News – Hollywood FC

Welcome to USL

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:16:08 GMT

USL Academy League welcomes Hollywood FC as the 6th South Florida Club

The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, with a presence in more than 200 communities across 46 states. Bringing the world’s game to fans nationwide, the USL operates the most expansive integrated men’s and women’s soccer platform in America – from youth to pre-professional and professional leagues.

The USL is shaping the future of the game by creating opportunities for players at every level and bringing fans together through memorable experiences in stadiums that are the hearts of competition, connection, and celebration.

Hollywood FC is proud to build upon 2 years in the USL League, playing under Miami AC banner. On January 20, 2026 we received a great news in which USL and USL Academy League recognized 2 years of hard work and our success on and off the field and has granted Hollywood FC their own franchise.

More exciting news soon. About USL (video)

Thank you and Congratulations Coach Jake

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:44:29 GMT

Hollywood FC Clubwide Announcement

Hollywood FC is proud to share that Jake Castro has accepted the role of Assistant Coach with Brown University Women’s Soccer, competing in the Ivy League out of Providence, Rhode Island.

During Jake’s time at Hollywood FC, the club has undergone significant growth and alignment across all areas of development. His contributions include the restructuring of staff roles and curriculum, the creation and implementation of the club’s Individual Development Plan (IDP) program, and the establishment of a development-based training and competition model that supports long term player growth. This work helped define a clear pathway from grassroots soccer through the pre-professional level.

Under his leadership, Hollywood FC invested in professional resources, including the development of an in-house strength and conditioning facility and program, the expansion of coach education initiatives with dozens of staff earning US Soccer and European coaching certifications, and the continued evolution of the club’s vision, values, and guiding principles.

At the pre-professional level, the club achieved its highest USL finish in program history under Jake’s leadership as Head Coach. Through this work on the field and his role in developing the club’s overall structure and long-term development plan, Jake played a direct role in Hollywood FC’s acceptance into the USL Academy League as a new, independent franchise, completing a sustainable pathway that connects youth development to the collegiate and professional game.

Jake’s move to Brown University reflects both his personal professional growth and the strength of the environment at Hollywood FC. Over the past few seasons, the club has supported multiple staff members in advancing to the highest levels of collegiate soccer, reinforcing Hollywood FC’s commitment to developing not only players but also coaches and leaders. This follows the success of Coach Justin DeSousa, whose Bryant Bulldogs are currently ranked among the top 10 in NCAA Division I men’s soccer, further highlighting the caliber of staff developed within the club.

Hollywood FC remains fully committed to continuity, stability, and continued growth. The systems, staff structure, and development pathway in place will continue to serve our players and families as we move forward. Coach Jake will continue to support the transition behind the scenes to ensure that key processes, standards, and long-term initiatives remain aligned and are carried forward effectively.

Transition & Contacts Going Forward

Club Administration & Finance

Player tryouts and contracts, all coaching, and financial matters

→ Tom (Executive Director and Treasurer) tom@hollywoodfc.com

→ Mauro (Director of Soccer and President) mauro@hollywoodfc.com

Registrations, billing, payments, credits

→ Nicole (Registrar and Vice President) nicole@hollywoodfc.com

Soccer Operations

Scheduling, training, coverages, player placement, and on-field matters

→ Coach Gaby (Girls Program and Office work) gaby@hollywoodfc.com

→ Coach Kevyn (Boys Program and Office work) kevyn@hollywoodfc.com

→ Copy Tom and Mauro on everything

We are grateful for Jake’s impact and leadership and wish him continued success in this next chapter.

Coach Tom Tianich

Executive Director & Volunteer Treasurer

tom@hollywoodfc.com

Hollywood FC | EST. 1985

No Victory Without Honor - GO WILDCATS !!!

Club-Hopping and Increased Soccer Dropout Rates

Sat, 31 May 2025 15:11:12 GMT

Why "Price for Life" Loyalty Programs Matter in Youth Soccer

"Price for life" loyalty program - where returning players are guaranteed stable fees are crucial in curbing the trend of parents moving their children from club to club each year in search of the next "best team."

This approach benefits both player development and club stability in several key ways:

Benefits for Player Development

Consistency in Coaching and Environment: Staying with one club allows players to develop under consistent coaching philosophies and systems, which is critical for skill progression and confidence. Constantly switching teams disrupts this continuity, often leading to fragmented development and confusion for the player.
Focus on Individual Growth: Clubs that prioritize loyalty and retention are more likely to invest in individual development plans (IDPs) for each player. This ensures that every child’s growth is tracked and supported, rather than being overshadowed by a constant influx of new players or a focus on short-term team success.
Intrinsic Motivation and Belonging: When players feel valued and see tangible rewards for their commitment, they’re more motivated to improve. This sense of belonging and recognition is a powerful driver of long-term engagement and satisfaction in the sport.

Reducing the "Chasing the Best Team" Mentality

De-emphasizing Short-Term Wins: Jumping clubs to join the "best" teams often prioritizes immediate results over meaningful development. Research shows that focusing on winning at young ages can stunt skill mastery and creativity, whereas loyalty programs encourage a longer-term, developmental mindset.
Stability for Families and Players: The tryout and team formation process can be stressful, leading to anxiety and instability for both players and parents. Loyalty incentives reduce this churn, making the club environment more predictable and supportive.

Club and Community Advantages

Higher Retention, Stronger Culture: Clubs that reward loyalty see higher retention rates, which leads to stronger team bonds, better peer relationships, and a more cohesive club culture. This sense of community is invaluable for both social and athletic development.
Financial Stability and Growth: Retaining players through loyalty programs improves funds available to non-profit clubs. Clubs with stable participation can invest more in coaching, facilities, and player resources, which further enhances the development environment.
Positive Club Reputation: A club known for valuing player development and loyalty, rather than just winning, attracts committed families and builds a reputation for nurturing talent, not just collecting trophies.
Eliminate the negatives: A club known for valuing player development, rather then winning at all costs, repels the type of parent that you probably don't want as a role model for you child. Stay away from the crazies!

Developing Highly Competitive Teams Under a “Price for Life” Loyalty Model

Stable coaching, curriculum and a consistent team environment provide a foundation for young athletes to thrive both on and off the field.

Here are the key benefits:

Enhanced Skill Development and Coachability: Consistency in coaching under a multiyear curriculum allows players to build strong relationships with their coaching staff, making them more receptive to feedback and instruction. This fosters coachability, which is essential for continuous improvement, adaptability, and resilience in young athletes.
Mental and Emotional Stability: A familiar environment reduces anxiety and stress, enabling players to focus on learning and performance rather than adapting to new systems or personalities. This stability supports mental resilience and confidence, helping players manage setbacks and challenges more effectively.
Stronger Team Cohesion and Social Skills: Staying with the same team over time helps players develop trust, communication, and collaboration with teammates. These social bonds lead to better teamwork and a positive team culture, which are critical for both personal growth and on-field success.
Improved Decision-Making and Game Understanding: Repeated exposure to the same coaching philosophy and tactical approach accelerates learning. Players become more comfortable with team strategies, leading to quicker and more informed decision-making during games.
Development of Life Skills and Values: Stable coaching environments are ideal for teaching essential life lessons such as discipline, resilience, sportsmanship, and goal setting. These skills extend beyond sports and contribute to the overall development of well-rounded individuals.
Sense of Belonging and Purpose: A consistent team environment fosters a sense of belonging and identity for young athletes. Feeling valued and connected to a group motivates players to stay engaged and strive for improvement.
Long-Term Athletic and Academic Success: Research shows that youth who remain engaged in stable sports programs are more likely to excel academically and maintain healthy lifestyles, benefiting them well into adulthood.

Club-Hopping and Increased Soccer Dropout Rates

Research and surveys consistently show that youth soccer players who frequently switch clubs - often in pursuit of better teams or more playtime - are more likely to drop out of the sport entirely.

Loss of Enjoyment and Motivation: The most common reason cited for leaving a club is that soccer “isn’t fun anymore”—a feeling often exacerbated by instability and lack of belonging that comes from frequent club changes. When players move clubs repeatedly, they struggle to form lasting friendships, trust in coaches, and a sense of team identity, all of which are crucial for sustained motivation.
Disrupted Development and Social Support: Studies highlight that a lack of fulfillment of basic psychological needs—such as feeling competent, supported, and connected—significantly increases dropout risk. Club-hopping disrupts these needs, as players must constantly adapt to new coaches, teammates, and systems, making it harder to feel settled and supported.
Statistical Evidence of Dropout:
About 70% of young athletes drop out of organized sports by age 13, with soccer being hit particularly hard.
Kids quit playing sports by age 11 on average, and club-switching is part of this trend.
A study found that 34.7% of youth soccer players dropped out by the end of a single season, with poor relationships with coaches and low motivation being key factors.
Professionalization and Pressure: The “professionalization” of youth sports—where parents and players chase the next best team—creates pressure and stress that further accelerates dropout rates. Win-focused environments and lack of stability triple dropout rates, as kids feel less connected and more expendable.

Conclusion

A "price for life" loyalty program is a practical and effective way to encourage families to value player development over the allure of the next "best team." By fostering stability, rewarding commitment, and focusing on individual growth, clubs create an environment where young athletes can thrive—both on and off the field.

Stable curriculum and team environments are crucial for maximizing youth player development, fostering resilience, building strong social bonds, and instilling lifelong values and skills.

Sources
[1] Player Retention: Building a Stronger Soccer Team https://soccerwizdom.com/2025/01/03/player-retention-building-a-stronger-soccer-team/
[2] A loyalty program - Football & Soccer Coaching Advice https://www.soccercoachweekly.net/coaching-advice/a-loyalty-program
[3] Navigating the Challenges: The Impact of Multiple Youth Leagues ... https://pathfinderfc.com/the-impact-of-multiple-youth-leagues-on-us-player-development/navigating-the-challenges-the-impact-of-multiple-youth-leagues-on-us-soccer-players
[4] What Are the 9 Startup Costs for a Soccer Club Business? https://businessplan-templates.com/blogs/startup-costs/soccer-club
[5] The Importance of Individual Development in Club Soccer, and How ... https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-individual-development-club-soccer-how-copeland-smith-txh9c
[6] Customer Retention Strategies for Clubs: Proven Tactics to Increase ... https://www.uplifterinc.com/customer-retention-strategies-for-clubs
[7] LeBolt: The high cost of loyalty in today's youth soccer culture https://www.soccerwire.com/resources/lebolt-the-high-cost-of-loyalty-in-todays-youth-soccer-culture/
[8] Effective tiered loyalty programs: The ultimate guide https://www.openloyalty.io/insider/effective-tiered-loyalty-programs
[9] Club soccer puts the sport out of reach for many kids - NPR https://www.npr.org/2022/12/08/1139902402/club-soccer-youth-pay-to-play-sports
[10] The ins and outs of US youth soccer: learning about loyalty and ... https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970.2016.1267620
[11] What Needs to Change with U.S. Soccer Clubs - SimpliFaster https://simplifaster.com/articles/youth-soccer-athlete-development-solutions/
[12] The Impact of Youth Soccer Clubs on Local Communities https://soccerpups.com/2023/11/the-impact-of-youth-soccer-clubs-on-local-communities-more-than-just-a-game/
[13] Report: Youth Sports and Club Switching - iSport360 https://isport360.com/club-switching-report/
[14] 10 Reasons Players Love Club Soccer - Boston Bolts https://www.bostonbolts.com/news/10-reasons-to-play-club-soccer
[15] Sports Loyalty Programs: How to Reward Fans & Build Brand Loyalty - https://passkit.com/blog/sports-loyalty-programs/
[16] Embracing Change: Age Group Adjustments Will Strengthen Youth ... https://www.soccermomsanddads.com/post/embracing-change-age-group-adjustments-will-strengthen-youth-soccer
[17] The Impact of Birth Year Changes in U.S. Soccer https://www.arkansasrising.org/the-impact-of-birth-year-changes-in-u-s-soccer
[18] How important is a team's level to a player's development - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/SoccerCoachResources/comments/1c7xkf0/how_important_is_a_teams_level_to_a_players/

Price for Life - Loyalty pays ON and OFF the field!

Fri, 30 May 2025 23:24:43 GMT

Hollywood FC - "Price For Life" Program Introduced

Program Overview

Our “Price for Life” program is a unique commitment to our players and their families: the Club fee you pay when you join is the same fee you’ll pay every year, as long as you remain continuously enrolled with our Club. Whether you start at age 8 and play through age 19, your price never goes up!

How It Works

Lock-In Your Rate - When you join our Club, your annual Club fee is locked in at the current rate for that player as long as they don't jump clubs.
No Increases, Ever - As long as the player remains continuously registered with Hollywood FC (no breaks in participation), your Club fee will never increase - even when our rates have to go up in the future.
Simple Renewal - Renew your registration each year on time to maintain your “Price for Life” status

Example

Your son or daughter joins at age 10: Current competitive team price is as low as $1820 for the year
They play every year until age 19: You pay $1820 each year, even if our fees rise to $4000 or more for new players (BTW, that is current price for many clubs around us already).

Benefits for Families

Financial Predictability: Know exactly what you’ll pay each year.
Long-Term Savings: Protect yourself from future price increases.
Club Loyalty Rewarded: Stay with us, stay with your friends and enjoy the best value.
Play for your local Club: Stop driving all over South Florida looking for grass is greener clubs, half of them fall apart in a few years, Hollywood FC has been a staple of youth development since 1985.
Development is a multi-year process: Allow your son or daughter to develop at natural speed, NO CLUB CAN DEVELOP YOUR CHILD IN ONE YEAR , give the process a chance. Stop the tryout insanity . Look at the best players all over the world, they all come from their local clubs. In every other futball nation your local club is the club you support for life!

Eligibility & Terms

Eligibility: New and existing players can enroll in the “Price for Life” program during open registration periods.
Continuous Enrollment: To maintain your locked-in rate, you must register on time each year and participate continuously (exceptions for medical or family emergencies may be considered).
Transfers: If you leave the Club and return later, you’ll rejoin at the then current rates.
Non-Transferable: The “Price for Life” rate applies only to the original registrant and cannot be transferred to siblings or friends.
Competitive/Pre-Competitive programs only: At this time this policy only applies to our Pre-USL, Elite, Premier and Select pricing.

How to Enroll

Sign up during registration and select the “Price for Life” option
Pay your Club fees:
Annual option is the lowest price and the best deal
Quarterly option is our "regular price"
Monthly payment plans available
Renew each year before the deadline to keep the original "Price for Life" option

FAQs

Q: What if I miss a year?
A: If you skip a season, your “Price for Life” status ends. You can rejoin at the then current rate.

Q: Do all fees or travel costs also stay the same?
A: The “Price for Life” program applies to Club fees only. Other team costs (e.g., uniforms, tournaments, referees) may vary.

Q: What about Team Fees?

A: Obviously we cannot control costs of tournaments and referee fees for the next 10 years, so Team Fees are additional. They vary on team to team basis depending on how many tournaments they attend and how much in referee fees they spend. We still include all League Registrations and one state tournament for most teams.

Ready to Lock In Your Rate?

Join our “Price for Life” program and enjoy peace of mind, stability, and savings throughout your soccer journey!

Hollywood FC x AS Dan Chilom Partnership

Tue, 13 May 2025 18:18:50 GMT

Hollywood FC x AS Dan Chilom Partnership

We’re proud to announce a new international partnership with AS Dan Chilom, a respected Romanian academy known for its commitment to player development and European standards of training.

This strategic collaboration bridges the gap between Europe and South Florida, opening new doors for both clubs.

Key highlights of the partnership:

Staff development and coaching exchange across continents
Player pathways for Romanian athletes to experience U.S. opportunities
Exposure for Hollywood FC players to training and scouting networks in Europe

Together, we’re building a more connected future for our players and coaches that is rooted in development, opportunity, and global collaboration.

What to Do When You Can't Afford Your Kid's Sport?

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Thu, 01 May 2025 22:40:12 GMT

What to Do When You Can't Afford Your Kid's Sport?

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Hollywood FC appoints Jake Castro as Director of Coaching

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 03:29:17 GMT

Press Release - Hollywood FC appoints Jake Castro as Director of Coaching

HOLLYWOOD, Florida (December 2, 2024) – Hollywood FC is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jake Castro as the Club’s new Director of Coaching. Castro brings a wealth of experience in player development and program growth within Florida’s soccer community.

During his tenure at Florida International University (NCAA Division I), Castro was instrumental in the program’s transformation, contributing to a rise from the bottom 8% to the top 27% nationally. This remarkable growth, the largest of any NCAA Division I program over four years, included securing the C-USA Regular Season and Tournament Championships and the development of seven All-Conference players. It marked the most successful season in the program’s history.

At Miami FC, Castro held multiple roles, including being a USL Academy Coach, Foundation Phase Director, Lead Academy Goalkeeping Coach, and Assistant First Team Goalkeeper Coach. His leadership helped develop multiple academy players who were promoted to the first team, earning professional contracts and valuable minutes at the senior level.

Castro’s coaching portfolio also includes positions as a coach from recreational to collegiate programs at AGC Football (Miami, FL), UMass Dartmouth (NCAA DIII, MA), Juventus Academy Boston (MA), Bruno United FC (RI), and RSA Academy (MA). Across all levels, Castro has consistently prioritized creating pathways for players to reach their full potential.

Castro has also obtained his education in football through the prestigious UEFA B Diploma from the Welsh FA, equipping him with advanced knowledge and methodologies to guide player and coach development.

“I am honored to join Hollywood FC and look forward to contributing to the Club’s continued growth and success,” said Castro. “My goal is to foster a collaborative environment that nurtures player development and elevates our programs to new heights.”

As Director of Coaching, Castro will oversee all soccer operations, including player, coach, and program development, with a vision to establish Hollywood FC as a benchmark for excellence in youth soccer and a producer of top-level talent.

For more information about Hollywood FC and its programs, please visit www.hollywoodfc.com .

Pay to Play Model and Parent Sportsmanship Expectations

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:33:39 GMT

Pay to Play Model and Parent Sportsmanship Expectations

The pay-to-play model can create tension between parents' financial investments and the referee/coach relationship. Coaches and parents need to prioritize their child's overall experience over winning. This sets a positive example for young athletes.

To address disrespectful behavior towards referees, we must set clear expectations for parents. The emphasis should be on creating a positive environment for all participants. Holding parents accountable for their actions is crucial.

Organizations must decide whether to tolerate negative parental behavior, even if it means losing a talented player. The focus should be on developing young adults, not just winning games

" Winning is important, but it's more important to teach our kids sportsmanship and respect for others. Let's focus on creating a positive experience for everyone involved."

Pay-to-play models can additionally significa ntly impact the dynamics between parents and sports clubs .

Parental Involvement : Parents may feel more invested in their child's athletic development if they are contributing financially.
Parent-Club Conflict : Parents may feel entitled to certain services or benefits based on their financial contributions, leading to potential conflicts with club administrators.
Transparency : Clearly communicate the reasons for pay-to-play fees and how the funds will be used.
By addressing these potential challenges and fostering open communication, sports clubs can maintain positive relationships with parents and create a supportive environment for all athletes.

Dissent towards the referees: the question on the sportsmanship and how do to handle parents, we have to set expectations. We know that when there's so much money involved and people are paying a lot of money for their child to be on these teams, yet we're missing the messaging that you're choosing for your child to be on this team. You also have to understand that there are going to be guidelines. We have guardrails in place, we have expectations. And if you want to be part of this team, you have to be a positive influence on everybody. Yes, officials are going to miss a call, but if we don't set expectations and follow through on those expectations, it becomes the wild, wild west. And that's what happens at a lot of youth games.
Our officials are in very short supply, but if we are going to let our parents drive, they're going to be in the driver's seat of this negative behavior.
Let's use the 10, you've got 10 players, you've got one parent that's really, really obnoxious, but you've got nine parents that are really, really good. Why do the nine parents that paid the same amount of money have to put up with the one parent?
And so it goes back to expectations. What are those expectations? And I'm happy to come and talk to anybody's parent group that wants me to talk to them because I think if you are very, very straight with them... And if you're going to have a sportsmanship paper that they sign and we're not going to hold them accountable, it means nothing.
We asked clubs: "A raise of hands, how many of you have sportsmanship policies that you make your parents sign?" And then we asked, "And how many of you hold them accountable?" So we have to set expectations and we have to hold them accountable.
And we know that there's going to be parents that we can't get through to and so then I think an organization has to make a decision. Do you want that parent? Even if their child is the best player on the team, do you want that negative energy on your team? So it comes down to winning and developing young adults.

No Laps, Lines, Lectures Nor Elimination Games During Practices

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 21:35:45 GMT

Coaching Education - Parent Education

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

I have written numerous articles recently on player development and the curse of the win-at-all-costs mentality. It is slightly scary that when I talk with other technical directors around the country, it is the very same topics that they also write most frequently about. The same message regarding player development, a possession-based approach to playing the game, and teaching players the skills of the game before stressing about the win-loss record is echoed by US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, United Soccer Coaches and all other youth soccer organizations across the country.

With the message being repeated so frequently by so many experts in the game, it is very sad that so seem to be doing the most appropriate thing. There are many who pretend too, who play a few passes in the attacking third and hide behind the win-loss records. These coaches along with parents who pressure them to play this way are developmental impostors. They play a style of direct soccer that is based around having a few athletes with pace and strength. They go quickly from back to front and are not really interested in player development at all.

As a coach who still works with teams on a regular basis, to go a whole season with a team playing more than 15 games and to play only one team that is really attempting to develop players is really disappointing. To be told by so many “professional trainers”

“Coach we get it but if we play the right way, the parents will demand a new coach as we may lose.”

Is truly an indicator that a number of parents within the group are only interested in winning. They pressure the kids and the coaches to play in a style that means only a few develop and the vast majority are destined to stop playing by high school. There is no gray here, you are either part of the solution or the problem.

For those confused and even more to expose those who look to confuse others by stressing the wins as an indicator of player development, I suggest ALL use the areas of development and the key indicators below as a means to truly get a picture of the type of team your son or daughter is playing on.

Each time your team plays a competitive game record the key indicators below

1. Number of quality first touches that allow the player to keep the ball.
2. Number of passes completed.
3. Number of passes in a string (average and max).
4. Number of times GK attempted to play out of back and build through possession.
5. Number of times players attempted to take players on 1v1.
6. Number of times the team attempted to switch the point of attack.
7. Number of times that you see a definite change in shape from a big attacking shape to a more compact defensive shape.

In addition to the game indicators listed above, you can also consider the best practice criteria listed below:

Sessions completely absent of LAPS, LINES AND LECTURES
Sessions full of ball-related activities.
Sessions where players are at the center of the action. They get to think, solve problems, experiment try and fail.
Economical Sessions: Wherein the activities used have a technical, tactical, physical and psycho-social piece embroidered into their foundation.
Sessions where a possession-based approach to attacking with all players encouraged to master the fundamental skills of passing and receiving is at the core of all ball work.
Sessions full of well-designed questions used to elicit high-level thinking from the players.
Sessions devoid of elimination games where the weakest player is knocked out first and forced to watch the stronger kids play.
Sessions with lots of activity and brief breaks where they play more than they stand around.

To seal the deal and to ascertain without a shadow of a doubt that your child is truly in the care of a coach that is deeply concerned about player development, the following coaching habits should be frequently displayed:

A coach who asks questions and guides players to think for themselves.
A coach who stresses that effort is applauded ABOVE ALL.
A coach who encourages players to compete honestly and fairly at all times.
A coach who treats players with respect at all times and demands that his players treat all in the same manner.
A coach who is able to give specific and accurate feedback in a way that helps players improve.
A coach who firmly and unwaveringly puts player development before winning.
A coach who believes that their primary aim is to produce a lifelong love for the game and sport. The by-product is soccer excellence.
A coach who inspires his/her players to always give their very best effort and to also enjoy the process.

By 12 years of age, a truly developmental team will be scoring well in all categories above. If this is the case your child is in good hands, and you have managed to find one of the rare coaches who truly can develop your child. Hang on to these environments because in all honesty, they are a rare find.

Setting a Stage for Success: A Note on Division Placement

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:39:37 GMT

Setting the Stage for Success: A Note on Division Placement

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We wanted to take a moment to discuss the upcoming season for our U5, U7, U9, U11 and U13 teams.

As you may know, the GHSL league offers U6, U8, U10, U12 and U14 divisions and our team will be playing in the:

U5 in U6 division
U7 on U8 division
U9 in U10 division
U11 in U12 division and
U13 in U14 division

While this may present some challenges due to the age differences, we believe it will provide our young athletes with invaluable experience.

It's important to understand that we may encounter setbacks, such as losses and lower scores. However, our primary goal is to foster development and growth. The competitive environment will help our players improve their skills and confidence.

We're confident that the sacrifices made this season will yield significant rewards. By the time our players reach their age-appropriate divisions next year, they will be well-prepared to compete at a higher level.

To help maintain a positive atmosphere, we encourage parents to bring snacks and drinks to games. Regardless of the outcome, this will help players refocus and celebrate their efforts. Young players are not demoralized by "losing;" they need to be encouraged to enjoy learning and progressing at their own pace.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We look forward to a positive and rewarding season for our team.

9 Things Coaches Want Parents to Understand

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 18:25:27 GMT

9 Things Coaches Want Parents to Understand

Being a Head Coach is HARD Work. I have talked to MANY coaches over my long career. Here are 9 Things Coaches Want Parents to Understand.

We CARE about your Child - Even if your child doesn't get much varsity playing time, we care about them. Nothing is ever personal. We love your child. Everyone has a Role. They are all different. But they are all important. Help us celebrate their role.
TIME - There are only two people who understand the time commitment of a coach. The Coach and their Spouse. We are always "on," constantly thinking about our team. We sacrifice our Family time to be with your child. We don't need a pat on the back. Just respect this fact.
We LOVE this job - But it is a hard job. Please don't steal our Joy. Our Passion. Our Commitment. We are losing too many coaches. Help Support us.
Coaches want to WIN more than you do - We are very competitive. We put our heart and soul into this job. We are not perfect. Either are you. No one is. Strategy or X's and O's matter much less than you think. We are at practice every day. Trust what we see and do.
Everything is EARNED - You get what you earn. Don't blame the coach. Encourage your child to be committed. It is your child's job to get in the weight room, shoot in the driveway, go to the gym or field, etc. Encourage them to do this. You get what you earn.
Trust the PROCESS - Team Sports are the ultimate lab setting for life. There will be bumps in the road. It is guaranteed. It is part of the process. Accept this fact. Trust the Process. The life lessons learned will last a lifetime.
Winning is HARD - Other teams want to win too. Other teams put time in too. Other teams compete too. The season is a grind, and the process is more important than the prize. Learning how to win ...and how to lose...is an important part of this process.
Your child GETS it - Your child understands. They are at every practice. They know their strengths. They know their weaknesses. They know their role. Don't feed their youthful insecurities by questioning the coach. This will hurt their experience and the team.
Finally, and Most Importantly, this is your child's experience, not yours - This is important. Let them enjoy the experience with your support. Don't judge them. Don't be critical. Just be there. Tell them you LOVE watching them play. Be a fan of the TEAM.

Q&A FOR SOCCER PARENTS

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:12:39 GMT

By Dave Barry

Q. What is the object of the game of soccer?

A. The object of the game of soccer is for your child to score goals, so that he or she will receive a full athletic scholarship to a Divison 1-A college.

Q. What is the role of the other children on my child’s team?

A. Their role is to pass the ball to your child.

Q. What position should my child play?

A. Your child should play forward.

Q. What should I do if the coach wants my child to be a defender?

A. Be reasonable. Ask the coach, calmly and politely, why he wants your child to play defense. Listen to his explanation, and consider it carefully. Then, file a lawsuit.

Q. How many minutes should my child play?

A. Your child should play however many minutes are in the game.

Q. When is it acceptable for the coach to substitute another player for my child?

A. When your child is not at the game.

Q. What is my job, as a parent, during a soccer game?

A. Your job is to yell instructions to your child and the other children on your child’s team.

Q. Should I make an effort to educate myself about the rules and tactics of soccer before I start yelling instructions?

A. There is no need for that. As a parent, you have a natural intuitive understanding of the game, which you should share with the entire world by constant yelling.

Q. Can you give me some examples of the kinds of instructions I should yell?

A. You should yell helpful tactical information, such as:

GET THE BALL!
KICK THE BALL!
I SAID GET THE BALL DAMMIT!
SCORE A GOAL!

Q. Shouldn’t the coach be the one who gives instructions to the players?

A. No, the coach is standing too far away to know what is going on.

Q. Should I also yell at the referee?

A. Absolutely. The referee is always grateful for the shouted opinions of parents on the sidelines. If the referee makes a call that you disagree with – defined as “a call against your child’s team” — be sure to let him know, and he will be happy to change it. He will also appreciate it if you remind him, from time to time, that he is an idiot.

Q. What does it mean when my child has the ball taken away by another child?

A. It means your child has been fouled. You should let the referee know this immediately.

Q. What should I do if my child falls down?

A. Inform the referee that he needs to issue a red card to whatever player was nearest to your child when your child fell down.

Q. What should I do if my child knocks an opposing player down from behind so hard that the opponent is bleeding and screaming in pain, possibly with a bone sticking out of his leg?

A. You should yell: “THAT WAS ALL BALL, REF!!”

Q. What should I yell if the other team scores a goal?

A. You should yell: “THAT WAS OFFSIDE REF!!”

Q. What does “offside” actually mean?

A. Nobody knows.

Q. If my child somehow fails to get a full scholarship to a Division 1-A college, what is the most likely explanation?

A. The most likely explanation is that your child is not getting adequate coaching. But it’s also possible that — to be brutally honest — you were not yelling loud enough.

Q. I have followed all of your instructions, and for some reason, my child is saying that he might want not to keep playing soccer. Also, the coach has announced that he will not be with the team next year. Also, I have noticed that the other parents have started sitting far away from me on the sidelines.

A. Just ignore them. Some parents can be real jerks.

August Newsletter

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:54:09 GMT

Few important notifications - PLEASE READ!

Important Information for a Smooth Season!

Welcome to all our new players and parents! This message covers some key points to ensure a great season for everyone.

Safety First!

No Dogs: City of Hollywood ordinances prohibit dogs in athletic facilities.
Lightning Safety: We follow the ThorGuard system. When it detects potential lightning, a strobe light will activate, and all activities will cease. Seek shelter in a car or designated lightning shelter immediately.
Parent Zones: For safety and focus, parents are requested to stay in designated parent zones during practices and games. More info on field layouts: link to Hollywood FC Fields page .

Staying Informed:

DOWNLOAD PLAYMETRICS !!! - https://www.hollywoodfc.com/playmetrics
Rainouts: We use PlayMetrics for field closures. Please avoid phone calls about practice cancellations. We have a dedicated team, but the volume of calls during rain makes it difficult to answer everyone. Check PlayMetrics – we only cancel as a last resort or when advised by the City.
League Game Schedules: Schedules depend on your team's league:
EDP League: Started, some games played, schedules uploaded in PlayMetrics.
TFL League: Starts this weekend for some teams, schedules uploaded today.
GHSL League: Starts potentially this weekend. Schedules are still being finalized. Be prepared to play if both teams agree.
We'll notify you when uniforms are ready – no need to call.

Player Requirements:

Proof of Birth: Upload your child's birth certificate or passport to PlayMetrics for game eligibility.
Player Photo: Upload a photo to PlayMetrics for player pass generation (needed for games).
Player Payments: Ensure player fees are current to participate in games.

Let's have a fantastic season!

Want to become a referee?

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 21:18:01 GMT

Want to become a referee? - NOW IS THE TIME!

If you are 14 years or older and would like to become a referee, click the the button to be taken to the Florida Soccer Referee website and complete the registration process.

For more information on refereeing in the greater Hollywood area visit HollywoodAssigning.com by Tom Tianich - Referee Assignor

FSR will be hosting an on field training in Hollywood soon which is part of the above mentioned certification.

REC Registration is OPEN

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:03:43 GMT

3 Recreational Programs Available

Recreational Programs start August 19th - REGISTER NOW !

Our Recreational Programs Philosophy

Hollywood FC youth soccer club’s Recreational Programs are geared towards the education and the development of the individual player and team. Inclusiveness, family, and fun are the core components of this Program.

Players of all skill sets are welcomed; everyone plays.

However, there are limited roster positions available for the GHSL teams. These teams will play half of their games on a home field and the other half away at other nearby clubs. Volunteer team managers are essential to the success of this, our most popular program.

USL Academy players continue development, make impact in college season

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:26:32 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. – The 2023 season a record number of USL Academy players are college-bound after a summer of competition across the USL Academy league.

While the dream to play professional soccer is the goal for many young soccer players, the pathway to college scholarships and competitive year-round play has provided USL Academy players with another route to a professional future. Over 300 players from the girls’ and boys’ divisions will compete for NCAA Division I programs, with 300 more represented at college programs within other divisions.

Clubs like New Mexico United have been a leader in this space, investing time into supporting player development and offering First Team minutes for players as USL Academy signings. Players like Alex Waggoner have already begun to make a name for themselves in the college ranks, with Waggoner currently leading the University of Michigan with two goals in five appearances as a freshman. Another USL Academy alum also began his career with the Wolverines this fall, with Rio Grande Valley FC product Duilio Herrera having notched his first collegiate assist against Loyola Marymount University.

For the first time, the USL Academy league expanded with a pilot season for the girls’ divisions that has seen female athletes successfully transition to the college game this year. AC Connecticut’s Caroline Dickson made her way to the University of Massachusetts where she has appeared in every game so far as a freshman with the Minutewomen. Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy product Piper Coffield scored her first collegiate goal against Louisville and has contributed valuable minutes on the pitch as a freshman for the University of Indiana Hoosiers. Likewise, former North Carolina Courage duo Phoebe Goldthwaite and Kiera Clemens are in the middle of their freshman seasons where they will be fighting to make an impact on a competitive Duke University roster.

Developing players to compete in college is a key part of the USL Academy pathway. All USL Academy League clubs must meet a minimum set of standards designed to create optimal long-term player development environments directly connected to USL first teams. As part of those standards, players within these programs must have access to resources that can help them in their academic endeavors, whether the player is in high school or in college.

The long-term goal is to provide local youth products with the resources and platform to play professionally, whether signing directly with their club from the Academy, or competing collegiately to further their development on and off the field.

Many of these players will continue to compete in Academy competitions in 2023 and 2024, including the Academy League and the annual Academy Cup, which will take place next year. In the meantime, the USL Academy will be supporting and highlighting the success of Academy players on college rosters.

Collegiate and professional scouts can register for the Academy League Finals at the SportsPlex of Tampa Bay this December

Hollywood FC joins UPSL Summer League with their USL Academy Team

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Wed, 15 May 2024 20:12:28 GMT

Hollywood FC joins UPSL Summer League with their USL Academy Team

Hollywood FC is excited to announce our U20 USL Academy Team will be also competing in the upcoming UPSL Summer League! This is a fantastic opportunity for our young players to gain valuable experience against top competition.

We look forward to some exciting summer soccer and bringing competitive action to the community.

The UPSL (United Premier Soccer League) is typically for amateur adult teams, while the USL Academy Team is a youth development team for players from U15 to U19 we are always looking to provide a pathway to help young athletes keep growing thru the years and for players to be exposed to pro teams, colleges, and universities.

HOLLYWOOD FC ANNOUNCES ENTRY TO USL ACADEMY THROUGH MIAMI ATHLETIC CLUB PARTNERSHIP

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 03:15:35 GMT

PRESS RELEASE

HOLLYWOOD FC ANNOUNCES ENTRY TO USL ACADEMY THROUGH MIAMI ATHLETIC CLUB PARTNERSHIP

HOLLYWOOD, FL- NOVEMBER, 2023

Hollywood FC in collaboration with Miami Athletic Club, is thrilled to announce its entry into the prestigious United Soccer League (USL) Academy for the 2024 season. The partnership will allow HFC to compete in the nation-wide league, and the USLA Cup, providing a unique opportunity for talented players born between 2009-2005 to showcase their skills to college and professional scouts at one of the highest levels of competition in the nation.

The USL Academy, operated by the renowned United Soccer League, serves as a stepping stone for emerging talents up to 20 years old, offering a platform for growth and development within the professional soccer organization. Hollywood FC's participation in the league through this strategic alliance with Miami Athletic Club marks a significant milestone for both organizations.

"We are excited to begin on this journey with Miami Athletic Club and contribute to the development of young soccer talent in the United States," said Tom Tianich, President Hollywood FC. "The USL Academy will serve as a platform for emerging talent to showcase their talent and pursue their dream.”

The players selected for Hollywood FC's USL Academy team will have the opportunity to compete against some of the best youth talent in the country, with the season set to kick off in March of 2024. The collaboration aims to foster a culture of excellence and performance, preparing the players for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in their soccer careers.

Tryouts for Hollywood FC's USL Academy team are scheduled to take place in early December. This presents a unique opportunity for high level players to showcase their potential and potentially earn a spot on the team. To pre-register for USL Academy tryouts with Hollywood FC, use the link below.

Hollywood FC Announces Partnership with Inter Miami CF!

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:08:03 GMT

Hollywood FC Announces Partnership with Inter Miami CF!

Hollywood FC and Inter Miami CF have announced a formal partnership for the 22/23 season. HFC was selected as an official club partner amongst other respective youth clubs with the objective of developing the structure of the South Florida futbol.

“Our primary commitment as an Academy is to aid the development of fútbol in South Florida, and officially allying ourselves with these clubs is a major step to that end,” said Inter Miami CF Academy Director Craig Dalrymple. “This is something we’ve been working on for a long time. We’re excited to work with each of these clubs and to share the unique perks of a world-class organization.”

The partnership will see HFC and IMCF share and implement resources with the objective of enhancing the development and experience of local youth soccer players. As part of the agreement, HFC will continue its commitment to apply a player-centric philosophy, with a proactive approach to player-development methods.

"We are very excited to be selected as an official partner of Inter Miami CF, which we feel is well aligned with our vision and values. This collaboration will provide our coaches and players with the opportunity to continue their development through resources not typically found in the youth club environment." Explained Hollywood FC President Tom Tianich. "We are confident that this will benefit not only Hollywood FC players but the entire South Florida youth soccer community."

Through this initiative, Hollywood FC will be able to refer high-potential prospects to the IMCF Academy, who have a direct pathway to professional soccer. HFC will facilitate the promotion of its top talents through Inter Miami’s Discovery Program, Academy trials, and potential Academy signings. In return, Inter Miami will offer educational events, Academy coaching internship opportunities, goalkeeper talent ID & development programs, and social events for the HFC club staff.

About Hollywood FC

Established in 1985, Hollywood FC (formerly known as Hollywood Wildcats) is one of the longest-tenured youth soccer organizations in South Florida. Based out of Hollywood, Florida, HFC is a volunteer-driven nonprofit 501(c) (3) soccer club that offers year-round programs through the services of USSF-certified coaches and professional directors. Hollywood FC is a full-service club that prides itself on inclusivity and diversity, where programs are made affordable and accessible to the community. The club is home to female and male players of all ages and levels, ranging from introductory grassroots programs to elite high school teams. HFC is an official Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) affiliate, which operates under US Youth Soccer, US Soccer, CONCACAF, and FIFA. In 2022, Hollywood FC formed an official partnership with the local MLS organization Inter Miami CF. For more information, visit www.hollywood fc.com .

99% chance that your athlete is dehydrated

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Wed, 25 May 2022 14:27:30 GMT

At the start of our work together, ~99% of the athletes we work with aren’t drinking enough water.
Once our coaches start working with them, this all changes, of course ��

Because they learn the power and impact of water intake on their energy levels, performance, recovery and long term health.

It’s one of the many "controllables" that athletes can always control.

Every. - Single. - Day.

And it supports them in moving more powerfully toward their goals.

When athlete is dehydrated they are:

less energetic,
less creative,
recovers more slowly,
less flexible,
therefore their risk of injury goes up,
the body’s ability to detoxify each day is reduced (contributing to a higher toxic load over a lifetime),
And, quite simply - their performance tanks.

Here’s how simple it is to avoid these undesirable outcomes:

Your child needs to be drinking enough water for their unique body (weight) and their unique activity level.
(a/k/a they need to drink more on workout days and in the days leading up to games.)

Here’s the gold standard that we teach our athletes:

>>> Drink half your body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water per day.
>>> Then add 8 ounces of water for every 30 minutes of exercise.
So, a 100 pound girl would aim to drink 50 ounces of water per day on an average off day.
100 pounds / 2 = 50 ounces of water per day.

That same 100 pound girl, on a day when she has a 90 minute practice, would aim to drink 50 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 74 ounces of water per day.

Simple, right? :-)

But most of young athletes don’t know this.
What a missed opportunity to thrive in all areas!
Water intake is one foundation that makes a big difference in performance, both on and off the field.

We love teaching these tools to our student athletes because when they know how to (easily and sustainably) check these foundational boxes...
They can unlock their best performances, both on and off the field ��

Heads Up – Concussion

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Tue, 24 May 2022 18:49:23 GMT

Recognize to Recover - Concussion Initiative

A concussion can be difficult to recognize on the field. Most occur without a loss of consciousness or an obvious sign that something is wrong with a player’s brain function. They can occur at any time throughout games or practice, as a blow to the head or body from contact with the ground, the ball or another player. Working with leading physicians for more than a decade, U.S. Soccer created Recognize to Recover resources that will help coaches, players, parents and referees identify the signs and symptoms of concussion and immediately take action with the appropriate treatment. Player safety has always been a top priority for the Florida Youth Soccer Association and for all of our affiliated clubs/leagues. In order to provide the safest guidelines for our players, we are implementing U.S. Soccer’s protocol for concussion awareness. Please find a wide array resources below about concussions.

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury resulting from a blow, bump or jolt to the head or anywhere else on the body, potentially influencing the way the brain normally works. While not often life threatening, the effect can be very serious.

What are the symptoms of a concussion?

For parents, coaches, and athletes, education is key. Being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion is the most valuable in deciding what to do with an athlete who has sustained a suspicious injury. Most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness. If your child or teen reports one or more of the symptoms below, or if you notice symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away and make an appointment with a concussion expert.

Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
Temporary loss of consciousness
Confusion or feeling “foggy”
Ringing in the ears
Memory Problems
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of balance or unsteady walking
Sensitivity to light or sound
Irritability or crankiness
Balance Problems, Dizziness, Double or fuzzy vision
Slurred Speech
Fatigue

It is important to note that the player will not exhibit ALL of these symptoms!

If a head head injury occurs, what should you do?

Seek medical attention right away. In the event of a head injury, have your child evaluated as soon as possible. A medical expert will provide you with the best diagnostic tests and treatment plans.

Adequate Recovery Time

In Florida, the law requires a physician (MD or DO only) to evaluate and clear children before they are allowed to go back to a return-to-play protocol. Children with a suspected concussion must NEVER return to sports or recreation activities on the same day they sustain a concussion. Work with your medical expert on a plan to return to school that will support your child's needs.

Additional Resources

Poaching - What is it good for? ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN' - Say it again!

Sun, 22 May 2022 19:17:32 GMT

Calling All Youth Soccer Clubs in the USA

An Open Letter from USWNT Legend Tiffeny Milbrett

(edited for brevity and relevant differences from her home state of Colorado when originally published in 2017)

Thanks for your understanding of my need to reach out and request rule and policy enforcement (FYSA) that will go against recruiting and tampering with players from other clubs in a season.

I have been in the youth soccer club system now for 12 years as a full-time coach. I am absolutely dismayed and angered about the utter lack of enforcement of policies and rules that regulate what is absolutely rampant and wrong in youth soccer regarding clubs tampering with and recruiting players from other clubs during a competitive season. I have witnessed and been on the losing end of other clubs recruiting and taking my players.

There is no denying the fact that youth soccer is an extremely competitive market. And in other competitive markets around the world there are major rules and policies in place against recruiting and tampering and penalties levied to those that break the rules. Please read to further your knowledge of how seriously the topic of tampering and recruiting is taken in the world of youth soccer. This is where the USA needs to get to as well, in my opinion. Manchester City Recruiting Story Link HERE

We have to do something to protect coaches and clubs. It cannot be okay for our players to be taken – and very easily, I might add.

We have to give our clubs some protection and take a stand.

U.S. Soccer and States and Leagues must enforce adopted rules and policies, and clubs should have internal rules and standards too. Clubs who make it their policy to recruit and tamper should not have continued access to our players whenever they want them and with no reward given to the club, they are taken from – especially after years of development.

I hope we can all be on board with finding a solution. I literally cannot be most effective as a youth coach when a huge part of my limited time with the players is spent building off the weeks, months, season before in order to grow players and teams. And when it’s reset and restarted from zero every start to the fall season, it’s nearly impossible.

Tampering and recruiting (all fall under POACHING) can be in multiple forms: (Many, MANY other examples exist)

Parents and coaches from those other clubs constantly call the parents from our players to do the recruiting for that club. Even though a parent may not be wanting these calls, they are continually hounded.
ECNL, DA, State-regulated clubs breaking the rules by allowing the players from other clubs to train with them outside of the window allowed for this without a release. (having multiple affiliations does not free an FYSA affiliated Club from having to abide by ALL FYSA rules, or lose their FYSA affiliation, period.)
Parents are guilty of accepting these calls and invitations for training, but the responsibility should be on the club to follow rules and if they don’t, there should be ACTUAL sanctions placed. It is unfathomable that clubs are not protected with State rules and policies governing these rampant recruiting and tampering behaviors.
To have players play in competitive games with two separate clubs in any given session is an absolute travesty. And clubs seeking this out and parents allowing this to happen must stop.

Youth Soccer is a big business and necessitates the need to start with an even playing field. The rules need to be set to protect all clubs that are truly putting the player first by caring about the player’s development; only to have players whisked away with a recruiting offer to another club is disastrous and against the good of the game and against what parents should be in charge of deciding – wins over development.

In the end, players can leave clubs, we all understand that. BUT right now FYSA is in NO WAY attempting to help protect clubs and the investment they are making; just to be outdone in the same season by poaching and recruiting club. Many of the clubs that are recruiting and poaching have not done anything to prove their continued development and investment in players – their player development philosophy appears to be waiting for the next player other clubs have developed and to then to swoop in and snatch them up.

As an ex-player myself, I find this an absolute travesty that these clubs are continually allowed to ROB THE PLAYER of the developmental piece to the game. As a coach, how can I do my job to the fullest for my players, my teams, and my club when we have little to NO protection to help us?

I’m asking that you actively enforce rules and policies immediately for the upcoming fall season.

Solutions are numerous, here are a handful of suggestions: (Many, MANY other solutions can exist)

3 or more affiliates file a complaint against the same club triggers a mandatory and transparent investigation by FYSA
Any discount of fees that the original club provided to the player be paid to the original club from the new club taking the player if a player switches clubs
No releases until Transfer Periods – unless clubs agree
Outright enforced in plain sight on FYSA WEBSITE Rules and Regulations and Parent/Coach education Campaign against poaching
Actual accountability, enforcement, and penalties to the rules

There is never a time more than NOW for structured and controlled policies to be put in place for youth soccer in the United States.

And, coming from a club that truly cares to build the player through the investment of work that time and progression, I need to be protected over clubs that truly do not care to invest – and possibly do not have the ability to develop the young player. But, in fact, they take from these players only until they are not good enough because they have (not developed them) and therefore recruited another player to take their place, and then they are discarded. Why have we allowed this to happen? This is not good enough and we should be ashamed.

Poaching Players, Teams, and Coaches, Oh My!

* If you’re a good apple, you shouldn’t take offense to the behavior of certain bad apples being pointed out. If you do take offense, then you just might be a bad apple.

The fast-paced world of club soccer isn’t just about shuttling kids to practices, cheering them on at games, and traveling to high profile tournaments on weekends. Spurred on by the extra-charged, competitive atmosphere and the large amounts of money that are exchanging hands, there’s an unfortunate element of bad behavior that’s often bubbling just beneath the cheerful surface. Here we explore the most problematic issue that occurres in American youth soccer — brazen poaching of players, unaware, confused and easily misled parents, feeble club leaderships, and dirty politics.

Most people in the sports circle are keenly aware that there is strong competition and rivalry that exists between different clubs in youth soccer. Sometimes we even see that battle spill over into other forms of confrontation that occur off the pitch as well. And as with all things in life, there are both good apples and bad apples amongst the cadre of coaches.*

The idea of poaching is a both a complex and delicate issue. There are some coaches who stringently view any of their players who have been recruited to another team as having been “poached.” Other coaches look upon the very same scenario with an even-keeled view of their player as having been “scouted.”

Some draw the distinction between poaching and scouting depending on when a rival club approached a player or parent — whether it was during or after the season. A lesser number of coaches surprisingly hold a laissez-faire attitude that any approach is fair game with the steadfast belief that players should feel free to leave if the grass is truly greener — and also feel free to return upon discovering it wasn’t.

However, the situation gets far messier when there are multiple families involved in making a collective decision to leave en masse. Oftentimes, clusters of family groups have private discussions prior to making their decision public that will have a significant impact on the dumbfounded families of teammates who were not privy to these conversations. The issue of players being poached has caused enough dissension around youth leagues such that some organizations (including FYSA) have taken the initiative to clearly define and ban such behavior.

It’s not uncommon to have a portion of a team conspiring to leave and join a new team all together at season’s end. One can imagine the emotional toll this may have on those who were not included and the feelings of betrayal by those they once considered close friends. Unfortunately, many relationships have been severed after such occasions.

The most touchy situations usually occur when a club’s staff member is directly involved in the decision to leave. Emotions can get further heightened when a staff member, such as a team manager, is part of a group decision to leave with the clear dilemma being the potential conflict of interest. The families of those who were not aware of their decision to leave often lob accusations that if one has a role as part of the team’s staff (even as an unpaid volunteer), he or she should’ve made it known to everyone beforehand in the collective interest of the team.

THIS “LIFTING AND SHIFTING” OF TEAMS HAS EVEN RESULTED IN ACRIMONIOUS LAWSUITS BETWEEN CLUBS AND FORMER COACHES.

In addition, the most toxic situation probably happens when a team’s coach decides to switch clubs after being “poached” with a better offer or situation. Understandably, parents and players usually have a much closer bond with their coach than to any other particular club entity. So it goes without saying that when a coach makes a decision to leave, a significant portion of the players on whichever teams he or she was coaching will usually follow.

When a club experiences the departure of an entire team or several teams at once, consequently there is a sizable loss of revenue that is incurred. This “lifting and shifting” of teams has even resulted in acrimonious lawsuits between clubs and former coaches . As a result, many youth clubs have implemented a non-compete clause into their coach contracts that typically last one year or more.

* If you’re a good apple, you shouldn’t take offense to the behavior of certain bad apples being pointed out. If you do take offense, then you just might be a bad apple.

The Sideline Project

tom@hollywoodwildcats.com (Tom Tianich) — Sat, 14 May 2022 20:52:19 GMT

The Sideline Project

The Sideline Project is a movement to improve youth soccer sidelines and we are proud to partner with The Sideline Project to make youth soccer better. We want all of our club parents, coaches, referees, administrators and spectators to Take the Sideline Pledge: watch the short video about sideline behavior, read the pledge, and add your name to the virtual pledge wall.

Take the Sideline Project Pledge Now

Watch the important 2 minute educational video, read the Pledge, and then agree to it by submitting your First Name and State. Your name will be added to the list below in a few seconds upon refresh of your computer.

Youth soccer belongs to the players.

I pledge to honor the youth soccer experience of the players with supportive, not distracting, behavior.
I pledge to eliminate hostile behavior targeted towards players, coaches, parents, and most notably referees.
I pledge to honor players, to respect referees, and to Make Youth Soccer Better.

Take the Sideline Project Pledge Now

Maintaining Your Offseason Soccer Fitness

Fri, 13 May 2022 19:09:00 GMT

Soccer, like most sports, is seasonal. There are periods of preparation (preseason), competition (in-season), and recovery (offseason).

Preseason and in-season training typically are the domain of the coach, but the offseason is largely the player’s responsibility.

What you do in the offseason can impact the next season. The old coaching adage that “it is easier to stay in shape than it is to get in shape” is true, but most players don’t know how to maintain their fitness without a coach supervising them.

You would be correct in guessing that there is a lot of research on gaining fitness, but you might also be surprised that there has been a great deal of study into losing fitness (detraining).

Detraining

The first real work on detraining studied responses to bed rest and later used people who were recovering from heart attacks, surgery or immobilization. Currently, there is a lot of work on detraining as directed toward zero gravity and space travel.

Training leads to two major adaptations in the body. First is the ability of the cardiovascular system to deliver oxygen to the cells and the second is the ability of the muscle cells to use the delivered oxygen.

Research shows us is that the central cardiovascular system’s ability to deliver oxygen to the muscles improves slowly while the muscle cells improve their ability to use the delivered oxygen pretty quickly.

When training is stopped, the muscle cells lose most of what they have gained fairly fast (10 days to two weeks is about right), but the cardiovascular system detrains slowly.

You may have experienced this when you work out after being off for a short break. That first workout doesn’t feel too bad. During that workout, the cardiovascular system sort of takes up the slack from the cells that detrained so quickly. However, if you lay off for a month or more, you are starting back at ground zero in terms of endurance fitness .

Now, the question arises as to what can be done to maintain fitness what is the least one can do and still keep most of their fitness?

While you may not have thought too much about it, you know that training is a mixture of three factors: training frequency (days/week), training intensity and training duration (minutes/day).

Maximizing Youth Soccer Player’s Potential at Tryouts

Fri, 13 May 2022 16:29:00 GMT

The Three Most Important Tips for Success

Youth soccer tryouts can be a frustrating experience for the whole family — and some players do better than others — because their parents are more familiar with the process and know what coaches look for.

Speaking to all parents of youth soccer players — here is what one of America’s top youth coaches thinks you want to know so you can help your kid.

Dear Soccer Parents,

For a moment – let’s all revisit our past, can we recall what it felt like the moments before a try-out?

For those who did not play sport growing up, maybe it was an audition for an acting or singing role.

I am sure you have a memory at some point where you felt extreme pressure knowing your performance in that moment would dictate success or failure.

I can recall so many of these moments as a child, and now I look back at them I can also say that my preparation for these moments was not anywhere near what it could and should have been.

Having coached youth soccer players for the last twenty-four years, I often watch young players come to tryouts without the correct guidance and proper preparation.

So how can the parent help the young soccer player?

We need to understand that the young player needs to prepare their body just the same as any other older athlete.

Lets make this simple:

Here are the basic recommendations:

#1 Nutrition, Hydration & Rest:

Basically fuel your youth soccer player for his or her optimum performance, recovery and protection.

#2 Prepare your child to be able to engage with the new coach.

We are living in an era where parents are wrapping their kids up in cotton wool, protecting them from anything that puts them out of their comfort zone. One aspect that is tough for a young kid — especially in the modern world of social media — is communication. Often communicating with a figure heads, such as a new coach, can be riddled with hesitation.

How can parents help their youth soccer player to communicate with a soccer coach?

Rather than taking on the responsibility of assuming the leading role in the first meeting on the field with the coach, can you teach your child to take this role?

A child, who is attending a try-out who can approach the coach, introduce themselves, tell them their strengths and that they are excited to show the coach what they can do, has now excelled in the 1 ^st impression and implanted a seed within the coach to be aware of the player from the start. Good communication is key for a first introduction.

#3 Prepare your child —Have a plan to control their performance as much as possible during the try-out process.

It is important to prepare your child, speak with your youth soccer player before the try-out and help them be successful.

Players need to tick off the following boxes of performance:

Attentiveness

Listen stay engaged and try, to the best of their ability to follow the training drills and overall requests from the coach. Make the coach aware that you are focused and can learn quickly.

Desire

Let your desire to play be seen by the coach, Leave everything on the field from start to finish.

Ability

The job of the parent is to first be realistic in where their child is at the current time of the try-out. Are you placing them into a cauldron of ability that is way beyond where they currently are?

Ask for guidance on this from other coaches and peers, don’t let just your opinion take the lead. Once you have determined that the team and ability level is correct for your child, you now must give them confidence.

Remind your player of his or her strengths by getting them to tell you what they are good at.

Players who can stay focused on their performance throughout the entire session — and not react to each and every outcome of every play — will have a better chance of success.

To Recap:

The reality is, success within the try-out will always be on the shoulders of the young player, however we as adults — parents and coaches — must take greater responsibility in giving them the best possible chance to succeed!

The outcome of the try-out will be important to the player, but as parents, you will also understand the life lessons learned from the try-out environment.

These sessions are of key importance in developing the future generation of leaders going out to make a difference in a positive way to the world!

Good luck — remember to love the game, and thank you for your time and desire to help your child be successful at tryouts.

Lloyd

SoccerToday’s columnist Lloyd Biggs isan outstanding coach whose passion and dedication for player development is well known. Biggs is the technical director for one.Soccer Schools which has trained 4,000 youth soccer players all across the USA. Also a youth coach for Real So Cal , Lloyd holds his UEFA ‘A,’ USSF ‘A’ and NSCAA Premier licenses, as well as a degree in sports science.

My 9 Year old is a FORWARD!

Tue, 10 May 2022 23:15:40 GMT

Your 9 year old player is NOT a forward. We do not even know if he is going to be a “soccer player” in the future. … Read on

by Tony Earp

Your 9 year old player is NOT a forward. We do not even know if he is going to be a “soccer player” in the future. The only thing we know for sure is that he plays soccer and seems to enjoy it. He may even begin showing areas of the game that he is better at than others, but he is not a forward, defender, midfielder, or a goalkeeper yet. Why? He is too young and not nearly experienced enough yet to know for sure. We do not know if a 9 year old will grow up to be a doctor, teacher, mechanic, scientist, or an artist, but we certainly know they are not one right now. At the moment, the player is playing soccer and is being a kid, and that is all we know for sure.

Too often, we label players as being fit for a certain position WAY TO EARLY in their development. We see certain tendencies, many which have nothing to do with actually playing that position correctly later on, and decide that is where the child should play. The child is put in that position because it is where they are best right now, but more importantly (but not really), it is what helps the team win more games right now. Once a player is pigeon holed into a position, it is the only position the child plays for games and it severely limits the player’s ability to develop all the skills required to play in the future and the overall understanding of the game.

There are countless benefits for players to get to experience all positions on the field. The players gain a better understanding of the entire game. Playing all positions helps with understanding responsibilities and positioning on the field. The player’s learn the relationships between different positions on the field. Most importantly for young players, it challenges the players to use different skills, in different ways, in different parts of the field, and it is more fun!

Playing the same position all of the time only requires the player to use certain skills, usually their stronger ones, over and over again, so the game becomes less and less challenging over time and the player’s learning slows down. There is little opportunity to grow past what the player can already do on the field and what the player already knows. As the players get older, the size of the field gets bigger, the number of players on the field increases, the formations change, and the playing approach becomes more sophisticated. As the game changes, the player with less experience in different positions will be more limited in regards to fitting into the game than a player who has played and learned the skills and knowledge required to play different positions. The player will begin to struggle as more is required by the coach and the game. The saddest part is the player who has grown up loving the game and was doing very well will increasingly begin to struggle, and the game will quickly become not as much fun. The player, in the spirit of having a lot of success right away, was deprived of the needed development opportunities to play the game and have success at the older age groups.

Which kids are usually labeled as a forward or defender when young? Coaches use physical attributes, which I am told change as kids grow up, and skill levels, which also change, and the personality of the player, which, you guessed it, also changes over time. The big and strong, but slower player, with a “big kick” gets placed as defender each game, while the speedy and more athletic player with more skill gets placed as a forward.

Each time the player labeled as a defender gets the ball, he is asked to just kick it forward and away from his own goal. The player rarely gets opportunities to take players on with the ball, dribble in space, receive passes from teammates, or get forward to try to score. The player gets good at winning the ball and kicking it far up the field for the forward to chase down. The player is praised and rewarded for doing his very well. Unfortunately, he will be required to do more than this in the future, even as a defender, when the game gets more advanced as he gets older, but he will not have learned how to do anything more.

When the forward gets the ball, he is asked to try to run forward and use his speed to get past the slower defenders. As soon as he is near the goal, the coach will want him to try to score. Between the two players, the forward gets the benefit of getting more touches on the ball and working on skill moves. But, the player gets little experience defending near his own goal, learning to play out of the back, and seeing the game from a different part of the field. If the player is moved to a different position by another coach, the player will be very unhappy about it and will become frustrated quickly as he can no longer do what he has always done… run forward and score goals. The player never gets to learn and appreciate any other aspect of the game. The only way the game is fun is if he is playing forward and scoring goals. A player who may have been considered the “best” player on the team, and doing everything right, can quickly become the player who struggles and does not have the required skills to continue to play at a competitive level as the seasons pass.

What about the players who do not fit either of these profiles? What about the players who are considered to be weaker because they cannot impact the game the same way? I have heard coaches say they try to “hide” these players on the field so they do not have to do much, or put them with stronger players who can cover for the weaker player’s mistakes. This limits the player’s negative impact on the team. Some may call this “good” coaching, but I feel this is the LAZIEST form of coaching. Instead of trying to help weaker players improve, the coach decides it is just easier to find a way that the player’s deficiencies will hurt the team the least. That is not coaching. That is REFUSING to coach. Again, these players are not allowed to play certain positions that are reserved for the “stronger” players and they miss opportunities to get better and learn how to play the game. Often these are the smaller, less athletic and coordinated players, who are driven out of the game way to early because they were not athletic enough as a young kid.

Yes, as players get older, at the senior levels, players will not be moved around as much and players begin to be more specialized in playing certain positions on the field. With that said, and as players develop as forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers, it is still good for them to move around at times to help them learn the intricacies of each position in relation to the one they play (goalkeepers much less than others). At the older age groups, there is still a lot of development to be done, much of it tactical and understanding systems of play, which is best learned by experiencing different positions and formations. It would not be as fluid as with a younger team, but some movement in positions is still beneficial.

Really talented players can usually be effective and have a decent amount of success in most positions on the field. These types of players have a strong understanding of what is required from each position on the field. Their knowledge of the game and skill set is not limited to a single position. Yes, based on their strengths and weaknesses there will be certain positions they are more suited for, but even that can change slightly based on the system of play and formation.

When I first started coaching, I tended to leave kids in the same position. I did not know as much (but I thought I did since I played the game my whole life), and I thought I was making the game better for the kids allowing each to play where they wanted to. The more I have learned as a coach, the more I realized how wrong my thinking was in regards to helping the players develop. I allowed the stronger and faster kids to just use those advantages all the time and have success. I encouraged and cheered them for doing it, and they did, over and over again, and the game was easy for them. I never challenged those players to work on their weaknesses and do things in the game that they were not comfortable with. Those would have been the things to really help them jump in ability level. Although there is nothing wrong with using their strengths, I never asked them, challenged them, or put them in positions to make them play differently to help them grow beyond what they could already do. If my job as a coach was to make them better, I did not do my job. I thought I was, but now I know, I was just cheering on what they already knew how to do. It would have helped those players immensely and they may be even stronger, more well rounded and higher level, players today if I would have given them more opportunities to improve and expand their skills.

So again, your player is not forward, at least not yet. He may be one in the future but he is not one right now. If you are right and he is a forward later on, and he has experience playing multiple positions, he will be an even better forward because of that experience. But if you are wrong, and he does not develop into that position, then where is he going to play? He does not know how to play anywhere else or have the skills to do so. With the assumption that we may not be able to predict the future for a player, it may be prudent to give the player the opportunity to learn the entire game by playing all positions when they are young. The players have plenty of time to learn how to be more specialized when they are older. When they are young, let them experience as much as possible.

Tony has a Masters in Education from The Ohio State University, is a State Certified teacher, and is a USSF C License coach.

⚽Tryout Season Approaching ⚽

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 16:46:04 GMT

Each year in May, we have tryout season. The angst within the Youth Soccer Community is easy to feel. We hope that the infographic and the blog post can help some players and families during this process. It's not easy to navigate.

WHAT COACHES ARE LOOKING FOR ☺ PLAYER NO'S ☺ SOME INSIDER TIPS

Recommended Soccer Books

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 16:46:03 GMT

Everything Your Coach Never Told You Because You're a Girl: and other truths about winning

- a great soccer book by Dan Blank - Get if from AMAZON

* ** Best Soccer Books to Increase your Soccer Knowledge ***

We'll keep updating this Blog Post with recommended books. Keep coming back, and if you have a book you recommend, send your book recommendations to book@hollywoodwildcats.com

The teenager's challenge: Sleep well, play well

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 17:39:48 GMT

I'm sure anyone who's raised an adolescent or teenager can attest to the idea that teenagers don't get as much sleep as they need.

For the adolescent or teenager a number of outside influences take place: more demands on time for homework, socializing, sports, music, or any number of other activities.

Let’s take a look below at some reasons why sleep patterns change, what the proper amount of sleep is, and how it can affect sports performance.

Why sleep patterns change in a teenager
Each of us — no matter how old — has an internal clock that follows roughly a 24-hour cycle. The internal cycle has a wide range of effects on many different body functions such as body temperature, release of hormones (human growth hormone is released in larger amounts during sleep than wakefulness), and amount of sleep required.

In younger children the normal body clock would have them fall asleep around 8 or 9 each night and wake up in the morning when they’ve had enough sleep. But in puberty the surge in different hormones produced by the body changes all of that and it becomes very difficult to feel sleepy often until after 11 pm. Throw in the required time on Instagram and you can see where all of this leads.

How much sleep does a teenager need and how many teens actually get that?
Most sleep researchers tell us that the typical teenager should have 9 hours of sleep per night. Right now many of you are saying to yourselves “get real, that’s impossible” for most teenagers.

With my own experience as a father of two teenage boys I’d have to agree. Several studies of teens have shown that about 90% get less than 9 hours of sleep per night and unfortunately 10% said they typically get less than 6 hours per night. The definition of “sleep deprivation” in teens is not completely clear but generally means that the teen is consistently getting less than 8 hours of sleep per night.

How sleep deprivation affects school and athletic performance
Anyone who’s sleepy can be awfully moody but there are many negative consequences beyond that. Being tired during class will obviously make it more difficult to concentrate or even stay awake during class, and there is evidence that being sleep-deprived leads to poorer school performance. And most tragically a sleep deprived teen driving a car can lead to disastrous consequences.

In a test of reaction times at Stanford University, people who were tired because of disrupted sleep performed about as poorly as subjects who were legally drunk. The study was the first to show severe impairment in people who have only mild to moderate sleep disturbances. This was an older group of people but it’s easy to see that it could be true for teenagers too. Would you like to face a high and tight fastball when you can’t react?

As for sports performance, research by Dr. Cheri Mah at the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic has shown that members of Stanford’s women’s tennis team, men’s and women’s swimming teams, and men’s basketball team improved performance by increasing sleep times.

Some practical tips for sleep and sports performance in teenagers …
There are many good reasons for teenagers to get more sleep than they do, but once again reality can get in the way of a good plan. So do the best you can to get as close as you can to 9 hours of sleep for your teen.

At the very least there are special situations when you’ll want to pay special attention to “sleep preparation” for performance. Do you have an important tournament or championship game coming up? How about a national team tryout? A college identification camp where you’ll be traveling east through several time zones? Here are some simple tips:

Increase your sleep time several weeks before a major event.
Make sleep as much of a priority as technical skill, fitness, and nutrition.
Go to sleep and wake up at the same times every day.
Turn lights off at night; use bright lights in the morning.
When traveling from west to east for competitions try to get out to your new time zone several days in advance to acclimate to the new time zone and avoid jet lag.

Q&A FOR SOCCER PARENTS

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 14:46:00 GMT

By Dave Barry

Q. What is the object of the game of soccer?

A. The object of the game of soccer is for your child to score goals, so that he or she will receive a full athletic scholarship to a Divison 1-A college.

Q. What is the role of the other children on my child’s team?

A. Their role is to pass the ball to your child.

Q. What position should my child play?

A. Your child should play forward.

Q. What should I do if the coach wants my child to be a defender?

A. Be reasonable. Ask the coach, calmly and politely, why he wants your child to play defense. Listen to his explanation, and consider it carefully. Then, file a lawsuit.

Q. How many minutes should my child play?

A. Your child should play however many minutes are in the game.

Q. When is it acceptable for the coach to substitute another player for my child?

A. When your child is not at the game.

Q. What is my job, as a parent, during a soccer game?

A. Your job is to yell instructions to your child and the other children on your child’s team.

Q. Should I make an effort to educate myself about the rules and tactics of soccer before I start yelling instructions?

A. There is no need for that. As a parent, you have a natural intuitive understanding of the game, which you should share with the entire world by constant yelling.

Q. Can you give me some examples of the kinds of instructions I should yell?

A. You should yell helpful tactical information, such as:

GET THE BALL!
KICK THE BALL!
I SAID GET THE BALL DAMMIT!
SCORE A GOAL!

Q. Shouldn’t the coach be the one who gives instructions to the players?

A. No, the coach is standing too far away to know what is going on.

Q. Should I also yell at the referee?

Q. What does it mean when my child has the ball taken away by another child?

A. It means your child has been fouled. You should let the referee know this immediately.

Q. What should I do if my child falls down?

A. Inform the referee that he needs to issue a red card to whatever player was nearest to your child when your child fell down.

Q. What should I do if my child knocks an opposing player down from behind so hard that the opponent is bleeding and screaming in pain, possibly with a bone sticking out of his leg?

A. You should yell: “THAT WAS ALL BALL, REF!!”

Q. What should I yell if the other team scores a goal?

A. You should yell: “THAT WAS OFFSIDE REF!!”

Q. What does “offside” actually mean?

A. Nobody knows.

Q. If my child somehow fails to get a full scholarship to a Division 1-A college, what is the most likely explanation?

A. The most likely explanation is that your child is not getting adequate coaching. But it’s also possible that — to be brutally honest — you were not yelling loud enough.

A. Just ignore them. Some parents can be real jerks.

Soccer is the Universal Language

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:46:04 GMT

My son surprisingly invited me to join him one summer evening for a training session in preparation for his upcoming college soccer preseason. We had not trained together for several years since early high school. It’s just not stylish for college athletes to be seen training with their parents. In fact, I had not even kicked a soccer ball in perhaps three years - this was a special invite that no parent should ever pass up.

After arriving at the half-sized, turf soccer field, I dusted off my routine of year’s past in setting out cones for some timed dribbling runs, foot-skill drills and beep-test sprints. We had regularly trained on this field many times when my son was nine to fourteen years-old. At times, we almost thought of it as our own personal training field. Coming back felt good.

In the meanwhile, two car loads of folks had arrived at ‘our’ field. They were wearing cleats and game kits I didn’t recognize. They looked forlornly at our cones set out all over the field. We had effectively commandeered the whole field, and they were late to the party. I shouted a friendly invite for them to come join us on the field, but they made no move.

I picked up a bunch of our cones to open up field space and waved them toward the field. They cautiously approached, but still said nothing. I said again that they could join us or use the other half the field gesturing to the far side, but they didn’t reply.

My son and I started kicking the ball around. He took some pot shots on goal which was basically open target practice at bullseye Dad. The shots repeatedly stung my hands. In self-defense, I then passed a ball out toward one of our shy new acquaintances standing along the touchline. Smile.

He started to skillfully dribble the ball, so my son instinctively moved-in to pressure him defensively. More smiles and an outlet pass to one of his friends. This forced me to have to step-in to defend against the friend.

More passes, more juking, a shot and suddenly a soccer game broke out. My son and I played two versus three or two versus four against our newfound friends. My son was the strongest player, and I was among the weaker. Being a runner was my only salvation. I had just a little bit of pace on a couple of the opponents as they were more out-of-shape than me.

For the next eighty minutes, our little group backheeled, Cryuffed, performed give-and-go’s, nutmegged and Maradona’ed endlessly against each other. This brought smiles, thumbs up, high fives, broken ankles, laughs and fist bumps both with teammates and opponents alike. This was pick-up soccer as we hadn’t experienced in years. My teammate did emit a few groans over my occasionally weak and out-of-practice Dad-passes. Still, it was the epitome of “The Beautiful Game” for parent and child.

The only tension occurred after two perfectly executed give-and-go’s when I unselfishly passed the ball yet a third time right across the opponents’ wide-open goal. My son yelled with lament “why didn’t you slam that ball into the back of the net?” I promptly chortled back “why did you stop your run and not tap in my perfectly-weighted cross?” More chuckles all around.

The score? – perhaps something like 60 to 59 as we were playing with full size goals and no keepers. Who won? We all did – especially me getting to play soccer with my son for the first time in years. Do we know their names or where they are from? Nope, as they didn’t speak any English. However, we got to know them well enough as everyone spoke the universal language of soccer.

News – Hollywood FC

Welcome to USL

USL Academy League welcomes Hollywood FC as the 6th South Florida Club

Thank you and Congratulations Coach Jake

Hollywood FC Clubwide Announcement

Club-Hopping and Increased Soccer Dropout Rates

Why "Price for Life" Loyalty Programs Matter in Youth Soccer

"Price for life" loyalty program - where returning players are guaranteed stable fees are crucial in curbing the trend of parents moving their children from club to club each year in search of the next "best team."

Benefits for Player Development

Reducing the "Chasing the Best Team" Mentality

Club and Community Advantages

Developing Highly Competitive Teams Under a “Price for Life” Loyalty Model

Club-Hopping and Increased Soccer Dropout Rates

Conclusion

Stable curriculum and team environments are crucial for maximizing youth player development, fostering resilience, building strong social bonds, and instilling lifelong values and skills.

Price for Life - Loyalty pays ON and OFF the field!

Hollywood FC - "Price For Life" Program Introduced

Program Overview

How It Works

Example

Benefits for Families

Eligibility & Terms

How to Enroll

FAQs

Ready to Lock In Your Rate?

Hollywood FC x AS Dan Chilom Partnership

Hollywood FC x AS Dan Chilom Partnership

What to Do When You Can't Afford Your Kid's Sport?

What to Do When You Can't Afford Your Kid's Sport?

Hollywood FC appoints Jake Castro as Director of Coaching

Press Release - Hollywood FC appoints Jake Castro as Director of Coaching

Pay to Play Model and Parent Sportsmanship Expectations

Pay to Play Model and Parent Sportsmanship Expectations

No Laps, Lines, Lectures Nor Elimination Games During Practices

Coaching Education - Parent Education

Setting a Stage for Success: A Note on Division Placement

Setting the Stage for Success: A Note on Division Placement

9 Things Coaches Want Parents to Understand

9 Things Coaches Want Parents to Understand

Q&A FOR SOCCER PARENTS

August Newsletter

Few important notifications - PLEASE READ!

Want to become a referee?

Want to become a referee? - NOW IS THE TIME!

REC Registration is OPEN

3 Recreational Programs Available

Recreational Programs start August 19th - REGISTER NOW !

USL Academy players continue development, make impact in college season

TAMPA, Fla. – The 2023 season a record number of USL Academy players are college-bound after a summer of competition across the USL Academy league.

Hollywood FC joins UPSL Summer League with their USL Academy Team

Hollywood FC joins UPSL Summer League with their USL Academy Team

HOLLYWOOD FC ANNOUNCES ENTRY TO USL ACADEMY THROUGH MIAMI ATHLETIC CLUB PARTNERSHIP

PRESS RELEASE ﻿

Hollywood FC Announces Partnership with Inter Miami CF!

Hollywood FC Announces Partnership with Inter Miami CF!

99% chance that your athlete is dehydrated

At the start of our work together, ~99% of the athletes we work with aren’t drinking enough water. Once our coaches start working with them, this all changes, of course ��

Heads Up – Concussion

Recognize to Recover - Concussion Initiative

What is a concussion?

What are the symptoms of a concussion?

If a head head injury occurs, what should you do?

Adequate Recovery Time

Additional Resources

Poaching - What is it good for? ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN' - Say it again!

Calling All Youth Soccer Clubs in the USA

An Open Letter from USWNT Legend Tiffeny Milbrett

(edited for brevity and relevant differences from her home state of Colorado when originally published in 2017)

Poaching Players, Teams, and Coaches, Oh My!

The Sideline Project

The Sideline Project ﻿

Maintaining Your Offseason Soccer Fitness

Detraining

Maximizing Youth Soccer Player’s Potential at Tryouts

The Three Most Important Tips for Success

So how can the parent help the young soccer player?

Here are the basic recommendations:

#1 Nutrition, Hydration & Rest:

#2 Prepare your child to be able to engage with the new coach.

#3 Prepare your child —Have a plan to control their performance as much as possible during the try-out process.

PRESS RELEASE

At the start of our work together, ~99% of the athletes we work with aren’t drinking enough water.
Once our coaches start working with them, this all changes, of course ��

The Sideline Project