Keep The Game Beautiful

Ian Barker spent over twenty years coaching collegiately and worked as the Director of Coaching and Player Development for the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association. He continues to coach today, including at the ODP level. His primary job now is to coach other soccer coaches as the Director of Coaching Education for United Soccer Coaches.

Recently United Soccer Coaches released a series called Match Day. Ian partners up with Vince Ganzberg to bring some short segment webinars with topics helpful to coaches of all levels. Be sure to check these out while we are all stuck at home.

Rich Manning is the head coach for Utah Women's Soccer and has been with the program for eighteen years. Over the past couple of weeks he has done a great job keeping things fun and reminding everyone to be positive during COVID-19. Although the virus is keeping us away from one another right now he has some great ideas of how teams can remain connected and support each other.

Alli Lipsher is the Director of Goalkeeping for the University of Minnesota. Prior to her current position she coached at Trinity College, East Carolina University, and Arizona. Before starting her coaching career she was an outstanding goalkeeper at Duke earning multiple accolades, and then continuing to play professionally.

Amanda Mitchell is the Development Officer for the United Soccer Coaches organization. While in Baltimore I was able to meet with her and learn more about her work. The foundation is always looking for ways to help coaches, clubs, and communities grow the game.

Manya and Bobby Puppione join me to talk about how they are supporting their teams during this difficult time where COVID has suspended soccer. Manya coaches collegiately at Marymount University and Bobby leads the Girls DA at FC Virginia. It is important to talk about how to care for one another and reflect.

Ann Murphy (Murph) has dedicated herself to serving the people of Kansas City as a law enforcement officer. When she was working overnights a few years ago a college teammate reached out to her for help with some students that were having challenges. They started a conversation and found more great people to build Youth Rise KC. Today the Jaguars are proving their place in the game and developing skills for a lifetime.

I talk to Emily Agueda of the Craig Willinger Fund. Craig Willinger had a deep passion for soccer through his youth and remained a fan for the rest of his life. A terminal cancer diagnosis resulted in some friends and members of the Liverpool supporters club wanting to help him attend a Bayren Munich match. He was so encouraged by this kindness that he wanted to create a similar experience for other young fans affected by cancer.

Peter Wilt describes himself as a compulsive soccer team starter. He currently works for the USL helping to establish pro teams and grow fan engagement across the country. He has made a difference in teams across all levels of the game, including the MLS Minnesota United and Chicago Fire, as well as the NWSL Chicago Red Stars. I enjoyed learning about his story and how he got started in sports. It was also cool to hear about some of the people he has worked with and mentored along the way.

Alyse LaHue is the General Manager of Sky Blue FC of the NWSL. She has spent most of her career in women's soccer, including the early days of the Chicago Red Stars. She grew up in a small town in Eastern Iowa. In high school she played on a boys team before playing collegiately at St. Ambrose University. On a study abroad trip to Ireland she started to think about what she wanted to do with her career.

Michael Missmer is the head coach of North Hampton High School Girls Soccer and lives in Eastern Pennsylvania. He has coached club soccer, for other high school programs, and at Penn State Lehigh Valley. He retired from a career in corrections and also has practiced mixed martial arts.