Advice
Why Youth Soccer Parents Should Never Attend Practice if They Care About Player Development
We’ve all read about or witnessed poor parent behavior on the sidelines during youth soccer games. However, the biggest consequences of over-involvement from parents actually comes from those who hover around the team during practice.
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Boehm: Youth soccer players should study the TV this summer
Euros, Copa America, even MLS and NWSL: Every soccer-playing child in North America should have their eyes glued to the smorgasboard of top-level soccer flickering across our entertainment devices this summer, says Charles Boehm.
Dure: Simple advice for dealing with youth soccer tryout season
Let’s not kid ourselves and pretend: Tryouts stink, says Beau Dure. Reducing children to numbers and putting them in artificial playing environments is not a fun thing to do. But there are some useful things the adults in this situation can keep in mind.
Dure: Rained out? Use TV and YouTube to teach the game
When spring rains soak our youth soccer playing fields, we give thanks for artificial turf. Where turf isn’t available, we’re running out of ideas. How many toe taps can a kid do in the basement? But there’s one thing youth players can do to keep learning the game. It’s a crazy idea, but it works for some people: Watch a soccer game, writes Beau Dure.
Guest columnist: Kris Ward on abusive youth coaches and how to steer your kid clear of them
Guest columnist Kris Ward shares an ugly tale of abuse and vitriol experienced on the sidelines of a recent youth match, and ponders how players and parents can keep clear of foul-mouthed, manipulative coaches.
Five myths surrounding National Letter of Intent ‘Signing Day’
Best selling author Dan Blank weighs in to try and straighten out some of the biggest myths surrounding the biggest celebration day in the college soccer recruiting process - AKA "Signing Day". While there's nothing wrong with celebrations and Facebook photos, for those who really sharpen their attention to details may be surprised at some of these - including some head coaches of college programs themselves!
Dure: NSCAA Convention a great time for much needed national youth soccer discussion
SoccerWire.com's Beau Dure outlines some of the forums he'll be attending on youth soccer issues today, saying it’s about time we youth soccer coaches, administrators, journalists and so forth gathered for the NSCAA Convention. We need to talk.
LeBolt: Taking the fear out of post-concussion syndrome
With concussions and other head injury issues dominating soccer headlines, Dr. Wendy LeBolt sought out someone with a lot of experience evaluating and working with kids and their brains: Dr. Elizabeth Delasobera, Director of Sports Medicine for Medstar Emergency Physicians, an assistant professor at Georgetown University Hospital who also sees patients in her clinic in McLean, Virginia. Their conversation offers useful and important information for parents.
Is heading the culprit in concussions? The mistake we are making
The soon-to-be-released movie "Concussion," starring Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian physician who first identified Chronic Traumatic Encephalography, has brought wider attention to the smoldering issue of concussions in soccer and other youth sports. But Dr. Wendy LeBolt wonders if we're missing the forest for the trees on this topic.
