Dear Anson,
You said I had a unique appreciation for the drama that soccer holds. Well, I guess that's one of the reasons I felt so bad when the season ended so abruptly for my 18s
There we were, cruising along through the State Cup. First weekend -- eight goals scored, two allowed. Click to continue reading...

Dear Anson,
You said that I had a unique appreciation for the drama that soccer holds. Well, I guess that's one of the reasons I felt so bad when the season ended so abruptly for my 18s
There we were, cruising along through the State Cup. First weekend -- eight goals scored, two allowed. Click to continue reading...

Dear Aaron,
Don't mean to pile on, or kick a guy when he's down. But U.S. coaches certainly should understand the dangers of yapping away in the media.
This adds to the disasterous performance of our National Team coach.
When I think of more, I'll write.
Thanks
You know who Click to continue reading...

Dear Aaron,
Don't mean to pile on, or kick a guy when he's down. But U.S. coaches certainly should understand the dangers of yapping away in the media.
This adds to the disasterous performance of our National Team coach.
When I think of more, I'll write.
Thanks
You know who Click to continue reading...

Dear Tony,
I have never done this before. I didn't do it when Bora refused to work on youth development or coaching education. I didn't do it when Sampson fell in love with his own importance and devised the silly 3-6-1 formation then embarrassed us in France. I didn't do it when April had a meltdown in Australia and her team continuously under-performed. Click to continue reading...

Dear Tony,
I have never done this before. I didn't do it when Bora refused to work on youth development or coaching education. I didn't do it when Sampson fell in love with his own importance and devised the silly 3-6-1 formation then embarrassed us in France. I didn't do it when April had a meltdown in Australia and her team continuously under-performed. Click to continue reading...

Dear Roger,
Last week I wrote that my U13s got stomped in a lackluster performance and then came back the next day (after a couple long "chats" with me) and put in the performance of the season.
I ended that post saying how was able to start talking to them about maintaining high standards. Click to continue reading...

Dear Roger,
Last week I wrote that my U13s got stomped in a lackluster performance and then came back the next day (after a couple long "chats" with me) and put in the performance of the season.
I ended that post saying how was able to start talking to them about maintaining high standards. Well, we played a game this past Saturday and now I have to adjust my coaching a little bit. Click to continue reading...

Dear Bob,
Soccer Dad over at On the Pitch has an interesting post about player development.
One of his points is this:
If proper development means less structure in practice to allow for creativity at the expense of a few wins, I think many would be cool with that. Click to continue reading...

Dear Bob,
Soccer Dad over at On the Pitch has an interesting post about player development.
One of his points is this:
If proper development means less structure in practice to allow for creativity at the expense of a few wins, I think many would be cool with that. But they have to be convinced that there is ‘a better way' and shown why and how. Click to continue reading...

Dear Aly,
Had a game with my U13 last Saturday. Played like crap for the final 50 minutes. First 20 were pretty good, though.
We played a very good team and lost 4-0. We gave them two goals -- one own goal and then handed their player the ball 10 yards out. One of their girls swerved a corner kick into the far, upper corner. Click to continue reading...

Dear Aly,
Had a game with my U13 last Saturday. Played like crap for the final 50 minutes. First 20 were pretty good, though.
We played a very good team and lost 4-0. We gave them two goals -- one own goal and then handed their player the ball 10 yards out. One of their girls swerved a corner kick into the far, upper corner. So we were down 3-0 and had made just one mistake. Click to continue reading...

Dear Carla,
For a long time, I have been wondering about the next generation of U.S. women's national team players. Well, here they are, and I'm still wondering.
Let's say up front that I was and still am a big supporter of Mia Hamm, Carla Overbeck, Julie Foudy, Michelle Akers, Kristine Lilly, Joy Fawcett, Brandi Chastain and anyone else that played from 1996-1999. Click to continue reading...

Dear Carla,
For a long time, I have been wondering about the next generation of U.S. women's national team players. Well, here they are, and I'm still wondering.
Let's say up front that I was and still am a big supporter of Mia Hamm, Carla Overbeck, Julie Foudy, Michelle Akers, Kristine Lilly, Joy Fawcett, Brandi Chastain and anyone else that played from 1996-1999. Click to continue reading...

Dear Tony,
Not so good. The U.S. women's national team struggled to a 2-2 draw with North Korea, a team that should have been beaten yet appeared superior in virtually every aspect of the match.
Credit to the players for scratching out a draw and getting a point. But they appeared under-prepared for the North Koreans. Click to continue reading...