Table of Contents

1. Youth Soccer Players and Injuries – How to Deal With Them

2. US Youth Soccer FAQs

3. Parents Should Let Kids Be Kids

4. Can Kids With Asthma Play Sports?

5. INSPIREUM Soccer Award

6. Recruiting Q & A’s for the High School Student-Athlete

7. What is TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for

Soccer)?

YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS AND INJURIES – HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM COACHING AND PARENT STRATEGIES FOR HELPING THE INJURED ATHLETE COPE: #1 BE EMPATHIC- Let your athletes know that YOU understand what THEY are feeling and having to go through. Understand where their anger, frustration and disappointment comes from and allow them time to mourn. Do NOT expect them to just "suck it up", "shake it off and "be strong!" Instead, let them have their feelings without indulging them in self-pity. One of the more powerful things that you can do as a coach is to care enough about your player so that you take the time to really understand what they are feeling and going through. Your genuine empathy and caring will go a long way towards strengthening the coach-athlete relationship and aiding the healing process. #2 WORK WITH THEIR SELF-ESTEEM - Understand that the injured athlete has just suffered a major blow to his feelings of self-worth and is therefore feeling quite vulnerable. Let him know in BOTH your actions and words that you still value him as a person, NOT just as an athlete. Do NOT avoid or act disinterested in that individual. Remember, it is YOUR responsibility to reach out to him, not vice versa. You are the “qualified adult and professional. You must act like one. Far too many coaches completely ignore the injured athlete, which ends up truly destroying his already shaky self-esteem. Reach out and help that athlete feel important and valuable. #3 GIVE THEM A ROLE ON THE TEAM- Help the injured athlete fight their feelings of worthlessness and identity confusion by giving them another role on the team. Assign them a job as "assistant coach" or consultant into team functioning. Seek out their opinion and “advice” during practices or competitions. In fact, your injured athlete may have some valuable insight into the inner workings of the team. Actively utilize his “expertise” in this area. Make him feel important and that he still has a vital role to play on the squad. #4 DON’T ALLOW THE ATHLETE TO ISOLATE HIMSELF FROM THE TEAM - Insist that the athlete continue to function as an important member/part of the team. Assign other athletes on the squad to monitor the injured athlete’s involvement and to intervene whenever that athlete begins to withdraw and/or isolate him/herself. As mentioned previously, take it upon yourself as the coach to actively reach out to this individual. The coach can have a powerfully positive impact on the injured athlete’s feelings of inclusion. Be there for him and do not allow him to withdraw. #5 LET YOUR ATHLETE KNOW THAT YOU CARE – Increase contact and communication with the injured athlete. Call him if he is unable to show up at practice. If he is recovering from surgery, visit him in the hospital. A little of your time at this point in the recovery process will dramatically help ease the emotional and psychological pain that the athlete is experiencing. #6 WHEN APPROPRIATE, EXPECT THE ATHLETE TO "PRACTICE" - Whether it’s limited physical or purely mental, let the injured athlete know that you expect her to continue her training, however modified. When possible, assign her a special workout that fits the limitation of her injury. Take an interest in her “training” and regularly check on how it’s going. #7 HELP THE ATHLETE GET IN TOUCH WITH OTHER AREAS OF PERSONAL STRENGTH - Help the injured athlete understand that excelling in her sport demands a tremendous amount of success and life skills that she has already developed and that she can learn to transfer to other areas in her life. Clearly spell out for her what these areas are and help her begin to see their application in other arenas. #8 IF THE ATHLETE´S DEPRESSION DOES NOT LIFT OR IF THERE ARE WARNING SIGNS IMMEDIATELY REFER HIM/HER TO A PROFESSIONAL- If the athlete is seriously depressed (has lost interest in activities, shows changes in eating and sleeping habits, or is having suicidal thoughts or feelings), it is critically important that you refer him/her for professional counseling. If you are particularly concerned about your athlete, you may need to play a forceful, advocate role where you enlist the parents’ aid in helping their son or daughter get the professional help that is needed. The eating/sleeping warning signs of depression must be taken very seriously.

ATHLETE STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH INJURIES: #1 BE SAD - Allow yourself to mourn and feel whatever loss you are experiencing. Being "macho", ’"strong" or "brave" by burying or hiding your feelings in this situation is not only a WASTE OF ENERGY, but will interfere with you effectively coping and recovering. Feeling is an important part of the healing process. Remember that! Feeling is part of healing! #2 DEAL WITH WHAT IS - Injured athletes have a tendency to focus on the "could’ve beens", "should’a beens" and the "way it was" IF ONLY they hadn’t gotten hurt. The fact of the matter is no amount of wishing upon a star will change the reality of your situation. Yes it sucks that you got injured. Yes, it’s thrown a monkey wrench into all your plans and dreams. Unfortunately, this is your reality right now and you have to allow yourself to deal with where you are, right NOW! #3 SET NEW, MORE REALISTIC GOALS FOR YOURSELF - As you begin the recovery process, you may very well have to learn to measure your successes very differently than ever before, perhaps in millimeters now instead of meters the way it was before your injury. It may mean that you also have to start all over again back at “square one” to build up arm or leg strength and endurance. Keep focused on your NEW goals and leave the old ones in the PAST for now where they belong. Once you’ve come all the way back from your injury you can start entertaining your old goals. #4 MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, NO MATTER WHAT – As difficult as this will be, try to stay as positive as possible. Understand that “IF IT IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME.” In other words, your attitude and outlook is ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! When positive, your attitude can speed up the healing process and lessen the emotional pain that you have to go through. However, when you’re negative you’ll slow the rehab process down to a screeching halt and make yourself miserable in the process. It’s all up to you. Avoid being negative because nothing good ever comes from negativity. Negativity will only bring you and everyone else around you down. #5 TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN YOUR HEALING – Be conscientious about your physical therapy. Follow the doctor’s advice closely. Don’t cut corners. Work as hard with your rehab as you did in your training. In addition, practice using healing imagery on a daily basis. If you’re recovering from a broken bone or separated shoulder, spend 5-10 minutes imagining that bone or shoulder beginning to heal. "See" in your mind’s eye a healthy supply of red blood cells surrounding that area and facilitating the mending process. I can’t scientifically guarantee that this will speed up your healing. However, I can promise you that this will make you feel less helpless, more in control and much more positive. These attitudinal changes in themselves will speed up your healing. #6 CONTINUE TO "PRACTICE" AND "WORK OUT". If your injury allows you to still continue any part of your training, do so! If not, "practice" mentally. Use mental rehearsal on a daily basis (5 -10 minutes at a time) to see, hear and feel yourself performing in your sport, executing flawlessly with perfect timing. Take this time to also mentally work on your weaknesses. You might even want to show up for some of the regular practices and mentally rehearse what the team is doing while they’re working out. Regular mental rehearsal of your skills will keep the neuromuscular connections activated so that when you are able to actually begin physical practice, you will not have lost as much. #7 SEEK OUT THE SUPPORT OF YOUR TEAMMATES - Participate in team functions. FIGHT the urge to isolate yourself. You may feel worthless and suddenly different, but chances are good that you’re probably the ONLY one on the team that shares that opinion. The worst thing for you to do when you’re in a vulnerable state is to separate yourself from your group. Make a serious effort to reach out rather than pull in! #8 THINK ABOUT HOW TO USE YOUR SPORTS LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE IN OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE - If your injury forces you into permanent retirement, you may feel that you have little to no skills or expertise that you can transfer from your sport to other endeavors. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! To excel as an athlete in your sport you have gradually developed over time some pretty powerful success skills like dedication, commitment, persistence, motivation, the ability to manage time, “rebound ability” from setbacks and failures, as well as a whole host of other valuable LIFE skills. These success skills can be readily harnessed to other challenges that you pursue in your life outside of sports. Don’t think for a minute that much of what you’ve learned and mastered is irrelevant to the “real world.”

#9 IF NECESSARY, SEEK OUT A COUNSELOR- If you are really depressed for an extended period of time, have lost interest in things that use to excite you, have noticed that your sleep and eating patterns have changed and/or you are having suicidal thoughts, seek professional help! Don’t fool around here. If you’re having these kinds of symptoms this means that you have really lost perspective and you are in need of some qualified, outside support. Seeking out the help of a professional therapist or counselor is NOT a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it’s a sign of strength. #10 BE PATIENT – If your injury is temporary, allow yourself enough time to heal properly. If you’re over anxious to get back to the court, field, course or pool and rush the healing process, then you may set yourself up for another, more serious injury which may cost you even more time. Rushing the healing process so that you can get back a week or two earlier is “penny wise, pound foolish.” That is, you might get back a few days earlier, but because you didn’t wait those extra days to heal properly, you may end up developing a chronic injury that could keep you out for extra weeks and even months. Remember, sometimes the fastest way of coming back is the slowest. GO SLOWER, ARRIVE SOONER!

US Youth Soccer FAQs

How do I register my child for soccer? You need to contact your state or local association. US Youth Soccer has a Club Directory where you can search for clubs in your hometown. There are 55 State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer; all 50 states with five that are divided (California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas). What is the cost? Fees vary according to what is provided by the local soccer association or club. Some clubs provide a t-shirt for the Under-6 age group and a complete uniform for older players. Since many factors affect the fee structure, as you local club or association. What is the soccer season? There is no traditional season in youth soccer. Most states play a fall season (September through November) and a spring season (February through May). Many competitive programs may play with only a short break in the winter and a short break in the summer. What does the U in U-6 mean? The player's age as of August 1 is Under-6. How many practices are there per week? Usually teams practice two times per week. What equipment do I need? Shinguards are required for all practices and games. Cleated shoes are needed if play will be on wet, muddy or soft surfaces. For very young players, sneakers will do fine. Items can be found online through the US Youth Soccer Shop. How long does practice last? Practices for players six and younger should be no more than an 45 minutes. Under-8 players practice one hour. Under-10 players are about an hour and 15 minutes. Older players practice for about an hour and a half.

What does my child need to bring to practice? A ball, soccer shoes, shinguards and plenty of water. Do I need soccer shoes or will tennis shoes be okay? For younger players, sneakers work fine on a dry field. Older players or wet and muddy conditions may require cleats. What size ball do you use? Under-8s and younger play with a No. 3. Under-10 through Under-12 play with a No. 4. Players Under-14 though adult use a No. 5. My child has a disability. Is there a place for her? US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer is a program for players with mental or physical challenges. Can I wear a cast (or earings, religious medals, eyeglasses)? The FIFA Laws of the Game prohibit anything which is dangerous to a player or other players. Referees determine if an item can be worn without being dangerous. Why can't players wear helmets? Helmets are not included in the Laws of the Game under Players Equipment. Although the player wearing the headgear is protected, he may play in a physically more aggressive manner than others not protected, thereby becoming a danger to others. Are mouth guards needed? Injuries to the teeth are so few that insurers do not require them. Many dentists however recommend them. How many players are on a team? U-6 play 3v3, U-8 play 4v4, U-10 play 6v6, Under-12 play 8v8 and older teams play 11v11. See more recommendations for Small-Sided Games. How big is the field? Field sizes vary by age group. For U-6 we recommend 30x20 yards, U-8 30x25 yards, U-10 55x40 yards, U-12 75x50 and U14-19 play 100x50 up to 120x80 yards. See rules for Small-Sided Games. Why does our league not post standings? At the younger ages we place a priority on participation and deemphasize results. How do I get information about coaching license courses? For the D and E licenses, U-6/U-8 Youth Module, U-10/U-12 Youth Module and the US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer Coaching Course you can contact your State Association. For the A, B and C licenses, please contact U.S. Soccer. For the National Youth License, you can register through US Youth Soccer. What is the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP)? US Youth Soccer ODP, established in 1977, is the original Olympic development program in the United States. Formed to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team could be selected for international competition, selected players are exposed to the nation's top coaches from collegiate institutions, U.S. Soccer and the professional leagues. Programs exist in each state and with competitions such as the US Youth Soccer ODP Championships, Interregional Training/Competition, Regional Camps and International

play. US Youth Soccer ODP continues to lead the way in elite player identification and development. US Youth Soccer ODP is an approved program of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Do you know of any summer camps to which I can send my son/daughter? Click here for Soccer America's Camps & Academies, a free e-newsletter and web directory.

INSPIREUM Soccer Award

How would you like your high school aged son or daughter to earn an academic scholarship? Learn how you

can make it happen…

The Inspireum Soccer Awards, in partnership with the Trusted Sports Foundation, announce the search for

the most inspirational young soccer players in America (ONLY for male / female high school players). The

Inspireum Soccer Awards look beyond statistics and traditional performance to discover and celebrate male

and female athletes who inspire their teammates, school, family, and community, and best embody the traits of

Character, Courage, Contribution and Commitment.

The amount of $25,000 in academic scholarships, provided by the Trusted Sports Foundation, will be awarded

to the 12 Finalists. A National Selection Committee led by Steve Sampson, former head coach of the U.S.

Men’s

National Soccer team and the LA Galaxy, will determine the nation’s most inspirational players.

If you have a nomination, please click in the following link and follow the instructions.

NOMINATE

See candidate profile: Inspireum Soccer Awards

Parents Should Let Kids Be Kids By Amy Donaldson Deseret Morning News

Shaun White loved soccer, but there was a moment when he learned it wasn't for him. "I showed up at the field late one time, and it was intense," he said. "I'm playing on this lower, recreation level, just so I could have fun. Someone else's mom came over and yelled at me, 'You better get out there and you better score!' There is something about someone else's mom yelling at you." White said he did as he was told and shortly thereafter he quit. Instead of traditional organized sports, he gravitated to nontraditional activities like snowboarding and skateboarding. The 21-year-old, who won an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding in 2006 and an X Games gold medal this summer in skateboarding, said the decision changed his life and his relationship with his parents.

"Instead of my dad yelling at me from the sideline, we were out riding together," he said. "(Snowboarding) really drew our family together." The professional skateboarder who was in Salt Lake City this week to compete in the AST Dew Tour said he believes a lot of young athletes turn to nontraditional sports because they have more freedom. "Normally, there are no moms allowed in the parks," he laughed. "It's brutal when you have people always telling you what to do. ... My attraction to skateboarding was that you didn't have that. You could just ask your friends, learn tricks from each other or just figure it out on your own." That's how all play begins. Most of us have those memories. Just some neighborhood kids in a field, dividing into teams, making up games and having a good time. We learned to negotiate, cooperate, to employ strategy and to have fun. We rode our bikes everywhere, and on the way we invented tricks, we made up games, we had races and we fed our imaginations. Then adults got involved. At some point, our parents set up leagues, they instituted rules and regulations and they stole some of our freedom. In order to develop at a higher level, we had to forfeit some of what drew us to those games in the first place. Organization isn't always a bad thing, but it does cost us something. And in this age of super development, accelerated leagues and club sports, I am afraid that many of our children don't know anything BUT organized sports. And that, my fellow sports lovers, is a dangerous thing. Too much structure is as crippling as not enough. Organized sports teach us many valuable lessons, but they can't teach us everything. I think when children always look to adults for instruction, direction and motivation, they lack what we learned on those sandlots. We learned to improvise and to run faster because we didn't want to let our friends down. We learned that having fun was every bit as important as winning and that we could find ways to do both. The lessons we learned from unstructured, random goofing off is easier to feel than it is to describe, but I saw some of it this weekend during the Dew Tour. The buzzer sounded, but that didn't matter to BMX rider Morgan Lloyd, who was competing in the preliminary round of the BMX Park competition Saturday. He fell trying to land a breathtaking trick that thrilled the crowd. His time was up, and he'd likely failed to qualify for the finals. But at the urging of the crowd, he tried three more times before landing the trick and bringing the crowd and his fellow competitors to their feet. "This is what BMX is about," exclaimed one of the announcers. "Not awards, not points. It's about having a good time on your bicycle." In any other professional arena, he'd have been whistled for delay of game, tagged with a celebration penalty or told to exit quietly so the winners could square off.

But much of action sports still belongs to the riders, which is why it still feels a little unorganized, unofficial and always unpredictable. It still feels like a bunch of neighborhood kids having a good time while they challenge each other to do what they thought was impossible just last week. Corporate sponsorships and financial success may eventually change action sports. I'm not sure what the future holds for any individual sport. But after this weekend, I am more certain of one thing: If we continue to micromanage the lives of our children, that future won't be as creative, exciting or joyous.

You probably know that asthma can cause breathing problems. So can kids with asthma play sports? You

bet they can! Being active and playing sports is an especially good idea if you have asthma. Why? Because

it can help your lungs get stronger, so they work better.

Some athletes with asthma have done more than develop stronger lungs. They've played professional

football and basketball, and they've even won medals at the Olympic Games!

Some sports are less likely to bother a person's asthma. Golf and yoga are less likely to trigger flare-

ups, and so are sports like baseball, football, and gymnastics.

In some sports, you need to keep going for a long time. They include cycling, long-distance running,

soccer, and basketball. Cold, dry air can also make symptoms worse, so cross-country skiing and ice

hockey might be difficult for people with asthma. But that doesn't mean you can't play these sports if

you really like them. In fact, many athletes with asthma have found that with the right training and

medicine, they can do any sport they choose.

But before playing sports, it's important that your asthma is under control. That means you aren't

having lots of symptoms or flare-ups. To make this happen, it's very important that you take all asthma

medicine just like your doctor tells you to, even when you are feeling OK.

Your doctor will also tell you some other things you can do to avoid flare-ups, such as:

• skipping outdoor workouts when there's lots of pollen in the air

• wearing a scarf or ski mask when you play outside during the winter when it's very cold and dry

• breathing through your nose instead of your mouth while exercising

• making sure you always have time for a careful warm up and cool down

Make sure your coach and teammates know about your asthma. That way, they will understand if you

need to stop working out because of breathing trouble. It's also helpful if your coach knows which steps

to take if you have a flare-up.

Listen to your body and follow the instructions your doctor gave you for handling breathing problems.

And if you keep your asthma in good control, you'll be in the game and not on the sidelines!

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD

Date reviewed: October 2010

Recruiting Q & A’s for the High School Student-Athlete

You, as a high school student, can take an active role in soliciting information from schools that interest you. At ANY point in your high school career you can send information to schools and you can go to summer camps at colleges. You can telephone college coaches at your expense any time. You can go to visit colleges at your own expense. Once you are on a college campus you can talk with the coaches, meet student athletes, tour the facilities, meet academic advisors, and watch training sessions or games. Coaches can put you on a pass list to get into home athletic events. You can provide coaches with video tapes or DVDs of you playing so they can evaluate your abilities. You can send them your upcoming game schedule so they can come watch you play. The following should provide you a general understanding of how the NCAA rules work, and give you a general idea of what they allow in terms of recruitment. The rules regarding phone calls, letters, and contacts apply to you and your parents, and you both may want to familiarize yourself further with them. A good source of information is the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete. (http://eligibilitycenter.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.html ) Your high school guidance office should have copies of this. Please pay special attention to the rules regarding contacts. Often coaches must avoid engaging in conversation with players and parents of players. Please remember they are not being rude, they are merely abiding by the rules.

High School Freshmen and Sophomores

Telephone: You may call college coaches to speak with them as often as you like. However, college coaches may not telephone you at all. Not even to return a call from you or your parents.

Evaluations: College coaches may watch you play a limited number of times during the academic year. They may watch you play an unlimited number of times during the summer.

Off-Campus Contact: College coaches may not have any off-campus contact with you or your parents other than a civil exchange of greeting.

On-Campus Contact: You may visit college campuses as often as you like at your own expense. When you are on a college campus you may meet with the coach. Please note there is a five day period around the signing date, (in early February), when you can’t visit a college campus and have any contact with the coaches or players.

Written: College coaches may only send you a questionnaire, a letter explaining the rules, information on NCAA rules, a referral to admissions, and a camp brochure. This is all they may send you. You may write to college coaches as often as you like.

E-Mail, Text Messages and Faxes: E-mail and faxes are treated the same as written correspondence. Basically college coaches can't send you any e-mail or faxes except if they were to send a questionnaire, camp brochure or explanatory letter. College coaches may NOT Text Message you at all.

High School Juniors, (Year 11)

Written: Starting Sept. 1 of your junior year in high school, college coaches may begin to send you recruiting letters and information on the school and the soccer program.

Telephone: You may call college coaches to speak with them as often as you like. However, college coaches may not telephone you at all. Not even to return a call from you or your parents.

Evaluations: College coaches may watch you play a limited number of times during the academic year. They may watch you play an unlimited number of times during the summer.

Off-Campus Contact: College coaches may not have any off-campus contact with you or your parents other than acivil exchange of greeting.

On-Campus Contact: You may visit college campuses as often as you like at your own expense. When you are on a college campus you may meet with the coach and players. Please note there is a five day period around the signing date, (in early February), when you can’t visit a college campus and have any contact with the coaches or players.

E-Mail, Text Messages and Faxes: E-mail and faxes are treated the same as written correspondence. College coaches may send you faxes and e-mail messages as often as they like starting September 1st

of your junior year in high school. College coaches may NOT Text Message you at all.

High School Seniors, (Year 12)

Written: College coaches may continue to send you recruiting letters and information on the school and the soccer program.

Telephone: You may call college coaches as often as you wish. College coaches may telephone you or your parents one time per week beginning July 1 prior to your senior year in high school.

Evaluations: College coaches may watch you play a limited number of times during the academic year. They may watch you play an unlimited number of times during the summer.

Off-Campus Contact: College coaches may have a limited number of off-campus contacts with you or your parents in addition to civil exchanges of greetings.

On-Campus Contact Unofficial Visits: You may visit college campuses as often as you like at your own expense. When you are on a college campus you may meet with the coach. These visits are termed: “Unofficial”. There is a five day period around the signing date, (in early February), when you can’t visit a college campus and have any contact with the coaches or players.

On-Campus Contact Official Visits: You may visit 5 institutions on official visits. An official visit is a visit where the school pays all or part of your expenses. You may only take one official visit per school. You may make official visits beginning the first day of class of your senior year in high school. There is a five day period around the signing date, (in early February), when you can’t visit a college campus and have any contact with the coaches or players.

E-Mail, Text Messages and Faxes: E-mail and faxes are treated the same as written correspondence. College coaches may send you faxes and e-mail messages as often as they like. College coaches may NOT contact you until after you have signed the National Letter of Intent.

What is TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer)?

It is a community-based training and team placement program for athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any players, age 8 and older, who have a mental or physical disability. Our goal is to enable the thousands of young athletes with disabilities to become valued and successful members of the Indiana Soccer & US Youth Soccer families.

TOPSoccer was formed to perpetuate the Indiana Soccer & US Youth Soccer mission statement which is, in part, "to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition." There are thousands of children with disabilities who need, and can be provided with, the opportunity to play soccer through the TOPSoccer program. For more information, please contact Joy Carter (TOPSoccer Staff Liaison) or Jason Brown (TOPSoccer Indiana Chair)

Why not take a look at what it’s all about - TOPSoccer Promotional Video

Don’t Forget These Special Players!

TOPSoccer programs can have very modest beginnings. For those athletes not able to participate due to medical reason, design a skills program that is rewarding, challenging and fun. There are thousands of athletes with disabilities in your state who are looking for the opportunity to play soccer. It is up to YOU to give them this chance.