Temperature Rising in Debate over Youth Soccer in San Diego #LetThemPlay
Surf Soccer Club hit with Cease & Desist order from San Diego County Health Officials Young athletes have been hitting the fields in 48 states. But not in California. California’s emergency COVID-19 health orders have kept young athletes from their sports for almost a year. Multiple scientific studies have shown that outdoor sports are safe. […]
ECNL rockstar & Rutgers commit Emily Mason is the 2020 2019-20 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year
In its 35th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, The Gatorade Company today announced Emily Mason of Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, N.J. is the 2019-20 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Mason won the prestigious award for her accomplishments on and off the field, joining an impressive group […]
Liberty University Commit Jony Munoz Named 2019-20 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year
Olathe, Kan. [June 18, 2020] – In its 35th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, The Gatorade Company today announced Jony Munoz of Olathe West High School in Olathe, Kan. is the 2019-20 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Munoz won the prestigious award for his accomplishments on and off the […]
It’s CIF Playoff Time in San Diego, and RSF Attack has 36 players in Open Division Semis
It’s time again for high school soccer playoffs in Southern California. Tonight, the CIF Open Division semifinals will feature four local teams: Torrey Pines HS, Canyon Crest Academy, Cathedral Catholic High School, and Del Norte High School. Rancho Santa Fe Attack Soccer Club doesn’t have a Development Academy program. They don’t send dozens and dozens […]
Advice for high school soccer tryouts
In SoCal, high school is a winter sport, and tryouts are happening now. Here’s how to shine. It’s time for high school soccer tryouts for teens all over Southern California who aren’t playing in the Development Academy. If you are trying out for your high school team, read to learn how to stand out. TIP […]
Living the Impossible Dream: From a Wheelchair to D1 Soccer
Last year, I told you Sarah Trent’s college soccer recruiting story. Recruiting specialists told Sarah all through high school that she needed to give up on her D1 soccer dreams. She didn’t listen. Now, she’s starting her sophomore season at New Mexico State University. Cassandra Herrman: Living her Dreams This year, I’m going to tell […]
Abby Wambach on the Importance of High School Soccer
Abby Wambach is a soccer legend. Olympic Gold Medalist. World Cup Champion. NCAA D1 Champion. And, back in the day, she got to play soccer for her high school. Today’s soccer players have a new and difficult choice to make. Like most of her soccer peers, and the “99ers” who paved the way, she played […]
SOPHIE JONES NAMED GATORADE NATIONAL GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sophie Jones, future Blue Devil The Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes the nation’s most elite high school athletes for their accomplishments on and off the field. The 2019 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year is future Duke Blue Devil, Sophie Jones. Sophie Jones, an interview with SoccerNation Gatorade just announced the […]
American Soccer: Using Our Strengths and Addressing Our Challenges (Part 1)
A conversation with the Director of Talent Identification for US Soccer, Mirelle van Rijbroek The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup has kicked off in France. Leading up to this Women’s World Cup, I asked van Rijbroek the hard question: Who does she think will win the championship? She answered, “Well, I hope we do, of […]
High School Soccer Shines During Playoffs
Were there college scouts watching the game?Maybe. The soccer was definitely good enough.But there wasn’t a line of college scouts in their folding chairs sitting behind a “Players and Coaches Only” barrier on the sideline. Parents filled the stands, but they were nearly (or maybe completely) outnumbered by the players’ peers and classmates. If parents […]
The DA debate continues: “It wasn’t the best fit.” -Slammers FC
Slammers FC was one of the most dominant girls’ clubs during the Girls Development Academy’s inaugural year. Surprisingly to many, Slammers FC then left the DA and returned to the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League). Why? I recently spoke with Christen Press’s Slammers FC coach, Ziad Khoury about Christen’s years of youth soccer. Neither ECNL nor the DA […]
“Honestly, it’s the parents who want HS soccer.” Club coach describes his view of DA vs High School
I recently spent time with a high level girls soccer team who joined the girls’ DA in the inaugural 2017 season. This team is full of NCAA D1 commits, and even a few US Soccer National Team selectees. The girls began their high school years in the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League). A top-level club coach […]
Why does the Development Academy Bar Players from High School Soccer?
US Soccer Director of Talent Identification explains why DA players can not play for their high schools. The Boys’ Development Academy started in 2007, and the Girls’ Development Academy started in 2017. Since then, many families strongly disagree with US Soccer’s directive that DA players are not permitted to play for their high school teams […]
SoccerNation Club Spotlight: San Diego United (Part 1)
The train just keeps on rolling. All aboard! SoccerNation is spotlighting youth clubs from all over these United States of America. Powered by soccerloco, the SoccerNation Club Spotlight Series has already taken us all around Southern California and to some very special soccer spots across this great country. From the Hawaiian Islands to the Eastern […]
College Recruiting: Does This School Make My Butt Look Big?
You have to figure out if a soccer program comes close to being a fit for YOU athletically. You also have to figure out if a college is a good fit for you academically, but for this article we’ll focus on athletics. HOW do you figure out if you’re a good fit for a specific college’s soccer team? […]
Soccer Recruiting: Tips For Your Junior Year In High School
The stories are out there: Eighth, ninth, and tenth-grade soccer players verbally commit to full-ride soccer scholarships. Families with older soccer athletes start to wonder, “Am I too late? Are all of the college roster spots already gone?” Early college commitments are exciting, and they get a lot of attention in social media, but those early college […]