Category Archives for "Soccer Basics"

All about the basics of the game that all members of the soccer community should know

Have-a-Ball Character Development Program

We need practical ways to bake character development into our youth sports programs. In this episode, I talk about one that I recently implemented in my own club and some of the ways that you can implement a similar program in yours.  Being Intentional About Character DevelopmentDevelopment is a long game. It’s not something that […]

Continue reading

Varsity Soccer Mixed Bag

I’m hearing some variation of this over and over again: “My kids looked forward to playing varsity soccer in high school, but they (or we) have been disappointed with the experience.” Why?  In this article, let’s explore the downside of the varsity experience and what we can do about it.  The Varsity Experience SummaryWhere we live, […]

Continue reading

Injury Prevention In Youth Soccer

Physical exercise like playing soccer is preventative for many disease processes. Diseases brought about by obesity, for example, are often prevented or avoided through regular physical exercise. It’s ironic, therefore, that physical activity itself can cause injury too. As with all things: too much of a good thing can be bad for us.  Being or getting […]

Continue reading

Cognitive Mental Development

The job of being a coach requires men and women who pursue this craft to know the kids they’re working with. Different age groups have different needs. They have different communication styles and differing abilities to understand the game, one another, or even instructions given them.  Most coach’s training programs parse development into physical, mental, emotional, […]

Continue reading

#46 – Synergy on the Sidelines and the Power of Relationships

Don’t Miss or Underestimate This!Something powerful happens when a group of good people come together around a common goal. Bringing people together in a positive way around youth sports activities in our community not only benefits the kids, but brings adults together in really positive and powerful ways. There are more than two teams on […]

Continue reading

Soccer Cleats: The Basics Before You Visit the Soccer Store

Choosing a “Boot” at The Soccer StoreDon’t let the word “boot” raise an eyebrow! Soccer cleats are also called soccer “boots,” “cleats,” “football boots,” and even “soccer shoes.” These are all the same thing. I’ll use them interchangeably in this article. For newer parents, having a lot of names for the same thing creates only […]

Continue reading

#36 – Bad Sideline Behavior

A National EpidemicWhat I’m about to share with you is a problem of National consequence. I’m not exaggerating! Producing this podcast, acting as Club President, and coaching, I tend to be reaching out and connecting with a lot of people. I’m hearing the same story from all corners of my world. Bad sideline behavior is […]

Continue reading

#15 – How Much Does it Cost to Play Soccer – Part 1 (The Variables)

Soccer families that understand the economics of the game early will make better investment decisions over time. It’s possible to just “follow the crowd” and see where it takes you, but you’ll spend more time and money this way than you need to. By understanding what’s involved in costing a soccer experience, you’ll go in […]

Continue reading

#12 – Get Ready to Enjoy a Tournament!

[spp-player] So much of the tournament experience happens beyond the pitch. Building esprit-de-corps, enjoying local food, experiencing the hotel, and checking out many different game and coaching styles are just a few! In this episode, we explore two real-world soccer tournaments that are hosted in the Maryland area. As co-owner for both of these tournaments, David shares […]

Continue reading

What in the World is Futsal?

Please connect with me here: https://thesoccersidelines.com/connect/. You’re the reason I do this!Please support the show here: https://thesoccersidelines.com/go/. Every dollar counts! Shortly after picking up my first futsal license, I thought to myself: I’ve been coaching futsal like I’ve been coaching outdoor soccer for three years! How many others have the same questions I did? Maybe you […]

Continue reading

Welcome to The Soccer Sidelines!

In this first episode, we introduce you to the podcast. The Soccer Sidelines is about bringing parents, players, and coaches together around the most important aspects of the youth sports experience. And we don’t mean winning games. Youth sports allows us to create thousands of teachable moments in the context of a 15-year window. This is […]

Continue reading
>