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Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club Newsletter |
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News and Information for Members and Friends January, 2009
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Coaches Corner
Welcome
Goalkeeper Coach
Rich Cullen!
# Years Coaching Shadow:
2 years
Hometown:
Spokane, WA
College attended:
Air Force Academy
Playing Experience/Recognition/Awards:
4 year starter at Air Force
2 Time All MPSF, 1998 and 1999
Played 1 year for Colorado Rapids, 3 years for the Seattle Sounders (United Soccer Leagues Div 1)
2nd team all A-League, 2003
Selected Most Valuable Male Athlete at the Air Force Academy, 1999-2000
College Coaching Experience:
4 years at Air Force
Youth Coaching Experience:
Worked with the U-13B Pikes Peak Rush, 2005-06
Spokane Shadow Goalkeeper Coach, 2007-Present
Other Coaching Experience:
Conduct various clinics for individuals/clubs in Spokane area
Favorite Team:
Liverpool
Favorite Player:
Pepe Reina
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Shadow Reading Recommendation
Game On: The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Childrenby Tom Farrey
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Sounders SuperSearch Assisted by Shadow Coaches!
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Manchester United Youth Academy Focus On Small-sided Games
By Henry Winter, Daily Telegraph
When Manchester United's Academy boys glide from their dressing rooms at the club's magnificent skill factory hidden deep in the Trafford countryside, they run past 10-foot high photographs of David Beckham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Duncan Edwards, Ryan Giggs and George Best. "We want them to be inspired," said Rene Meulensteen, United's skills development coach. They are inspired. In the ensuing sessions of drills and small-sided games, the technique, ambition and vision of United's youngsters borders on the breath-taking. "If this generation carries on maturing," confided Meulensteen on Monday night, "they will steamroller everyone at Under-18 level. They'll have skills coming out of their ears."
Click here for the rest of this article
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Sean's Shadow Spiel...
Street Soccer? Futsal? The means to developing a soccer player? Yes! All around the world this is recognized as the way to create the best and most creative players. Wayne Rooney was known for playing all the time - always in the park; always with a ball. Organized sport was not what made Wayne; playing is what made him. Playing without the pressure of having to win; this is what top clubs all around the world are emphasizing. Players like Johann Cryuff (players if you don't know who he is, you should; YouTube him); Pele; Maradonna...all came from soccer in the streets (ie, playing on their own).
Now-days it is hard to do - too many cars in the street! We have the added factor of being fearful for our kids' safety, so we don't leave them out on their own after dark or before dark for that matter. We don't leave them out of sight. But, I am sure us parents can remember as kids playing basketball in the street, down at the school or wherever for almost as long as we wanted to. Now we just don't do that, and certainly there is good reason. So, we've created organized sport; good idea in concept.
However, now adults control the game way more so than before; in fact, adults always control the game. Even "back then" when we played on teams, we didn't "always" play on teams. We had time to be kids with other kids and not have adults tell us what exactly we are suppose to do on every play. Now we adults want to hyperspeed them up to play like adults (because we know best???). The end result, fewer kids playing sport than ever before, obesity rates that are out the roof in our country and the world as a whole, actually, and NBA drafts that see more foreign players picked than ever before (San Antonio Spurs-Tim Duncan, Bahamas, Tony Parker, France, Ginobili, Argentina all honed their skills somewhere else besides the great USA - and we invented this sport!)
How does this relate to the Shadow? Well, we offered free winter futsal (soccer played in a gym, basically) for our U13s and below. What was the point? To allow the kids to play without the pressure of winning. Go down to the local indoor center and watch the kids play; more importantly, listen to the adults on the sideline. Oh my goodness (OMG, I think is how it is spelled these days), winning is always important to adults. I even heard of one parent muttering "this is embarrassing" as his child's team was losing. The question is, embarrassing to whom? And why? Shouldn't kids just be allowed to play? Certainly, trying to win is important but having to win is just not. Any coach of any top professional club will tell you so. US Soccer has said so (US Soccer Best Practices); Manchester United (see Article on Research tab on our website; it is a great read!); Fiorentina. Shoot, the whole of Spain doesn't keep standings until kids reach the age of 14.
So, back to the point. We wanted to create an environment where kids could just play and enjoy doing so without having to represent the club to outsiders. Let's face it; everyone wants to beat us. I am all for lining up and seeing who is best; we just don't have to do it all the time and we certainly don't have to do it with 9, 10 and 11 year olds! More importantly, I think that you will find that the kids that participated in these Futsal sessions, enjoyed it. I know Niko did! What makes it so great? Plenty of touches on the ball; they are free to make mistakes and try new things; and the game keeps moving. Brazil is known for its futbol players; it is also known for its futsal. For this, there is a correlation.
What I want most from this club is to do things based on research (from the American Pediatric Society to Manchester United) and not based on fancies of the public. We want to develop players and we want to do so in a way that belies the particular ages of our kids. You just don't do things the same way for a 10 year old that you do for a 17 year old. I think it imperative that a Director look at what top professionals are doing - ones that have proven results. I think it is imperative that we know what is developmentally appropriate for our kids and what is healthy for them. And I think it important that we play good soccer! When all this comes together, then we will win games on a consistent basis and when it is important to do so.
In the Spirit of Soccer,
Sean
Sean Bushéy
Technical Director
PS: I read a great book over Christmas entitled Game On by Tom Farrey. He looked at youth sport in America today; very scary! 8 year olds now play for a national championship in basketball. These kids cannot even define "national" - the author asked them the question! There are scouting services in basketball for 5th graders! The results as I wrote above: NBA teams are now littered with foreign players; more importantly, fewer kids play sport than ever before; obesity rates for our children top world charts.
When did it become right to spend millions upon millions of dollars to fund professional sport stadiums and yet cut physical education classes out of our schools because we don't have enough money? Spend millions of tax payer monies to save a professional sport and spend next to nothing to fund places for kids to play? Well, that's another letter I suppose. Most likely, I'll have to take it up with my Motor Development class at Whitworth this Spring. Anyway, an excellent book that I highly recommend.
PS2: I do read other books not related to sport, though unfortunately, I don't get to read as much as I'd like to; Christmas Sweater was a good one! Thanks Mom!
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2009 Tryout Schedule
for Shadow Boys U16 and U17 Teams:
U16's: Saturday, March 7 from 8 - 9:30 a.m.
and 11a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
U17's: Saturday, March 7 from 9:30 - 11 a.m.
and 1:30 - 3 p.m.
Rypien Fields (tentative)
All other Shadow team tryouts will be held
in May, 2009. Watch the Shadow website for complete details in early February!
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Uniform Update
We are excited to announce further savings to our club members! Starting this year Shadow will purchase uniforms through Spokane Athletic Supply. While the Soccer Center provided us good service, we were able to negotiate a better buying price through Spokane Athletic. We will remain a Nike club but now will receive a further 12% discount on most Nike items-uniforms, sweats, socks all fall into this category. When the club purchases soccer balls or other Nike equipment we will save 8% off of our previous purchases. The uniform discount will be passed directly onto our members...and that we are excited about!
There will be some start-up bumps along the way as we transition. Although the Soccer Center will no longer be servicing our club, you are certainly encouraged to shop there for soccer shoes and other soccer equipment. If you are in need of fill-in uniform orders now, please contact Cindy Bushey at jmbushey3@comcast.net. Note "Shadow Uniforms" in the e-mail subject line. Please use the uniform order forms on the Shadow website (under "Forms") as your guide and make your e-mail as detailed as possible. All fill-in orders are due to Cindy by February 1st. At that time, we will place an order. There are a couple of notes you should be aware of-when ordering fill-in items in single amounts, shipping becomes an additional cost (when we order uniforms as a club, shipping becomes a negligible item; however, when ordering a pair of shorts from Nike, the shipping becomes a relative cost.) Hence, we want to make one order to save as much money as possible. Second, we are at the hands of Nike as to whether or not items are available. This has always been the case but we want to highlight that now. Teams that purchased new uniforms this past season will carry them through next year. All other teams will purchase new uniforms in 2009; these new uniforms will be different than the ones purchased this year. In an effort to get the club all in the same uniform, this coming cycle will see us carry the uniform through for three years. From there it will be smooth sailing. I hope! To be honest, uniforms are one of the most complicated things in organizing this club-and one of the least enjoyable. I am happy, however, to know that we can now save you more money when you purchase uniforms. Non-Nike items like Shadow sweatshirts and practice t-shirts will be ordered through Spokane Athletic at reasonable prices. We should be up and running there by February 1st as well. Spokane Athletic has been in business a long time and services not only Whitworth but WSU and Gonzaga Soccer; along with many area high school teams in a variety of sports. Their store resides within Spokane city, which is another great bonus. As the new cycle starts up in May, we will have plenty of information to ensure an easy transition. And don't forget about our on-line Spirit Gear Store for other Shadow gear! There are some neat, neat things there that you and your kids will love. I know mine have!
Sean | | |
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