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
Creating an early engagement model in North American youth soccer
This week John O'Sullivan continues the discussion how the North American youth soccer community can end the early specialization path, and create an early engagement path where kids don't have to play, but rather want to play. This shift can not only produce more elite players, but grow the game and its fan base for the future.
A “female-friendly” soccer ball: Friend or Foe?
A Danish youth soccer coach and lifelong soccer player has developed a lighter, smaller “female friendly” soccer ball called the Eir Soccer. Could this help prevent injuries in girls and young women? Or is it sexist? SoccerWire.com Featured Columnist Dr. Wendy LeBolt takes a look.
Poaching vs. Coaching: Can you tell the difference?
Longtime youth soccer coach Joe Dougherty explains the tell-tale signs between whether someone has a coaching or a poaching mentality toward youth soccer, and the harm that comes from being a poacher.
O’Sullivan: The early specialization dilemma in North American soccer
When it comes to growing world-class soccer players, early introduction is mandatory and early engagement is crucial, but early specialization can be disastrous. Confused? Let SoccerWire's John O'Sullivan explain.
LeBolt: What’s so wrong with early specialization?
After many conversations at the NSCAA Convention, Dr. Wendy LeBolt came away convinced that balance and perspective are the most important tools in determining when a young athlete should specialize in one sport, and when diversity is needed. Her take is a useful counterpoint to John O'Sullivan's latest column on specialization.
O’Sullivan: Why single-sport specialization needs to end now
Coaching expert John O'Sullivan debunks the theory of sports specialization for young children. In this blog post he explains that the medically, scientifically and psychologically recommended way to develop athleticism is ample free play and multiple sport participation as a child.
How the business of youth soccer changed the player-coach relationship
Longtime youth coach Joe Dougherty discusses how the business side of youth soccer has made the parent-coach and player-coach relationships less personal and more political.
Adult obsession with winning is killing youth sports in America
Sadly, millions of kids are playing sports in an environment not designed to make them better in the long term. They are caught up in an adult obsession to solely measure youth sports results in wins and losses, and it is killing youth sports in our country
