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World Cup Special: Rick Davis on Pele
In celebration of World Cup Soccer, we hope you enjoy and learn from this video of former pro soccer player and PCA National Advisory Board Member Rick Davis, recalling his days as a teammate of the legendary Pele. Rick's recollections of joining Pele with the New York Cosmos will inspire all youth athletes to pursue their dreams.
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Sports Parenting Tip: Televised Teachable Moments
The world's most-watched sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, provides great opportunities for youth soccer players, coaches and parents to watch and learn together. So, how can coaches and parents help youth players get the most out of their viewing?
First, take the time to enjoy how soccer brings you together. These viewing appointments are bonding opportunities and a chance to help children become further inspired to pursue their dreams.
If you follow soccer you probably know some personal background of the competitors and dynamics of the teams. If not, a little research in those areas can yield great talking points to raise with your youth players. For example, "Didier Drogba, the team leader for Ivory Coast, helped unify his country by rallying them around the soccer team. What sort of character do you think he has needed to achieve that? Can you imagine a situation where you could use soccer to help others in need?"
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Ask PCA: Does the "24-Hour Rule" Work?
This week's question addresses an often-touchy dynamic between coaches and players' parents. To review last week's question and PCA's answer, you can continue scrolling through this item, but for now, consider this week's question:
Does the "24-Hour Rule" Work?
Conventional wisdom is that a parent should wait 24 hours after a game before approaching a coach to discuss such issues as playing time. The theory is that after 24 hours a parent may have cooled down and is less likely to say or do something regrettable and that coaches can think more clearly about the game. However, those same 24 hours may let the situation fester and lead to even more regret. As a parent and a coach, I'm up in the air on this one and can see both sides. What do you think?"
-- Craig Mapstone, Rochester, NY Following is the previous "Ask PCA" question and PCA's response: "My son has played on the same 12u club baseball team for the past 18 months. Six months ago more than half the team left to start a new team, but we decided to stay with the coach while he rebuilt the team. Our team has been getting worse, and has trouble attracting talent. My son wants to compete at a higher level and has been invited to play on a promising new team forming in our area. We believe in commitment and respect for coaches and teammates, but we also want our son to have the best opportunity to excel. I don't believe in "greener" grass and I don't want to teach my son to run when times are tough, but on the other hand, we did not push this move. He asked for it and I don't want to disrespect his decisions and force him to stay. Is it time to change teams?" PCA Response by Eric Eisendrath, Lead Trainer-New York
I applaud the even-handed and thoughtful approach you have taken when considering this situation. I am impressed by your comments regarding loyalty and commitment to teammates.
However, I do think it is significant that your son sought out this tryout on his own. I would let him play for the new team, especially given that this not a "greener pastures" decision after 18 months with his current team, including six months of patience since the original team broke up.
Read all the Ask PCA blog comments on this question.
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Farewell to a Legend: John Wooden
The coaching community, the national sports scene and the whole world last weekend lost one of the most beloved and influential figures in our history with the passing of John Wooden at age 99.
PCA was thrilled to give Coach Wooden our highest honor, the Ronald L. Jensen Award for Lifetime Achievement, which Coach Wooden's son, Jim, accepted at the 2010 National Youth Sports Awards Dinner and Auction sponsored by Deloitte.
As Jim Wooden spoke at our awards ceremony, telling stories of legions of famous athletes his father mentored, it was difficult to comprehend the ripple effect of Coach Wooden's life.
PCA Founder Jim Thompson (l.) and James Jensen (c.) give Jim Wooden the Ronald L. Jensen Award for Lifetime Achievement for his father, John Wooden  | |
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