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5 Reasons to Stop Using Fitness as Punishment

5 Reasons to Stop Using Fitness as Punishment

“Losing team has to do ten pushups!” We hear this all the time on the practice field. “Pushups” is often substituted by sprints, crunches, burpees, etc. There’s something seriously wrong with this. Why is fitness being used as a consequence for losing? Why are exercises a punishment? I will be the first one to admit that I am guilty of using all kinds of fitness as the consequence for losing teams. I’ve even done it at way too young of ages. Therefore, I will not hesitate

4 Ways Yelling at Referees is Hurting Our Children

4 Ways Yelling at Referees is Hurting Our Children

We see and hear it every single weekend on the youth soccer fields: “Come on, ref!” “What are you doing?!” “Are you blind?!” “Call it both ways!” (The last one is my favorite, since it makes no sense at all - referees are not obligated to make an even number of calls for both teams – if only one team commits fouls, then only that team should get called for them). All of this yelling and complaining at referees is hurting the development of our kids. More than we realize.

Developing a Scoring Mentality

Developing a Scoring Mentality

Have you ever heard a coach, player, or parent after a match say “We dominated possession but just couldn’t score?” Have you ever found yourself saying this after a game? There’s a reason this happens. Especially for those who find themselves saying this on a regular basis. How many of us, after experiencing this situation multiple times, change our coaching methods? The sad truth is that very few of us do. But the harsh reality is that the reason our teams cannot score is

The Real Reason Kids Burn Out

The Real Reason Kids Burn Out

In case you haven’t heard the statistic, 70% of kids in the US drop out of youth sports by the age of 13. The primary reason for this is that they “burn out.” In other words, they don’t find it fun anymore. What causes burn out? Many people would say it is playing too much of one sport, or playing too much of organized sports altogether. Basically, kids don’t spend enough time “just being kids.” The blame gets cast on year-round sports or too many practices on a weekly bas

7 Ways to Spot a Con Artist Coach

7 Ways to Spot a Con Artist Coach

Unfortunately, there are many people in the youth soccer world who “steal a living.” They act as coaches or club directors but do nothing that is truly in the best interest of the children and families they serve. In the end, their only interest is in themselves, and most of the families that have crossed their path are in worse situations because of it. We call these people “con artist coaches.” Unfortunately, con artist coaches are very good at what they do. To an untrain