CAL SOUTH PRO+: Iwould first like to thank Coast Soccer League, as well as Coast Premier Chair. Creating More Identification Opportunities

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2 CAL SOUTH PRO+: Creating More Identification Opportunities BY STEVE HOFFMAN CAL SOUTH DIRECTOR OF COACHING EDUCATION AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Iwould first like to thank Coast Soccer League, as well as Coast Premier Chair Gary Sparks, for allowing us to share some important program changes in our elite player identification and development model at the state level. Over the next few weeks, I will try to give you an in-depth look at the new Cal South Pro+ program, how our ODP program fits into the new system, and how players, by age, are selected to our Pro+ pools. And finally, we will close the series with an update on what U.S. Soccer is doing to help players develop through a more in-depth coaching education program. Many people have asked why Cal South recently changed from their existing Olympic Development and Young Olympians Programs. The answer is quite simple. It s called progress. While ODP did, and will continue to do, a great job in identifying players and allowing them to train and compete at the next level, we were forced to recognize that the needs of our club players has changed over time. It is not a surprise, then, to learn that the better soccer player you are, the more you end up paying to play, which creates burdens on parents and on teams, especially when travel expenses are brought into the mix. The goal of Pro+ is to grow other programs (including ODP), but not to limit our identification possibilities to just ODP. As you are likely aware, we oversee Under-23 and other adult leagues, and we feel there is potential there as well to include some form of identification program in the future. As a leading state association, counting some of the most successful clubs and leagues in the country among our membership, we felt the old model needed definite changes. We also felt strongly that inclusion is the key to finding more players for our state and national teams. Before we implemented the Pro+ program, we made sure all of the necessary elements were in place, especially where advancement was concerned. In the old model, players would go to a regional event along with other states, which a single National Staff coach would attend for identification purposes. In the new Pro+ ID camp program, we invited Washington s PDP teams to join us to provide competition, and we brought in two staff coaches from U.S. Soccer. The cost for the players at this Pro+ camp? Free. There will still be some travel when Cal South participates in the regional and national ODP championships annually (in January and March, respectively), but that has changed as well. In the past, the players families had to cover a large amount of the costs. Players will now only pay a minimum fee to travel to these events. What is Pro+? Pro+ is the most progressive player identification and development system in the United States combining all of Cal South's current and future elite player development initiatives under one integrated structure. The areas of emphasis of the Pro+ system are identification, development, inclusion and advancement of the top male and female soccer players throughout Southern California. 2 C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

3 Is the word "Pro" an acronym or about making youth players professionals? No, the word "Pro" is being used as a preposition, which means "to be in favor of." Our goal is to help players advance to the next highest level that is available to them, whether it be a youth national team, college or becoming a professional player. Identification Cal South believes that players are best identified in their natural game-playing environment by professional scouts. We have developed a high-level scouting system over the past twelve years and are creating a more robust technological platform to identify and track players as they progress through this system. As more emphasis goes towards our younger age groups, the reach of our scouting and identification efforts under Pro+ will be greatly intensified as our player pools are larger in those younger age groups. As in the past, our main identification events are the Sports Authority State Cup and Cal South National Cup. We also identify some players through our summer camp program, during league play, and at selected tournaments. Around 900 games were covered this year at State and National Cup by Pro+ staff. We identified over 500 players in the Youngers 2000 and 1999 age groups; these players were then invited to our player pool training weekends. At the Olders competitions, we identified 350 players in the 96, 97 and 98 age groups. There are a number of other ways players can be selected for Pro+. Club technical directors, directors of coaching, team coaches, and even opposing club coaches can also recommend players. Individual players that are recommended this way will be scouted in league play from September through December and at State and National Cup. Additionally, open showcases will be held to provide players the chance to be scouted by Pro+ staff. The two groups from which Cal South Pro+ will not accept player recommendations are parents and private trainers. Cal South accepts player recommendations for all age groups from September to November, and again in February and March. NEXT WEEK: Player Development in Cal South Pro+ I s s u e 2 S e p t e m b e r ,

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6 COLLEGE RECRUITING Presented by CSL PLAYER SHOWCASE What s the difference between NCAA, NAIA and CCCAA? NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association oversees more than 400,000 student-athletes competing in three divisions at over 1,000 colleges and universities. There are strict recruiting guidelines. Schools can offer athletic and/or academic scholarships. If you plan to play in the NCAA, you must meet specified academic criteria and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center in your junior year. NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics organizes intercollegiate athletics among smaller colleges and universities. Its mission is to balance academic objectives while competing in college sports. There are fewer recruiting restrictions. Schools can offer academic and athletic scholarships. If you plan to play in the NAIA, you must meet specified academic criteria and register with the NAIA Eligibility Center. CCCAA California Community College Athletic Association oversees over 109 athletic programs in community colleges in the state of California. If you plan to play in the CCCAA, you must check individual schools for pre season soccer classes and tryout requirements. You will also register with the NCAA or NAIA if you plan to move onto a 4 year college and play sports. More details can be found in the College eligibility requirements section of the Player Showcase dashboard. What s the difference between NCAA Division I, II and III? Generally, larger schools compete in Division I and smaller schools in Division II and III. Division I and Division II schools can offer academic and athletic scholarships. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but do offer academic scholarships. How do I determine which division I am best qualified to play? It s best to discuss this with a coach or personal trainer that can evaluate your abilities and help you target your recruiting activities in the right direction. Another thing that you can do is call college coaches, usually assistant coaches, at schools that you are interested and ask them what qualities they look for in a player, then determine whether you meet their criteria. How do I determine which school is best to attend? Choosing a school is about finding a good personal fit academically, athletically, environmentally and financially. Do the research in each of these areas and the best schools will become evident. Another thing to consider is this: If something happened and you could no longer play your sport at a particular college, would you still be happy there? How do I do the research to find my best schools? Player Showcase offers a complete college database of all NCAA, NAIA and CCCAA schools throughout the country. You can sort by organization and division, region and state, type of schools (public, private, community colleges) and men s or women s sports. Your initial list will be provided with links to learn about the school, its soccer program and coach s names with contact information. Refer to the College database section on the Player Showcase dashboard. What are the chances that I can get a scholarship? The best way to be able to obtain scholarship money is from more than one resource. One is an athletic scholarship, the second is an academic scholarship; then, if you qualify, you can receive financial aid or school grants. If you are a good student and a good athlete you have the best chance. Also, the more open you are in your search, the more chances you have. If you are willing to attend a smaller or lesser known school and a school out of state, you may have more opportunities than focusing your efforts on a few top colleges. How do college coaches determine scholarships? Most scholarships are sliced and diced. The NCAA dictates how many athletic scholarships each sport can offer in Division I and Division II. To squeeze out the maximum benefit, coaches routinely split up these awards. For instance, a Division I soccer coach is allowed up to 10 scholarships, but he or she can split this money into smaller scholarships to bring more athletes to their program. Also, if you receive a sports scholarship, don't assume that it's going to be for four years. Athletic scholarships must be renewed each year and that's at the coach's discretion. How soon do I start to contact coaches? You can begin to contact your targeted schools as early as your Freshman or Sophomore year. The first is an initial introduction. Following s are updates of your accomplishments, tournament and game schedules or questions that you may have and can be sent every few months. Keep in mind that there are very specific recruiting rules. For example, NCAA coaches will not be able to respond to your s until the first day of your junior year. However, putting your name and accomplishments in front of them will get a good response when the time comes. When coaches are permitted to personally write back, the s will become more personalized. Getting recruited is about relationship-building. 6 C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

7 Q&A How many colleges should I target? Use the Player Showcase College Database to help you identify colleges. We recommend that you keep your options open and create an initial list of up to 30 or more colleges in-state, out-of-state and different divisions to create balance. As you get into your recruiting process through ing, phone calls, showcases and camps, your list will naturally decrease and eventually your top 3 5 schools will become evident. Should I do a recruiting campaign, even if I plan to go to a community college? Absolutely. Your local community college may be even more competitive than many 4 year schools. If you plan to play in the CCCAA, check individual schools for pre season soccer classes and tryout requirements. Refer to the College eligibility requirements section of the Player Showcase dashboard to see the different conferences and standings. What if I don t hear back from coaches? Don t give up right away. If the school is very important to you, call the coach. Continue to send updates about your progress. In the end, coaches that are interested will respond. This is part of the process that will determine your top schools. What kinds of questions do I ask? Questions can be found in the Telephone interview and campus visit section of the Player Showcase dashboard. Should I go to camps? It is your responsibility to get recruited. This means that you are responsible for your exposure through s inviting coaches to watch you play and once you narrow down your best college fits, attending choice camps. There is no guarantee that coaches will be able to make your tournament or see you play. Another factor is that most coaches want to see you play more than once, so a camp provides an environment that allows them to watch you up close over a period of time. What we do recommend is that before attending a camp, you have established a relationship with them and ask them to watch you while you are there. I received an saying that I am a top recruit for my graduation class? What does that mean? It means that they are watching. You and probably a hundred others have received the same . It does not mean that you have an offer. If you are really interested in that school, then it is very important to build the relationship through s, phone calls and camps. At the same time, keep building the relationships with your other schools. There are no guarantees. What does it mean to be eligible to play? Being eligible means that you are required to have a specific Grade Point Average (GPA) and that you have taken all the required high school classes needed to play. Again refer to the Guide for The College Bound Student and meet with your guidance counselor to make sure you are meeting the academic criteria. What is an unofficial visit vs. an official visit to a school? An unofficial visit is any visit that you and your parents make to any college at your own expense. You can make as many unofficial visits as you like at any time. An official visit is available at times directed by the NCAA rules, which currently is after the first day of your senior year. For an official visit, a college can pay some or all of your expenses. Some schools may require you to provide copies of your high school transcripts, SAT, ACT or PLAN scores and register with the eligibility center before they will invite you for an official visit. What is a verbal commitment? This phrase is used to describe an athlete s commitment to a school before he or she is able to sign the National Letter of Intent. You can receive an offer from a college, then announce a verbal commitment at any time; however, it is important to understand that it is NOT binding for either the athlete or the college. Only the signing of the National Letter of Intent accompanied by a financial aid agreement is binding on both parties. What is the National Letter of Intent? This takes place in the senior year of high school. By signing, the athlete agrees to attend the college for one academic year. In exchange, the college must provide athletics financial aid for one academic year. Questions? Player Showcase at cslplayershowcase.com/contactus Visit Player Showcase representatives at the CSL field booth Saturday, September 29, 10:00 1:00 Saturday, October 6, 10:00 1:00 I s s u e 2 S e p t e m b e r ,

8 Delusion BY JAMES THOMPSON Want a feel-good chuckle? Head over to a U-6 field and watch a game of kickball. Five year olds booting and whiffing at size 3 balls with stragglers staring up at clouds or performing random half-cartwheels is a hoot. At U-6, there s no holding your shape, there s one shape that familiar bee-hive-like gaggle of kids collectively batting at a ball and striking shins. At U-6, shin guards get a workout. At the very least, U-6 should be a year of playful innocence, a good-natured hilarious diversion - right? Not always and not for everyone. In 2004, two dads duked it out over a girls AYSO U-6 game. No kidding. The guy who started it lost the fistfight and then lost whatever dignity he had left by suing the league. He claimed the league should have known he was out of control. Apparently leagues need to do psych evaluations on parents before their 5 year old takes the pitch. In 2001 an AYSO game between the Chino Chiefs and the Palmdale Eagles ended with a 30-person brawl. The violence started when an assistant coach and a parent picked a fight, not with each other, but with a 8 C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

9 14-year-old boy. The head coach, his assistant and a parent were banned for life. Regrettably all three retained their right to parent. On average, U-6 parents aren t blowing head gaskets, but by U-8 and U-9, that playful innocence of AYSO U-6 gives way to the rough and tumble rock-emsock-em world of Club soccer. Some parents think that when their child reaches the age of 8, it s time to get serious. Why? Because by age of 8 or 9, clubs are signing players to fill rosters spots, and I think when parents add up club fees, equipment costs and $50 to $100 a week in gas to drive to training and garden spots like the Blast Complex or Bakersfield, some parents lose their grip on sanity. I ve been there I mean, I ve been to Lancaster, Blast and Bakersfield. I can see why traveling from San Diego to Lancaster for games may make some folks go off the reservation. I ll admit that on more than one occasion, I ve pulled into a dirt parking lot at dawn (after paying 5 bucks) and watched as blankets, umbrellas and small children flew past the windshield and mumbled something like I m in soccer hell. I admit to sometimes musing: this better pay-off some day- because this really sucks! My wife would give me The Look which usually put a stop to that. Logic would kick in and I d realize that, hoping a college would someday pay for our son s education (while he plays soccer) was kind of like buying a lottery ticket nice if it happens but don t count on it. But for many, when it comes to youth sports, logic and reason are often checked at the gate. For many moms and dads they don t just live through their kids, they transform into bad tempered 2 year olds. When a call is missed we ve all seen parents transform into Regan from The Exorcist. Parents seem to levitate off the ground and spew green pea vomit all over an AR who missed an obvious foul. If something (directly) impacts their kid, well, hide the plastic knives and sporks, because it s personal now! During a U-13 club game, our son s coach didn t start a boy for the second half, and the boy s mom promptly grabbed her son by the arm, and off they marched to the parking lot. The boy was mortified. Two seasons later, he was out of club soccer. Parents want their children to succeed. Most parents do what the can to achieve that goal within the bounds of sanity, but often parents become overengaged and measure their own self-worth against their child s successes (or failure). Sports Psychologists call it Identification. I call it, putting on the crazy pants. Everyone remembers the story about the coach who paid a player to hit a (mentally disabled) kid. He wanted to further disable the boy to keep him out of the game - that s how bad he wanted to win a T-Ball game. All too often parents believe their child is destined for a Division I scholarship and a pro career, and when that linear path is disrupted, they put on the crazy pants. The New Haven School District in Union City California was sued because a boy was booted from his High School basketball team, and the parents promptly sued, claimed the dismissal ruined the boy s impending NBA career. A Corona Del Mar parent sued the High School coach when his son didn t make the varsity baseball team. A Mission Viejo student sued after he was dismissed from his team. He wanted 50 million in damages, claiming the dismissal wrecked his chances at a pro career. To be certain, if you can t make your High School team, you re chances of being the next Mike Trout, are remote. Billy Bean, the subject of the movie Money Ball was a can t miss youth phenom Bean according to all the scouts was destined for baseball s Hall of Fame. Bean was a dud as a player. All too often soccer-moms and soccer-dads see their 10 year old dribble through a defense, and suddenly they see a vision of junior in a Gatorade commercial and playing at D1 soccer on a full ride. All too often that delusion starts even before the child is 10. CSL was sued recently when a player turned her ankle in a gopher hole. The parents claimed that CSL and Cal State Dominguez Hills had cost the player a college scholarship. The player was 10 years old. The gopher wasn t named in the scholarship-robbing conspiracy. Any parent who has done the U-6 to college route has seen phenoms at 10 who are average at 13, and off the college radar by U-16. There is no guarantee that a player, who dominates at U-10, will be dominating the game at U-16. Frequently, it s just the opposite. No college recruiter cares nor do they give the slightest consideration to what a player did in a YouTube video, when the kid at 10 dribbled through 5 players to score. Peaking too soon is a frequent caution. Often a player spends his or her college freshman and sophomore years hugging a bench. Parents suing coaches for playing time, or suing a league because their 10 year old turned an ankle in a gopher hole is, frankly, delusional. Landon Donavon started with AYSO at U-6, and he stayed with AYSO through U-14. Why did Donavon end up signing with a pro team at 16? Because he was really good at 16, not because he dominated 5 year olds, when he was 5. A JAMES THOMPSON is a freelance humorist and artist. He is married with three boys one playing D1 soccer. James is an award-winning artist. He was the featured sports cartoonist at the LA Daily News for 26 years. His cartoons have been collected by sports figures and celebrities, including Ted Turner, Peter Ueberroth, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Clippers. In his spare time he is an attorney. James can be reached at jpt11@earthlink.net I s s u e 2 S e p t e m b e r ,

10 MESSAGE FROM GARY SPARKS Premier Chairman In the 1st issue of the 2012 Premier Magazine, the topic of what is required by the athlete to assist in the college recruiting process was briefly introduced. All players were referred to the NCAA website and asked to read the NCAA collection of documents designed as guides for college bound studentathletes. For the purposes of this discussion, it is assumed the athlete has done this. Over the last few years, many of you have probably seen the number of college coaches that have visited the Premier Fields, Showcase Tournaments, Camps or High School games. You may be assuming that you, as a player, have already been seen by one of the college coaches from a college of your choice or by some other college coach at one of these events. This may not be a valid assumption. As stated in the Recruiting Article in last week s Magazine, most college coaches are looking for players to fill specific positions on their next year s team. Only a few starters graduate every year and the coach is usually looking for a player for that position if a starter is graduating in a year or even in two years. While you might to be a great forward, that may not be the position the coach is looking for. So, do not assume you have been looked at if a coach is at your field. You may still be an undiscovered star. You need to become proactive in self-promotion. The key to being discovered lies in the hands of one person and one person alone The Player. The Player must really be the active ingredient in the formula for college recruiting. The Player must be the catalyst. The Player must take an aggressive role and actually participate in the recruiting process. So what do I mean by this? I will give you my personal interpretation of what a player should do in the recruiting process. My opinion does not ring true for everyone, but for a great many, it is in the ballpark. The Player should decide just want it is he or she wants out of college. Hopefully the player will decide they want a great education in a field they want to work in. The Player should locate a collection of colleges or universities that have a major in their field of interest and then create a list of these institutions. It should not matter to the Player if the colleges or universities are a Div. I, Div. II, Div III or NAIA. It should only matter as to the quality of education they will receive. In creating this list of schools, academic requirements should be taken into consideration. A player should be aware of their chance of being admitted into the college or university based on their existing grades. However, this is one area where soccer can play a major role. If a player s grades are marginal as to acceptance into the college or university, a soccer coach who wants you can make it happen. Sometimes the coach will help a soccer player even if the player will probably not make the team. So do not hesitate to add a college or university to the list that really interests you. To help the Player with this endeavor, CSL has partnered with The CSL Player Showcase organization to provide each and every CSL Premier Player with his or her own personalized on line Player Profile. However, in addition to allowing the Player to create his or her own profile as well as the ability to upload their performance videos and action photos, the program provides the following information: (1). A College Database with over 2000 NCAA, NAIA and Community Colleges which provides the Player with the tools to customize their college search, receive access to eligibility information, coach contact information and much more. (2). The Program also provides links and answers to some of the Player s most important areas of concern, such as: College admission requirements, financial aid calculators, soccer programs, college rankings, sample s to coaches, templates and visual planners. Coast Soccer League 2012 PREMIER COMMITTEE Premier Chairman Gary Sparks Vice Chairman Marguerite Cochran Boys U16 & U19 Competitive Chairwoman... Karen Sparks Girls U16 thru 19 Competitive Chairwoman.. Karen Sparks Referee Liaison Nick Cruz Marketing Carol Ritter Data Analyst Roma Klein Action Photographer Gary Campbell Sara Joubert Bill Reese Team Photographer Gary Campbell of NuPhoto Webmaster David Fliegler CSL Player Showcase Program Savraj & June Dhillon Printer Sam George of PTS Marketing Group 10 C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

11 The CSL Player Showcase is a comprehensive overall player profile based program with a proven step-bystep easy to follow system. AND, THE CSL PLAYER SHOWCASE program is FREE to all CSL Premier Players from our U14 players to our U19 players. Every player should be using this program NOW. U14 is NOT to early to start promoting yourself. It is NEVER to early to begin preparing for the college recruiting process. Your team manager is aware of the CSL Player Showcase Program and can help you and your other team players sign up and begin using the program TODAY. Included in this issue of the Premier Magazine is an article containing some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers regarding colleges and universities, their requirements, the differences between D1, D2, D3, NAIA and Community Colleges and other general questions regarding information that the player may need to select a college or university that will best suit his or her interests. Also, a CSL Player Showcase ad is contained in this issue with contact information as well as other pertinent facts about the Player Showcase program. Please review this information. It will be very helpful in making your decisions regarding your college career. Once your list of colleges and universities is created, the real work begins. Sort out the colleges and/or universities that have soccer programs that specifically interest you. You need not rank them in any order in that you should contact them all. As stated in the earlier column, college recruiting is a minefield for both players and coaches alike. Do you part and register as soon as you are allowed with the NCAA and make sure you have learned the recruiting rules the coaches must follow. Do not place college coaches in a position that violates the NCAA Rules. It is imperative that you know these rules. Start contacting the coaches on your list. You, the player, need to take the aggressive role. them - write them. Let the coaches know who you are and when and where you play. Give them your CSL Player Showcase profile address. When appropriate, send them videos of you in action. If you are not sure of how to initially contact them, the CSL Player Showcase provides you that information. In the paragraph above, I mentioned providing coaches with videos of you in action during a game. Today, action videos have become a necessity in the pursuit of athletic scholarships and I mean a necessity. Players MUST have video footage to provide coaches and the more video footage they have, the better. Sometimes this is easier said then actually done. And, in the past, video taping a game has never been cheap. However, CSL wants to assist you in obtaining footage at a reasonable price. Therefore, CSL has retained the services of HI-POD, one of, if not the leader, in video taping players on game day. Their services are used by CSL, MLS, US Developmental Academy, ECNL and numerous other sports authorities and leagues across the Country and around the world. For the past two (2) weekends, HI-POD has been at UCI filming every game on every field. HI-POD will again be a UCI this weekend and for the next two (2) additional weekends filming every game on every field. HI-POD is amassing a huge film library of CSL players who have been or are playing at UCI this year. HI-POD is making these tapes available to all CSL Players at a very affordable price. Please see their ad in this magazine. If you want to augment the footage you already have, or if you want to start collecting your footage, HI-POD will be able to assist you in this endeavor. Go on line at obtain your footage, upload your footage to your CSL Player Showcase page or any other online player program you are using and use it to promote your talent to the college coaches of your choice. As I have said, it is never to early to prepare for the recruiting process. Using HI- POD will be a step in the right direction. One more bit of advice - Be persistent. Let the college coaches not only know your club schedule but also provide them with your high school schedule and your tournament schedule. Most coaches will not only acknowledge your letters/ s, but will actually take at look at you, either in person or through your videos. Do not become discouraged. Not ever. If you are in CSL Premier, you are a talented player and with hard work, you will find a school that will provide you with the education you are looking for and the opportunity to play college soccer. And remember, you, the player, control your own destiny and obtaining a college athletic scholarship is very hard work and takes a great deal of time. So start right now. In order to assist you, the following representatives will be at UCI this weekend to answer all your questions and will be located near the CSL Premier Tent: CSL PLAYER SHOWCASE Saturday, September 29, :00AM to 1:00PM Saturday, October 6, :00AM to 1:00PM HI-POD Saturday & Sunday September 29th & 30th, :00AM to 6:00PM ORDER YOUR VIDEO FOOTAGE AT I s s u e 2 S e p t e m b e r ,

12 Referee Point of View BY R.K. NIMMONS Goalkeepers tend to look to referees for lots of support and protection. They are the last outpost of defense for the team and are easily bumped, knocked, jostled, and shielded by opponents hoping to take advantage of their vulnerability. Referees are usually eager to make sure they have at least one ally on the field and that usually is the goalkeeper. Goalkeepers can also use a referee in their defensive game plan and work the referee s calls and decisions to their advantage. They can also become a pain to the referee if and when they complain too much or constantly cry foul every time they are touched. However, most of the goalkeepers I officiated simply wanted me to do my job and manage the game as well as protect them when the situation arose. They are especially most vulnerable when there is either a corner kick or free kick in the immediate vicinity of the goal. The more players inside the penalty and goal area, the more likely one or more attacking players may take advantage of the play and either shield the keeper from the ball illegally or bump into the keeper while trying to play the ball. Referees must look for and act upon situations where the goalkeeper is shielded or outright fouled while trying to block a shot on goal or use his or her hands to make a defensive play. The goalkeeper wants the referee to allow him or her to play the position as it supposed to be played. Most don t try to use the official to gain an unfair advantage. They couldn t risk get an official to mark him the suspect during play and not view the keeper as the one player who is most open to foul or action that takes advantage of his or her position. There are also unique portions of THE LAWS OF THE GAME that specifically govern the role and rule of the goalkeeper. In fact, the first section under INDIRECT FREE KICK deals with infractions a goalkeeper may be guilty of. If the keeper controls the ball with his or her hands for more than six seconds before releasing the ball back into play the referee can blow the whistle and have the opposing team take an indirect free kick from the point of play (unless it is within the goal and then it s on the line marking the goal and parallel to where the keeper was). Most referees don t sit there counting out the seconds, but they could. Most referees will first warn a keeper about prolonged possession before actually making the call. But, it can, should be and has been made. Witness the WOMEN S WORLD CUP as well as the OLYMPIC GAMES. Keepers cannot regain control with the hands after releasing the ball from the hands. If a goalkeeper touches the ball again with the hands after releasing it from the hands he or she can be called for another indirect free kick if the ball is not touched or played by another player. I am a product of the bygone days when the keeper s own teammates could and did waste time by kicking the ball to the keeper and having him or her pick it up or catch it with the hands and then return it to his teammate. This game of soccer catch could waste time and go on forever some days. Now, THE LAWS OF THE GAME specifically call for the referee to give an indirect free kick to the other team if the keeper touches it with the hands after it has been deliberately kick to him or her by a teammate. In the old days you could also make a THROW-IN to your own keeper. No more. In the modern era, if a THROW-IN is caught by the team s own keeper there is another indirect free kick given to the opposition. Goalkeepers may also only touch the ball with hands within the penally area. Play or touch it with the hands on the field of play and outside the penalty area and it is a HAND-BALL offense. The opponents get a DIRECT FREE KICK. The keeper can also be CAUTIONED and shown the yellow card for a handball offense. And, by the way, if you don t already know: a DIRECT FREE KICK can result in goal an INDIRECT FREE KICK must touch another player before a goal is scored. If it is kick directly into the goal, a GOAL KICK is given. Why so much attention to the GOALKEEPER??? It seems only right to do so since so many American goalkeepers are considered to be among the world s best. We have no less than six goalkeepers playing in the Professional League in Great Britain and more throughout European soccer leagues. American field players may find it hard to find a place on the world scene but American goalkeepers are sought after and lured away from America by some of the world s greatest teams. GOALKEEPERS are one of our greatest soccer assets. They deserve special consideration... don t they??? A 2012 CSL BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT BERNARD TOWERS Phone: FAX: bernie@coastsoccer.com VICE PRESIDENT CLIFF TABOR Phone: clifftabor@hotmail.com TREASURER ROMA KLEIN Phone: FAX: romajk@aol.com RECORDING SECRETARY CAROL RITTER Phone: FAX: carol@coastsoccer.com REGISTRAR ALESHA GARRETT Phone: FAX: agarrett@socal.rr.com PREMIER COMPETITION CHAIRMAN GARY SPARKS Phone: FAX: gsparks007@cox.net CHAIRPERSON Girls Competition 9-13 SAMIRA ABDALLAH Phone: samira@gmail.com CHAIRPERSON Girls Competition EDDIE NUNEZ Phone: hbeddie@gmail.com CHAIRPERSON Girls Competition TERRY WILSON Phone: twtruck1@gmail.com CHAIRPERSON Boys Competition 9-13 MIKE BENJAMIN Phone: mike@coastsoccer.com CHAIRPERSON Boys Competition TY LEATHERMAN Phone: tleatherman@msn.com CHAIRPERSON Boys Competition ALESHA GARRETT Phone: FAX: agarrett@socal.rr.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KAREN SPARKS Reached by ONLY: ksparks1@cox.net 12 C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

13 Girls Under 14 Celtic Hoops Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé------OLÉ! OLÉ! OLÉ! OLÉ! OLÉ! Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé------OLÉ! OLÉ! OLÉ! OLÉ! OLÉ!...1,2,3-CELTIC!!. is the chant you will have heard the Hoops girls sing as they prepare to take the field since the beginning of their rise in Coast Soccer League. Taking it up another level each and every year with the help of such a dedicated coach Hector Sanchez, they are a very lucky group of girls. A combination of heart, commitment, hard work, dedication, and perseverance has helped this team arrive to the challenge of Premier along with some great matches over the years against top competitors of this age group. When these girls are on their game, they can give any team a top challenge. At bronze in 2009 our team came out Champions of their bracket with an impressive record, only allowing 2 goals and scoring 73. Promoted to silver the following 2010 season proved to be another successful year with another solid performance. The team was named Champions yet again with a record was on their way to silver elite. With a petition for gold status that 2011 year, the girls were granted their request and accepted the challenge. Beginning with an exceptional start, gold was looking very promising, but by mid-season injury knocked down player after player. Finishing the final games of the season with no subs and even short players, our girls held their heads up for a 5th place finish. Shortly after, during League Cup, we began to regroup with almost our full roster back from injury and made it to the semi-finals. With extra hours of training and a full squad, we prepared for National Cup. Not expected to make it out of pool play by many, we turned heads finishing in the Elite 8 at National Cup Since then, our girls have played in top flights of numerous summer tournaments this year, placing as Finalists at the Cerritos Memorial Challenge Cup, Champions of the Arsenal Summer Classic, Champions of Pegasus Cup, Champions of the South Bay Force Summer Showcase, Champions of the NHB Cup and Quarter-Finalists of the Blues Cup. Along the way, win, lose or draw, lessons learned, skills improved, hearts broken, champions crowned, we continue to improve our game and are determined to move forward. Our team is about FAMILY on and off the field, comprised of a great group of girls and parents alike that are loyal and ultra-competitive yet grounded enough to know that it takes a lot of hard work to maintain top status. We have a strong belief in being a true team wherever we represent Celtic and not one of piled-on guest players. We are about developing our game with a possession attack and always rising to challenges of adversity. We are always looking to contend with the best and to put our team on the map. Along the way, our girls have learned with the experience of being in this league that never giving up and working hard can be rewarding. Very passionate for the game, coach Hector Sanchez holds this team as his trophy. We are proud to say we continue to aid in the growth and advancement of the girl s side of Celtic soccer. Hard work succeeds when talent fails to work hard is a saying synonymous with our Celtic Hoops who continue to shock both friend and foe alike. This year our Hoops will vie for the opportunity to challenge for a top spot in Premier which is a huge undertaking in itself. There are many talented teams in Premier this season, but with supportive parents and hardworking players, Celtic Hoops will always come out on top no matter the task great or small. GO HOOPS!!! A I s s u e 2 S e p t e m b e r ,

14 Boys Under 16 Carlsbad Elite The Carlsbad Elite B96 team coached by Paul Holohan is a squad to pay close attention to this upcoming fall season. In addition to coaching his teams, Holohan serves as the Carlsbad Elite Boys College Placement Director and as an assistant coach at San Diego State University. The team is off to a strong start as they began their 2012/2013 competitive season with an impressive trio of wins in the Carlsbad Cup Summer Nights Showcase this past July, scoring ten goals while only allowing one. They've also kicked off the Far West Regional League with two wins and a tie. This team plays soccer with great passion and heart their love of the game is evident as you watch their quick passing and high energy possession style of soccer. This year s team is comprised of a youth national team player and several other ODP selections. Many of the players have been playing together since they were nine years old and over the last two years their ranks have been bolstered by new additions that have added quality to an already technically strong group of soccer players. The roster now boasts 19 talented players, a strong bunch top to bottom. When not on the field the boys do well in the classroom, most of the team has over a 3.0 GPA. Despite the varied backgrounds of all the players they have formed a close bond every family pulling together, united in the quest to help their child better their lot in life and use soccer as the vehicle to get to college. For many of the players, they will be the first member of their family to attend college. When asked to describe his coaching philosophy, Coach Holohan sums things up as follows: I ve built teams up in the past with great success and this one is no different. The realism is that we may not have been ready to win a national championship in the years past but that process began years ago. I want to play an attractive free flowing style of football and we do that 14 C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

15 for sure; but the most important piece for me is developing soccer players, 'footballers' as we would say. You do that and the wins will come as you get older and the football shines through and the physical dominance evens out. I want to develop players so when they go on to college they are ready to fit into the best programs. This is not new for Paul Holohan, who won a Red Bull NL 17 National Championship in 2007 and says this team is very similar. Some of the players then went on to play SDSU, UConn, North Carolina, Sonoma State, Notre Dame and Tulsa. When talking to the players, there is a positive buzz about the upcoming year and a camaraderie and mutual respect brought about by hard training. The players push each other to bring the best out of one another and to play the best soccer. They are a true team with the players playing for each other. The team, led by captains Rey Ortiz and Arturo Fernandez, come to the field in both training and games ready to give 150%. Rey Ortiz ('97) is a YNT player who is attracting lots of attention. "To be honest," says Holohan, "if he was living in England or Spain he would be at a pro club. Other players such as Arturo Fernandez ('97), Nathaniel Bloom ('97), Jordi Lozada ('97) and Geovel Vargas ('96), and Matt LaBounty ('96) are also in the same boat says Holohan. Paul Holohan sums up the team as a whole by telling us college coaches I know very well who have watched our team all say the same thing they can ALL play and that is what we want to see. The Carlsbad Elite B96 will again be competing in the WCDA, the Premier bracket of Coast Soccer League, FWR League, and the SCNPL against all of the top teams around. They finished the season well last year with some hard fought victories against some of the best teams in the region. A I s s u e 2 S e p t e m b e r ,

16 Girls Under 17 Carlsbad Elite G95 A champion is someone who does not settle for that day's practice, that day's competition, that day's performance. They are always striving to be better. They don't live in the past. Briana Scurry Carlsbad Elite G95, led by Coach Adam Skumawitz, is excited to play in the Coast Soccer League Premier Division this year. Carlsbad Elite is a division of the Carlsbad Lightning Soccer Club that focuses on college-bound elite players. It is a college prep program designed for the student-athlete who desires to play at the college level. It emphasizes academic performance as equally as playing soccer at a highly competitive level. Carlsbad Elite provides a comprehensive training program along with exposure to college coaches through play in showcases, National Cup, Coast Soccer League, and other top tournaments. With an average GPA of 3.7, Carlsbad Elite G95 embodies the spirit of the student-athlete. Our team is characterized by hard work, high morale, character, and compassion. This year s team is comprised of a core which has been playing together for several years, augmented by additional talented players, creating an exceptionally well-rounded team with great skill and speed. Over the past several years, Carlsbad Elite G95 has finished as high as the quarterfinals in CalSouth National Cup, been either the champions or finalists in several showcase and top tournaments, and had several players identified as recruits by top college programs across the NCAA. Our team s goals this soccer year are to improve on last year s 3rd place CSL finish, place as at least a semi-finalist in every showcase or tournament, and show strength in the college recruiting process. A 16 C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

17 Girls Under 19 Riverside Force Education is the key to our success. RFC Force started in 2007 with one purpose in mind, education at the highest level. Our focus has always been to get each one of our girls to college using soccer as a tool to teach them valuable life lessons. RFC Force started as a rec team in a small community soccer league in Grand Terrace, CA. In 2007, led by coaches Gabriel Mendoza and Kevin G. Cooney, the girls completed their first season in Coast Soccer League under the name GT Force of the Corinthians Futbol Club. Shortly after their inaugural season coach Cooney left and Guillermo Ledesma stepped in to assist coach Mendoza with training and fitness. Over the years players have come and gone but one constant remains the same, getting our players to college is our number one priority. Coach Mendoza demands excellent grades, and the girls have responded with a team GPA average of 3.8. In 2010 GT Force joined Riverside Futbol Club and went on to win the Silver East bracket with 12 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. Coach Cooney returned as RFC Force was promoted from Silver to Gold, and in 2011, during their first season they won the highly competitive bracket with 10 wins, 1 loss, and 0 ties. The girls completed their banner season beating fellow gold and premier teams to become Girls U-17 CSL League Cup Champions. RFC Force has a winning mentality and the girls never give up. Through the years RFC Force has won countless tournament and showcase championships including the Las Vegas Players College Showcase in Our greatest achievement to date has been graduating Crystal Lopez, Alyssa Guzman, and Raelene Sepulveda who are now playing for NCAA Division 1 and NAIA programs. Riverside Futbol Club prides itself on their contributions to the community with RFC Force regularly assisting in area Special Olympic events and the El Protector Program for underprivileged families in Riverside. Our partnership with UC Riverside and local Law Enforcement Agencies provides coaching, mentoring, and services to at risk students searching for a way to get to college. Team chemistry is crucial to our success. With a core group of players having been with the team for multiple years RFC Force is welcoming a handful of new players who look to contribute to our already long list of accomplishments. Our player s parents do a tremendous job of supporting their daughter s dreams, our coaches and our team philosophy. It is only with their continued support that we re able to continue developing, setting goals, and achieving success. A I s s u e 2 S e p t e m b e r ,

18 Field Schedules SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 UCI FIELD 1 8:00 AM CARLSBAD ELITE B94 EAGLES BOYS U19 PREMIER 10:00 AM LA PREMIER FC FC LOS ANGELES B94 BLACK BOYS U19 PREMIER NOON CHULA VISTA PREMIER FC INDEPENDIENTE PREMIER BOYS U19 PREMIER 2:00 PM CRESCENTA VALLEY SC BLUE GREATER LB SPEED DEMONS GIRLS U14 PREMIER 4:00 PM AJAX TUSTIN UNITED RED GIRLS U19 PREMIER UCI FIELD 2 8:00 AM TUSTIN UNITED WHITE ALBION SC GIRLS U14 PREMIER 9:40 AM CORINTHIANS SC G97 ALBION SC GIRLS U15 PREMIER 11:20 AM GRANADA UNITED FC ALBION SC USA GIRLS U16 PREMIER 1:00 PM SIMI VALLEY ECLIPSE CELTIC HARPS GIRLS U15 PREMIER 2:45 PM FULLERTON RANGERS WHITE CHIVAS JR USA S.C. BOYS U19 PREMIER 4:35 PM BARCELONA USA (III) WOLFPACK G97 GIRLS U15 PREMIER UCI FIELD 3 8:00 AM FC GOLDEN STATE MVSC BOYS U19 PREMIER 9:45 AM WOLFPACK BLUE ALBION SC GIRLS U19 PREMIER 11:45 AM CELTIC HARPS ALBION SC USA BOYS U19 PREMIER 1:15 PM FULLERTON RANGERS WHITE LA PREMIER FC BOYS U16 PREMIER 3:00 PM DMS11 GOLD CELTIC HARPS BOYS U14 PREMIER 4:35 PM OC PREMIER BLACK B96 FC MAN UNITED B96 BOYS U16 PREMIER UCI FIELD 4 8:00 AM ALBION SC CORINTHIANS SC B96 BOYS U16 PREMIER 9:40 AM LOS GAUCHOS G96 GREATER LB HURRICANES GIRLS U16 PREMIER 11:20 AM LA PREMIER FC LAZERS SC GIRLS U16 PREMIER 1:00 PM CARLSBAD ELITE G96 FREEDOM FC G96 GOLD GIRLS U16 PREMIER 2:45 PM CARLSBAD ELITE G94 FC GOLDEN STATE BLACK GIRLS U19 PREMIER 4:35 PM BYSC G98 BLUE ANAHEIM FC G98 GIRLS U14 PREMIER UCI FIELD 5 8:00 AM CUSC BLUE 98 FREEDOM FC B98 BOYS U14 PREMIER 9:35 AM VALLEY UNITED RIVERSIDE FC FORCE GIRLS U19 PREMIER 11:35 AM LA PREMIER FC SOUTH VALLEY G95-KLIPPEL GIRLS U17 PREMIER 1:30 PM YASC SPARTANS FC G95 ALBION SC GIRLS U17 PREMIER 3:30 PM BYSC G95 VALLEY UNITED - DONALD GIRLS U17 PREMIER UCI FIELD 7SS 8:00 AM SOCAL SAMBA U10G FC BLADES G02 RED GIRLS U10 BRONZE SOUTH 9:15 AM SO CAL FC BU10 WHITE IRVINE PREMIER SC B02 BOYS U10 BRONZE SOUTH 10:30 AM IRVINE SOCCER ACADEMY B8 OC PREMIER B8 BOYS U09 BRONZE KAPPA 11:40 AM MVSC SAN CLEMENTE UNITED GIRLS U10 BRONZE SOUTH 18 C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

19 Field Schedules SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 UCI FIELD 1 8:00 AM IRVINE PREMIER SC - TOROS OC PREMIER BLACK B96 BOYS U16 PREMIER 9:45 AM SO CAL FC BU16 WHITE EMPIRE SC B96 BOYS U16 SILVER ELITE SOUTH 11:30 AM FC GOLDEN STATE BLACK CARLSBAD ELITE B96 BOYS U16 PREMIER 1:15 PM FC MAN UNITED B97 DOWNTOWN SC BU15 PREMIER BOYS U15 PREMIER 2:50 PM SANTA MONICA UTD B96 FULLERTON RANGERS WHITE BOYS U16 PREMIER 4:30 PM SANTA MONICA UTD B96 BLUE ALBION SC BOYS U16 PREMIER UCI FIELD 2 8:00 AM ALBION SC SO. BAY GUNNERS REDONDO GIRLS U14 PREMIER 9:40 AM ALBION SC UIFC CERRITOS LIVERPOOL GIRLS U15 PREMIER 11:20 AM ALBION SC USA LAZERS SC GIRLS U16 PREMIER 1:00 PM ROADRUNNER UNITED FC G96 LOS GAUCHOS G96 GIRLS U16 PREMIER 2:45 PM FREEDOM FC G96 GOLD GRANADA UNITED FC GIRLS U16 PREMIER 4:30 PM CORINTHIANS SC B96 CAL STARS OLIMPICA UNITED BOYS U16 PREMIER UCI FIELD 3 8:00 AM BYSC B97 SOUTH BAY GUNNERS BLACK BOYS U15 PREMIER 9:45 AM SAN DIEGO FA BU 95A CHIVAS JR. USA S.C. BOYS U17 PREMIER 11:40 AM SOUTH VALLEY G98-OTHART CRESCENTA VALLEY SC BLUE GIRLS U14 PREMIER 1:20 PM ANAHEIM FC G98 TUSTIN UNITED WHITE GIRLS U14 PREMIER 3:00 PM GREATER LB SPEED DEMONS BYSC G98 BLUE GIRLS U14 PREMIER 4:35 PM FC MAN UNITED B96 LA PREMIER FC BOYS U16 PREMIER UCI FIELD 4 8:00 AM LA PREMIER FC NHB BLACK GIRLS U15 PREMIER 9:45 AM LA PREMIER FC MVSC TITANS BOYS U17 PREMIER 11:45 AM CARLSBAD ELITE B95 FC GOLDEN STATE BOYS U17 PREMIER 1:45 PM XOLOS FC USA BU17 TEM CLAREMONT STARS BOYS U17 PREMIER 3:45 PM DMS11 B95 FC GOLDEN STATE BLACK BOYS U17 PREMIER UCI FIELD 5 8:00 AM FC LOS ANGELES B97 BLACK VALLEY UNITED - JACKSON BOYS U15 PREMIER 9:40 AM FULLERTON RANGERS WHITE AVFC BOYS U15 PREMIER 11:20 AM LA PREMIER FC BLACK CORINTHIANS SC G97 GIRLS U15 PREMIER 1:00 PM CELTIC HOOPS EAGLES GIRLS U14 PREMIER 2:45 PM SIMI VALLEY ECLIPSE CARLSBAD ELITE G97 GIRLS U15 PREMIER 4:30 PM LA PREMIER FC GREATER LB HURRICANES GIRLS U16 PREMIER UCI FIELD 7SS 8:00 AM SOCAL SAMBA B8 FC BLADES B04 TUSTIN BOYS U09 BRONZE KAPPA 9:10 AM SO CAL FC BU8 WHITE FC DEPORTIVO TRAVIESOS B8 BOYS U09 BRONZE KAPPA I s s u e 2 S e p t e m b e r ,

20 Premier Standings STANDINGS AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 BU14 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 DMS11 GOLD CELTIC HARPS FULLERTON RANGERS WHITE ALBION SC TUSTIN UNITED RED FREEDOM FC B BYSC B98 BLUE CUSC BLUE BU15 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 DOWNTOWN SC BU15 PREMIER FC MAN UNITED B BYSC B VALLEY UNITED - JACKSON FC LOS ANGELES B97 BLACK FULLERTON RANGERS WHITE SOUTH BAY GUNNERS BLACK CFC UNTOUCHABLES BLACK HG EAGLES FC LA PREMIER FC CARLSBAD ELITE B AVFC BU16 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 FULLERTON RANGERS WHITE LA PREMIER FC OC PREMIER BLACK B ALBION SC CAL STARS OLIMPICA UNITED SANTA MONICA UTD B SANTA MONICA UTD B96 BLUE CARLSBAD ELITE B FC GOLDEN STATE BLACK CORINTHIANS SC B FC MAN UNITED B IRVINE PREMIER SC - TOROS BU17 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 CHIVAS JR. USA S.C CARLSBAD ELITE B SAN DIEGO FA BU 95A SANTA MONICA UTD B DMS11 B MVSC TITANS FC GOLDEN STATE BLACK LA PREMIER FC FC GOLDEN STATE OXNARD AC BLUE CLAREMONT STARS XOLOS FC USA BU17 TEM GU14 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 TUSTIN UNITED WHITE SO. BAY GUNNERS REDONDO BYSC G98 BLUE EAGLES CELTIC HOOPS GREATER LB SPEED DEMONS CRESCENTA VALLEY SC BLUE ALBION SC ANAHEIM FC G SOUTH VALLEY G98-OTHART GU15 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 LA PREMIER FC BARCELONA USA (III) CARLSBAD ELITE G CORINTHIANS SC G UIFC CERRITOS LIVERPOOL NHB BLACK WOLFPACK G EAGLES ALBION SC LA PREMIER FC BLACK CELTIC HARPS SIMI VALLEY ECLIPSE GU16 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 LAZERS SC FC GOLDEN STATE-BLACK ALBION SC USA CARLSBAD ELITE G SIMI VALLEY ECLIPSE ROADRUNNER UNITED FC G FREEDOM FC G96 GOLD EAGLES GREATER LB HURRICANES LOS GAUCHOS G LA PREMIER FC GRANADA UNITED FC GU17 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 BARCELONA USA PLATINUM FC G95 KOOIMAN CARLSBAD ELITE G ALBION SC YASC SPARTANS FC G LA PREMIER FC SOUTH VALLEY G95-KLIPPEL BYSC G VALLEY UNITED - DONALD FC BLADES G BU19 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 INDEPENDIENTE PREMIER FC LOS ANGELES B94 BLACK FC GOLDEN STATE FULLERTON RANGERS WHITE CARLSBAD ELITE B ALBION SC USA EAGLES LA PREMIER FC CHULA VISTA PREMIER FC MVSC CELTIC HARPS CHIVAS JR USA S.C GU19 TEAM W L T PTS GF GA AC 1 FC GOLDEN STATE BLACK WOLFPACK BLUE EAGLES AJAX ALBION SC TUSTIN UNITED RED LA PREMIER FC VALLEY UNITED CARLSBAD ELITE G EAGLES WHITE RIVERSIDE FC FORCE TUSTIN UNITED WHITE C o a s t S o c c e r L e a g u e P r e m i e r M a g a z i n e

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