US Soccer Has a Player Development Problem: Julie Foudy offers new/old perspective

What if the best way to get your kid on the U.S. National Team was to not attend their games? Or allow them to quit soccer for a season or two on a whim? Both of these techniques worked for … Continue reading

Can Your Kid Handle College Soccer?

When Suzy Germain and her freshman class (1980) teammates were  recruited by Anson Dorrance to play for the UNC Tarheels, they were a force to be reckoned with. Describing it, Suzy says, “Practice was a battle. We took over every starting … Continue reading

Fail More, But Try to Avoid Mistakes

Many girls, by nature, are tentative. Go ahead. Watch the U7 boys play. They throw themselves into the game, into their opponent, get whistled for rough play. Then watch the girls. They fight over offering the other player the ball.  A … Continue reading

Suzy Germain on “the Coach-Athlete” Conversation about Playing Time

One of the hardest issues for kids in today’s competitive youth sports setting is playing time. No one likes to spend time on the bench; the fun is in playing the game. But, the more competitive the team, the more important the … Continue reading

Suzy Germain Says We Need to Give Kids a Break in the Season

Here’s a riddle: What do you call something you do almost every day, all week, year round? … work, right? What do we call it when our kids do it? … sports. Is anyone laughing? Neither are our kids. They’re paying … Continue reading