Category Archives for "Podcast"

Audio and sometimes video podcast episodes that talk about the game and content relevant to the game, to families whose kids play the game, to coaches, and to fans of youth sports

Solidarity Payments in US Soccer

Solidarity payments in US Soccer

Connect with me: https://thesoccersidelines.com/connect/ What are solidarity payments, why do we have them, and how do they work? Do they work at all in the United States? Let’s talk through a use case. In this episode, we share some recent news, then jump into the concept of solidarity payments. Specifically, we talk through the case of DeAndre […]

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US Soccer Development Academy Shuts Down

US Development Academy Shuts Down

It is official. US Soccer has shut down the US Soccer Development Academy effective immediately. This is officially due to “…extraordinary and unexpected circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic…” but SoccerWire and other news outlets suggest that there is more to the story.  Rumors, articles, social media, and blog posts have been circulating for days. Let’s talk […]

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Essential Workers and Bad Information

essential workers and bad information

There are two big things worth paying closer attention to today: 1. the great things people are doing during this crisis. 2. The proliferation of bad, incomplete, politically motivated, or deliberately incorrect information being shared all over our news outlets and social media channels. Gratitude changes everything – handwriting on a napkin with a cup of […]

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The Positives of a Global Pandemic

Positives of a Global Pandemic

When bad news is filling our air waves and social media apps… when we’re locked in our homes, faced with empty shelves, overflowing with toilet paper, and feeling a little down, we sometimes need to look at the bright side. In this episode, let’s talk about the positives of a global pandemic! Making Lemonade out […]

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8 Week Character Development Coaching Program

If our goal is to deliberately expose our kids to Character Development coaching this season, then we need an actual plan. We can’t leave it to chance that our kids are going to understand the hidden life lessons youth sports teaches. Teamwork, work ethic, perseverance, sportsmanship… these are all multi-syllable words to kids without concrete […]

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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 […]

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Statement About The USWNT 2017-2021 CBA

On February 12th, 2020, the players association representing the men’s national soccer team made a public statement that sends shock waves through the United States soccer community. If we are to believe the statement they made, it effectively draws back the curtain on previously confidential negotiations between the United States Soccer Federation and its professional […]

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January 20, 2020

At United Soccer Coaches

Sorry I’m out this week at the united Soccer Coaches Annual convention. I’ll be back with some cool stuff from that event later in the week! Meanwhile, have a quick look though my back catalogue! There are lot’s of episodes here that might be interesting for you. 🙂   https://thesoccersidelines.com/shows-menu/ Please: support the show and join our community […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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Youth Sports Access and Affordability is at Risk

Support the Show (https://thesoccersidelines.com/go/) Access to affordable youth sports is at risk. It’s facing extinction in communities all across America. I’m afraid that too few people understand how precarious the situation is. In this article, I share two very personal stories that I hope illustrate the problem as well as some solutions.  Volunteers Keep Costs Low […]

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#67 – Childhood Obesity Threatens to Cause More Cancer

We’re in trouble. Diseases related to obesity are riding into our communities at an alarming rate. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer… all on the backs of fat cells. Last Monday, the American Cancer Society released a report on a study published in The Lancet Public Health […]

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#62 – Cooperation Human Superpower

Many mammals cooperate, but most stick to cooperating with relatives. Human beings are different in that we have learned to cooperate with people we don’t know. This has made all the difference in our evolution. We’re genetically wired for cooperation, but our ability to cooperate is weakening.  Some of the essential ingredients we need in order […]

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#61 – Finding Success in Real Life

It’s time to take our youth sports character successes home! Moms and Dads are invited to come off the bench with me for this episode! Connect with me at podcast@thesoccersidelines.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSoccerSidelines/ Real Wins Happen in Real Life!It’s important to win. We should never be satisfied with losing. The drive to win pushes […]

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#48 – Setting The Bar In Youth Sports

The Reason We CompeteCompetition between human beings has been around a long time. Paintings in the Lascaux caves in France, it is believed, show images of sprinting and wrestling around 15,300 years ago. Similar paintings and sculptures show humans participating in sports like wrestling, swimming, gymnastics, and archery in Mongolia, Libya, Japan, Iraq, Egypt, and […]

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#47 – Commitment Through Youth Sports

What is so Important About Commitment?Commitment makes The Soccer Sidelines “Important Stuff” list across all categories: parents, players, coaches, and volunteers. Commitment is a basic building block of the foundation for every youth athlete and is something that each member of a community – from parents and coaches, to organization leadership and volunteers – all […]

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#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 […]

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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 […]

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#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 […]

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#27 – Safety on a Soccer Field

“It is estimated that half of all sports-related injuries among children can be prevented. Protective equipment, safe playing conditions and the development and enforcement of safety rules help reduce the number and severity of sports injuries.” Sarah Cox Who is Responsible for Safety in Youth Sports? Players Parents Coaches RefereesHost Org Pre-Season check Be sure […]

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#25 – Competition and Sportsmanship Through Youth Sports

Defining Competition in Youth SportsCompetition should be managed like a prescription drug. It’s really great for creating certain chemistries, but there should be warnings on the label. Mis-use or overuse of competition can be bad for your health. In this article, we explore the concept of competition in youth sports and share some perspectives from […]

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#20 – Protecting Our Kids From Predators_Youth Protection

This episode made me sad to have to deliver, but this is a subject that is important to talk about. Better now than after another child is abused. Violations of youth protection result in pain that can last a lifetime. It’s important to talk about the pain that’s already happened, but it is equally important […]

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#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 […]

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#14 – Bundle of Sticks – Playing Together to Achieve Team Synergies

Sticks in a bundle can’t be broken but sticks taken singly can be easily broken. Same applies to people. [spp-player] One of the most potent superpowers any team has is Unity. In this episode, we talk about creating unity on the field, amplifying it at home, and using Unity as a measure of a game’s effectiveness. […]

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#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 […]

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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 […]

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Dehydration Effects on Athletic Performance

In this episode we’re going to talk about dehydration effects on athletic performance. Dehydration decreases mental and physical performance both on the field and in school in dramatic ways. Not staying hydrated, for example, cut performance by nearly 50% in laboratory studies for patients who were just walking!Dehydration affects the body and the mind in many […]

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Entertainment vs Development Culture

Culture affects everything about the youth sports experience. In this episode, we will explore the two primary cultures found in youth sports: the Entertainment Culture and the Development Culture. Which one you chose or create depends on the outcomes you want. In an Entertainment culture, attention centers around the game. Practices are preparation for games. Games […]

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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 […]

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