News & Info

 

US Youth Soccer Offers Scholarships
US Youth Soccer announced applications are now available for the second annual William J. "Billy" Goaziou Scholarships for post-secondary education.  The $1,000.00 scholarships are awarded to one male and one female planning to attend a post-secondary education institute for the first time in the fall of 2010.  For more info or to download an application the US Youth Soccer web site.  The deadline to apply is March 15, 2010.

ODP Important Part Of Indentification For U17 Residency Program
US Soccer has announced the 40 players selected to the U17 Residency Program held at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL.  Of the 40 chosen to participate in this year's program, 31 participated in a US Youth Soccer ODP program.  Nine of the players recently participated in the US Youth Soccer Interregional event held in Orlando.  More
 
Four Boys And Five Girls From PA West Soccer To Participate In ODP Events
Top boys talent from US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) will compete in the US Youth Soccer ODP Super Group at Disney's Soccer Showcase presented by the Chelsea Football Club in Orlando, Fla., from December 27-30, 2009. Players in the 1993 and 1994 age groups will compete in preliminary games December 27-29 and seeding will be held December 30.  PA West Soccer's Mark Liebensperger, Zach Batteer, DJ Kouyote, and Mike Wilkie have been named to the Region 1 side.

The showcase event will be played at Disney's Wide World of Sports^® Complex and is among the top recruiting tournaments in the country. This year, the showcase will play host to over 480 boys' and girls' teams along with the eight Super Group teams and more than 800 collegiate coaches.

The elite girls players in the 1990 and 1992 age groups will compete in the 2009 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Girls Winter Interregional, Dec. 27-30 at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland, Miss.

US Youth Soccer ODP is known as the premier identification and development program for the nation's youth seeking the opportunity to compete at the national, professional and collegiate levels of play.  US Youth Soccer ODP is the original Olympic development program and the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer as well as a majority of current and past national and youth team members, as alumni.

PA West Soccer Has 26 Selected To Region 1 ODP Pools
The annual Region 1 ODP camps have wrapped up with 16 boys and 10 girls being selected to participate in Region 1 ODP Age Group pools.

Boys                                                                Girls
'96  Stephen Margaria                                     '96  Laurel Carpenter
                                                                              Kyler Lum

'95  Grant Goldberg                                         '92  Taylor Schram
      Michael Pcholinsky                                          Shelli Spamer
      Ryan Vilella

'94  Nathan Dearth                                           '90/91  Samantha Kovarik
      Tyler Graziani                                                       Ashley Macgruda
                                                                                   Jackie Molinda
'93  Zachary Batteer                                                    Mallory Shaffer
      Drew Klingenberg                                                 Cory Stark
      DJ Kouyate                                                            Ally Walker
      Mark Liebensberger
      Josh Turnley
      Mike Wilkie

'92  Nicholas Kolarac
      Brandon Peck
      Colin Seigteid
      Tanner Panza              

“Positive Parenting For Youth Soccer” Available From US Youth Soccer
With the release of the DVD “Positive Parenting For Youth Soccer,” US Youth Soccer and PA West Soccer further their commitment to creating a supportive environment for young athletes. The US Youth Soccer Coaching Education Department has created this ‘view from the sidelines’ in an effort to create a positive learning environment for those involved in the lives of young soccer players.

The Coaching Education Department is proud to provide a teaching tool designed for administrators, coaches, parents and anyone who cares about children to assist them in providing positive learning atmosphere for our children. The DVD will assist adults in helping young players play and keeping the fun in youth sports.
 
“The Positive Parenting for Youth Soccer DVD is yet another resource from US Youth Soccer to support the game for all kids,” said Sam Snow, director of coaching education for US Youth Soccer. “The DVD will contribute to a healthy and developmentally appropriate environment for youth soccer players.”

“Positive Parenting” discusses the practice and game environment as well as the ride home, each from the perspective of the players, referees and coaches.

PA West Soccer Youth Vice President Stan Hunter encourages everyone involved with younger players to take a look at US Youth Soccer’s latest offering, “This DVD is another step in a series of training tools provided by US Youth Soccer that are available to PA West Soccer members.  We urge all our clubs and/or parents to purchase a copy, review the valuable material, and implement its recommendations so that we may further enhance the development of our youth players.”
 
"Positive Parenting addresses positive behavior and supportive techniques to enhance the players’ enjoyment of the game,” said David Messersmith, president of US Youth Soccer.  “The DVD is reasonably priced so it can be used by everyone and we believe it to be an asset to those working with our youth players."
 
This presentation provides a unique blend of psychology/philosophy and interviews with children of various ages. This video provides insight on:
Why children play
Teaching sportsmanship by example
How to be supportive soccer parents
Developing vs. winning
Red cards for parents
Emotional needs of players
Keeping it all in perspective

To learn more about Positive Parenting for Youth Soccer visit USYouthSoccer.org. The US Youth Soccer Online Store also offers a number of resources for coaches, parents and soccer enthusiasts from DVDS, books, downloadable materials, articles on player development, coaching education and fitness to the latest news on the various programs offered by US Youth Soccer.

PA WEST COACHING AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MISSION STATEMENT
TO AID USSF, THE YOUTH AND AMATEUR DIVISIONS IN THEIR STATED AIMS, BY CREATING THE BEST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUTH AND AMATEUR SOCCER PLAYER IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH:

Emphasizing that playing soccer should be made an enjoyable experience.

Encouraging the creation of age-appropriate environments through the use of small-sided games. 

Asking coaches to utilize appropriate teaching methods (age-appropriate activities and games), whilst letting the game be the teacher.

Increasing the awareness of safety issues/adult behavior issues.

Allowing participation in that level of competition that enables players to be challenged at their appropriate level....including the elite player.

Emphasizing player development over winning/losing, especially amongst younger players.

SPECIFICALLY OUR GOALS ARE TO:
Coaching Development
Improve the soccer education of coaches working with recreational players, with specific focus on those coaches new to soccer (U6 and U8).

Support the development of coaches working with 10-14 year olds, who are emphasizing "technical development in the game," through the provision of PA West Coaching Schools.

Identify and educate coaches who can enhance coaching development and player development programs.
 

Player Development
Enable 4 to 10 year old children in recreational soccer to have fun, to develop a passionate desire to play and to acquire new skills in age-appropriate environments.

Enhance the technical development of players by offering player development programs.

Support the player development efforts of clubs in older age groups by reducing conflicts/overlap with programs like the PA West Olympic Teams.

Make PA West Olympic Teams identification orientated, competitive and inexpensive.

Soccer Environment
Aid in the creation of "Fear Free" and age-appropriate environments for our younger players that prioritize player development over winning and/or large-sided games.

Develop competitions/awards that encourage/recognize skill development and the promotion of other "task goals" amongst PA West clubs and players.

Lobby clubs with older teams (U15+) to participate in the highest level of competition available (e.g. for elite players, regular participation in recognized regional leagues/tournaments).

Help the spread of soccer into all communities regardless of race, gender, disability, etc.

Encourage and nurture a passion for soccer amongst our member players, so that retention rates improve and the continued growth of the Amateur Division is enhanced.