GF soccer summer camp!

GF soccer summer camp will be held from July 9-13, 2012 at Morse Athletic Complex from 8-11 am. Cost is $60 and the camp is open to any student who will be entering grades 3 through 9 next fall. The cost includes a t-shirt. For a registration form, contact me. For additional info, contact Coach Shaver at mshaver @ gfsd.org

Possession soccer at its finest

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Overemphasis on winning in US youth soccer, energy drinks, letting players learn to make decisions themselves and how parents can help player development

Some interesting soccer-related articles published recently...

-One of the flaws in the US youth soccer culture is a “misplaced emphasis on winning” at too young an age ahead of player development. This results in a bias toward physical prowess and against technical evolution that may have short term benefits for the team but is harmful to the long-term development of players. (here)


-Young athletes should avoid energy drinks. (click here)

-Parents and coaches should pipe down during the game and let kids learn to make decisions for themselves on the field. (here)

-Former World Cup winning player and new US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann offers suggestions to parents on the role they can play in helping their kids’ soccer development. (part 1 here and part 2 here)

Feedback (both ways)

If you would like feedback regarding your son’s strengths and weaknesses in a soccer context, please either email me or you can leave a comment on this entry with your and your son’s name and I will email you. This is something I intend to do this in a more systematic way next year – both in the middle and at the end of the season. Additionally, if you would like to give *me* feedback regarding things you or your son appreciated about this year’s soccer experience or things you would like to see done differently, you can also either email me if you want. Or if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can leave a comment on this entry. Please be specific where possible. Please note that while all comments on this entry will be read, NONE will actually be published for public viewing.

Former GF mod. player advances in NCAAs

Congrats to former GF modified player Jon Kowalski, who now plays for SUNY Oneonta. He and his team recently advanced to the 3rd round of the NCAA Div. III soccer tournament. If Oneonta wins both games this weekend, they will qualify for the national semifinals. Good luck Jon!