PitchSide From the Plex

Matt and Kim speak with Skye Eddy, mom, coach, and former player, who founded the Soccer Parenting Association.  Skye provides resources for coaches and parents to help provide a better playing environment to youth soccer players.  She speaks about problems we see on the sidelines from parents, coaches, and players.  Skye talks about how to identify issues and how to address them to make soccer fun again for your kids.

www.SoccerParentResourceCenter.com

www.SoccerParenting.com

Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
Get groceries delivered from your favorite stores with Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g

MBS Performance Counseling
Mental Athletic Performance and Adolescent Counseling
"Discover How To Perform With Purpose"
www.mbsperformancecounseling.com

Pitchside from the Plex listeners can get 40% of the Perform with Purpose online course from MBS Performance Counseling by using Discount Code "soccerplex"
https://mbsperformancecounseling.com/perform-with-purpose-online-course/

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!

This week Kim and Matt broaden our horizons and learn about the Gaelic Athletic Association.  Brittany Walsh the Mid-Atlantic Division GAA Chairperson joins us to teach us about Gaelic Football, Hurling, and Camogie.  If you have every had a chance to watch any of these games played they are fast paced and high scoring affairs.  They are simply exciting to watch.  Brittany taches us about the games themselves, the history of GAA in America, as well as talks about new programming including youth teams and collegiate teams.   

Check out Wicked Shamrock Photography to see what  GAA looks like as well as this video from Jerome Quinn Media to see what the National Finals looked like in 2018.

Mid-Atlantic Division GAA
https://www.midatlanticgaa.com/ 


Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
Get groceries delivered from your favorite stores with Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g

MBS Performance Counseling
Mental Athletic Performance and Adolescent Counseling
"Discover How To Perform With Purpose"
www.mbsperformancecounseling.com

Pitchside from the Plex listeners can get 40% of the Perform with Purpose online course from MBS Performance Counseling by using Discount Code "soccerplex"
https://mbsperformancecounseling.com/perform-with-purpose-online-course/

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!

This week Matt and Kim speak with the last three Head of Grounds and Environmental Management of the Maryland SoccerPlex, who have all go off to higher profile gigs.  Our most recent Dir. of Grounds, Mitch Litz recently left to take over as Director of Grounds at FC Cincinnati in the MLS.  He is joined by his predecessor,  Ryan Bjorn, Superintendent of Fields for the New England Patriots and New England Revolution  and Jerad Minnick, Lead Advisor of the Natural Grass Advisory Group.  We talk wth them about why the SoccerPlex is so special to them, the challenges of working here, and how those challenges lead to leading their profession in pro sports.  Most importantly we got a chance to catch up with Boyd our former Head of Geese Chasing at the SoccerPlex who is now a star for the Patriots in the NFL.    

Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
Get groceries delivered from your favorite stores with Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g

MBS Performance Counseling
Mental Athletic Performance and Adolescent Counseling
"Discover How To Perform With Purpose"
www.mbsperformancecounseling.com

Pitchside from the Plex listeners can get 40% of the Perform with Purpose online course from MBS Performance Counseling by using Discount Code "soccerplex"
https://mbsperformancecounseling.com/perform-with-purpose-online-course/

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!

Matt and Kim speak with Matt Robinette, President of Capital Rugby Union and Events Director for National Collegiate Rugby about the growth of rugby in the US pre-pandemic and the devastating toll the pandemic has had on the game.  Matt Robinette breaks down the different levels of the game, various governing bodies, and what the future holds for the sport.

Capital Rugby Union
https://rugby.org/

National Collegiate Rugby
https://ncr.rugby/


Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
Get groceries delivered from your favorite stores with Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g

MBS Performance Counseling
Mental Athletic Performance and Adolescent Counseling
"Discover How To Perform With Purpose"
www.mbsperformancecounseling.com

Pitchside from the Plex listeners can get 40% of the Perform with Purpose online course from MBS Performance Counseling by using Discount Code "soccerplex"
https://mbsperformancecounseling.com/perform-with-purpose-online-course/

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!

In this episode we speak with Bethany Henderson the SEO of DC Scores and the President of the America Scores Network as well as Tom Gross the League Administrator for DC Scores.   America Scores is a program founded in Washington DC that combines poetry and service learning with the game of soccer.  The program aims to provide meaningful physical and educational activities and coaching to children in areas where access to sports is an issue.  Bethany discusses the history of the program, the successes and growing pains, and how you can get involved in an existing Scores program, (They are in 12 cities already) or help start a new chapter in the network in your own city.

• Kicker, America SCORES annual poetry magazine
• Our Words Our Cities documentary website (note that the film will be released on Amazon in late February)
• Soccer in the City documentary 
• DC SCORES' YouTube channel.  I particularly direct your attention to this 5 minute video story titled A Poet-Athlete and his Coach.  
• 2.5 minute piece featuring our coaches talking about DC SCORES' impact during the pandemic.
• For more information about volunteering with DC SCORES (including coaching), visit https://www.dcscores.org/volunteer/ 
• For more information about DC SCORES fundraisers, see: 
  • One Night One Goal - annual gala at Audi Field 
  • SCORES Cup - annual corporate charity soccer tournament 
  • For more information about how companies can get involved or partner with DC SCORES, contact Tony Francavilla, [email protected] 
• Brave Spaces program for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

Presented by

Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
www.samsoccer.org

MBS Performance Counseling
 Mental Athletic Performance and Adolescent Counseling
 "Discover How To Perform With Purpose"
www.mbsperformancecounseling.com

Pitchside from the Plex listeners can get 40% of the Perform with Purpose online course from MBS Performance Counseling by using Discount Code "soccerplex"
https://mbsperformancecounseling.com/perform-with-purpose-online-course/

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!

This week we Matt and Kim speak with John David, Chief Strategy Officer for USA BMX.  John talks about how he got involved in the sport and how it continues to grow.    John talks about the different levels of racing from Age 5 to 65.  We also talk about the importance of Sports Tourism and how BMX fits into both an economic and community asset.  Lastly he talks about the positive impact COVID has had on BMX membership and how they weathered the storm, as well as some funny storied from events.   

Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
Get groceries delivered from your favorite stores with Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g

MBS Performance Counseling
Mental Athletic Performance and Adolescent Counseling
"Discover How To Perform With Purpose"
www.mbsperformancecounseling.com

Pitchside from the Plex listeners can get 40% of the Perform with Purpose online course from MBS Performance Counseling by using Discount Code "soccerplex"
https://mbsperformancecounseling.com/perform-with-purpose-online-course/

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!

This week we Matt and Kim speak with Ryan Defibaugh, owner and counselor from MBS Performance Counseling.  We discuss the mental aspects of sports on children, the effects of COVID on mental health, and the stigma around mental health.  Ryan provides tips and discussion points to have a conversation with children about maintaining good mental health as well as the importance of working on the mental aspect of sports not just the physical.

Pitchside from the Plex listeners can get 40% of the Perform with Purpose online course from MBS Performance Counseling by using Discount Code "soccerplex"
https://mbsperformancecounseling.com/perform-with-purpose-online-course/


Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
Get groceries delivered from your favorite stores with Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g

MBS Performance Counseling
Mental Athletic Performance and Adolescent Counseling
"Discover How To Perform With Purpose"
www.mbsperformancecounseling.com

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!

In this episode we are joined by Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz. Gabe discusses the importance of youth sports as a whole and how we can reach out to underserved communities with youth sports. Gabe discusses specific legislation that has been implemented here in Montgomery County, Maryland, the Youth Sports Initiative, that is aimed to provide team sport activities to places within the county that have historically been “sports deserts.” We also discuss the importance of understanding the communities and culture within an area and how it can affect participation and access to sports. 

Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  https://www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
http://www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!

This week we broadcast live from the Bethesda Premier Cup, an all-girls soccer tournament hosted at the Maryland SoccerPlex and operated by Bethesda Soccer Club (www.premiercuptournament.com).  We sit down with Brad Roos the Tournament Director to talk about the effort that went in to host a tournament during a pandemic. We also talk with Kelly Groff, President and CEO of Visit Montgomery (www.visitmontgomery.com), to discuss the economic impact of this event and the recovery of the economy through tourism.   Brian Parker, the head coach of Frostburg University talks about the struggles of recruiting in the COVID era and how he is happy to return to live events to evaluate players.  We also get insight from players and parents  from Beach FC, FC Revolution, Ellicott City SC, and Bethesda SC.

This is also the first episode featuring a new segment called "Your Health Goals with Adventist HealthCare"  This episode they will be discussing staying safe this fall and winter during the pandemic.  Remember to wear your mask and wash your hands!

Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  https://www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
http://www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks

This week, we talk with Terry Hasseltine, the Executive Director of the Maryland Sports Commission.  Terry talks about the role of the Sports Commission in sports tourism for Maryland and importance of the youth sports as part of economic development.  Terry also heads up the Baltimore 2026 Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup.  Terry discusses the different pieces that go into the bid, how the process works, and why it is important to Baltimore and Maryland.  The World Cup is more than just soccer, and this provides a chance to change the narrative of Baltimore’s identity.  Check out www.baltimoremd2026.us for more information about Baltimore World Cup Host City Bid

Presented by

 Adventist HealthCare
 Adventist HealthCare is the largest & only health system headquartered in Montgomery Co., MD  https://www.adventisthealthcare.com

SAM Soccer
Recreational Soccer League in Montgomery County Maryland
http://www.samsoccer.org

Instacart
 instacart.oloiyb.net/eDk4g
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks