About - Us

This site provides information on important youth sports issues for parents, coaches and administrators. Some of the issues included are readiness for participation, specialization, overuse injuries, female athlete triad, creating a mastery environment, and being a parent-coach. It also provides links to some coaching education programs. If you are looking for teaching or coaching ideas related to soccer, this is a great site to visit. The site strives to "....promote a child centered approach to instruction and organization of youth sports. Emphasis is on promotion of soccer as a life long, family oriented activity." There is an extensive section on skills assessment. The fundamental skills used in soccer (dribbling, passing, trapping) are described in detail including specific objectives for each skill, a list of what to observe when evaluating each skill, focus points for the skill as well as an objective test to use when evaluating a child's skill level. Under "Spotlights" section you can click on an image of a soccer player and see a great animation of the specific skill in action.

The site also contains sections on coaching philosophy, sport parenting, team dynamics, and player development. For more helpful tips on teaching or coaching soccer, be sure to check out the sections "Fundamentals", "Getting Ready", "Ideas for Practice" and "Lead Up Games". The National Alliance for Youth Sports is America's leading advocate for healthy, positive and safe sports for children involved in out-of-school youth sports activities. The Alliance is a non-profit association dedicated to its mission: "Better Sports for Kids... Better Kids for Life." Make sure to check out the National Standards for Youth Sports while you are there.

The Youth Sports Network site offers headline news stories related to youth sports, a featured sport of the week, a directory of sports camps, an section featuring a brief story on nominated players of the week, and an excellent instructional area. To date the instruction page covers the sports of baseball, softball, soccer and basketball. Players can get tips on many different aspects of their sport while the coaches section presents ideas for practice plans, player development, and game related suggestions. For those looking for health and fitness information the Youth Sports Network features sections on nutrition, exercise and first aid. If you are interested in sports, looking for instructional tips as a player or coach, or want to learn about a specific sport, be sure to visit the Youth Sports Network.