Karl Dewazian and he is serious........?

"The world is becoming aware of the emergence of a 'sleeping giant'. They realize that with our resources and size it is only a matter of time that is keeping us from attaining our rightful place at the top of the soccer world. The space for the World Cup trophy has already been cleared away at the Soccer House in Chicago. Yet, they are stopping us with a 'secret weapon' that even a Batman foe would view with envy. They are infiltrating us with a 'training virus."

The CYSA Leader quoted from Karl Dewazian's Fundamental Soccer Web Site:

" Moving beyond the laws of the game and rules that govern it, I would pose the following queries: How do you know a player was taken down from behind? Do you know what the requirements for that foul actually are? Do you have any training and meaningful experience with officiating? Were you the assessor assigned to these games? Were you better suited and situated to see the action than the referee? Just the physics and mechanics of the game of soccer, the differing positions of people in relation to the field and play, and the dynamics of what is happening in a game would strongly suggest that the answers are in the negative."

"Football associations that are serious about the game's health and growth are duty-bound to promote mass participation and interest," Roxburgh said. "Grassroots football, which acts as a vehicle for social integration, health and happiness, is the aim. As a by-product, talents will emerge.

"Constant development of the game is imperative, and the foundation of all football growth and advancement lies in the grassroots," he added.

Freddy Adu to Manu..?

Adu's club season with Major League Soccer side DC United ended last weekend and the teenage forward is keen to further his footballing education in Europe.

How many games did you attend........?

"We don't like to kick and run. We like to possess the ball ... looking to attack," coach Dominic Kinnear says. "The people wouldn't keep on coming out here unless the team was good. Playing soccer the right way — with skill, determination, hard work and commitment — is what these people like."

This email came to me this morning from Gregg Thompson of Placer United  - I asked him for permission to post this on the Far Post Report. He agreed. Here is his letter which, we believe, could apply to many areas in the state and probably the country.

Dear Administrators, Coaches, Parents,

This confrontational escalation between San Juan and Placer is getting out of control.  San Juan decides to boycott the Placer girls tournament, Placer plans to boycott the Cal Cup Tournament, clubs are not re-scheduling games to accommodate one another...it's getting worse and worse.   We are all pleased with ourselves for retaliating and "one upping" the opposing club's coaches, teams and administrators but the only loser in this environment is the player.  As was said in an earlier email, "aren't we all in this for the players?"

You must teach your team to play hard, no matter who the opponents are, because you're setting your own standards, playing toward goals you want the team and each player to achieve. Your players must learn that the best respect they can give opponents is to play to win, to show them their best.

The rise of paid coaches is just one reason why it commonly costs an American child thousands of dollars a year