Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Quickstrike acquires Sky Blue franchise
Top SYL club adopts W-League team, affiliation with WPS club
Sky Blue News Release - www.skybluefc.com
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
SOMERSET, NJ -- Sky Blue Soccer announced that the Somerset, NJ-based company has come to an agreement to transfer the rights to its W-League women’s soccer franchise to Quickstrike FC in New York. The agreement allows Sky Blue Soccer to focus on running its professional franchise - Sky Blue FC - in the inaugural season of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) in 2009. The W-League team will be relocated to New York and will be renamed the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues. As part of the deal, Sky Blue Soccer and Quickstrike FC will work together with the Lady Blues serving as a feeder/identification program for the Sky Blue FC professional team. "Quickstrike is a great organization with a vision that we really buy into," said Sky Blue Soccer President and CEO Thomas Hofstetter. "As a soccer club, not only do they have a good understanding what it takes to run a good youth program but also the business expertise to make them successful on the W-League level." Quickstrike recently saw its U14 and U15 Girls squad reach the semifinal round of the 2008 Super Y-League North American Finals. A third team competed in the U13 Boys bracket. The club finished the year ranked 13th in the SYL First and Second 11 club rankings amongst the Girls table and 21st in the Overall table. Jersey Sky Blue competed for two successful seasons in the W-League. In 2007, the team made a strong debut posting a 12-2 record with a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This past summer, Jersey Sky Blue recorded an 8-4-2 mark. The franchise was honored by United Soccer Leagues in both seasons earning the W-League Rookie Franchise of the Year Award in 2007 and the W-League Communications Award in 2008. "We’re excited about the opportunity to bring this level of soccer to the Hudson Valley," said Quickstrike FC General Manager Joseph Belsito. "We are working very hard to reach our ultimate goal of developing Quickstrike FC into one of the premier soccer programs in the country and the addition of a W-League team to our club is an additional step in that direction." Prior to the launch of Women’s Professional Soccer, the W-League served as the highest level of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. When WPS kicks off in 2009, the W-League will serve a vital role in supporting the professional league by providing a feeder system for the top collegiate, international, and amateur players in the world. "The Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues has been one of our goals since we first started Quickstrike FC and now it’s a reality," said Quickstrike Lady Blues Head Coach Jesse Kolmel. "Our W-League team will provide not only competitive opportunities to the top female soccer players in the region, but those experiences will be passed down to players at all ages throughout the Hudson Valley." Sky Blue FC General Manager and Head Coach Ian Sawyers is looking forward to having the Lady Blues serve as a resource to support Sky Blue’s professional venture. "The Quickstrike group exemplifies everything we want from a soccer organization in terms of personnel, resources, facilities and fan base," Sawyers said. "We will rely heavily on the W-league team as a feeder system for our professional team. We will train on a regular basis with its player pool and will constantly exchange information with the coaching staff re player evaluation and player development strategies." "Any top youth, collegiate, amateur and international prospects that have an interest in pursuing a career with Sky Blue FC will be encouraged to play with the Lady Blues," Sawyers added. "Both Joe and Jesse, along with the rest of the Quickstrike staff, have shown tremendous enthusiasm, passion and insight toward the development of professional women’s soccer in the Tri-State area, we look forward to a positive long-term partnership." Season tickets are available now for Sky Blue FC’s debut in WPS. Sky Blue is also offering soccer gift packages for the holiday season. For more information about Sky Blue FC, visit the team on the internet at www.SkyBlueFC.com.
W-League 2009 season details set
Alignment and competition structure announced for next season
USL News Release
Thursday, December 11, 2008
TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced the details for the 2009 USL W-League season. Among the details finalized recently at the 2008 Annual General Meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Tampa, FL were the alignment, schedule structure and playoff details for the 2009 competition. The W-League will consist of 37 teams in 2009, playing in five divisions that comprise the three conferences. One minor change to the alignment format is the name change of the Northern Division to Great Lakes. Expansion teams that have been formally announced to date are the Buffalo Flash and Quebec City Arsenal with an additional team yet to be formally unveiled. Teams undergoing name changes are the Western New York Pride (formerly Rochester Rhinos), Chicago Red Eleven (Chicago Gaels), Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues (Jersey Sky Blue) and the Colorado Force (Fort Collins Force). Teams will play a 12 or 14 game seasons depending on their division with the season opening May 8 and concluding July 19. The W-League postseason will be extended to three weeks with the league semifinals and championship being split into two separate weekends. Eleven W-League teams will qualify for the postseason tournament in 2009 with the league’s Regular Season Champion (based on point percentage) receiving a bye to the league semifinals. The remaining teams will compete in three conference tournaments in playoff week one July 24-26 to determine the other three league semifinalists for the weekend of July 31-August 1 at two locations. The regular season champion will face the lowest remaining overall seed unless they have played during the season, which would result in a pairing with the next lowest seed. The championship game will be August 7-8, and will air on Fox Soccer Channel.
2009 W-League Playoff Bracket [+]
2009 W-League Alignment
Central Conference Midwest Division: Chicago Red Eleven, Cleveland Internationals, Fort Wayne Fever, FC Indiana Lionesses, Kalamazoo Outrage, Minnesota Lightning, West Michigan Firewomen Great Lakes Division: Buffalo Flash, Hamilton Avalanche, Laval Comets, London Gryphons, Ottawa Fury, Quebec City Arsenal, Toronto Lady Lynx, Western New York Pride Central Conference Playoff Format: The playoffs begin with a midweek divisional playoff game between the second and third-seeded teams in the Great Lakes Division. The divisional playoff winner will join the Great Lakes top seed and the top two teams from the Midwest Division at the conference tournament (top seed has first right to host or host determined by bid). The divisional top seeds face the lower seed from the opposite division in the conference semifinals. Eastern Conference Atlantic Division: Atlanta Silverbacks, Cary, Charlotte Lady Eagles, Hampton Roads Piranhas, Northern Virginia Majestics, Richmond Kickers Destiny, Tampa Bay Hellenic Northeast Division: Boston Renegades, Connecticut Passion, Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, Long Island Rough Riders, New Jersey Wildcats, New York Magic, Washington Freedom, Western Mass Lady Pioneers Eastern Conference Playoff Format: The top two teams each from the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions will meet at the conference tournament (top seed has first right to host or host determined by bid). The divisional top seeds face the lower seed from the opposite division in the conference semifinals. Western Conference Colorado Force, Los Angeles Legends, Pali Blues, Real Colorado Cougars, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, Ventura County Fusion Western Conference Playoff Format: The top two teams meet in a conference championship match.
Alignment and competition structure announced for next season
USL News Release
Thursday, December 11, 2008
TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced the details for the 2009 USL W-League season. Among the details finalized recently at the 2008 Annual General Meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Tampa, FL were the alignment, schedule structure and playoff details for the 2009 competition. The W-League will consist of 37 teams in 2009, playing in five divisions that comprise the three conferences. One minor change to the alignment format is the name change of the Northern Division to Great Lakes. Expansion teams that have been formally announced to date are the Buffalo Flash and Quebec City Arsenal with an additional team yet to be formally unveiled. Teams undergoing name changes are the Western New York Pride (formerly Rochester Rhinos), Chicago Red Eleven (Chicago Gaels), Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues (Jersey Sky Blue) and the Colorado Force (Fort Collins Force). Teams will play a 12 or 14 game seasons depending on their division with the season opening May 8 and concluding July 19. The W-League postseason will be extended to three weeks with the league semifinals and championship being split into two separate weekends. Eleven W-League teams will qualify for the postseason tournament in 2009 with the league’s Regular Season Champion (based on point percentage) receiving a bye to the league semifinals. The remaining teams will compete in three conference tournaments in playoff week one July 24-26 to determine the other three league semifinalists for the weekend of July 31-August 1 at two locations. The regular season champion will face the lowest remaining overall seed unless they have played during the season, which would result in a pairing with the next lowest seed. The championship game will be August 7-8, and will air on Fox Soccer Channel.
2009 W-League Playoff Bracket [+]
2009 W-League Alignment
Central Conference Midwest Division: Chicago Red Eleven, Cleveland Internationals, Fort Wayne Fever, FC Indiana Lionesses, Kalamazoo Outrage, Minnesota Lightning, West Michigan Firewomen Great Lakes Division: Buffalo Flash, Hamilton Avalanche, Laval Comets, London Gryphons, Ottawa Fury, Quebec City Arsenal, Toronto Lady Lynx, Western New York Pride Central Conference Playoff Format: The playoffs begin with a midweek divisional playoff game between the second and third-seeded teams in the Great Lakes Division. The divisional playoff winner will join the Great Lakes top seed and the top two teams from the Midwest Division at the conference tournament (top seed has first right to host or host determined by bid). The divisional top seeds face the lower seed from the opposite division in the conference semifinals. Eastern Conference Atlantic Division: Atlanta Silverbacks, Cary, Charlotte Lady Eagles, Hampton Roads Piranhas, Northern Virginia Majestics, Richmond Kickers Destiny, Tampa Bay Hellenic Northeast Division: Boston Renegades, Connecticut Passion, Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, Long Island Rough Riders, New Jersey Wildcats, New York Magic, Washington Freedom, Western Mass Lady Pioneers Eastern Conference Playoff Format: The top two teams each from the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions will meet at the conference tournament (top seed has first right to host or host determined by bid). The divisional top seeds face the lower seed from the opposite division in the conference semifinals. Western Conference Colorado Force, Los Angeles Legends, Pali Blues, Real Colorado Cougars, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, Ventura County Fusion Western Conference Playoff Format: The top two teams meet in a conference championship match.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Milan confirm Agger interest
Soccernet staff
December 10, 2008
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AC Milan have confirmed that they will make a move to sign Liverpool defender Daniel Agger in the January transfer window.
GettyImages
Agger: Unsettled at Liverpool?
Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed on Wednesday that the 23-year-old Denmark international was on a list of "three or four" that the club want as replacements for ageing veterans Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.
"In January we will sign a defender, there's no doubt about it," Galliani told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport. "We have a list of three or four players who could be useful in defence and Agger is one of them. In January we'll sign one of them."
Agger has been linked with a move to Milan after reports of a fall-out with manager Rafael Benitez, which has also resulted in contract talks between the club and the player reaching an impasse.
"We've followed Agger and his situation at Liverpool before now, we know about the problems between the player and the club over a new contract," Galliani added.
Milan are willing to pay about €8 million for Agger but Benitez has said that he does not want to let the defender leave Anfield.
The other two names on Milan's wish list are reported to be William Gallas, who has been stripped of the captaincy at Arsenal, and Palermo starlet Simon Kjaer.
Soccernet staff
December 10, 2008
Comment
AC Milan have confirmed that they will make a move to sign Liverpool defender Daniel Agger in the January transfer window.
GettyImages
Agger: Unsettled at Liverpool?
Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed on Wednesday that the 23-year-old Denmark international was on a list of "three or four" that the club want as replacements for ageing veterans Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.
"In January we will sign a defender, there's no doubt about it," Galliani told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport. "We have a list of three or four players who could be useful in defence and Agger is one of them. In January we'll sign one of them."
Agger has been linked with a move to Milan after reports of a fall-out with manager Rafael Benitez, which has also resulted in contract talks between the club and the player reaching an impasse.
"We've followed Agger and his situation at Liverpool before now, we know about the problems between the player and the club over a new contract," Galliani added.
Milan are willing to pay about €8 million for Agger but Benitez has said that he does not want to let the defender leave Anfield.
The other two names on Milan's wish list are reported to be William Gallas, who has been stripped of the captaincy at Arsenal, and Palermo starlet Simon Kjaer.
Galliani hopes Beckham falls in love with Milan
Reuters
December 8, 2008
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AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani hopes David Beckham will fall in love with the Serie A club during his short-term loan stint from Los Angeles Galaxy and decide to stay longer.
"Let's hope he falls in love, the problem is that he has lots of advertising contracts," Galliani told Sky television.
"Let's hope feelings prevail, although at the moment it seems unlikely because I've seen his advertising contracts and they are scary."
The 33-year-old is moving to Milan to keep up his fitness during the United States close season and stay in contention for an England squad place.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has said in the past that he would like to sign Beckham permanently.
Galaxy and the midfielder have said, however, that he will return to the U.S. in the spring for the start of the 2009 Major League Soccer season.
Galliani said the player would arrive in Italy later this month.
"He's coming on Saturday (Dec) 20, he'll do the medical examinations, the press conference and attend Milan v Udinese (on Dec 21)," Galliani was quoted as saying by Monday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"He'll have seven days holiday at then this adventure will start in Dubai (at Milan's winter training camp).
"I don't know how long it will last. At the moment, it's just for two and half, three months."
Reuters
December 8, 2008
Comment
AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani hopes David Beckham will fall in love with the Serie A club during his short-term loan stint from Los Angeles Galaxy and decide to stay longer.
"Let's hope he falls in love, the problem is that he has lots of advertising contracts," Galliani told Sky television.
"Let's hope feelings prevail, although at the moment it seems unlikely because I've seen his advertising contracts and they are scary."
The 33-year-old is moving to Milan to keep up his fitness during the United States close season and stay in contention for an England squad place.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has said in the past that he would like to sign Beckham permanently.
Galaxy and the midfielder have said, however, that he will return to the U.S. in the spring for the start of the 2009 Major League Soccer season.
Galliani said the player would arrive in Italy later this month.
"He's coming on Saturday (Dec) 20, he'll do the medical examinations, the press conference and attend Milan v Udinese (on Dec 21)," Galliani was quoted as saying by Monday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"He'll have seven days holiday at then this adventure will start in Dubai (at Milan's winter training camp).
"I don't know how long it will last. At the moment, it's just for two and half, three months."
Center Circle Column
Stop the Tournaments, I want to Get Off!!
Tournaments! Tournaments! Tournaments! They are swallowing youth soccer in this country! Everyone wants to play in tournaments!! Soccer America has an entire issue devoted to tournaments. Every soccer publication in this country lists pages of tournaments for our children to attend! Every year the biggest decision a club team makes is-which tournaments do we attend? Most clubs have a person or three who do nothing but prepare for tournaments! Stop the Tournaments I want to get off!!! Tournaments are hurting America’s soccer playing youth!!
Soccer tournaments started in this country as a way for clubs to make some money to pay the bills. Great idea. Clubs would sponsor a tournament early in a playing season, or in the summer when league play was suspended to make some cash. Now these tournaments rule youth soccer. It is now very important to participate in these types of events. Many clubs advertise for players based on the tournaments they attend. Many coaches entice U16's, U17's and U18's to their club by promising attendance at tournaments where college coaches will attend. Really? Many player’s (and their parents) choose a club solely based on attendance and success in certain tournaments. Today, the main focus for teams, clubs, parents and players is - Tournaments!!
The weekly league game (or two) is secondary to the Tournaments! And maybe even eliminated from the busy tournament schedule. In Central Ohio club teams must participate in a sanctioned league to be allowed to play in tournaments, some clubs have a team for the weekly league (usually a weaker team) so the A team can compete in tournaments all over the country. And, if you don’t get into the tournaments of your choice??? Change clubs or create your own tournament! It works! Try it!
These tournaments allow our soccer playing youth to play a variety of teams in a variety of states all year long. But, they are expensive. It costs the average family a weekend, car milage, hotel expense, entertainment for between games, food and video game money to play in these weekend extravagances. Why? Because everyone plays in tournaments! The kids will become better players. The college coaches can see them play! Everyone plays in tournaments. Everyone that is except youth teams in other soccer playing countries.
The weekly game is the most important game for most other countries. The teams have one week of training. One week of learning. One week to prepare for the game on Saturday or Sunday. The most important aspect of learning the game happens in well founded training programs. The habits necessary to become a complete player are developed in training.
Training is important. Training is critical to the success of these soccer playing nations.
Why is training important? Training allows a supervised and progressive means to learn the game, if done properly! Training allows the player, coach and team to focus on the areas of the game that will influence performance. What are those areas
· Fitness
· Constant technical improvement
· Improvement of tactical understanding based on problems in the previous game
· Improvement of the mental aspects of the game by applying stress in the training situation in a variety of situations
· Team building
Do any of these things happen during a tournament? Not very likely. The very nature of tournaments prevents this from happening. Maybe in America, we are uncomfortable with training. It is still a fact that some of our youth soccer coaches still do not have the background in the game as a player to feel comfortable in training. The obvious solution is play games. So, we play games and don’t train.
Soccer teams in Germany, England, Holland etc. do play in tournaments. But those tournaments are usually during a holiday break or serve as an excuse to go to Madrid for a week. During the soccer season league games count! The entire focus is on the league game. Promotion, relegation, rivalries all depend on the weekly game. Only in America do the players play in tournaments to collect patches for their bag or to spend Memorial Day in Lexington, Kentucky. Play. Play. Play. What happened to training?
These tournaments are killing soccer in this country. Young players can not learn how to play in these types of situations. Everything about these tournaments is bad for the development of American soccer players!!
Tournaments allow players and teams with slow pace or no pace to succeed. Teams play three games in a twenty four hour period and if they are lucky play two more and win a trophy. Assuming we accept the fact that minimum recovery takes twenty four hours, it is physically impossible to play that many games in a short time. In a recent tournament in Central Ohio, for example, a U18 team played at 4:45pm and 6:00pm Saturday night and at 7:30am Sunday morning! What can a coach expect to get from the players in these games? Nothing! It is not possible to play soccer in these situations.
These tournaments breed Underwater Soccer. Nice and slow-no change of pace-no defending. Soccer is not meant to be played this way. Soccer is a game that is played when the player is uncomfortable -when the player closes in on fatigue-when the player runs, works and defends for ninety minutes. The very early laws of the game of soccer stressed a physical component by not allowing a lot of substitutions. Fitness is a part of the game. Ah, so you think there is a fitness component when playing in a tournament? No, there is not. There is an energy conservation component-not fitness? American youth players stop running when they are uncomfortable. And since they are playing so many games in a short weekend, they just don’t run at all. When the players try to move on to the next level (college), they are shocked to realize they can not make the team. They don’t know how to play! They don’t know how to run and they don’t know how to work. They don’t know how to defend. They don’t know what the physical aspect of soccer is all about. They have never been taught what it takes to play this game at a high level.
Technical development in a tournaments situation?? No chance. The games do offer a variety of opportunities to cultivate technical improvement. But, because the games are so slow and there is very little defending, the time and space available for players is not realistic for a real soccer game. In fact, it is counterproductive. When a player does get into a real game where time and space are limited he/she can not play!
Tactical improvements? Don’t look here. There is no time between games to either discuss any tactical problems or work on them before the next game. If your team faces a formation or a tactic you haven’t seen before, what do you do?? Hope you don’t see it again. As a rule, there is very little teaching going on in regards to tactics in many clubs. The prevailing mentality is simply-find the best players and let em play! Not a bad strategy. But as players move on in their soccer career, an understanding of tactics is very important. Even a constant teaching/review of 1v1; 2v1; 3v2 etc is essential to complete maturation of a soccer player. This tournament mentality does not allow this teaching to take place. A player who relies only on athletic ability without learning the game will hit a soccer plateau and not get any better. This happens far too often in the United States. There is too much emphasis on the athletic ability of a player at the expense of soccer ability. In addition, tactics are important in the development of the whole team. If you agree with Alan Wade that the most difficult aspect of coaching a soccer team is getting all the players on the same page@ then you will agree that teaching tactics is very important.. To accomplish that, the team must have time to train together and learn about tactics after each game!
And the problems do not end there. The mental aspect of the game is lost. Soccer is a game where the mental aspect is so very important. In fact we delight in selling the game as a players game and as a mental game. But, we do nothing about it. No less an authority than former German international Jurgen Klinnsman feels that working on the mental side of the game is lacking right now in soccer all over the world. There is no mental preparation during tournaments at all. If’s 2:00 it must be Vardar or Dallas Texans. Let’s go play. The young players do not learn that a warm up prepares you to play physically and mentally! Rather they show up, perform some cursory warm up(or no warm up at all) and play. As a result they simply go through the motions of the game and never get any better.
Preparation is important. Preparation is important for the individual and for the team. The game of soccer is both physically and mentally demanding. It is the responsibility of the coach to prepare for both. In tournaments preparation does not happen.
Fields? Are you kidding. So many teams want to attend tournaments that most tournaments don’t have the space necessary to supply good fields. Fields are created on any space possible. The grass is too long, the holes are too big, the field is too narrow and very bumpy. The fields create problems with injuries and bad soccer. Narrow, bumpy, heavy fields are not the surface to learn how to play. These field’s contribute to a very direct style of play and don’t allow for any creativity or any positive dribbling. The fields at most tournaments are simply unplayable.
Officials? There is a shortage of officials all over this country. Any fall weekend will see many officials working a high school game in the morning and a college game or two in the afternoon and evening! As the hours on the job increase, the quality goes down. This is exactly what happens with tournaments. Officials will do four, five or six games each day. Officials have been known to eat lunch while working a line. And, how about that six o’clock game. What can anyone expect from an official who has been on the field for six or eight hours!! These long hours for officials can cause real problems in tournaments!
Some parents and coaches argue that they Acan not get better@ playing the same old teams and tournaments allow better competition. Every other league in every other country plays the same teams each year. The concern for these teams is to make themselves better. There is very little concern about who they play. The teams train hard all week to put what they learned on the field on the weekend. They learn how to play the game systematically and with a sound progression. Our tournaments kids miss out on a lot of necessary soccer information. Traveling eight hours to play three games in eighteen hours does not make a team better. Quality of competition is important, but the quality of each team’s effort each game is what counts in the end. The time spent traveling would be better spent training at an intense level and preparing for the GAME on Saturday!!
Some tournaments have addressed some of these problems. The Cinncinati Blue Chip Classic each April allows each team to play only once each day. The teams play three games in three days. Not great, but better than the usual five games in two or three days!
Recently adidas began an Elite Soccer Program (ESP) which brings in some of the best male and female soccer players to a site for five days of training and games. Each of these programs allows the players to Abe seen@ by college coaches and play only one game a day. The players have a chance to play the game at a higher level than the weekend tournaments. The college coach can see if the kid has a game.
A tournament now and then is fine. It can be fun for the club, the players and the parents. Maybe they can travel to some cities that are fun. A tournament can bring a team together and build some morale. But too many tournaments will prevent the natural progression of learning that will take place in well organized and thoughtful training sessions. Training sessions that use the last game as a learning situation to build on and training sessions that prepare the team for the next opponent. The old coaching expression that A-the game is the best teacher@ is not true. Games used as a laboratory and supplemented by systematic and progressive training sessions-is the best teacher!
Stop the tournaments!
Stop the Tournaments, I want to Get Off!!
Tournaments! Tournaments! Tournaments! They are swallowing youth soccer in this country! Everyone wants to play in tournaments!! Soccer America has an entire issue devoted to tournaments. Every soccer publication in this country lists pages of tournaments for our children to attend! Every year the biggest decision a club team makes is-which tournaments do we attend? Most clubs have a person or three who do nothing but prepare for tournaments! Stop the Tournaments I want to get off!!! Tournaments are hurting America’s soccer playing youth!!
Soccer tournaments started in this country as a way for clubs to make some money to pay the bills. Great idea. Clubs would sponsor a tournament early in a playing season, or in the summer when league play was suspended to make some cash. Now these tournaments rule youth soccer. It is now very important to participate in these types of events. Many clubs advertise for players based on the tournaments they attend. Many coaches entice U16's, U17's and U18's to their club by promising attendance at tournaments where college coaches will attend. Really? Many player’s (and their parents) choose a club solely based on attendance and success in certain tournaments. Today, the main focus for teams, clubs, parents and players is - Tournaments!!
The weekly league game (or two) is secondary to the Tournaments! And maybe even eliminated from the busy tournament schedule. In Central Ohio club teams must participate in a sanctioned league to be allowed to play in tournaments, some clubs have a team for the weekly league (usually a weaker team) so the A team can compete in tournaments all over the country. And, if you don’t get into the tournaments of your choice??? Change clubs or create your own tournament! It works! Try it!
These tournaments allow our soccer playing youth to play a variety of teams in a variety of states all year long. But, they are expensive. It costs the average family a weekend, car milage, hotel expense, entertainment for between games, food and video game money to play in these weekend extravagances. Why? Because everyone plays in tournaments! The kids will become better players. The college coaches can see them play! Everyone plays in tournaments. Everyone that is except youth teams in other soccer playing countries.
The weekly game is the most important game for most other countries. The teams have one week of training. One week of learning. One week to prepare for the game on Saturday or Sunday. The most important aspect of learning the game happens in well founded training programs. The habits necessary to become a complete player are developed in training.
Training is important. Training is critical to the success of these soccer playing nations.
Why is training important? Training allows a supervised and progressive means to learn the game, if done properly! Training allows the player, coach and team to focus on the areas of the game that will influence performance. What are those areas
· Fitness
· Constant technical improvement
· Improvement of tactical understanding based on problems in the previous game
· Improvement of the mental aspects of the game by applying stress in the training situation in a variety of situations
· Team building
Do any of these things happen during a tournament? Not very likely. The very nature of tournaments prevents this from happening. Maybe in America, we are uncomfortable with training. It is still a fact that some of our youth soccer coaches still do not have the background in the game as a player to feel comfortable in training. The obvious solution is play games. So, we play games and don’t train.
Soccer teams in Germany, England, Holland etc. do play in tournaments. But those tournaments are usually during a holiday break or serve as an excuse to go to Madrid for a week. During the soccer season league games count! The entire focus is on the league game. Promotion, relegation, rivalries all depend on the weekly game. Only in America do the players play in tournaments to collect patches for their bag or to spend Memorial Day in Lexington, Kentucky. Play. Play. Play. What happened to training?
These tournaments are killing soccer in this country. Young players can not learn how to play in these types of situations. Everything about these tournaments is bad for the development of American soccer players!!
Tournaments allow players and teams with slow pace or no pace to succeed. Teams play three games in a twenty four hour period and if they are lucky play two more and win a trophy. Assuming we accept the fact that minimum recovery takes twenty four hours, it is physically impossible to play that many games in a short time. In a recent tournament in Central Ohio, for example, a U18 team played at 4:45pm and 6:00pm Saturday night and at 7:30am Sunday morning! What can a coach expect to get from the players in these games? Nothing! It is not possible to play soccer in these situations.
These tournaments breed Underwater Soccer. Nice and slow-no change of pace-no defending. Soccer is not meant to be played this way. Soccer is a game that is played when the player is uncomfortable -when the player closes in on fatigue-when the player runs, works and defends for ninety minutes. The very early laws of the game of soccer stressed a physical component by not allowing a lot of substitutions. Fitness is a part of the game. Ah, so you think there is a fitness component when playing in a tournament? No, there is not. There is an energy conservation component-not fitness? American youth players stop running when they are uncomfortable. And since they are playing so many games in a short weekend, they just don’t run at all. When the players try to move on to the next level (college), they are shocked to realize they can not make the team. They don’t know how to play! They don’t know how to run and they don’t know how to work. They don’t know how to defend. They don’t know what the physical aspect of soccer is all about. They have never been taught what it takes to play this game at a high level.
Technical development in a tournaments situation?? No chance. The games do offer a variety of opportunities to cultivate technical improvement. But, because the games are so slow and there is very little defending, the time and space available for players is not realistic for a real soccer game. In fact, it is counterproductive. When a player does get into a real game where time and space are limited he/she can not play!
Tactical improvements? Don’t look here. There is no time between games to either discuss any tactical problems or work on them before the next game. If your team faces a formation or a tactic you haven’t seen before, what do you do?? Hope you don’t see it again. As a rule, there is very little teaching going on in regards to tactics in many clubs. The prevailing mentality is simply-find the best players and let em play! Not a bad strategy. But as players move on in their soccer career, an understanding of tactics is very important. Even a constant teaching/review of 1v1; 2v1; 3v2 etc is essential to complete maturation of a soccer player. This tournament mentality does not allow this teaching to take place. A player who relies only on athletic ability without learning the game will hit a soccer plateau and not get any better. This happens far too often in the United States. There is too much emphasis on the athletic ability of a player at the expense of soccer ability. In addition, tactics are important in the development of the whole team. If you agree with Alan Wade that the most difficult aspect of coaching a soccer team is getting all the players on the same page@ then you will agree that teaching tactics is very important.. To accomplish that, the team must have time to train together and learn about tactics after each game!
And the problems do not end there. The mental aspect of the game is lost. Soccer is a game where the mental aspect is so very important. In fact we delight in selling the game as a players game and as a mental game. But, we do nothing about it. No less an authority than former German international Jurgen Klinnsman feels that working on the mental side of the game is lacking right now in soccer all over the world. There is no mental preparation during tournaments at all. If’s 2:00 it must be Vardar or Dallas Texans. Let’s go play. The young players do not learn that a warm up prepares you to play physically and mentally! Rather they show up, perform some cursory warm up(or no warm up at all) and play. As a result they simply go through the motions of the game and never get any better.
Preparation is important. Preparation is important for the individual and for the team. The game of soccer is both physically and mentally demanding. It is the responsibility of the coach to prepare for both. In tournaments preparation does not happen.
Fields? Are you kidding. So many teams want to attend tournaments that most tournaments don’t have the space necessary to supply good fields. Fields are created on any space possible. The grass is too long, the holes are too big, the field is too narrow and very bumpy. The fields create problems with injuries and bad soccer. Narrow, bumpy, heavy fields are not the surface to learn how to play. These field’s contribute to a very direct style of play and don’t allow for any creativity or any positive dribbling. The fields at most tournaments are simply unplayable.
Officials? There is a shortage of officials all over this country. Any fall weekend will see many officials working a high school game in the morning and a college game or two in the afternoon and evening! As the hours on the job increase, the quality goes down. This is exactly what happens with tournaments. Officials will do four, five or six games each day. Officials have been known to eat lunch while working a line. And, how about that six o’clock game. What can anyone expect from an official who has been on the field for six or eight hours!! These long hours for officials can cause real problems in tournaments!
Some parents and coaches argue that they Acan not get better@ playing the same old teams and tournaments allow better competition. Every other league in every other country plays the same teams each year. The concern for these teams is to make themselves better. There is very little concern about who they play. The teams train hard all week to put what they learned on the field on the weekend. They learn how to play the game systematically and with a sound progression. Our tournaments kids miss out on a lot of necessary soccer information. Traveling eight hours to play three games in eighteen hours does not make a team better. Quality of competition is important, but the quality of each team’s effort each game is what counts in the end. The time spent traveling would be better spent training at an intense level and preparing for the GAME on Saturday!!
Some tournaments have addressed some of these problems. The Cinncinati Blue Chip Classic each April allows each team to play only once each day. The teams play three games in three days. Not great, but better than the usual five games in two or three days!
Recently adidas began an Elite Soccer Program (ESP) which brings in some of the best male and female soccer players to a site for five days of training and games. Each of these programs allows the players to Abe seen@ by college coaches and play only one game a day. The players have a chance to play the game at a higher level than the weekend tournaments. The college coach can see if the kid has a game.
A tournament now and then is fine. It can be fun for the club, the players and the parents. Maybe they can travel to some cities that are fun. A tournament can bring a team together and build some morale. But too many tournaments will prevent the natural progression of learning that will take place in well organized and thoughtful training sessions. Training sessions that use the last game as a learning situation to build on and training sessions that prepare the team for the next opponent. The old coaching expression that A-the game is the best teacher@ is not true. Games used as a laboratory and supplemented by systematic and progressive training sessions-is the best teacher!
Stop the tournaments!
Press Release
Contact: Joseph Belsito, General Manager
Phone: (845) 534-9031
e-mail: HTUJoe@QuickstrikeFC.comUTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 A.M. EDT, December 11, 2008
USL W-LEAGUE SOCCER COMES TO HUDSON VALLEY!
TNEWBURGH, NY, DECEMBER 11, 2008 – TThe Quickstrike FC soccer
club has reached an agreement with Jersey Sky Blue of the Women’s
Professional League (WPS) to acquire their existing W-League women’s
soccer franchise. The franchise will be moved to the Hudson Valley where
it will train and compete in the United States Soccer League’s (USL)
W-League in 2009. The team will be named Hudson Valley Quickstrike
Lady Blues, and will serve as a feeder/identification program for the New
Jersey-based Sky Blue’s women’s professional team launching in 2009.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to bring this level of soccer to the
Hudson Valley,” said Quickstrike FC General Manager Joseph Belsito. “We are working very hard to
reach our ultimate goal of developing Quickstrike FC into one of the premier soccer programs in the
country and the addition of a W-League team to our club is an additional step in that direction.”
The W-League is currently the highest level of women’s soccer in
the United States and Canada. In the spring of 2009, professional
women’s soccer will launch in the United States as the Women’s
Professional League (WPS) debuts. The W-League will serve a
vital role in supporting the professional league as it provides a
feeder system for the top collegiate, international and semiprofessional
female soccer players in the world.
“The Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues has been one of our goals since we first started
Quickstrike FC and now it’s a reality,” said Quickstrike Lady Blues Head Coach Jesse Kolmel. “Our
W-League team will provide not only competitive opportunities to the top female soccer players in the
region, but those experiences will be passed down to players at all ages throughout the Hudson
Valley.”
"Quickstrike is a great organization with a vision that we really buy into," said Sky Blue Soccer
President and CEO Thomas Hofstetter. "As a soccer club, not only do they have a good
understanding what it takes to run a good youth program but also the business expertise to make
them successful on the W-League level."
Quickstrike recently saw its U14 and U15 Girls squad reach the semifinal round of the 2008 Super YLeague
North American Finals. A third team competed in the U13 Boys bracket. The club finished the
year ranked 13th in the SYL First and Second 11 club rankings amongst the Girls table and 21st in
the Overall table.
Jersey Sky Blue competed for two successful seasons in the W-League. In 2007, the team made a
strong debut posting a 12-2 record with a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This past
summer, Jersey Sky Blue recorded an 8-4-2 mark. The franchise was honored by United Soccer
Leagues in both seasons earning the W-League Rookie Franchise of the Year Award in 2007 and the
W-League Communications Award in 2008.
Sky Blue FC General Manager and Head Coach Ian Sawyers is looking forward to having the Lady
Blues serve as a resource to support Sky Blue’s professional venture.
"The Quickstrike group exemplifies everything we want from a soccer organization in terms of
personnel, resources, facilities and fan base," Sawyers said. "We will rely heavily on the W-league
team as a feeder system for our professional team. We will train on a regular basis with its player pool
and will constantly exchange information with the coaching staff re player evaluation and player
development strategies."
"Any top youth, collegiate, amateur and international prospects that have an interest in pursuing a
career with Sky Blue FC will be encouraged to play with the Lady Blues," Sawyers added. "Both Joe
and Jesse, along with the rest of the Quickstrike staff, have shown tremendous enthusiasm, passion
and insight toward the development of professional women’s soccer in the Tri-State area; we look
forward to a positive long-term partnership."
The W-League is USL’s highest level of women’s soccer in the US and Canada. The 2008 campaign
featured a 41-team format in four conferences playing 12 or 14 regular season matches. In the 2008
Championship match, the Pali (CA) Blues defeated FC Indiana, 2-1. The league is recognized
throughout the world for providing elite competition for women’s players, while providing affordable
family entertainment to many fans in each of the team locations.
The W-League season in the Hudson Valley will launch in May, 2009 and run through August. While
the Quickstrike FC Lady Blue’s will compete in the Northeast Division of the W-League, specific
scheduling details have yet to be released by the United States Soccer League. The Quickstrike Lady
Blue’s will train at the club’s Mt. Airy Sports Complex in New Windsor, NY, and hold their games at
the new turf complex at Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh.
More information about the new W-League team, its schedule, tickets and sponsorship opportunities
will be posted on the club’s website … HTUwww.QuickstrikeFC.comUTH … in the coming weeks.
0B-End
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
This article is from the November/December issue of the NSCAA Soccer Journal and is written by Editor, Dr. Jay Martin.
Center Circle Column
In early September, there was a Division I game between two Top Ten teams, one from the West Coast and one from the East Coast. It was an early season special. Two big time programs went at each other; each hoping to make a statement for the 2008 collegiate season. It was a beautiful day and the stadium was full. After observing the game for the first half, it was clear that the West Coast team had better soccer players. Pound for pound they were more technical than the home team. The West Coast team lost 3-0 - and it could have been more. Good soccer players; who played good soccer but didn’t compete. They PLAYED the game; they did not COMPETE the game.
In a recent interview discussing the upcoming NHL season, Columbus Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters that the CBJ would make the playoffs if he could find players “who would COMPETE and not just PLAY”. And, there is a difference he said. “Players who PLAY bring skill; players who COMPETE bring everything!”
There is too much playing in American soccer and not enough competing. Playing permeates all levels of the game from U5 to the MLS and the National teams. We are confusing ability for talent. As Allen Fox, author of The Winners Mind suggests, “Most people mistake speed and skill for talent. Real talent STARTS with energy, drive, work ethic and the will to win. Without these attributes, a player can never be great.”
In this country we have focused so much on playing, that we have not taught our players to compete - to fight - to work hard or to have the will to win. As a soccer culture, we have always had an inferiority complex. So, we emphasize playing, technical ability and skills. Our youth players play a lot of soccer, but few compete.
What happens to all the highly regarded U17’s we have had in this country? Where are they now? They are playing somewhere.
It is not always the fault of the players. Our “soccer system” or our “soccer culture” is dysfunctional. When a player is not playing in his/her club, he/she simply change clubs. There is no thought about competing for a spot on the team, fighting for a spot, getting better to find a spot - we simply change clubs. The message to the players is that striving to get better is not important; it is simply how you play and how you look.
High school age players don’t care much about the outcome of games (whether they are playing in high school or club), but they do care about “showing”- about playing to showcase their skills and ability for college coaches. The emphasis is on playing. How many times have you heard a parent tell their son or daughter that you played well or you showed well despite losing the game?
Add to this the large number of meaningless games in youth soccer and we have a deadly combination. Young players play in meaningless high school games and hundreds of meaningless club games. The emphasis slowly changes from the game to the individual. The emphasis changes to playing and showing and competing is lost. By the time the players move to the next level, they have not learned how to compete. Or as Allen suggests, they do not have the drive, work ethic or will to win.
Players lose motivation and confidence when the “work/play” is no longer easy (i.e. college soccer, or the next level). The rules have changed at the next level. The emphasis switches back to competing and hard work. The players can’t handle it - they think they are playing - and they are, but they are not competing. We need players who compete and play; players who have the will to win.
In fact, research is very clear that constant praising of children’s innate (soccer skill or intellectual) ability can prevent young athletes/students from living up to their potential. On the other hand studies show that teaching young people to focus on effort rather than ability helps make them high achievers and competitors in school, on the field and in life.
Why do some players when confronted with failure give up and others who are no more skilled continue to compete and learn? Carol Dweck of Stanford University and author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success suggests that the answer lays in people’s beliefs about why they failed. Although very complicated, it seems that those of us who are praised for our ability/intelligence etc. when things are easy have trouble changing gears and working hard when things get tough. Children who are taught to focus on effort and getting better and not the outcome learn to work hard and solve the problem. Soccer players who change clubs never learn to solve the problem(s) that others face because they never face them! The key, says Dweck, isn’t ability; it’s whether you look at ability as something inherent that needs to be demonstrated or as something that can be developed. She further suggests that many young athletes who are led to believe that talent is more important than effort become uncoachable!
Somehow in the Land of the Puritan Work Ethic, we have separated ability and effort. We are teaching our young soccer players that ability, technique and skill outweigh effort. In fact, our young players feel that having to work hard at soccer is a sign of low ability. Since college coaches are interested in ability, young players don’t work hard - they don’t compete. When they get to college and things get tough they can’t change gears and work hard. They are confused. They played “high level youth soccer” and made it to a college team playing one way. Now the coach wants the players to change and work hard. Many can’t do it!
A high level of ability will inspire confidence in our young players - for a while. As long as things are going well, the players will be confident. But setbacks, adversity and failure change everything. How our young players react to setbacks depends upon their goals. If the goal is to play at the next level, focus on ability or skill (performance goals) there will be no improvement. But, if the goal is to become a better soccer player; to improve ability (learning goals) then the young player will work hard and compete and become a better player. Dweck’s 2002 study showed that praising children for intelligence alone (or ability), rather than effort actually sapped their motivation.
Culture plays a large role in shaping our beliefs. Our soccer culture perpetuates the belief that talent is the answer. And talent is defined as skill. We focus on talent, we praise those who are talented, we fight for talented players for our teams and, as a result, have created a mindset that talent is the end all in soccer. That mindset can be changed and must be changed. The mindset that soccer ability is only the answer is a problem. We must return to an emphasis on effort, drive, determination and the will to win in addition to skill and talent.
How do we change from a “fixed mindset” to a “growth mindset” in this soccer culture? How do we change the emphasis from relying totally on skill to relying on using the skill in addition to hard work? One way, says Dweck, is by telling our players about those who were successful through hard work and not only skill. These stories and examples should show that real success needs a combination of ability and hard work. Sports generally and soccer specifically has many examples of this. Look at Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal as a good example. He has tremendous skill and soccer ability, but he also is the hardest worker on the field; that combination makes him one the best players in the EPL. The hard working Claude Makalele is another example. Often overlooked at Real Madrid as only a hard worker, his real contributions were displayed when he moved to Chelsea. Real Madrid struggled and Chelsea became one of the best teams in Europe after he left.
Another strategy coaches can use to change the mindset is praise. Instead of praising skill alone, coaches must praise effort, hard work and the will to win. Most people believe they should build up a person by telling him or her how brilliant and/or talented he or she is, Dweck’s research suggests this in misguided and a mistake.
So, as coaches, it is time to change the mindset of our players. It is time to make work ethic and effort important again. It is time to combine highly skilled players with hard working players. We need highly skilled, hard working players. Our players must stop playing and start competing!
Center Circle Column
In early September, there was a Division I game between two Top Ten teams, one from the West Coast and one from the East Coast. It was an early season special. Two big time programs went at each other; each hoping to make a statement for the 2008 collegiate season. It was a beautiful day and the stadium was full. After observing the game for the first half, it was clear that the West Coast team had better soccer players. Pound for pound they were more technical than the home team. The West Coast team lost 3-0 - and it could have been more. Good soccer players; who played good soccer but didn’t compete. They PLAYED the game; they did not COMPETE the game.
In a recent interview discussing the upcoming NHL season, Columbus Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters that the CBJ would make the playoffs if he could find players “who would COMPETE and not just PLAY”. And, there is a difference he said. “Players who PLAY bring skill; players who COMPETE bring everything!”
There is too much playing in American soccer and not enough competing. Playing permeates all levels of the game from U5 to the MLS and the National teams. We are confusing ability for talent. As Allen Fox, author of The Winners Mind suggests, “Most people mistake speed and skill for talent. Real talent STARTS with energy, drive, work ethic and the will to win. Without these attributes, a player can never be great.”
In this country we have focused so much on playing, that we have not taught our players to compete - to fight - to work hard or to have the will to win. As a soccer culture, we have always had an inferiority complex. So, we emphasize playing, technical ability and skills. Our youth players play a lot of soccer, but few compete.
What happens to all the highly regarded U17’s we have had in this country? Where are they now? They are playing somewhere.
It is not always the fault of the players. Our “soccer system” or our “soccer culture” is dysfunctional. When a player is not playing in his/her club, he/she simply change clubs. There is no thought about competing for a spot on the team, fighting for a spot, getting better to find a spot - we simply change clubs. The message to the players is that striving to get better is not important; it is simply how you play and how you look.
High school age players don’t care much about the outcome of games (whether they are playing in high school or club), but they do care about “showing”- about playing to showcase their skills and ability for college coaches. The emphasis is on playing. How many times have you heard a parent tell their son or daughter that you played well or you showed well despite losing the game?
Add to this the large number of meaningless games in youth soccer and we have a deadly combination. Young players play in meaningless high school games and hundreds of meaningless club games. The emphasis slowly changes from the game to the individual. The emphasis changes to playing and showing and competing is lost. By the time the players move to the next level, they have not learned how to compete. Or as Allen suggests, they do not have the drive, work ethic or will to win.
Players lose motivation and confidence when the “work/play” is no longer easy (i.e. college soccer, or the next level). The rules have changed at the next level. The emphasis switches back to competing and hard work. The players can’t handle it - they think they are playing - and they are, but they are not competing. We need players who compete and play; players who have the will to win.
In fact, research is very clear that constant praising of children’s innate (soccer skill or intellectual) ability can prevent young athletes/students from living up to their potential. On the other hand studies show that teaching young people to focus on effort rather than ability helps make them high achievers and competitors in school, on the field and in life.
Why do some players when confronted with failure give up and others who are no more skilled continue to compete and learn? Carol Dweck of Stanford University and author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success suggests that the answer lays in people’s beliefs about why they failed. Although very complicated, it seems that those of us who are praised for our ability/intelligence etc. when things are easy have trouble changing gears and working hard when things get tough. Children who are taught to focus on effort and getting better and not the outcome learn to work hard and solve the problem. Soccer players who change clubs never learn to solve the problem(s) that others face because they never face them! The key, says Dweck, isn’t ability; it’s whether you look at ability as something inherent that needs to be demonstrated or as something that can be developed. She further suggests that many young athletes who are led to believe that talent is more important than effort become uncoachable!
Somehow in the Land of the Puritan Work Ethic, we have separated ability and effort. We are teaching our young soccer players that ability, technique and skill outweigh effort. In fact, our young players feel that having to work hard at soccer is a sign of low ability. Since college coaches are interested in ability, young players don’t work hard - they don’t compete. When they get to college and things get tough they can’t change gears and work hard. They are confused. They played “high level youth soccer” and made it to a college team playing one way. Now the coach wants the players to change and work hard. Many can’t do it!
A high level of ability will inspire confidence in our young players - for a while. As long as things are going well, the players will be confident. But setbacks, adversity and failure change everything. How our young players react to setbacks depends upon their goals. If the goal is to play at the next level, focus on ability or skill (performance goals) there will be no improvement. But, if the goal is to become a better soccer player; to improve ability (learning goals) then the young player will work hard and compete and become a better player. Dweck’s 2002 study showed that praising children for intelligence alone (or ability), rather than effort actually sapped their motivation.
Culture plays a large role in shaping our beliefs. Our soccer culture perpetuates the belief that talent is the answer. And talent is defined as skill. We focus on talent, we praise those who are talented, we fight for talented players for our teams and, as a result, have created a mindset that talent is the end all in soccer. That mindset can be changed and must be changed. The mindset that soccer ability is only the answer is a problem. We must return to an emphasis on effort, drive, determination and the will to win in addition to skill and talent.
How do we change from a “fixed mindset” to a “growth mindset” in this soccer culture? How do we change the emphasis from relying totally on skill to relying on using the skill in addition to hard work? One way, says Dweck, is by telling our players about those who were successful through hard work and not only skill. These stories and examples should show that real success needs a combination of ability and hard work. Sports generally and soccer specifically has many examples of this. Look at Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal as a good example. He has tremendous skill and soccer ability, but he also is the hardest worker on the field; that combination makes him one the best players in the EPL. The hard working Claude Makalele is another example. Often overlooked at Real Madrid as only a hard worker, his real contributions were displayed when he moved to Chelsea. Real Madrid struggled and Chelsea became one of the best teams in Europe after he left.
Another strategy coaches can use to change the mindset is praise. Instead of praising skill alone, coaches must praise effort, hard work and the will to win. Most people believe they should build up a person by telling him or her how brilliant and/or talented he or she is, Dweck’s research suggests this in misguided and a mistake.
So, as coaches, it is time to change the mindset of our players. It is time to make work ethic and effort important again. It is time to combine highly skilled players with hard working players. We need highly skilled, hard working players. Our players must stop playing and start competing!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Putnam Secrets | lohud.com | The Journal News
Putnam Secrets lohud.com The Journal News: "GET A KICK OUT OF SHOPPING
You breathe a sigh of relief, because, hey, your back-to-school shopping is done. Then comes the notice that fall soccer will start in a week. No worries. Just head to Siegy's Soccer Shop in Mahopac. Even if your child is no David Beckham, he or she can be accessorized here like a star forward, with socks, shoes from Nike, Adidas, and PowerSwerve, bags, balls, even replica jerseys of their favorite MLS and National teams. BONUS POINTS Being serious about their sport. The salespeople know soccer, play soccer, and will fit your child with the right gear for his or her skill level (422 Rte. 6; Mahopac; 628-4131; siegyssoccer.com)."
You breathe a sigh of relief, because, hey, your back-to-school shopping is done. Then comes the notice that fall soccer will start in a week. No worries. Just head to Siegy's Soccer Shop in Mahopac. Even if your child is no David Beckham, he or she can be accessorized here like a star forward, with socks, shoes from Nike, Adidas, and PowerSwerve, bags, balls, even replica jerseys of their favorite MLS and National teams. BONUS POINTS Being serious about their sport. The salespeople know soccer, play soccer, and will fit your child with the right gear for his or her skill level (422 Rte. 6; Mahopac; 628-4131; siegyssoccer.com)."
Everything you need for back-to-school shopping | lohud.com | The Journal News
Everything you need for back-to-school shopping lohud.com The Journal News: "Siegy's Soccer Shop in Mahopac. Even if your child is no David Beckham, he (or she) can be accessorized here like a star forward, with socks, shoes from Nike, Adidas and PowerSwerve, bags, balls, even replica jerseys of their favorite MLS and National teams. (422 Route 6, Mahopac, 845-628-4131, siegyssoccer.com)."
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
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