Home Training: The Soccer Wall

A great way for an individual to work on their game at home is to find (or make) a soccer wall. What's that? Basically, it's like racquetball with a soccer ball. Any vertical, reasonably even surface will do, like a fence or the side of the garage (just ask Mom!) or, if you're lucky, Dad will build you one. The idea is to kick the ball against the wall, practicing both kicking and trapping. Use all surfaces of your foot for kicking, work on pacing, work on trapping the ball at different angles. Hit it in the air, on the ground, and so on. You can even do it with a sibling or friend. Play one- or two-touch against each other. Make up games. The possibilities are endless!

Player's Point of View

Sam Snow is the Senior Assistant Technical Director for US Youth Soccer and he was also an instructor at this year's Soccer Rhode Island Coaches Convention and Soccer Expo. In short, the guy knows what he's talking about! Best of all, he also has his own Soccer blog (posted every Tuesday) where he provides a truly national perspective on the game. It's a must-read for anyone involved in the sport. Over the summer, Sam posted a letter from a 15 year old player. With the Fall Recreational season upon us, now is a good time to listen to what one player's point of view is. Here's an excerpt:

Soccer is a team sport and parents need to understand that and encourage their child to be a team player. There have been too many times when a parent only wants his or her child to succeed or be the best, which does not support a team environment. As an example, I have seen where a parent will pay their child for every goal they score. This encourages the child to try and only score goals, as opposed to passing to another player that may have a better shot at making a goal. While scoring goals is certainly important, playing defensively to ensure the other team does not is just as important. No position on the soccer field is more important than another. If parents are reminded of this in the contract, they can help their child actively participate in a cooperative and coordinated effort on the part of the team working together towards their common goal.

The sport of soccer is naturally competitive so parents can tend to get a bit high strung and say or yell things on the sidelines that are not appropriate. For example, there are times when a parent may not agree with the call a referee has made, and will berate and yell at that referee to the point he or she is asked to leave the sidelines. Parents must remember to demonstrate respect for coaches, players and referees and never openly berate, criticize, tease or demean anyone involved in the game. As a player, I can assure you that if a parent says something on the sidelines, we do hear it on the field. Children do learn from their behavior, so it is important they set a positive example.

In addition, parents need to be humble, trust the coach and admit that the way they think a child should play or a coach should teach is not the only way a child can learn. Each year I have played, there are always parents who seem to not support the team because they spend the entire game instructing the players from the sidelines. This confuses the players and really undermines the efforts of the coaches. Parents need to be reminded that they should avoid confusion when cheering on the sidelines. Including some examples of what parents should and should not say in a contract will encourage positive behavior. Hearing positive encouragement is always more motivating to me than being told to "shoot" or "pass it" when I am playing.

2009 Fall Rec Schedules Are Here!

The schedules are now posted on the Warwick Soccer website. Go to HERE or got to the Handouts section at www.warwicksoccer.org. Each age group's schedule is listed separately.

Please note that our Sponsors Day Tournament is scheduled for Saturday October 3rd therefore the game schedule for this day will most likely change.

Thank you for your patience and enjoy the soccer season!

Uniforms are in

Uniforms will be available for pickup on Saturday, September 5th at Belmont Park Field from 9 AM to 11 AM.

US Youth Soccer Month

It's YOUTH SOCCER MONTH!!!


Goals of Youth Soccer Month

• Raise awareness of Youth Soccer and the benefits of playing the game.
• Emphasize soccer as the number one youth participation sport in America and a leading contributor to the healthy lifestyle of millions of American families
• Bring kids and families of all ages and all abilities together for fun, friendship and fitness.
• Highlight the various programs available to children interested in participating in soccer, including inner-city, special needs, recreational and elite soccer programs.

IT'S WSA CHALLENGER WEEK!!!

Our WSA/Challenger Team and Coach training is back!

Coaches: Take the opportunity to have you and your team train with a qualified soccer trainer!

Parents: Whether your child's team attends or not, you can bring them on your own to the age-appropriate session!

Best of All....

IT'S FREE!!!

All Sessions Will Be at Belmont Park

Monday, August 31: 5-6 PM, U6 training/6-7:30 PM, U10 training

Tuesday, September 1: 5-6 PM, U8 training/6-7:30 PM, Coach Clinic

Wednesday, September 2: 5-6 PM, U10 training/6-7:30 PM, Goalie Clinic

Thursday, September 3: 5-6 PM, U6 training/6-7:30 PM, U12 training

Friday, September 4: 5-6 PM, U8 training/6-7:30 PM, U15 training

Saturday, September 5: 9-10:30 AM, Coach Clinic/11-12:30 PM, Goalie Clinic/1 PM, U12/U15

Coaches Meeting

There will be a coaches meeting THIS SUNDAY August 23rd, 6:30pm at the Warwick Police Station (community room).

The purpose of the meeting is to review general rules and changes for this season, take pictures for ID badges, distribute equipment to new coaches and discuss important events and dates this season.