NASL Newsletter #49 - February 21, 2003

NASL NEWSLETTER

February 21st, 2003

"The solution to adult problems tomorrow depends on large measure upon how our children grow up today." Margaret Mead

This is the 49th issue distributed to the new NASL list. The previous newsletters are now on-line at http://www.nasl.com/current_news.htm

Articles in this week's newsletter:

Ron Evans is President of Alabama Soccer Association
nasl is now NASL.com
Upcoming Soccer Calendar - lots of new dates added.
Alabama High School Top Ten Power Rankings
US Women to play England May 17th in Birmingham
Need updated information on 2003 Soccer Camps
ASA 2003 Membership Survey
Coaching Articles, Tips and Drills
Directions to Fields - Updated for 2003 School Season
Alabama Players selected in MLS and WUSA Drafts
2003 CCFA’s “Kick A Goal” for Crohn’s & Colitis Soccer Exhibition
Murfreesboro Soccer Club's Spring Tournament March 22-23
Small Sided Games
Set of Soccer Goals for Sale - Cheap!

nasl is now NASL.com

The NASL website is no longer on-line at http://www.nasl-rcit.com
We now have a new "easier to remember" web address of www.nasl.com so please bookmark the new address. Thanks.

Soccer Calendar - Dates to Remember

More information on all events below is available at the NASL website.

Lakeshore Shootout High School Tournaments - Birmingham
February 21st & 22nd, 2003 (Girls)
Teams included are John Carroll, Indian Springs, Montgomery Academy, Huntsville, Randolph, Vestavia, Shades Valley, UMS-Wright, McGill-Toolen, Cullman, Oak Mountain, Hewitt-Trussville, Hoover, Fairhope, Decatur, Spain Park, Ft. Payne, Bayside Academy; Minor, Pleasant Grove, Trinity, Holy Spirit, Thompson, Central Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Grissom, Bob Jones, Gadsden, Pleasant Grove, Hillcrest, Sparkman, and Altamont.
Boys ODP - February 23rd - '90 Boys at 12noon to 5 pm at Birmingham Fields TBA
Boys ODP - February 23rd - '86 Boys at 12noon to 5pm at
Birmingham Fields TBA
NASOA Referee meeting will be held at First Christian Church on February 24th.
USSF "C" License - February 24th - March 3rd, 2003 in Birmingham - This course has been cancelled.
Statewide Division III and Division IV League play may begin - March 1, 2003

CCFA "Kick A Goal" Soccer Exhibition - March 2nd, 2003. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, partnered with News Channel 19, will hold their first-ever soccer exhibition fundraiser at Goldsmith-Shiffman Field in Huntsville, AL. more info here
North Alabama Middle School Tournament - March 4th, 6th and 8th, 2003 - Point Mallard Soccer Complex - Decatur, Alabama
HHS JV Super Cup - Huntsville High School will be holding a JV Tournament on March 14-15, 2003 at the John Hunt Soccer Complex. Boys teams from Alabama and Tennessee and Girls teams from Birmingham, Huntsville, Madison and Ft Payne have already signed up. You may contact Jim Saunders jim.saunders@gti-us.com 256-533-3466 for more info.
ASA State Spring League Begins - March 15th, 2003
Valley Futbol Club Skills Training Clinics - Contact Dave Ghoja at 464-3652 or dghoja@knology.net
ASA State Board Meeting - March 16th - The focus will be on small sided soccer and is open to the ASA Membership.
ODP Boys & Girls Training/Match - March 16th - Birmingham, time and field TBA
AHSAA North South All-Star Soccer Game deadline for nominations is March 28th. Please tell your high school coach. Use AHSAA Form #37.
Small Sided Games Presentation - US Youth Soccer's national Director of Coaching Education, Tom Goodman will be visiting Alabama. Tom will make a presentation on "Small Sided Games" on April 6th in Birmingham at the Ameri-Suites on Highway 280 at 1:30.
Huntsville Spring Classic Soccer Tournament (4th Annual) - April 12-13, 2003 - Huntsville, AL - U9 thru U14 Boys & Girls *U9 & U10 will play 8v8.
ODP Boys Border Event - April 12th-13th - TBA
ODP Girls Border Festival - April 26-27th - TBA
AHSAA High School Soccer Championships - May 9th and 10th, 2003 at John Hunt Complex in Huntsville.
Final date for Statewide Division III and Division IV League play - May 10, 2003
"Spring" Tide American Festival - May 17, 2003
ODP Boys and Girls Training/Match - May 17th - Birmingham, time and field TBA
USA Women's national Team vs. England - Birmingham's Legion Field - May 17, 2003
Alabama Soccer Association Annual General Membership Meeting - May 17, 2003
ASA State Spring League Ends - May 18, 2003
ODP Boys & Girls Mini Camp - June 5th-8th - TBA
Tryouts for the Fall 2003 Season can begin May 27th and may run through June 15th, 2003.
Region III Youth Regional Championships - Greensboro, N.C. - June 26th - July 1st, 2003
Alabama Sports Festival - Huntsville - June 26th - 29th, 2003 - Contact Darrell Harris (256) 773-0845 or Sheri & Randall Farley (205) 631-9165
Region III ODP Girls Camps - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
1984/85 girls - July 3-8 and holdovers - July 9-11
1987/88 girls - July 10-15 and holdovers - July 16-18
1989 girls - July 17-22 and holdovers, July 23-25
Region III ODP Boys Camps - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
1/988/89 boys - July 5-10
1987 boys and holdovers - July 12-17
1986 boys are going to a tournament, not camp in our region.
Division I Qualifying Tournament - Montgomery - August 9-10th, 2003 - All teams who want to play in Division I have to qualify - even 2002 State Champions.
ASA State League Fall Scheduling Meeting - August 16/17th, 2003
Fall League Begins - September 6th, 2003
Fall League Ends - October 26th, 2003
Governor's Cup - Montgomery - October 25-26, 2003
Snicker's Cup - Huntsville - November 1-2, 2003
D II Tournament - Location TBA - November 8-9, 2003
Adult State Cup - Mobile - November 15-16, 2003
NIRSA Sports Club National Championship - Nov 20-22, 2003 Tuscaloosa

Ron Evans is new President of Alabama Soccer Association

Ron Evans is the new president of the Alabama Soccer Association succeeding recently retired Dan Mikos. Ron has a long and storied history of involvement with youth soccer in the state of Alabama. He is a past president of the Huntsville Soccer Club. He is a consultant for the Huntsville Sports Commission where he has always pushed the city to move forward with new and better soccer facilities. He understands the economic effect of soccer tourism and is one of the driving forces behind the city of Huntsville hosting Snickers Cups, Division II Cups, ODP events, AHSAA high school state championships, Gulf South Conference Tournaments and many other soccer-related events.
Ron's most recent soccer goals have been in the area of expanding the opportunities for soccer in the rural areas outside the four major cities in the state. Oh yeah and if that's not enough Ron also has a full time job as director of the Von Braun Civic Center.

ALABAMA POWER RANKINGS
NEW! - Pre-season Top Ten High Schools for Spring 2003

       Here they are - the pre-season Top Ten rankings for the high school season. The first games are just a week away, but at this time every team is still undefeated and in first place. I guess you could also say that they're also actually tied for last place, but I'm an optimist. Differing opinions are welcome - email me at dsports@hiwaay.net with your rankings.
       These rankings are also published in Southern Soccer Scene - the premier magazine about soccer in the South. You can visit Southern Soccer Scene's Website at http://www.southernsoccerscene.com/
       If you would like to order Southern Soccer Scene Magazine send an e-mail request with your home address to Alabama@southernsoccerscene.com or subscribe at Southern Soccer Scene's Website at http://www.southernsoccerscene.com/

Boys 6A

John Carroll
Grissom

Oak Mountain

Shades Valley
McGill-Toolen
Hoover

Vestavia Hills

Enterprise

Daphne

Northview

Boys 5A

Athens

Cullman

Huntsville

Homewood

Briarwood Christian

Fairhope

Bradshaw

St. Paul's Episcopal

Lee Huntsville

Fort Payne

Boys 4A-1A

Randolph School
Altamont
Trinity Presbyterian
Jacksonville
Indian Springs

UMS-Wright

Holy Spirit

Mars Hill Bible

Montgomery Academy

Guntersville

Girls 6A

Oak Mountain
Bob Jones
Grissom
Central (Tuscaloosa)
Mountain Brook
Vestavia Hills
John Carroll
Hoover
Baldwin County
McGill-Toolen

Girls 5A

Briarwood Christian
Huntsville
Fairhope
Fort Payne
Bradshaw
Lee-Huntsville
Athens
Homewood
Gadsden
Pinson Valley

Girls 4A-1A

Trinity Presbyterian
Randolph
UMS-Wright
Montgomery Academy
Indian Springs
East Limestone
Guntersville
Mars Hill
Gulf Shores
Bayside Academy

U.S. women's soccer team to visit city
Defending World Cup champs will play England at Legion Field
From Alabama Live

02/21/03

SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
News staff writer

     International soccer comes to Birmingham again when the U.S. women's national team plays England in an exhibition game May 17 at Legion Field.
     It's the first time the women's squad that features Selma native Mia Hamm will play in Birmingham.
     The noon game, which will be televised nationally on ESPN, is the second confirmed domestic match that the U.S. women will play prior to the 2003 Women's World Cup, which kicks off Sept. 23 in Shanghai, China. The defending World Cup champion team also includes Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain and Briana Scurry.
     The game will be a homecoming for U.S. defender Catherine Reddick, a four-time all-state selection at Briarwood Christian High School and twice the Gatorade Player of the Year in Alabama.
     Additional details of the game will be unveiled at a press conference today.
     Birmingham "has almost become a regular stop," said Jim Moorhouse, director of communications for the United States Soccer Federation, the sport's governing body in this country.
     Birmingham hosted Olympic men's soccer matches in 1996 and two practice games called "friendlies" since then.
     "The Olympics were obviously a great hit in Birmingham," Moorhouse said. "When our men went back for those two (practice) games, they were very well received. The crowds were very patriotic, very much in support of our team, and the atmosphere was just what we're looking for in terms of trying to create excitement."
     Moorhouse would not disclose how much Birmingham bid to get the game, saying only that U.S. Soccer worked closely with the Alabama Sports Foundation.
     "We're just extremely excited to have the women's national team coming to Birmingham for the first time," ASF Executive Director Gene Hallman said. "We picked up our relationship with U.S. Soccer in 2000 and 2002 with the men's friendlies. Given that, we pushed hard this year to have the women's national team make an appearance before the World Cup."
     That success bodes well for Birmingham's image as a soccer town and as a host of sporting events, Hallman said.
     "We've had a stated objective since Olympic soccer to be one of U.S. Soccer's primary venues in the Southeast for national team matches," Hallman said. "The women's national team will not be playing anywhere (else) in the Southeast as we lead into the World Cup this fall. Consistently they're demonstrating that when they come to the deep South, they come to Birmingham."
     While several other cities were vying for the chance to host the U.S. women, Moorhouse said Birmingham didn't "beat out" the other contenders. He said several factors were considered, including weather, the travel distance for the opponent and the kickoff time for television.
      "There are so many things that factor into it and then just the factor of trying to get into as many parts of the country as possible," he said. "A venue we didn't use may be getting a game in May or June or October."
      Legion Field provides a good venue, he said.
      "It's tough to find good soccer venues," Moorhouse said. "People don't realize how much wider a soccer field is than a football field. It's sometimes tough to find stadiums that really can fit the field in the dimensions we need. Legion Field is great for that."
      Seating for the event will be on the east side of the field only, Hallman said.
      "We really don't need 85,000 seats for the match, so there's no need to open the entire stadium," he said.
      He said he expects the match to draw 25,000 to 30,000 fans. The game will face competition from City Stages, Birmingham's music festival. The second day of the three-day event is that Saturday.
      Tickets ranging from $16 to $50 go on sale starting this morning at 10 at all Ticketmaster outlets in the state, by phone at 800-277-1700, and online at www.ussoccer.com. Groups of 20 or more can order through the Alabama Sports Foundation at 967-4745.

More from US Soccer:

U.S. WOMEN TO PLAY FIRST-EVER GAME IN ALABAMA, WILL MEET ENGLAND IN BIRMINGHAM ON MAY 17

2003 Women's World Cup Preparation Continues for U.S. Women; Match at Legion Field Will Be Televised Live on ESPN at Noon CT

CHICAGO (Friday, February 21, 2003) - The U.S. Women's National Team will play its first-ever game in the state of Alabama when the USA faces England on Saturday, May 17, at Legion Field. The match, which will kickoff at Noon CT and will be televised live on ESPN, is the second game to be confirmed of the six domestic matches the U.S. Women will play between now and the 2003 Women's World Cup, which kicks off September 23 in Shanghai, China.

Continue: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=28242
Tickets: http://www.ussoccer.com/tickets/default.sps

Need updated information on 2003 Soccer Camps

I am in the process of updating the website information on soccer camps. If you are involved with a soccer camp please e-mail your updated information for 2003 to dsports@hiwaay.net.
http://www.nasl.com/camps.htm

ASA 2003 Membership Survey

Let the Alabama Soccer Association membership and leaders know how you think ASA performed in 2002. We have the Membership Survey on-line. Please fill it out and mail in.
A survey form is available at
http://wwwnasl.com/forms/ASA2003MembershipSurvey.pdf

Coaching Articles, Tips and Drills

I have added a large number of articles on every possible soccer coaching subject to the NASL website. Just last week I added 2500 new pages. If you were to read a page a minute it would take 40 hours of reading. These are zipped for quick downloading. The subjects added last week include: 1v2 Attackers, 1v2 Defenders, Attention Deficit Disorder, Anti-Select, Attacking, Both Defense and Offense, Coaching Licenses, Conditioning, Warm-ups, Dribbling, Flat Back Defense, Formations, General Soccer Information, Glossary, Soccer Humor, Indoor Soccer, Injuries, Nutrition, Keeper, Licensing, Motivation, Offside, Parents, Passing, Penalty Kicks, Quotes, Receiving, Refereeing, Resources, Scouting, Set Pieces, Team Defense, Tournaments, and Tryouts.
If you're interested in coaching, check back often as I have thousand of more soccer coaching articles that will be added in the next few months - many which were written by the very best coaches in the soccer world and who have given us permission to post them on the NASL website.
http://www.nasl.com/drills.htm

Directions to Fields - Updated for 2003 School Season

Tom Coatoam with NASOA has provided us with an updated list of directions to all the high school and middle school soccer fields in North Alabama. It is posted on-line at http://www.nasl.com/hs/hs_directions.htm
Our thanks go out to Tom and NASOA for their help.

Alabama Players selected in MLS and WUSA Drafts

      Two Alabama soccer players who both prepped at St. James High School were selected in the recent major league soccer drafts

      Auburn-Montgomery All-America striker Michael Ritch was selected with the 37th pick in the MLS SuperDraft conducted in Kansas City, MO. Ritch was selected by the Columbus Crew and was the only player from Alabama to be drafted. Ritch was also the only NAIA player to be drafted and was also drafted by the Syracuse franchise in the A-League Draft in December and by Cleveland in the Major Indoor Soccer League Draft. Ritch is from Tallassee, AL and played for the Capital City Streaks and St. James High School.
Columbus selects NAIA All-American Ritch - 1/17/2003

      Leslie Gaston - Selected 10th in WUSA Draft:
Leslie Gaston Leslie Gaston of Montgomery, AL via St. James HS and the University of North Carolina was taken in the second round (10th overall) by the Atlanta Beat.

2003 CCFA’s “Kick A Goal” for Crohn’s & Colitis Soccer Exhibition

http://www.nasl.com/articles/ccfa_soccer.htm

      On the afternoon of March 2, 2003, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) www.ccfa.org , partnered with NewsChannel 19 www.whnt.com, will hold their first-ever soccer exhibition fundraiser at Goldsmith-Shiffman Field in Huntsville, AL. This will prelude the “All-Sports” theme Bowl-a-Thon the following weekend, March 9th.

      These events are being held to help CCFA raise community awareness as well as the necessary money needed to provide educational support and programs, and to fund research to find the cause and cure of Crohn’s & Colitis. Also, the soccer exhibition should encourage continued support for North Alabama soccer through the media coverage it will receive.

     We are pleased that NASL www.nasl.com will support our event, and coaches from the Huntsville Soccer Club, the Kicks Futbol Club, the Madison Soccer Club Shockers, and the Valley FC, as well as referees from the NASOA will be participating with teams. We may also have a team of “local media” personalities to add to the fun!

     We hope friends, family members and players will be there to support their coaches and others in this fun but competitive afternoon. There will be a raffle and giveaways throughout the event, and we will also have a “moon bounce” (donated by Just 4 Fun) for the little ones so don’t hesitate bringing the whole family to enjoy the afternoon. Gate opens 1:15, kick off ceremony 1:30.

      Tickets will be available @ both Pete’s Soccer Shops, and at the gate. The cost of the ticket is 100% tax deductible. Family price: $20 Individual: (4 and under free) $7

      CCFA is a member of the Better Business Bureau's “Wise Giving Alliance”, and of the 52 organizations it monitors only 6 have received an “A” rating. CCFA is among those 6, and this is in part because 83 cents of every dollar raised actually goes towards research.

      For additional information about this event, and or if you would like to volunteer to help, contact Anneta Simmons @ asim0908@knology.net.

Directions to Goldsmith-Shiffman Field
     Take University Drive under Memorial Pkwy to where it turns into Pratt Ave. Take Pratt Ave. past I-565, and across the railroad tracks. Go one block past the Chevron Station and turn left. Stadium is right in front of you.

      Thanks for all your support and we look forward to seeing you on March 2nd.

Murfreesboro Soccer Club's Spring Tournament March 22-23

Coaches

My name is Ross Dewberry. I am the Tournament Director for the Murfreesboro Soccer Club's Spring Tournament on March 22-23 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I want to extend an invitation to our tournament. We have several out of state clubs attending and would like to add the your great area talent to our tournament. We have played in your area and have enjoyed the great soccer played in Northern Alabama. Please contact me for more info or go to the tournament website www.murfreesborosoccer.com. Thanks again for your time.

Ross Dewberry
Tournament Director
278-2642 wk or 898-0279 hm

Small Sided Games

This past year all 55 Youth Soccer State Directors of Coaching, and National Team Head Coaches, Bruce Arena and April Heinrichs endorsed a national effort to implement "Small Sided Games". In our region (Region III) of US Youth Soccer all the state presidents have agreed to support this effort.

During the first week in April, US Youth Soccer's national Director of Coaching Education, Tom Goodman will be visiting Alabama. Tom will make a presentation on "Small Sided Games" on April 6th in Birmingham at the Ameri-Suites on Highway 280 at 1:30. Below is a brief summary of Tom's philosophy on the value of implementing "Small Sided Games".

Why Small-Sided Games?
by Tom Goodman

     As the newly appointed US Youth Soccer Director of Coaching Education, veteran youth coach and father of three adult children, who used to be little soccer players, I have thought long and hard about the answer to the question, "Why Small-Sided Games?"

     Let me make sure that everyone understands the meaning of "Small-Sided Games". These are soccer games with fewer players competing on a smaller sized field. These are fun games that involve the players more because one ball is being shared by fewer players.

     All ages can play "Small Sided Games", but it has a definite developmental impact on our younger soccer players. My recommendations for "number of players" at the various age groups are as follows:

U6      3 against 3 no goal keepers
U8      4 against 4 no goal keepers
U10    6 against 6 with goal keepers
U12    8 against 8 with goal keepers
U13+ 11 against 11 with goal keepers

Here are some of the reasons why I believe we, as soccer coaches, administrators and parents must guarantee that our young soccer players play small-sided games:

Because we want our young soccer players to touch the soccer ball more often and become more skillful with it! (Individual technical development)

Because we want our young soccer players to make more, less-complicated decisions during the game! (Tactical development)

Because we want our young soccer players to be more physically efficient in the field space they are playing in! (Reduced field size)

Because we want our young soccer players to have more individual teaching time with the coach! Less players on the field and less players on the team will guarantee this! (Need to feel worthy…need to feel important)

Because we want our young soccer players to have more, involved playing time in the game! (More opportunity to solve problems that only the game presents)

Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunity to play on both sides of the ball! (More exposure to attacking and defending situations)

Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunities to score goals! (Pure excitement)

These are the reasons why we adults must foster "Small-Sided Games" in our youth soccer programs. The "Small-Sided" environment is a developmentally appropriate environment for our young soccer players. It’s a FUN environment that focuses on the young soccer player.

It just makes sense…doesn’t it?

Set of Soccer Goals for Sale - Cheap!

Jim Sharp from Lawrenceburg Tennessee has a very nice set of 8' x 24'
aluminum goals for sale for $400. Jim said that he keeps them inside and
he's only put them outside for tournaments about 10 times. He keeps them
stored for fear of someone stealing them. The city is now buying their goals and he wants to get his money out of them. He paid about $900 for them from Fold-a-Goal. These are 2" square aluminum goals. He said they are top notch - very nice. His phone number is 931-766-0522.

NASL NEWSLETTER:

You may sign up for the NASL e-mail list and also provide changes (including removing your name from the list) to your current e-mail address and phone numbers by using this form at http://www.nasl.com/Email.htm This is our means of keeping the local soccer community up-to-date on events and items of interest. If you have something to contribute please e-mail me at dsports@hiwaay.net
All of the above information and more is on-line at http://www.nasl.com