Keep The Game Beautiful

Anna Tuuri is a 14yr old soccer player, referee, and coach. She plays Goalkeeper while navigating a high school schedule, taking community college classes, coaching special needs athletes, volunteering (300hrs in a month), and hosting Keep The Game Beautiful. She is verbally committed to play at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and plans to be a Special Education teacher when she gets older. Dad (Dan) interviews her for this special episode while we celebrate her 15th birthday later this week and the one year anniversary of Keep The Game Beautiful.

Julio Serrano is the Chair for the Latino Coaches Council of the United Soccer Coaches organization. He is part of the staff of Illinois Youth Soccer and helps to lead other coaches in expanding the game and it’s opportunity to everyone. We talk about the work that the council is doing, how it has united around COVID. He is a big advocate of hearing from youth and remembering why we celebrate the game.

After a two week break due to a Derecho (Land Hurricane) that hit Iowa with 140mph winds, removed over half of our trees, and damaged nearly every building in our city, we are back!

Jess Nash is the Director of Coaching for Wisconsin Rush. She is involved in organizations such as WeCoach and the Wisconsin Women in Soccer Alliance. She is a Grassroots Coach instructor and helps to bring new and future coaches into the game.

Yael Averbuch-West is the founder of Techne Futbol and the NWSL Players Association. In this episode we talk about her experiences playing on the US Women's National Team, at UNC, and her experiences playing both professionally in the US and Sweden.

Sam Cary grew up knowing she'd want to play soccer in the BIG10. She just completed her freshman season at the University of Iowa where she started 21 times and earned 1,667 minutes on the pitch. She is also an incredible referee and has had significant opportunities to serve the game in this role, including at the USYS Nationals.

Colton Bryant and his Chargers at Columbia State College in Tennessee are making big marks for a program that is only a couple of years old. Colton began coaching out of necessity to survive as a student athlete. He soon found it was a love of his and is proud to have an opportunity to coach in the NJCAA at a two year institution.

Eric Vaughter (EV) is a goal keeper coach who has worked with youth just learning the position through professionals playing in the MLS. In addition he has built a career in the sporting goods industry, including at Reusch where he leads grassroots outreach efforts in the United States. Despite all of his accomplishments and the various places he has coached or played, he remains humble and shares his genuine joy and love for the sport with everyone.

Demitrius White grew up in Milwaukee. As a nine year old he started to play soccer with the Milwaukee Simba SC. He developed under his coaches, including the legendary Jimmy Banks. He made a name for himself through his youth years, including ODP and National Camp experiences. He played for the MLS Chicago Fire and was captain of the Puerto Rican National Team. He always knew he would return to help run the Simba FC Club in Milwaukee when he retired from his playing career.

Justin Vorster grew up playing soccer in Malawi and later in South Africa’s first division. He came to the United States and developed a coaching career that has involved youth of all ages, collegiate, and even WPSL opportunities. Justin holds his USSF A and resides in Iowa.