Only watch soccer every 4 years? Here is a list of rules that should help you follow the game!

USMNT Pep Rally in Times Square!!!

Good Times in Times Square!

It is a beautiful sunny afternoon in Manhattan and the fans were in great spirits to celebrate the US National Team on their way to Brazil!!  Sunday the USMNT will take on Turkey at the Red Bull Arena @ 2pm. 

Tomorrow the team will be training from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Lets go USA!!

Thoughts on the USA's First Send of Game

USA vs Azerbaijan 

The starting line- up:

Howard

Johnson- Cameron-Besler-Beasley

Bedoya-Jones-Bradley-Zusi

Altidore-Wondolowski

      That line-up sounds impressive, but the team looked even better once the subs entered the game!  Just a recap of some of the players that stood out to me, for good and for bad.

      Wondolowski got the last minute start in the game due to Captain Clint Dempsey feeling a strain in his groin during warm-ups.  Wondo did not disappoint in the first half by having all of the USA's chances on goal.  It easily could have been 2-0 if the ball dropped a few inches left or right on his attempts, but no such luck.

      Jozy Altidore played the roll of target forward, often coming back to receive the ball at his feet to lay it off and turn and go forward.  He was able to hold his own physically, but his lack of a quality first touch and poor off the ball decision making left his playing much to be desired.  Klinsmann has often spoke that Jozy is a key component to the success of the team and has asked the fans to have continued patience but I am done with that!  90 mins at forward and zero shots on goal...not a great combination.  Time is up, World Cup in 2 weeks, we need to move on. 

      I was disappointed that Jermaine Jones played a full 90mins, and when I say he played, I really just mean he was on the field.  I am not sure what he accomplished other than kicking the ball out of bounds and to the other team.  I wish I kept official stats on his ability to keep possession of the ball but I am pretty sure he completed roughly 3 passes.  Bradley therefore had less of an impact of the offense because he had to do double duty with Jones behind him.  Beckerman, on the other hand is efficient and smart, and allows freedom for Bradley to go forward.  Every soccer analyst who watched the last USA vs Mexico game saw it clear as day!    PLEASE WAKE UP KLINSMANN!  I mean if he can't see it, one of his 4 assistants sure as hell should see it and speak up!  Playing with Jones, is like playing with 10 men, and with Jones and Altidore....Ugh, don't get me started.

      Bedoya had the start which was actually the biggest surprise to me, I had Mix with the start. In the end Mix provided great spark off the bench and had the game winner!  Even with the energy from Mix, I did like the effort and play from Bedoya to start, in my opinion though, he is just lacking the crazy passion that Mix plays with.

      Howard was not super busy but he did have to make a couple big saves, and of course he made them look easy.  I was actually happy that Azerbaijan had as many corners as they did just for the USA to practice, some of them were defended poorly and we won't get away with that against Group G.


      Overall, I thought the back 4 did a good job, and loved how Johnson got forward into the attack, that is the perfect way to utilize the outside players in a 4 back.  With all of the debate surrounding our back 4 they did not disappoint me.  Gonzalez and Chandler came in and were okay, nothing they did pushed them beyond the starting 4 in my book.  Yedlin is quickly becoming my new favorite player :) and I would love to see him man mark Ronaldo in game two, he is SO damn quick and youthful that running for 90mins is no big deal for him haha!!   

      Last but not least, Johannsson subbed in up in the second half and he didn't waste any time showing Klinsmann that he can be of use in Brazil.  His technically perfect header off a corner late in the second half sealed the deal for the US victory.  

      Can't wait for USA vs. Turkey 2:00pm Sunday June 1!  I will be there screaming my heart out, and hope to see an amazing game.

The Final 23...Road to Brazil

Sooooo, Klinsmann and I were not exactly on the same page but we were close.  Yesterday's announcement came as a shock to me for several reasons and I had a very difficult time sleeping last night.  Apparently, I am also a member of the coaching staff deciding what to do with the 23 man roster :)   

1) I was happy that he made the call before the send off games so that the starting team could start to gel as a unit. 

2) For lack of a better word, I thought it was such a crappy way for Donovan's National Team career to come to an end, assuming it is over, because I just heard Klinsmann say that he hopes his career continues after Brazil because a new cycle begins...so apparently he isn't good enough now but he might be later?

3) I wanted Goodson & Donovan on the roster but I have been in agreement with all other dismissals.  

4) All the players cut have handled it WAY better than I would, especially Brad Evans...keeping it classy

 
I realize that I am not in the locker room or training sessions every day, and I realize that I don't come remotely close to the level of experience of Klinsmann, but I find it hard to believe that there are 10 people on the bench who would have more impact than Landon, even as a sub.  I know that there is a concerted effort to improve the development of the US National Team as a whole, and the team needs to think for the future, I just wish they would focus on 2018 after July 13th!

Is Donovan one of the older players? Yes.  Does he compete at the highest level for 12 days in a row? Apparently not.  Could he keep up with Ronaldo on the flank for at least 60 mins during a World Cup? Absolutely!  Even with the disappointment, Donovan has been a great professional about it all and has stated that he is ready to go should they need an alternate.  Here's to you Donovan thanks for being a great player for our country both in the National Team and in the MLS.

Leaving Donavan off the roster is such big news that the other final 6 cuts did not get much attention in the headlines.  However, I don't think the other 6 are actually that much of a shock. There have a been a number of different players that had big moments back in the Gold Cup and World Cup Qualifiers but didn't have lstaying power.  And of course the opposite situation with Green, where he has little to no experience but must be killin it in training?! Otherwise Klinsmann will have a lot of explaining to do. Here's hoping that he has some tricks up his sleeve come June!

In the end, this breaking news has brought more attention to the USA National Team than I have seen in a long time, if ever.  So thanks to you again Landon, even non-soccer fans know your name and that is a tremendous gift you have given to this sport in the USA...you are a household name and we appreciate all that you gave to get US Soccer to where it is today!  But I don't want to speak too soon, three send off games, who knows what could happen. 

LET'S GO USA!!

Road to Brazil...Removing the last 7...SO EXCITING/DIFFICULT

I must admit...on my computer I have an excel spreadsheet with the entire roster of the #USMNT.  I narrowed it down to Klinsmann's 30, then narrowed it down to the 23 players I want on the plane to Brazil, and even took it a step further to my desired starting 11.  In short, I am SO EXCITED for the World Cup to begin and I desperately want Klinsmann and I to be on the same page haha!!  

While watching ESPN's 30 for 30, I found myself sitting with a toothy grin on my face, and for those of you who know me, that is a phenomenon in itself! : ) I was analyzing Jurgen's every word, trying to get insight on his thoughts, narrowing my focus on all of his post it notes in the coaches meetings to see where he put players.  I even tried to figure out what player dropped first in the agonizing beep test, just to get any idea of who might be left at home next month.  

I was sad to see that Gonzalez is still working on the knee injury and thrilled to see Howard join the group.  I loved hearing Michael Bradley say “Teams that are ready to suffer are gunna do well. And we want to be the team that can suffer the most."  With that team spirit and the support from the amazing  American Outlaws the group of death will be nothing short of amazing!
 
I can't wait for the next 30 for 30, see schedule below:

May 29, Thursday, 7:30-8 p.m.: Episode 3
June 3, Tuesday, 7:30-8 p.m.: Episode 4
June 10, Tuesday, 8:30-9:30 p.m.: Episode 5
June 11, Wednesday, 9:30-10 p.m.: LIVE series finale – Epilogue

No matter who is chosen, I will always be one of the USA's biggest fans, proudly rockin my Red, White and Blue!

Motivations behind the youth soccer player...why do they play?

Most often kids start to play sports because their parents sign them up for exercise, socialization, and fun...but why do they continue to play is my question?
 
With my U-9 team, it is already pretty clear to me who is naturally talented, who has potential, and who will probably never play past the age of 11.  All of that is expected at this age group, kids are playing for fun, or so I hope!  At that age, in my opinion, it is okay if a player does a cartwheel on her way to a water break.  It is okay that between drills they fight over the ball and kick and run all over the field.  It is even okay, that sometimes they just want to take a break from soccer and work on a team cheer : )

NY Kosmos, making tunnel of cheers for opposing team post game.

When my sisters and I started to play soccer at the ages of 6, 8, and 11 our parents had one rule, "Play until it is no longer fun."  For me the fun has yet to stop, for my sisters it changed with they were introduced to other sports but the rule was the same for us all.  We did not play soccer, or any sport for that matter, for our parents.  My father played sports growing up but at no time did we ever feel he was living vicariously through us.  In my 25+ years in the soccer community, I now have an even greater appreciation for that family rule and wish more kids had that rule to follow.

Training a new U-16 team has been one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced.  I was thrilled to work with a team that I thought would have the same desire and intensity I had at that age.  I thought that their desire to play post high school would encourage them to push themselves to the highest level at all times.  Turns out I was wrong.  After further discussion, most told me they play because "my dad grew up playing" or my "mom played college sports and wants me to", or "I want a scholarship".  

Those "motivations" are not really motivations at all.  I believe it is impossible to compete at your best when you are not doing it first for yourself!  Growing up with the rule of " having fun", was often interpreted differently by me and my sisters, for instance one day I was pitching on my 6th grade softball team and I walked about 12 players in a row.  I started to cry when the inning finally ended and my dad said "Grab your glove you just quit" and I said "No! I am having fun" through my pathetic tears.  Losing that game was a good life lesson for me at the ripe old age of 11, haha.  Was I really having fun? See to me, having fun means winning, and if I wasn't winning I was the BIGGEST sore loser.  Turns out a lot of people share in that theory with me but over the years I also learned that a lot of people don't.  

So heads up to you coaches and parents who push kids to play more than they want for an outcome that they don't really are about...just having fun isn't a bad goal to have either. : )

The motivations behind a club soccer coach...who really wins?

     When I started to play soccer in the late 80's, I believe a lot of my coaches were actually volunteers.  If they were paid it wasn't enough to live by, probably just enough for gas to our games and practices...the coaches always had a "day job".  Soccer has grown so much since then, that now youth soccer coaches can make a comfortable living off of the profession.  But what is the driving force behind the motivation to coach full time? What is the ultimate goal of "the club coach"?  

     From what I see current club coaches try to win as many games as possible, and get as many kids as they can playing at the collegiate level.  Some coaches will not take on groups that aren't in a top league, and will look to combine clubs to make a super team to travel and win tournaments. Sadly, parents are part to blame in this "winning at all costs epidemic", pushing for victories over development. 

     Where did the developmental coaches go?  Where are the coaches who want to teach life lessons and teamwork?  Where are the coaches that are able to teach more to the players when they lose, so that in the long run they are better for it?  From what I know, those coaches do still exist! Sadly, they just aren't getting the job.

     When I was around 11 years old, my team did not win many games.  What I did gain was the ability to kick comfortably with my left foot, how to attack the goal instead of run straight to the end line, and how to defend.  By the time I was 15, I was on a team that was undefeated State Champions and 3 time regional finalists.  The process was sometimes painful, no one likes to lose, but the long term benefits of learning all the facets of the game proved to be more useful as my career progressed.  

     This year I started to train a U-16 team and one day when I asked an outside defender to move up to outside midfield she said "I don't know how to play there".  I was shocked.  How can you play the game and not even have an idea of how each position should be played?  Coaches need to stop taking short cuts and teach the game!  In truth, the continued growth and success of college and professional soccer depends on the instruction received at the youth levels.  So, lets go youth coaches!  Sometimes it doesn't click as quickly as we want, sometimes there will be losses but in the end everyone will benefit from a proper soccer education.

Competitive can be Fun!

Jillian- "Coach Casey, does the "F" on your sweatshirt stand for fun?
Me- "Yes, Jillian.  Yes, it does!"

Despite the fact that the "F Soccer" logo on my shirt represented my alma mater, I realized that fun was a better representation of what I was trying to accomplish while teaching the game I love.  Over the past couple months I have spent hours trying to make the perfect practice plans for my U-9 team.  I agonize over several drills and small sided games that could help teach this game to 15 young minds each week...but what I have discovered is that they learn nothing if they get bored, they learn nothing if the game is too complex, and most of the time the girls have found the competitive nature of the game the fun part!

My girls favorite warm up has been playing sharks and minnows (typically played in a pool) across the width of the field.  Between rounds I lead them through a series of stretches and try to throw in some information on the muscles they are using.  After a few rounds of just running, I like to add in the ball and make them keep possession while running through the "sharks".  Although most of them prefer to play this game without the ball (something I am trying to work on haha), they run with smiles, giggles, and enthusiasm trying not to lose the ball.  I think I enjoy watching them play almost as much as they like playing.  Each round there is a winner, and they are proud to be the last "minnow".

Kosmos (in blue) getting ready to win a throw in

Despite leagues all over the country trying to remove the competitive nature of the game by not keeping score, or giving everyone a medal for participating...I have discovered that the girls give more effort and focus if I make the drills competitive.  Not necessarily against another group but against themselves.  For example, I give them 30 seconds to see how many passes they can complete with their partner, then time them again and have them try to get a better score.  They literally jump for joy when they get better scores, and love to share with their teammates what they got.  In these situations they can actually see themselves getting better and what is a better feeling that that?!?   

The other day I played Steal the Bacon with my girls, and I myself was not keeping score, I was just focused on calling the numbers making sure everyone got a chance. And BOOM, few rounds in the girls start announcing the score before each round "Oh my god we have to score its 4-3, I hope she calls my number!"  When I finally announce that the game is over the winning team jumps on each other like they just won the league title, often with the losing team joining in just to sing along! (and yes these girls have a lot of songs they love to sing!) 

As I continue to labor over new and fun drills to play with my girls at each practice to keep it "fun" I now realize that it is okay to also make it competitive.  The girls on this team get pumped for each other when they succeed and I hope that support continues for them as they continue grow.