As U.S. Soccer's Youth Technical Director, Claudio Reyna believes a key to improving American player development is convincing more youth clubs to strive for a style of play conducive to nurturing talent. The 78-club U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which kicked off its fifth season this month, is a integral part of the national team program's quest to improve American soccer.

Today we're excited to announce a new series on the Free Beer Movement. It's called "Brews and Views" and we pose a question or topic to various prominent soccer persons and, well, they give us their view on it.
We've got loads of get people that have already responded to our call for essay submissions and each week we'll feature a unique perspective on the current topic/question at hand.

Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

Despite Timmy Chandler's insistence that he wants to play for the United States, a familar name in American soccer has floated the possibility that the German-born fullback might still be considering playing for his native country.

Now in its 16th season, Major League Soccer is continuing to show growth and stability as a major American sports league. The current season features two new teams (Portland Timbers and Vancouver FC), a revamped playoff format, and more sponsorship dollars coming in than ever before. Last week, Visa extended its partnership with the league, and will continue to have exclusive promotional rights at events like the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup.

Jared and I aren't doing the American Soccer Show anymore, but that doesn't mean we don't feel the need to give you something involving our voices between the old show and the new one. Entitled "Free on a Bosman" because Jared thought that was clever, this show is partly an update about our future and partly about the USMNT.

It's important to remember that all revolutionary movements are built upon the work of visionaries before their own times. For Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams and the rest of the colonial propagandists during America's War for Independence they could look to philosopher John Locke and other Enlightenment writers.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Someone (me) once said (just now, for real) that American soccer is a question in search of a question mark. But who asked that question, and what other punctuation might it contain? To find out, we deployed two brilliant young sportswriters, the latest in electronic-communications technology, and the copy-paste function.

We continue our new series on the Free Beer Movement. It's called "Brews and Views" and we pose a question or topic to various prominent soccer persons and, well, they give us their view on it.
We've got loads of get people that have already responded to our call for essay submissions and each week we'll feature a unique perspective on the current topic/question at hand.

AP photoBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
Some Chicago sports fans need a refresher course that the 1980s were not completely centered on Mike Ditka's 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears and the phenomenon of Michael Jordan.
The Chicago Sting was the toast of this city at the start of the decade, winning North American Soccer League crowns in 1981 and 1984.

We continue our new series on the Free Beer Movement. It's called "Brews and Views" and we pose a question or topic to various prominent soccer persons and, well, they give us their view on it.
We've got loads of get people that have already responded to our call for essay submissions and each week we'll feature a unique perspective on the current topic/question at hand.

Yesterday we posted a poll to determine what you think the best candidate destination would be for Major League Soccer's 20th team. The overwhelming winner was Minnesota, and although an e-mail and Twitter campaign may have significantly contributed to the success of the Twin City area, there are definite upsides to moving MLS up North.

Maybe American coaches do have more of a tactical acumen than we get credit for around the world.
Tony Edwards writes of the success of American coaches in MLS over in Mexico during the CONCACAF Champions League.
In Bayern Munich and Germany captain Philip Lahm's new book, The Fine Difference, United States National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann is presented as, well, less than a tactical genius during his short-lived time leading Bayern.

On the latest edition of the Major League Soccer Talk Podcast : This Week in US Soccer, your hosts (the Chris and Chris of American soccer) bring you a view of the beautiful game from an American and regional perspective. The crew starts off with an array of MLS and Yanks Abroad news, before analyzing Jurgen Klinnsman's second roster of callups for the USMNT.

On the latest edition of the Major League Soccer Talk Podcast : This Week in US Soccer, your hosts (the Chris and Chris of American soccer) bring you a view of the beautiful game from an American and regional perspective. ...

Editor's Note: With this piece, we welcome Connor Walsh to the Yanks Are Coming family. We're excited to have him on board, and think you'll like what he has to say...or at least want to discuss it if you don't! By Connor Walsh Ask even the most pessimistic American soccer fan, and they'll [...

TAMPA, Fla. (September 2, 2011) FC Tampa Bay forward Mike Ambersley has been named the North American Soccer League Player of the Month for August, the league announced on Friday. It marks the second consecutive month that FC Tampa Bay has claimed the award after forward Aaron King received the honor in July.

It's been a busy week in American soccer news, gaining a German-born player in Fabian Johnson and potentially losing two American-born players in Joe Corona and George John who have been recently linked to Mexican Under-22 and Greek National Team camps, respectively.

You're looking for THIS photo.We're not just connoisseurs of beer and fine American soccer here at the Free Beer Movement; we're artists too.
Over the years we've brought our camera to all corners of the globe and trained it on the beautiful game (and plenty of other things). Photography is a fun little hobby and a great window to the world around us.

Shootout is the name of the game this year. Losers in shootouts have been more famous than winners on some occasions, first Argentina and Brazil in Copa America, than the U.S. Women's National Team in the World Cup Final.

Zach Woosley returns to the American Soccer Show to cover the US Men's National Team's 1-0 defeat at the hands of Costa Rica and the USSF's sanctioning on the American Outlaws. ESPN's Alexi Lalas joins to offer his opinions and insight on the match. CSRN MEDIA PLAYER

Union

It's official: Mondragon has an extra-articular phalanx fracture. Out 2-4 weeks. From Emedicine: "Extra-articular fractures of the distal phalanx are common and are associated with significant soft-tissue injury. Most distal phalangeal fractures are crush injuries from a perpendicular force.

Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid believes it is great for American soccer that former USA national team boss Bob Bradley is being considered for jobs abroad.
The 53-year olds five-year tenure in charge of the US team was recently ended when US Soccer replaced him with Juergen Klinsmann but there has been no shortage of interest in his services with the Egypt national team and some clubs in Mexico showing curiosity.

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 30, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Like most of you, I only knew Bobby Rhine as a soccer player. Considering the outpouring of sentiment after news of his death, that's a shame. What we've learned from those that did know him is that we've lost a person who was well respected by his peers, admired even, and for many represented the best American soccer has to offer.

Eventually, I found Sounder at Heart and my love for the domestic game went to an entirely different level. I found a community that wanted to dig deeper into the game, but didn't want to skimp on the passion. We found a team that embraced our curiosity.

Jeremiah explains "Why American Soccer?

As many of you know by now, this past weekend was scheduled by FIFA as an international weekend meaning that the club world took a break (for the most part) in order to facilitate some national team games. The USA played twice against both Costa Rica and Belgium and lost both times. Such a shame..

10 years ago the US played Costa Rica at Arrowhead Stadium in KC. It was my first trip to see the team in person and a game that I will never forget. At that time, it was difficult to find US games on TV (many games were on pay-per-view if they were broadcast at all) and you had to scour the internet for hours just to find any news relating to the team.

Three important games took place on Wednesday evening in the North American Soccer League. Each had an impact on the playoff picture. The Carolina RailHawks clinched the regular season championship, FC Edmonton clinched a playoff spot and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are within a grasp of also clin Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1-0 Carolina RailHawks The [.

We continue our new series on the Free Beer Movement. It's called "Brews and Views" and we pose a question or topic to various prominent soccer persons and, well, they give us their view on it.
We've got loads of get people that have already responded to our call for essay submissions and each week we'll feature a unique perspective on the current topic/question at hand.

- Jason Davis
The theme most prevalent thus far in Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as USMNT head coach - all month and change of it - is the movement towards integrating America's abundant Latin soccer influence into the team. In part because Klinsmann has made it his cause cause célèbre (in concert with imbuing in the team a more attacking, fluid style - more on that in a minute), we can't go more than a few hours without a new piece waxing on about it, without the Paul Gardners of the world bellowing "FINALLY!

From the Evansville Courier Press, September 11, 2011
Why Evansville?
That was the question I was asked by some friends at a Purple Aces Club gathering, and I think my answer pleasantly surprised those I was sitting with.
Having been born and raised in the New York metropolitan area and despite growing up with a sports orientation through professional sports teams like the Cosmos, Yankees and Knickerbockers, I was always a college soccer fan.

Big week and weekend of games in MLS, so we'll start right in with a look at attendance. Starting with the Monday game, more than 20k were in KC for the Galaxy and Sporting match. 16k came to PPL Park for the thrilling 4-4 draw with the Revs. The game was rescheduled from a couple of weeks ago when Hurricane Irene blitzed through the Northeast.

We continue our comprehensive coverage of American soccer culture with our series "Better Know a Supporters Group," just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert Report".
Our goal: to feature each of the MLS teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.

All the news that's fit to drink.
And because you'd rather have a beer than be reading all the time... we've taken the day's top news and given it the Reader's Digest-treatment so you can get to that post-work pint quicker.
* Grant Wahl says FIFA needs to get it's own "Red Zone Channel" like the NFL.

If there is one voice in American soccer concerning concussions, it is Taylor Twellman. It is a voice that he understands grates on players and fans at times, but one that he will not stop using. He is currently moving from his personal Twitter and media crusade to raise awareness to the creation of a clearinghouse website for concussion related information, data and resources at ThinkTaylor.

Tampa, Fla. (September 12, 2011) FC Tampa Bay midfielder Mozzi Gyorio (pronounced Mozz-ee Gee-or-ee-oh) has been named the North American Soccer League Offensive Player of the Week for Week 23. Gyorio scored the game-winning goal for FC Tampa Bay in last Tuesday's 2-1 victory at NSC Minnesota, clinching the club's first-ever playoff berth.

Charlie Davies has never done a thing to me. I promise. I have absolutely nothing against the man, although I have said several times that he needs to grow up a bit and make more "adult" choices about some things. And, of course, I hope he's learned his lessons about diving. Naughty, naughty.

All the news that's fit to drink.
And because you'd rather have a beer than be reading all the time... we've taken the day's top news and given it the Reader's Digest-treatment so you can get to that post-work pint quicker.


* Who will Jurgen Klismann's new-look USMNT face on the Tuesday, October 11th open international date?

Welcome to episode #11 of the IMSoccer News North American Soccer League Podcast. The NASL is nearing the end of the season with most teams having only two games remaining. With the NASL Playoffs on the horizon and 4 of the 6 playoff spots clinched, we decided to bring back the IMSoccer News NASL Podcast [.

We continue our new series on the Free Beer Movement. It's called "Brews and Views" and we pose a question or topic to various prominent soccer persons and, well, they give us their view on it.
We've got loads of get people that have already responded to our call for essay submissions and each week we'll feature a unique perspective on the current topic/question at hand.

- Jason Davis
As one of those interminable people constantly worried about the popularity of soccer in the United States, I should be thrilled that Fox is giving the sport a run on their flagship over-the-air behemoth of a network starting this Sunday. Manchester United and Chelsea will be shown, on tape delay, right smack in the middle of the usual National Football League window.