Refereeing Young Children: More Teacher than an Enforcer (Part 1)
By Randy Vogt
When I started refereeing in 1978, young kids games were 11 vs. 11. I was paid $6 per game, or $4 if I refereed with a partner. …
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By Kristine Lilly
It was the late 1970s. I was 6 years old when I started playing soccer. Well I am not sure if what I played could be called “soccer.” I was out on the field with other boys …
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What to do about M's father?
By Donna Olmstead
The recent death of Salt Lake City, Utah, soccer referee Ricardo Portillo makes me incredibly sad. There isn't a game on earth that is worth someone's life. I read that his …
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Sleep well, play well (The teenager's challenge)
(For those parents and coaches welcoming a new generation of teenagers, the Youth Soccer Insider republishes this article, which first appeared in May 2011.)
By Dev K. Mishra, M.D.
I'm sure anyone …
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Mexico Diary: Lots of hype but no Goooool
By Mike Woitalla
The back of a van in Mexico City’s Colonia Condesa is covered with bumper stickers, one of which reads "Jesus Saves …" followed by smaller type:
“He passes to …
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Beckham is Soccer's Highest-Paid Player
Daily Telegraph
Lionel Messi may be the world’s best player, but David Beckham is the richest, according to France Football magazine’s annual tally of the sport’s wealthiest players. Beckham, 37, will earn $46.6 million in …
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Refs: In the right spot, at the right time
By Randy Vogt
I have seen many soccer games when the referee made an important call — sometimes correctly, sometimes incorrectly — and loud dissent followed since the ref was 40 …
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Tryouts: Coping with Cuts
By Tony DiCicco
The most difficult part of coaching isn't dealing with losses, it's cutting or rejecting people from the team. It's not just a simple matter of reducing numbers, it's a matter of making …
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Choose words wisely while coaching kids
By Don Norton Jr.
"If I was asked to find one word to describe one of the main differences I have noticed in 25 years of coaching, the word would probably be 'Why'? …
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College recruiting starts too young (Steve Swanson Q&A, Part 1)
Interview by Mike Woitalla
Steve Swanson, who guided the USA to the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup title in September, has coached women's college ball since 1990. After stints …
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