For me when it comes to packing I always wait until the last-minute and most of the time I forget to bring something. Two summers ago we went to the Outer Bank for vacation and I didn’t bring a swim suit. When I was younger I went to a soccer tournament and forgot to pack my cleats. The good news was my parents were forced to buy me new ones. To save the parents some money of having to purchase new equipment and to ensure you have all the necessities we have put together a checklist that you can print out and double-check to make sure you have everything before you leave for your game or tournament.
1. Uniform – Your uniform is the most important thing to remember to pack. Without it you won’t be able to play. Parents, make sure your kids uniform is clean. There is nothing worse than having to wear a stinky smelly jersey that has been left in a soccer bag. Coaches, make sure you have an extra uniform or two in case your parents forgot to read this checklist. Also, you want to have an extra jersey in case a player gets blood on it or it gets ripped during a game. Your uniform includes:
Jersey’s – both home and away if your team has two or more
Shorts
Cover socks (make sure you have both!)
Warm-ups – some teams wear their matching warm-ups before the game
2. Equipment – Shin guards and Cleats. Like your uniform without them you won’t be able to play. Also, make sure you have your own cleats and not your brothers or sisters!
3. Change of Clothes – Even if this is not a tournament where you will be staying over at a hotel it’s important to bring at least one spare set of clothing. In between games you do not want to be sitting in your sweaty/wet uniform. You could be in the situation where you are playing in rain and you are soaked. You will want to change into a dry set of clothes. After your game, change out of your uniform and into something clean. Especially your cover socks! Let them air dry in-between your games, this will prevent blisters.
4. Water – In a tournament you will be playing multiple games and it’s extremely important to stay hydrated. Even if you are not thirsty make sure you are drinking adequate water during and after the game. Parents, it’s as easy as stopping at a convenient store and getting a gallon jug of water. You don’t even need a water bottle!
5. Nutritional Snacks – You should also pack a bag of snacks that can be eaten in between games. It’s important to get the proper nutrients to replenish what your body has used up during your games. Fruit (oranges/bananas) and protein bars are always good after a game. During your major meals make sure you carb up with your whole grains so you can store the carbs for energy.
6. Laundry Detergent – This is one that parents who are staying at a hotel often forget. Your kids are playing 2-3 games a day during these tournaments and their clothes will stink! In plastic bags bring some detergent that you can clean their uniforms in the sink of your hotel. They will be able to air dry throughout the night.
7. Suntan Lotion – Your kids will not want to go through the hassle of putting on suntan lotion but if you are outside all day it’s important to protect your skin. It’s easy to ruin your weekend by being a lobster. Trust me, you will regret not putting any on after that first shower.
8. Entertainment – There are times where you might have three or more hours to wait in-between your games. Your kids should not be running around (even though they have the energy to do so) and will need to be entertained. Bring a deck of cards, books, magazines, whatever it is that keeps them entertained.
9. Camera - Take pictures of the scenery and all the tents that are up. Take pictures of your kids with their friends. Even get some action shots during the game. Your kids will grow up fast and the pictures will document all those memories.
10. Wallet – Tournaments were the greatest as a kid. As a parent don’t be afraid to spend some money of these special events if you are financially able. Go out to dinner, buy the tournament shirt and make sure you get the most out of these experiences.
With these ”10 Things You Should Not Forget To Bring To A Tournament” you have the recipe to have a fun and successful tournament. Have fun and enjoy the times with the players and a parents; hopefully you have room for that first place trophy on the ride home!
For me when it comes to packing I always wait until the last-minute and most of the time I forget to bring something. Two summers ago we went to the Outer Bank for vacation and I didn’t bring a swim suit. When I was younger I went to a soccer tournament and forgot to pack my cleats. The good news was my parents were forced to buy me new ones. To save the parents some money of having to purchase new equipment and to ensure you have all the necessities we have put together a checklist that you can print out and double-check to make sure you have everything before you leave for your game or tournament.
1. Uniform – Your uniform is the most important thing to remember to pack. Without it you won’t be able to play. Parents, make sure your kids uniform is clean. There is nothing worse than having to wear a stinky smelly jersey that has been left in a soccer bag. Coaches, make sure you have an extra uniform or two in case your parents forgot to read this checklist. Also, you want to have an extra jersey in case a player gets blood on it or it gets ripped during a game. Your uniform includes:
Jersey’s – both home and away if your team has two or more
Shorts
Cover socks (make sure you have both!)
Warm-ups – some teams wear their matching warm-ups before the game
2. Equipment – Shin guards and Cleats. Like your uniform without them you won’t be able to play. Also, make sure you have your own cleats and not your brothers or sisters!
3. Change of Clothes – Even if this is not a tournament where you will be staying over at a hotel it’s important to bring at least one spare set of clothing. In between games you do not want to be sitting in your sweaty/wet uniform. You could be in the situation where you are playing in rain and you are soaked. You will want to change into a dry set of clothes. After your game, change out of your uniform and into something clean. Especially your cover socks! Let them air dry in-between your games, this will prevent blisters.
4. Water – In a tournament you will be playing multiple games and it’s extremely important to stay hydrated. Even if you are not thirsty make sure you are drinking adequate water during and after the game. Parents, it’s as easy as stopping at a convenient store and getting a gallon jug of water. You don’t even need a water bottle!
5. Nutritional Snacks – You should also pack a bag of snacks that can be eaten in between games. It’s important to get the proper nutrients to replenish what your body has used up during your games. Fruit (oranges/bananas) and protein bars are always good after a game. During your major meals make sure you carb up with your whole grains so you can store the carbs for energy.
6. Laundry Detergent – This is one that parents who are staying at a hotel often forget. Your kids are playing 2-3 games a day during these tournaments and their clothes will stink! In plastic bags bring some detergent that you can clean their uniforms in the sink of your hotel. They will be able to air dry throughout the night.
7. Suntan Lotion – Your kids will not want to go through the hassle of putting on suntan lotion but if you are outside all day it’s important to protect your skin. It’s easy to ruin your weekend by being a lobster. Trust me, you will regret not putting any on after that first shower.
8. Entertainment – There are times where you might have three or more hours to wait in-between your games. Your kids should not be running around (even though they have the energy to do so) and will need to be entertained. Bring a deck of cards, books, magazines, whatever it is that keeps them entertained.
9. Camera - Take pictures of the scenery and all the tents that are up. Take pictures of your kids with their friends. Even get some action shots during the game. Your kids will grow up fast and the pictures will document all those memories.
10. Wallet – Tournaments were the greatest as a kid. As a parent don’t be afraid to spend some money of these special events if you are financially able. Go out to dinner, buy the tournament shirt and make sure you get the most out of these experiences.
With these ”10 Things You Should Not Forget To Bring To A Tournament” you have the recipe to have a fun and successful tournament. Have fun and enjoy the times with the players and a parents; hopefully you have room for that first place trophy on the ride home!
In light of the recent Twitter feud between USA goalkeeper Hope Solo and former USA World Cup winner Brandi Chastain I decided to dig deeper into the growing problem of Athletes using Twitter. Twitter is a social network that allows users to post (tweet) whatever they want up to 140 characters. Users can follow their friends, family, celebrities, athletes; whomever is in the Twitter world. You can comment on anyone’s Twitter and they can either respond or completely ignore the statement. It is a great way for athletes to connect with their fans and for their fans to connect with their favorite athletes (which normally would be an impossible task).
Given the freedom, Twitter has been the forefront of many controversies, including the Hope Solo feud with Brandi Chastain. The “Twitter War” began when Hope Solo mentioned Chastain after the 3-0 win against Colombia in a Tweet saying, “Its 2 bad we cant have commentators who better represents the team&knows more about the game @brandichastain.” Solo’s attack on Chastain was in defense of her comment made about teammate Rachel Buehler for not being able to play the ball out of the back while under pressure. Solo continued by tweeting, “Lay off commentating about defending and gking until you get more educated @brandichastain, the game has changed from a decade ago.” Chastain defended her live broadcast comment by tweeting, “As a defender, your responsibilities are to defend. . . win the ball, and then keep possession, and that’s something that [defender] Rachel Buehler actually needs to improve on in this tournament.”
As you can see, the freedom of Twitter can spark issues between anyone including teammates, former teammates, coaches and even higher authorities. Here is a list of several athletes who have been punished for their Twitter comments:
Voula Papachristou (Greek Triple Jumper)- released from the 2012 Greek Olympic team after making a racist tweet
Cartlon Cole (English Footballer) – fined ,000 for comment made during the England vs Ghana match
Migual Torres (UFC fighter) – dropped from UFC after making a joke about rape
Larry Johnson (NFL) - suspended and eventually released by the Kansas City Chiefs for making an anti-gay slur on his Twitter account
Amare Stoudemire (NBA) – fined ,000 for anti-gay slur in a direct message sent to a fan
Ryan Babel (English Footballer) – fined ,000 for posting a digitally altered picture of a referee wearing a Manchester United jersey
Yuri Wright (Student) – expelled from high school for posting a series of sexual and racist tweets, Michigan rescinded his scholarship, he would eventually go to Colorado
Antonio Cromartie (NFL) – fined ,500 from his team for tweeting that they had “nasty food” at its training camp
As you can see there is an ongoing debate on whether athletes should be allowed to Tweet at all. You can see the benefits it has in being able to connect with fans but there are also the hazards that go along with it. You would think being a professional athlete you would have a better understanding of what is right and what is wrong. As an athlete you not only represent yourself; but you represent your teammates, your coaches, your family and the sport in which you play. By making derogatory comments you could potentially tarnish yourself as well as everyone around you. As an athlete, you are held to a higher standard, and it’s not just professional athletes, it’s ALL athletes.
So the question is this, how would you as a coach handle this situation? More and more kids are joining social networks every day and I’m sure some of your players currently have Twitter/Facebook accounts. Have you educated your players on the potential consequences of saying the wrong thing? Have you set consequences? How can we better monitor social media with our players? Should we allow our players to have social media accounts and is it right for us to tell them no?
Lastly, since we are Soccer focused, do you think it was right for Hope Solo to make those comments to Brandi Chastain while in the middle of a Major Competition? Could she have stuck up for her teammate without making it public?
The right nutritional plan will help bodybuilders achieve their long-term and short-term goals. Pursuing anything in life begins with understanding the basics and getting them down cold. This is true in regard to bodybuilding and finding the right diet when you are weight training. Understanding fundamental nutrition information is the key to achieving your goals in this endeavor. Daily usage of this information must be done. You must take the basics you have learned and implement them every day. We will talk more about what is considered the best nutrition plan for bodybuilders in this article.
What you are doing with your diet is something you need to become accustomed to understanding. As you know, glucose originates from the carbohydrates you eat. By only eating lean carbohydrates, you will ensure that you do not consume too much. An excess of carbohydrates in your body will provide too much glucose to metabolize. The result of that effect is to decrease the amount of fat that gets burned when you exercise. Going further, you always ingest some amount of fat from even healthy foods. Adding to the overall process, this additional fat will add to the totality of fat you currently have Carbohydrates are an essential component of the bodybuilder’s diet. When it comes to getting the proper amount, you have to consider your own needs, such as whether you’re trying to gain or lose weight. It’s easy to either get more carbs than you need or not enough, and this is an individual matter. The general rule with carbohydrate intake is roughly two to two and a half grams of carbohydrates per pound of body weight. Yet this may vary, depending on how satisfied you are with your present weight. The only time you’d want to increase the number of carbs in your diet is when you’re trying to gain weight. If you don’t want to reduce your weight, which may include muscle mass, make sure your body isn’t starved for carbs. That’s why you need to be careful and monitor your progress at all times.
This one decision, made by regular people, can help bodybuilders very much. So you should always get as much variety in your diet. You will see that your overall sense of well-being will rise. The many nutrients contained in the wide variety of foods that you consume is the reason this will occur. By doing this, you will not experience diet burnout or boredom. If you become this way, you may find yourself eating less healthy foods to feel better. The quality of your results when you are bodybuilding will be determined by your nutrition plan. You will have better results as you continue to fine tune your weight training diet over time. That is one of the most sophisticated edges you can give yourself. Beginners may be in awe of how they are able to control their body by simply eating the right supplements and food.
Many of these weight loss tips are normally extremely practical to build muscle mass and also to lose fat. If you among those people who are searching for natural ways to lose the weight and build lean muscle safely more quickly, in that case check this webpage on Tacfit Commando and discover more about a proven system to lose the weight and build muscle fast and safely.
The rising reputation of backpacking and climbing attracts a continually expanding quantity of individuals towards mountains yearly. What will be alot more gorgeous than the nature in its pure state? The mountains around the globe appeal to individuals with their elegance, purity as well as the conflicts they present. Climbing Mount Kinabalu, situated with the southeast of Asia, can deliver individuals a different experience because of to its marvelous internet sites, its well-planned routes as well as the accessibility for all amateur climbers.
This pleasurable experience can extremely quickly grow to be an unpleasant just one if individuals will not regard nature and dispose their wastes wherever arrives in handy. Due to its accessibility, the mountain can remodel right into a rubbish pit at any time, if individuals that climb it might not make everything in their electric power to maintain the nature.
For quite a few people, preserving nature will be even more difficult than climbing a mountain, but for many individuals this matter arrives effortlessly. They’re the individuals who, following doing work very hard to climb the mountain, prefer to sense like nobody has at any time been there before, they need to witness the elegance within the nature in its untainted form plus they will do all they can to help defend and manage the nature as well as the purely natural wonders.
Right before climbing mt kinabalu, or some other mountain with the world, make sure you know some standard information regarding how to depart no trace on where by you pass.
• Will not eradicate or disturb the historical artifacts, the rocks or the crops; within this way, the ones coming there following that you are absent, will enjoy the similar elegance as you did.
• You have got to regard wildlife and observe it from a length. Make sure you hardly ever feed the wild animals, nor to depart meals powering. When climbing mt kinabalu you will probably see a number of curious animals and interest crops, however , you should always resist rather than touch them.
• Pack out all your rubbish and hardly ever depart it powering mainly because it’ll not biodegrade. All waste ought to be packed in bags and disposed in special regions.
• If possible, remove any waste left by many others in the mountain. There are several people that commence climbing mt kinabalu while not the necessary things which they would will need as a way to pack their rubbish – so they depart it powering.
• Continually carry a camp stove so that you can warmth your coffee, tea or meals, and do not generate a hearth whenever you want just one. The forest is in danger whenever individuals make fires and do not just take treatment of them. The dipterocarp and oak forests will not must undergo because of careless individuals who will not place out the fires they’ve began.
If this minimal information is thought of by each and every human that commences climbing Mt Kinabalu, the different purely natural blog is going to be stored as it is for a lot of ages plus more plus more individuals will delight in it. We need to understand that wildlife will not survive above the ages if we do not make an effort to regard its habitat.
Considering the variety of information you can easily have access to over the internet, surely news and updates about your favorite sporting events and athletes won’t be the least of the things you can learn about. Proof of this is the number of websites and blogs that are set up these days. Although there are a lot of people who opt to research sports news online, and there’s not lacking of good reasons at that, you still need to remember to avoid doing a few things. To begin with, you need to be sure the online resources you are gathering these news and updates from are reliable. After all, you wouldn’t want to end up with wrong information, would you? So to be sure you will have reliable and accurate sports information and updates, be sure you will take the time to research a little information on the websites you plan to reference.
You also need to avoid getting updates and information from one website or gather information from the first site you find. We aren’t saying the first websites you will find are completely worthless, it is just that you can gather more information about your favorite sport events and athletes if you were to check out several other websites. You can also try to compare various websites so you can find out which among them provides the most updated and most accurate soccer news. This way, you can be sure you will indeed obtain accurate and high quality sports information. As an avid sports fan, you deserve nothing less. So prior to taking notes, you need to be sure you will take the time to compare at least two websites from each other so you can be sure you will end up with the most reliable sports updates and information.
If you really need to learn more about these websites, then where can you research them? Checking out online forum discussions is one of the best things you can do. These are discussions where fellow sports fans get together and share their opinions about websites they obtain cricket news and other sports updates from. This way, you can get firsthand information about the websites you are planning to get these news and updates from. You can also post questions on these discussion boards and have them answered by fellow sports fans. You can also check out sit reviews and testimonials you can find online as they are also great sources of information regarding which sports websites you should gather sports updates from and which websites you need to avoid. Take the time to go over all your available options before you decide on which site to research through.
We all know there is almost nothing you could not learn over the internet these days. And that apart from several other things, you can easily do research online. The ease and speed by which we can access information makes learning all but impossible to achieve. So if there is an avid sports fan who is looking for ways to learn about the different soccer terms used in every game, then he or she can simply go online to learn about these different terms. Trying to learn about these terms online has a lot of advantages. First of all it is convenient and easy which make it a perfect solution for sports fans who don’t have much time to spare to buy reference books. Because you need not pay for the articles you access online, this also helps you to save money seeing as you no longer have to buy books or magazines.
Although there are several advantages of doing this kind of research online, there are still a number of things you need to avoid doing. First of all, you need to avoid gathering information about Ricardo Kaka for instance from websites nobody is recommending. This is important since you need to be sure you will end up with accurate sports information. So before you do check out websites, take the time to browse round online forum discussions to get an idea where your fellow sports fans gather their sports updates and information. This is also a great way to get an idea about the quality of sports information you can expect from the websites you are planning research at.
You also need to avoid gathering information from websites without doing sufficient background research first. You also need to be sure the site you are considering have been around like http://www.sportspundit.com, which have established itself as being one of the most reliable and trusted online information resource on everything that has to do with sports. After all, being the avid sports fan you are, you definitely would not settle for anything less than the best. You need to find out how long the website has been online and how often it gets updated since you obviously want to get the freshest sports news always. Study all your available options very carefully before you decide on a specific website to gather your information from.
The team talk before the game should reiterate what you want to accomplish. This may differ based on the opponent. You may be able to impose your will on some teams and you may have to make adjustments for other teams from the start. There will also be teams that you match up evenly with, so you want to stress execution of individual and team tasks. A very young team may need some motivation from you. An older team needs more clarification of function. Every player must know what he/she has to do, so that the team is functioning as a unit.
Let me give you a couple of examples. You are playing a weaker team, so you decide to win the ball higher up the pitch and take the game to them. You may want to ensure that the players know where your line of confrontation is set and where you want to force the other team to play. If the team is not very technical, you may try to force them to play up the middle through traffic. You may also want to pressure the full backs to force them to give the ball away close to their goal. You can play with an extra forward to help with this.
If you are playing a better team, you may want to clarify that you want to sit back and counter. Protect the space in behind you and communicate to the players how you wish to accomplish this. Maybe a five man midfield with wingers to facilitate an early diagonal ball on the counter. You may also want to employ a very strong target that can hold the ball for a few seconds to give the trailing players time to join the attack.
As far as half-time goes, you should think about adjustments if your plan is not working. Players not performing to potential(substitutions in the second half or immediately) Keep your talk concise. Too much information has no impact. Three areas of concern to adjust as a team is plenty. You can, however speak to the individual about how he/she is performing and what they can do better to help the team cause.
As you can tell, there is nothing specific you have to say, but you have to read the game and make adjustments accordingly. There may be times when you have very little to inject, because the team is playing well. Other times, when it all seems to be going wrong is when you have to focus on the major points of emphasis. You can’t fix everything at half-time, but you can change the game with key adjustments.
Charles Barkley once warned, “I am not a role model.” At Soccer Classroom, we disagree. Soccer stars, by the nature of their public status, are watched and emulated by youth players around the globe. But, which ones are worthy of our admiration? What does it take to be a remarkable role model?
Growing up there were several players I remember watching that I called my “favorite players.” The reason they were my favorite was because they played a similar style to me (or rather, I played a similar style to them) and because of their quality as a player. Players on this list include: Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane, Marco Etchevery, Luiz Figo, and Carlos Valderama. I started thinking, “What current players would make my list of players that our youth should try to emulate?”
Coming up with my top five was extremely difficult because there are a lot of great players. But, I was looking for players that do great things on the field as well as off the field. The four factors that I used to determine my top five include: Leadership Abilities, Demonstrated Passion for the Game, Off the Field Charity Work and overall Soccer Skills.
1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi (Photo:Prettyfriendship)
Lionel Messi could easily be regarded as the best player in the world and if he continues at this rate he could be considered the best player to ever step foot on this planet. However, there is much more to Messi’s story than his incredible ability.
Messi who has become a giant in football most certainly doesn’t define a giant in reality, he is only a mere five feet six inches tall (and that’s being generous). Messi’s career began at the very young age of five years old when he asked his parents to play for the neighborhood club in Rosario, Argentina. They reluctantly said yes, two years later he joined the junior Newell’s New Boys squad (who plays in Argentina’s top division). In 1997 when Messi was only 10 years old doctors diagnosed him with a growth-hormone deficiency problem and they prescribed him with treatment. For four years, Messi was injected with nightly hormones. With Argentina’s economy struggling, paying for Messi’s treatment became difficult for his family. Luckily for Messi, scouts from Barcelona had been watching him and flew him out to Spain for a tryout (he was only 13 years old). His size was a concern, but after only 30 minutes the Barcelona staff were convinced that he one day could be something special at Barcelona. And boy were they right!
Messi has won every major individual award including: back-to-back Ballon D-or awards, 3-time La Liga Player of the Year, European Player of the Year, Footballer of the Year (Argentina), top scorer in every major competition, and many many more. Messi has won every major club tournament but has yet to win a World Cup, a dream of his. Given his young age of 24, something tells me he will get a few more opportunities.
Not only does Messi have a heart for the game of soccer but he also shares a love for children. In 2007 Messi established “The Leo Messi Foundation,” a charity focused on supporting access to education and health care to vulnerable children. In 2010, Messi was announced as a UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) ambassador, which supports Children’s rights.
Messi’s work ethic on and off the field is truly special and it’s no surprise that he is the best. He is a leader on the field simply with his hard work on the pitch. His passion to score goals inspires his teammates and viewers. His explosive speed and touch is something we might not ever see in the game ever again. Messi is a game changer and he has proven that at the highest level in the highest competitions. So when you watch Messi for his club Barcelona or his country, watch his work rate and notice his impeccable vision.
Embrace Messi. Emulate Messi. Then be your own Messi.
2. Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan (Photo:wjarrettc)
Landon Donovan is the poster child for American soccer. And, as he should be! Donovan made a grown man cry (yes, that would be me) on June 23rd, 2010 when he scored the game winning goal in the World Cup against Algeria in the 90th minute to give the United States a place in the final 16. No lie, I have chills re-watching the video now as I type. A moment I will never ever forget. A moment that brought our nation together chanting USA! USA! USA! For instant chills, click the play button below.
Landon Donovan’s love for the game began at a young age, joining his first competitive team at five years old. Ten years later he found himself playing for the US National Team, later becoming the youngest player to ever be called up to the U-23 squad.
Donovan’s talents sparked the interest of many European teams including English Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal. However, Donovan ended up signing for German club Bayer Leverkusen. He was only 17 years old and forced to grow up prematurely.
Unfortunately, his spell at Germany was short-lived as Donovan struggled to adapt to the culture and the style of German football (remember, he was only 17 years old playing against much higher competition). He came back to the states to train with the U17 National Team where he played an important role in a semi-final visit, scoring three goals, assisting five others, and was awarded the Gold Ball for the tournament MVP.
For a fee of million, Donovan was loaned from Letherkusen to MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes. Four years later, he was named US soccer athlete of the year as he helped the Earthquakes go from last place to MLS Cup champions in 2001. In 2003 Donovan had a breakout year scoring 12 goals and assisting in 6 others, as he was discussed as becoming MVP of the league! The Earthquakes went on to win another MLS Cup final and Donovan was named MVP of the game. His four-year loan had come to an end and after noticing Donovan’s progress, Letherkusen rightfully wanted him back.
Donovan fulfilled his duties but again wasn’t happy in Germany. Only starting in two games he had asked to come back to the United States. Letherkusen respected his request, however, San Jose had sold his rights and he would find himself a new home in LA with the Galaxy, where he’s never looked back.
Donovan has a long list of resume building awards including: US Soccer Young Athlete of the Year, Four time US Soccer Athlete of the Year, Seven Time Honda Player of the Year, MLS MVP, MLS Golden boot and many more. He is the United States all time leading goalscorer with 107 and the All-time assist leader with 97. Through his hard work and leadership on the field Donovan has become the face of US Soccer. But there is much more to his character than just soccer.
Donovan is active in a charity supported by Fifa palyers which educates the people of Africa about the serious problem of Malaria and is also a member of the UNICEF. Donovan has also participated in the Make a Wish Foundation where he helped 11-year-old Gerardo’s wish of meeting Landon Donovan come true. Donovan spent the entire day with Gerardo as he encouraged him to keep fighting. Gerardo also got exclusive tickets to a Galaxy game where Donovan scored and dedicated the goals to Gerardo. An experience both Gerardo and Donovan will never forget.
Donovan has completely changed the face of US Soccer with his leadership abilities. He has helped continue popularize the MLS and has won many prestigious awards. Donovan’s passion for the game and passion for winning is evident when you watch him play. He is always working hard, not only for himself but for his teammates as well. Donovan has an extremely strong heart for the game as well as the community. These characteristic have awarded him one of the top five active players youth players should try to emulate. Watch Donovan with the US National Team as well as the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Lead like Donovan. Work hard like Donovan. Then be your own Donovan.
3. Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba (Photo:americanistadechiapas)
Didier Drogba is one of the most misunderstood footballers in the game and that’s why I’m here, to educate you. His character and passion are misconstrued with his flops and dives. Drogba loves the game of football and he plays with a tremendous amount of pride. He will do whatever it takes to win. His strength, speed, and touch have helped him become one of the best to ever wear Chelsea blue. But I assure you, he wasn’t always a goal scoring threat and his late introduction to professional football has made him bloom late in his career.
Drogba was born in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) but at age five due to economic issues his parents sent for him to live with his uncle in France (who was a professional footballer). After three years in France he had become homesick and went back to live with his parents. He spent many hours playing football at the park in the city. Not long after returning to the Ivory Coast his parents both lost their jobs and Drogba returned to live with his uncle in France. Shortly after he joined his first organized youth club. Drogba began to catch the eye of many coaches but his academics were also important to him. Drogba became an apprentice at Le Mans (France Ligue 2) while studying accounting at college. However, injury and the struggle to balance academics and football was an ongoing concern. Former Le Man coach Marc Westerlopee described the situation as “It took Dider four years to be capable of training every day and playing every week.” This was a huge setback for Drogba because he had only begun daily football training as a fully grown adult. Drogba credits the growth of his career to the birth of his son Isaac. With fatherhood came responsibility and with responsibility came renewed focus on his career.
Drogba’s breakout season came in the 2002 season for Guingamp as he scored 17 goals in 34 appearances and helped them finish seventh in the French Ligue 1 table (a record league finish). His remarkable season drew interest of several big clubs. Marseille landed Drogba in 2003 for .3 million and were rewarded with 19 league goals by the Ivorian. He also scored five goals in the Champions League and six goals in the UEFA Cup. Drogba won the Ligue de Football Professional’s Player of the Year ward.
Drogba was bought by Chelsea for a (at the time) record 24 million pounds, where his career skyrocketed. With Chelsea he has won three Premiership titles, two league cups, three FA cups, and two community shields. There is only one trophy he has yet to get his hands on and that’s the Champions League, which he plans to continue to compete for in the next couple of years. Since 2004, Drogba has scored 145 times in 310 appearances. His biggest season in 2009 where he netted 37 times, leading the entire league. He is 6th all time in Chelsea Football history in goal scoring.
Internationally, Drogba led Cote d’Ivoire to their first ever World Cup qualification in 2006. He captained the side in the 2006 African Cup of Nations where they made it to the final, losing to Egypt in a shootout. Also, in 2006 Drogba scored his first career World Cup goal as well as his country’s first ever World Cup goal. In qualifying for the 2010 World Cup Drogba scored six goals in fives matches. In that same year, he won the African Footballer of the Year, for the second time in his career. He’s scored 50 goals in 75 appearances, a country record.
What really separates Drogba from all the other top footballers is his community work. In January of 2007 Drogba was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a Goodwill Ambassador. The UNDP were impressed with Drogba’s previous charity work and thought his high-profile could help raise awareness on African issues. In 2009, Drogba announced that he would be donating 3 million pounds as he signed an endorsement with Pepsi to construct a hospital in his hometown of Abidjan. The project was completed through the foundation he created “Didier Drogba Foundation,” where Chelsea too announced they would support the project. In 2010, Drogba was listed as Time Magazine’s 100 list of people who most affect our world, under the “heroes” category.
You can learn more about The Didier Drogba Foundation by visiting here.
In life, and in football, sometimes it takes some time to mature for you to reach your true potential. Through Drogba’s story, remember to never give up no matter what circumstances arise. Treat every moment as a new challenge.
Stay patient like Drogba. Give back like Drogba. Then be your own Drogba.
4. Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach (Photo:jcantroot)
Abby Wambach had a Summer of a lifetime as she guided the US Women’s National Team to a World Cup final, but it wasn’t an easy ride. Meeting their biggest rivals Brazil in semi-finals of what might be the most exciting games in US Women’s soccer history. USA went up early on an own goal by Brazil. Then, Brazil were awarded a penalty after a questionable decision and sending off by the referee. Solo made the original save on the PK, but the referee whistled the play dead due to a player entering the box too early. Marta finished the second chance easily. The USA, down to 10 players, battled hard, but were growing tired. With the game tied at 1-1, we were headed into extra time. Early into extra time Marta scored a fantastic goal that left USA with little hope. But Abby Wambach displayed why she is one of the best players to ever play for the USWNT by scoring a header in the very last seconds of the game in the 121st minute. The USA went on to win the game in a shootout and Abby scored on her attempt.
Could the already emotional World Cup run get any better for Abby Wambach? A tired USA team had one more 90 minute match for their chance at World Cup glory, or so they thought. Abby put the manners in her own hand as she continued to battle and fight for the game winner. She scored in the 102st minute on guess what, another header to put team USA up 2-1 in overtime. But it was Japan’s “never say die” attitude that awarded them with a late equalizer and later a World Cup trophy as they beat USA in penalties.
That ”never say die” attitude can also be said about Abby Wambach as she have proven at the highest stage in the soccer world. Back-to-back overtime goals in the semi final and finals of the World Cup puts a true meaning to putting your team on your back. When everyone else’s legs are cramping and their lungs are screaming mercy, Abby pushes on. She is one of the most agile forwards in the women’s game as she is all over the pitch. And this is why she makes the top 5 players for our youth to emulate.
In Abby’s first year of youth soccer she was transferred from the girls league to the boys, as she scored 27 goals, in three games! During her senior year in high school she was named Parade magazine’s high school All-Amerca team, National Player of the Year by Umbro and the NSCAA. She played collegiate ball for the University of Flordia where she won the NCAA national Championship in 1998 and four consecutive Southeastern Conference championships. She was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 1998, first-team All-SEC selection four straight seasons, two-time SEC Player of the Year (2000,2001), three time first team All-American (1999, 2000, 2001) and two-time SEC Tournament MVP.
Instead of finishing her college career, she entered the 2002 WUSA draft where she was selected second overall by the Washington Freedom where she got to play alongside USWNT teammate Mia Hamm. Wambach currently plays for magicJack where she is a player-coach until the end of the 2011 season.
Abby impressed many in the WUSA and she caught the eye of the US Women’s National Team where she made the 2003 World Cup squad. She scored a goal against Norway and helped them into the semifinals and winning a bronze medal. She scored the game winner in the 2004 Summer Olympics to beat Brazil 2-1 in the final. In her international career she has scored 125 goals in only 165 appearances, third on the list behind Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly.
Abby is also heavily involved in multiple charity works and won’t ever say no to an autograph. As of most recent, she teamed up with Bank of America and teammates Hope Solo and Alex Morgan in a charitable program run during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. As a result of the US Womens National teams success in the 2011 World Cup they have had copious opportunities to represent trademark companies as well as charities. Abby was quoted saying, “This is a program that’s all about the benefits of teamwork, and how people can make opportunity possible in their communities when they pull together. That’s why it’s great that all three of us are involved. We’ve proven what can be done when people come together with a sense of purpose and determination, and speaking on behalf of Hope and Alex, we’re looking forward to highlighting that sense of teamwork and opportunity at the Bank of American Chicago Marathon.”
Abby is a player that all our youth players should try to emulate. Her hard work, determination, and never-say-die attitude have made her an icon in the Women’s game. She leads by example and pushes to the end, and that’s exactly why Abby has made this list.
Play to the end like Abby. Play big like Abby. And then be your own Abby.
5. Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshire (Photo:Clotheyes)
Jack Wilshere is an up-and-coming star who plays for Arsenal and the English national team. And he’s made a big impression on me already. Wilshere joined the Arsenal Academy in 2001 at the age of 9. Moving up in the ranks he became the captain of the U16s when he was 15. He also made some appearances with the U18 side and in one season scored 13 goals in only 18 appearances, including a hat-trick against Watford (he was only 15 at the time). One of his most memorable goals came in February of 2008 when he made his debut for the Arsenal Reserves as he curled a shot int the top corner. Arsene Wenger, legendary manager, just happened to be watching the game.
Wilshere made his first team debut in September of 2008 as an 84th minute sub for Robin van Persie, becoming Arsenal’s youngest player to ever debut at 16 years and 256 days. Ten days after his debut he scored his first competitive goal in a 6-0 victory against Sheffield United in a League Cup match. Wilshere became the fifth player ever to play in a Champions League match at the age of 16.
After a successful loan spell in 2009 to Bolton, Wilshere came back to Arsenal and had a breakthrough year. Starting in several matches including a Champions League win against Barcelona in which Wilshere completed 93.5% of his passes. In April of 2011, Wilshere was honored with the PFA Young Player of the Year award as well as being named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2010-11 season. He was also named Arsenal’s Player of the Season.
Wilshere was called upon for both his club and country several times throughout the season and there was ongoing debate on should he play for his country or should he be rested, given his young age it is easy to be overplayed, increasing the likes of injury. Unfortunately, during Summer preseason leading up to the 2011 season Wilshere suffered a stress fracture to his ankle while he was on international duty. He is expected to be back late January to early February.
Following Wilshere on twitter, he has had nothing but a positive attitude even after suffering the injury and the issues that Arsenal have been having so far this year. He has been supportive of Arsene Wenger and inspirational to his teammates after the departure of Fabregas and Nasri. He shows true loyalty to the Gunners.
One of the things that surprises me about Wilshere is how mature he is at such a young age. Wilshere is very active in his charity for Jack Marshall, a five-year old boy who has been suffering from a severe case of cancer, and an avid Manchester United fan. Jack Marshall has been using football to help get him through the day-to-day pain he endures in his battle. Wilshere often visits Jack and updates his visits on his twitter account. He also wears a wrist band during games with Jack Marshall’s name on it during games along with Manchester United stars Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand.
Watching Jack Wilshere play is inspiring in itself. He is constantly working on the pitch. If his team doesn’t have the ball, Wilshere will do anything to get it back, getting stuck in on tackles even with his small stature. He is all over the pitch. When Wilshere does come back from his injury be ready to see much of the same. Arsenal are really missing his positive attitude and work rate. Look for Wilshere to be one of the all-time greats of the game.
Mature like Wilshere. Fight like Wilshere. Then be your own Wilshere.
Conclusion
So there you have it, Messi, Donovan, Drogba, Wambach, and Wilshere are my top five players our youth soccer players should emulate. There are three defining characteristics that all five of these players share: an extreme love for the game, constantly working to get better and their understanding that there is more to life than football as they give back to the community and charities. Not only are they all-time greats, but they’re all-time great people and role models.
Do you agree with my top five, why and why not? Who would make your top five players our youth players should emulate?
Soccer Classroom is all about helping create great experiences for soccer players. With a player-first mentality, parents and coaches should work in harmony to support one another. The only way to foster that understanding is for parents to ask questions. Hopefully, your son or daughter’s soccer coach will conduct a proper pre-season meeting to explain his or her philosophy about the season. The appropriate time to ask questions of the coach is during this meeting, so be prepared.
Unfortunately, if the coach doesn’t have that pre-season meeting, you will need to take the initiative to get these questions answered. As a parent, your job is to walk that fine line between advocating for your child, but not becoming “that” parent. No matter what, asking the following questions will provide you with the necessary insight to your soccer coach, so you can support their efforts. Hopefully, before signing your son or daughter up for a sport, you’ve covered the basics of appropriate level of play and understanding the practice and game schedule. I’m also assuming a baseline of knowledge about practices, number of practices and costs. These questions are structured in a collaborative way to provide insight into the coach’s philosophy and how you can assist the coach to ensure an enjoyable season for everyone. (Note: If you disagree with the coach, be prepared to support him his season. And, raise your hand next season to coach.)
What are your goals for the team?
Are you planning any additional activities for the team (camp, gear, tournaments)? How much additional time and money do you anticipate it to cost?
What is your approach to developing players?
What is your philosophy towards playing time? Does the league mandate playing time?
What is your approach to playing different positions?
What is your policy towards player and parent interactions? What is the appropriate time, method and place if we have questions? (Note: You can recommend setting up a Facebook Group for your soccer team to easily communicate)
How do you handle player feedback for improvement?
What is your policy regarding missed practices or games? Are there acceptable circumstances for missing practices and games?
We respect you stepping forward to coach. How can we as parents make your job easier?
What is the emergency medical plan? Do you have a proper medical kit? (Every team should have one. If you don’t have one, the team should get one or put one together at a drug store.)
What is your expectation for parent’s sideline behavior?
As I researched and thought about this article, I found a number of questions from other websites that I thought were ridiculous (or at least misguided at a coach – but perhaps more appropriate for a club). These questions basically put the coach on the defensive and immediately set up a confrontational relationship between you and the coach – instead of a collaborative, “How do we create the best experiences and how can we help you?”
Among those questions I thought were unfair:
How much training do you have (i.e. do you have a coach’s license or certificate)? This person has volunteered and you haven’t volunteered. It’s an arrogant question. I’ve worked with many questions with little soccer background or training who were great with kids and provided an excellent environment for growth.
Will an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and someone with up-to-date certification and training in first-aid, sports safety, and the use of an automatic external defibrillator be present at all practices and competitions? This is better guided at a club. And, perhaps you’re up-to-date with all your first-aid training and are willing to volunteer to be at every practice and game. I think this is unfair because I always wonder if those parents asking the question are certified themselves for the birthday parties they host or when they have kids over.
Will you agree to set clear boundaries to prevent the possibility of abuse or harassment? Confrontational, for sure. Certainly a better way to phrase that one – like, how are you going to create a fun, developmental atmosphere?
Do you follow a two-adult rule to eliminate the possibility of sexual abuse? Basically, you’re saying, “I think you may be a pedophile.” Again, better ways to phrase that one.
What should we do as parents if we notice that our child is not getting the minimum playing time? If you’ve structured that question better, you’ll understand what the playing time requirements are for players AND you’ll understand how to approach the coach with questions. This assumes that the coach is going to short change players of playing time.
If you cannot make a game, will you let us know who is going to be the coach? Uh, really? No, I’m not going to tell anyone or have any assistant coaches.
Do you plan to emphasize having fun and skill development, and if not, why not? Again, confrontational. You’re not building a relationship, you’re creating an inquisition.
Will you agree to never emotionally abuse players, such as by angrily yelling at players for making mistakes? Talk about assuming the worst. Ask about their method to developing players and you have more insight.
Will you agree to respect officials and not, for example, angrily yell at them for making what you believe to be bad calls? Again, ask about their coaching and developmental philosophy and you have a better perspective.
Asking questions of coaches should always be aimed at how you can build a relationship that keeps a player-first mentality for everyone. Using the driving principle of creating the best experiences possible, we can all work together to create that environment.
