March 22, 2021
- in Coaching , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
Respect For The Remarkable Grassroots Game?
I had just earned my first coaching certification in the grassroots game and was still proud and amazed by how much I had learned. Standing in the foyer of one of my player’s homes, the mother of this player took in my happy chatter about what I had done and the plans I was making […]
Continue reading March 15, 2021
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Returning to Youth Sports
Returning to youth sports is something we all want to see happen – the sooner the better. Let’s get ready for the fun to come!
Continue reading June 15, 2020
- in Coaching , COVID-19 , Medical , Parents , Podcast , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
Returning to Play
At long last, it’s time to try to get back to the field. What we’re returning to looks very different from what it used to be like before COVID-19, but it’s a start. In this episode, let’s talk about who’s returning to play, how we’re returning to play, and take in a good example of […]
Continue reading April 27, 2020
- in Coaching , COVID-19 , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
2020 Senior Prom MASKquerade
<Share your wisdom and well wishes with 2020 Seniors> In this episode, post a thank you sign for essential workers, host a MASKquerade, and check in on the DA and ODP. From senior graduating without a prom or even a formal graduation to players finding new homes after being displaced from the DA, I cover several […]
Continue reading April 15, 2020
- in Coaching , COVID-19 , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
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 […]
Continue reading April 6, 2020
- in COVID-19 , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
The World is Changing for Good
Human history is like a book with many chapters. Every generation writes their piece and leaves their mark. Some chapters are uneventful and boring. Our chapter is not. The early part of the century brought us the Spanish Flu, the Golden Age, World War I, and the Great Depression. The middle of the century brought us […]
Continue reading March 16, 2020
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The 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 […]
Continue reading March 2, 2020
- in Coaching , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Basics , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
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 February 10, 2020
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The Best Tool for Your Parenting Toolbox
None of us are perfect parents. Let’s talk about a parenting and work promotion tool that is within your reach. Improve your parenting and your career!
Continue reading January 27, 2020
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Gender Bias in the Game
I was minding my own business, eating my lunch alone at a table when two women asked to join me at my table. The conversation that would unfold for the next hour or so went way beyond my expectations. Before I went to this convention, I thought that gender bias in the game was mostly as […]
Continue reading December 23, 2019
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Happy Holidays!
I don’t think I could have anticipated in 2017, that three years later, you and I would be celebrating our third holiday season together. Whatever your favorite way to celebrate the holidays are, I’m hoping that for you it’s full of family, good health, giving, and gratitude. There are a lot of ways to celebrate the […]
Continue reading October 7, 2019
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Making Choices in Youth Sports
Please consider leaving a comment and/or supporting the show financially (https://thesoccersidelines.com/go/). We can not control what happens to us in life, but we can control our reaction to what happens to us in life! This weekend, we came across the perfect example of poor sportsmanship. We could have reacted in a number of ways. The way […]
Continue reading September 9, 2019
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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 […]
Continue reading August 26, 2019
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Playing Varsity Soccer Without Breaking the Bank
My team came to me two years go with the goal of playing varsity soccer. Today, my team makes up half the varsity bench. They didn’t pay thousands!
Continue reading August 5, 2019
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Passing the Microphone
I’ve spent the last two years and 90 episodes talking about the stuff that really matter in youth sports and hoping to help you understand and appreciate the game and better support your player(s). Now it’s your turn to connect here: https://thesoccersidelines.com/connect/ Your challenge is to use any of the connect options and tell me a story […]
Continue reading July 29, 2019
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It Takes a Team to Win
It’s Easy to Support this Show You would not dream of suiting up and taking on the New York Giants by yourself. I don’t care if you’re the biggest and strongest dude on the planet. You’re going to die. Literally. I have found in my lifetime of working in corporate America and in business that the […]
Continue reading July 22, 2019
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Is Youth Sports in the US Dying
Youth sports in the US is dying, not because the business model isn’t working, but because it is working too well. It’s drawing in $17 B at what expense?
Continue reading April 1, 2019
- in Coaching , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
Parent Engagement in Youth Sports
Youth Sport is bigger than any player. We do our best to let them go and let them play when they’re on the field. That’s a good thing. But coaches only get kids for at maximum, 2 or 3 hours at a time. Parent drive them around, pay for their access, eat and play with […]
Continue reading March 25, 2019
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Improving Access To The Game
Not enough kids have access to the game. Language barriers, cultural differences, and financial paywalls are leaving significant numbers of kids on the sidelines. How big is the problem and what can we do about it?
Continue reading March 4, 2019
- in Coaching , Culture , Medical , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Basics , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
Play Up and Play Down Situations in Youth Soccer
Play up and play down situations happen every season in youth soccer. In this episode, we talk about the who, what, and why of the play up and play down scenario.
Continue reading February 25, 2019
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#69 – Volunteer Jobs That Support Kids
Supporting kids in our soccer clubs is more than coaching or being the snack parent. Volunteer jobs that support kids range from cleanup to marketing, to managing awards to organizing BBQ’s. Community Clubs are powered by volunteers of all kinds!
Continue reading January 28, 2019
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#65 – Competitive Youth Soccer
Competition is a natural ingredient in the process of strengthening hearts, minds, and bodies. Without competition and struggle, we miss out on valuable opportunities. The question in this episode is: Why do we compete? What’s the end game? Is it to play on the world stage or is it to create stronger healthier adults? In […]
Continue reading January 21, 2019
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#64 – Follow The Golden Rule
This week, we’re in pre-season. There are lot’s of setup activities going on and in many places, buildings are mostly staff-only. That’s where I met Shauna. Shauna is a pretty typical employee working in the youth sports space. Her stories inspired me to share this episode as a cautionary tale for new parents and coaches. […]
Continue reading January 7, 2019
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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 […]
Continue reading December 24, 2018
- in Coaching , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
Pay to Play in Youth Sports
Pay for play is unequal. It’s unfair. And it’s hurting youth sports more than it’s helping. Pay to play in youth sports has been a thing for at least 10 years. It’s a bad thing. And it’s something you should be aware of no matter what sport your kids are playing. Listen to the show for […]
Continue reading December 3, 2018
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#57 – Take Advantage When The Development Window is Open
Before you know it, your young athlete will be walking out the door for their first year of college. This comes fast! It’s important to realize that our kids are only on loan to us for a short period of time. Here is one way to make the best of it!Know Your Child’s Development WindowThere […]
Continue reading November 19, 2018
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#55 – Referee Respect!
Stand OutsSometimes, a really good referee just stands out in the crowd. It’s more than the calls. There is a comfort and synergy on the field, a connection with players and coaches, a message that carries on the wind that says to everyone: “we’re in good hands.” I met a set of referees this weekend that […]
Continue reading November 5, 2018
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#53 – Bad Referees
How Would You Deal With a Bad Referee?I had occasion to find out how I would deal with a bad referee this weekend. It didn’t go as well as I would have liked What would you do if you were faced with a bad referee situation? What is a Bad Referee?If you’ve been following this […]
Continue reading October 22, 2018
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#51 – Being Beside THAT Mom or Dad
In the Line of FireThis past weekend, I was asked to be the Assistant Referee (AR) for my son’s 2003 travel game. I’m not a referee, but on this day I had just come from a game and was wearing my coaching uniform. We look like race cars on the field and stand out from […]
Continue reading October 15, 2018
- in Coaching , Medical , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Basics , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
#50 – Keeping Warm on Cold Days
Being Cold is No FunIt’s amazing to me how many parents I see every year on the sidelines who are unprepared for the weather. I expect this from my teenaged kids, but when I see full grown adults shivering on the sidelines, I think I need to do an episode on this subject. There is […]
Continue reading October 8, 2018
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#49 – The Coaching Pathway
The Adventure of CoachingI think most parents come into the world of coaching out of a love for their own kids and a desire to support them and provide well rounded learning experiences wrapped in fun. If we consider the world of grassroots soccer, by that I mean non competitive travel or select soccer, we […]
Continue reading October 1, 2018
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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 […]
Continue reading September 24, 2018
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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 […]
Continue reading September 17, 2018
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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 […]
Continue reading July 30, 2018
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Measuring Performance in Youth Soccer
Measuring performance is one of the best ways to ensure consistent improvement. Let’s talk about keeping statistics that really matter in youth soccer
Continue reading July 9, 2018
- in Coaching , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Basics , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
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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 […]
Continue reading June 18, 2018
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Soccer is Coming to America – Bid For the 2026 World Cup
North America Won The Bid for the 2026 World Cup!What Did We Win? The United States, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the 2026 World Cup. This will be a 48 team World Cup – a global phenomenon – with 80 games played in total. 60 games will be played in the US. 10 games will be […]
Continue reading June 11, 2018
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#32 Earning and Owning What You Do
It Goes Back Thousands of YearsIf you wanted to be a medicine man (a Shaman) you couldn’t get there without some help. You needed to be recognized by your community as a Shaman before you could officially call yourself a Shaman. Someone else would have to see the Shaman in you and name what they […]
Continue reading May 28, 2018
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The Soccer Mom Uber
Mom and Dad’s investment in soccer is not just money. It’s shopping for stuff, replacing stuff, cleaning stuff, picking up stuff, vacuuming the lawn of dead grass and astro turf bits that multiply in corners, cleaning scuff marks from car footwells, cleaning scuff marks from walls, scooping up a never ending tide of water bottles, […]
Continue reading May 7, 2018
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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 […]
Continue reading April 30, 2018
- in Coaching , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
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Fundraising For Youth Clubs and Teams
This is About Your MissionFundraising is about finding more fuel for your club or organization. We simply can’t do what our mission calls us to do without money. As a youth sports club, a school, or a not-for-profit, even if you think you’re all set, the reality is: there are people we could and should be […]
Continue reading March 19, 2018
- in Coaching , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
#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 […]
Continue reading February 12, 2018
- in Parents , Podcast , Soccer Basics , Soccer Business , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
#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 January 15, 2018
- in Coaching , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
#11 – Making Community Connections
Youth Sports is a rallying point in the community for many families. In this episode, we look at a real-world scenario where a family in trouble reached out to a Club, and the Club came through. More than 15 volunteers delivered a FUNd-raising tournament that raised 4 digit donations and sent a message loud and […]
Continue reading December 18, 2017
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Moms and Dads Can Coach – But Should They?
My first day of coaching started off, literally, in a lawn chair on the sidelines of my kid’s soccer game. The coach’s assistant, a dad of one of the kids on the field, couldn’t make the game. The coach, another dad of one of the kids on the team, needed someone to keep the time. […]
Continue reading November 7, 2017
- in Coaching , Culture , Parents , Podcast , Soccer Basics , Volunteers by The Soccer Sidelines
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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