The backers of Torrance's planned state of the art Futsal facility in a former warehouse on Maple Avenue have signed a lease for the 73,000-square-foot building and are projecting a December opening.

Dubbed South Coast Soccer City, the refurbished building will accommodate five Futsal fields with modular flooring and two artificial turf fields, a 4,000-square-foot training center, four party rooms, a homework room, cafe/lounge and store selling Futsal equipment.

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The end of season funk that I normally fall into has in the last three seasons been ameliorated by the continuation of the LAPL and this season by the U10 Boys Dinamo team that is playing in Santa Monica AYSO.
The funk has been cast completely aside by FK Dinamo's incredible run since mid season in The Los Angeles Premier League where we've lost one game in the last 7 and won the other 6 - we haven't drawn all season. Click to continue reading...

The end of season funk that I normally fall into has in the last three seasons been ameliorated by the continuation of the LAPL and this season by the U10 Boys Dinamo team that is playing in Santa Monica AYSO.
The funk has been cast completely aside by FK Dinamo's incredible run since mid season in The Los Angeles Premier League where we've lost one game in the last 7 and won the other 6 - we haven't drawn all season. Click to continue reading...

Still friends, even after the game

Lakers player Jett Hays, 7, left, and buddy Timmy Kacius, 7, of the Green Angels leave the Hull at Levy Field in Torrance Saturday on the second weekend of American Youth Soccer Organization play in AYSO Region 15. The Lakers won 3-2 with Jett scoring two goals.

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Photo courtesy German Alegria/Los Angeles Galaxy

Hans Stierle, a former Torrance resident regarded as the driving force behind the creation of the American Youth Soccer Association and the now national organization's first president, was honored before Saturday's Galaxy game. Stierle, who now lives in the Pacific Northwest, was presented with a Galaxy jersey by Tom Payne, president of business operations for the team.

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This was the first weekend of AYSO matches. I'm coaching 3 teams with Eddie.

U-16 Burbank - It was an ugly game as we lost 3-1. Our girls have skills, but the 8:00 AM kickoff seemed to make them forget how to play. They made way too many mistakes and couldn't focus at all. We've got some work to do.

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Karen Carney and Kelly Smith got the two against Germany's 6 - the dream of England's women wasn't to be. But the lasses final was England's first final since the year of Hope Powell's birth. She's magic she is. It's just a bit pathetic that it wasn't on live TV here.
Fabio did the business against Slaven. Click to continue reading...

Karen Carney and Kelly Smith got the two against Germany's 6 - the dream of England's women wasn't to be. But the lasses final was England's first final since the year of Hope Powell's birth. She's magic she is. It's just a bit pathetic that it wasn't on live TV here.
Fabio did the business against Slaven. Click to continue reading...

Was at the washeteria again today. I had such a busy week that this was the first opportunity since Sunday nights rather ignominious defeat to Valhalla in the LAPL. Obviously, the kit smelled absolutely rank.
For whatever reason (probably because I was distracted reading texts) I had my reading glasses on and noticed the absolutely incredible amount of synthetic field material in my car. Click to continue reading...

When all we seem to see are negative stories about youth sports in the media, it's wonderful to hear about stories of sportsmanship and selflessness in youth soccer. An AYSO coach, whose team was eliminated from a regional tournament in California, discovered the winners could not go on to the next round for financial reasons and decided to try and do something about it with the help of a local radio personality and the WPS LA SOL. Click to continue reading...

Tough few weeks all round, really.
Loko stretched it's unbeaten run to four (2w's, 2d's) and Internazionale climbed to 4th in the table 3 points off the top. Shakhtar got their first win of the season going into the second half  of the season (Paul's back from injury) Red Star sit nicely in third, and the machine that is Dinamo Spartak rides over everyone even as their depleted by injuries - third in the division - separated from second only by goal diference. Click to continue reading...

Like Nathan and Jen, I'm helping Laurie phatten-up our fair blog's sandbox. I just wanted to introduce myself before you get to read my first post. What a time to arrive, in the middle of the Shakeup of 2008 and the aftermath of last night's hard fought...draw. I'm not getting much sleep, are you?

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It was an afternoon of fun and surprises as Barcelona, teaming with the AYSO and MalariaNoMore.org, took part in a 4 v 4, eight team tournament titled "More Than A Game," to benefit their work in Africa and abroad. Each team consisted of 2 Barcelona players, a rank amateur (Fernando Fiore of Republica Deportiva [. Click to continue reading...

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Rick Davis, current National Executive Director of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). Rick or Ricky Davis is also well known as a former player for the New York Cosmos and U.S. National Team.
Rick explained that when he was a child he was very active in all sports, growing up in Claremont, CA. Click to continue reading...

For those of you who have children that participate on USYSA or US Club teams, it can be easy to forget there are other national soccer associations out there. The AYSO is a less competitive oriented program, but that doesn't mean they are just grassroots and local. They're holding their National Games in Hawaii this [. Click to continue reading...