Fab1b;1637052 wrote:They don't and TWC isn't on the nbc sports xtra online (or at least wasn't a few months back) but they still show a good number of games on that channel. firstrowsports.eu will get you any game you are looking for though!

Thanks we almost will pass up the apartment if we can't get sports extra. Haven't missed a United game in 2 years after missing 2 straight seasons due to deployments. Though I did find out that Uverse is available there through ATT's website but when I asked she only said TWC. It's in clintonville columbus.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/07/perry-kitchen-dc-united-mls

Nice article on Perry Kitchen of DC United. He was probably my second favorite player to watch while I was at UA, right behind Darren Mattocks.

Southampton is getting absolutely gutted this summer. Shaw, Lallana, Lovren, Lambert, and now Calum Chambers all gone.

Anyone reading the "proposals" and "moves" to expand the college soccer season?

I am so tired of reading about it. NCAA is going to be their typical...DO NOTHING. I cannot believe how many people continue to retweet and post about it on my social media outlets. Oh, how I wish it would happen...but there is so much more the NCAA has to focus/worry about instead of college soccer.

Just picked up two tickets to tonight's AS Roma/Real Madrid @ Cotton Bowl

Fab1b;1639940 wrote:Just picked up two tickets to tonight's AS Roma/Real Madrid @ Cotton Bowl

I went to the United/Roma game the other day. It was fun. Get some of that Guinness outside the stadium.

Got one

Alright have a question I want opinions on. So I'm going to help coach a junion high soccer team. Its 7th and 8th graders. We have 15 7th and 18 8th graders. We will have 2 teams. The split with the coaches is how go devide the teams up. The 3 options are:
7th and 8th grade separate teams.
A varsity and jv type teams
Mixed equally.

Its boys and girls mixed as well. So give me how you'd rank the top 3 options.
Mine I voted on were
7th and 8th
Mixed
Varsity and jv

We will decide on Monday. Just curious to see what others would think.

So they are going to be playing against other teams? I would go Varsity and JV.

Best players should be on varsity who cares if they are in 7th or 8th grade.

But just splitting them up between 7th and 8th grade is easier to avoid hurt feelings(aka parents getting mad their 8th grader isn't on varsity).

Yea we've already had parents who have said things about jv and varsity. Parents are the worst and the one thing I didn't miss about coaching.

Why the hell are they playing coed in Jr high?

Not enough girls. Only have 9 girls. 7 are playing club. Its also only the 2nd year for junior high soccer at the school. Country schools have any soccer for kids is a win..

Midstate01;1640619 wrote:Alright have a question I want opinions on. So I'm going to help coach a junion high soccer team. Its 7th and 8th graders. We have 15 7th and 18 8th graders. We will have 2 teams. The split with the coaches is how go devide the teams up. The 3 options are:
7th and 8th grade separate teams.
A varsity and jv type teams
Mixed equally.

Its boys and girls mixed as well. So give me how you'd rank the top 3 options.
Mine I voted on were
7th and 8th
Mixed
Varsity and jv

We will decide on Monday. Just curious to see what others would think.

What do the high school varsity and reserve coaches say? That would be one of the first avenues I venture to.

My first head coaching job was with a middle school girl's program. In the past, they had it 50/50 split in talent -- MANY complaints. When I took over the program, under the direction of the varsity coach (I was a varsity assistant too), we decided it was best to split the middle school into an "A" and a "B" team. We trained together, we often traveled together. This was done to increase the competitiveness of the program. Granted, we also had 5th and 6th graders involved too (small school, needed the numbers to field both teams).

In this case, youth sports is about PLAYER DEVELOPMENT. You want your better players to get pushed and you want your lower-level players to increase in ability. How can you best do that? That should be the #1 thing. Better players make better players better. But, at the same time, good players can help lower-level players get better too. Keeping them "together" but separate is essential to the "team" and "community" feel of a program. In the end, with the focus being PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, playing time will be necessary for all individuals. What will get playing time for most?

If you have a subpar 8th grader who may not see much playing time on an 8th grade team, but could end up starting on a "B" team...maybe that's the way to go? No sense in allowing them to sit the bench and not really having an opportunity to "test the waters" competitively.

Now...we also did make the decision (since we had 4 grades) to keep all 8th graders on the A Team and all 5th graders on the B Team. Again, important for the "community" atmosphere. But, 6th and 7th graders for us could be split either direction. In your case, if you only drop 1-3 8th graders down and only move up the same amount of 7th graders...maybe it's not so important (friends do like to play with their friends/classmates).

I left the middle school after that season, we went 6-4-1. Two years later, the same girls lost in the state championship game. I was so happy for them to make it that far, first time ever being there.

Mulva;1640636 wrote:Why the hell are they playing coed in Jr high?

Many places do that. Especially since a lot of states don't even "sponsor" middle school soccer. So, the districts can put a team together if they would like. Actually, here in Kansas, they just moved TO a coed middle school soccer setup in the spring.

Midstate01;1640619 wrote:Alright have a question I want opinions on. So I'm going to help coach a junion high soccer team. Its 7th and 8th graders. We have 15 7th and 18 8th graders. We will have 2 teams. The split with the coaches is how go devide the teams up. The 3 options are:
7th and 8th grade separate teams.
A varsity and jv type teams
Mixed equally.

Its boys and girls mixed as well. So give me how you'd rank the top 3 options.
Mine I voted on were
7th and 8th
Mixed
Varsity and jv

We will decide on Monday. Just curious to see what others would think.

I echo the advice on asking the HS coaches what they want. You may be the JH coach, but the program ultimately should be the HS coach and his vision.
I know some guys who coach JH who have the latitude to make their own decisions on a day by day, game by game, basis but there are guidelines what the HC of the varsity wants to be done.
Same when I coached summer high school baseball. We had the control to do most of what we wanted, but the spring varsity coach set forth some things he wanted us to work in and do over the course of the summer

If ou do the varsity and JV the one thing you want to watch out for is some of the kids on the varsity, assuming the better kids, of sitting the bench and not getting as much PT. The last thing a kid, parent and even the coach should want is having kids sit the bench on the better/varsity team and lesser kids playing on the JV team if you combine the two teams in JH.

I almost would go with two split teams with about the same amount of talent. That way the best kids should get alot of the PT. I talked to a guy I know who has 2 JV baseball teams and he said that was what he did. Sure, they sacrificed some wins on both teams but at least all the better players got experience and playing time instead of some of the better players sitting the bench on the 'better' team.

We are meeting with the high school coaches Monday. They're both very involved and love that. I was the high school girls assistant for 9 years before moving away. I think they'll want a and b. If they both do,then that's how we will do it. Ultimately wins and losses aren't the priority with these kids,its more about teaching them good skills and more importantly breaking them of bad rec habits.

Really appreciate the feedback.

did you move back to the contiguous states midstate?

We are back on the mainland. Moving to Texas tuesday. But I'm going to come back to Ohio once my car makes it off the boat from Hawaii. Wife is going to be in a really intense schooling for 16 months so the kid and I are going to spend a lot of time in Ohio.

We ended up doing jv varsity. Sort of. Had a few(3) 7th graders who are really good so they're playing varsity. Then a few 8th graders who aren't very good or have never played SK they're playing jv. So its basically 7th and 8th grade. Looking forward to getting back and helping out.

Good game between the MLS All Stars and Bayern Munich with MLS winning 2-1. Bayern coach was a bitch though crying all over the refs and refusing to shake Porters hand after.

Fab1b;1641980 wrote:Good game between the MLS All Stars and Bayern Munich with MLS winning 2-1. Bayern coach was a bitch though crying all over the refs and refusing to shake Porters hand after.

I didn't get to watch the game. But Twitter seemed to be about 75% Pep being a bitch and 25% he should be pissed at the tackles the MLS players displayed during an exhibition game.Anyone care to elaborate?

Laley23;1641990 wrote:I didn't get to watch the game. But Twitter seemed to be about 75% Pep being a bitch and 25% he should be pissed at the tackles the MLS players displayed during an exhibition game.Anyone care to elaborate?

http://www.espnfc.com.sg/video/highlights/114/video/1975796/reckless-tackles-sour-peps-attitude

Both came in the last 15 minutes I believe as the WC players for Bayern only played at the end and one was on Schweinsteiger. Unnecessary for an all star game but I don't know why he was pissed at Porter but still shook the MLS players hands. If anything take issue with the guys who did it, not the coach.

Akron represent

Landon Donavon announced he will retire at end of MLS season. Got tix to LA @ FC Dallas 10/12

Fab1b;1642181 wrote:Landon Donavon announced he will retire at end of MLS season. Got tix to LA @ FC Dallas 10/12

That sucks to hear he is retiring. Love LD. Awesome that you'll be at that game. I'd love to get to watch him one last time.