In the five short years our local league has existed, one of the stranger challenges we've faced is trying to keep our soccer goals anchored. Soccer goals can tip forward, and can severely injure or even kill players when the crossbar falls to the ground. The worst are the small 6′ x 4′ goals used [...] 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...

Our league has 32 soccer goals at our complex. Half are little 6′x4′ goals for the U5/U6 teams. The rest vary from 12′ wide to 24′ wide for the older kids. When they were originally put together, lets just say attention to detail was not a factor. The nets were cable tied to the posts [...] Click to continue reading...

Don't you love sensationalist headlines, even when they're technically accurate? I could have made it even worse talking about 16 million ER visits ... over a 13 year period. I recently stumbled across an article talking about a recent study of injury rates for youth soccer players and it had some interesting tidbits. [...] Click to continue reading...

Stumbled across a Youth League I wasn't familiar with while doing research for the Premier issue of SGFsoccer.com - The Magazine.

The Bridge provides League Play for 3 yr olds – 8th grade. There is an 8 game guarantee (Pre-K & Kindergarten Leagues – 3 on 3) and the season begins September 17th

Registration:
August 1st – August 22nd
$35 first child $30 every child after
Head Coach gets ONE kid free

Late Registration $45 (no multi-child discount)

Applications: will be available at The Dugout and Webb City Wal-Mart
Turn in Applications at the Dugout

Coaches meeting: Thursday, August 29th 6:30 pm

Contact Information: Christy Philpot 417.

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In light of the record temperatures many parts of the country are seeing, it brings up a question. Most leagues will leave the cancellation of practices up to individual coaches, except in the case of severe weather (lightning, snow/ice, etc.) where the league will cancel everything. But is there a point where it's too hot [...] Click to continue reading...

You just sort of expect that the week you officially start soccer practices - it'll be the hottest week of the year, and possibly on record. With our teams starting practice on Monday, we've set a new high temperature Monday, Tuesday, and Today, with temperatures of 99 or higher. With extremely high temperatures forecast for [...] Click to continue reading...

Dear Rob,

I hope you see how ridiculous that sounds. Some of my parents asked me one time how not winning a certain tournament would effect our rankings. In my mind, I answered by saying, "Are you seriously asking me about our ranking at U12?" Out loud, I said, "I don't know. It's not important."

So, I had some free time today (big shock) so I went to Gotsoccer's rankings and checked it out. Click to continue reading...

Dear Chris,

I have this weekend off. It's my last weekend without a soccer game until Nov. 17. Coaching two teams means I have three tournaments back-to-back-to-back before the season begins. Then 10 straight weekends of league games with a midseason tournament thrown in.

I love tournaments. I guess it stems from the brief period of depression I go through at the end of each game I coach. Click to continue reading...

Dear Nomar,

Let me say up front that I know all the good things soccer parents do. I understand the financial and time commitments they make so their children can participate. I'm fully aware of all that. But, too many are out of hand, and I've come up with some reasons.

1. Moms missed out on a lot: Let's say the typical soccer mom is between 30 and 50 years old. Click to continue reading...

Dear Kathleen,

Remember when you were at cross country practice and got hit by that car. We still laugh at that. I'm not sure where this originated, but I found it on the NC Soccer Forum. Just goes to show you ... don't ever do anything.

* Sunday December 5th 2004. Playing in the Swiss league, Servette midfielder Paulo Diogo scored against Schaffhausen, then jumped into the crowd to celebrate. Click to continue reading...

Dear Carla,

I've always been interested in leadership. The qualities of leaders, the character needed, the way leaders' minds work -- that's all very interesting to me.

Over at And Again, a soccer coaching forum, they are discussing leadership qualities. Among the more interesting posts is:

We also have our own leadership philosophy that we explain to them. Click to continue reading...

I've really enjoyed blogging about youth soccer these past few years, but it has been a lonely existence. I've found a few blogs by Soccer Moms and sporadic posts from youth soccer coaches on personal blogs, etc. However, I never found anyone else blogging about youth soccer most of the time, or even some of [...] Click to continue reading...

As the Fall 2007 season fast approaches for our soccer league, we've been hard at work getting things ready to go. This includes finalizing team rosters, setting practice schedules, finalizing the field layouts (we flip fields around annually to help with wear on the fields), and much more. This past Saturday was 'Fix The Goals [...] Click to continue reading...

The Pittsburg Morning Sun has a nice article on the development of a Futsal league at the local YMCA.

"I've played soccer probably since I was three," said Hannah Landrith, 13, who signed up at age 12. "I like that it's almost exactly like soccer, but it's in air conditioning."

The article has some nice background on how the game was originally developed in Montevideo Uruguay as well.

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The deadline for registering for the Branson Park's Soccer leagues and new Youth Camp is fast approaching:

Aug. 13 —Start of practice for the Branson Parks and Recreation's Youth Soccer Leagues, open to boys and girls ages 5-16. Fee: $25 for individuals in divisions U6 through U10, and a $200 team fee for divisions U12 through U16. Games will be on Saturdays, starting Sept.

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The deadline for registering for the Branson Park's Soccer leagues and new Youth Camp is fast approaching:

Aug. 13 ???Start of practice for the Branson Parks and Recreation's Youth Soccer Leagues, open to boys and girls ages 5-16. Fee: $25 for individuals in divisions U6 through U10, and a $200 team fee for divisions U12 through U16. Games will be on Saturdays, starting Sept.

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The Registration deadline for Lake Country Soccer youth leagues and Youth Development Programs is August 8th - it includes both teams and individual players.

Individual registration fees start at $60 for ages 4-14. Team entry fees start at $525. League play begins Sept. 8.

Call 862-3211 or visit www.lakecountrysoccer.org.

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The Registration deadline for Lake Country Soccer youth leagues and Youth Development Programs is August 8th - it includes both teams and individual players.

Individual registration fees start at $60 for ages 4-14. Team entry fees start at $525. League play begins Sept. 8.

Call 862-3211 or visit www.lakecountrysoccer.org.

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ELDON - Eldon/Lake Ozark Soccer Association will hold registration for the fall soccer season from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, at the Eldon Community Center.

All players must provide a copy of a state issued birth certificate and players will be sized for uniforms.

Anyone interested in coaching and or sponsoring a team should inquire at registration or call Ken Herrbach at 280-0758.

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ELDON - Eldon/Lake Ozark Soccer Association will hold registration for the fall soccer season from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, at the Eldon Community Center.

All players must provide a copy of a state issued birth certificate and players will be sized for uniforms.

Anyone interested in coaching and or sponsoring a team should inquire at registration or call Ken Herrbach at 280-0758.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nixa Parks and Recreation is accepting registration for Youth Fall Soccer.

Registration is open to kids ages 4 through 6th grade. Registration fee is $37.50 per player. This includes a team T-shirt and trophy. The deadline to register is August 3, 2007.

For more information or to register please contact Nixa Parks and Recreation at 417-725-5486.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nixa Parks and Recreation is accepting registration for Youth Fall Soccer.

Registration is open to kids ages 4 through 6th grade. Registration fee is $37.50 per player. This includes a team T-shirt and trophy. The deadline to register is August 3, 2007.

For more information or to register please contact Nixa Parks and Recreation at 417-725-5486.

Click to continue reading...

Over at the NC Soccer Forums, there's a fun discussion going on: From playnow: With the recent boom of programs across the country (state youth academy, USSF academy, Red Bull, national premier league, super y league, region III premier league, etc.), I'd be interested to see what people had to say about youth soccer if they had [...] Click to continue reading...

The Waynesville/St. Robert Youth Sports Association will be holding signups for fall soccer soon.

Signups at the St. Robert Community Center will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 6-10 and Aug. 13-17. Signups at the St. Robert Municipal Building will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Aug. 11 and Aug. 18.

Family fees for soccer are $35 for first player, $33 for second player, $31 for third player and $29 for any additional players.

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