NASL  NEWSLETTER

May 5, 2003
 

"(Alabama is) a state that will expand its stadiums (even) as it cuts its education budget." 
        Kevin Scarbinsky Birmingham News Sports reporter in his column about yet another football coaching morals incident.

1. Upcoming Soccer Calendar - lots of new dates added.
2. Alabama High School Championships
3. Need updated information on 2003 Soccer Camps
4. Alabama Soccer Association Annual General Membership Meeting - Three board positions up for election.
5. World Cup Coming back to USA?
6. US Women to play England in Birmingham, Alabama May 17th
7. New National League Director’s Cup Announced
8. KICKS FC - U7 “Little Kicks” Developmental League
9. Friedel named to English Premier League Team of the Year
10. “Got Milk” Soccer Shoot-out 3 vs 3 - June 7-8, 2003 at the Riverchase Soccer Complex in Hoover
11. Weight Lifting for Kids - Mayo Clinic Research
12. Shelby County Shootout Tournament still has openings available for a few teams
13. Samba Free Soccer Clinic - May 19th - 22nd
14. Bend It Like Beckham
15. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries - Why females are at risk
16. Soccer Family of the Year

• ODP Goalkeeper training - May 7th - Boys and Girls at Liberty Park Field #13 - 5:30PM to 7:30 PM
• 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
• AYSO (Madison, AL) Free Soccer Clinics - download a flyer here
  • U6 Player and Coaches Clinic - will be held twice at Dublin Park (Madison) Field 1 on May 10 and May 17th - 9:30 to 11:30am
  • Goalkeeper 101 clinic at Dublin Park Field 1 on May 9 at 7:15pm until 8:45pm and Field 3 on May 10 at 1:00 to 3:30pm
  • Intermediate Goalkeeper clinic at Dublin Park Field 1 on May 16 at 7:15pm - 8:45pm & Field 3 on May 17 at 1:00 to 3:30 PM.
  • U10-19 Player and Coaches clinics will be held at Dublin Park Field 1 on May 2, 7:15pm to 8:45pm, and Field 3 on May 3, 1pm to 3pm, and Field 3 on May 17, 2003 from 4pm to 6pm
• ODP - May 11 - training TBD - Team training session will be scheduled for each team by their individual coach in early May, possibly 10th or 11th. You will be notified by your coach.
• 2003 Huntsville Soccer Club Spring Soccer Camp - May 12th – May 15th for boys/girls between the ages of 6 and 12 at Merrimack fields - Register on-line here or download information here.
• "Spring" Tide American Festival - May 17, 2003
• USA Women's national Team vs. England - Birmingham's Legion Field - May 17, 2003
• Alabama Soccer Association Annual General Membership Meeting - ASA will hold its Annual AGM Meeting on May 18th, 1:30 PM. To be held at the old Vestavia library next to Vestavia Civic Center on Merryvale Road. Tom Goodman will speak at this meeting.
  Three positions are up for election: Secretary, Registrar-Youth, and Vice President-Youth. Nominations will be accepted from the floor.
• ODP Boys and Girls Training/Match - May 18th -
  Boys Training/Match - Trussville, 12 to 4PM
  Girls Training/Match - Trussville, 12 to 4PM
• ASA State Spring League Ends - May 18, 2003
• Small Sided Games Presentation - US Youth Soccer's national Director of Coaching Education, Tom Goodman will be visiting on tour of the state of Alabama.  He will be offering a FREE coaching education clinics - more information is available here. NOTE - THESE CLINICS HAVE BEEN RE-SCHEDULED MAY 19th and 20th!
• Kicks FREE Soccer Camp for Spring 2003 will be held at Brahan Spring Rec Center Field for all kids ages 5-16 on May 19-22, Mon-Thurs from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. Call 883-3710 to register.
• Samba Futbol Club FREE Soccer Clinic - clinics for age specific girls the week of May 19-22. This is an opportunity for players to help sharpen their skills and fitness to participate in the Fall 2003 tryouts offered by all the local clubs in the community. No registration required! For more information click here.

• Shelby County Shootout - May 23-25, 2003 - more info

• Competitive Club Tryouts for AYSA Division I and II teams must take place in the period from May 27, 2003 - June 15, 2003.  Teams must notify players by June 17th if they made their team. Paperwork is due in State AYSA office by June 26th.

• NSCAA National Youth Coaching Course - Nashville, Tennessee, May 30th - June 1st more information Also in Knoxville, Tennessee, August 8th - 10th

• UAB Satellite Soccer Camp in Florence, Alabama
  The Shoals Soccer Club is hosting a full day UAB Soccer Camp in Florence on June 2-6, 2003. (9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) Contact Glenn Harscheid at (256) 767-7711 W or 760-4460 H
• ODP Boys & Girls Team Mini Camp - June 5th-8th - TBA
• NSCAA Advanced Regional Coaching Course will be held in Florence the weekend of June 6-8. More information
• 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
• Valley FC Friendship Cup - Madison, Alabama - July 25-27, 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 - Montevallo, 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

• NSCAA National Youth Coaching Course - Knoxville, Tennessee, August 8th - 10th - more information

• 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

Alabama High School Soccer Championships

Complete list of Friday's semi-final games:

• Girls 6A
  • Mary Montgomery vs. Oak Mountain on Field #1 at 6:00pm
  • Baldwin County vs. Bob Jones on Field #2 at 6:00pm
• Girls 5A
  • Fairhope vs. Huntsville on Field #1 at 1:30pm
  • Briarwood Christian vs. Ft. Payne on Field # 2 at 1:30pm
• Girls 4A-1A
  • St. James vs. East Limestone on Field #1 at 9:00am
  • Indian Springs vs. Randolph on Field #2 at 9:00am
• Boys 6A
  • Northview vs. Hoover on Field #1 at 8:15pm
  • McGill-Toolen vs. Oak Mountain on Field #2 at 8:15pm
• Boys 5A
  • Briarwood Christian vs. Cullman on Field #1 at 3:45pm
  • Homewood vs. Athens on Field #2 at 3:45pm
• Boys 4A-1A
  • Altamont vs. Mars Hill Bible on Field #1 at 11:15am
  • Bayside Academy vs. Randolph on Field #2 at 11:15am

Saturday's Championship Games:

• Girls 4A-1A
  Championship at 9:00am on Field #1
• Girls 5A
  Championship at 9:00am on Field #2
• Boys 4A-1A
  Championship at 11:30am on Field 1
• Boys 6A
  Championship at 11:30am on Field 2
• Boys 5A
  Championship at 2:00pm on Field #1
• Girls 6A
  Championship at 2:00pm on Field #2

       The 2003 soccer camps are now updated on-line at     http://www.nasl.com/camps.htm

U.S. EAGER TO STEP IN AS HOST OF WORLD CUP
  Jere Longman - The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/05/sports/soccer/05soccer.html

     The United States will most likely become the substitute host of the Women's World Cup if acceptable financial arrangements can be made between soccer's world governing body and American organizers, soccer officials said yesterday.
     The World Cup, the largest international sporting event for women, was scheduled to be played from Sept. 23 to Oct. 11 in China, but it was withdrawn by FIFA on Saturday because of the SARS epidemic.
     "The logical choice is here," Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia, president of U.S. Soccer, said yesterday in a telephone interview. "The question is, can we work it out?"
     Chuck Blazer, an American representative to FIFA, soccer's world governing body, cited organizational difficulties in Australia, the other serious candidate, telling The Associated Press, "My guess would be that they'll wind up here."
     American soccer officials will travel today to FIFA headquarters in Zurich to make a proposal. A decision could be reached this week or next. Time is urgent because planners would have less than five months to prepare for the 16-team tournament.
     The rest of the story is on-line at
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/05/sports/soccer/05soccer.html

U.S. women's soccer team to visit city

CALL TODAY TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS
ALABAMA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION
205-991-9779

       For each club that wishes to organize collecting of ticket orders, that club will receive a 5% discount on their tickets purchased through the Alabama Youth Soccer Association. 

 

US Youth Soccer announces the formation of a National (Summer) League. The purpose of the league is to reach those players who wish to continue play over the summer. It will also provide more opportunities for our premier players to participate at a higher level with greater competition.

The National League will be composed of two levels: Premier Division (not to be confused with Region III Premier League) and Division I. It is open to boys and girls from U13 to U19 age groups.

The Premier Division should be our best teams. Snicker’s State Cup runners up, teams that play in our highest level of competitive soccer, state ODP teams, teams with a large number of state ODP, Regional, or National players are examples of teams that should play in this Premier Division.

Division I should consist of teams of select players who finish in the middle or lower levels of our Snickers State Cup or State League.

Teams will have flexibility to roster up to 25 players with no more than 18 players at each match. An eligible player must be registered with AYSA. The league allows for dual and multiple rostering. Example; a U16 player may play on a U16 and U17 team in the Premier and Division I brackets at the same time. A team can be comprised of players from various clubs.

Region III, which Alabama is a member of, will be divided into 4 sub-regions. We are in the South Central sub-region. It will consist of Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida Panhandle (Tallahassee and west) and Alabama. Winners of the sub-region will meet the weekend of July 18-20, 2003 to determine the Region III champions (location TBA). The winners of this tournament will advance to the National Director’s Cup championship to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, August 8-10, 2003.

The summer league will play from June 5th through July 7, 2003. The fee is $350 per team and covers tournament fees but does not cover referee or travel expenses. Applications should be forwarded to the AYSA office by April 10, 2003. The following items should be submitted: Application Form, Team Information Form, National League Player Information form, and a check made payable to “Region III National Director’s League”.

Please check the Region III web site, www.usysregion3.org, for rules and additional information or call the AYSA office 205-991-9779.

• 2003 Region III National Director’s Cup League Team Information Form
• 2003 Region III National Director’s Cup League Application Form
• Press Release - New National League Director’s Cup Announced
  
   

The Kicks Futbol Club U-7 League is a new soccer league designed to provide a sound foundation for athletic and personal growth. As a club we have realized that there is a need to give these age groups more advanced technical coaching while continuing an overall enjoyable atmosphere. To do this we have researched and prepared a curriculum that promotes maximum contact with the ball and creates a fun and challenging learning environment. 

Program Details Our program will consist of 6 & 7-year-old boys and girls.  Players will train in an under-7 age group, in sessions prepared by our directors and run by Kicks FC coaching staff. For this league, no team standings are kept, and keeping score in the games is discouraged.  At the end of each season, all teams will play in a round robin tournament to learn the competition aspect of soccer development and test the skill and game preparation they have practiced all season. The fall season will run from August through the end of October. The spring season will run March and April.  Winter indoor seasons will be made available for those who are interested.  The program will consist of weekly practices and games at the JUST4KICKS soccer facility. Games will be 5v5 to include a Goalkeeper, designed to encourage maximum touches on the ball and increase participation in the play.  Coaches will follow an age appropriate training curriculum overseen by the program directors ensuring maximum player development and enjoyment of the game.

Overall, Kicks FC’s goal is to provide an opportunity for players of all ages a chance to play the game, and to give every player the best soccer experience possible.  After successfully developing in our program your child will have acquired the skill, knowledge, and enthusiasm to prepare them for the Kicks FC - U8 through U18 - Boys and Girls Soccer Program.

Developmental Program Includes:

• Licensed Kicks FC staff coaches
• Uniform (includes 1 jersey, shorts and socks)
• Free player clinics each season
• Free skills days (extra technique training with Kicks FC staff coaches)
• Parent games/education
• Awards for each child at the end of each season

Team Fees: 
Fall $100.00  
Spring $45.00 (minus uniforms/insurance)

$40.00   (facilities & equipment)
$30.00   (uniform)
$15.00   (club fee)
$10.00   (annual insurance)
$  5.00   (awards)

Registration and Player Evaluation:
Thursday - May 29 at Merrimack Park on Triana Blvd 5pm to 8pm
Friday - May 30 at Just4Kicks Facility on Wimbledon Way 5pm to 8pm
Saturday - May 31 at Just4Kicks Facility on Wimbledon Way 9am to 11am

(Registration will continue through July if necessary to complete rosters)

      For more information on the “Little Kicks” U-7 Developmental League contact the following:

League Commissioner
Christia Woodford 881-5019 msbombtec@knology.net

Girls U7 League Coordinator  
Brendan O’Halloran 479-5443 brenohall@yahoo.com

Boys U7 League Coordinator 
Rusty Campbell 837-4928 rc_elpibe@yahoo.com

Kicks FC Coaching Director  
Mike Latty 828-7919 MrLatty@aol.com

Kicks FC President 
Mo Khodabandeh    327-3148   mkhoda@davidson-tech.com

            For more information about the Kicks Futbol Club, visit our website at: www.kickssoccer.org   
           To download a copy of this information in an MS Word file click here.

CHICAGO (Monday, April 28, 2003) - U.S. international goalkeeper Brad Friedel's exploits for both club and country have culminated in him becoming the first American ever named to the English Premier League Team of the Year. The awards banquet, held in London last night, honors the top 11 players at each position as voted on by the Professional Footballer's Association.

To read the entire article go to: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=34628

Soccer fans will not want to miss the energetic atmosphere of the got milk 3v3 Soccer Shootout National Tour when it comes to Birmingham, AL on June 7-8, 2003! Register now to experience high-energy excitement, great soccer games and fun for the whole family!
      For more tournament details, a complete set of rules, or to register a team, visit http://www.3v3soccer.com
      Entry forms must be submitted by Friday, May 9th!
      Hoover Soccer Club is hosting the local tournament for “got milk” 3 V 3.  They are doing everything electronically this year including registration. It’s a great opportunity for small-sided games. For the U-10 and under teams they play festival style and each teams plays a minimum of 4 games, standings are not kept and everyone receives a participation award. It also gets very competitive in the competitive division and there are teams coming in from out of state.
      For more information click here.
Deadline to Register: Friday, May 9, 2003
Entry Fee: $120
Contact Name: Erin Poole
Email address: erin.poole@hostcommunications.com

Little kids pumping iron: Technique is key

Weightlifting for kids? Some parents may scoff, but research shows it works. Supervised weightlifting that emphasizes proper technique:

Increases your child's physical endurance
Helps protect your child's muscles and joints from injury
Helps them improve their performance in a particular sport
Instills a good fitness habit that lasts a lifetime

Research shows weightlifting increases a young child's muscle strength and endurance. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association all support weightlifting for kids — if it's done properly. Today's children are increasingly overweight and out of shape. Weight training can help put them on the lifetime path of better fitness and health.

Weightlifting benefits older preteens more than younger kids, according to Edward Laskowski, M.D., co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Rochester, Minn.

"It's certainly not necessary for 5- to 7-year-olds to be lifting weights," he says. "At that age, kids should be learning body awareness and body control, balance, running, jumping, throwing — movement skills we used to learn in P.E. class."

Weight training most benefits preteens who have a focused interest in a particular sport. "A figure skater who has a goal of jumping higher will be able to improve with weight training," says Dr. Laskowski. "Football players, soccer players — just about all young athletes — can enhance their performance with a strength-training program."

As a parent, you might be more concerned about your children's safety than whether they bring home the gold. Weightlifting can protect your child from school sports-related injuries. "Strong muscles help protect joints from injury," says Dr. Laskowski.

To read the rest of this article go to
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=D01A40DA-6738-4BD5-AD34F60CAD55DCC7

• 1 @ U-9 Boys teams
• 2 @ U-9 Girls teams
• 1 @ U-10 Boys team
• 1 @ U-11 Girls team
• 2 @ U-12 Girls teams
• 2 @ U-13 Girls teams
• 1 @ U-14 Boys team
• 1 @ U-14 Girls team

Shelby County Shootout
MEMORIAL DAY SOCCER TOURNAMENT
May 23-25, 2003 - Contact is John Markey, 5160 Hollow Log Lane, Birmingham, AL 35244, 205-980-9635 work or 205-981-6629 fax
U9-U18 Boys & Girls *U9 and U10 will play 8v8
Competitive and Recreational Divisions - For information visit the tournament website at: http://www.shelbycountyshootout.com/
Registration deadline is 4/30/03. For more information e-mail us at  DIRECTOR@SHELBYCOUNTYSHOOTOUT.COM or call (205) 981-6629.

Samba Futbol Club will conduct free soccer clinics for age specific girls the week of May 19-22. This is an opportunity for players to help sharpen their skills and fitness to participate in the Fall 2003 tryouts offered by all  the local clubs in the community. The clinics will be staffed by the Samba Futbol Club coaches. No registration required!

The dates and times for the clinics are as follows:

• May 19th - U9/10 girls (players 9 or younger on August 1, 2003) 4-6 PM
• May 20th - U11 girls (players aged 10 or younger on August 1 2003) 4-6 PM
• May 21st - U12 girls (players aged 11 or younger on August 1, 2003) 4-6pm
• May 21 - U15/16 girls (players aged 13-15 on August 1, 2003) 6-8pm
• May 22 - U13 girls (players age 12 or younger on August 1, 2003) 4-6pm
  
  
  All players should bring a soccer ball, soccer cleats, shin guards and a water bottle. Players of all ability and affiliation (AYSO, REC., CLUB, SCHOOL) are welcomed.

  All clinics will be held at Randolph Garth Road fields.

The ball is played overhead; the defender plants her foot and turns to run. As she pivots and turns, her leg suddenly collapses and she falls to the ground clutching her knee. There was no tackle or challenge for the ball, in fact the opposition players are nowhere near her…

This is an all too familiar occurrence in female soccer today.

Along with the incredible growth of soccer as a participation sport, we have seen a proportional increase in injury rates. Naturally, as more people play, more become injured. In an outdoor season 2 .6% of all players will report an injury.  This is not an especially new statistic, what is new is the increasing number of young female players and the types of injuries they are sustaining.

As clinicians on the shop floor, we are concerned about the ages of our injured player -- 85% are under 23-years-old and an incredible 45% are under 15-years-old. However, probably the most significant statistic is that anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL), the major central knee ligament, occur eight times more frequently in females than in males and the majority of those injured females are between the ages of 15 and 19. This fact has become the center of a great deal of research and debate. Why are female soccer players injuring their ACL’s so frequently?

At the recent U-19 Women's World Soccer Championship, a television commentator stated that 25% of the knees on the U.S. team had received ACL reconstructive surgery.

The fact that the U-19 World Champions have such a horrendous injury rate to this ligament shows how significant this problem has become.

The current research findings suggest that females have weaker thigh musculature (quadriceps – front of thigh and hamstrings – back of thigh) compared to men after correcting for size and weight. These muscles move the knee and protect the knee joint during stressful situations. It is very important in soccer – a sport that requires rapid starting, stopping, pivoting, changes of direction, and jumping that these muscles work very efficiently. In females it has been shown that the hamstrings in particular are weak and typically slow to react. In addition we have also found in our clinical practice that the vast majority of our female knee-injured players have very poor hip control, and it has been noted that females tend to perform cutting procedures in a more erect posture, a technique that further stresses the ACL.

These findings support the research that demonstrates that the majority of ACL injuries are non-contact in nature.

As the data shows, we have a problem. Current treatment for an ACL tear includes surgical repair, followed by extensive physiotherapy. Typically players can return to competitive soccer in as little as six months. Although results are usually excellent – with appropriate treatment, it would be much better to avoid these injuries where possible.

 

(ACL injuries) occur eight times more frequently in females than in males...

 

Despite what the statistics indicate, the news isn’t all-bad. In fact these research findings are quite encouraging - we can do something to help.

Most of the research to date suggests that muscle control; strength, flexibility and posture are the influencing factors for females sustaining ACL injuries. Fortunately these are areas in which we can produce significant improvements. By introducing carefully selected drills into practices and warm-ups and by re-enforcing good postural habits – both during and away from the game – we can all begin to impact the health of our players and especially the females.

Recently coaches of female teams have adopted techniques and practices that were initially developed for male soccer players and teams.  As many of these tried and tested methods are successful, they should not be abandoned. They must, however, be supplemented with movement drills and exercises that will address the needs of the female player and lay the foundation for good movement skills. We should not force players to attempt drills that they are not physically capable of completing correctly. We believe, although females are more at risk, that these drills should be incorporated into practices and training regimes for both males and females.

As the vast majority of female players are young, we have a responsibility as parents and coaches to introduce techniques early in their development that will help minimize knee ligament injuries. As soccer is a contact sport, played often on less than ideal surfaces, it is impossible to eliminate injuries, but with the correct training we can significantly reduce the risks of ligament injuries.

With a little effort we can reverse the trend of increasingly more frequent knee injuries in females as the sport grows in popularity and participation increases.

In the next edition of ICF we will be demonstrating some exercises that can be incorporated into practices.

Paul Garvey, Reg. P.T  and  Steven Hill, Reg. P.T

Kings Cross Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic - a LifeMark Health Facility.

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!"