NASL  NEWSLETTER

April 7th, 2004
"The rules of soccer are simple. If it moves kick it. If it doesn't move kick it until it does." Peter Woosnam
 

1. Upcoming Soccer Calendar - new dates added.
2. Bill Dworsky is named Gatorade Alabama Boys Player of the Year
3. Upcoming Coaching Courses to be held in Huntsville
4. US v Brazil women at Legion Field - April 24th
5. Ex-youth coach denies death threat to football referee
6. China Bans Ponytails for Youth Soccer
7. Soccer: FIFA boots golden goal into history
8. Sites Chosen for WUSA Soccer Festivals
9. Huntsville Soccer Club and Samba FC to Merge
10. NASL Game Schedules
11. Forbes Magazine choses NASL.com as one of world's best soccer websites!
12. Huntsville Spring Classic Tournament
13. "Kick A Goal" for CCFA 2004
14. NASL Club Pass System
15. MLS LA Galaxy vs Mexican Club in Nashville - April 20, 2004
16. NSCAA, NCSS Offer Online Sports Safety Course
17. Fastest Goal Ever!
18. Alabama Soccer Coaches Poll - Top Ten High School Soccer Rankings
19. Southern Soccer Scene
20. Free Help for Coaches at NASL
21. How to Remove Your Name From this E-mail List.

 

Randolph's sophomore, Bill Dworsky, has been selected as the 2003 Gatorade Alabama High School Boys Soccer Player of the Year! The Gatorade Award Presentation will be Monday, March 1, 2004 at 10:30 am at Randolph School in Cafeteria. The Gatorade High School Player of the Year program honors top high school student-athletes in 10 varsity sports for their athletic performance, as well as for their achievement in the classroom and overall character. Thus the award is considered by many as the top honor in high school sports.
Selections were made by a National Advisory Board comprised of sports writers and sport-specific experts from across the country. As Alabama's honoree for 2003, Bill is now a member of the prestigious Gatorade Circle of Champions, joining the ranks of past Gatorade State Players of the Year like Derek Jeter, Vince Carter, Shaquille O'Neal, Chamique Holdsclaw, Ken Griffey Jr., Tamika Catchings and Lavar Arrington. In addition, he is now eligible for the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award to be announced in the coming weeks.
Bill has been a member of the Alabama State Olympic Development Program since 1999. He has been included in the Region III player pool since 2001. In December 2003 he was selected to play for the Region III team at the Disney Showcase in Florida. His team played in the Super Group that included the USA U-17 National Team, Finland U17 National Team, Ajax of Cape Town, South Africa, and a youth team from Germany. Bill scored 5 goals in 4 matches, including 2 against the USA U17 National team.
 

       There are USSF coaching courses scheduled to be taught in Huntsville in about two weeks. The "D" and "E" level coaching courses will only be held the required minimum number of coaches sign up.  The courses are provided by the Alabama Youth Soccer Association, 19220 Highway 280 W, Birmingham, AL 35242.
       Time is running out so if you are interested contact Martha Disko at martha@alabamayouthsoccer.org or Scott Spencer, DOC at scott@alabamayouthsoccer.org  or call Scott at 205-991-6694.
 
USSF "E" Coaching Course - Huntsville - April 16th - 18th, 2004

USSF "D" Coaching Course - Huntsville - April 16-18th and April 23-25th, 2004
 
http://www.alabamayouthsoccer.org/body.cfm?id=107

        For an overview of what is included in the USSF E and D courses go to http://www.nasl.com/articles/ussf_d_clinic_outline_part1.htm

Other Upcoming Alabama State Coaching Courses:

Spring 2004 Schedule

• USSF "D" Course - Mobile (Fairhope) - April 30 - May 1 and May 7-9

NSCAA Coaching Clinics

NSCAA State Diploma Course

       I am hosting an NSCAA 'State' Diploma course (USSF 'E' Equivalent) in Bay Minette on July 10, 2004. Wulf Koch from Springhill College will be the instructor. If you or anyone you know is interested in taking this course, let me know via email smorisani@bcbe.org or phone (251-709 - 7944). I will need a minimum of 15 people, and the cost is $30 per person. These courses are worthwhile and I recommend them. Some of you on this list are past this level, but maybe you could pass this on to them for me as I don't have too many people's contact info. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Check out WWW.NSCAA.com for info about the NSCAA.

Here are the specifics of the Bay Minette State Diploma Course:
NSCAA State Diploma Course (USSF E Equiv)
Date: July 10
Cost:$30 (covers course materials each candidate will receive)
Location: Bay Minette Soccer Complex(email/call) for directions)
Contact: Steve Morisani, Jr.: 251-709-7944
Time: Session I: 9:00 - 11: 30/Session II: 1:00 - 3:30(will be indoors for
part of course)
Bring notepad, pen, cleats, sunscreen(?). Dress appropriately.

Steve Morisani
BCHS GV/ESUFC

     The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team will play its first domestic match of 2004 against Brazil on Saturday, April 24, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game kicks off at 12 Noon CT. U.S. fans will get their first look at the core of players who will participate in the 2004 Olympics, should the USA qualify in Costa Rica later this month.
      Advance tickets ranging in price levels from $18 $27 & $50 are on sale NOW thru the Alabama Soccer Association (205) 991-9779. You can purchase tickets by phone and use your credit card or download an order form from www.alabamayouthsoccer.org and mail with check to the Alabama Soccer Association, 19220 Highway 280 W, Birmingham, AL 35242.
     The match at the historic stadium will be the second trip in as many years to Birmingham, home of U.S. defender Cat Reddick. The USA trounced England, 6-0, at a steamy, hot Legion Field in May of 2003 as Memphis, Tennessee, product Cindy Parlow scored four times. Reddick played 90 minutes in that match in her first appearance for the national team in the city where she was a high-school All-American at Briarwood Christian School and two-time Alabama Girl’s Soccer Player of the Year.
     Now, Reddick will play in Birmingham after starring in the 2003 Women’s World Cup and winning the MAC Hermann Award for 2003, the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy for college soccer, as a senior last fall at University of North Carolina, where she returned after the Women’s World Cup to lead the Tar Heels to a 27-0-0 record and the NCAA title.
      “Anytime I get to play in Alabama, it’s super special,” said Reddick, who is the only player raised in Alabama to earn a cap for the U.S. Women’s National Team. “Last time we played in Birmingham, my teammates felt the warmth of not only the weather, but also of the great fans, and I know that with the Olympics coming up, the Birmingham community will come out in full force to support the USA.”
     “Brazil always offers an opportunity to play one of the top four or five teams in the world,” said U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach April Heinrichs. “Both teams go after an attacking type of game and that should make for an exciting game. The fans in Alabama were very supportive the last time we played there and although the game is early on our schedule of friendly matches, it could be one the best of 2004.”
     Brazil has participated in all four Women’s World Cup, as well as the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, and had advanced to the semifinals of three consecutive world championships, falling to the USA in the 1999 Women’s World Cup and the 2000 Olympics, before being knocked out in the quarters at the 2003 Women’s World Cup.
     The match at Legion Field will also be a homecoming of sorts for Hamm, who delighted the Alabama fans last year by scoring the first goal of the game against England. Hamm was born in Selma, Alabama, where her father was stationed in the Air Force, before moving on to various stops in her youth career that led to her being the youngest player ever to appear for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the age of 15. She has scored a world record 144 career international goals since debuting for the USA in 1987.
    Legion Field, one of the most famous college football stadiums of the South, actually has a short, but sterling soccer tradition, having hosted soccer games at the 1996 Olympics as well as two U.S. Men’s National Team games that drew over 21,000 fans to each match. The Alabama Sports Foundation, who once again will serve as local organizer for U.S. Soccer, has been responsible for actively pursuing these events and bringing them to Birmingham.
    “I went to a bunch of games at the 1996 Olympics and the atmosphere awesome,” said Reddick. “At that time I dreamed of playing on that field so to get the chance to play my second game at such a famous stadium really is a dream come true. It’ll be so much fun playing in front of my family and friends and I know my teammates are looking forward to some more BBQ and sweat tea.”
    The match in Birmingham will be the first of six likely domestic matches for the U.S. Women’s National Team over April, May, June and July before the 2004 Olympics in Greece, which begin in early August.
 

---

Once again, Birmingham will serve as a jumping off point on the way to the Summer Olympics.

The U. S. women's Olympic soccer team will play April 24 at Legion Field in an exhibition against Brazil, Alabama Sports Foundation Executive Director Gene Hallman said Thursday.

The U. S. roster includes Selma-born Mia Hamm and Cat Reddick, a Briarwood Christian alumna. Other U. S. athletes scheduled for Birmingham include goalie Briana Scurry, defenders Joy Fawcett and Heather Mitts, midfielder Julie Foudy and forward Cindy Parlow.

ESPN2 will televise the game live at 2 p. m.

"This will be their final pre-Olympic match in the United States leading up to the Athens games," said Hallman, whose foundation will host its second Olympic-related event this year.

The U. S. Olympic men's marathon trial was held in downtown Birmingham one week ago. That event produced three qualifiers for the 2004 Summer Games.

The U. S. women's soccer team will try to reclaim Olympic gold in Athens while trying to shrug off a disappointing third-place finish last fall in the World Cup.

Coach April Heinrichs' squad, which was selected earlier this week, will be familiar to the Birmingham market. U. S. national teams composed of many of the same players have played at Legion Field each of the past two years after Birmingham played a role in hosting the soccer competition during the 1996 Olympics.

The Saturday date, which was made final on Thursday, was one of two the Alabama Sports Foundation could choose from but the only one for which the Brazilian national team was available. The other date conflicted with Mother's Day.

"Brazil and soccer are synonymous," Hallman said. "To have Brazil here is spectacular. We had the Brazilian women here in '96 and the support was tremendous.

"We expect this friendly (exhibition) to draw a strong regional crowd, and local support, which has always been great, should be exceptional because of Cat Reddick's return to Birmingham and what could potentially be Mia Hamm's farewell event. This is likely the last opportunity to see her in Birmingham."

Hamm has said she will retire from competitive soccer after the Olympics.

The U. S. women's team plays three Olympic qualifying matches between Feb. 25 and Feb. 29. It is a heavy favorite to advance, unlike the U. S. men's team, which has already failed to qualify for the Olympics.

The U. S. women defeated Brazil 1-0 in the 2000 Olympic semifinals on Hamm's goal in the 60th minute in front of a disappointing crowd of just
11,000 in Australia. In the gold-medal game, Norway stunned the Americans 3-2, handing the United States its first Olympic loss.

The Athens Olympics begin Aug. 13.

Tickets for the event go on sale today and are available at TicketMaster at
715-6000 in Birmingham or 800-277-1700 toll free. Prices range from $50 for midline seats to $27 for sideline and $18 for endline. Day-of-game tickets will cost an additional $5 and will be available at the Legion Field box office.

http://www.brunoeventteam.com/news/pr02162004_soccer.htm

02/26/04
CHANDA TEMPLE
Birmingham News staff writer

A Mount Olive man accused of threatening to kill a referee during a 2002 youth football game is believed to be one of the first to be tried under a state law that makes it a crime to harass a sports official.

William Allen Martin's trial started Wednesday on the misdemeanor charge, which became law in March 2002.

The 41-year-old's case stems from an Oct. 12, 2002, community football game at an Adamsville park where officials claim Martin, then an assistant coach, loudly threatened to kill referee Dustin Whitehead, 26, after Whitehead made a penalty call of unsportsmanlike behavior against Martin. The game, which was between Gardendale and Adamsville, was played by 8- and 9-year-olds.

Martin denied he threatened to kill anyone, saying he only got upset at a previous call because the referees wouldn't tell him or other Gardendale coaches why the call was made. Whitehead maintains he did inform the coaches.

Jury deliberations are to continue today before Jefferson County District Court Judge David Lichtenstein. If convicted, Martin could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Wednesday's testimony came from Whitehead, three other referees, two Gardendale coaches and a parent. The defense and victim sides gave contrasting stories.

The defense claims that Martin never said he'd kill anyone, while the victim's witnesses said he did. Both sides disagree on whether Martin, after he was told he could be ejected, said he'd "whip" or "kick" the referees' "tail," "ass" or "butt."

The referees said Whitehead was fearful, with one saying he recalled that Whitehead was shaking after the incident.

The two Gardendale coaches, however, said Martin never attempted to take a swing or brandished a weapon; and stressed Whitehead never fled for his life as if he feared Martin. One coach testified Martin spoke more with emotion than with anger.

Referees leave field:

At some point Martin was told to leave the field. He complied and police were called. Concerned that a death threat was made, one of the referees decided to end the game and the referees left the field. Parents decided to officiate and Adamsville won.

After court, Martin, said the whole case is silly and that the law has been taken to the extreme. "They needed a scapegoat and I was it," said Martin, who no longer coaches because of his experience in this case. He said the law is good because there are people who will hurt referees and coaches. "I'm not one of them," he said.

The 2002 law applies to all levels of athletics. Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, introduced the bill after having to intervene between angry parents and an umpire at a youth baseball game years ago. The law makes it a crime to assault, menace or harass sports officials such as coaches or referees.

Greg Brewer, who coordinates game officials for the Alabama High School Athletic Association, said in a separate interview Wednesday that just a handful of incidences have happened within the organization's jurisdiction. None have gone to trial.

Adamsville prosecutor Milton Barker said Martin intentionally directed abusive and obscene language toward Whitehead and did this with the intent to harass.

"We decided to pursue (the case) because there was a complaint issued making these allegations and it's my duty to prosecute complaints that contain allegations that on its face give rise to a violation," he said.

Martin defense attorney Scott Starkey said what his client did that day was dumb but being dumb is not against the law.

"He said some things he wished he could have taken back," Starkey said after court. "However it is in my opinion it does not rise to the level of breaking any municipal code." News staff writer Jill Martin contributed to this story.

By Associated Press
February 26, 2004, 10:38 AM EST

     BEIJING - They might idolize David Beckham's technique, but Chinese officials ordered its national boys' soccer team not to copy his ponytail or other "weird hairstyles."
     Rules issued this week by the China Football Association also bar players for the under-17 team from adopting the shaved head of Beckham's Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos.
     "Dyed hair, long hair and weird hairstyles are all strictly prohibited in the training camp and all players must cut hair short," said the order, reported by the official Xinhua News Agency.
     Beckham is a pop-culture idol in China, featured on billboards and television commercials. He and his Real Madrid teammates were mobbed by adoring fans when they visited Beijing in August to play an all-star Chinese team.
     China's youth team started spring training this week in the southern city of Nanning.
     "You must learn how to behave as a true man before becoming a soccer star," Xinhua quoted Feng Jianming, director of the CFA youth department, as telling the players.

http://www.iht.com/articles/131902.html
Associated Press Monday, March 1, 2004

LONDON
Soccer's rule-making body has scrapped the golden goal method of
finishing matches even though the ruling comes too late for this summer's
European Championship.

Golden goals were introduced for Euro '96 by soccer's European governing
body, UEFA, as a means of avoiding unpopular penalty shootouts. They came into effect during extra time of international games . Under the rule, the team that scored first won the match.

The International Football Association Board, meeting in London, decided on Saturday to stick with the penalty shootout system, which is used at the World Cup and most club championships.

"The important thing was to have clarity and to have a single method of
determining the winner of a match," said David Taylor, the chief executive
of the Scottish Football Association. "We had to revert to a simple system
that was well understood by players and coaches and the general public."

Taylor said FIFA had conducted a survey of national associations and also
took into account the views of referees and coaches. It was clear, he said, that the favored method was extra time followed by penalty kicks. The move will not affect Euro 2004 in Portugal from June 12 to July 4 because the rulings do not take effect until July 1.

The international board is made up of representatives of the four British
federations - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - and FIFA.
Although 23 members of FIFA's executive committee also sat in on the meeting for the first time, they did not take part.

The board also decided to limit teams to a maximum of six substitutes in
international friendlies.

The move follows criticism of coaches such as England's Sven-Goran Eriksson who frequently change their entire lineup during the second half of
exhibition games.

The board also decided that players who take off their shirts to celebrate a
goal will be shown the yellow card

It rejected a proposal from the German federation to increase the halftime
break to 20 minutes from 15 minutes so that clubs can sell more beer and
food during the interval. FIFA's chief executive, Urs Linsi, said it was clear that the motive was commercial.
.
"For the players," Linsi said, "an extension would be more difficult than
easier."

The Associated Press
WASHINGTON

The WUSA picked Carson, California, and Blaine, Minnesota, on Monday to host women's soccer tournaments in June.

The WUSA Soccer Festivals will be held at the National Sports Center in
Blaine, Minn. from June 17-20, and at The Home Depot Center in Carson,
Calif., from June 24-27.

There could also be a third festival June 10-13. The festivals will
serve as a bridge for the league, which folded in September, as it
attempt to return for 2005.

Players expected to participate include U.S. national team stars Mia
Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Briana Scurry, Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly and
Julie Foudy. Germany's Birgit Prinz, France's Marinette Pichon and
Norway's Dagny Mellgren also plan to play.

In addition to exhibition games, the festivals will have clinics, player
appearances and autograph sessions.

The eight-team WUSA lasted three seasons. Its inability to attract new
investors and sponsors led to the suspension of operations.

News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Bryan Layton President, Huntsville Soccer Club BryanKLayton@aol.com	Paul Pepe President, NAU Samba FC pepe5145@bellsouth.net

Huntsville Soccer Club and Samba FC to Merge

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March 6, 2004 - Samba Futebol Clube, the fastest growing all girls soccer club in Alabama has announced an agreement to merge with Huntsville Soccer Club, Inc. (HSC). HSC has one of the premier boys programs in the state. Under the terms of the agreement, Samba FC will merge with HSC effective June 2004 and the merged organization will be known as Huntsville Soccer Club. The girls program under Huntsville Soccer Club will be known as HSC Samba. The boys program will continue to be known as HSC Strikers.

Since its creation in 1999, Huntsville Soccer Club has been the most successful boys program in Alabama, earning 12 State Championships and 14 Champion Finalist's honors. In the last two years alone, HSC boy's teams have won 6, Division 1 State Championships.

Richard Todd, current Director of Coaching for Samba FC, will become the new Director of Coaching Curriculum-Girls for HSC Samba. Richard will work with Marty Clark, HSC's Director of Coaching Operations, to coordinate HSC Samba programs. John Tesema will continue in his role as Director of Coaching Curriculum-Boys for the HSC Strikers program. The merger has been approved by the HSC Board of Directors and the Samba FC leadership team. Two additional HSC board seats will be created to represent the HSC Samba program.

Commenting on the merger, Richard Todd said, "Samba FC is the fastest growing all girls soccer program in Alabama. In less than 4 years we have developed 3 Alabama State Champion and 3 State Champion Finalist girl's teams. Our merger with HSC will allow us access to the infrastructure and top quality coaches needed to continue our rapid growth. HSC offered us an opportunity to maintain our unique identity and distinctive style of entertaining soccer dedicated to the needs of the female player. This merger is a natural fit for both clubs."

Marty Clark added, "The combination of HSC and Samba FC will be the Premier Soccer Club in Alabama combining the resources of the best boys and girls development programs in the state under one club. Samba leadership shares our vision of long-term player development and commitment to the growth of all levels of soccer throughout the state. This merger is good for soccer and good for the state of Alabama."

A town meeting will be scheduled for some time in April to introduce the combined staff to the public and answer any questions about the merger.

     Beginning this Spring 2004 the NASL has approved and instituted a "CLUB PASS" system which will allow players to move freely among the teams in their club in their NASL (Division III) games.  A club pass system would allow a player to train with and play local and friendly matches with other teams within her/his own club as long as the player was age appropriate. Any registered player in the state is eligible to use this system if they are a member of a club that has additional teams they could train/play with. The club pass system would NOT apply to tournaments, would NOT apply to State League matches (either Division I or Division II) and would NOT apply to any of the state AYSA sponsored tournaments (Governor's Cup, Division II, Division I).

     To employ the club pass system the coaches within a club would come to agreement on what players were going to temporally shift to another team within the club for a match, and the player’s ASA pass would be transferred to the gaining team for the match. At check in the referees would simply insure that all players are a member of that club and that no child is playing with a team younger than they are allowed to be on.

     At the end of the match the player’s pass would be returned to her/his assigned team.

     The system provides an excellent way to give some players additional training/playing opportunities to further their development without subjecting them to an excessively competitive environment and without creating an administrative burden. It also allows clubs to avoid canceling or rescheduling matches when injuries/conflicts/etc reduce the roster of available players. This would be a club managed system, not requiring the involvement of the state association (AYSA, ASA).
 

Special Invitation to Gaylord Entertainment Center "In The Loop" Members

Purchase now and receive 10% discount!

You are invited to Soccer World Super Clasico - Nashville 's first and only world-class
soccer event at The Coliseum on Tuesday, April 20th, 2004. Be part of the electric atmosphere and family-friendly environment when the LA Galaxy, winner of the 2002 Major League Soccer Cup, battles the elite UAG Tecos Soccer Club from Mexico.  Three-time World-Cup Superstar Cobi Jones and two-time MLS goal scoring champion Carlos Ruiz from Guatemala lead the explosive Galaxy, while the Tecos boast a highly skilled lineup headlined by star forward Sebastian "El Loco" Abreu. These select teams feature international superstars from Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Honduras , Guatemala and the United States.

Tickets are available in the following packages:
Club midfield $65 Sections 232-238
Club side $55 Sections 225-231, 239-245
Premier $45 Sections 112 & 135
Midfield $40 Sections 111, 112, 134 &136
Field side $35 Sections 109, 110, 114, 115, 132, 133, 137 & 138
Corner side $25 Sections 105-108, 116-119, 128-131, & 139-142
zone $15 Sections 120-127, 101-104, 143-146, 303-321, & 326-344

Gaylord Entertainment Center In The Loop Members will receive a 10% discount
on the purchase of Soccer World Super Clasico tickets. Please use the password
"predators" via Ticketmaster to obtain your discount.

To purchase Soccer World Super Clasico tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call
Ticketmaster at (615) 255-9600, or visit Soccer World at 4666 Lebanon Road in
Hermitage, any Kroger or The Coliseum ticket office. Sections are subject to availability. Group ticket packages (10 people or more) also receive a 10% discount on all tickets purchased within the group. For more group sales information, please call John Lees at (615) 872-0799 or (615) 500-7161. Soccer World, sponsor of Soccer World Super Clasico, will pay the parking fees for the first 6,000 cars arriving at The Coliseum. Soccer World Super Clasico kicks into high gear at 6 p.m. with action-packed pre-game festivities, so arrive early to enjoy this celebration. Kickoff is 7 p.m. We hope you will join us to watch international soccer superstars at this one-time-only family event.

P.R.E.P.A.R.E. will benefit coaches at the youth and interscholastic levels

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) is joining forces with the National Center for Sports Safety (NCSS) to offer its members a comprehensive online sports safety course, which is known by the acronym of P.R.E.P.A.R.E.  To raise the national standards of coaches responsible for the safety and well-being of millions of young athletes, NCSS, in conjunction with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), developed P.R.E.P.A.R.E., an online sports safety course for coaches, particularly volunteer moms and dads, who need basic sports safety education.

P.R.E.P.A.R.E. covers everything from minor injuries, like blisters, nose bleeds and ankle sprains, to life-threatening situations such as head and neck injuries. The NSCAA, in conjunction with NCSS, is offering the course through its web site at www.NSCAA.com  The three-hour course only costs $28.

Course participants learn to P.R.E.P.A.R.E. an acronym that represents each of the targeted emphasis areas of the course:
 

• P - Pre-plan, in case of emergencies;
• R – Recognize emergencies;
• E – Emergency Plan (pinpoint the steps needed to be taken once an emergency has occurred);
• P – Principles of First Aid (learn the basic first aid techniques every coach should know);
• A – ABCs (become familiar with airway breathing and circulation – the basic steps of CPR);
• R – Return to Play (determine when it is safe for an injured athlete to return to play); and
• E – Enjoy (encourage young athletes to get back into the game).
  After completing the course, each coach will receive a sports safety patch and a certificate.
   

P.R.E.P.A.R.E. focuses on the basics of: emergency planning; heat and cold illnesses; emergency recognition; medical considerations; principles of first aid; head, neck and facial injuries; and warm-up and cool down. The flexibility of online learning allows participants to complete the course at their own pace. The NCSS also is establishing a network of health care professionals, including physicians and certified athletic trainers, who can teach the hands-on course in a group setting classroom.

To view the complete release, CLICK HERE http://www.nscaa.com/home/70958.html

To access the course, CLICK HERE. http://ncss.xtention.net/ecom/productinfo.aspx?productid=5&categoryid=0&startpage=1

By JAMIE PYATT
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004160935,00.html

A BRITISH non-league footballer has scored the world's fastest-ever goal - in just TWO SECONDS.

Striker Marc Burrows, 25, scored straight from the kick-off, helped by a strong wind, illustrated below.

He said yesterday: "My fellow striker Michael Ponter rolled the ball forward a couple of inches and I took a mighty swing at it.  "The wind was strong and the ball just sailed over their poor keeper.

"I was so stunned I didn't really celebrate. I put my arms in the air and burst out laughing."

Thrilled Marc went on to score a hat-trick as Cowes Sports reserves, from the Isle of Wight, beat Eastleigh reserves 5-3.

The sales consultant, a former trainee with Portsmouth FC, added: "I've tried something similar but it normally goes out for a throw in and I feel like a right prat."

Manager Paul Sleep said after the game at Eastleigh, Hants: "Their goalkeeper was a little too far off his line. The poor lad looked totally shocked and amazed."

Sydenhams Wessex Combination League referee John Sorrell, 42, said it was the best goal he has ever seen.

He added: "It's difficult to see how a goal could possibly be scored quicker."

Guinness World Records have appealed for Marc to get in touch.

The current record is held by Ricardo Olivera, who scored in 2.8 seconds for Ro Negro against home side Soriano in Uruguay in 1998.

Britain's previous fastest goal was blasted in 3.5 seconds by Colin Cowperthwaite in 1979 for Barrow against Kettering in the Conference.

ALABAMA POWER RANKINGS
Week # 7 of the Top Ten Alabama High School Soccer Rankings of 2004 is now posted.

Be a Part of the new Soccer Rankings - Sign up to be your team's voter in the 2004 Alabama Power Rankings High School Soccer Poll

Number One Teams - April 5th, 2004!

#1 Boys - Grissom, Briarwood, Mars Hill

#1 Girls - Oak Mountain, Huntsville, Indian Springs

       If you want to keep up with soccer in the South, then Southern Soccer Scene is the magazine for you. Check out the on-line edition at  http://www.southernsoccerscene.com.
       Receive Your FREE Issue Today! Fill out the form below and submit it to start your subscription to Southern Soccer Scene. You receive 12 issues (One Year) for only $25.00 or 24 issues (Two Years) for $40.00 and SAVE 18%. Send no money now. We will bill you later.
       Southern Soccer Scene gives you:

• Greater regional soccer coverage throughout the Southeast.
• A greater commitment to college soccer.
• New coaching articles, training methods, features, player and coaching profiles.

      Satisfaction Guaranteed! If you decide Southern Soccer Scene is not for you, simply write "Cancel" on the invoice and return it to us — you keep the FREE issue. For subscription questions call or email us.  Payment by MasterCard or VISA accepted by phone (M-W, 9:30 am/5:00 pm) (336) 292-7015.
http://www.southernsoccerscene.com/subscribe.htm

      Since January I have been moving thousands of drills, tips, articles and exercises from my old website at DecaturSports.com to the NASL website in an effort to make the NASL website the largest repository of help for soccer coaches on the internet.  The DecaturSports.com website was one of only two website recommended by NSCAA for youth coaches at their annual convention. Since the DecaturSports.com website covered many sports I felt it was important to place this wealth of soccer material on the NASL website which is soccer only.
      There are articles on virtually every topic that ever interested soccer coaches and for coaches from newly drafted dads and moms to USSF "A" Licensed coaches.  Recently added were on-line videos of all the Coerver moves and the Gary Rue's Exercises of the Day.  This is a year long project for me and I still have many, many  more to post so let me know if there is anything in particular you would like to see and I'll get it posted first.
      Stop by http://www.nasl.com/drills.htm and look around and I think you will agree that it is the finest selection of soccer coaching material on the internet.  Ken dsports@hiwaay.net  

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

Thanks for being involved in soccer in Alabama. 

Ken Gamble - NASL Secretary
"Next Goal Wins!"

REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS

     This low-tech emailing list is maintained for the benefit of coaches, referees, and parents involved in youth soccer in Alabama. List maintenance is semi-automatic. No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced! 
     If you are no longer in Alabama or wish to be removed from this list for any reason, simply send an e-mail to dsports@hiwaay.net with "Delete", "Remove", "Exclude", "Unsubscribe", "Stop!", No More!, "Cease and Desist!", or something similar in the subject line. Regional dialects, colloquialisms, and various misspellings (e.g., Cut it out!, Delist, Unlist, Disenfranchise, Quit me, Unsuscribe [sic], Unsuscripe [sic], Describe, and Unscribe) are understood.
     "Drop Dead, Pond Scum" works also, although emails with profanity (e.g, Go to He!!) will be filtered out and automatically discarded so that the youth players who volunteer in the NASL office won't see them. Other requests, particularly those that include the word me (e.g., Drop me, Terminate me, Cut me or worse, Cut me off, Take me off, Purge me, Reject me, Take me down, Expunge me, Take me out, and Kill me) are cause for concern but are generally implemented figuratively rather than literally.
     Tense, gender, and grammar (e.g., Please removed us/we/him/her.) are irrelevant. Some requests (e.g., Enscribe and Obscribe) confuse us and may result in additional contact. Manners (e.g., Please, Sorry, and Thank you, anyway.) are optional.
     Explanations (e.g., I visited Huntsville once on the way to the Calaveras Frog Jumping Contest and loved looking at the space museum, but I have never lived in Northern Alabama.) are always interesting and are appreciated.
     Sporting metaphors (e.g., I don't want to play on your team.) help soften the blow. Denials (e.g., There is no one here who plays soccer. or We hate that game.) mean we entered someone's email address incorrectly. We're used to but politely disagree with gender stereotyping (e.g, Real men play pointy football. and Soccer is a man's game, not a game for skirts). Questions (e.g., How did you get my email address?) generally can't be answered because nobody in the NASL office knows the answers to them.
     Your email address and all other alias email addresses that you include in the body of your request will automatically be added to NASL's Exclude List. This will permanently stop delivery of all types of future NASL announcements, including those for upcoming tryouts, coaching/refereeing courses, refereeing opportunities for league and tournament games, and birthday parties. You can also quit yourself from NASL's e-mail page at http://www.nasl.com/Email.htm

NOTE: The wonderful removal instructions listed above were adapted with permission from Michael Lindeburg at San Andreas Youth Soccer Organization, http://www.sayso.org