Tweet A number of state associations publish monthly or quarterly newsletters online. While many focus specifically on local issues and news, others often have useful drills and articles that any youth soccer enthusiast would find interesting. I think I may try to start identifying newsletters that fall into that second category and start linking to […]
Entries for December, 2008
Secrets of Coaching
The November issue of the Sideline Beacon – the NCYSA’s Recreational Soccer newsletter, includes a variety of ‘secrets of coaching’ that are worth a look.
What’s In A Name?
Tweet Has anyone else noticed that the term Director of Coaching is going out of style and the new in vogue term is Technical Director? I must have missed the memo.
Quick and Simple Online Registration
If your league isn’t using some type of league management software because you just aren’t that big or don’t feel it’s worth the cost, there’s a cool new possibility available to you that is free and easy to use.
Soccer League Surveys Using Google Docs
One of the keys to running a successful soccer league is gathering parent feedback for continuous improvement. Surveys can be a powerful tool, but are often difficult for leagues to create. Google Docs makes the process simple and can open up all sorts of possibilities for leagues to collaborate and gather information. In this article, we show you how to get started with Google Docs and create a survey.
Promotion and Relegation in Youth Soccer
The NC Youth Soccer Association recently eliminated the use of promotion and relegation to form U11 through U13 divisions for the state’s top travel teams. Soccer Dad takes a look at why this decision may have been very short sighted.
So I Went Out To Dinner…
A funny thing happened to me this weekend. Our team manager had organized an off-season get together for the team at a local restaurant, kind of a last chance to see everyone before the holidays thing. Little did I know that the team had a surprise in store for me…
A New Look…
Tweet As you can see, we’ve switched to a new theme for On The Pitch. I really never liked the old one – too boxy and busy and honestly pretty ugly. I thought the whole grass thing for On The ‘Pitch’ was clever, but I never could get the theme looking the way I wanted. […]
Youth Soccer and the Economy
The American economy is now officially in a recession, and many fear the downturn will be deeper and longer than usual. In a four part series, On The Pitch will explore how this downturn may impact youth soccer and what parents, coaches, and leagues can do to weather the storm.
Help Your Coach Keep Warm This Winter!
Tweet Toward the end of each soccer season, we get a lot of site hits from people searching for ‘coaches gifts’ or ‘coaching gifts’. It may not seem like a big deal, but I know many team managers and parents who really stress out over what to get a coach at the end of a […]
Two Yards
Players who crowd the touchline during a throw in might get surprised if they aren’t looking.
Club Teams Growing on Campus
Club sports are growing on college campuses and provide much more than just a place to play a sport that students enjoy. They provide an enriching (and sometimes humbling) experience as the athletes are responsible for almost all of the organization, administration, and fundraising.
Berry Bright Cleats
Nike just released a limited edition version of their Mercurial Vapor IV cleat in bright pink – called the Berry. BRIGHT!
Sports Training Journal for Girls
Sometimes it can be difficult to get younger players to think about how they are practicing and if they’re giving full effort. Over at Sports Girls Play, they have come up with an interesting concept for girls to track their development in practice and help them get motivated.
A New Soccer System
A common complaint about the club oriented system in the US is that the cost excludes many players who might otherwise play and succeed. What if a program were created via the public school system to spur participation in ‘street soccer’?
