If you're wondering where SoccerDad has been the past few weeks and why it's been so quiet here at On The Pitch, here's an update on what his travel team has been doing. Click to continue reading...

If you're wondering where SoccerDad has been the past few weeks and why it's been so quiet here at On The Pitch, here's an update on what his travel team has been doing. Click to continue reading...

We played our last fall season match against a tough division opponent that was undefeated, hoping to reverse a recent slide and come away with a win. Well, didn't work out that way by any stretch, but there were a couple funny moments I figured I'd share. One of our defenders has a rocket of a [...] Click to continue reading...

We played our last fall season match against a tough division opponent that was undefeated, hoping to reverse a recent slide and come away with a win. Well, didn't work out that way by any stretch, but there were a couple funny moments I figured I'd share. One of our defenders has a rocket of a [...] Click to continue reading...

Sometimes the excitement at a youth soccer match happens afterward! Click to continue reading...

Sometimes the excitement at a youth soccer match happens afterward! Click to continue reading...

Sometimes the excitement at a youth soccer match happens afterward! Click to continue reading...

Many teams require their players to wear matching 'practice attire'. Is it worth doing, and if so, can it help team spirit? I gave it a shot with my team to find out. Click to continue reading...

Many teams require their players to wear matching 'practice attire'. Is it worth doing, and if so, can it help team spirit? I gave it a shot with my team to find out. Click to continue reading...

Many teams require their players to wear matching 'practice attire'. Is it worth doing, and if so, can it help team spirit? I gave it a shot with my team to find out. Click to continue reading...

For many youth soccer players and teams, things are pretty similar. You go to practice a couple times a week. You play matches, and you head home. Some go to tournaments, others don't. But it's all about the soccer. But what about the team? Are there things that can be done to turn an ordinary [...] Click to continue reading...

For many youth soccer players and teams, things are pretty similar. You go to practice a couple times a week. You play matches, and you head home. Some go to tournaments, others don't. But it's all about the soccer. But what about the team? Are there things that can be done to turn an ordinary [...] Click to continue reading...

For many youth soccer players and teams, things are pretty similar. You go to practice a couple times a week. You play matches, and you head home. Some go to tournaments, others don't. But it's all about the soccer. But what about the team? Are there things that can be done to turn an ordinary [...] Click to continue reading...

Our U12 Girls team is holding a fundraiser this weekend to help defray some tournament costs. After exploring various options we decided to go with a car wash held at a local bank. The trick is, when the coaching staff thought about our girls, their past exploits, and mixing them with water, well, it's kind [. Click to continue reading...

Our U12 Girls team is holding a fundraiser this weekend to help defray some tournament costs. After exploring various options we decided to go with a car wash held at a local bank. The trick is, when the coaching staff thought about our girls, their past exploits, and mixing them with water, well, it's kind [. Click to continue reading...

Our U12 Girls team is holding a fundraiser this weekend to help defray some tournament costs. After exploring various options we decided to go with a car wash held at a local bank. The trick is, when the coaching staff thought about our girls, their past exploits, and mixing them with water, well, it's kind [. Click to continue reading...

As the fall season approaches, I've been talking with my assistant coaches about what events we should think about taking our team to this year. They say the best learning environment is playing in matches, so we try to provide additional playing opportunities for our team while also providing them with a fun weekend where [. Click to continue reading...

My U11 Girls team had one last hurrah at the NC State Games last weekend, and you just knew there would be a few Tales From The Lunachick Fringe! The NC State Games are a huge annual amatuer sporting event styled after the Olympics, including opening ceremonies. The youth soccer tournament is only one of dozens [. Click to continue reading...

My U11 Girls team had one last hurrah at the NC State Games last weekend, and you just knew there would be a few Tales From The Lunachick Fringe! The NC State Games are a huge annual amatuer sporting event styled after the Olympics, including opening ceremonies. The youth soccer tournament is only one of dozens of events, but attracts teams from across the state. Click to continue reading...

It's so nice that the drought seems to be over or at least improving. We've had a lot of rain this season, compared to almost none last Fall. But it sure would be nice if it rained earlier in the week. Lately it seems like it is always raining Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - wreaking [...] Click to continue reading...

It is a common question made to youth soccer coaches, both from experienced coaches as well as people unfamiliar with youth soccer. Why Do you Coach? For me there are a number of reasons, but I think I can say without hesitation that there is one reason above all others: When the players on the [...]SHARETHIS. Click to continue reading...

I often joke with friends of mine that I'll be able to write a book in a few years about the exploits of my U11 Girls team, The Lunachicks. Regular readers are already familiar with some of my tales. In lieu of a book, I might as well start a regular feature here at OTP [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Tales From The Lunachick Fringe", url: "http://onthepitch. Click to continue reading...

I was talking with one of the 'Lunachick' dads the other day about the new dynamic we'd have on the parent sideline this year compared to years past in Recreation. He chuckled and said "Oh yeah - I have it all figured out - we're going to call the Lunachick parents the 'Lunatic Fringe'" I [...] Click to continue reading...

Ever since tryouts, the girls on my U11G Challenge team have been looking forward to the start of practice. A few have played some pickup together, gone to summer camp, played in 3v3 tournaments, etc. But this is a new team made up mostly of girls who have played coed in Rec, so they've been [...] Click to continue reading...

As I noted recently, I'll be coaching a travel team this fall - U11 Girls, in the TCL Challenge League. We put together a really good group of players who are super excited to play. How excited they'll be after the conditioning workouts this week remains to be seen. But once you have a new [...] Click to continue reading...