VOLUME 31 ISSUE 5 30 Issue SEPTEMBER Volume 2 March 20172018
MINNESOTA
SOCCER TIMES
WALKING ON SUNSHINE
CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT MYSA SUMMER STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Soccer Times Minnesota Youth Soccer Assoc. 10890 Nesbitt Ave. S. Bloomington, MN 55437
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KICKS FOR
IN THIS ISSUE
KIDS
Coaches Corner • Page 4 TOPSoccer • Page 10 Space for Rents • Page 12
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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 Dave Geary - Vice President John Conte - Treasurer Mark Mahowald - Secretary Member Representatives Marty McDermott - East District John Kinsey - North District Todd Loose - South 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 www.mnyouthsoccer.org State Office Staff Matthew Madeira - 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
President/Executive Director’s Message
From the Desks of Steve May and Matthew Madeira By Steve May | MYSA President and Matthew Madeira | MYSA Executive Director
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s fall approaches, we want to thank our membership for their support and participation in MYSA events and programs. Our most recent Summer State Championships was very well attended, with a 150-percent increase over 2017 and a 200-percent increase over 2016. This success is a direct result of hard work on the part of staff and volunteers, our dedicated referee pool and our members who
have offered up their home fields for play. Together, we forged a great tournament for our youth. Now, we are gearing up for our ODP season and our Fall Leagues. We are also saving dates for our 2019 Presidents Cup and State Cup Tournaments. Our TOPSoccer program continues to grow and is now reaching more athletes across the state than ever before. Finally, we are happy to continue to increase
our offerings through the U.S. Soccer and United Soccer Coaches education portals. It’s a busy time, but it’s an exciting time for Minnesota Youth Soccer. Finally, we want to thank our entire staff who work to bring you our events and programs. We have a great team. Thank you to Andy Coutts, Cam Stoltz, Ivan Woyno, Katie Flakne, Norine Olson, John Curtis, Sue Gjerset, Chato Alvarado and Ayla Lokkesmoe.
CONTENTS Departments President/Executive Director’s Message................................................... 3 Coaches Corner........................................................................................ 4 Honor Roll................................................................................................. 4 Infographic: Physiological Skills ............................................................... 4 Space for ‘Rents................................................................................ 12-14 Referee Report....................................................................................... 14 Kicks for Kids.......................................................................................... 15
Features Coach Education....................................................................................... 4 Soccer Camp Funds Haitian Initiative........................................................ 5 MYSA Youth Academy............................................................................... 5 AGM/Recognition Banquet........................................................................ 6 Midwest Regional Championships............................................................ 6 Midwest Presidents Cup.......................................................................... 7 National Presidents Cup............................................................................ 7 MYSA Summer State Championships...................................................... 8 TOPSoccer.............................................................................................. 10 Olympic Development Program Recognition.......................................... 11 Youth Soccer Month............................................................................... 14
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MYSA HONOR ROLL By Chato Alvarado | MYSA Coaching/Player Development Administrator
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YSA is proud to present the Coach Honor Roll. The Coach Honor Roll includes coaches who have recently completed a USSF or USC Coaching License in Minnesota. Thank you all for your efforts to improve the level of soccer for all players in Minnesota. Congratulations to all the coaches below for making the MYSA Honor Roll!
USC Goalkeeper Level 1 Diploma (14) Nora Austin Jeffrey Bedard Gabriel Brigatto Brad Carlson Caitlyn Dayton
Bryan Duffey Danni Garcia-Havens Ashley Haflett Peter Munene
Bodbeli Rosales Santos Michael Simmelink Henry Torres Derek Veith Rachel Wilson-King
USC Goalkeeper Level 2 Diploma (23) Chris Adams Courtney Bauder Jeffrey Bedard Joshua Birchmier Sean Burkett-Behun Marc Campoverde Brad Carlson Brian Cohoon
Caitlyn Dayton Ron DeMarse Bryan Duffey Christian Espitia Matt Evans Danni Garcia-Havens Ashley Haflett
Megan Kaczmarek Peter Munene Matthew Roosmalen Bodbeli Rosales Santos Cameron Sauro Josiah Tonder Rachel Wilson-King John Yeboah
USSF “D” License (35) Christopher Adams Jacob Borash Jason Buechler Chase Burnham Jamie Collins Chad Fancher Taylor Greathouse Miranda Halling Jack Hartley Daniel Hedstrom Trent Holmes Thomas Homa
Dylan Izquierdo Brady Johnson Reak Kueth Brian Li Reed Mauriala Catherine McIntosh Alex Morawiecki Chad Morse Firmin Musungu Ryan Nichols Chad Pedersen
Brett Perry Ryan Petersen Shane Peterson Adam Potter Karisa Price Arijan Rasidovic Maddy Reed James Rennie Cameron Sauro Tom Shortland Mike Witt Riad Youssef
COACHES CORNER Coaches Corner: 9U-11U Rules Review By Andy Coutts | MYSA Director of Education
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tarting in the fall of 2017, MYSA followed U.S. Soccer’s lead and implemented new rules for smallsided games. Details can be found on MYSA’s Small-Sided (PDI) page, with links to several short video tutorials on Build Out Lines.
Starting with WHY The Build Out rules are meant to facilitate player development at younger ages. Previously, goal kicks were a real disadvantage to the team that just won possession, due to the opponent’s pressing action around the penalty area. Forcing the opponent to drop back, as teams often do by choice at higher levels of play, encourages players to advance the ball through skillful teamwork rather than the boot-and-scoot method. MYSA decided to extend the Build Out Line rules to 11U to align with the No Heading rule that also came from U.S. Soccer, so that punting and heading are both banned at 11U and become part of the game together at 12U. This has a player safety rationale as well as a best practice for player development. When young players are encouraged to build from the back they’ll have more opportunities to dribble, pass and receive the ball in the context of the modern, possessionoriented game. It takes some courage on the part of coaches and parents to be patient with the process, knowing that mistakes in that part of the field can lead to goals. But, fearbased soccer (see the Infographic at left) is
too common at young ages and holds players back from reaching their potential.
Summary of the Rules: 9U-10U (7v7) • No Heading and No Punting • Build Out Lines: Opponent must drop behind build out line on goal kick or goalkeeper possession until the ball is put in play. • Offside Law in effect between Build Out line and endline. • Penalty and Goal areas can be combined into one area (22 x 8 yards). This allows a goal kick to be put in play quicker and allows more wide space to play in from a goal kick. 11U-specific (9v9) • No Heading and No Punting • Build Out Line is in effect (but doesn’t need to be painted). Opponent must drop to edge of center circle on goal kick or goalkeeper possession until the ball is put in play.
Coaching Education Review By Andy Coutts | MYSA Director of Education
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s a new soccer year begins, we look back on the past year in coaching education and look ahead to the upcoming season. MYSA strives to deliver valuable and inspiring experiences through its educational offerings to all the coaches we can reach, from the first-year volunteer to the experienced professional coach. We hope you’ll check out the Course Calendar regularly throughout 2018-19 and consider participating in something that meets your needs. This past year brought a revamping of the U.S. Soccer License pathway. The “E” and online “F” Licenses were discontinued and replaced with a series of online and in-person “Grassroots” (GR) License courses based on the four standard game models: 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11. To align with those courses, the “D” License was overhauled to serve as a culmination of the GR courses. Having completed one “D” and started another, I can vouch for it being a really rich learning experience for coaches and instructors alike, and much different from the previous course, where the final assessment was heavily weighted. U.S. Soccer has moved to create a better educational environment and the coaches who have participated so far have appreciated the changes. MYSA formed a partnership with United Soccer Coaches (USC) to enhance our ability to deliver its courses and have Minnesota
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coaches receive discounted USC membership. In June, 30 coaches participated in the Goalkeeping Diploma courses led by George Kostelis. In August, 25 coaches took the Advanced National Diploma course instructed by Vince Ganzberg, United Soccer Coach’s Education Content Coordinator; and Barry Gorman, the former Penn St. Men’s Coach. In addition to all the great work our in-state staff does, we see our ability to bring in fresh voices and experts from different parts of the country as a great benefit to coaches. MYSA continues to offer “Y” Module and Technical Certificate courses as supplements and popular options for clubs who want to serve the coaches in their own environment. We added a Video Mentor Program and have partnered with Minnesota United on a Coaching Practicum experience, so the menu keeps expanding. Myself and John Curtis, Director of Coaching and Player Development, also serve as clinicians for member clubs upon request. A clinic is a special topic session, usually 1-2 hours, that doesn’t result in a certification but is an additional learning opportunity. Looking ahead, we hope to host several of each GR course, “D” courses around our summer and fall seasons, and Goalkeeping, National and Advanced National Diploma courses. Please let me know if you’re interested in hosting or have any questions on options.
2018 MYSA Youth Academy By John Curtis | MYSA Director of Coaching & Player Development
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Alexandria Soccer Camp Helps Fund Haitian Initiative By Tod Herskovitz | Director of Communications, The Sanneh Foundation – Special to Soccer Times
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his year, from July 23-27, the Alexandria Area Soccer Association (AASA) hosted the Redbirds/Haitian Initiative Soccer Camp to give Alexandria area youth the same opportunity to train with high-level coaches that Metro Twin Cities clubs provide their young players. In the effort to support the growth of the game throughout Minnesota, a strong contingent of MYSA staff and top Minnesota club coaches recruited and organized by AASA camp director and Alexandria Cardinals girls’ varsity coach, Tom Roos, traveled to Alexandria to support the camp. The camp’s staff and MYSA’s participation were not the only thing setting this camp apart from other top camps in the upper Midwest. The camp also served a greater purpose, with AASA pledging all profits from the camp to the Jack Schneider Memorial Fund for the Haitian Initiative. The fund honors the memory of Jack Schneider, an AASA player and Alexandria High School graduate, who died tragically at the age of 19. The goal of the fund is to memorialize Jack Schneider and his love of soccer, children and education by raising
$10,000 a year to sponsor a U11 boys’ soccer team in The Sanneh Foundation’s Haitian Initiative program in Cite Soleil. The team sponsorship allows 20 boys to attend school, participate in daily soccer programming, and receive clean drinking water as well as a daily meal (for most this is their only meal of the day) for a full year. In addition to the daily camp activities, a special scrimmage and barbecue was hosted by Alexandria’s high school players where camp participants and their families heard from guest speakers who have gone on to do important work beyond the soccer field. This year’s speakers included former University of Minnesota player Lisa Berg, who spent time after her playing days living in Uganda and working to provide opportunities for girls by founding the Growing the Game for Girls (G3) in Uganda program. Berg has gone on to coach for the Ugandan women’s national team and continues to expand G3’s efforts in other countries. Other speakers included MYSA’s Chato Alvarado, who spoke about his involvement in Bricks to Bread, a local non-profit providing women in rural Costa Rica with economic opportunity through
baking, and Tony Sanneh, founder and CEO of The Sanneh Foundation. Sanneh spoke about the Haitian Initiative and personally thanked the AASA and Alexandria families for their support of the Haitian Initiative, but Jameson Charles, a Haitian Initiative alumnus and current Minneapolis United and Washburn High School standout, provided the evening’s highlight. Charles spoke about the program’s impact on his life and the lives of others in Cite Soleil, movingly describing how the program motivated him to stay in school, receive daily nutrition support and gave him the opportunity to play soccer in an organized setting for the first time in his life. This year’s camp, after all expenses were paid, brought in almost $2,500. This money, in addition to other fundraising efforts throughout the year organized by Roos and numerous volunteers, including a golf tournament, donations by the club’s uniform supplier Stimulus Athletics, and t-shirt sales, helped Roos and the AASA meet its goal of raising over $10,000 for the Jack Schneider Memorial fund on behalf of the Haitian Initiative.
innesota Youth Soccer’s Youth Academy Program wrapped up the 2017-18 season on Saturday, June 30, in Prior Lake at the Youth Academy Summer Showcase. Nine clubs participated in the program for its fourth season (Blackhawks, CC United, Cobra, Keliix, Park Valley United, Prior Lake, Waconia, White Bear and Woodbury), the biggest participation since its inception. Most of the players participated in a 10-month program beginning in the fall and ending in the summer, with emphasis on consistent, meaningful trainings, with a training-to-match ratio averaging 3:1. Throughout the year, the players trained with a pool of players during the week and formed into teams for competitive matches on the weekend. The larger pool for training created an opportunity for players to train and play with more kids for more variety throughout the season. The flexible roster allowed the club to continually assess and evaluate players continuously, and make adjustments to teams as needed, as opposed to locking players into teams based on a snapshot of that player during a tryout. The clubs did a fantastic job of communicating with each other regarding the makeup of their teams for the upcoming matches, so that the matches were more impactful and worthwhile. Some relevant information about the MYSA Youth Academy program: • 891 games played • At no extra cost, three times during the winter, teams with players from different clubs were formed to simply play and have fun (no coaching). • Because the program focuses on the development of the soccer player, not on wins and losses, it provides a great environment for training and mentoring referees (great sideline behavior). • Roster flexibility. The program offers great flexibility for the players to play at the right level. Clubs can move players from one team to another without a problem! Thank you to all the clubs and players that participated in the Youth Academy Program. The player comes first and must be central to decisions that are made. The program gives clubs the opportunity to truly focus on the children and their development through meaningful training and matches. The Youth Academy Program will take a hiatus this fall with plans to start again in the summer of 2019. For more information, visit www.mnyouthsoccer.org/youth-academy or contact me at johncurtis@mnyouthsoccer.org or 952-252-1686. Soccer Times
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Minnesota Youth Soccer Annual General Meeting and Recognition Banquet By Katie Flakne | MYSA Manager of Special Events and Norine Olson | MYSA Financial Administrator
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his year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Recognition Banquet will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Marriott Minneapolis Northwest. The Annual Recognition Banquet will be held late morning, to include lunch, and the AGM will be in the afternoon; more details to be provided to club presidents and to be posted midSeptember on the MYSA website. The MYSA Recognition Banquet honors the year’s best in soccer by recognizing the Olympic Development Program regional pool players, Mike Warter College Scholarship recipients and Hall of Fame Inductees, and reveals the winners of the MYSA Annual Awards, and MYSA Goal and Save of the Year. The MYSA Annual Awards include the following: Competitive Coach (Boys and Girls), Recreational Coach (Boys and Girls), Administrator, Volunteer, TOPSoccer Coach and TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year. Nominations can come from a grateful parent whose child’s coach made a difference in their child’s life, a club board member who noticed their fellow colleague step up in their role, a spouse of a volunteer who watched them tirelessly give their time and talent to soccer, or a referee mentor who observed a young referee develop and mature. Many clubs give out their own awards, which are great at the club level, and forwarding those honored coaches and volunteers for state-level recognition is an enhanced way to show your appreciation. All nominees receive two complimentary tickets to attend the MYSA Recognition Banquet, where each person will be honored for their contributions. State award winners will be forwarded on for Regional and possible
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National consideration. There is still time to submit a nomination. For complete details and online nomination forms please visit mnyouthsoccer.org/banquet. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Sept. 28. After the celebration of the past year at the Recognition Banquet, the day continues with the Annual General Meeting, where MYSA member club delegates and Board members conduct the business required for the success of the upcoming soccer year. AGM agenda to include: 1. Comments from President (Steve May) 2. State-of-the-State Report from Executive Director (Matthew Madeira) 3. Treasurer’s Report from Treasurer (John Conte) 4. Election of Board of Directors’ positions up for election 5. Ratification of District Member Representatives up for election 6. Ratification of District Competitive Representatives up for election 7. Ratification of District Recreation Representatives up for election 8. Discussion and Voting of Rule Proposals submitted by member clubs, MYSA committees or board members 9. For the Good of Soccer Active participation of the MYSA membership at both activities allows members to have a voice in both the recognition of those who serve, as well as the form and function of the organization. We encourage you to both nominate those who deserve to be honored at the Recognition Banquet and encourage your club to send delegates to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships By Katie Flakne | MYSA Manager of Special Events
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he 2018 US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships kicked off Friday, June 22 at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Ind. The 224 participating teams were comprised of state champions as well as US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League (MRL) wildcards. Teams arrived with the hope of ultimately earning a berth to the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Frisco, Texas. Sixteen teams represented Minnesota, including 14 State Cup champions and two MRL wildcard teams. This year, we had five returning teams from the 2017 event: REV SC 16U and Sporting St. Croix 19U for the boys, and Minnesota Thunder Academy 16U, Maplebrook 17U and Minneapolis United 19U for the girls. The Regional Championships is a huge tournament and Westfield, Ind., was a fabulous host. More than 330 matches were played on 30 fields throughout the three days of preliminaries. In group play, Minnesota teams had 18 wins, 23 losses and 7 ties. In the semifinal matches, three teams from Minnesota — REV 16U boys, Maplebrook 18U girls and Minneapolis United 19U girls — were still fighting to advance to the finals. In the first semifinal, Maplebrook and Campton United (IL) battled it out, but Campton advanced 3-0 with late goals in the second half. Minneapolis United took on NSA Shock (IL) in the second semifinal. NSA started quick with an early goal and was able to carry the momentum into the second half, winning 4-2. REV defeated SC Waukesha (WI) in the semifinals, 3-0, then
faced off against Club Ohio Green (OH-S) in the final. The game went scoreless in the first half. Nine minutes into the second half, Ohio scored and was able to hold onto the slim lead to win, 1-0. Two Minnesota teams were acknowledged for their displays of good sportsmanship. Recipients of the US Youth Soccer Fair Play Award, as selected by referees and the Midwest Regional Championships Committee, are recognized for displaying positive conduct on the field toward their opponents and game officials throughout the competition. Congratulations to the Tonka Fusion Elite 13U girls and a huge shout to the Sporting St. Croix 19U boys for winning it two years in a row! Minnesota would like to thank the 17 referees that traveled to the Midwest Regional Championships: Paula Hildman, Jon Cooksey, Doug Marshak, Connor Dunn, Nick Hager, Sarah Most, Logan Alger, Ben Gutierrez, Tyler Dalsin, Cody White, Brian Wood, Conor Weberg, Zakaria Aly, James Ryan, Heath Stoll, Ryan Farrell, and Dan Sandell. Just as the teams advance from the state to regional to national levels, so do the referees. This year both Connor Dunn and Ben Gutierrez were selected for the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Frisco, Texas — a top honor for these very deserving referees. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, parents and referees, and thank you for representing Minnesota well, both individually and collectively, at Regionals.
US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup By Katie Flakne | MYSA Manager of Special Events
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he 2018 US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup was held June 14-18 in West Chester, Ohio. The event highlighted boys’ and girls’ teams in the 13U through 19U age groups, all with dreams of earning a spot at the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup. Games kicked off on Thursday, June 14, with 11 Minnesota teams taking the field at the Voice of America Athletic Complex. This year’s Cup featured more than 140 US Youth Soccer teams, which created some uncertainty surrounding the first-round matches. This was Minnesota’s first time competing in the event, and it included the greatest number of teams ever from our region. At the end of the final around of preliminary play, Minnesota finished with 15 wins, 15 losses and 3 ties. The level of competition was equal throughout most of the brackets and the average goal differential was 2.1 goals. The Minnesota contingent comprised of Classic 1 and Premier Tier 2 teams was competitively the right fit for this event. The St. Paul Blackhawks 18U Girls team manager Dawn Ellerd, had many positive things to say about their experience. “We played three extremely competitive games and were in all three until the last minute; our last game we literally held the bracket winner scoreless until the last 15 seconds of extra time,” she said. “It was definitely the best soccer competition we’ve seen all year. Our girls loved playing and we loved watching it! The officials at all three matches were amazing ... decisive and clear in their direction, great control of the games.” In addition, assistant coach Giovanni Lone from the 16U Boys REV Academy Green shared his thoughts on being part of the event. “The whole experience was great! It was fun to be at the Midwest Presidents Cup in Ohio with other Minnesota teams. We knew we were there together to represent Minnesota soccer on the regional stage. It was cool to feel part of a bigger community like that,” he said. “REV Arsenal drew games against teams from Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Missouri. All super-competitive games, with outstanding refs. We made it to the semifinals, where we saw our only loss of the tournament, and a team we tied in pool play won the 16U Boys Championships. We were in good company both on and off the field. I’m super proud of our team; we had a memorable run.”
Three Minnesota teams advanced out of group play: REV Academy Green 16U Boys (REV), Minnesota Thunder Academy 15U Girls (MTA) and Maplebrook 16U Girls (MPB). REV 16U Boys performed particularly well, advancing to play St. Louis Scott Gallagher (MO) in the semifinals. The match was a tight 0-0 battle through regulation, but REV fell in overtime, 0-2. MTA 15U Girls won in the semifinals 2-0 against BEES Soccer Academy (OH-N). In the final, MTA played IP Aces Blue (IL) and were scored on four minutes into the game. MTA kept fighting in the second half, yet were unable to find the back of the net. IP was able to hold MTA scoreless and win the final, 1-0. MPB 16U Girls also advanced to the finals with a 2-1 win against MSC Academy (IL). MPB took on Indy Premier (IN) in the final. Neither team was able to score in the first half. Early in the second half, Indy was able to take advantage of a scoring chance and MPB was unable to mount a comeback. Indy won the final, 1-0. While Minnesota did not win any of its final matches, all the finals were extremely competitive. Besides good competition for the players, another component of Midwest Presidents Cup is the training and recognition of officials. The selection process for referees is based on performance throughout the event. Just as the teams advance from the state to regional to national levels, so do the referees. Minnesota sent the following referees and mentors; Paula Hildman, Jon Cooksey, Nick Hager, Connor Dunn, Sarah Most, Sarah Morazewski, Katie Carlson, Brian Holm, Payton Marshak, Keaton Koehler, Joerg Granacher, Logan Alger, and Sam Cesafsky. Based on their performance throughout the event, both Connor Dunn and Sarah Most were selected to officiate games at the National Presidents Cup, July 11-15, in Westfield, Ind. Minnesota performed well in its initial foray into this regional competition. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, parents and referees who participated. Thank you for representing Minnesota well, both individually and collectively, at Regionals. We look forward to seeing Minnesota Presidents Cup continue to grow, giving more players and referees the opportunity to compete and improve at this highly competitive level.
US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup 2018: An Experience to Remember By Sarah Most | Special to Soccer Times This past summer, Sarah participated in both Region II Championships and Region II Presidents Cup. At Regional Presidents Cup, she was assigned a total of six games, including center referee for the B15U Championship game and center referee for a B19U game in preliminary play. At Regionals, she was assigned a total of seven games, including Assistant Referee for the G16U semifinal and Center on G18U and G16U preliminary games. At National Presidents Cup, she was assigned eight games, including Assistant Referee on the G15U Championship game.
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or five days this summer, I had the privilege of representing Minnesota and the Midwest Region at the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup in Westfield, Ind. Working alongside the 47 other referees from across the country, as well as about 10 National Referee Coaches, former professional referees and a FIFA referee, was the most rewarding part as we all sought to work hard, improve, and have fun while we were at it. I’ve been to Westfield before, as our Midwest Regional tournament was held there this year. But, arriving in the referee area and stepping out onto the fields on the first day of the tournament had a different feeling to it. Teams had a little more spring to their step in their warm-up; it felt like parents brought a few more cowbells to this one. I knew I needed to bring up my intensity, too — listening to coaches’ comments with an empathy to the stakes of a national tournament, finding that extra gear to be in the right places on the field to make the call, and working with my fellow referees to talk through a more comprehensive pre-game discussion. The referees at the event were all incredibly dedicated, and I loved getting to know them and working with them. The environment we were in was very open in terms of discussion and questions that we had during evening instruction, and I am grateful for all of the learning opportunities we presented each other with at this event. I still talk with several of the referees I met and hope to see many of them at future events when our paths cross again. The learning that took place for me during National Presidents Cup was amazing, given the knowledge and experience we were surrounded with. I learned just as much, if not more, from watching my fellow crews in their respective positions. As a fourth official, I became a better Assistant Referee (AR) by picking up faster side-stepping techniques from my fellow AR. As an AR, I heard some more effective ways of talking to coaches in different situations from our more experienced fourth official that I have since used. After the day’s games, all of the referees from each field would gather into a circle back at our hotel with our assigned Referee Coach, and we’d talk about big-picture items from the day. The referee coaches focused on asking us
questions about our thought process on different plays to modify how we were breaking things down, instead of simply pointing out things we did wrong. I’m looking forward to using this approach when I mentor referees, because it has been really effective for me. In the evenings, we would gather as a large group and discuss points of emphasis as well as one topic of discussion, such as kicks from the mark, or how to be a better fourth official. Since attending the National Presidents Cup, I’ve been inspired to develop a more refereespecific physical training plan for the upcoming year and read the Laws of the Game more regularly. Being around a group of referees so passionate about the game has further ignited the flame of excitement I feel when I referee. I sincerely thank everyone involved with the tournament, our Minnesota State Referee Committee, MYSA and Salvo Soccer Club mentors for helping me get to this level, and my family and friends for believing in me and being so understanding when I leave to referee. The referee community is an incredibly supportive family and I can’t wait for what 2019 will bring for all of us — referees, players, parents and coaches together.
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SUMMER STATE CHAMPIONS CROWNED
BOYS League Champion Runner-Up 11U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . Rochester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Northern Lights 11U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Eau Claire (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hudson (WI) 11U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Crystal-Robbinsdale United. . . . . . Austin 12U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . CD Lobos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MapleBrook 12U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . New Prague . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hastings 12U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Faribault. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marshall 13U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . White Bear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REV Soccer 13U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . MapleBrook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury 13U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Faribault. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Metro 14U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . Tonk Fusion Elite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury 14U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Fusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Suburban 14U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Rochester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Willmar 15U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . CD Lobos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Metro 15U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Urban Ventures 15U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . New Prague . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Worthington 16U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . REV Soccer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . White Bear 16U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Hispanic St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . BV United 16U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . New Brighton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Faribault 17U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minneapolis United 17U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Delano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sporting St. Croix 17U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Waseca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hudson (WI) 18U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . Edina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eden Prairie 18U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Park Valley United. . . . . . . . . . . . . Austin 19U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Eagan Wave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bloomington
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GIRLS League Champion Runner-Up 11U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . St. Michael-Albertville. . . . . . . . . . Three Rivers 11U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . CC United. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Central Minnesota 11U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . River Falls (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . East Select 12U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . Centennial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waconia 12U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Hastings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wright County 12U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Three Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Wing 13U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . REV Soccer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MapleBrook 13U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . East Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gitchi Gummi 13U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Westonka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Michael-Albertville 14U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy. . . . Tonka Fusion Elite 14U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Sporting St. Croix . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mankato United 14U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Rochester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inver Grove Heights 15U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . CC United. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN 15U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Eden Prairie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United 15U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . River Falls (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hastings 16U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MapleBrook 16U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . Eagan Wave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Three Rivers 16U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . Lakeville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior Lake 17U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . REV Soccer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blaine 17U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . North Metro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albert Lea 17U Classic 3. . . . . . . . . REV Soccer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waseca 18U Classic 1. . . . . . . . . St. Michael-Albertville. . . . . . . . . . Cottage Grove 18U Classic 2. . . . . . . . . New Prague . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Metro
The Amazing TOPSoccer Program By Iván Woyno | MYSA Director of Member Services
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or the past 10 years, I have been working with The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer) and writing articles about this amazing program for the Soccer Times publication. An article to announce and prepare for the season, and an article in September when the season has come to a conclusion. This year, while preparing to write my article, I spent a lot of time truly thinking about the value and profound impact that TOPSoccer has had in the lives of hundreds of athletes, our organization and personally, on myself and my family. TOPSoccer was created with the premise that the game of soccer should not be restricted by the ability of the player, but instead liberated, modified and expanded to allow athletes to achieve success at their own pace and within their own capacity. At its very core, the TOPSoccer program lives up to the purest ideal of what the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association was founded on to serve its membership. It breaks barriers — be it financial, developmental or physical — and provides a group of soccer players the opportunity to step onto the soccer field and for a period of time and enjoy the spirit of competition, the excitement of the moment and the beauty of teamwork. In my articles, I have often invited the readers to come out to a TOPSoccer game day and see the program in action. I do this because no words I write can ever do justice to the true essence of what takes place. The limitless count of incredible moments that can be witnessed on the field. The sheer joy of watching a soccer game in which there are no “opponents,” but instead teams playing with, and not against, each other. A game in which every goal is cheered by all fans, players, referees and coaches in unison! Each reader that has taken my advice and come out to see, volunteer or coach TOPSoccer, quickly understands just how amazing this program is. And, once that they have experienced it, just like this humble
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writer, they are hooked on its energy, positivity and joy. TOPSoccer serves the needs of athletes with disabilities, physical and/or developmental, but these athletes are not asking us to treat them differently because of their disabilities. On the contrary, they are asking each of us to define them by the courage and willpower that they possess, and by the resilience that makes them amazing individuals. They are asking all of us to see them as soccer players; nothing more, nothing less. A typical TOPSoccer season starts in May with practices at each of the geographic locations around the state: Mankato, Northfield, Owatonna, and metro areas North, South, East and West. There are a few short weeks of preparation for the first game day (normally in mid-May), when all the sites come together and matches are played, followed by a practice/ game day alternating schedule that culminates the second Sunday in August with a seasonending celebration. This year, I asked my 7-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son to join me at one of the game days. My daughter picked the season kick-off at Chaska, while my son selected the second-to-last game day at Eagan. Given that my professional life revolves around soccer, my kids are used to traveling the state following their dad in a variety of soccer adventures — from high-school soccer games to training sessions in remote areas of the state, youth soccer camps, and classroom sessions filled with parents eager to learn more about how to enhance their kids’ soccer programming. So, while it is not surprising that they wanted to join me at a TOPSoccer game day, their postattendance reactions and commentary were what set those days apart from the rest. On her game day, my daughter decided to follow one of the match referees and learn about what it takes to officiate a TOPSoccer game. During the car ride
home, she could not stop raving about her desire to someday be able to officiate a game on her own. She also kept commenting on how big the smiles of the players on both teams were when a goal was scored, and how athletes encouraged each other regardless of which team they were on. My son opted to play in the unified game (a game in which TOPSoccer athletes and volunteer players from the local club create balanced teams and play together). During the ride home, he kept sharing moments from the game when the team connected passes, or how he gave or received a high five after witnessing a cool soccer move. He was amazed at how positive and supportive every player was of each other and happy to see everyone on both teams celebrate goals and critical moments in the game. Both of my children have told me that next year, they would like to attend as many game days as possible. Hearing those words fills me with happiness, because I know that the TOPSoccer program has already made an impact on their lives and I cannot wait to see how they, in turn, make a positive impact with their involvement next year. But, seeing their enthusiasm and hearing their comments also reminded me of why it is that I love this program. Why I dedicate time and effort to help create an experience that all those involved can enjoy and cherish for years to come. This program enlightens you. It fills you with energy and joy. It reminds you that anything is possible if you are willing to fight through limitations and set your mind to achieve a goal. It brings forth to mind the fact that the key word in the phrase “Game of Soccer” is “game.” Games are meant to be fun, they are meant to be enjoyed by all, and they are meant to leave us with a sense of belonging and pride. They are meant to celebrate each failure and each success, because one cannot exist without the other. Personally speaking, there is nothing that
energizes me more than being part of the TOPSoccer program. It motivates me to lift my head high and see just how beautiful the game of soccer can be. It reminds me that we all can serve a higher purpose than our own needs, and that by giving just a little bit of our time and effort, we receive a precious gift from those we serve and support. Minnesota Youth Soccer would like to thank all those that make the TOPSoccer program possible. Supporting clubs include Coon Rapids, Eagan Wave, CC United, Mankato Northfield and Owatonna. Site Directors include Jeff Mueller, Jim Robson, Paul Siglen, Dave Furness, Julie Huddock and Dave Ericson. MYSA would also like to give a special thanks to Abby Casey, whose dedication and work with the TOPSoccer Program is praised and admired. And, all the volunteers (athlete and parents) who come out every Sunday to help make this program the most amazing program it can be. The TOPSoccer program completed its season on Sunday, Aug. 13, with a year-end celebration complete with soccer, pizza and medals. And, my favorite phrase was heard as athletes walked off the field. “When does next season start?” TOPSoccer is a community-based program that is designed to meet the needs of athletes ages eight and older with physical and/or developmental disabilities. The program is geared towards player development and utilizes competition as a medium to achieve individual and team success. Athletes are placed on teams according to ability, and not by age. Any athlete with a disability, be it physical or developmental, is welcomed to join the TOPSoccer program. If you would like more information about the program or wish to become involved, please contact Iván Woyno, MYSA Director of Member Services, at ivanwoyno@mnyouthsoccer.org or 952-252-0226.
2017-18 Olympic Development Program Recognition By John Curtis | MYSA Director of Coaching and Player Development
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innesota Youth Soccer would like to congratulate and thank all the players and coaches who took part in the 2017-18 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP). The Minnesota soccer community can be proud of the on- and off-field performances of our ODP contingents at the Midwest ODP Showcase in Blaine, Minn. A special congrats to the players who were invited to participate in the Midwest ODP ID camp in Saginaw, Mich., and were named to Regional pools. This was a great year for Minnesota ODP as MYSA supported 16 showcase teams from the 2001-2005 birth years. In addition to the ODP Showcase, we held a development camp for the
2006 boys and girls at the National Sports Center. Also, for the first time in history, Minnesota ODP 2005 boys and 2002 girls competed at the Schwan’s USA Cup. We also had a successful start to the new 9- and 10-year-olds program this summer. Thank you to the coaches that worked with the players for their time and expertise. Finally, thank you to the clubs, players and their families for your dedication and support of ODP. Below is a brief overview of how many players were involved in the program along the way as they progressed from District Select to the State Pool, State Team and Regional Pool: • 1,350 total players registered • 800 total players selected for State pools
• 324 total players represented Minnesota at the Midwest ODP Showcase (Blaine, Minn.) • 105 total players attended the Midwest ODP ID Camp (Saginaw, Mich.) US Youth Soccer ODP has played a meaningful role in player development in the United States as it provides top players from across the nation with valuable experience and a platform to improve. At the state ODP level, this is an excellent opportunity for each player to challenge him or herself by playing with and against other players from different parts of the state. There is always good competition, and when you’re able to evaluate and identify players in these scenarios, you have a better idea of how they will fare as they attempt to
reach the next level in their soccer career. Benefits of participation in the ODP are: 1. Development as a player; the opportunity to train and play with the best players in one’s age group. 2. Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches. 3. Quality competition; games against other state association teams. 4. Exposure to regional- and national-team coaches and scouts. 5. The opportunity to represent one’s state, region or country in competition. 6. Exposure to college coaches.
US Youth Soccer ODP Region II: Minnesota Pool Players 2002 GIRLS Olivia Bollman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynlei Chalupsky. . . . . . . . . . . . Carmen Diaz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isabel Kothe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deborah Leier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chloe Olson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2003 GIRLS Morgan Barnette. . . . . . . . . . . . Payton Cahill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ella Conger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emerson Ellington. . . . . . . . . . . Emma Fournier . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isabella Grandbois . . . . . . . . . . Allyson Hamski. . . . . . . . . . . . . Sydney Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . Sydney Kubes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abigail Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 GIRLS Lauren Ahles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ramira Ambrose. . . . . . . . . . . . Sophia Barjesteh. . . . . . . . . . . . Alma Beaton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emma Beverley. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsey Birch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marisa Bonilla. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brooklyn Bordson . . . . . . . . . . . Madeline Dahlien. . . . . . . . . . . Sydney Drees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aimee Fiedler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anabel Hillstrom. . . . . . . . . . . . Molly Knoblauch. . . . . . . . . . . . Bella Meier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maaike Modene. . . . . . . . . . . .
Stacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Oaks Duluth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gitchi Gummi St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blackhawks Cottage Grove . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Blaine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Oaks Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United Maple Grove. . . . . . . . . . . . MapleBrook Cottage Grove . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Maple Grove. . . . . . . . . . . . MapleBrook Maplewood . . . . . . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN Maple Grove. . . . . . . . . . . . MapleBrook New Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Blaine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . White Bear Maple Grove. . . . . . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN Lino Lakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . White Bear Prior Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior Lake Lino Lakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . White Bear Plymouth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fusion SC Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN St. Louis Park. . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Chaska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Rochester. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sporting St. Croix Lino Lakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Centennial Edina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edina Eden Prairie . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Stillwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN Mahtomedi. . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Coon Rapids. . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Hastings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Maple Grove. . . . . . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN
Brooke Quam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madeline Shannon. . . . . . . . . . Alexis Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kendall Stadden. . . . . . . . . . . . Seylon Versalles-Shiggs. . . . . . 2005 GIRLS Julia Fischer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Francesca Fragola. . . . . . . . . . . Reagan Gerber . . . . . . . . . . . . . Izabel Halunen . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Hillins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ella Kachmarzinski . . . . . . . . . . Brooke Nast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lily Nayar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elliana Owen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vivian Rojas Collins . . . . . . . . . Madeleine Schultz . . . . . . . . . . Ella Wade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2001 BOYS Nicholas Beaton. . . . . . . . . . . . Tayeb Benjaafar . . . . . . . . . . . . 2002 BOYS Peter Drivas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keegan James . . . . . . . . . . . . . Owen Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samuel Kendrick. . . . . . . . . . . . Ethan Kilmer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucas LeWin-Mills . . . . . . . . . . Giovanni Lone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Menken. . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Schugel. . . . . . . . . . . . . Zachary Susee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nicholas Wagner . . . . . . . . . . .
Lakeville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REV Soccer Maple Grove. . . . . . . . . . . . Fusion SC White Bear Lake. . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN Blaine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minneapolis United Madison Lake. . . . . . . . . . . Mankato United Wayzata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Plymouth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fusion SC Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury Edina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Vadnais Heights. . . . . . . . . Eclipse Select MN Edina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edina Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury Plymouth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Greenwood. . . . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United Otsego . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Three Rivers St. Louis Park. . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota TwinStars Academy St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blackhawks Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . Keliix-Intra St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REV Soccer Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . Keliix-Intra Stillwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sporting St. Croix St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blackhawks Bloomington. . . . . . . . . . . . REV Soccer Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury Victoria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CC United Shakopee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . REV Soccer Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sporting St. Croix
Austin Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . Evan Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2003 BOYS Kalid Abdullahi. . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Cole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Ellis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Finn Dowling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cameron Kor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethan Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Devin Padelford. . . . . . . . . . . . . Amer Phuly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nolan Pratumwon. . . . . . . . . . . Ben Summers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 BOYS David Blair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cooper Bollinger Danielson . . . Joseph Burica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jovan Dennison . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Highfield. . . . . . . . . . . . James Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pascal Leatherman. . . . . . . . . . Jordan Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Swanda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Torres . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zachary Zengue. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005 BOYS David Castillion. . . . . . . . . . . . . Asher Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Kaczmarek. . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Leicester. . . . . . . . . . . . . Micah Miller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andre Paucar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Osher Zmira. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cottage Grove . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury Apple Valley. . . . . . . . . . . . REV Soccer St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . White Bear Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota TwinStars Academy Chaska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury St. Cloud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minneapolis United Maplewood . . . . . . . . . . . . Sporting St. Croix Columbia Heights. . . . . . . . White Bear Mahtomedi. . . . . . . . . . . . . Sporting St. Croix Mound New Richmond. . . . . . . . . . New Richmond (WI) Falcon Heights. . . . . . . . . . Blackhawks Plymouth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United St. Louis Park. . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United Plymouth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Thunder Academy Elko New Market. . . . . . . . REV Soccer St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blackhawks Brooklyn Park. . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United Edina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keliix-Intra Shakopee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shakopee North Oaks. . . . . . . . . . . . . Blackhawks Chanhassen. . . . . . . . . . . . Fusion SC Waconia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waconia Plymouth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United Excelsior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CC United Plymouth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tonka United Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . Minneapolis United St. Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blackhawks
Soccer Times
SEPTEMBER 2018
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SPACE FOR ‘RENTS
GIVE THE GAME BACK TO THE KIDS By Erin Burton | Special to Soccer Times
Erin is certified in K–12 physical education and adapted physical education with a master’s degree in physical education pedagogy. She is also a long-time soccer player and youth soccer coach who loves to share her love of the game with young athletes. She can be reached at: erin@unboundroots.com
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e are done,” said a parent on the undereight (seven years old) recreational soccer team I coached this summer. “With what?” asked her daughter. “With soccer. Just as it happened with your older sister – we are done,” her mother replied. “No, Mommy, no! I don’t want to be done with soccer!” her daughter begged as she wrapped her arms around her mother. This was the heartbreaking scene at the end of our last soccer game, as a group of parents and children gathered to chat after the game. Unfortunately, many of the parents felt the same way – they were out of playing options. When my daughter turned five years old, I was excited to volunteer as her recreational soccer coach. I grew up in the same town we live in now, and I remember playing rec soccer until I was 13 years old, before playing competitively for our local soccer club. Back then, recreational soccer was held in the fall, and the thrill of the competition between school teams in the community was so much fun. Our games were on the oftenchilly Saturday mornings, and I remember the sting of the ball bouncing off my legs in the freezing temperatures. Noses were red, fingers were ice-cold, but we loved it. Players of all abilities came together to learn the game of soccer, and to experience what contributing to a team felt like. Friendships were formed – a love for the game was realized. I’ve coached recreational and competitive soccer for five seasons now, and I’ve been fortunate to observe a love for the game of soccer being established in the young players in our community. The smiles that these players bring to practices and games, the determination that is set on their faces as they challenge their opponents, and the chants that they yell at the top of their lungs divulge their love for the game. Unfortunately, some of these players are no longer playing in our community. Here we are, at the end of my daughter’s first-grade year, and my family has found ourselves at a crossroads, as have many other soccer families. Our local soccer club and community recreation program have decided to discontinue recreational soccer after the under-eight age level. Why? One developmental director in our soccer club states that there are not enough interested kids to hold both recreational soccer and competitive soccer, and that competitive is the right direction for the club. Another director said that “competitive and academy are what parents want.” When I approached our district’s community services department about offering recreational soccer opportunities for kids ages eight and older, two different directors said that they can see a need for additional recreational opportunities, but one said, “We just don’t want to step on the club’s toes.” The other said, “It’s all political. We’ve 12
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The Cost of Leaving “The Sandlot” Have you seen the 1993 movie “The Sandlot”? The sports comedy is about a young boy, Scotty Smalls, who moves into a new neighborhood. Scotty befriends a group of seven boys who get together at the sandlot to play baseball after school. The boys have many adventures together, but their passion is baseball. They play every day – no parents – their own rules. With even just a few players, the highlight of the boys’ day is playing baseball after school. My great-grandfather had a similar experience in his youth. My great-grandfather wrote the following in his memoir:
had a good relationship with the club for many years, and we don’t want to ruin that.” So, our community is left with two options that are not only expensive, but time-consuming – Academy soccer, or competitive soccer. 1. Academy – A 10-month program that involves training under “professional” trainers three times per week, and playing two games on Sunday, every other week, for a cost of $1,185. 2. Competitive (fall and summer seasons with winter training options) – Fall season includes playing end of August through midOctober, players are expected to practice two times per week, and play one game per week on the weekend. Teams will play half of their games at home, whereas the other half of the games will require travel. The cost for the fall season (deposit, club fees, team fees, jersey kit, travel, training, tryouts, and tournaments) is approximately $550-$600. And our local soccer club is more reasonable than most soccer clubs in the state of Minnesota. At seven years old, my daughter has to choose academy or competitive if she wants to play soccer in our community. No wonder parents are pulling their children out of soccer. Adults have taken over youth soccer and have turned it into a business. A business that: • Employs “professional” soccer players to train our kids to be “top players” from ages 4-18 • Charges astronomical prices to be a part of a club or organization • Expects year-round sport specialization • Can be unhealthy, both mentally and physically, for young children
• Is not inclusive of all children This isn’t happening in our soccer community alone. It’s happening throughout Minnesota, and in every state in our country. It’s happening in many other youth sports, not just soccer. Adult-Centered Youth Sport The BBC recently published an article by Tom Farrey (2017) called “Have adults ruined children’s sport?”. The article discusses the U.S. youth sports industry and how it is built on the wallets of parents, and designed to chase the opportunities to play in college and secure scholarships. A disturbing infographic (above) depicts the sharp decline in participation in youth sports. Another image in the article depicts perfectly manicured soccer fields at one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the United States, where more than 600 “elite” teams of 9- to 15-year-old players amass on rural New Jersey fields, and thousands of parents pack the sidelines. Organizers for this particular event can reportedly rake in over $1,200 per team. These fees do not include hotel and travel expenses, or the fees that parents already pay for club soccer. Farrey, from the Aspen Institute, writes: “What the drone can’t see is how many other children – those who aren’t early bloomers, or whose families don’t have the funds, or time, to take part – have fallen away from the game. Football [American soccer] has declined among those left behind, with fewer children joining either local teams, or playing informal games in the park.” Increased demands of time and money aren’t the only negative effects of our adultcentered youth sports industry.
Baseball was the sport of that long ago time. Each recess, we played ball mostly with homemade balls as we had no money to buy any. If I needed a good ball, I would take a solid rubber ball that cost a nickel… [and] wrap the little hard rubber ball tight with string until it became the proper size. This made a fair ball. Because we thought ball, dreamed ball, and played ball, those schools turned out some good ball players… Interest was very high during that period because every player was a farm boy and a neighbor. In the following year [1924], they started to hire a player now and then and the people lost interest, so by 1930 there was no team. – Roy Falk, 1975 Sixty years after playing baseball, GreatGrandpa scrapbooked a picture of his youth baseball team. No coach — just kids getting together to play ball, dream and have fun. He remembered every player’s name. For many years, sports were playercentered, where kids learned skills through playing the game, just as the kids did on my great-grandfather’s team. Today, most youth sports are adult-driven industries that expect year-round commitment and repetitive training. According to Hawkins and Metheny (2001), year-round, repetitive training has led to an increased incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in youth from overuse. They estimate that 50 percent of all youth sport injuries can be attributed to overuse-type mechanisms. Jayanthi et al. (2013), found that there is no evidence that intense training and early specialization are necessary to achieve elite status. They list that sport specialization has the following risks: • Higher rates of injury • Increased psychological stress (player burnout) • Quitting sports at a young age Abrams (2002) states that a poll from the
Another response could be greater transparency about the availability of college scholarships, which parents are so often chasing. Only 3 percent of players coming out of high school receive any aid to play at the highest level of college football and “full-rides” are even rarer. “Parents get caught up in all this money,” says Josh Krusewski, of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “There is no money.” “To keep ambitions in proportion and avoid player burnout, parents need to learn about how their child can develop properly as an athlete,” says Kevin Payne, head of US Club Soccer.
Outlaws Baseball Team ~ 1919 National Alliance for Youth Sports estimates that 70 percent of kids who play in organized sport will quit by the age of 13 because it’s not fun anymore. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children delay sport specialization until late adolescence (15 years of age or older) and encourages children to play in multiple sports. (Brenner, 2016) For the parents, coaches, and trainers that believe that early sport specialization will develop an elite athlete, Brenner states: Studies have shown that Division 1 NCAA athletes are more likely to have played multiple sports in high school and that their first organized sport was different from their current one. Many examples exist of professional athletes who have learned skills that cross over to their sport by playing a variety of sports into high school and even college. There were 322 athletes invited to the 2015 National Football League Scouting Combine, 87 percent of whom played multiple sports in high school and 13 percent of whom only played football. Other studies in elite athletes have shown that intense training did not start until late adolescence and that these athletes played other sports before specializing… In addition, athletes who engaged in sport-specific training at a young age had shorter athletic careers. Sport specialization is causing physical and mental issues for our young sport players, the high cost to participate in sport is driving families away from participating, and the physical and mental demands in training our young children to be elite athletes is making sport “not fun;” therefore, causing a decreased involvement in sport. What can we do? Give the Game Back to the Kids After the heartbreaking moment at the end of my team’s recreational soccer season, I went ahead and asked the parents on my team what their future soccer plans were (many families had been on the team for multiple seasons). Here is what I heard: 1. Two girls were planning to tryout for competitive. 2. Four families were traveling to other communities where recreational soccer is offered for a few more years. (Two found that the community they wanted to play for already had a wait-list to play recreational
soccer – if that’s not an indication of the need for recreational soccer opportunities, I don’t know what is.) 3. The remaining six families had either decided to be done with soccer, or were undecided on what their plans were. We, as adults, need to give the game back to the kids. Clubs and city community programs need to offer recreational opportunities for children of all ages. Recreational programs should focus on teaching sport basics through fun and entertaining games, developing skills through play, be affordable, and be available to all players regardless of skill level, age, income level of the family, etc. Farrey (2017) went on to discuss the needs in youth sports, stating that rather than putting …children into travel teams at an early age, it could be better to prioritize local games, giving classmates the chance to play and develop together… [Children] would also have more chances to try out different sports, discovering which best suits them. Others suggest that work is needed to include children of all backgrounds. For example, football [American soccer] is popular in Hispanic communities, but families often lack the resources to join clubs.
There is something wrong with our youth sports world when seven-year-old children need to choose between trying out for a competitive team or agreeing to a 10-month training program, both of which are astronomically expensive, and can be very time-consuming. What happens to the parents of multiple children who can’t afford to put their children in youth sports? What happens to the eight-year-old child who just wants to try soccer? Some parents may have a difficult time paying $550-plus for this. What happens to the children who just want to play a sport for fun with their friends or classmates? What happens to the family who doesn’t want to invest large amounts of money or time into youth sports? What happens to the parents who hate to pull their child from their favorite sport, but have no option? You end up observing the heartbreaking scene of parents having to tell their daughter “We’re done.” Parents, coaches, sport club members, community recreation directors, and trainers, I implore you to push for the availability of recreational programs for all youth – programs that are inclusive of all community members. After three years of trying to convince our local soccer club and community recreation programs to adopt a recreational program for kids ages eight and older, a group of dedicated parents, coaches and leaders have decided to band together to help create change in our community. Our battle has been uphill, but we are determined to help create a soccer program for those kids and families who want a fun, player-centered, development-through-play, local program that won’t break the bank or demand a lot of time. Yesterday, I talked to a director for our
soccer club who stated, “I think you may be onto something. I compared the numbers of participants we had in our under-eight recreational soccer program last summer to the numbers we have registered this fall for the under-nine academy and competitive combined, and a third of our players are gone. This is not what the club wants to see. Would you be willing to work with the club to collect more data, and if need be, help organize a recreational soccer league?” “You bet I would!” I replied. If you are a parent, coach, or player looking for additional youth sport opportunities, contact leaders in your local soccer club, contact the directors in your local community recreation department, gather thoughts from other players and parents in your league, develop a free online survey to distribute using neighborhood Facebook groups, etc., to get a feel for what the community wants, and attend board meetings to present your concerns and data. Our communities need recreational sport options, our state needs recreational sport options, and our nation needs recreational sport options. Until we make recreational programs available in all communities, soccer will not be available to everyone who wants to play, and I fear that the number of youth participants will keep dwindling. We need to give the game back to the kids. Let them play, let them learn, let them develop their skills, let them have fun, and let them realize their love for the game. Give the kids their sandlot back.
References Abrams, D.E. (2002). “The Challenge Facing Parents and Coaches in Youth Sports: Assuring children fun and equal opportunity,” 8 Vill. Sports & Ent. L.J. 253. Brenner, J.S. (2016). “Sports Specialization and Intensive Training in Young Athletes.” Pediatrics, 138(3), doi: 10.1542/ peds.2016-2148 Farrey, T. (2017, December 28). “Have Adults Ruined Children’s Sport?” Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-uscanada-42329564 Hawkins, D., and Metheny, J. (2001). “Overuse Injuries in Youth Sports: Biomechanical considerations.” Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 33(10), 1701–1707. Jayanthi, N., Pinkham, C., Dugas, L., Patrick, B., & LaBella, C. (2013). “Sports Specialization in Young Athletes: Evidence-based recommendations.” Sports Health, 5(3), 251–257. http://doi. org/10.1177/1941738112464626
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Soccer Times
SEPTEMBER 2018
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SPACE FOR ‘RENTS The Mis-Professionalization of Youth Sports: Stealing the Wrong Elements By Andy Coutts | MYSA Director of Education
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e’re fighting a battle -- or, at least I am, in my conscience, but I know that I have allies out there. It’s a battle in which it’s hard to identify a human enemy, but we can feel a current that’s running against what we believe and know is right for most kids. It can make us shake our head and wish for bygone days when things were simpler. We’d like to combat it, but cultural trends and market forces can seem too powerful to overcome. The fight is over the professionalization of youth sports, which should sound like an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp or original copy. A cover story in TIME magazine, “How Kids’ Sports Became a $15 Billion Industry”, documents the trend of extensive travel, personal trainers, rising costs, early specialization and high stress. The pro sports model is unapologetically concerned with winning and money and entertainment. Youth sports are supposed to be about personal development, a popular notion since the Progressives around the turn of the 20th century promoted organized sports as a healthy antidote to the ills of industrial work and city living. Pro sports are measured in wins, profits and TV ratings. Youth sports are much harder to measure, because we’ve bought into the Progressives’ belief that they develop moral character, physical health and important life skills. We still track wins and losses, of course, but if we listen to our kids, they tell us in survey data that winning is well down the list of reasons they play. And, we parents will attend win or lose, unlike the fair-weather pro sports fan. The fight is for the soul of youth sports and the joy of our kids who are in them. When the Aspen Institute released its annual report a few months ago, it cited that youth participation in soccer (along with baseball and basketball, aka the Big Three) is down again over the previous year, and the year before that. For all the effort and structure and systematic energy behind promoting and marketing the game, we’re losing players, some to other sports, but many more to no sports at all. Why are kids dropping out of youth sports? The most cited reason is because “it’s not fun anymore.” Upon breaking that down, it tends to be too much pressure to win and too much yelling from coaches and spectators. That sounds like a professionalized environment. An environment that feels like work, not play, and one that isn’t joyful or rewarding enough for many kids to stay in it. An environment that has lost touch with its progressive roots of developing young people and has succumbed in many ways to the lure of the professional sports model,
September is Youth Soccer Month!
where money and winning and entertainment are primary factors. While we should create opportunities for the 1 percent who have the dream, drive and potential ability to become future professionals, we’re letting the wrong parts of the pro model creep into youth sports, too much and too soon. We’re taking on a greater financial investment and higher competitive stress level while ignoring some pro sport practices that would be improvements to our youth sports culture. Year-round training with little break, lots of tournaments with several games in a weekend and early specialization aren’t elements of most pro sports. As intense as professional team sports are, they don’t play and train year-round, cram multiple games into a weekend, or seek out early specializers. The infographic on this page cherry-picks some elements of pro sports of which we should be mindful. Creating a “survival of the fittest” environment that weeds out kids at a young age isn’t accomplishing either objective: to have sports be a healthy lifetime activity, or to have a big pool of athletes who might make it as professionals. How do we, as adults, who want the best for our kids, take up the fight against the cultural current? Ask your child if they want to play. This decision needs to be theirs once they’re old enough to make it. Intrinsic motivation is a key factor; if they don’t have the want-to, then the gear and trophies and other extrinsic factors won’t be long-lasting incentives. Observe your child for signs of falling in or out of love with the game. If they don’t touch a soccer ball in between trainings, then personal trainers or early specialization aren’t the answer to higher performance. My Coaches Corner article in the July issue points to the value of soccer in the streets, a culture in which kids play on their own terms with each other, removed from adult judgment and influence. We know that superstars in most sports had a healthy dose of unstructured play in their youth that fed their skill set and allowed their love of the game to flourish. That love, not talent, is likely the greatest indicator of a future where they might make a living, or earn a scholarship, or be the varsity star, or just play up to their potential. The bottom line is that in professional sports, winning is everything. In developmental sports, kids are everything. Learning to compete is a big part of that development, but if that competition element isn’t folded into a larger purpose that meets the needs of kids, we’re likely to lose the battle.
REFEREE REPORT
By Katie Flakne MYSA Manager of Special Events
We All Can Help in Dealing with Poor Behavior
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By Bob Petersen | State Director of Assessment
his September, the National Youth Soccer campaign celebrates its 16th year of educating the public about the joys, rewards and benefits of playing youth soccer. Minnesota Youth Soccer has once again joined forces with US Youth Soccer in supporting Youth Soccer Month. Youth Soccer Month will be comprised of a month-long mixture of national and grassroots activities designed to increase awareness of the benefits of playing youth soccer. To see a full list of events and activities, visit www.mnyouthsoccer.org. MYSA is proud to support this effort and further the goals of Youth Soccer Month: • Emphasize soccer as the number-one youth participation sport in America and a leading contributor to the healthy lifestyle of millions of American families. • Bringing kids and families of all ages and all abilities together for fun, friendship and fitness. • Highlighting the various programs available to children interested in participating in soccer, including inner- city, specialneeds, recreational and elite soccer programs. A series of fun-filled messages will be communicated throughout Youth Soccer Month to illustrate the essence of youth soccer. Each week during Youth Soccer Month, a different message will be the focus of “Celebrating Soccer in America.” The four messages of Youth Soccer month are: • FUN: Whether recreational or competitive in nature, involvement in soccer is easy, affordable and rewarding. • FAMILY: Playing soccer ties families together as schedules, vacations and family time are coordinated. • FRIENDSHIP: The relationships generated through playing soccer extend beyond the field. • FITNESS: The health and fitness (physical, psychological and social) benefits of playing soccer. 14
SEPTEMBER 2018
Soccer Times
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ealing with people with poor behavior is very tricky. When you ask any police officer, that is one of the toughest parts of their job. Not only do you have to identify what is going on, but understand the condition and maturity of those involved, what happened to provoke the behavior, make quick decisions to de-escalate the tension, and, most importantly, try make sure that people are as safe as possible. This is no different than what referees have to deal with. Players and coaches all have differing abilities, experience and mental states. For most instances in our matches, poor behavior is isolated. Matches may have one or two players that “play on the edge” or play as if they are unhappier than most. We need to accept that because, as human beings, to expect everyone to act like robots is not natural. People are full of life, feelings and passion. Because most instances are very few, referees figure out a way to deal with potential problems and they usually go away. Some referees talk quietly, some briefly yell, while many just ignore the problem. Referees who seemingly do nothing are a problem. Many parents and coaches have too high of an expectation of referees, and wrongly assume it is because the referee does not care. That may be true at times, but most of the time it is because either the referee is unfamiliar with how to handle such incidents, or is simply afraid. Inexperienced referees have not had the time or experience in how to deal with tough situations. Not every situation is the same, and it takes practice and skill to effectively deal with problems. Sometimes, referees are afraid to deal with a situation because dealing with angry people is not a simple task. Angry people
are not easily calmed and can quickly become more agitated. In all cases, when you add the dimension of parents and coaches yelling for justice, that puts unnecessary pressure on the referee and creates a very poor environment for a referee — especially a young referee — to learn. Referees, when you see something that needs to be dealt with, do something. Start with a calm word. If that does not work, be sterner in your approach. If you are dealing with a player, you have your yellow and red cards. If you are dealing with coaches, you have “Ask, Tell, Dismiss.” If you end up giving red cards to players or dismissing coaches for irresponsible behavior, you will be supported. Reports have been coming in that some referees have been too quick to remove players and coaches. We are also finding that there have been many times where the referees have not been quick enough. Even if one method of trying does not work, that is okay. Try something else. The best referees are always trying new ways of dealing with problem people. Coaches and parents, if you think the referee is not doing things they should be doing, yelling at them is never the answer. You create more tension which causes more problems and solves nothing. If you see a referee who is consistently struggling, notify your club. If you see the tension in a game is increasing, help settle your players down. It is not a valid argument to blame the referee for out-of-control players. People are responsible for their own behavior; never scapegoat the referee. If anything, when you see something, give the referee a chance to figure it out. If the referee does not, use it as a teaching moment. After all, our sport is so much more than just kicking a ball.
KICKS FOR
KIDS
PU ZZ L IN G FILL-INS
See how many of these words that begin with the letters “GO� you can identify. Put one letter on each blank space. Have fun and good luck! CLUE ANSWER Soccer position that can use their hands 1. G O __ Granola, Oatmeal, Raisins & Peanuts 2. G O __ Opposite of bad 3. G O __ A fancy dress 4. G O __ A search engine 5. G O __ Top prize at Olympics 6. G O __ A fancy glass 7. G O __ Silly 8. G O __ University of Minnesota nickname 9. G O __ Musical instrument 10. G O __ Similar to, but smaller than a canyon 11. G O __ Sound a turkey makes 12. G O __
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__ __
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
See answers on page 3.
Soccer Times
SEPTEMBER 2018
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