Monthly Archives: January 2011

US Men’s Game Against Egypt Canceled

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Egyptian_Football_AssociationCHICAGO (Jan. 31, 2011) – The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced that the match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Egypt has been cancelled due to the current conditions in the country. The teams were scheduled to meet on Feb. 9 in Cairo. After exploring other options, the U.S. has determined it will not play a match on this fixture date.

“We were excited about the opportunity to play against Egypt, but due to the current situation all parties agreed it was best to cancel the match,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “We appreciate the efforts of the Egyptian Football Association and the U.S. State Department as we worked through this situation.”

The USA’s next international friendlies will be played in March, beginning with a match against two-time FIFA World Cup Champion Argentina on March 26 in East Rutherford, N.J. Kickoff at the New Meadowlands Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Univision. Three days later, the U.S. hosts Paraguay at LP Field in Nashville. That match will be televised live on an ESPN network and TeleFutura beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can follow both matches live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer.

Kelly Ross For President (of the MYSA)

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Kelly Ross, Lake Country Soccer

Kelly Ross, Lake Country Soccer

On March 5, 2011, the Missouri Youth Soccer Association will be holding its Annual General Meeting in Columbia, Missouri.

The Annual General Meeting is the one opportunity for all member clubs to assemble in one location, for one common purpose; the continued future of the Missouri Youth Soccer Association.

At the AGM, the business of the membership is conducted which includes, but not limited to: approval of the coming seasonal year’s budget, approval of the actions of the board of directors, annual awards, and officer elections. This year, elections for the office of president and secretary will be conducted. Depending on the outcome of the presidential election, there may be a special election for the office of vice-president.

I, Kelly Ross, current MYSA vice-president and Executive Director for Lake Country Soccer have declared my candidacy for the office of president of the Missouri Youth Soccer Association. Travis Ross (no relation), the previous president, resigned this position last July 2010. I have served in an “interim president” capacity since.

I would like to take this opportunity over the next few weeks, leading up to the AGM, to share my goals and objectives for MYSA if elected president. I have five specific areas I believe MYSA needs to channel its energy and focus including enhancing and improving programs, activities, events and membership services. Each week, I will expound on one of the five different areas that I believe requires our greatest attention.

The five areas of concern are:
1. Financial Accountability, fiscal responsibility and transparency
2. Personnel and Human Resources
3. Coaching Education
4. State Programs, activities and events
5. Non-Profit Board orientation & education

SGFSoccer.com, Steve “Ole” Olson has graciously allowed me the use of his web site to promote my campaign for the office of MYSA president. Please look for my thoughts coming soon.

Most importantly, we are strongly encouraging every MYSA member club and league to send an authorized delegate to the AGM on March 5th. For more information on the MYSA AGM, visit the MYSA web site at www.mysa.org. You can send me an email; pres@mysa.org or Kelly@lakecountrysoccer.org.

Girls Season Begins In 4 Weeks

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Natalie Smid celebrates Bekah Bade's game-winner

Natalie Smid celebrates Bekah Bade's game-winner

The final Club tournaments of the season wrapped up yesterday, with over 100 area girls from three Clubs (Springfield SC, Missouri Elite FC and Total Prodigy) competing in the Showcase of the South. Gorgeous weather and pretty good results in Little Rock for our girls, look for reports as they come in.

Now they focus on recovering and spending time in the weight room along with some road running. The first practice will be Monday February 28th and based upon the chatter I see on Facebook, the girls are looking forward to the upcoming season which can begin March 18th.

Coaches/Boosters – please download this Schedule_example and return it to me!

That’s especially true for the seniors on the defending State Champion Springfield Catholic squad. The Irish return a Senior Class that is most responsible for the regular run to State that has marked this program recently and is shooting for their 3rd straight trip to the Final 4. It includes:

Rachel Scott, GK – 2nd Team All-State
Carsen Baron, D – 1st Team All-State and co-Defensive Player of the Year, Missouri
Rebecca Mayus, D – 1st Team All-State and co-Defensive Player of the Year, Missouri
Natalie Smid, M/F – 1st Team All-State, co-Regional Offensive Player of the Year
Andrea Parker, M/F – Honorable Mention All-State,
Shelby Hatz, F – 1st Team All-State, co-Regional Offensive Player of the Year

Add in juniors Bekah Bade (who scored the game-winner in the title game) and Megan Goetzinger, 2nd Team All-State and 1st Team Regional players, along with seniors Emily Ortega, Jordan Banasik and Courtney Devlin and Head Coach Ben Timson will need to manage the program to peak in May while offering the underclass opportunities early in anticipation of next year. That includes a player that could very well be in the starting lineup on March 18th in freshman Nicole Ortega.

My coverage area for the coming season will include:
7 Class 1 teams, including defending State Champion Springfield Catholic.

6 Class 2 teams, with 5 teams in District 11 battling for their first ever District title now that Bolivar has moved North to District 12. The Liberators will be in a three-way race with Harrisonville and Warrensburg for the opportunity to advance from District 12

16 Class 3 teams, including Sectional champions Nixa. Willard looks to be well-positioned to earn their 2nd straight District title in District 12 as does Rolla in District 10. Nixa will work hard to defend their title with Glendale and Kickapoo the most likely challengers. Ozark will face a challenge with the loss of their senior class from 2010.

Class 3 District 10
Camdenton High School
Lebanon High School
Rolla High School – 2010 District Champs
Waynesville High School
West Plains High School

Class 3 District 11
Branson High School
Glendale High School – 2008 Quarterfinals, 2009 Final 4
Kickapoo High School
Nixa High School – 2010 District Champs
Ozark High School – 2008 District Champs (losing to Glendale in Sectionals when there were 2 classes)

Class 3 District 12
Carthage High School
Central (Springfield) High School
Joplin High School – 2009 District Champs
Neosho High School
Parkview High School
Willard High School – 2010 District Champs

Class 2 District 11
Carl Junction High School
Hillcrest High School
Logan-Rogersville High School
Marshfield High School
Republic High School

Class 2 District 12
Bolivar High School – 2009 District Champs
Clinton High School
Harrisonville High School – 2010 Quarterfinals
Pleasant Hill High School
Warrensburg High School

Class 1 District 11
Dixon High School
Laquey High School
Liberty (Mountain View) High School
St. James High School – 2008 District Champs

Class 1 District 12
Greenwood High School
McAuley Catholic High School
Springfield Catholic High School – 2008 Quarterfinals, 2009 Final 4, 2010 State Champions

Missouri Youth Soccer Association General Meeting Is March 5th

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MYSA_AGM_2011 logoThe 2011 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at the Courtyard Marriott hotel in Columbia, MO on March 5, 2011. Brunch will be served in the Grand Ballroom from 9:00am – 10:00am. The AGM will officially begin thereafter at 10:00am.

The 2011 Agenda will include the presentation of Awards, Elections and New Business.

The following positions will be up for election at the 2011 AGM. If you are interested in running for one of the office listed below, please contact the MYSA Executive Director: jake@mysa.org
* President
* Vice-President (pending result of the President election)
* Secretary

Alternate District Commissioners will be will be elected for all four Districts prior to the AGM. The elections will be done at each District’s meeting. If you are interested in running, please contact your district commissioner. V.A. Samaranayake of Rolla is the Southern District Commissioner.

Alternate District Commissioner Job Description

If there are any further questions regarding any position’s job description, time committment, etc., please contact the MYSA Executive Director, Jake Griesenauer: jake@mysa.org

Matthew La Tissier, Southhampton

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matthew le tissierFrom the Guardian – The Joy of Six: Training-ground set-piece goals From Ernie Hunt’s classic to a magic Matt Le Tissier moment, here are half a dozen goals created on the training ground

Watching La Tissier was a great treat during the 90′s, and that’s the same timeframe Cantano
It’s often said that Matthew Le Tissier didn’t make the most of his sublime talent, though only by the clumpish and irritating. The man scored pretty much every memorable goal of the 1990s, for goodness sake, barely having to break into a brisk walk, never mind a run, for a single one.

From his long-range thrike against Blackburn Rovers to his juggling act at the Dell versus Newcastle United, nearly all Le Tissier’s strikes were instinctive, of course. Which is one of the reasons why this effort stood out from the crowd: a simple ball rolled back by Jim Magilton, allowing Le Tissier time and room to flick it into the air and brush a dipping volley into the net.

Insouciance in art form, it was Le Tissier’s career in microcosm; in fact it could only have been more definitive had he been holding a parcel of fish and chips under one arm while using the back of his free hand to stifle a yawn. A simple trick, granted, but then there’s nothing like watching the experts executing the basics just so. Football’s version of Delia boiling an egg.

If you made it this far and your a Manchester United fan, you’re about to be rewarded. Go back to the original link above and check out the final two videos and some old time views of one of my favorite players – Gordon Strachan – and Alex Ferguson as Strachan’s manager first at Aberdeen and then in his first month at ManU.

Sporting Kansas City Opens Preseason

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Jack Jewsbury by Sporting KC

Jack Jewsbury by Sporting KC

A few days delayed but here’s some of the news that’s come out the Sporting KC preseason camp that began Monday. Sporting’s players will spend this week undergoing various fitness tests, taking physicals and partaking in light training at the Kansas City Chiefs’ indoor training facility before moving on to Arizona, where SKC will spend the majority of their time prior to opening their season at Chivas USA.

The Daily Wiz offers up an excellent article on Jack Jewsbury (Kickapoo 1999), who enters his 9th season with Sporting KC and is battling to regain a starting role at the same time he and his best friend Davy Arnaud must play the role of leaders for a team that averages only 1.7 years in KC.

But, with Jack, it’s not all about him and his playing time. With the recent departures of long-time stalwarts Jimmy Conrad and Josh Wolff during the offseason, Jewsbury and captain Davy Arnaud are now by far the longest tenured players on coach Vermes’ roster. As Jewsbury prepares to enter his ninth season in the league and Arnaud his tenth, they both realize it is now time for them to step up and be the main leaders of the team – both vocally and in their actions.

If you’re looking for a Spring soccer get away, Sporting Kansas City will play the final two games of its Arizona pre-season preparation in back-to-back days in Tucson on Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th. The games — against the Arizona Sahuaros and the New York Red Bulls — are part of a four-team tournament to be hosted at Hi Corbett Field. It’s a 4 team ‘tournament’ being called the MLS Desert Cup and you can find ticket information and other details here.

Follow Sporting KC at their website, catch the latest reports from the KC Star’s The Full 90 column or the many blogs covering the team such as SB Nation and Down the Byline.

Become A Referee – Great Part Time Youth Job!

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Springfield Referees

Springfield Referees

The Southern District of the Missouri Referee Development Program (MRDP), in conjunction with Lake Country Soccer, is offering a USSF Grade 8 Referee training clinic. The completion of this course qualifies you to work as a referee at Lake Country Soccer. This is a great part-time job for kids, paying well above the minimum wage and offering flexible scheduling. A great opportunity for a father and son (mother and daughter or any combination of the four) to spend a weekend learning the game and giving back to the game.

USSF Grade 8 Referee
The USSF Grade 8 Referee may officiate games as a Referee or Assistant Referee in all youth games, as well Assistant Referee in higher comparable games. The Grade 8 clinic consists of a total of sixteen (16) hours of instruction. Upon successful completion of the course, that includes a passing 75%+ score on the written test after the course, candidates may register as Grade 8 Referees with the United States Soccer Federation for the current USSF Fee.

Time: Friday 2-25 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Saturday 2-26 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
(lunch 12-1 on their own)
Sunday 2-27 1 pm – 6 pm
(testing starts at 4 pm)

Location: Springfield Fire Dept Community Room
2455 S. Blackman Road 65809

Contact: Advanced registration is required at http://www.lakecountrysoccer.org/Referees/refereecms.htm

Notes: Prepayment to MRDP of $65 per participant is required per the instructions on the registration site (link above). Follow instructions on the site. Maximum of 40 persons will be accepted, first registered first accepted.

The Missouri Referee Development Program (MRDP) offers both USSF Grade 8 Referee and Grade 9 Recreational Referee clinics through the four MRDP Districts, which mirror the Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) districts. Normally these scheduled clinics are posted on the Clinics link of MRDP (clinics.mrdp.org). Any interested person may attend any posted clinic anywhere within Missouri to meet the requirement. After clinic completion, and in order to be assigned any youth games, a background check is also required.

Supa Strikas

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I imagine there are more than a few of you who have no idea who the guy who runs this website is. That’s the nature of a sport that sees regular turnover in players (and thus fans of this site) on an annual basis as kids grow up and move on. For the truly curious, I’d suggest you click on a few of the links above which offer plenty of background. The short story (not easy for me if you’ve met me) is I moved here in 2002 in order to be closer to one of my sisters and her kids. The two boys both played for Glendale, my niece played for Pershing. I coached her one year, in 2005. Two of the sixth graders on that team are seniors this year for the Falcons – Jacinda Lemons and Erica Torgerson.

My other sister has a boy who plays CYC soccer in South County, St Louis (U10). I bring this up because it’s late, I’m feeling loquacious, and its background on why this story caught my eye.

I love reading and think it’s one of the best things anyone can do for R&R and learning. My nephew is turning 10 in March so I’m challenged to find appropriate material for him. Fortunately, Springfield has a wonderful resource for parents of elementary and middle school kids. There is a local teacher and blogger who is a comic book fan. He’s discovered, and applies on a daily basis in his classroom, the benefits of reading by using comics to pull the kids in. He recently posted about this comic book series and it’s on my birthday shopping list for Eric and I thought a few of you might appreciate it as well.

The Graphic Classroom is written by Chris Wilson – Supa Strikers

SUPA STRIKAS is a South African soccer comic and animated series that is gaining popularity, so much so that CNN covered the comic. Now it’s time for me to try to get my hands on it. I know some kids that would come unglued at the opportunity to read an ongoing soccer comic. Several issues are available free online.

CNN – Football comic book scoring big around the world

Cape Town, South Africa (CNN) — He is one of Africa’s brightest footballing talents, with a reputation that’s spreading around the world. His name is Shakes — a brash young striker known for his “lethal combination of skill and determination” and his signature move — the bicycle kick.

But he’s unlikely to be signed by Real Madrid or Chelsea any time soon, because Shakes is strictly 2D — the star of the hugely popular South African comic series Supa Strikas.

In the course of 10 years and 100 issues it has grown from a weekly insert in a South African newspaper to a comic book and animated TV series.

There’s video on the CNN site as well :)

Terry Michler Named Coach of the Year by NFHS Coaches Association

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Terry Michler, by Don Adams Jr

Terry Michler, by Don Adams Jr

The National Federation of State High School Coaches Association has named CBC’s Terry Michler as its 2010 Coach of the Year in boys soccer.

The winningest soccer coach in the nation, Michler, a CBC grad, has a career record of 826-206-98. He has guided the Cadets to seven state championships and to six runner-up finishes.

The NFHS Coaches Association honor is based on “career coaching record, community service, involvement in other school activities, involvement in your profession at the local, state and national levels and your basic philosophy of athletics.”

National Coaches of the Year Selected by NFHS Coaches Association

Jeff Freeman Joins Illinois Women’s Program

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Jeff Freeman

Jeff Freeman

From the University of Illinois women’s soccer program – Illini Name Jeff Freeman As Assistant Coach

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and head women’s soccer coach Janet Rayfield announced the hiring of Jeff Freeman as an assistant coach on Wednesday, effective immediately.

“I am excited to add Jeff to our staff,” Rayfield said. “We share a common vision about where this program is and where it can be and he is ready to lend his experience and his expertise to help us get there. His positive energy will be felt immediately and his impact on the program will be long lasting.”

Freeman brings a wealth of soccer experience to Champaign, Ill., after serving as a member of the University of Miami (FL) women’s soccer staff for the previous seven seasons, including three as the associate head coach. While with the Hurricanes, Freeman played a prominent role in Miami earning conference and national recognition with top-25 rankings and back-to-back appearances in the 2007-08 NCAA Tournaments as he assisted in all aspects of recruiting and team administration. As the recruiting coordinator, Freeman was responsible for the Hurricanes’ 2007 top-25 recruiting class, which included ACC Freshman of the Year Brittney Steinbruch, and fellow U20 National Team member Brittney Macdonald.

“The tradition of success with Illinois soccer speaks for itself,” Freeman said. “Everything is in place for this program to be great; it is an ideal fit for my professional goals and me. Illinois expects nothing less than success both on and off the field for our program and our student-athletes.

“I am definitely thankful for the opportunity to be here, and want to thank Janet Rayfield, [assistant coach] Leisha Alcia and the Illinois administration for believing in me.”

Prior to earning the associate head coaching position, Freeman developed Miami’s goalkeeping squads with amazing results. Freeman was responsible for molding four-year starter Lauren McAdam into one of the most lauded goalies in program history, having earned recognition from Soccer America, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Soccer Buzz and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), before training All-American Vikki Alonzo as McAdam’s replacement.

Freeman joined the Hurricanes’ staff after serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Missouri State, for four years. The Bears’ goalkeeping units earned Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Defensive Player of the Year and conference tournament MVP honors in addition to weekly MVC defensive accolades under Freeman’s tutelage, while Missouri State won the MVC crown and earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance with Freeman’s guidance.

As a student-athlete at Missouri State, Freeman earned academic all-conference recognition as a goalkeeper with the Bears and was a member of the 1997 squad that made the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning a top-10 national ranking and the MVC regular season title.

Freeman, who earned a bachelor’s and master’s in education from Missouri State, is accredited as a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) `A’ Licensed Coach and holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.