Commentary
TCM Survey: Youth soccer players who don’t practice at home are more likely to quit
Results from The Coaching Manual's survey.
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All Commentary Articles
Dure: NSCAA Convention shows soccer still needs to work on sales pitch
From all outward appearances, the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore is the temporary hub of a thriving sport. But some of these meeting rooms are full of fretting about the state of the game. And they have stats and trends to back it up, writes Beau Dure.
Ugly hazing allegations from Philadelphia stint raise questions for U.S. U-17s coach John Hackworth
The recent re-hiring of John Hackworth as head coach of the Under-17 U.S. Boys National Team raised eyebrows across the U.S. youth soccer community, given his two previous stints in charge of that squad. Now a sensational array of allegations in a long-running legal feud between the Philadelphia Union and their former head coach Peter Nowak – who Hackworth served as an assistant from 2010-12 – has cropped up to cast even more shade on the federation's pick for that pivotal age group.
Guest Commentary: U.S. Soccer will have to get girls Development Academy perfect in order to improve on ECNL
The news of U.S. Soccer creating a girls Development Academy elicits a sentiment of “finally” on one hand, and a sentiment of “oh no” on the other, writes guest columnist Skye Eddy Bruce. A viable and successful league of that sort is already in place via the ECNL, so if they're bound and determined to disrupt that, U.S. Soccer must be thorough and thoughtful in their planning to ensure an equally competitive environment.
Dure: 2015 was a great year for arguing about soccer
As 2015 winds to a close, Beau Dure looks back and asks the big question: Have we ever seen a better year for U.S. soccer … arguments?
Dure: Abby Wambach and her ironically memorable “Forget Me” ad
Abby Wambach's “Forget Me” ad was more memorable than her last game. That’s more ironic than anything in the song "Ironic" -- and her command is also impossible, because she's a legend, and an outspoken one to boot, writes Beau Dure.
Dure: U.S. Soccer coaching curriculum leaves parent coaches in a jam
This weekend, Beau Dure could be going out to Loudoun County, Virginia to take the “evaluation weekend” for the U.S. Soccer D coaching license. The main factors in why he isn't show how much more progress U.S. youth soccer leaders need to make to get coaching education where we want it in this country -- accessible, widespread and informative.
Dure: Garber picks media battles wisely before 20th MLS Cup
In Thursday's State of the League call, MLS Commissioner Don Garber was grilled about financial transparency, minority hiring, why a stalled expansion effort in Miami should take precedence over an enthusiastic bid from Sacramento, and several other pressing league issues. So it’s not that Garber is ducking the tough questions. But he is side-stepping some of the more vocal elements of U.S. soccer fandom.
The universal language of ‘soccer’ may save the world one day
For those who don't follow soccer/football, I'm sure this might sound a little corny, but I really believe this sport can save the world. It is truly the one universal language with the most earthlings agreeing without argument on the rules of play in human history.
