The Soccer Sidelines

The Confidence ChallengeOne afternoon during a practice session, the mother of a young girl on my team approached with a request. "Can we do something about my daughter? Her confidence is low. Her sister plays at home and her confidence is growing. This is causing some conflict at home and I want to see both daughters enjoying themselves." I love when parents approach me like this. I lifted my clipboard and pointed to an empty space. "See this space?" I asked. "I use it to remind me of things I need to keep an eye on. I'm going to write her name here and from now on, we're going to work deliberately on her confidence." For the next several weeks, I paid special attention to what this young lady was doing. I ignored her curves away from the ball. I ignored the arms that flew up in defense when she came within 10 feet of an opponent. I searched with intention to catch her doing something right. I went out of my way to repeatedly point out when she did something right. Slowly, her fear seemed to subside. Two games later, she was playing right midfield, got the ball and almost accidentally broke through the first line of our opponent's defense (their midfielders). She stopped in surprise and looked my way. Both thumbs went up and I yelled with a big smile "Your Doing Great! Keep Going!"A moment later, she broke through the second line of our opponent's defense (the defensive line). She was now between the defensive line and the goal. Only the goal keeper stood between her and a score. She lost her nerve and punted the ball away to a team mate who was attacking far post. The team mate controlled the ball, drew the goal keeper and returned the pass to this young lady. The ball hit her in the thigh and went in the goal. She scored her first goal ever!!My bench came aline. They all stood up and screamed like crazy people. This young lady forgot I was even there and looked in the direction of her parents who were also out of their chairs at this point on the opposite sideline. Her face exploded in a smile and she jumped in the air from an uncontrolled enthusiasm. Her team mates - the rest of my team who was already on the field burst in a chorus of cheers and encouragement. This moment would likely be a moment when this young lady found confidence. It would be a moment she would remember for a long time to come. It was time to cross her name off my clipboard. I smiled and drew my line with a satisfied grin I could not myself control. "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.Dale Carnegie​​​ - WriterFinding ConfidenceConfidence can be a tricky thing. Too much breeds arrogance. Too little handicaps us. Ultimately, the finest form of confidence comes with humility wrapped in a comfort in our own self worth and abilities. It takes effort to achieve. It takes belief to inspire action that leads to effort that leads to achievement. Inspiring confidence is one of the things I love the most about coaching in youth sports. Learning to be confident is one of those things I believe serves us throughout life - well beyond the soccer pitch. Two ArchetypesKids, I have found, come in two varieties. There are probably more that have been classified by experts, but to my eye, there are two big ones that stand out. The first archetype is the one that believes that skill comes through effort. This type of player is easy to coach. They understand that wherever they are on the skill spectrum is a function of how much effort they have put in. To move further up the skill spectrum, they simply need to put in more effort. If they slack off, the know they will slide down the skill spectrum. The correlation between skill and work is clear in their minds. They respond to constructive feedback.

National Soccer Camps offer a channel for kids interested in soccer to pursue higher levels of competition, gain exposure to many coaches (often world class coaches), a chance to build unique memories, and to gain exposure on a much larger stage for those interested in college or professional soccer careers. This experience is not for everyone, but for those it serves, it can be a life changer. Our club, the Damascus Soccer Club in Maryland, formed a partnership with Global Image Sports (GIS) and the Stoke City Potters Academy in England to bring camps like this to players in the Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and DC region. Several kids came though our first camp this summer. A handful of kids qualified. I traveled with them to Georgia as they completed their National Camp experience. What follows will give you an insiders' look at the process we went through to bring National Camps to our region, to play through them as a player, and to coach through them as a coach. Getting To CampGetting to a National soccer camp is a process. The big steps are (open the tabs to see the bullet points within): Laying the Groundwork* Getting the player ready* Getting the agreements into place* Getting the Club ready* checkEstablishing session plans* checkGetting fields reserved, equipment and support staff into place* checkMarketing and communications* check Executing on logistics like airport pickup, housing, food, safety, etc.* check Customer service / problem resolutionHosting ID Camp* Bringing in coaches* Field setup* checkAge groupings* Managing sessions* checkSun and youth protection* checkSignage* checkField cleanup* checkEquipment storage* checkWeather contingenciesInitial Performance and Evaluation* checkTechnical / Tactical* Simple to complex training* checkBall handling* checkRecognizing space* checkGame intelligence* checkPhysical* checkSpeed and agility* checkPsychosocial* Off-the-field elements like sportsmanship, attitude, and fitness* checkEmotional* checkWho really wants to be here?* checkComposure* checkApplying and increasing pressure* Sorting * checkContext specific activitiesSelection* Most of the same elements found in Initial Performance and Evaluation* Emphasis on what was established (what to look for) in step 1 * Top 20% from the state levelPayment and Travel* checkInitial ID camp starts the process and this should be $200 or less* Everyone who gets an invitation pays to get to National ID camp. Expect between $600 - $1,000.* Travel and lodging for parents and guests is not included* Logistics for getting to/from public transportation like airports or train stations* checkAdditional road trips before or after campPerformance and Evaluation* checkTechnical / Tactical* Simple to complex* checkBall handling* checkRecognizing space* checkGame intelligence* checkPhysical* checkSpeed and agility* checkPsychosocial* Off-the-field elements like sportsmanship, attitude, and fitness* checkEmotional* checkWho really wants to be here?* checkComposure* checkApplying and increasing pressure* Sorting * checkContext specific activitiesSelection* Most of the same elements found in Performance and Evaluation* Emphasis on what is needed at the next level (what is needed to play in development or academy)  * Top 5% from the national levelGetting a single player to a National camp like the one we just participated in takes a a team of people several months to coordinate. It can take years, depending on local competition, for coaches and players to get individual players ready to compete effectively for the slots available. The process from a player's perspective is pretty simple. 1. Get into shape and have the desire to compete. 2. Find a Club in your area that's hosting a camp 3. register 4. Pay special attention to those non-technical items like attitude, sportsmanship, work ethic, etc. 5. Show up and give it your all!From a parent's perspective,

Measuring performance is one of the best ways to ensure consistent improvement. Let's talk about keeping statistics that really matter in youth soccer.

Choosing a "Boot" at The Soccer Store

Don't let the word "boot" raise an eyebrow! Soccer cleats are also called soccer "boots," "cleats," "football boots," and even "soccer shoes." These are all the same thing. I'll use them interchangeably in this article. For newer parents, having a lot of names for the same thing creates only the first bit of confusion. Sorting through the differences between indoor and outdoor cleats, futsal shoes, American football cleats vs baseball cleats vs soccer cleats, metal studs vs plastic studs, leather vs synthetic shells, turf vs grass, and even lace placement can make a pre-season shopping trip a confusing one. Let's shed some light on the world of soccer cleats and make your shopping trip to the soccer store a little easier!

Indoor vs Outdoor

One of the first things to trip up a well meaning soccer parent is the concept of indoor vs outdoor. A shoe labeled as a soccer shoe at big box soccer store X might in fact be a soccer shoe, but the important question to ask here: for what surface? 

Soccer and it's variants is played in the dirt, natural grass, on "turf" and other synthetic surfaces, on hard surfaces like tennis courts, and on wooden courts. The one question that cuts through the noise is: on what surface (s) will we be playing? 

Dirt and natural grass surfaces break down and need studs to grab onto them. Without strong longish studs under the boot, players would slip, slide, and collect injuries on the field - especially when the surface is wet. 

Indoor surfaces are typically flatter and harder. They may be concrete, wooden (as in a basketball court), or made of synthetic materials like astroturf. For these surfaces, we won't be needing those long hard studs. In fact, those studs will be dangerous and will cause slipping and/or damage to the surface itself. It's best, in these cases to use a flatter shoe - a gum based sole or a short studded turf shoe if playing on turf. 

Blades, Studs, Gum or Rubber, and Turf

Choosing the correct sole of the shoe is the most important first step. Blades and molded studs are the two choices for outdoor. A philosophical debate is common around which is better, but an article written for Soccer.com provides a pretty good discussion of the two. 

In short, blades are argued to provide greater traction and speed, while studs provide greater stability (i.e. fewer injuries) and quicker release time. 

On the indoor side, wooden courts love the grippiness of a rubber or gum sole. These have the added advantage of not leaving any scuff marks for volunteers or staff to have to clean up later. Many indoor wooden courts (frequently used for futsal) have rules against using shoes that will leave scuff marks because of the mess they leave behind. 

Turf shoes typically have molded short studs or small blades on the sole. These are the middle-of-the-road between full sized (soft surface) cleats and no-stud (wooden surface) gum soles. These shoes provide good grip and stability on synthetic turf surfaces without causing damage. Turf shoes are not great, however, for use outside on soft surfaces like natural grass and dirt. Parents often mistake turf shoes for outdoor grass cleats. This leads to slips and falls - and an increase in injuries. 

Metal vs Plastic Molded Cleats

Some leagues do not allow the use of metal cleats. The main reason cited is usually because of the increased risk for injury. Metal cleats also tend to be a little longer since they are stronger and less likely to break. This means that metal cleats dig deeper into the surface and can damage fields more than their shorter plastic cousins. 

Metal cleats can be more expensive than plastic molded cleats. We see them used more often in older youth or adult leagues where players are old enough to hold o...

The World Cup is Coming to AmericaThere isn't an American soccer player who isn't already talking about and thinking about the World Cup in 2026. The excitement such a world-class event will bring to our continent is huge! That said, there is also a lot of thinking going on around not only how do we get our US team into the next World Cup, but what we have to do at home to bring our game to the next level. Discussions are already underway and escalating in some very positive ways. Keeping in mind the mistakes made in the US Men's soccer community over the years (more on this later), I propose that we're going to win if we need to come together. If we can identify the best of what American soccer has to offer and create something new that serves a much larger population - rather than arguing which is best and/or charging the cost of kidneys to play - we will produce a cohort of players that are every bit as good as the best players found elsewhere in the world. 1Different Training Methods and Tools Are AvailableSoccer training is a mixture of art and science. Ignoring cost for the moment, selection of a soccer training method is often driven by these (number) things:* What resonates well with parents* What resonates well with players* The age of the player* The location and generally accepted cultural norms for that area or Club* The goals that each coach brings to the craft & the challenges he or she is trying to overcomeThough parents are often not aware of the various methods and tool available, their perception of what should be done has a big impact on the selection process. If a parent doesn't see what they expect, they can pull a player out of a program and place them in a program they think is more "soccer-like." We see this all he time. Some methods / tools can take longer than others, but also have a profound impact on development of a given player.The same is true for players. If a player has a pre-conceived notion of what they should be getting from soccer training, and doesn't like the particular methods being offered, they can lobby for a change to a program that is more in line with their expectations.A more command or directed approach layered on top of fun soccer-like games may be more appropriate for younger players than for older players. By contrast, older players may respond better to active learning and guided discovery as opposed to a more directed approach. Geographies seem to develop their own style. I think this has a lot to do with the people living in that area. I could write an entire article about the pressures that different cultures put on soccer development, but I'll save that for a future episode.  Methods and tools have different names and entire schools of thought have been built around each. Getting to know each of the methods and tools available can be a daunting task - especially when, like me, a coach believes in implementing more than one for player development.Here are some of the more common methods used to train soccer players:Guided Discovery - coach guides players through problem solving using carefully crafted questions that lead to self discovery Controlled Repetition - continual touches on the ball, practicing through repetitionPlay, Practice, Play - recently added to Youth Soccer's program, this involves playing in a game-like environment, breaking for practice sessions for a particular skill or skills, then returning to game-like conditions to develop and test for understandingcheckTask focused - players are expected to master a specific skill and can do so at their own pacecheckProgression - single themed practice session with progressively more complex skills introduction - one building on the othercheckCommand - directed learning initiated by the coach involving explaining a skill, demonstrating and skill, and allowing players to practice the skillcheckActive / Interactive Learning - the player is actively involved in their own learning,

A National EpidemicWhat I'm about to share with you is a problem of National consequence. I'm not exaggerating! Producing this podcast, acting as Club President, and coaching, I tend to be reaching out and connecting with a lot of people. I'm hearing the same story from all corners of my world. Bad sideline behavior is a having a crushing effect on youth sports! What is Bad Sideline Behavior?Bad sideline behavior is typically rooted in good intention, fueled by emotion, unsupported by education, and has a negative impact on the development environment we're trying to deliberately create. Rooted in good intention: I don't think any parent or coach wakes up on the morning of a game and sets out to ruin the game environment. They might wake up with a mixture of excitement and/or anxiety. They want the kids to do well. They hope for a positive outcome. Fueled by emotion: it's not rational for a fully grown adult to open their mouth as wide as it will go, to spray spit on the grass and spectators in front of them, and scream "KNOCK HIM DOWN!" at the top of their lungs - as if anything less will result in a gory death of a loved one on the battlefield. Yet, we find fully grown adults doing this every single season. Unsupported by education: For me, adults who exhibit bad sideline behavior have a big red strobe beacon flashing over their head with a siren that screams "I'm not educated!," "I don't know why we're here!," and "No-one ever taught me how to properly support my kid!!" It's like walking into a fine dining restaurant wearing flip flops and no t-shirt. A part of me feels embarrassed for them and really wants to help, but I realize that in the heat of the moment, there aren't a lot of brain cells functioning right then. If I address an issue in the moment, I have to speak to the amygdala. The rational person inside is still at home - hopefully listening to this podcast!It has a negative impact: We typically talk about negative impact in terms of what it does to the kids. There is no doubt in my mind that negative sideline behavior affects kids is really bad ways:It slows down kid's thinking. Kids make an average of 2 decisions per second in a game. When they have to process instructions or criticism from the sidelines, they literally slow down. It teaches kids that their environment is not a safe one to make mistakes inIt makes kids overly critical of their own and other's performancethumbs-downIt gives kids negative examples to follow (they will end up doing the same thing to their own kids)thumbs-downIt sucks fun from the game like a black hole sucking planets form the cosmosthumbs-downIt teaches kids it's okay to bullythumbs-downIt overwhelms kid's experience - forcing them to pay attention to yelling and screaming vs one another and having fun with friendsthumbs-downI could go on!!It could be argued that even if you don't give a hoot about developing kids and you're focused entirely on winning games (not something that we promote at The Soccer Sidelines), that the following sideline behaviors are not helpful. They are distracting to players, detracting from their ability to play the game, and ultimately have the opposite effect from the way they were intended. From CoachesJoystickingBeing a bullyCheatingcheckYelling at or being critical of officialscheckMaking the game about the coachcheckNot being supportivecheckUsing foul or inappropriate language or body languagecheck Allowing parents to coach the kids from the other sideFrom ParentsYelling InstructionsYelling at other kidsWaiving arms and pacing up and down the sidelinescheckYelling at or being critical of officialscheckUsing foul or inappropriate language and/or body languagecheckApproaching playerscheckSitting on the wrong side of the fieldcheckTalking with kids after the game and criticizing coaches, officials, and/or other players Bad Behavior Further DefinedCoaches Joysticking: Joystick coaches, it is said,

"Necessity is the Mother of Invention."PlatoPlaying Soccer Can Cost Money and TimeWhile "the Beautiful Game" can be played with just a ball, a flat surface, and bare feet; in the US, we tend to throw in paid coaches, paid referees, field fees, travel fees, uniform fees, and we need to pay someone to organize all of this stuff into leagues, publish schedules, etc - then we throw insurance on top of that, specialty trainers, athletic trainers, and in some areas - even golf carts to get VIP's from point A to point B. There are also play-level steps to think about. A recreation program in my Club costs $135. Classic level of play costs between $250 and $350. And Travel programs typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000. These extra costs cover much more expensive fields, more expensive uniforms, more expensive coaches, tournaments, more expensive league fees, etc. To some families, access to new play options, nicer fields, nicer uniforms, etc, can quickly become cost prohibitive. Kids in the US either cap out at a certain level of play or drop out all together as a result. Those who stay on and pay more money quickly find out that travel means more time, travel fees, the cost of food and fuel on the road, and lost opportunity costs taken from other activities that they no longer have time for because they're traveling. Taken all together, playing soccer can present a number of difficult challenges to overcome. Overcoming challenges is the focus of this episode. Overcoming the Money ChallengeMoney (or lack thereof) is a real challenge. For a family used to paying under $200 for a season to double that fee in the very next season can seem a bit much. To go from an under $200 recreation season to an over $2,000 travel season in one season - a 10x increase in fees - not including travel fees - can seem like a deal breaker!It doesn't have to be a deal breaker. My Club has implemented several ways to help kids play. You're Club may have implemented some of these or more. It makes sense to look into it. ScholarshipVolunteerPayment PlansFundraisingScholarships are funds raised - usually through philanthropy - by Clubs and other organizations to support players who can not afford to play. In our club, these funds are collected during registration and/or drives, are earmarked for scholarships, and are given out to players with demonstrable need (eg - free and reduced meal plans at school, death in the family, etc)Many clubs rely on volunteers to keep costs low and get everything done from registrations and uniform inventories, to marketing and Web design. If you have talents, good organization skills, or even a lot of passion, there is a good chance your club can find a place for you. It's worth looking into the idea of working off some or all of your club costs. Volunteering has the added benefit of helping you sleep at night and setting a good example for your community and the kids in your club. Some clubs have set up payment plans. While a payment plan may cost you a little bit more in the end, making smaller payments over time can make it easier to digest a larger payment over time. The opposite of reducing costs is increasing revenue. This is an equally valid way to create money you can use to help defray your personal costs. In some cases, it can be possible to negotiate a deal whereby you get a percentage of your fundraising efforts. I'm happy to pay our Club members a fee for selling our fundraiser apps. If your club doesn't have such a program, reach out to me by clicking the button below that says "Please Make Me a Fundraiser" and we might be able to set something up together where you can sell fundraising apps for your own Club or for The Soccer Sidelines. This option is only valid for US citizensOvercoming Time and Transportation ChallengesTime and transportation are no less real a challenge than money. Families can be shocked by the fact that they can spend more time in the car th...

Partnering with Stoke CityIt's taken months to put together a partnership with Stoke City Potters and Global Image Sports. This past weekend, we realized a major benefit from that partnership: an ID camp for kids throughout the region. We got rained out for part of the camp, but the camp continued - even when wet. Camp LocationsCamps like ours are happening all over the United States. Hosted by one Club per state, these camps give kids a chance to get in front of world class coaches and get recruited. Kids who get picked up from one of these camps go to the Nationals in Georgia - where they get reviewed by several EPL Academy coaches and offered the opportunity to come play for the development or regular academy in England. Andy FoxallAfter spending three days with Andy Foxall, U14 Boys coach for Stoke City Academy, we talked for a bit in the car of the way to the airport. He's off to a camp in PA, but before he left, we talked about things like what Stoke is looking for, and how players can improve their skills. Stoke City Community TrustStoke City F.C & The Premier League Kicks Project

World Cup soccer is coming to America in 2026! In this episode, we talk about the bid, the cities, and the splits. Big news for the US!

It Goes Back Thousands of Years

If you wanted to be a medicine man (a Shaman) you couldn't get there without some help. You needed to be recognized by your community as a Shaman before you could officially call yourself a Shaman. Someone else would have to see the Shaman in you and name what they saw. Your community would give you the title. In this way, you would know that you have earned it.

No matter what your passion - being an artist or a shaman - being recognized by the people you serve as the thing you strive to become is the most truthful way to earn a title. Business leaders who take a title not given are not respected. Earn the title you seek.

The truest joy of being a coach is realized when you see the love and admiration you feel for your players reflected back to you in their faces. This principle holds true for any job or calling we pursue. When you see it come back to you, you have achieved a deeper level of success than any piece of paper can bestow.

The truest joy of being a coach is realized when you see the love and admiration you feel for your players reflected back to you in their faces.

David Dejewski, Coach

This phenomenon of finding the reflection of your positive energy in the faces of the people you serve is not limited to coaching - although I believe coaching to be a great example. Nor is it an endorsement of narcissism - of an ego driven need to see more of ourselves in other people.

The phenomenon I am hoping to communicate involves delivering something of value to others through service and a form of love for them. When this is reflected back, it's in the act of taking on the best of what you have to offer as their own.

In my case this past weekend, I heard a few speeches from my players and got to read a card they all signed. Without prompting, my players told me that they heard what I was trying to teach them. That soccer is bigger than a game. That life lessons are all around us if we can see them. They showed that lessons I was trying to teach found their way into who they are and who they will become.