NASL  NEWSLETTER

December 12th, 2003
 

1. Upcoming Soccer Calendar - new dates added.
2. Soccer Glossary in Layperson Terms
3. Underground soccer league alters a town
4. December Holidays?
5. Bob Jones Girl's Soccer Honors
6. Kicks '92 Finish Second at Germantown
7. Jessica Marek sets NCAA Record
8. Vote for Cat Reddick as Athlete of the Year
9. His Only Rule is Golden
10. Birth Year Change in 2005
11. Everyone needs this list to live by
12. Southern Soccer Scene
13. Free Help for Coaches at NASL
14. How to Remove Your Name From this E-mail List.

• FIFA Youth World Championship
  USA wins 2-0 over Ivory Coast and will meet Argentina in the Quarterfinals on Friday, December 12th in Abu Dhabi. Galavision will broadcast the match to most of the country.
  at 10:55am CT
   
• NCAA Division I Men's College Cup
  • Semifinal # 1 - Maryland vs. St. Johns - Friday December 12th at 4:00pm - live on ESPN2
  • Semifinal #2 - Indiana vs. Santa Clara - Saturday December 13th at 3:30pm Central on ESPN2 (Tape Delay) 
  • Final - Sunday, December 14th at 1:00pm - live on ESPN2
     
• ODP STATE Tryouts for Boys & Girls - December 13th and 14th, 2003 at
SportsFirst Fields in Birmingham.
 
• Registration deadline from teams for Spring season State League play is December 15, 2003 and MUST BE SUBMITTED TO AYSA BY CLUB REGISTRAR Registration material and fees for Division I and II teams are due in the AYSA office and must include the following:
  • Team intent to play form
  • Club membership form (grouped together by team)
  • Birth certificates for all players who did not play in AYSA State League during 2003 seasonal year (grouped together by team)
  • Field Commitment Form
  • Fees Player cards and rosters for State league teams will be completed by the AYSA office and returned to the submitting club once all material and fees are received.
     
• Indoor Soccer!
  Registration and events have started at Just 4 Kicks, UAH, Sports Blast, Bob Jones Shoot-Out, Madison AYSO, Valley Futbol Club indoor, etc.

• Yellow card
  • Technically: A warning for particularly dangerous play or
    unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • Reality: After repeated infractions, it signals that the referee is
    near the end of his patience.
     
• Red card
  • Technically: Expulsion.
  • Reality: The end has been reached.
     
• Throw-in
  • Technically: How play is restarted when the ball goes over the touch
    (side) line.
  • Reality: The weirdest and least efficient throw you'll ever see, with
    the player contorting himself backward, bringing the ball behind his head with both hands and somehow giving it some distance by using his body as a whip. An excellent dissertation topic for physiology graduate students.
     
• Kickoff
  • Technically: How the game is started or restarted after a goal.
  • Reality: Instead of what you would expect - a mighty boot of the ball deep into enemy territory - a short, wimpy pass to a teammate to ensure that the kicking team maintains possession.
     
• Heading
  • Technically: Contacting the ball with one's head to control its speed
    and/or direction.
  • Reality: Say goodbye to brain cells.
     
• Hand ball
  • Technically: A foul wherein the offending player contacts the ball
    with any part of his arm, including the hand.
  • Reality: So why the heck isn't it called an "arm ball"?
     
• Offside
  • Technically: A pass to a teammate in an offside position (only the
    goalkeeper between player and goal line), determined at the time the ball is kicked no matter what the position of the offside player is when he receives the ball. Not called if the offside player is behind the ball or if he's in his own half. The pass doesn't have to be to the player for offside to be called if the referee determines he is "interfering" with the play.
  • Reality: The most complicated rule in an otherwise simple game. When offside is called, parents, coaches, players and referees will
    enthusiastically and loudly endorse their own peculiar interpretation of the rule - almost invariably not the right one.
     
• Tackling
  • Technically: Stripping one's opponent of the ball.
  • Reality: A universally misunderstood term for Americans, who naturally expect the tackler to make his opponent pay for daring to possess the ball.
     
• Forwards
  • Technically: Players occupying the forward-most positions on the
    field.
  • Reality: Players most likely to be insufferable prima donnas.
     
• Midfielders
  • Technically: Players occupying the middle positions on the field.
  • Reality: Players most likely to run themselves to death.
     
• Defenders
  • Technically: Players in the rearward positions.
  • Reality: I don't care what the technical definition of "tackling" is -
    if you come into my space, you will pay.
     
• Goalkeeper
  • Technically: The only player on the field allowed to handle the ball
    but only within his own penalty area (a box in front of the goal 18 yards deep and 44 yards wide).
  • Reality: The player on the field most likely to be injured, yelled at,
    kicked, shoved, ostracized or otherwise abused. Also the most likely to be praised to the skies after a good save.
     
• Penalty shot
  • Technically: After a foul occurs inside the penalty area, a shot taken
    12 yards from the goal with only the goalkeeper defending.
  • Reality: The most nerve-wracking, heart-palpitating, palm-sweating,
    do-or-die, hero-or-goat moment in soccer. Italian star Roberto Baggio was and is a brilliant player, but he will always and forever be remembered for putting a penalty shot over the crossbar and giving Brazil the win in the 1994 World Cup final.
     

 

Cheers! The Spirit of the Golden Cards lives on,
Andrew Castiglione (©¿©)

Co-Administrator/Owner of AYSO-L@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU
Co-Administrator/Owner of ADIRECTOR-L@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU
Co-Administrator/Owner of SOCCER-COACH-L@MORGAN.UCS.MUN.CA
Creator/Owner/Webmaster of... http://www.AYSO-L.org/
Creator/Owner/Webmaster of... http://www.KenAston.org/
Founder of the... Ken Aston Referee Society
Creator/Owner/Webmaster of... http://www.SocRef-L.org/
Webmaster of... http://www.AYSOpro.org/
Webmaster of... http://www.AYSOsection11.org/

Added by John G Wirtz:

Coach

• Technically: Person charged with leading practices, setting line ups and communicating with referee.
• Reality: Runs drills he couldn't do when he was a player so he can see his players suffer like he did; methodically places each player in the position he or she is least likely to succeed in or enjoy playing; and accomplishes the latter through wild gesturing, ecstatic utterances and misinterpretation of the LOTG.
   

Added by Pete Gratton

Parent

• Technically: The Mother, Father or Guardian of the player. Who is to be always supportive of the player, their team mates and their coach.
• Reality: An over-aged player on the sideline who is not allowed to play. Also a frustrated soccer coach without a team or training who knows much more about how their child's team should be run.

Sandlot teams of Hispanic immigrants proliferate, creating a new sense of
community - and concern - in the South.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1126/p02s02-ussc.html

By Patrik Jonsson | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

SELMA, N.C. - On a patchy North Carolina knoll ringed by pine trees and
bracketed by rusty goal posts, the Chicos Malos are favorites to win the
championship of the Liga de Hispana del Selma, a sandlot league that is
turning Johnston County sports on its ear.

While neighbors strain to listen to Sunday football on TV, shouts of "Vamos!" echo through the trees, as 100 noisy fans eat tacos and watch from the hoods of Camaros and Oldsmobile's. The Chicos Malos - the Bad Boys - and Juventos play passionately to a 1-1 tie, a spectacular late goal saving the day for the Chicos.

In a rural county with no fields of its own, this private lawn is bringing
unprecedented competition as nimble Hispanic immigrants don bright jerseys and take on their opponents with all the vigor - if not quite the finesse - of a World Cup final.

But as national youth and adult soccer organizations desperately try to tap
into these so-called beer leagues, the fútbol-crazed crowds are bringing
their own set of problems. Johnston County came close to shutting the field down altogether for a zoning violation. Now, though, the county may build a few community fields to formalize the liga.

Adjustments in Middle America

Experts say the Selma showdown is a flash point that speaks volumes about the possibilities - and pitfalls - of folding Hispanics into the heartland.

These soccer forays show that "the Mexican-American immigrants are doing the frontline work of bringing diversity to a lot of places in the country that hadn't experienced it before," says New York City writer Ed Morales, author of "Living in Spanglish: The Search for Latino Identity in America."

Underground soccer leagues have proliferated in the past decade, especially in areas like North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. But their fight for respect on the field and off has so far brought little success in
assimilating with established US rec leagues - partly because of cultural
differences, but also because of a financial gap: Fees for Hispanic leagues
cost, on average, almost two-thirds less.

Exact numbers of players are hard to come by, but anecdotal evidence
suggests strong totals. For example, the Copa Chicago, a youth tournament played in October, is a big event, and in Charlotte, N.C., about 3,000 players show up at Ramblewood Park every Sunday.

"They're brick masons and roofers, and this is their life to get away from
all that," says Israel Figueroa, a tough-looking teen with a quick smile who
has just put together the Momaguillos - the Altar Boys - in the Selma
league.

While Washington officials wrangle over immigration policy, this flood of
new talent is a welcome boost to an American brand of soccer that rewards fair play over competitiveness. "The word you have to get at is 'passion,' " says Harvey Kaye, a history professor who studies sports in society at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. In fact, comparing Latin and US soccer is "like the difference between American baseball, which is all about winning, and Japanese baseball, which is all about playing well and with honor."

But overtures to create an official league in Johnston County and elsewhere may face challenges. Take Buncombe County, in and around Asheville, N.C., where the Henderson Beer League failed this summer to merge with the Buncombe County Parks and Recreation leagues. It came down to cost: The Henderson league charges $400 per team, versus $1,200 for each county team.

"The competition is good, and the fees are not as high," says Rigo Lozano,
who plays in the Henderson league. "Everybody works for a living, and you're sometimes not willing to spend a lot of money on just one day a week in that game."

The next Maradona

To be sure, Latin Americans have long dazzled US soccer players, from Pele
to Carlos Valderrama, one of the founders of Major League Soccer. But what's happening today is much different. With large numbers of first- and second-generation Hispanic players on US soil, the potential for finding new
Maradonas - and hard-core Hispanic fans who watch soccer three nights a
week - is only growing more likely. "When I first came here in 1983, I was
the only [Hispanic]," says Tito Montezuma, a construction worker watching
the Bad Boys play on Sunday. "Now all the guys are here!"

Last Saturday, the first-ever Hispanic national champions were crowned in
Carson, Calif., as part of an experimental 4-on-4 Hispanic league sponsored
by MLS, called Futbolito. The winning team was the Santos from Columbus,
Ohio.

The American Youth Soccer Organization, the largest youth league in the
country, says that about 15 percent of its 630,000 players have Hispanic
surnames. And it's not stopping there. The AYSO has just created a new
league called Progressive Play, in part to draw talent from Hispanic
leagues.

Yet the backlot leagues are only getting stronger. Some critics, however,
question whether the formation of separate Hispanic leagues contributes to a new layer of segregation in American society.

Not according to Marisabel Munoz, a spokeswoman for MLS Futbolito: "It's
that variety that really adds to what soccer is here in the United States,"
she says. "Passion is demonstrated in different ways, but, little by little,
the interest keeps growing."

December 3 is National Roof over Your Head Day
December 4 is Wear Brown Shoes Day
December 5 is Bathtub Party Day
December 6 is Put on your own Shoes Day
December 7 is National Cotton Candy Day
December 8 is Take it in the Ear Day
December 12 is National Ding-a-Ling Day
December 16 National Chocolate covered Anything Day
December 21 is National Flashlight Day
December 27 is Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day

Bob Jones Girl's Soccer Honors

Three more honors were given to the Bob Jones Girl's Soccer team this past week.

First, the team qualified for the sixth year in a row for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award. To qualify for the award, the team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the entire academic year.

Secondly, Erica Wales, starting goalkeeper on the 2003 6A championship team, was selected as an National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas Scholar Athlete All-American. She is one of 38 athletes selected from a pool of more than 300 nominees from across the nation. The honorees will be recognized at the NSCAA All-America Luncheon on Jan. 17, 2004. The luncheon is part of the 57th Annual NSCAA Convention, which will be held Jan. 14-18, 2004, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C.

And finally, Coach Ken Hudson was selected as the Region III (South) Coach of the Year for large high schools. He is now in the running for the National Coach of the Year which will be selected at the NSCAA Awards dinner on Jan. 16, 2004.

Kicks '92 Finish Second at Germantown

      The U12 Boys State Champs (Kicks 92) went to Germantown December 6th and 7th and had major success. Playing in the Premier Division, the top division of the Germantown Invitational Tournament with featured teams such as Oklahoma State champions and finalists, Mississippi State champs and finalists, Missouri finalists, Illinois finalists and the number 1 ranked team from Georgia.

The Georgia State Champs - Cobb Chiefs Gold, went into the tournament ranked 14th in the nation by www.Nationalsoccerranking.com. The Kicks went in this weekend ranked 26th in the nation, and Naperville, Illinois were ranked 29th in the nation. Naperville beat the Chiefs 1-0 in the semi-finals and the Kicks won their group play to advance to the final to face the Illinois team. The Kicks '92 team fought hard and lost 1-0 in the final - proving they can compete with the best teams out there. It was a tremendous accomplishment for a local team to be in such a prestigious tournament among such tough competition and make it to the final.

Kicks '92 results were: www.gscfury.com
vs. ESC Royals (Edmond, OK) 1-0
vs. Mississippi United (Rankin, MS) 1-2
vs. Busch SC (St. Louis, MO) 1-0
vs. Naperville, IL 0-1 (FINALS)

Kennesaw State University of Kennesaw, GA won the DII National Championship this past weekend in Virginia Beach, VA. Laura Tucker, Tuscaloosa, AL, scored two goals in the Final to beat Franklin Pierce College 2-0. Also, Jessica Marek, Huntsville, AL, had not allowed a goal in the past 9 matches setting an NCAA record. Tucker was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player. The team is coached Rob King, formerly of The University of Montevallo, Frank Pitt, Thompson High School, and Wayne Odgers, played at Montevallo. To find out more about KSU go to www.ksuowls.com.

Hey Everyone,
       Please share the good news with everyone you know especially soccer fans and clubs. Catherine Reddick of Birmingham, Alabama (played for Briarwood High School and Attack Soccer Club) now at North Carolina playing for the tar heels and the Women's National Team, has been nominated for the Chevy Young Female Athlete of the year. You may vote every day through the end of the month so share this with all your friends.
     Go to the site listed below and register with the USSoccer (simply put in your email) and follow the info. then go to the young female listing and put your mark by Cat's name and hit submit.

http://www.ussoccer.com/chevyathleteoftheyear/
 

BY GORDON MARINO
Wednesday, December 10, 2003 12:01 a.m. EST
Wall Street Journal
http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110004406

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.--Three weeks ago, the St. John's University football team pulled out a fourth-quarter triumph over previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Bethel College. With that win, his 409th, John Gagliardi passed Grambling's late Eddie Robinson to become the most successful college-gridiron coach in history. Anyone who has ever been at the helm of a football team will appreciate the magnitude of Mr. Gagliardi's accomplishment. At nine or 10 games a season, 409 victories looms like Everest squared.

Mr. Gagliardi, who boasts an amazing .777 winning percentage while participating in one of the most competitive Division III conferences in the nation, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), is famous for his heterodox methods. For the past half-century, his St. John's squads have been guided by an odd set of interdicts. For example, there is no required off-season conditioning, no contact in practice, no calisthenics, no yelling, no playbooks, no practice in inclement weather, and no calling the coach "Coach." Though I have the sense that the players and students of St. John's are inclined to think of him as St. John, the 77-year-old coach demands that everyone call him "John."

The son of an Italian immigrant, Mr. Gagliardi grew up in a mining town in southern Colorado. In 1943, his high-school coach at Trinidad Catholic was drafted into the service, and the 16-year-old Mr. Gagliardi was asked to take over as player-coach. During this era and in many football programs today, football training was fashioned on the military model. As much if not more practice time was devoted to conditioning and drills as to running plays. Even in 100-degree weather, players were not permitted to drink for fear that hydration might make them soft.

Mr. Gagliardi recollected, "As player-coach I was not about to try bossing my pals into doing duck walks and push-ups all day. Instead, we all sat down together and tried to figure out what kind of practice would make us a better football team. We decided to concentrate on just running plays over and over again." The results were miraculous and Mr. Gagliardi was hired to coach for five more years. Everywhere he went, Mr. Gagliardi and his unusual coaching techniques took losing teams on U-turns. In his first season at St. John's in 1953, the team went from conference doormat to conference champs. Coach Gagliardi, however, emphasizes that his approach to guiding teams was born of the necessity of coaching his peers, not from some grand theory of human motivation.

In truth, many coaches doubt that Mr. Gagliardi actually practices the methods that he preaches about. But a few weeks ago I accompanied him at a team workout and witnessed his ways for myself. St. John's was preparing for their final regular-season contest against Crown College (St. John's won, 50-0).

Practice consisted of two complete offensive and defensive squads doing nothing but running play after play. There were no warm-ups, no tackling or passing drills. Apart from the sound of cadence, the slap of a ball hitting a receiver's gloves, and an occasional gust of laughter, there was barely a sound. Indeed, the practice was so quiet that it could have been held in the abbey up the road. There was none of the hysteria and sense of panic that infect many coaches and their game preparations. If one of the players was a little out of position, Coach Gagliardi would shuffle over and calmly tell him to make an adjustment.

Jimmy Gagliardi, John's son and offensive coordinator, informed me that during practice they get a play off every 20 seconds: Multiply that times 90 minutes and you will understand St. John's preternatural ability to execute its offensive and defensive plans.

Though many of his players will attest that he has helped them turn corners in their lives, Mr. Gagliardi does not see himself as a Dr. Phil of football. The coach states simply, "I want players who do not need rules. I have no rules. Or rather only one rule. Treat others like you would like to be treated. I don't want to be yelled at and I don't yell at my players." However, Mr. Gagliardi is no Mr. Rogers. He has no qualms about telling a player, "We need someone who can tackle. If you can't do it, then I am sorry, but we will just have to find someone else who can."

Seeking their fourth national title, Coach Gagliardi and his team are now deep into the NCAA Division III playoffs. After earning a bye in the first round, the Johnnies trounced St. Norbert College, 38-13. On Saturday, St. John's defeated Linfield College, 31-25, to advance to the semifinals.

Letters of support for age change to January 1 to be sent to USYS state association offices

TO: All Super Y-League and US Club Soccer Clubs

FROM: Director, Super Y-League, Executive Director, US Club Soccer

DATE: November 19, 2003

RE: YOUTH SOCCER BIRTH YEAR CHANGE FOR EFFECT IN 2005

Dear Club Director of Coaching, President or Executive Director:

Over the past several months there has been much discussion on reverting back to the January 1 birth year for youth soccer players to take effect in 2005 for all youth organizations for the betterment of the game. The Super Y-League has begun this process earlier and reverted to the January 1 birth year from an August 1 birth year, to take effect in 2004. The last US Club Soccer member’s meeting at the 2003 NSCAA Convention was strongly supportive of the change, and it will be discussed again this year at the US Club meeting at the NSCAA in January.

Nevertheless, there is still discussion ongoing at the state association governing levels. According to US Youth Soccer’s (USYS) Chairman, some state associations are very much in support of the birth year change, but there are a number of state association administrators that are opposed to the change for administrative reasons—generally a concern over affecting registration paperwork and database functionality. We feel it is important for the entire USSF youth division to adopt the same birth year date. The final vote for the new policy and bylaw (attached) will be taken in March, 2004 at the next US Soccer Annual General Meeting.

The USYS office is currently asking state associations to gather a poll from the leading clubs in each of the states to gain their opinions on the birth year change, so they can make a decision based off of their membership.

The Super Y-League has done research on the birth year change and has support from each of their clubs for the change. There are many US Club Soccer organizations that would also like to revert to the January 1 birth year.

Although the decision by FIFA over a decade ago to have countries revert to 8.1 was based on scholastic calendar years, many countries reverted back to the 1.1 birth year because it was inconsistent with their National Team Programs. The Following information has been assembled for the rationale of the age change to 1.1:

1) Consistency with the U.S. National Team Programs and ODP system and a soccer calendar

The U.S. National Teams use a 1.1 age group for FIFA events and the ODP system to identify players. In order to use the most effective means for identifying players, the youth age groups should contain the same age criteria of the National Team Programs and the selection process (ODP).

The ongoing conflicts between club and ODP are a concern for many. Since the ODP system is on a 1.1 birth year, ODP events divide a team in half for training sessions and events. This also relates to bettering the soccer calendar. With consistency between both the club and the ODP system, this will enable certain black out dates that clubs can adhere to if a majority of their players compete within an ODP program. This will greatly enhance the relationship between clubs and identification of players for U.S. National Team Programs.

2) Teams playing abroad

Currently, there is an uneven playing ground for teams that travel abroad to compete in friendlies or in tournaments. With the rest of the world on a 1.1 birth year, U.S. teams essentially have to play an age group higher to be eligible for the age criteria of the event. There is not true measure of player development if American teams compete against foreign teams. Either the foreign teams are stronger or weaker depending on where their birth year is.

3) Administration

Although, some people note that there might be some short term administrative adjustments, there are positives in the administrative adjustments that may ease many of the youth state associations.

Since the birth year is currently 8.1 teams must have try-outs in the summer months and re-new the clubs registration by August 1 to compete in events after August 1. While much of the U.S. is dormant to outdoor soccer in the winter months, and the Sunbelt states that have scholastic soccer in the winter months for the older age groups, the registration preparation in November and December should ease the registration process for many state associations and other youth organizations. Currently, a youth player has a lot of activity in summer months. With the 8.1 birth year a player must have try-outs and be accepting on a new team in the summer months, during the time when the youth soccer activities are the most active with leagues, cups and tournaments.

This would also help to better plan a soccer calendar.

4) The rest of the world has the 1.1 birth year

Being consistent with the rest of the world is important, especially at the youth level, where it is crucial to have a measure for competition.

It is important for the game that decisions are made for the benefit of the game and not to have important voting items rejected because of minor administrative hurdles. The birth year change is important for soccer in the United States and we hope that you take a few minutes to voice your support in writing to your respective state association.

Some of you will be contacted by your state association to give input on the birth year change. In order to be proactive on this issue, we are asking that each of you write your state association president in support of the new bylaw and policy to revert back to the January 1 birth year in 2005. These letters should be sent out by the New Year. You can find a complete list of addresses, emails and fax numbers for the state association offices on www.usyouthsoccer.org. If you could also please copy bsage@usclubsoccer.com and matt.weibe@uslsoccer.com on these letters that would be appreciated.

Yours in Soccer,
Matt Weibe, Super Y-League Director
Bill Sage, US Club Soccer Executive Director
 

The most destructive habit.....................................................Worry
The greatest Joy.....................................................................Giving
The greatest loss...............................................Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work...........................................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait............................................Selfishness
The most endangered species..............................Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource..........................................Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm"................................Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome...........................................Fear
The most effective sleeping pill..................................Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease.......................................Excuses
The most powerful force in life..................................................Love
The most dangerous pariah.............................................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer...............................The brain
The worst thing to be without.... .............................................Hope
The deadliest weapon.....................................................The tongue
The two most power-filled words.........................................."I Can"
The greatest asset...................................................................Faith
The most worthless emotion...............................................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire.......................................................SMILE!
The most prized possession............................................ ..Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication.......................Prayer
The most contagious spirit............................................Enthusiasm

 

       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. 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