Union

The Tweet of the Week comes from relationship guru Amobi Okugo: "Safehouse and the vow come out tomorrow ... Some people will have to compromise." Compromise movie idea: The Vowhouse. Denzel Washington vows to build a house for the love of his life. Then he roundhouse kicks everyone who comes into said house.

On Friday, the United States Soccer Federation announced that the US Soccer Developmental Academy will be playing a 10-month season starting in September and ending in June. The new schedule applies to the 2012-13 season. US Youth Soccer technical director Claudio Reyna "Going to a 10-month season is an important step in the evolution of elite player development.

Sporting Kansas City will again offer a series of youth soccer camps in 2012 for boys and girls of all ages. Camps will be offered to the experienced player ready to take it to the next level as well as the player who is newly developing their skills. Campers who attend sessions at our training center in Swope Park will have the opportunity to observe the Pros at practice.

Ron Clark has a fantastic article up at CNN highlighting the flight of teachers from the profession, in part because of trouble dealing with parents. Reading it, I saw a lot of parallels with coaching youth sports and dealing with soccer parents, which can have a huge impact on a team and player development.

Norfolk SharX Press Release:
SHARX NAME JIM GOOLEY GENERAL MANAGER Lucy Gimbel named Director of Operations Troy Catindig named Director of Group Sales
Norfolk, Virginia – The Norfolk SharX are pleased to announce that Jim Gooley has joined the staff as General Manager.

United FC midfielder Jaime Colin was named to the Region II team for the U.S. Youth Soccer 1996 Boys Olympic Development Program Winter Interregional in Bradenton, Fla.

The event starts Thursday, with matches scheduled against each of the other three regions. Region II faces Region I on Friday afternoon, Region III on Saturday afternoon and Region IV on Sunday morning.

Taylor Twellman's efforts to create more awareness of how serious concussions can be are well documented. We've seen him on TV, Twitter, Facebook and other forms of media, but perhaps no action has more potential than the creation of ThinkTaylor.org.
ThinkTaylor is the culmination of Twellman's efforts.

Player Development is such a hot-button topic right now in the United States, and as US Soccer and Major League Soccer moves forward with youth development models and curriculums, Leander Schaerlaeckens of ESPN caught up with some of the top minds in US soccer to discuss 'where do we go from here?'
Bob Bradley, head coach, Egypt national soccer team

"It still comes down to how many good people get with clubs and are working with young kids to make sure things are done right.

This Friday the Portland Timbers will officially convene back here in Portland to begin their training for the 2012 season. With the SuperDraft behind us and a few weeks left open in the international transfer window there's a lot expected to go on, but the beginning of the training is probably the most exciting for the simple fact that it means.

Philadelphia Union assistant coach John Hackworth spoke to reporters via conference call on Wednesday night ahead of today's SuperDraft. He discussed the Union's approach to the Players Combine, the possibility of trades, particularly for an international spot, and how the Union are in a different position going into the 2012 SuperDraft compared to 2010 and 2011.

When you break it down, what we love about sports are the memories they create.

You build stockpiles of those treasured days and nights. We all have our "Miracle On Ice" moments, even if all can't rise to that level of cherish and intensity.

We fondly remember that special game at your high school.

I've written a number of times before about youth soccer referees not wanting to use their cards. Initially it seemed to be due to the age of players that I coached. But now that my older girls team is in high school, I haven't seen many more cards, even though I've seen plenty of fouls to warrant them from opponents AND my own players.

Clearing up a few odds and ends before the weekend (that would have posted hours sooner had our soon-to-be-replaced blogging software not freaked out): *Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens, Chivas USA's Jorge Villafaña (formerly Flores) and UCLA midfielder Kelyn Rowe were named today to the U-23 camp set for Sunday through

The upcoming Virginia Youth Soccer Convention is heading to the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Friday, February 3, and Saturday, February 4, 2012.
For complete Convention details go to the VYSA Convention Page

Stories of loud and obnoxious soccer parents are not hard to come by. We've all encountered them, though in my experience they're not as widespread as the media would lead you to believe. When you do encounter them, it's usually a couple of parents being loud and/or obnoxious while the other parents behave (and often try to get as far away from the loud ones as possible).

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

Ives Galarcep reports at Fox Soccer that Freddy Adu is heading to with Spanish side Rayo Vallecano for a two-week training stint. The report notes, "Rayo Vallecano is also a club that had been in talks with Adu about signing him last summer before Adu settled on a return to MLS.

There's a nice article in here on the Tmbers Army by iSportsWeb (never heard of em myself) with Garrett Dittfurth, one of the Board of Directors for the TA. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's embellishing what we've become in the north end, I will say, however, that it's a very flattering article.

One of the biggest soccer business stories of 2011 was Major League Soccer's move from Fox Soccer to the newly named NBC Sports Network for broadcast of its second tier television package. Fox was a long standing partner of the league and now, buried in this biography of NBC Sports chief Mark Lazarus from the New York Times, comes the news that the league took less money from NBC than was being offered by Fox.

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Freddy Adu, Zac MacMath, Jack McInerney, Amobi Okugo and Sheanon Williams have all reported to the U-23 Olympic qualifying camp in Florida. More on the camp here.

Covering a scrimmage on Sunday at the U-23 camp, SBI tweeted, "Worst tackle of the half was Okugo on Union teammate McInerney.

As part of Stumptown Footy's continuing offseason autobiographical series on how soccer explains our lives, here's my very long story about my youth soccer playing days in Minnesota, stints in Europe, and eventual connection with the Portland Timbers. It's the story of a lifelong search for a soccer team to support, and all the stumbling blocks along the way.

Should they be playing up?

Oh how everyone talks as if they know what "development" is, and how to do it. Sigh ...

Let's talk a little bit about "playing up" and whether it helps or not.

This weekend our U11′s are going to play in a U12 tournament. This isn't the first time competing up either.

What better way to get psyched for the 2012 season opener in Carson...: Than to watch the best Chivas USA goals from 2011: In other Chivas USA-related news: *Wonder if it's three MLS clubs and out for former Chivas USA striker Maicon Santos? *Chivas USA has announced a new partnership

Talent identification in youth soccer is an ongoing debate among the coaching community. What characteristics separate those players who will succeed at the next level from those who will struggle? Factors such as physical size, speed, fitness and technical ability are all important attributes of success.

Andrija Novakovich and Stefan Rokvic scored in a 4-minute span late in the first half as Kenosha's United FC Under-15 boys team opened play in the U.S. Youth Soccer National League with a 2-0 win against Georgia side GSA Phoenix Red on Thursday in Birmingham, Ala.

Novakovich opened the scoring in the 35th minute and Rokvic doubled the lead in the 39th for United FC, which continues play at the Collegiate Championships Showcase against CESA Premier (S.

Vuk Latinovich of the Milwaukee Kickers scored as the 1997 Region II team closed the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Thanksgiving Interregional with a 2-0 victory over its Region I counterparts Monday at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

Latinovich opened the scoring in the 19th minute for Region II, which won its final two matches after losing to Region IV 2-0 in its opener.

Tukwila, Wash.-- Seattle SoundersFC U18 Academy team (4-0-1) and U16 Academy team (3-1-1) played Santa Cruz Breakers today in a northwest division showdown in United States Development Academy (USSDA) play.

The U18 team won by a score of 5-0.

Goal Scorers: Miles Nilsen-Rodriguez, Michael Gallagher, Jordan Schweitzer (2), Dominique Dismuke

The U16 team won by a score of 4-2.

So, since most of my readers are soccer people, a little background on how things work in the roller derby world. As of the day I write this, there are 1055 roller derby leagues world-wide; there are 124 leagues in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association covering the US, Canada, Scotland, and England, which is the gold-standard for roller derby leagues - both in operations and in quality of play.

A third Wisconsin player will be part of the U.S. Youth Soccer Boys ODP Thanksgiving Interregional next week in Chula Vista, Calif.

Wind Lake midfielder Luke Prpa (North Shore United) was one of 36 players named to the U.S. Under-14 national team for the event, which starts Wednesday and runs through Nov.

I'm late on this, but it's worth following up on how Paul Kemsley is out at the Fake Cosmos and that the organization is facing a lawsuit for payment of money to the youth sides it cravenly rebranded. David Kilpatrick at The Viper's Nest gloats accordingly:

Speaking of goodbyes, none more welcome than shyster wideboy Paul Kemsley.

*With 12 days top go until MLS Cup 2011 in Carson, the trophy arrives in Southern California at 11 a.m. today at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier with a police escort accompanied by former Galaxy players Alexi Lalas and Mauricio Cienfuegos in a VW convertible.

*Meanwhile, Dynamo fans have gobbled up their allotment of tickets for a game the club insists it can win without star player Brad Davis - just as it has won big games without big names in the past.

The Philly Soccer Page " The Camden Youth Soccer Club
BE: We have been in touch with the Union several times, but not yet the Independence (next on my to-do list). In the past, we have had some footballs donated to us from the Union, and Shea Salinas visited us last year. Wee actually had Roger Torres come out on Saturday to visit, and just go around talking to the kids, and then sign autographs at the end.

From the Evansville Courier Press, October 23, 2011
When adults look back on those who were most influential on their lives growing up, it is not uncommon to hear a reference about a significant little league or high school sports memory.
Saying that, there is a strong sentiment that youth coaches of this era don't always offer the same level of support.

Brian O'Connell of ESPN Boston brought up in his piece from yesterday that this Saturday at Gillette will conclude the Revs' season (at least at home) with their annual awards night. The awards that will be given out include MVP, Defender of the Year, and Humanitarian of the Year. So, this got me to thinking: just who might be the most likely candidates for this year's awards?

Three longtime NCAA Division III coaches and a youth soccer pioneer make up the fourth induction class for the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Edgewood College men's and women's coach Tim Alexander, UW-Stevens Point women's coach Sheila Miech, Marian men's coach Craig Peltonen and Milwaukee area club coach and director Aleks Nikolic will be honored at a banquet March 24 at Monona Terrace in Madison.

Youth soccer in Southern California continues to evolve, lead, pioneer, and at least in my opinion, host the largest density of talent in the country. It's like a mecca for the youth game.

Now we too hope to contribute to this landscape on a macro scale and push the envelope even further!

Two Wisconsin players were named to Region II teams for the U.S. Youth Soccer Boys ODP Thanksgiving Interregional, which is Nov. 24 to 28 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

Vuk Latinovich of the Milwaukee Kickers was chosen to play for the 1997 regional team at the event, while Jack Shaw of Bavarian SC earned a spot on the 1998 team.

Some time back in June, on some golden and mystical night, benevolent fairies sprinkled magic soccer dust over greater Kansas City, which was wondrously and instantly transformed into a fantastic soccer market.

Previously, clearly, it had been a wasteland for our sport. There was precious little love for the Major League Soccer team there, and until the last couple of years, rarely a day went by when suggestions weren't floated that soccer in this country would be far better off with Kansas City erased from the MLS map.

Busy week in Major League Soccer with Champions League group stage matches, important jockeying for playoff position and the opening of Bell Pitch Downtown in Vancouver. Before we get to attendance, here are a couple of thoughts on the inagural match at the league's newest showpiece. First, it is unfortunate that the game was not part of a national telecast.

Four teams will celebrate state titles and earn berths in next summer's U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships as the fall Wisconsin State Championships wrap up Sunday at UW-Oshkosh's Titan Stadium.

The four divisions for high school-aged girls teams play their State Championships, commonly known as the State Cup, in the fall because the WIAA season is in the spring when the rest of the tournament is contested.

Chesterfield United FC parents David and Sarah Glass have recently returned to the country after a life changing trip to Kenya, Africa. They went to Africa in coalition with the Start With One Kenya project that is a non-profit organization that believes in individuals taking the step to join forces with other people to create the lasting change the world needs.