Soccer History Now Image of the Week

The hero for Inter Milan and the king of the 2009/2010 UEFA Champions League.

FC Inter Milan, 2009/2010 UEFA Champions League champions.

Soccer History Now Image of the Week

Best soccer friends forever

Soccer History Now: Image of the Week - 2010 Europa League Champions

Antonio Lopez lifts the trophy for Athletico Madrid, the 2010 Europa League Champions.

Youth Soccer Tournaments: May 2010

A list of May youth soccer tournaments for those interested.  If you have additional tournaments not listed, please feel free to provide them in the comments

BILLINGS, MONTANA - Stockman Bank Magic City Classic 2010 May 1-2 Boys and Girls U10-U18The Magic City Soccer Club of Billings, Montana is honored to once again host this annual soccer classic, sponsored by Stockman Bank. Our club teams of which there were five state champions last year will be in attendance. Over the last 2 years this tournament has hosted over 100 teams a year including teams from Canada, Wyoming, Idaho, and North Dakota. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

NOVI, MICHIGAN - Jaguar Invitational 2010 May 7-9 Boy & Girls U8-U19In 2009 the Jaguar Invitational hosted over 430 premier teams, including many state cup competitors from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana and Canada. We offer several different levels of competition as well as a College Showcase. Read more

ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI - Avalon F.C. Mothers Day Classic May 7-9 Boys and Girls U8-U19Please participate in our Annual Avalon FC Mothers Day Tournament held just outside of St. Louis, Missouri in historic St. Charles. All select teams ages U8 - U19 boys and girls are welcome. Please join us for a great weekend of soccer. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - Metro Strikers Premier Cup 2010 May 14-16 Boys and Girls U8-U19Come join us for the 2010 Metro Strikers Premier Cup 2010. A great weekend of competitive soccer!! Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - Bluegrass Invitational Tournament May 15-16 Boys and Girls U9-U19The Bluegrass Invitational Tournament is one of the oldest continously running tournaments in the country. Teams have chosen the BIT as the place to play for 28 years. We welcome both premier and classic level teams. Join us this spring in the beautiful Bluegrass! Read more

CENTENNIAL, COLORADO- 2010 Real Colorado Cup May 27-31 Boys and Girls U10-U18The largest and best tournament in Colorado takes place over Memorial Day Weekend. We have hosted teams from 9 states in the last few years. This tournament is held in conjunction with the Colorado Showcase so there is truly soccer for everyone over Memorial Day weekend in Denver!. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK - 2010 Lincoln Page Memorial Day Tournament May 28-30 Boys and Girls U9-U18The Massapequa Soccer Club and Nike are pleased to extend an invitation for your team to apply to the 2010 Lincoln Page Memorial Day Tournament which offers Premier and Classic level competition. A Team Champion and Finalist will be named in each flight. Our Tournament is a great way to enjoy the holiday weekend and continue to compete and prepare for the rest of your spring season. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

HORSHAM, PENNSYLVANIA- 9th Annual Ukrainian Nationals May 28-31 Boys and Girls U8-U19The 9th annual Ukrainian Nationals Invitational is hosted by 25 teams at the Ukrainian American Sport Center. It spans the Memorial Day weekend and includes over 170 teams from all over the region. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

DENVER, COLORADO- Colorado Showcase 2010 May 28-31 Boys and Girls U15-U17Premier College Showcase in the Rocky Mountain area with teams from all regions in attendance. Memorial Day Weekend is a traditional travel weekend for end of season or pre-regional showcasing and what better place to play than Colorado! Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

RANDOLPH, NEW JERSEY - Randolph Memorial Day Tournament May 28-30 Boys and Girls U9-U14The Randolph Soccer Club and the Randolph Township Department of Parks and Recreation cordially invite U.S.S.F. affiliated soccer teams with current U.S. Youth soccer player passes to participate in the annual Randolph Memorial Weekend Soccer Tournament sanctioned by The New Jersey State Youth Soccer Association. Read more

SCHUAMBURG, ILLINOIS- The Grove United/Soccer Madness Memorial Day Shootout May 28-31 Boys and Girls U9-U19Join us for our 4th Annual Memorial Day Tournament in the Chicagoland area. Our tournament hosted over 265 teams in 2009. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

VOORHEES, NEW JERSEY - 2010 Voorhees Memorial Day Classic May 28-31 Boys and Girls U8-U19Come join us for the 2010 Metro Strikers Premier Cup 2010. A great weekend of competitive soccer!! Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

DALLAS, TEXAS- North America Memorial Day Cup May 28-31 U10 Boys & Girls Academy - U11 thru U17 Boys & Girls CompetitiveRegister now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA - Stanford Memorial Shootout May 29-31 Boys and Girls U10-U19Join us for the 2010 Stanford Memorial Shootout Tournament. May is the perfect time to bring your teams out to California as you will be playing during NorCal Premier/CYSA spring/fall league this year. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

WESTLAKE, OHIO - Westlake Invitational Soccer Tournament May 29-30 Boys and Girls U8-U18Come join us for the Westlake Invitational Soccer Tournament Read more

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA -San Francisco Cup May 29-31 Boys and Girls U12-U19Participate in the 23nd annual San Francisco Cup international youth soccer tournament in the year 2010! This premier soccer tournament features top-level youth teams from the U.S.A. and around the world. Read more

SANFORD, FLORIDA - 32nd Annual Seminole Memorial Tournament May 29-31 Boys and Girls U9-U19Join us for the 32nd Annual Seminole Memorial Tournament Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - 2010 Kickers Colonial Cup May 29-30 Boys and Girls U9-U19Great end of season event for classic travel teams, elite teams and top level recreation teams, we offer great events, fantastic venues, and quality competition in the greater Richmond Metropolitan area. Read more

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA- Ralph Downey Memorial Day Classic May 29-30 Boys and Girls U9-U19End your season at the beach! Best fields in Virginia and great weather for soccer and fun in the sun! Held at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

MEDFORD, OREGON - 17th Annual Rogue Valley Cup May 29-31 Boys and Girls U10-U19The Rogue Valley Cup Soccer Tournament is one of the Top Premier Tournaments in the Northwest for the past 17 years. We also enjoy the highest percentage of returning teams & clubs of any tournament in the N.W. and over a third of the participating teams are current Gold, Silver and Bronze State Cup Medalists each year! Read more

COMMACK, NEW YORK - Commack Memorial Day Tournament May 29-30 Boys and Girls U7-U16The Commack Soccer League’s 30th annual Memorial Weekend Tournament provides first class competition for travel club and recreational teams U7 to U16. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

WALL, NEW JERSEY - Elite Shootout at the Jersey Shore May 29-30 Boys and Girls U8 thru U15The purpose of this tournament is to create a fun, competitive and affordable tournament experience with quality fields and excellent staff. Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY - Hopewell Valley 25th Annual Memorial Tournament May 29-30 Boys and Girls U9-U19Last year we hosted 160 boys & girls teams with teams from NJ, NY, Pa, and Maryland.Our biggest tournament in our history! Register now, with our online application, hosted by the Gotsoccer Scheduler. Read more

How to Schedule Youth Soccer Matches with Ease

Scheduling and re-scheduling youth soccer matches can be a pain.  Many children are in multiple activities and their time is at a premium.  Thus, a team must re-schedule matches due to piano recitals, swim meets, other siblings commitments, vacations, other soccer tournaments, etc.  Keep in mind, these are just internal challenges.  What happens when you must address the concerns of your opponents?!  How is a team supposed to deal with these many challenges?

Relax.  Take a deep breath.

The video below will provide three key pieces needed to schedule and re-schedule matches with ease.  If you have any other helpful tips, please leave them in the comments section below.

Soccer History Now Image of the Week

Manchester United and Manchester City met in the last derby match of the year.  There was quite a bit of emotion and importance placed on this match due to Manchester United needing points to win the Premier League and Manchester City attempting to qualify for the Champions League.

Needless to say, Manchester United beat Manchester City in injury time, 1-0.  The seasoned Paul Scholes scored the winner.  Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were quite excited about the victory.

Gary Neville and Paul Scholes embrace

ProBlogger Reaction Video

Darren Rowse and the great folks at ProBlogger.net recently asked readers to share their best how-to blog tip.

I submitted a video because Darren’s team has been very beneficial to me in building my blog.

Enjoy the video below and hopefully it will help you too.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Five Fun Blog Traffic Improvements (whoisandywarner.com)
• Project Update: Prep Work, Being Real (davidrisley.com)
• Blogosphere Trends - What Bloggers Are Writing About This Week (problogger.net)

Should Youth Soccer Players Take Naps or Eat Snacks Before Practice?

A lot of youth soccer players are under pressure to perform.  Players receive pressure from themselves, from coaches and from parents.  The pressure is the result of players trying to impress their family members, the pressure is the result of parents trying to live through their children, the pressure is the result of unrealistic coaching expectations, etc., etc., etc.

This pressure is compounded by the fact that a lot of players lack the vital energy needed to compete and train properly due to the increased demands on their time.  Players rarely eat between school and training because of later school times and earlier and longer training times.  Players sleep less because of increased study needs and earlier school times.

What is a player to do?

Some players attempt to squeeze in naps and/or snacks between school and training?  Is this right?  Is this nutritionally valuable?

Review my thoughts and please share yours in the comments below.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Sports of The Times: Developing the Next Messi (nytimes.com)
• African football academy creates future stars (cnn.com)

2010 UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals Matches

I know it does not happen often, but I made a mistake.  I think the last mistake I made was in 1987.  (Just kidding)

Soccer is a very unpredictable sport.  Despite all of the preparation, all of the training, all of the studying, many things cannot be predicted–there is no crystal ball.

I can confirm this because I suggested in an earlier post that Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic would contribute a monumental role to the 2010 UEFA Champions League quarter final match between Arsenal FC and Barcelona FC.  Unfortunately, Cesc obtained a yellow card in the first leg and was unable to play in the second leg.  Ibrahimovic scored two goals in the first leg only to obtain an injury during domestic play between the first and second leg of the Arsenal tie.  He did not feature in the second leg.  Thierry Henry, despite the fantasy story line of being the highest scoring player in Arsenal’s history and now playing for Barcelona, only played 15 minutes in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Well, I am going to try my luck again.  Below you will find my view on the upcoming semi-finals matches in the 2010 UEFA Champions League–FC Internazionale Milano versus FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich versus Olympique Lyonnais.  (This should be a wonderful tie despite no English Premier League teams)

Enjoy the video and please share your thoughts in the comments.

Soccer History Now Image of the Week

For anyone who wondered why they coach and train youth players day in and day out…

For anyone who wondered why they strive to be positive role models for youth soccer players…

For anyone who questions the motives of children playing sports with their friends…

Read the image below.

Courtesy of BrewKru04

Related articles by Zemanta

• There is No Crystal Ball (soccerhistorynow.com)
• Message to Assistant Youth Soccer Coaches (soccerhistorynow.com)