The newest service offering of Integrity Healthcare, APPT is run by Cory Carr. From the website:

Integrity Athletic Performance & Physical Therapy (IAPPT) offers athletes of every sport, age and skill level the opportunity to improve their speed, power, agility, quickness and overall conditioning. Our elite program provides the physical and mental training necessary to propel each athlete along their individual path to success.

Our mission is to craft a passion for athletic achievement that is enjoyable and attainable to all. At IAPPT we work with the mind and body to instill knowledge and confidence as well as the physical skills such as speed, strength and coordination that are essential parts of a healthy and successful athlete.

There are a number of programs that have already been rolled out. And for those of you who have not met Cory, here’s some background, again from the website:

Cory Carr, PT, CWT, has been involved with college, high school and youth athletics in southwest Missouri since he graduated from Missouri State in 1997. He is a former Division I athlete and National High School All-American. He has coached back-to-back State Championship teams for the Springfield Soccer Club and was named Missouri Coach of the Year for 2007. He holds degrees in Biomedical Science and Psychology, a Masters degree in Physical Therapy and is a Certified Weight Trainer.

I’m happy to have another sponsor to help me continue my efforts in promoting the development of soccer in the region. I’m also excited to see a new Athletic Training effort undertaken with specific experience and background in soccer. Now is the time to explore your off-season conditioning programs, especially for any kid interested chasing a college roster spot. Consider contacting Cory and his staff for information on their solutions.

Hopefully, the economic challenges the US is facing won’t affect you any more personally than this reminder - Manchester United confident AIG sponsorship deal will survive Wall Street uncertainty At least we know Zack the Chelsea fan will be unaffected.

On a more positive note, I didn’t get pictures or a game report on the KC Wizards win over David Beckham, Landon Donovan and the LA Galaxy last Saturday. Heck it was Monday before I even heard what the score was, which was a bit strange. I did see that Jack Jewsbury played in his 150th game for the KC Wizards that day, tying him for 10th all-time for the Wizards. It’s also great to see that Jack’s back in the middle. He expressed an interest in that position in my interview with him in the first Magazine, teaming with his best friend Davy Arnaud has to ensure great communication as well. Congrats Jack!

OK, now for the goalkeepers and coaches out there. Was chatting with a couple of high school coaches recently and goalkeeper training came up. Well, here’s one of two video examples I found recently that will probably offer some good ideas that are easily implemented for your team. Click on the video itself to be taken to a second example as well as others that YouTube will highlight for you.

And yes, that’s Chris “Tommy” Tombridge (Kickapoo/Springfield SC/Northwestern) doing plenty of hard work with Lance Parker (Chivas/MSU Bears) under the guidance of former MSU Coach Jesse Miech.

Have you been watching the US Men’s team qualifying games? Any thoughts on who deserves to play in South Africa in 2010? These guys have been!

JUST ANNOUNCED!

The Springfield Soccer Club’s Elite Skills Camp will feature Brian Bounds from Bounds Soccer Systems. Brian is a renowned soccer speed and agility coach who has worked with the Springfield Soccer Club in the past and we are pleased to have him back for this camp. He has trained soccer players using his specific soccer speed and agility sessions and this is a perfect way to gear up for the fall season - with one of the best.

This is truly a camp that will prepare ALL players for the fall club, middle school, high school and college seasons. Register Today as space is limited. Call 417-832-1552.

Spingfield Soccer Club
Elite Skills Camp
Ages 12-18
August 1st through 3rd

Springfield SC Summer Camps 2008

STATE CHAMPIONS. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT. COLLEGE PLAYERS.

417-832-1552 Office
417-863-6655 Fax
www.springfieldsportsclub.com
http://springfieldsoccerclub.blogspot.com

Kudos to Marco van Basten. But if you even begin to suggest that the Netherlands have anything to do with “Total Football,” you either don’t know what you’re talking about or you haven’t seen the Dutch play.

I’m old enough to have seen and enjoyed those games but it was still a great refresher as I prepare the chips and dip for this afternoon’s game. Hat tip to Glendale Soccer scribe Bob Jordan

At its May 31st state board meeting, the Missouri Youth Soccer Association approved a resolution to adopt US Youth Soccer’s guidelines for small sided play for Under-12 and younger teams.

The mandate is effective with the start of the fall, 2008 playing season. Teams, clubs and leagues were asked to submit a written notice to the MYSA State Office by Sunday, June 15th, indicating an intent to take advantage of a one year transition period. The one year transition period affords affected clubs, teams and leagues sufficient preparation time to get in compliance with the mandate.

The most affected teams will most likely be the U9, U10 and U11 age groups for the fall 2009 playing season.

Lake Country Soccer submitted notice that it will use the one year transition period so that LCS has ample time to educate its membership and make all necessary arrangements in terms of equipment and facilities in advance of the fall 2009 playing season.

There are a number of club coaching directors, and coaches in general who championed this change. “The primary objective is to enhance the playing experience of Missouri’s youth with smaller fields, fewer players and more touches on the ball. Ultimately, the growth and development of the game at the grassroots level will benefit the most with this change”, said Kelly R. Ross; Executive Director for Lake Country Soccer.

Kelly also serves on the MYSA State Board as the District Commissioner for the Southern District. The Southern district is geographically bound by I-44 on the north, the Oklahoma state line to the west, the Arkansas state line to the south and as far east as West Plains. There are only six MYSA affiliated clubs or leagues designated to the southern district; Lake Country Soccer, the Ozark Mountain Soccer League, the Rolla Knights Soccer Club, the Rolla Area Soccer League, Springfield Soccer Club and West Plains Soccer Association.

For more information on the small sided mandates, please visit the Missouri Youth Soccer Association web site or visit US Youth Soccer’s web site. Emails may be sent directly to Kelly@lakecountrysoccer.org.

My daughter had surgery on her knee (torn meniscus/lateral release) and needs PT in Springfield (she is an MSU student) Do you have a recommendation from the following, who deals well with athletes? Therapy Associates of the Ozarks, Back in Motion, Concentra, PT Clinic (on E. Walnut Lawn St.) and Typaldos are our options with XXX Insurance. Thanks for your help!

What do you think folks? Any recommendations?

Regional Diploma
The Regional Diploma is a 13-hour course designed for the coach working players 11 to 18 years of age. An emphasis is placed on learning to work with the developing player within both an individual and team concept.

The curriculum outlines how technical and tactical concepts can be applied in the development of players. The focus is placed on the basic methods of coaching, teaching proper technique, the theory and application of offensive and defensive tactics and understanding team management. There is no testing in the Regional Diploma. All candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.

Advanced Regional Diploma
The Advanced Regional Diploma is a 21-hour course designed as a supplement to the Regional Diploma, adding eight hours devoted to technical and tactical uses of small-sided games, the study of systems of play and a practice teaching component.

Participants are given an opportunity to conduct a training session on an assigned topic and are assessed by the course instructor. All candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.

Advanced Regional NSCAA Course registration

For more information, contact Ryan Swan
Assistant Men’s & Women’s Soccer Coach
Drury University
900 N. Benton Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
Tel: 417-873-7830

The Prevent injury, Enhance Performance, or PEP, program reduced non-contact ACL tears by up to 88% in a two-year study of 1,400 NCAA Division I female soccer players by Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation.

“It’s a proven training program,” said DeVinney, foundation vice president and chief program officer.

Each ACL injury can cost $17,000 in surgical repair and rehabilitation, not counting possible future complications, such as osteoarthritis or total knee arthroplasty, which are believed to occur more often in ACL-deficient or ACL-reconstructed knees. On top of that is the emotional and psychological cost.

As parents of talented soccer players themselves (Anne Prenger and Jamie Bond), Bond and Prenger took it upon themselves to research the program and ultimately make arrangements to license it and bring it to the Springfield Soccer community.

The PEP Program (Prevent injury and Enhance Performance) targets female soccer athletes ages 14 and older. The program includes a video presentation and discussion, followed by an on-field/gym training session.

I attended a session put on with the Glendale Lady Falcon’s earlier this week (click on the photo above to be taken to additional pictures). When queried by Trainer Chris Baker (former Drury Women’s coach), over 80% of the girls attending had first hand knowledge of a teammate who has torn a ligament. The Falcon’s 2007 season faced a huge hurdle last year when midfield general Megan Garrard (pictured far right above) went down with a torn ACL .

Perhaps it was with that knowledge that seniors Lorin Opfer and Maggie Schrier noted after the session that they were committed to continuing the steps learned in the session and incorporating them into their practice schedule as the Spring 2008 season approaches.

For an understanding of the impact it might have on a squad, I asked Coaches Lindsay Paulsell and Mike Gunnels of JB Marine Springfield their thoughts on the program. Their U16 girls team were the guinea pigs for the program, attending a session last year. Here is what they had to say:

First, I want to send out a special thanks to Dr. Bond and his staff for researching the PEP program and bringing it to the Ozarks. We have been pleased with the PEP program.

I will say that I was skeptical at first, especially after watching the video. But the program has paid off. We implemented it in August and did the program three times a week the first month and then twice a week(one at practice and one at home) for the rest of season. Though the girls think the program is silly at times, I have seen a remarkable improvement in knee stability.

U15/16 girls are at such a vulnerable age for knee injuries. Many of my players have seen teammates go down with significant knee injuries and it just breaks their hearts. Knock on wood, we have not had a single knee injury(with exception to growth soreness) this season and we have played in seven competitive tournaments so far. I would suggest the PEP program to all female players staring in MS and continuing through college.

The PEP program at CoxHealth is free to participating high school, college and club teams signing up as a group.

For more information, contact Jason Pyrah at 417/269-9023 or via e-mail Jason.Pyrah@coxhealth.com.

To help make the recommendations easy to remember, the U.S. Soccer Federation has developed the acronym G.O.A.L., which stands for:

• Get acclimated – bodies need time to gradually adapt to increased exposure to high temperatures and humidity (especially young athletes).
• On schedule drinking– Youth athletes should be encouraged to drink on a schedule before they become thirsty, and should drink before, during and after practice and games.
• Always bring a sports drink– replacing electrolytes and providing energy is crucial to keeping kids safe and performing at their best.
• Learn the signs – if someone becomes unusually fatigued, dizzy, and nauseous or has a headache during exercise in the heat, have them stop, rest and drink fluids.

Hat tip to On The Pitch

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries long have been the scourge of female athletes. But this season there has been an epidemic of ruptured ACLs among Pacific-10 Conference women’s basketball players, refocusing attention on the longstanding problem. While there are numerous theories about why women are more prone — including hormonal and anatomical reasons — frustratingly, there is still no consensus in the medical community.

The injury has become so common — even expected — in women’s sports such as basketball and soccer that it no longer sends ripples through locker rooms.

The top traditional powerhouses in Springfield, Kickapoo and Glendale, both have leading players out for the season due to ACL injuries (Whitney Hall & Megan Garrad respectively).

The job is a new position, instituted by the new owners of the Wizards. On Goal LLC is a local ownership group, committed to keeping the Wizards in Kansas City and establishing the team as a model within Major League Soccer. This is a small but telling step in that direction. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a member of the Springfield Soccer community that is being given the opportunity.

Here’s a short video interview I did with him so you can hear it directly. Using my Nokia 6682 mobile phone. Well done Brian!

Off-Season Soccer-Specific Training with Jack Jewsbury and Brian Bounds

WHAT:
This is a comprehensive soccer-specific training program designed to elevate the younger footballer’s game to the next level. Both girls and boys, ages 10 to 14, are encouraged to participate. This program will combine the technical and tactical expertise of Mr. Jewsbury along with the physical components of the game offered by Mr. Bounds. Sessions will be broken down into two segments. One group of footballers will train with Mr. Jewsbury while the other will train with Mr. Bounds. The groups will then switch after a predetermined time period allowing for a complete and enjoyable experience for the athlete at each session. Mr. Jewsbury’s portion of the training will primarily emphasize the technical and tactical aspect of the game such as ball skills, dribbling, defending, and finishing. Mr. Bounds’ portion will focus on the physical attributes of the game such as speed, agility, footwork, and flexibility. Many of Springfield’s top players have participated in this program and have seen great results. This type of training would be a tremendous adjunct for the soccer player and allow them to get a jumpstart on their competition.

WHEN:
The program will tentatively run from December 11th through December 23rd, 2006. There will be approximately 3 to 4 sessions per week each lasting 1 to 1½ hours in length. Dates and times are yet to be determined but sessions will take place at the Lake Country Soccer Dome on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and/or Sundays. A schedule will be provided prior to each participant prior to the start of the program. Sessions may take place outside weather permitting.

COST:
Program cost is $150. Payment is expected upon enrollment. Payment plans are negotiable if needed and family discounts are available.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Contact Brian Bounds at 417-496-1418 or email at bounds.brian@gmail.com for further information regarding this unique performance enhancement program and how the young footballer can benefit and take their game to the next level.

Jack Jewsbury is a member of the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer and graduate of Kickapoo High School and Saint Louis University. Brian Bounds is a physical therapist, certified athletic trainer, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and owner and operator of Bounds Soccer Systems. Both professionals pride themselves in offering the highest quality and most thorough approach to training the footballer resulting in a competitive level of excellence for each client.