Seattle Youth Soccer Association (SYSA)’s Post

With Olivier Giroud's impending 38th birthday in September, Major League Soccer (MLS) finds itself under intense scrutiny for its questionable recruitment strategies. Giroud's potential move to the MLS has reignited a long-standing debate about the league's tendency to prioritize signing aging stars over fostering the development of homegrown American talent. Critics argue that the MLS has become a haven for aging players seeking one final payday, rather than a platform for nurturing young talent and building a sustainable future for American soccer. Giroud's rumored transfer epitomizes this troubling trend, as the league appears more interested in short-term gains than in laying the groundwork for long-term success. Instead of investing in youth academies, coaching programs, and grassroots initiatives, the MLS continues to splurge on high-profile signings like Giroud, neglecting the development of the sport at its core. By prioritizing aging stars over emerging talent, the league undermines its potential to become a competitive force on the global stage and stunts the growth of soccer in the United States. Critics contend that the MLS's fixation on marquee signings reflects a lack of vision and ambition, as the league fails to capitalize on the vast pool of young talent available in the country. While signing players like Giroud may generate short-term excitement, it does little to address the systemic issues plaguing U.S soccer, such as the absence of a cohesive player development pathway and the reliance on outdated recruitment strategies. https://lnkd.in/eQUn-BpZ

Warm-up for this first United Soccer Coaches 30 under 30 training session: 🔹4v4+3 Positional Play 🔹 Exercise Rules: Positional play exercise in two 20x25 yard grids marked out by blue & yellow cones. Each grid will consist of two teams of four players with three neutral “bumpers” aiding either team in the attack. A point is scored for every time the opposition team is able to connect a pass by splitting two defenders. Defending team is trying to prevent splitting passes, regain possession of the ball, and transition to one of the three neutral players to maintain possession. 🔹Notes: Opposition team utilizing a 1-3-1-4-2 system of play. Opposition team’s style of play looks to triangulate, combine via short passes, and exploit open space with a driven diagonal ball. Opposition team will look to switch the point of attack in order to break lines & exploit open space in the wide areas. Focus team utilizing a 1-4-2-3-1 system of play with zonal marking in their mid-block. For this activity, focus team will utilize a 1-2-1 system of play. 🔹 Defining Our Success: We are able to deny the opposition from scoring on splitting passes on 60% of defending sequences. 🔹Duration: 10:00 min band & dynamics; 19:00 min warm-up 🔹Intervals x4: 2:00 min work; 1:00 min rest 💻 Graphic created with Efficiency Match Sports

Heisman Trophy leaders in faculty soccer up to now for 2023, ranked With the faculty soccer season at the least one-third of the way in which by way of, we are able to actually get an excellent take a look at not solely the most effective groups within the nation, ... read more on ordonews.com #NewsHeadlines #TheWire #ordonews

⚽️ How Cole Is Tearing Up His Intramural Soccer League ⬇️ (read full caption) 🌟 I have been playing at the college intramurals with my buddies. I felt a bit out of my league. And I didn't like the feeling of not being as good as my friends. I decided to try Dylan's program. The tutorials and tips were like gold. Now, I'm fitting in. I'm making good plays, scoring some goals, and helping my team win.🌟 - Cole Martin (Canada) 🎓 What can we learn from Cole? (helpful tips when your playing out of your league) ⚽️ Playing with players who are next-level can be a bit intimidating, but here's the deal: instead of comparing yourself to them, let them be your motivation and inspiration. Take an honest look at where you stand, identify the gaps, and embrace them as opportunities for growth. It's not about being the best right now; it's about getting better every week. 🎯 Break down those differences between you and them. Ask yourself what can I do to get to that level. Be specific. Practice – day in, day out. Celebrate the small victories, the progress you make each week. Remember, the only player you need to better than is the one you were yesterday. If you maintain that mentality, eventually you will be better than them. 🌟 Do you know anyone who would want to level up their game and impress their friends? My students who have made the biggest changes are using this: 🏆 Transform Your Game in 90 Days with The Online Soccer Academy (Limited Spots Available - click the link in my bio) - https://lnkd.in/esEYiK_F 🔗 “Your coaches and teammates will wonder how you improved so fast but only you will know” 🔷 Coach Dylan 🔷 Progressive Soccer 🔷 100 Million Views on YouTube

5 Unwritten Rules of Street Sports to Keep in Mind Have you ever played street volleyball or tennis and had the opposing team’s player repeatedly harm the game, or you, in some subtle but glaring manner? Traditional sports all have literal guidebooks and manuals on how they should be played, not to mention professional referees present to oversee fair play conduct. But, what happens when you play street-style sports and there’s no one there to keep everything in check? Before you abandon your game and do something else, go over these unwritten rules with your group of friends. Make sure that everyone is aware of them before the match begins so that everyone can have a great time playing, rather than be frustrated with how other people behave or misbehave toward others. 1. Don’t Get Overly Aggressive We all get frustrated when we start losing or when we’ve been outmatched by the opposing team. That’s not an excuse to vent our frustrations on others by resorting to violence and physical confrontation. Street-style sports are often played on hard surfaces such as concrete or wooden panels which can cause serious injury to players. Try not to tackle, kick, punch, or push anyone without rhyme or reason when playing street sports. Once the game ends, you’ll go back to being friends or acquaintances just as you were before – don’t start grudges or beef on the field. 2. Don’t Distract the Players When you play team sports like football or volleyball, you’ll end up with more players available than are necessary on the field at any given moment. If you’re a substitute player and are waiting for your turn to play, refrain from distracting other players. Follow the game, check your phone, stretch, or talk to other substitutes next to you. Do not however distract playing players with shouting, loud music, jump scares, questions, and other unnecessary interactions. You won’t want others to do that to you, so use common sense and be a fair player even when not playing... Read more in our blog post -> https://lnkd.in/dTqzb5rF

Not only is Next Gen Soccer Training and Education teaching athletes the basics of the game, it's also future-proofing them to be coaches later in life, founder Andrew Bridgman said. "When you look at Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo it's completely changed the way the youth see the game," Bridgman said. "Now the kids are learning the creative side of the game." Click the link below or check out the sports edition in today’s paper to learn more about Next Gen!

Ever wondered how the US women's soccer tier system works? Let me break it down for you. As a dedicated fan of the WSL and Women's Championship, I've recently taken an interest in how women's soccer is run over in the US, and how it's so different to what we know in Europe. Unlike in Europe, promotion and relegation do not exist in American soccer. Instead, the U.S. Soccer Federation sanctions leagues based on their compliance with a series of standards. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), operating since 2013, features many of the USA women's team players as well as international stars. This summer, a new women's league, the USL Super League, will operate independently from the NWSL as part of the United Soccer League (USL) structure, which also includes second and third division men’s leagues. The USL Super League has recently been given 'Division One' sanctioning by the U.S. Soccer Federation, placing it at the same level as the NWSL. I know what you're thinking - how can there be two top-tier leagues? Unlike the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Major League Soccer, which play on a spring-to-autumn calendar, the USL Super League will align with the European calendar, playing from autumn to spring. The USL also operates several lower divisions for women's soccer, aiming to grow the women's game and expand opportunities for women to compete at the highest professional level. I'm excited to see this new league kick off this August! #womenssoccer #nwsl #uslsuperleague #americansoccer

U.S Soccer is grappling with a grim distinction in the realm of soccer, boasting the highest failure rate among soccer clubs globally. This woeful trend transcends gender boundaries, afflicting both men's and women's teams alike. Over the course of nearly three decades, dating back to 1992, the United States has witnessed the disheartening demise of more than 150 professional soccer teams. Curiously, when one listens to press conferences involving overseas soccer coaches or players in the United States, a recurring and almost mechanical inquiry emerges: "What are your thoughts on the growth of soccer in the United States?" This question has become a perennial fixture, echoing through the years. The narrative of American soccer's growth has been spun since the early 1990s, and the nation's claim to fame includes hosting the 1994 World Cup, with preparations underway for the pivotal role it will play in the 2026 World Cup. However, amid the glimmers of progress, there exists an unvarnished truth that casts a shadow over the American soccer landscape. Clubs continue to falter during this modern era, mirroring the struggles of their predecessors. The unforgiving and somber reality stares us squarely in the face, refusing to be ignored https://lnkd.in/ejQ3rJPF

We’re at an important juncture in American soccer history. #ProRelForUSA will be implemented in multiple American sports in the near term - including soccer. The trick will be to get it right. The only way United Soccer League (USL) can implement promotion and relegation in a way that gives it a serious and perpetual advantage is to not only open their existing leagues - but to open to the rest of American soccer. This needs to be done with a new, authentic nonprofit organization devoted to opening all of American soccer in a comprehensive fashion. Anything less leaves MLS with the advantage of internationally recognized D1 status and their long-standing ability to meddle in the affairs of other leagues with the help of a client US Soccer. That being said, this new organization can and should be member of US Soccer. Two scenarios open here. In an unlikely one where MLS also splits into two leagues and commences pro/rel with itself - this new organization provides a framework for hundreds of other US clubs not included in the single entity league. In the other, MLS stays closed - but this new organization gives ambitious MLS sides an open system in which they can jump. Obviously, there are many institutional roadblocks for a team to jump MLS for a new league - but a few MLS sides are more prepared for this contingency. If USL is prepared to take this step, it’s a new day in American soccer.

NCAA D-I Council proposes 30-day transfer portal for football, basketball The NCAA Division I Council introduced a proposal Tuesday to change the transfer portal windows in football and basketball from 45 to 30 days. A vote is expected in October. Currently, the football portal window is 30 days in December and another 15 days in April. For basketball, the 45-day window opens a day after Selection Sunday. In basketball, the portal would open after the second round of the NCAA Tournament and will conclude before the end of April. Athletes would still be given a 30-day window to transfer after a coach's departure. In data gathered over the first two years with transfer windows, the NCAA found most athletes enter the portal within the first four weeks of the portal opening. The study showed that 73% of men's and women's basketball undergraduate athletes entered during the first four weeks. That increased to 82% for men and 86% for women in 2024. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gf4XyZDr