC and Target to raise awareness about youth soccer and spread the
message of “Fun, Family, Friendship, and Fitness.” MYSA Weekend at the Gophers Each year, the Gopher Soccer program teams up with us to provide one weekend dedicated to the association and the youth soccer players within it. All members were invited to attend the Michigan or Michigan State Gopher home games with exclusive $1 tickets. The first 200 fans were given mini soccer balls on Thursday and Sunday. In addition to the ticket discount and giveaway, MYSA raffled off prizes at halftime to anyone who wore their club jersey. Member Night at Minnesota United FC MYSA once again partnered with Minnesota United FC to give away 300 tickets to the Sept. 9 game against Philadelphia Union and the Sept. 23 game against FC Dallas. Also, Minnesota United and their mascot, PK, joined in on the fun at the Target United Cup. Target United Cup On Saturday, Sept. 30, MYSA hosted the first Target United Cup. The event was open to
all MYSA 9U/10U Maroon and Gold teams and all 7U-10U Recreation and Recreation Plus teams. The Target United Cup provided youth soccer players with an opportunity to experience a high-quality tournament, in a fun, family-like atmosphere. Check out the Target United Cup article to learn more about the event. We always see many Minnesota Youth Soccer players, coaches and their families at these events, and talk with a lot of young families who are interested in learning more about youth soccer in Minnesota and how to get their child(ren) involved. If you did not get a chance to join in the fun at one of the above events this year, please consider coming out to at least one of these events next year!
CONTENTS Departments Coaches Corner............................................ 4 Honor Roll..................................................... 4 Refs Report................................................... 7 Space for ‘Rents..........................................10 Infographic...................................................10 Kicks for Kids...............................................15
Features Youth Soccer Month..................................... 3 Parents and Coaches Together (PACT).......... 5 MYSA Membership Benefits........................ 6 District Select / US Youth Soccer ODP......... 7 MYSA Fall State Championships.................8-9 MYSA Winter Symposium............................10 Target United Cup........................................ 11 TOPSoccer Fall Classic................................12 MYSA Grants...............................................13
Graphic Designers Robert Becker, Katie Erickson Advertising Inquiries Ian Civey - (425) 412-7070 ext. 102 ian@varsitycommunications.com Varsity Communications, Inc. Sponsorship Inquiries 952-933-2384 800-366-6972 Printing House of Print
Hey Ball Answers (some, there are more than 10!): Glasses are missing; Jersey number is added; Jersey stripe is missing; Collar is different; Armband is added; Jersey crest is different; Stripe on shorts is different; Shinguards are missing; Shoes are different; Shoelaces are different.
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COACHES CORNER
A New Framework for Training By Andy Coutts | MYSA Director of Education
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or years, U.S. Soccer coaching education courses have used a simple progressive method as the standard way to build a training session. In the past year, through its higher-level coaching license courses, the Federation has introduced a different way to construct a training session. We expect this to trickle down to revised state-delivered license courses in 2018. The previous progressive session looked like this, based on a stair-stepped increase in player numbers, complexity, and realism:
The design has changed to:
This “O-L-I” method represents different terminology and a different purpose underlying the phases. The Orientation phase is designed for players to become aware of the objectives of the session and the related game situation and decision-making cues. As coaches, we could view this as presenting a game-context problem for players to bump into early in training. In other words, introduce them to the training theme or problem in order to get at solving the problem in the Learning phase. The Learning phase is, as the name suggests, where the most coaching and learning is meant to take place. Here the players, with Coach’s guidance, work to solve the problem or improve on the theme introduced in the Orientation phase. The Implementation phase remains a big game (scrimmage), with the new term used to clarify the purpose as having players apply the learned behavior in a game situation. In short, the O-L-I
method could be viewed as Problem – Solution – Application. If you recognize a parallel to the Whole-Part-Whole method, you realize this isn’t a radical idea, just a shift for U.S. Soccer courses. Orientation is similar to the first “Whole” phase in that it’s a more realistic and challenging piece of the game for players, as opposed to the small-sided Stage 2 being a simpler activity to facilitate success. Instead of wanting players to be successful here, we want them to fail enough to recognize their growth area and fire up their motivation to improve. Let’s say, for example, that we’ve observed our team playing too narrowly in the attacking third, not using width to create scoring chances. In the old progressive method, we might use the SmallSided stage to play a 3v2 activity with crosses served from a winger to two runners vs. a defender and goalkeeper. The purpose would be to get lots of reps and a good deal of success before we move on to a more realistic and challenging activity. By contrast, the Orientation phase in the new model could be an 8v8 game played in a narrow space to have players re-experience the problem they’re having on game day. The Learning phase could break down the problem into a smaller chunk to work on solving the problem, or could continue with the same numbers but on a wider field to facilitate the use of the flank spaces. The numbers of players aren’t a major factor in the progression of a session, but the purpose of each activity in identifying and solving a soccer problem is. This doesn’t mean that the progressive method is dead. It is still a sensible way to organize a session, as it gives coaches a good framework to emphasize technical-tactical development. The O-L-I method does provide another option to consider when building training sessions, particularly for solving group tactical issues with more advanced players. A key to success for either model is to get training to replicate the game so that players can transfer their learning from the training ground to the match.
MYSA HONOR ROLL By Chato Alvarado | MYSA Coaching/Player Development Administrator
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YSA is proud to present the Coach Honor Roll, which includes coaches who have recently completed a USSF Coaching License in Minnesota. Thank you all for your efforts to improve the level of soccer for all players in Minnesota. Congratulations to all coaches for making the MYSA Honor Roll!
COACH HONOR ROLL: “E” License (30)
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Ahmed, Amin
Hesse, Ruth
Oliver, Tyler
Anderson, Breyden
Johnson, Eric
Osweiler, Michael
Bode, Jim
Kirkpatrick, Ashlee
Palecek, David
Brady, Chris
Li, Brian
Paulo, Humberto
Brightman, Elyse
Maya, Luis
Reed, Maddy
Cobo, Manny
Meyer, Scott
Rennie, James
Cornish, Karl
Moseley, Nathan
Scott, Rebecca
Edgren, Anna
Myran, Jacob
Thompson, Tim
Faatz, Faith
Nguyen, Phi
Voneschen, John
Guillou, Marissa
Odhowa, Mo
Wessel, Gena
FUSION SOCCER CLUB
More college, high school and licensed coaches than any other club in Minnesota!
Why choose Fusion? • Highest level of player training and development • Established pathway to player success • Year-round training, including multiple dome sites for winter training • Opportunity for player development at every skill level and age • NEW! Strength and conditioning program • NEW! College advisory program, for players pursuing collegiate soccer
The proof is in the play
Building a Culture of Excellence and Accountability with PACT! By Iván Woyno | MYSA Director of Member Services
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eveloped in association between Minnesota Youth Soccer Association and the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Ethical Education and Development, the Parents and Coaches Together (PACT) program is a research-based educational series designed to empower coaches and parents to realize their unique roles in fostering athlete-intrinsic motivation, character development, optimal performance, well-being and satisfaction. Utilizing developmental, educational and sports psychology, the seminars are designed to help coaches and parents/spectators be on the same page to successfully create a positive and nurturing environment in which Minnesota soccer athletes can thrive and reach their maximum potential. The PACT program consists of two-hour seminars specifically designed for the audience, and presented by experienced trainers approved by the University of Notre Dame and MYSA. The Parent Seminar is designed to help parents and/or spectators understand how to create a positive climate on the sidelines to encourage growth and improve self-esteem by players and referees alike. Helping parents understand major differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors empowers parents to help the athletes beyond the short-term and develop a strategy for longterm success and participation. Addressing verbal and non-verbal communication tools, the seminars are designed to help bridge generational gaps and ensure that we are developing strong character athletes and not simply developing characters. By further defining what can and can’t be controlled in soccer, presenters can provide a unique perspective to the spectator to motivate the athlete to become a champion, and not just a competitor. These tools are designed to help foster sportsmanship among teams, hold club officials accountable and unify parents in a common goal – the betterment of all soccer players in Minnesota, to aid them as they
• 24+ ODP Regional Showcase Selections • 18 MYSA Summer State Tournament Qualifiers • 8 MYSA State Championships Finalists/Champions • 14 MYSA League Champions • 5 MN United Development Academy Player Selections • 5 MN State Cup Semi Finalists, 2 Finalists • 2 U.S. Soccer Midwest Combine Player Selections • 2 USYS Regional Qualifiers • 1 US Club Regional Champion, 1 Finalist • 1 MN State Cup Champion Please visit our website,
fusionsoccermn.com, for more information on all programs or call us at (763) 450-3099
perfect their skill and grow their love for the sport of soccer. The Coach Seminar is designed in a similar fashion, but it is purposefully oriented towards creating a nurturing climate versus a negative climate at practices and games throughout a soccer player’s developmental years. Including information on player motivation and strategies to create smarter goals and objectives, the seminar empowers coaches to reach out to athletes in positive ways to help ensure long-lasting participation in the sport. The presenters provide coaches with various communication models to help bridge communication gaps with parents and players, to help set common goals and avoid a decrease in participation and enthusiasm that can often lead to burnout and/or abandonment of the sport by the athlete. By addressing key components to a successful season — such as pre-, during- and postseason meetings — and their content, coaches can learn strategies to ensure that they are creating not just great soccer players, but outstanding citizens. By ensuring that coaches are creating a champion sideline committee, engaging all parents and spectators and promoting a compete “with” and not “against” mentality, the PACT program can help promote growth at the club level and develop ambassadors of the game across all participation levels. These strategies also assist the coach in creating a culture of excellence in which players can foster proper positive habits and improved self-esteem. PACT is offered free of cost exclusively to MYSA member clubs. Approximately 40 seminars are offered January through early April. Clubs interested in hosting a PACT seminar in 2018, or families looking for additional information, should contact Iván Woyno, MYSA Director of Member Services, at ivanwoyno@mnyouthsoccer.org or 952-2520226. Additional information and resources regarding the PACT program can be found on the MYSA website (mnyouthsoccer.org/pact). Soccer Times
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Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Working for You By Iván Woyno | MYSA Director of Member Services
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innesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) was founded in 1969, and subsequently incorporated in 1987 as a non-profit organization to promote the game of soccer for all youth in Minnesota, and to promote the importance of education, selfesteem, diversity and teamwork in a safe, fun environment, allowing players to develop to their fullest potential in soccer and in life. To live up to its mission, and deliver on its philosophy to encourage fair, safe and enjoyable soccer for youth players of all skill levels and their families, MYSA offers and supports a multitude of programs and member benefits. Minnesota Youth Soccer consists of 126 soccer clubs that offer many opportunities for youth to play the game of soccer across the entire state of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Each member club is set up as an individual corporation, with bylaws and policies that meet the guidelines and model of the state governing body. These clubs have a direct link into shaping the present and future of MYSA through their voting rights and involvement with multiple committees designed to give all members a voice in the organization. To assist clubs in terms of field and program
development, MYSA sets funding aside and offers two grants to its registered member clubs. The Field/Goal Grant is designed to assist member clubs in good standing with the purchase of goals, nets, field lining equipment, back netting for goals, field upgrades and any additional field development. The Recreation Grant is utilized to enhance and improve a club’s in-house program related to player development, coaching education, referee training and required equipment purchases. As the governing body for all of youth soccer in the state, MYSA is responsible for the tournament-sanctioning process. The organization sanctions 40-50 youth soccer tournaments each year. These tournaments must meet guidelines of operation to receive approval and liability insurance coverage. Many MYSA member clubs offer summer and/or fall recreational programing. Recreational soccer is best suited for players interested in playing in their local communities. Minnesota Youth Soccer offers recreational programspecific grants for the support, development and enhancement of these in-house programs. While each recreational (or in-house) program may look different, they all must adhere to
specific guidelines that promote equity and development. No tryouts are permitted for a recreational program and clubs are encouraged to form balanced teams that create a welcoming and fun environment for the players. For players interested in playing in a traveling league and competing with players outside of their community, Minnesota Youth Soccer runs a statewide competitive league. These leagues have multiple playing levels (listed from least to most competitive): Gold, Maroon, Classic 3, Classic 2, Classic 1 and Premier. The summer league offers 9U-19U age groups, while in the fall, a 9U-14U age group league is offered. Each of these seasons culminates with a state tournament that determines champions at each age group and level. The Youth Academy Program offers an alternative to clubs, families and players through a process-based approach, placing emphasis on the player and their individual development for players 9U-12U. Some key elements include: players are registered with a club, pools of players, appropriate training-to-match ratio and more impactful matches. The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer) is a community-based program that is designed to meet the needs of athletes
ages eight and older with physical and/or mental disabilities. The program is geared towards player development and athletes are placed on teams according to ability, not by age. Any athlete with a disability, including but not limited to: A.D.D., Autism, Hearing Impaired, Sight Impaired, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cystic Fibrosis, Down Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Seizure Disorder and Spinal Bifida is eligible to participate in TOPSoccer. Games are held on Sunday afternoons and the MYSA is always looking for athletes and volunteers to help grow this marvelous program. For players looking for additional training and development, MYSA facilitates the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP). Every year, over 1,000 youth soccer players participate in District Select or State Select ODP throughout Minnesota. The ODP is the primary pipeline to youth regional and national teams. Minnesota Youth Soccer also offers player clinics and camps, coaching clinics and courses, parent education sessions, various tournaments and festivals and much more. Minnesota Youth Soccer firmly believes that coach and parent education programs have a lasting impression on youth members and go a long way towards creating and shaping an environment where youth players can reach their maximum potential. Parents and Coaches Together (PACT) is an educational program developed by the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Ethical Education and Development, in association with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association, designed to help coaches and parents be on the same page in successfully creating a positive and motivating climate in Minnesota youth soccer. The two-hour seminars are free of cost to coaches and family members of registered players. Coach education is paramount in terms of equipping players with the proper technical and tactical knowledge to develop and excel in the game. Minnesota Youth Soccer offers a wide range of coaching courses designed to provide coaches with the latest in coaching methodology, as well as fun exercises to keep players engaged and motivated. Ranging from youth modules designed for parents volunteering as coaches in the recreational program, to U.S. Soccer Federation-certified courses designed for elite coaches, MYSA offers all that is necessary for coaches to create a culture of excellence and build an environment in which youth can flourish. Youth soccer players and coaches in Minnesota automatically become members of MYSA by registering with an MYSA member club. As a member of MYSA, they also automatically become a member of US Youth Soccer (national service organization) and the U.S. Soccer Federation (national governing organization). Each member of MYSA pays a basic registration fee of $7.00 per year. This basic registration cost covers specific membership benefits listed below. $2.88 – 41% Player/Coach Medical Insurance $1.50 – 22% Club Development & Administration & Registration $1.00 – 14% US Youth Soccer Membership $1.00 – 14% U.S. Soccer Membership $0.62 – 9% Soccer Times $7.00 – 100% Minnesota Youth Soccer is committed to doing everything it can to keep the cost of youth soccer down and believes it is important for all its members to be aware of where their money is going. Every year, MYSA continues to review and improve its current programs and services. For more information, please contact Iván Woyno, MYSA Director of Member Services, at 952-2520226 or ivanwoyno@mnyouthsoccer.org.
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District Select/US Youth Soccer ODP By John Curtis | MYSA Director of Coaching and Player Development
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he Minnesota US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a twostep process. The District Select Program began in September for boys and girls in birth years 2004-2007, while the identification process for the older age groups (2001-2003 birth years) will be conducted in April. In May, players from all six birth years are then identified and selected for further state ODP pool training. This past September, approximately 400 boys and girls born in the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 took advantage of the opportunity to play and enhance their skills and further their abilities under the watchful eye of the District Select coaching staff. The Fall District Select Program involves four training sessions, one night a week, held in seven different areas across the state (Coon Rapids, Cottage Grove, Duluth, Prior Lake, Rochester, St. Cloud and St. Louis Park). The fall programming culminated with a festival held on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Coon Rapids. The players enjoyed a fantastic day of soccer, participating in a variety of small-sided games playing along-side and against other players from around the state. On Saturday, May 5, 2018, we will host the Spring District Select Festival, which will conclude the identification process. A pool of approximately 36 players in each age group and gender will be identified for further training and potential selection to a regional showcase/ID Camp in June/July 2018. If you did not participate in the fall and want to register for the Spring Festival, please contact Chato Alvarado, MYSA Coaching/Player Development Administrator, at 952-252-1688 or chatoalvarado@mnyouthsoccer.org. For additional information, please visit the MYSA website (mnyouthsoccer.org/odp). District Select offers an ideal opportunity
for players to sample the program without the pressure of a traditional tryout situation. Players of all competitive levels are encouraged to take advantage of this experience. Participation in District Select is not an essential prerequisite to future participation in the US Youth Soccer ODP; however, the earlier a player’s skills and potential are identified, the more help it can be to the evaluations of district, state, regional and national coaches. For many players, the overall Minnesota ODP experience is a positive one and supplements all of the experiences of one’s club programming. It is an achievement of all the efforts made for players within MYSA clubs that we celebrate our Minnesota ODP players and those players who reach the very lofty goal of making a regional or national pool. The District Select Program is open to everyone. Here are some benefits of participating in the program: • Learn many new ideas about soccer. • Additional training opportunities. • A chance to play with and compare your abilities with other players. • Development as a player; the opportunity to train and play with the best players in one’s age group. • Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches. • Quality competition; games against other state association teams. • Exposure to regional- and national-team coaches. • The opportunity to represent one’s state, region or country in competition. • Exposure to college coaches.
REF REPORT
Referee Registration is Now Open! By The Minnesota State Referee Committee
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he Minnesota State Referee Committee (MNSRC) website is now up for those that would like to register as a referee. Be part of a great group of people, as well as being an important part of such a great sport. Not to mention that you have the potential of making a decent amount of money! To sign up — or even just to take a look at the requirements — visit our secured website at www.minnesotasrc.com. You create your own account and there are required videos that show you what you need to do to complete your requirements. If you have never registered before, the website keeps track of your progress so you know where you are in order to fulfill the requirements. Most of the training is done with online video with many clips of matches right from games here in our state. This training gives you a real idea of what you will be doing. For those that have registered in the past, all of your requirements can be done completely online. We in the MNSRC encourage you to sign up early, as games start by the end of April, with some leagues even playing before that.
Adults that are interested are also highly encouraged to sign up. This is the type of work that is flexible to your schedule, as you can referee as much or as little as you would like. For those that continue to enjoy refereeing and want to get better, the MNSRC is planning on holding more referee academies for further mentoring. These academies are staffed by some of our most experienced referees and assessors that have done professional and international matches, as well as mentoring of referees at U.S. Soccer events around the country. For those who wish to continue to grow and develop, there are higher-level matches that you can get into, besides the adult game. There is the National Premier Soccer League, a lower-tier professional league, as well as the Developmental Academy matches in which Minnesota United FC has their youth development teams. Please go to the website or contact the State Referee Administrator, Paula Hildman, at sra@minnesotasrc.com, if you have further questions. We look forward in seeing you out on the field!
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MYSA FALL
Statewide Champions Awarded in Rochester! By Cam Stoltz | MYSA League Commissioner
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he 2017 MYSA Fall State Championships took place on October 14-15. This year’s tournament included 126 11U to 14U boys and girls teams from 47 different MYSA clubs, who converged on Rochester for playoffs in classic divisions 1, 2 and 3. MYSA is proud to crown true state champions through this annual event. Each fall, statewide leagues produce and qualify teams only after winning their Fall Leagues or by finishing high in results with awarded wild cards. Nearly 1,000 teams from Minnesota and Western Wisconsin played in the 2017 MYSA fall season. During championships weekend, weather proved challenging with a rainy Saturday. On Sunday, the quality Rochester fields held firm and played host to exciting Championship matches. Overall, kids and coaches brought outstanding competitiveness and sportsmanship to the games, which provided a great soccer experience. In the end, awards were presented to all champions, runners-up and third-place game winners. MYSA would like to recognize all its partners for providing an incredible soccer environment. This includes our member clubs, the Rochester Area Sports Commission, the Mayo Clinic (Sport Medicine Services), the City of Rochester and the Rochester Youth Soccer Association. 2017 FALL STATE CHAMPIONS AND RUNNERS-UP
BOYS League Champion 11U Classic 1 MapleBrook 11U Classic 2 Wright County 11U Classic 3 St. Michael-Albertville 12U Classic 1 North Metro 12U Classic 2 Central Minnesota 12U Classic 3 Westonka 13U Classic 1 Owatonna 13U Classic 2 Hudson (WI) 13U Classic 3 Rochester 14U Classic 1 Club Deportivo Lobos 14U Classic 2 Orono Thunder 14U Classic 3 Northern Lights
Runner-Up Northern Lights Hudson (WI) New Ulm Orono Thunder Hastings FC United Edina CC United MapleBrook Faribault Richfield Blackhawks Blackhawks
GIRLS League Champion 11U Classic 1 Minneapolis United 11U Classic 2 Central Minnesota 11U Classic 3 Hudson (WI) 12U Classic 1 Centennial 12U Classic 2 Rochester 12U Classic 3 Central Minnesota 13U Classic 2 Orono Thunder 13U Classic 3 Westonka 14U Classic 1 White Bear 14U Classic 2 Northern Lights 14U Classic 3 CC United
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Runner-Up St. Michael-Albertville Rochester River Falls Wildcats (WI) Waconia Mahtomedi Crow River Rochester Tri-County United Hudson (WI) St. Michael-Albertville Richfield
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
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SPACE FOR ‘RENTS
Let’s Talk About Competition By Andy Coutts | MYSA Director of Education
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e throw around the word “competitive” to describe athletes and teams and levels of play, but I think we’ve gotten the definition more wrong than right, or at least too narrow a view that limits its value. Competition is a powerful concept, the essence of sports, a foundation of our capitalist system and probably hard-wired into us from eons of evolution. Since it’s universal to our experience, we should be better at framing it in an accurate and positive way in a youth soccer setting. In MYSA PACT sessions, participants talk about soccer getting “more competitive” at older ages, often as a rationalization for poorer behavior among players and supporters. I’m challenging that assertion and what it means to call a player “competitive.” Being more committed or dedicated to a sport is different. That’s measuring time spent in an activity — including thinking about it, watching it and training for it — but that doesn’t always mean that a person becomes more competitive along the way. Team results can carry more importance, but individual competitiveness doesn’t automatically correlate, at least not if we use a complete definition of the word. Try this question on your athletic son or daughter: “What’s an example of something you’ve done that shows how competitive you are?” Even if they’ve been a competitive athlete for many seasons, there’s a good chance they’ll take a while to come up with something, and even then, their answer and a resulting conversation could go like this. Player: “What shows that I’m competitive? Well, I want to win.” Parent: “That’s your opinion, but not an example. What’s a piece of evidence that you want to win?” Player: “I play hard in games.” Parent: “Still more opinion than example. Can you be more specific?” Player: [Silence]… “Oh, remember that time when I grabbed that forward’s jersey to stop a breakaway? That’s a specific example.” Parent: “Do you mean that intentionally violating the rules, which we could call cheating, is your best example of competing? Or would you say that wanting to win by any means and competing are different things?” Player: “Well, I’ve heard the saying, ‘If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’.’ Grabbing a jersey showed that I’ll do what it takes to win. Isn’t that what it means to be competitive?”
Parent: “Some people would agree with you, including Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds and Tom Brady, if you’re not a Patriots fan. Look, cheating is a shortcut that avoids the harder road to becoming a true competitor. People who cheat can lose their right to compete, because cheating and competing are actually in opposition to each other. At the very least, those who play dishonorably lose the respect of those who they compete with.” Player: “Don’t you mean compete against?” Parent: “No, I mean compete with. The word compete comes from the Latin com + petere, which means ‘strive together.’ We not only cooperate with our teammates in competition, but we also cooperate with our opponents to have a game, agreeing to a time and place, to the rules and possibly to an unwritten code. Once someone decides to violate that agreement, they’re really not competing at the same game anymore.” Player: “I’ve never thought of it that way. I hate it when an opposing team intentionally plays cheap.” Parent: “And when that’s happened, what question have I asked you?” Player: “Would I rather play for my team or theirs? I always choose mine, because I don’t want to play that way. It’s not fun to be a part of those games, even if we end up winning. And it makes losing that much harder to take, because it seems unfair. I’d rather play a clean, hardfought game against an opponent who does the same.” Parent: “So, back to your example of being competitive. When you gave in to the temptation to grab a jersey to stop a breakaway, that’s called a professional foul. That’s a clue that pro sports are a different animal, where adults get paid to play by organizations that are in an entertainment industry to win and make big bucks. Youth sports weren’t intended to have those elements, but unfortunately we’ve allowed some of that attitude to trickle down when it comes to the meaning and value of competition. Let’s make it even more practical. If an opponent doesn’t show up, you get credit for winning the game, but you lose the chance to compete. When you’ve won by forfeit, or when the opponent is weak and you win easily, what have you missed out on? Player: “It’s disappointing not to get to play, and there’s no thrill when we have an easy time winning.” Parent: “Where does that thrill come from?”
Player: “When it’s a close game and we aren’t sure if we’re going to win.” Parent: “In other words, there’s a danger of losing. Extreme sports have built-in dangers and thrills, but team sports are dangerous in a different way that can give us a similar rush of adrenaline. What does a good competition do for you, individually?” Player: “A really strong opponent makes me focus more and brings out my best.” Parent: “Now, we’re getting somewhere. So, if competition is about striving with an opponent, experiencing the risk of losing, and bringing out your best, now, can you think of an example of how competitive you are?” Player: “In the State Cup final — which we lost — I was totally into that game and the worst part was that it ended because I wanted to keep playing. I was playing well and had to rise to the challenge of playing even better because the other team was giving us all we could handle. And when it was over, the player I was matched up with shook hands and we said the most sincere, ‘Good game,’ ever, because I feel like we appreciated the battle we’d given each other. Both teams fought to win but didn’t treat each other like enemies. And for the month after that I worked extra hard by myself and at team trainings because I was motivated to become a better player.” Parent: “So, even though you lost the game, we should recognize that healthy competition helped to motivate you, improved your performance and developed some character traits like discipline, perseverance and respect for opponents and the game. Do you think you and your teammates realize those benefits enough?” Player: “Most of the time, I feel like the stress that coaches and parents add, and that we put on ourselves to win, overwhelms the other benefits of competing. I guess we have to remind each other to not let the good and natural stress of competition become bad DIStress by fixating only on whether we win or lose.” This would be an amazing conversation to help positively shape kids’ perception of competition. About 70 percent of youth athletes drop out of sport by age 13, primarily because “It’s not fun anymore,” or, “There’s too much emphasis on winning,” and then they miss out on the benefits that sport can offer. We — media, coaches, parents — like to measure competitive success, and that’s easy to do
using scores and standings. But youth athletes aren’t in a winning-is-everything environment. They’re in a growing-is-everything zone. Competition is a necessary ingredient, but it fulfills its promise when it’s healthy competition framed in a growth-centered way. I don’t believe that we need to de-emphasize winning, because striving to win is upholding one’s part in the competitive contract. But competing honorably is about much more than just trying to win, and we can do better to over-emphasize the other benefits of competition, or they can get lost in the shadow of results. I’m strongly in favor of only the winner getting a trophy, but not for only the winner reaping the rewards of competing.
Save the Date(s) for the 2018 MYSA Winter Symposium! By Katie Flakne | MYSA Manager of Special Events Norine Olson | MYSA Financial Administrator
ADULT AND YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUES 6v6 - Boarded • 8v8 - Non-Boarded Player Development Programs - ages 3-14 Training space available in our new climate controlled facility!
Burnsville, MN • soccerblastmn.com (952) 895-1962
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he MYSA Winter Symposium will temporarily take on a different look in 2018 because of the influx of visitors to the Twin Cities for the NFL Super Bowl. We will be hosting two events at the MYSA State Office, with sessions for both club leaders and coaches. As in the past, the Symposium will offer an opportunity for attendees to meet and share with participants from many clubs. The first event, for club leaders, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, and will focus on the business of soccer, with topics covering board governance and the current youth sports culture. This will be a half-day session, running from 9 a.m. to noon. The fee for this event will be $10. The second event, for coaches, will be
held on Saturday, Feb. 3. Frank Tschan, U.S. Soccer Coaching Education, and Tim Carter, Minnesota United Development Academy, are scheduled to speak at this time. This will be a full-day session, running from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The fee for this day will be $25, and will include lunch for attendees. More information about registration and session topics will be updated on the MYSA website, Registration will be limited to 100 for each day. MYSA is excited to continue our tradition of offering an educational opportunity for all who share a passion for the “other” game of football. We hope to see as many of you as possible at one or both of these days!
Target United Cup By Katie Flakne | MYSA Manager of Special Events
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arlier this year, US Youth Soccer announced a multi-year partnership with Target Corporation, naming the retailer the “Official Retailer of US Youth Soccer.” Target also announced an official partnership with Major League Soccer, a jersey sponsorship with MLS expansion team Minnesota United FC and a grant to the U.S Soccer Foundation. As part of this new partnership, US Youth Soccer launched the Target United Cup, to encourage and promote the growth of youth soccer participation nationwide. Minnesota was selected, along with 20 other states, to host the inaugural event this Fall. The Target United Cup philosophy is based on the concept of giving all players equal opportunities and benefits within their level of play in the sport of soccer. All players have the right to participate in the game and to develop and exhibit their skills, while also enjoying themselves. The Target United Cup format provides recreational players with a developmental opportunity by emphasizing participation, as opposed to competition, in a family-centered environment. On Saturday, Sept. 30, more than 850 soccer players participated in our first Target United Cup at Elmcrest Park in Ramsey. The event was open to all MYSA 9U/10U Maroon and Gold teams and all 7U-10U
Recreation and Recreation Plus teams. Teams played three, 30-minute games and had the opportunity to compete with teams outside their league. The soccer complex quickly filled with energy and excitement as the first games kicked off at 9 a.m. At check-in, teams were greeted by Target team members who gave out welcome bags to all the players. The concentric-circle Target logo was prominently displayed and integrated into both handouts and activities. The Target United Cup Village provided plenty of off-thefield entertainment. The Village was a unique and engaging oasis alongside fields where teams could take a break between games in a fun-filled environment. Activities included music and and an emcee on the Celebration Stage, a family patio where guests and players could grab a snack, a soccer playground featuring oversized billiards tables, and the Relax and Recharge Lounge. Throughout the day, Target Hospitality Ambassadors brought moments of surprise and delight to all guests, including a visit from the Target mascot, Bullseye. Minnesota United FC also joined the fun by bringing PK, its costumed loon mascot, to interact with the kids. One of the highlights of the day was a special guest appearance by Julie Foudy, two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, Olympic
Gold Medalist, and 17-year veteran of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Ms. Foudy delivered a special message to our young athletes and afterwards signed free copies of her book, Choose to Matter: Being Courageous and Fabulously YOU. Although no scores or records were kept, the kids played with heart and determination. The day was filled with excitement and players having fun with their friends. Target’s goal was to produce a one-of-a-kind experience and, based upon the smiles on everyone’s faces, all of us at MYSA agree that they were successful. We believe that Target’s commitment to soccer will increase involvement at all levels, from youth to professional, and bring soccer-loving communities together. We are expecting to see the partnership between US Youth Soccer and Target grow and for our players and parents to be enriched by this partnership. This event would not be possible without the commitment from the coaches, managers and parents, as well as the hard work from the tournament staff. MYSA would like to say thank you to the dedicated group of volunteers at Northern Lights Soccer Club and to the referee crew led by Ref Assignors, LLC. You guys are the greatest! A big day was enjoyed by all. We hope there will be even bigger and better days ahead.
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Minnesota TOPSoccer Travels to Ohio
By Iván Woyno | Special Correspondent
The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer) is a community-based program designed to train athletes with disabilities in a caring coaching environment. The program enables development through competition and athletes are placed on teams based on ability, not age. The benefits of the program, as stated by the members, are a sense of belonging, improved self-esteem, fitness, social skills, success based upon ability and, most important of all, having fun!
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lthough the 2017 TOPSoccer season is over in Minnesota, there are still green fields in other parts of the country offering the opportunity for the athletes to kick the ball around and find some solid competition. And while some of those green spaces may hold a casual pick-up match, TOPSoccer Cincinnati in Ohio kicks it up a notch! For the past 15 years, the city of Mason, Ohio, and TOPSoccer Cincinnati have put on the Doug Orcutt Memorial — or, as athletes call it, the Fall Classic Tournament! The Fall Classic is a jamboree-style tournament open to TOPSoccer athletes from around the country. Attended by more than 300 TOPSoccer athletes, the jamboree epitomizes all that is great about soccer and, more importantly, TOPSoccer. The tournament builds on an atmosphere of acceptance, camaraderie and competition that foments self-esteem in athletes, care in volunteers and community bonding for all those in attendance. For a lucky few Minnesota TOPSoccer athletes and their coach, participating in the tournament provides the opportunity to take their soccer skills beyond their local league and onto a larger stage. To have a better sense of the event, TOPSoccer Minnesota head coach Jim Robson and three of the delegation participants agreed to sit down and discuss the experience with us. Ivan Woyno (IW): Good morning Jim, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Jim Robson (JR): Good morning! Happy to be here with MYSA and TOPSoccer. IW: Jim, can you tell us a bit more about how Minnesota got to send a delegation to Ohio for this tournament? JR: Well, this is really another step in a dream that started six years ago when the president of Cincinnati TOPSoccer, Randy Corey, invited me to come and see their tournament. As you know, I love TOPSoccer and what it does for the athletes and their families, so my son, Cullen, and I came out to check it out. I just fell in love with the atmosphere that is created for the athletes. IW: How so? JR: This is not just a soccer tournament, it’s total TOPSoccer experience, and it embodies all the qualities that TOPSoccer was created to foster. A sense of belonging, competition based on ability not age, and above it all – FUN! IW: Who attends the tournament? JR: Historically, the tournament has teams from Dayton (North and South), Cincinnati (East and West), Columbus, Indianapolis Kentucky and an independent Special Olympics team. This year, Minnesota was lucky enough to be among those groups. IW: How did the delegation travel and
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where did they stay? JR: MYSA rented transportation for the delegation and we completed the 10-plus-hour trek on Friday. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mason, Ohio, just 15 minutes from the fields. Although the team was tired from the long car ride, a little R&R on Friday night and some food kept the spirits up. IW: Can you describe the tournament setup for us? JR: Absolutely! Teams arrive at 9 a.m. on Saturday and go through check-in and assemble for the opening ceremonies. At 10 a.m., the teams go through an opening ceremony like the Olympic Games. At 10:30 a.m., the first set of morning matches takes place, while teams who are not playing get a chance to walk through and experience the carnival. At 11:15 a.m., the next set of matches starts and the teams that played the first match get a chance to experience the carnival. At 12 noon, all teams break for lunch, performances, a dance party and a few of the other surprises. After lunch, right around 1 p.m., each team starts their second match of the day. At 3 p.m., all teams come together for the closing ceremonies and tournament awards. IW: Wait a minute Jim … carnival, performances, surprises? What do you mean? JR: While the primary focus of the tournament is soccer, the atmosphere put together by TOPSoccer Cincinnati goes far beyond soccer. There is a local carnivalstyle setup with booths, games and rides. There are inflatables for the athletes to enjoy, performances by a local theatre group, and a dance party led by two cheerleading squads — a local high school and a local college cheerleading squad. There is also a petting zoo that the athletes can enjoy and a cooling station for the athletes to take a break from the heat and re-hydrate before their afternoon matches. IW: Wow, that sounds like an absolute blast! Can you go back and talk a little about the opening ceremonies? JR: I sure can. When I say that the atmosphere is crafted to be nothing but the best, the opening ceremonies sets the tone for the day. Parents, spectators and volunteers line up on the outside of the track, and each team gets to walk by and be recognized by the crowd as they enter the stadium. The opening ceremony parade is led by the local fire department, the national guard and the local band and cheerleading squads. It is truly a sight to be seen. IW: Amazing stuff, Jim. So, how did the soccer go for the Minnesota TOPSoccer delegation? JR: Pretty well. Due to our numbers, we partnered with Dayton South TOPSoccer and
came out of the gate fired up and ready to score goals. In our second time touching the ball, Cullen Robson found himself with space to dribble and as he kept dribbling, the defense parted like the seas and he rocketed a shot from outside of the goal area that scored the first goal of the match and electrified the crowd! Parents were cheering, our team was cheering, their team was cheering, even the referee was giving players high fives! As the game restarted, it was Albert Moldenhaver’s chance to control the ball and his accurate passing created a goal-scoring opportunity for a fellow South Dayton teammate, who scored their first goal ever playing soccer. As you can imagine, everyone joined in for an extended goal celebration! IW: I can only imagine! Any other highlights from the first game? JR: Rocky Olson had a very special play. As the game was winding down, Rocky, who at the time was playing defense, wanted to go forward and score a goal of his own. Much like a fan who starts the wave at a professional game, Rocky kept asking his teammates to start a give-and-go. After his third try, the play worked! One pass led to a return pass for Rocky, then another, then another until he found himself alone in the goal area with the goalie and, in typical Rocky fashion, he dribbled past the goalie and finished with his left foot. IW: Sounds like a pretty successful first game. What happened next? JR: All teams took their lunch break and enjoyed the carnival in full. The team was entertained by the local theatre group, who had performers dressed like super heroes and interacted with players and parents all throughout the park. Shortly after the boys
finished their lunch (hot dogs, chips, dessert and a beverage, all included in their registration fee), we were all part of the interactive performances by the Mason and Little Miami Marching Bands. And after the performance, the dance party kicked off and let me tell you, MYSA was well represented by our team. I saw some eclectic breakdancing, the robot and even some old school hip-hop dances. IW: How did the afternoon matches go? JR: Let’s just say that I think we did a bit too much dancing at lunch. Don’t get me wrong, Ivan, we played well, but the team was clearly tired from the extra activity, plus the temperature was in the high 70s, so it was toasty. The match was very competitive and we were playing versus the North Cincinnati powerhouse and that team can move the ball well up and down, side to side, and boy, can they shoot on goal! IW: How did the team handle the competition? JR: Although they started out slow, they made it competitive once the food had settled in their stomachs and they were back in soccer mode, rather than dance mode. We had some solid passing in the second half, we just had a hard time scoring goals. Unfortunately, towards the end of the second half, Rocky Olson pulled a hamstring, so that prevented us from attacking down the right flank. But, I’m happy to report that Rocky made a full recovery and was still able to enjoy the pool facility at the hotel. IW: You mentioned an award ceremony. Any hardware earned during the tournament by the team? JR: We did in fact receive two awards. Each player received an individual participation medal, while as a team, Minnesota TOPSoccer
Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Grants By Iván Woyno | MYSA Director of Member Services and Ayla Lokkesmoe | MYSA Member Programs Specialist
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earned the “Farthest Travel” award, recognizing players and teams that travel longer than normal distances to participate in the tournament. IW: That is exciting. What did you do after the tournament was done? JR: After each player had a chance to shower and get a little rest back at the hotel, we headed to Chipotle for dinner (first time a few of the boys had been there, they recommend the steak with extra hot sauce!) and afterwards a quick dip at the hotel pool to replenish the muscles. Because we had an early departure time from the hotel, we did not stay out too late and instead, everyone went to bed early. IW: How was your ride home? JR: Quite long but we had some fun along the way. First off, we decided to stop for lunch at one of the Oasis stops on the tollway and the team seemed to enjoy that greatly. They sat and watched the cars go by and played a game of license plate while eating their lunch. Then we got a chance to watch the Chicago Marathon along the way. IW: Wait, you got to watch the Chicago Marathon? How did that happen? JR: Well instead of taking 90, we jumped on 94 and forgot that the marathon was that Sunday, so we were stuck for a few extra hours in bumper to bumper traffic watching the runners go faster than we were! IW: That’s funny, Jim, did the team enjoy watching the runners? How long was your drive back? JR: They did — they sat in their chairs with the windows open cheering the runners as they went by, urging them to keep going and telling them to have a good time. What should have been a 12-hour trip turned out to be a 16-hour trip, but the experiences along the way made it for a fun and memorable time. IW: Anything else you want to share with the readers, Jim? JR: Absolutely! Overall, the TOPSoccer Classic was an absolute success. The environment is such that players feel accepted immediately and can concentrate on playing the game they love, knowing that parents, fans and even the other team will cheer their successful moments. It is amazing
to see so many people come together to create a tournament that helps our Minnesota TOPSoccer athletes realize that they are part of something bigger than just our state, that they truly belong in a great national TOPSoccer program. It is also great to see how these athletes cherish the recognition, but play for the true love of the game. I cannot thank Cincinnati TOPSoccer for putting such a marvelous weekend of soccer together. I would also like to thank MYSA for their support to make this weekend happen. I am hoping that next year we can send a busload of athletes and share the beautiful experience that is the Doug Orcutt Memorial Fall Classic! IW: Thank you, Jim, I look forward to seeing you again for another TOPSoccer season. JR: Thank you, Ivan, and thanks for taking the time to talk today. As Director of Member Services for Minnesota Youth Soccer, I would like to
personally thank Randy Corey, President of Cincinnati TOPSoccer, for extending the invitation to MYSA to send a delegation of athletes and for all his time and dedication to the TOPSoccer program. I would also like to thank and acknowledge Jim Robson and Jeff Mueller for all the time they put to make this dream come true for Minnesota TOPSoccer athletes. I look forward to working this coming year to be able to send a full delegation of TOPSoccer athletes to enjoy this marvelous event. I would also like to thank the MYSA Board for their continued support of the TOPSoccer Program and all that it does for hundreds of athletes with special needs in our state. If you would like additional information about the TOPSoccer program — as a participant, volunteer or general information — please do not hesitate to contact me directly at ivanwoyno@mnyouthsoccer.org or 952252-1688. Or, visit the MYSA TOPSoccer webpage at mnyouthsoccer.org/topsoccer.
ach year, the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association designates funds for the purpose of supporting member clubs to sustain and develop endeavors. These funds are made available to Affiliated Members in good standing through a grant application process. The 2018 MYSA grant applications are now available on the MYSA website at mnyouthsoccer.org/grants. The Field/Goal Grant supports member clubs in purchasing equipment to assist with soccer field upkeep and maintenance. Items that will be considered for funding include goals of any size, nets, field-lining equipment, back netting for goals, field upgrading and additional field development (including, but not limited to, seed, fertilizer, soil and other similar items). For more information about the Field/Goal Grant, please contact Iván Woyno at 952-252-0226 or ivanwoyno@mnyouthsoccer.org. The Recreational Soccer Program Grant supports clubs in the improvement or enhancement of the club’s recreational soccer programing, including, but not limited to, player development, coaching education and referee development. For more information about the Rec Grant, please contact Ayla Lokkesmoe at 952-252-1690 or aylalokkesmoe@mnyouthsoccer.org. Applications for either/both grants must be received no later than Friday Jan. 12, 2018 by 5 p.m. at the MYSA office, in order to be considered. Completed applications must include a copy of the club’s financial records from the previous year (such as a profit-andloss statement or balance sheet) as well as a detailed description of the specific utilization for funds awarded.
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KICKS FOR
KIDS When does Christmas come before Thanksgiving? In the dictionary.
Jokes, Jokes, and more Jokes How do you make a turkey float? Root beer, a scoop of ice cream, and a turkey.
How are a turkey, a donkey and a monkey alike? They all have keys.
What do you call it when it rains turkeys? Fowl weather!
What do Halloween and Thanksgiving have in common? One has goblins, the other has gobblers.
Why do turkeys lay eggs? Because if they dropped them, they would break!
What do vampires call Thanksgiving? Fangs-giving.
What’s the best thing to put into a pumpkin pie? Your teeth. Credit: https://funkidsjokes.com
Answers on page 3
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