FUEL Soccer 2017 April

OFFICIAL US YOUTH SOCCER MAGAZINE

APRIL 2017 EDITION | VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 20

get nutriton tips and travel advice to

perform your best P. 54

USWNT hopeful carlyn baldwin P. 34

ohio state midfielder nikki walts P. 40

DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW mercer university all-american will bagrou P. 43

former national coach of the Year bob warming P. 46

US YOUTH SOCCER FUEL FOR april

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CONTENT

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Player of the Month

P. 5

Faces of US Youth Soccer

P. 7

Pics From the Pitch

P. 13

APP Attack

P. 32

FACES OF the game P. 34

2017 national league champions p. 48 New Products

P. 53

Quick Meals

P. 59

lunch Time

P. 60

nutrition

P. 61

day in the life

P. 62

workout plan of the month

P. 64

nutrition plan of the month

P. 65

fun pages p. 66 fun pages: answer key p. 70 credits

P. 71

eating weLl on road trips P. 54

PLAYER FAVORITES P. 9 Q&A WITH COACH p. 46

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s

US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program was formed in 1977 to identify players in each age group from which a National Team will be selected for international competition. US Youth Soccer ODP is all about high-level training to enhance development of players and coaches.

US Youth Soccer

Explained

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S Youth Soccer is the largest youth sports organization in the U.S. and consists of over 3 million youth players ages 5-and-Under to 19-andUnder. The organization is the largest member of the U.S. Soccer Federation and is comprised of 55 State Associations that provide structure and support within these state boundaries.

In short, US Youth Soccer is all about fostering the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through soccer at all levels of age and competition. Our job is also to make it fun, and instill in young players a lifelong passion for the sport. US Youth Soccer offers great programs for players!

Learn more at USYouthSoccer.org

Where Do I Fit In?

US Youth Soccer National Championship Series consists of the annual State, Regional and National Championships. Teams earn their way through the Series based on success. More than 10,000 teams compete each year, ultimately seeking the eye of college coaches and to hoist the National Championship trophy at the end of July.

US Youth Soccer National League is an extension of the highly successful US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues (US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional League, Midwest Regional League, Southern Regional Premier League and Far West Regional League) to play for the league title and earn a ticket to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup provides a competitive experience to teams from the state to regional to national level. The Presidents Cup gives players an additional opportunity to compete against teams from across the country at a high level for the joy and the challenge of the game.

Soccer Across America is designed to introduce the sport of soccer to communities not yet served by existing clubs and leagues. Focused on making soccer available to lower-income children in underserved communities, Soccer Across America provides soccer training and administrative guidance.

US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer is a communitybased training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to those with mental or physical disability.

Youth Soccer Month The National Youth Soccer Month campaign celebrated its 14th year of educating the public about the joys, rewards and benefits of playing youth soccer, and offered a variety of resources to learn more about youth soccer and get involved.

Teams

Leagues

Associations/ Clubs

US Youth Soccer

US Soccer

FIFA

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

u s y o u t h s o cc e r e x p l a i n e d

+ +Player of the month

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ach month, we will recognize one male and one female player as the US Youth Soccer Player of the Month, whose accomplishments on and off the field stick out among the rest. The players who are selected will represent a balance of athletic achievement, sportsmanship and citizenship.

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++Alyssa | Hamilton, N.J. A leader from her defensive position, Alyssa is in advanced learning classes and has won back-to-back county science fairs. Alyssa is the president of EarlyAct, which allows her to present ideas that will benefit the school, community, state and beyond. She also chose K9 for Kids to be the beneficiary of the school’s annual talent show, and she helped collect money to purchase 24 cases of soup to give to a local food bank.

Alyssa continues to show determination, both on and off the field, to be a caring teammate, classmate, friend and volunteer.

++Michael | Liberty Township, Ohio 5

Michael has proven to be a big contributor on the soccer field and in the community. He plays for Cincinnati United Premier (OH-S) and competed on both the CUP 00 Gold and CUP 99 Gold teams during the 2016-17 US Youth Soccer National League season — helping the 99 squad earn a division title. Michael holds a 4.3 GPA while taking honors and advanced placement classes. He also spent a week in Los Chilitos, Guatemala, serving with his church. While there, Michael assisted with an outreach program that organized soccer games with the children in the village.

Nominate a Player of the month HEre

WIN A ROUND TRIP TO LONDON WITH YOKOHAMA & CHELSEA FC!

8 WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED FROM THE YOKOHAMA SKILLS CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS. SEE THE SCHEDULE & LOCATIONS BELOW TO PARTICIPATE & WIN! 3/25 | SPRING 2017 Colorado State Cup, Presidents Cup, Aurora, CO 3/26 | Mountain Pacific State Tournament, Aurora, CO 4/1 | Total Futbol Academy United Cup, Cincinnati, OH 4/8 | Indy Burn Cup, Indianapolis, IN 4/29 | Adidas Women’s Elite Showcase, Peachtree City, GA 5/6 | Spring Soccer Festival, Plainfield, IL 5/13 | Bluffton Soccer American Cup, Bluffton, OH 5/21 | Vermont State Cup Preliminary Round, Quarterfinals & Sem-Finals, Essex Junction, VT 5/26-29 | Needham Memorial Day Tournament Driven by Yokohama, Needham, MA 6/3 | Indiana Presidents Cup Finals, Westfield, IN

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL RULES!

©2017 Yokohama Tire Corporation

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Nominate your tournament to receive free burgers for your concession stand!

BUBBA burger, the official Family Fun Burger of US Youth Soccer, is

Recent Winners: Club: Farmington Soccer Club | State: Connecticut Club: Millennium Soccer Kids | State: Texas Club: Reynoldsburg Alliance Soccer Club | State: Ohio Club: Saint Louis Youth Soccer Association | State: Missouri Club: Michigan State Youth Soccer Association | State: Michigan Club: Vail Valley Soccer Club | State: Colorado Club: Crystal Lake Soccer Association | State: Illinois Club: West Florida Flames | State: Florida

The BUBBA burger Tournament Burger Bundle includes:

here to support select youth tournaments this year by providing free

• Vouchers for 17 free boxes of BUBBA burgers

burgers to sanctioned soccer tournaments and events.

• Burger bags

By completing the form below you can nominate your

• One BUBBA burger chef’s apron

US Youth Soccer-sanctioned tournament to be eligible to receive

• 2 BUBBA burger hats

a BUBBA burger Tournament Burger Bundle, which will help your

• 1 sign to be displayed in your concession / grilling area

tournament offset expenses and deliver a great tasting burger to your fans attending the event.

Club: Herndon Hurricanes Black | State: Virginia Club: Lebanon Junior Soccer Club | State: Connecticut Club: West Florida Flames | State: Florida

Enter to Win at fuelsoccer.com/bubbaburger/

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A snapshot of players who personify US Youth Soccer

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Brooke Bailey

Marina Messner

Addison Tingle

Joao Gayola

Dominique DiMeglio

Club

Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club

FC Revolution

PISA

NASA Tophat 00 Premier

Bonita Youth Soccer

State

Hawaii

Pennsylvania

North Carolina

Georgia

Florida

Sixth

Seventh

Seventh

11th

Ninth

Forward

Forward

Midfield

Forward

Midfield

Favorite Class

Science Lab

Human Heritage

Robotics

Geometry

Biology

Favorite Movie

Star Wars

Soul Surfer

South Park

Any Given Sunday

Anything Scary

Favorite TV Show

Survivorman

Full House

Anything Soccer Related

The X Factor

EPL Saturday Mornings

Favorite Exercise

1 v 1 Drills

Juggling

1 v 1 Drills

Possession

Suicides

Least Favorite Exercise

Distance Running

Suicide Sprints

Wind Sprints

Suicides

Burpees

Favorite Healthy Food

Apples

Salad

Pasta

Caesar Salad

Protein Shake

Eggs

Bananas

Cheetos

Broccoli

Protein Bars

Anything 80's

Ed Sheeran

Rick Astley

Drake

Rap Music

Abby Wambach

Ali Krieger

Zlatan

Maradona

Carli Lloyd

USWNT

Make Captain

Play College Soccer

Top 10 GPA in HS

Grade in 2016-17 Position(s)

Least Favorite Healthy Food Music You Train To Role Model

Future Aspirations Play Soccer at UCLA

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

fFA a cCeES s o OF f sSO o cc C CeER r

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A snapshot of players who personify US Youth Soccer

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Hanah McGowan

Ethan Talapatra

Timothy Renaud

Emily Tirey

Emily McAninch

Club

Bordentown CSA

DC Stoddert

Troy SC

TFA Elite Cincinnati

HMMS Eagle FC

State

New Jersey

Washington D.C.

Michigan

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Fourth

Fourth

Eighth

Ninth

Seventh

Forward

Midfield

Forward

Defense

Midfield

Favorite Class

Technology

Music

Science

German

Math

Favorite Movie

Pixels

Sing!

Bench Warmers

Hunger Games

The Blind Side

Favorite TV Show

Steven Universe

Master Chef Jr.

The F2 Freestylers

The Voice

Survivor

Favorite Exercise

1 v 1 Drills

Juggling

Suicides

Weight Lifting

Coerver's

Least Favorite Exercise

Play Goalie

Push-Ups

Burpees

Gates

None

Favorite Healthy Food

Bananas

Oranges

Grilled Chicken

Grilled Chicken

Spinach Linguini Salmon

Least Favorite Healthy Food

Avocado

Spinach

Broccoli

Broccoli

Bananas

Pink

Charlie Puth

Coach Ben Mortimer

AC/DC

Zinedine Zidane

Wiz Khalifa Parents

Coldplay

Don Andres Iniesta

Play at American University

College Degree

College Soccer

Best Player I Can Be

Grade in 2016-17 Position(s)

Music You Train To Role Model

Carli Lloyd

Future Aspirations Compete in CrossFit

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

fFA a cCeES s o OF f sSO o cc C CeER r

+ +Favorite Pregame Ritual Jackson Morse

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University of Memphis The freshman midfielder had a teambest six goals in his 17 games and was named to the American Athletic Conference’s All Rookie Team. The Plano, Texas, native played US Youth Soccer for Solar Chelsea (TX-N).

“On game days, I am pretty focused on what I need to do before a game. I eat a healthy breakfast, typically with bananas, peanut butter and orange juice. For lunch, I’ll eat some pasta and salad. Then, I like to do contrast and sit in the hot and cold tubs to get my legs feeling good.”

+Favorite + Club Soccer Memory

Madz Ham

Grand Valley State University The GVSU junior defender from Lake Orion, Mich., started every game on a defense that posted a Division II-best 20 shutouts. She is a former member of Waza FC (2012-14) and LOBOS Soccer Club (2006-12).

“When I was 13, my club team took a trip to Europe for two weeks in the summer to play against some German and Italian teams. My favorite image is playing in a stadium surrounded by huge snow-covered mountains.”

++Favorite Player Growing Up Andrew Allen

Brandeis UNIVERSITY 9

++WHATS YOUR favorite PREGAME RITUAL? Share with us on facebook.

A sophomore forward at Brandeis, Allen started 18 of 23 games and had four goals and three assists. Allen, a native of Norfolk, Mass., played for Explosion FC (MA), and the club went 21-1-3 during his senior year.

“My favorite player growing up was Taylor Twellman of the New England Revolution. He was a clinical goal-scorer, and his charitable work off the field after his concussion is a great example to other professional athletes. I still remember when I got his autograph like it was yesterday!”

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

M Y FAV ORI T ES

++Favorite Way to Improve Conditioning

+Favorite + Quality in a Teammate

Julia Beck

Florida Gulf Coast University

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University of the Pacific The junior central defender was one of five Tigers to start all 17 games in 2016.

She earned WCC All-Academic honorable mention this past season. She played for the CASA Boca club team for eight years and was captain for five seasons. She played one season with Placer United.

“I love going on long distance interval runs. I will warm up for a mile, switch to intervals for two miles, and then cool down. It’s a good way to get in some intense cardio for a longer period of time.”

Albert Ruiz

Ruiz was the national leader in goals (22) and points (49) by a wide margin. He was the first player in ASUN Conference history to be named a finalist (or semifinalist) for the MAC Hermann Trophy. Ruiz, a native of Barcelona, scored five more goals and totaled nine more points than any other player in the country this season.

“I look for a player who is a hard worker because hard work makes you a better player. The better players your team has, the more games you are going to win.”

++Favorite Stop in the Weight Room TC Hull

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

10

+What + is your favorite way to improve conditioning?

Share with us on facebook.

A rising junior forward for the Cougars, Hull was a member of the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program in Illinois from 2009-2012 and played club soccer at Campton United SC. His Campton team won the US Youth Soccer Illinois State Cup in 2013.

“My favorite stop in the weight room is back squats and bench. It is an activity that is easily measurable, and you can see results fairly quickly if you’re putting in the work.”

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

M Y FAV ORI T ES

++Favorite Off-Field Activity

+Favorite + Player Growing Up

Gabriella Mencotti

Noah Hutchins

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Grand Valley State University

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A senior forward from Novi, Mich., Mencotti led the nation in goals this season with 29 and notched 70 total points. For the second straight year, Mencotti was named to the NSCAA All-Midwest Region First Team. She played for Michigan Rush (MI), formerly Northville Premier, from 2005-14 and was a member of the Michigan Rush Select National Team from 2011-12. She helped the Michigan Rush win the US Youth Soccer Michigan State Championship in 2013.

“My favorite off-field activity for soccer is having team dinners and eating as much food as we can in one sitting. Overall, my favorite off-field activity is to go bowling because I am unbelievably competitive, and it’s something completely different from the sport I play.”

+WHAT + is your favorite OFFFIELD ACTIVITY? Share with us on facebook.

university of Kentucky The junior is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and plays midfield for the Wildcats. He played club soccer for the Columbus Crew Soccer Academy (OH-S) from 2011-14 and netted 10 goals in 2012 and 12 in 2013.

“My favorite player growing up was Ronaldinho. He was too much fun to watch and was obviously having fun himself.

Also, Ronaldinho is easy to pick because the main outlet I used to watch soccer when I was younger was YouTube, and there were hours of Ronaldinho highlight tapes available.”

++Favorite Club Soccer Memory Madison Dunker

Marquette university The junior defender was named to the BIG EAST AllAcademic team in both her sophomore and junior season.

A native of Rockton, Ill., Dunker was a three-year letter winner in soccer and two-year letter winner in basketball at Hononegah Community High School. She tallied 27 goals and 25 assists during her high school career.

“I loved playing in the 3v3 national championships at Disney’s Wide World of Sports when I was younger.”

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

M Y FAV ORI T ES

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Cleveland FC (OH-N) and Legends FC 00 Academy (CA-S) compete in a 17U Girls National League match in Las Vegas.

13 D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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Scottsdale Blackhawks Taylor (AZ) and Premier Strikers (MD) battle in a 17U Girls National League match in Las Vegas.

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Legends FC 98 Academy (CA-S) takes on ASA Azzurri 98 (MD) in a 19/20U Girls National League game in Las Vegas.

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Cincinnati United Premier Gold (OH-S) competes against Fullerton Rangers 01 White (CA-S) in a 15U Girls National League game in Las Vegas.

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R �

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La Roca Premier FD (UT) battles against FC Frederick 01 (MD) during a 16U Girls National League match in Las Vegas.

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Raiders FC (IL) takes on Delaware Rush 00 (DE) during a 17U Boys National League game in Las Vegas.

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21 CUP 99 Gold (OH-S) and Sc Del Sol 99 (AZ) compete in an 18U Boys National League match in Las Vegas.

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Sporting STL - McMahon Ford (MO) competes against La Roca South CS 99/00 Premier (UT) during an 18U Boys National League game in Las Vegas.

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23 FC Golden State - 2001 (CA-S) and South Carolina United FC 01 Elite (SC) compete during a 16U Boys National League match in Las Vegas.

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Fullerton Rangers 00 White (CA-S) takes on the LMSC Sabertooth Rats (PA-E) in a 17U Boys National League game in Las Vegas.

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Teams compete at the 2017 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships in Phoenix, Ariz.

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27 Teams compete at the 2017 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships in Phoenix, Ariz.

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D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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28 Teams compete at the 2017 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships in Phoenix, Ariz.

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30 Teams compete at the 2017 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships in Phoenix, Ariz.

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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31 Teams compete at the 2017 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships in Phoenix, Ariz.

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TeamSnap: TeamSnap is a web and mobile app designed to help coaches and players save time. More than 15 million users are using the app and database to share schedules, stats and messages.

TeamSnap has two sides to its business – one for teams and the other for larger clubs and sports leagues. FREE

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Volt Athletics: Volt builds sport-specific training plans for teams, personalized to each athlete – so they know exactly what to do in the gym to train safely for their performance goals. It’s easy for coaches, awesome for athletes. Volt dynamically customizes your sport-specific training program to ensure athletes peak at just the right time for performance.

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AthleteMonitoring: AthleteMonitoring attempts to provide coaches with data and feedback that will help minimize the risk of injury and help players perform better at practice and games.

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D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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FA C ES OF T HE G A M E : w o m e n ’ s p r o

By Terry Jacoby

The Swiss Training Method

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Carlyn Baldwin University of Tennessee

arlyn Baldwin decided that if she was going to accomplish her dream of “playing soccer at the highest level,” she was going to have to start playing soccer full-time. The Oakton, Va., native, who finished third on her University of Tennessee squad with four goals and 10 points during her junior season, decided to forgo her senior year and head overseas.

Baldwin, a former US Youth Soccer National Champion with Braddock Road Youth Club 95 Elite (VA), signed with the BSC Young Boys women’s club, which plays in National League A, Switzerland’s highest division.

The talented 21-year-old midfielder played three full seasons at Tennessee, recording six goals and four assists for 16 points and was named to the SEC All-Freshmen team in 2014.

Baldwin played for three different United States National Teams, including the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup team which played in Canada.

When did you first experience the United States National Team?

“I was called up for the U-18 age group, which is a little late in the grand scheme. I’m a very small player, and I was always working for that opportunity. As I got older, I was finally given the

chance to compete at that level.”

In 2014, you played in the U-20 World Cup for the United States in Canada. What was that experience like?

“I loved it then, but I appreciate it even more today. It was such a unique experience to represent your country. We lost in the quarterfinals, which was a little disappointing, but the experience was incredible.”

How difficult of a decision was it to leave and go play overseas?

“I had considered playing in France instead of going to college, so I had been down that road before. After my junior season, I talked with (the coach) about what I wanted to do, and that was to be a full-time soccer player. It had nothing to do with Tennessee. I felt like I needed to commit all my time to soccer. The tough part was leaving my teammates behind.”

You signed with the BSC Young Boys women’s club of Switzerland’s National League A. Why did you sign with them?

“The team here is always competing for the league title. There are a lot of talented players including many Swiss National Team players and U-23 players.

We have a lot of depth. I want to make an impact and help the team win.”

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Carlyn Baldwin, BSC Young Boys

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Baldwin’s mother signed her daughter up for soccer for the first time when the child was 4. “As early as 5, I knew I wanted to play soccer at the highest level. I was saying that I wanted to play on the National Team. I joined travel soccer when I was 9, and it became very competitive. I really liked that competition and challenge.”

Baldwin grew up a big University of Maryland fan and met Terrapins coach Brian Pensky while he was coaching at College Park. Pensky took the job at Tennessee during Baldwin’s sophomore year. “I went for a visit because Brian was there and it was unbelievable. They have so much to offer and with Brian there it was just the perfect fit.”

Baldwin was named to the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team in 2014, and competed in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She saw playing time off the bench in two FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup contests, against Germany and China. She was one of three incoming college freshmen to be named to the U-20 team.

Baldwin had a strong start to her collegiate career. She was named to SEC All-Freshman Team and scored a game-tying penalty kick for the first goal of her career at Ole Miss. She made her first start as a Vol and saw 91 minutes of action at Wisconsin and appeared in 40 minutes of action in the season opener vs. Milwaukee.

As a sophomore at Tennessee, Baldwin started in 15 games, averaging 83.06 minutes per game. She played the full 110 minutes at Vanderbilt, at Mississippi State, and at No. 7 Virginia Tech and at Liberty. She scored her first goal of the season in 71 minutes of action vs. Murray State.

As a junior at Tennessee, Baldwin set her single-season career-highs in goals (4), assists (2) and points (10). She scored her fourth goal of the year by converting a penalty kick in Tennessee’s 2-0 win over Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament and also scored in a 3-0 win vs.

Mississippi State.

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Baldwin was a standout midfielder for Braddock Road Youth Club 95 Elite, based out of Virginia. She said her club team approached development from the ground up with an emphasis on possession.

“My club team stressed playing really good possession soccer. Maybe because of that, we didn’t see a lot of success early on,” Baldwin said. “But by the time we got to U-16, U-17, that work would pay off.”

Baldwin helped lead the team to the 2012 U-16 US Youth Soccer National Championship, in addition to back-toback US Youth Soccer National League titles, 2012 and 2013 US Youth Soccer Virginia State Cups and the 2012 US Youth Soccer Region I Championship.

“Those teams had a lot of great players who are still playing at a high level today,” she said.

Baldwin credits her club experience for developing a solid foundation.

“We had great coaching and they guided that team to playing soccer the right way,” she said. “It really prepared us for college soccer and even National Team play.”

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Carlyn Baldwin University of Tennessee

aldwin suggests setting goals and then going after them full-time. She decided at the age of 5 that she wanted to play at the highest level.

And everything she has done since has been to help accomplish that goal.

“I have always stuck to that goal and always dreamed of playing at the professional level,” she said. “I always wanted to play in the Youth World Cup and play on the full team.

Accomplishing that first goal of playing on that World Cup team was a little taste of something that you have worked so hard to accomplish. And it makes you even hungrier to go after everything else you’ve dreamed about.

“I have taken a crazy route with injuries and now coming overseas to play. But life never goes the way you think it will, and you have to make decisions that aren’t always easy but you feel are right for you.

“My goals haven’t changed and I’m as hungry as ever.”

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FA C ES OF T HE G A M E : w o m e n ’ s p r o

FA C ES OF T HE G A M E : US M N T

By Terry Jacoby

The 30-Year-Old USMNT Veteran

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Matt Besler Getty Images

att Besler adds experience to the backline and is expected to be in the mix when U.S. Men’s National Team coach Bruce Arena puts together a roster for 2017 matches that will make or break the team’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Besler, 30, has earned 39 caps for the United States, including 10 appearances in 2016. He did not play during the team’s early 2017 matches against Serbia and Jamaica but started twice at the 2016 Copa America in June, and he scored his first international goal in a win over St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 2.

A native of Overland Park, Kan., and the first Kansan to play for the USMNT, Besler debuted with the USMNT in 2013. The center back helped guide the team to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup title and started all four games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as the Americans reached the Round of 16.

How did you first get interested in playing soccer?

“Neither of my parents played soccer. I think they just signed me up because it was the popular thing to do at the time. I started playing rec soccer when I was 4 or 5 years old.”

You didn’t start taking soccer seriously until your

senior year of high school. What changed for you to take that next step?

“Soccer was the best chance I had to get a college scholarship.”

Why did you pick Notre Dame?

“It just felt right. I wanted the right combination of good athletics and challenging academics and Notre Dame fit that perfectly.”

How has MLS changed since you first started playing?

“It’s changed a lot and for the better. The on-field product has gotten better, and the competition is way ahead of what it was 10 years ago.”

There have been a lot of changes with the USMNT. Do you see the USA team heading in the right direction?

“I think so. Qualifying for a World Cup is never an easy task, but we seem to always find a way.”

What do you say to those growing impatient with the USMNT? “There are a lot of answers. There are people who don’t understand why we don’t win the World Cup every time because we are Americans and we are supposed to. But history has a lot to do with it. We are a young soccer country compared to other places in the world.”

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matt besler, usmnt

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Besler called attending Notre Dame one of the best decisions he has ever made. He played four seasons for the Fighting Irish, receiving All-American and Academic All-American honors as a senior. He was named the NSCAA 2008 Senior College Men’s Scholar All-America Player of the Year. He also was named to the All Big East Team three times.

While he was an MLS All-Star in 2011, the Kansas native had a breakout season in 2012. He was named Sporting Kansas City’s Defensive Player of the Year, MLS Defender of the Year, MLSsoccer.com Breakout Player of the Year, and MLS Best XI. Besler appeared in 31 matches that season, making 30 starts and playing a total of 2,769 minutes at center back.

Before 2013, Besler had zero caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He made his debut in a friendly against Canada after getting called into a camp in January of 2013. His World Cup qualifying debut came on March 26 at the Azteca.

Besler is only the second player to receive a WCQ start with less than two prior caps.

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Besler’s breakout year with the USMNT was 2013 when he made 11 starts on defense. He made 12 appearances in all, including the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of the Gold Cup, which the USMNT won. He helped the team showcase its regional dominance by anchoring a defense that finished atop the group in the final round of World Cup Qualifying for the 2013 tournament.

Besler has become one of the best defenders in MLS. He was named to the MLS Best XI in both 2012 and 2013, and is a five-time MLS All-Star, including recognition in the last four successive seasons. Besler was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2012. In 2016, he was again named an MLS All-Star.

Besler was named to the U.S. Men’s National Team for the 2016 Copa America Centenario, a prestigious tournament headlined by the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. He made his debut in the competition in the quarterfinals, helping the U.S. to a 2-1 win over Ecuador, and started and played 90 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the tournament’s thirdplace match.

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Besler said he started playing US Youth Soccer when he was in the third or fourth grade. He was a member of the KCFC Alliance club team, where he was teammates with current Sporting Kansas City defender Seth Sinovic.

“KCFC was the only club team I ever played on,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.

I remember jumping into my mom’s minivan and driving all over the Midwest for games and tournaments. At that age, it made me feel like a big-time player going to those big events. It was always exciting.”

He said playing club soccer was a key part of his development as a soccer player.

“At that time, club soccer was the only option you had if you wanted to focus just on soccer,” he said. “I was fortunate to have two or three really good coaches who focused on development and taught us to play the game the right way.”

Besler was a key member of the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region II team and competed in the 2004 ESP All-Star game.

He trained with the U.S. U-20 National Team in 2006 and also played on the U.S. U-15 National Team.

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esler is not only a veteran soccer player with years of MLS experience, but has earned the right to be a team captain for Sporting Kansas City. He takes that role and being a team leader very seriously.

“It starts with setting the example with your actions,” he said. “It’s where everything starts with me. I try to be myself and not turn into somebody that I’m not.”

Besler says he’s always been “in a position of leadership.”

“I’ve tried to be consistent with every team I’ve played on,” he said. “But you always pick up different things along the way from different people, especially older people who you look up to. I always tried to watch the veterans I looked up to and see how they carried themselves and how they navigate through certain situations.”

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FA C ES OF T HE G A M E : US M N T

nikki walts, ohio state Perfecting the Dance on the Pitch

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Nikki Walts Ohio State

hio State midfielder Nikki Walts was All-Big Ten Second Team in 2016 after an impressive junior season. The former US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) standout started all 21 games for OSU and had four goals and four assists. Two of her goals were game-winners.

The Buckeyes went 11-7-3 this past season after advancing to the program’s seventh NCAA Tournament in the last eight seasons.

Walts, 21, from Scottsdale, Ariz., ranked third on the team with four assists. She helped orchestrate the Big Ten’s second-highest goal-scoring offense from the midfield and played a team-high 1,691 minutes while starting all 19 matches. She is a two-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten selection.

Walts attended Xavier College Prep, where she played two seasons. She was named Fiesta AllRegion and was a nominee for Gatorade Player of the Year while at Xavier College Prep.

What attracted you to soccer compared to other sports growing up?

“I really liked the team aspect of soccer. I used to play tennis all the time with my father, but when they put me in club soccer, I fell in love with

it. I like that you rely on teammates and not just yourself. There is a family aspect to team sports.”

How does a young lady from Arizona who plays club soccer in California end up in Ohio?

“When I first got recruited by Ohio State, I wasn’t all that interested, but as soon as I stepped on the campus, I told my mom this is where I need to be. I fell in love with the tradition and atmosphere and it just felt right.”

The Buckeyes had a rollercoaster season in 2016.

How did your junior season go?

“We had some tough losses during the season, but the loss to West Virginia (in the NCAA Tournament) was really tough. We felt like we played well, and then to have a fluke goal scored on us at the end was a tough way to end the season.”

What is your outlook for next season?

“We lost some key players, but we are looking really good in our spring season. And I know we have an awesome freshman class coming in so we are very excited about next season.”

What are your future plans?

“I hope to play professional soccer somewhere.

That is what I am trying to accomplish and trying to put myself in a position to make that happen.”

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Walts comes from a tennis family. Her father, Butch, was a professional tennis player, while her mom, Allyson, played tennis at Oklahoma and Arizona State. “They were very helpful because they have gone through the ups and downs that athletes often go through,” she said. “If I ever got down on myself or needed that extra push, they knew how to help me through that.”

Walts will be joining some of her Ohio State student-athletes on a trip to Ecuador in May through a program called Soles4Soles, a charitable organization that creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world. “I was raised by my parents to be a giving person. I don’t have that younger sibling to be a role model for, so I look to other people to help when I can,” she said.

Walts played two years at Xavier College Prep, an allgirls Catholic school in Phoenix. She was named Fiesta All-Region and a nominee for Gatorade Player of the Year while at Xavier College Prep. “I went there for two years until

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I transferred to a public school. I just needed a change. But I didn’t play high school soccer after I transferred.”

Walts is a member of Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, a charity that allows her to help at an orphanage in Guatemala. “I went there twice and we go to an orphanage and spend time with all the kids,” she said. “It showed me that we here in the United States take a lot of things for granted.”

During her freshman year in 2014, Walts started all 19 matches in the midfield for Ohio State and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team. She notched two goals and two assists and played the full match 13 times, totaling 1,696 minutes, the most of any Buckeye. She scored the game-winner in the Buckeyes’ win over Nebraska and was an OSU Scholar-Athlete.

Walts started all 23 matches in the midfield for the Buckeyes during her sophomore year in 2015. She had five goals and a team-best seven assists and was second on the team with 17 points. She scored two goals, including the game-winner, and assisted on another against Illinois State. She also was an Academic All-Big Ten and an OSU Scholar-Athlete.

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Walts had an unusual club soccer experience. She lived in Scottsdale, Ariz., but traveled to Southern California to play club soccer.

“The club team said I could practice in Arizona, and travel back and forth for games. So that’s what I did,” she said.

Walts did that for three years, traveling six hours each way to play games in Newport Beach, Calif.

“It was challenging at times, but it was so worth it,” she said. “A local club team let me train with them, and I trained on my own as well as with a coach. It was hard sometimes with the travel, but it was certainly worth the challenges.”

Walts’ sacrifice paid off with the ultimate reward in 2012 when her club team won a national championship.

“That was incredible,” she said. “We were down 2-0 in the championship game and scored twice to force overtime. We scored in the second overtime, and it was the best feeling in the world. Having that feeling made all the travel back and forth and being the new girl on the team worth it.”

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Nikki Walts Ohio State

ike all Division I athletic programs, Ohio State University has an excellent strength and conditioning program, and Walts takes advantage of all the great resources available in that area. But her philosophy was built at home.

“I was raised and taught that if you take a day off from training, you really lose a lot,” she said. “You don’t realize how costly taking a day or two off is until you get on the field, and you can feel it right away. It’s important to stay on top of things, even if it’s just getting a light jog in.”

Walts believes in pushing yourself to be the best you can be.

“It’s a competitive game, and it’s important to maintain that edge and push yourself in training and practice,” she said.

That discipline also carries over to nutrition.

“I believe in treating yourself every once in a while,” she said. “If you want to have a cookie, have a cookie. My mom had a big sweet tooth, and I think I inherited that. But it’s important to eat healthy and that started with my parents always having the right food in the house.”

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will bagrou, mercer From Utah Club Soccer to All-America

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Will Bagrou Mercer University

hile Will Bagrou had a strong first two seasons for the Mercer Bears and established himself as one of the top players in the Southern Conference, the 20-year-old forward first earned national recognition following a breakout junior season.

Bagrou, who played US Youth Soccer with Sparta United SC in Utah, was named a 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and earned 2016 NSCAA All-America Second Team and College Soccer News All-American Third Team honors. He finished his junior year with 20 points on eight goals and four assists while leading the Bears to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 years.

He is the first player in program history to receive All-America honors from any organization.

Bagrou played for three years at Juan Diego High School in Utah before moving to Georgia.

What first got you interested in soccer?

“Soccer was always my only sport that I played growing up. My dad (Dali) played soccer growing up in West Africa. He played at the academy level and always loved the game. It was a family sport.”

How important is that relationship with your dad?

“We spent a lot of time kicking around a soccer

ball when I was growing up. We started when I was 4 years old. He still thinks he’s better than me.”

You grew up in Utah. When did you move to Georgia?

“I moved to Georgia after my junior year of high school when I was 17. It was really tough at first.

But as time went on, it got better. And now I really can’t complain.”

How did you end up at Mercer?

“I wasn’t heavily recruited coming out of high school. I was a late recruit for Mercer. I had a couple teammates who told me to email the coach. He came out to see me play and liked what he saw.”

How does next season look for Mercer?

“We lost four seniors but have a lot of good players coming back. My goal is to improve on what I did as a junior. And we have some good new players coming in, so we are expecting another really good year.”

What are you goals going forward?

“My first goal is to help my team accomplish our team goals. I do want to be an All-American again and just improve on what I did this past season. At the end of the day, I want to play soccer professionally.”

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Bagrou introduced himself to the Southern Conference in style, earning Player of the Week twice in October of his freshman season in 2014. He earned a spot on both the All-Southern Conference First Team and All-Southern Conference All-Freshman Team. He was named the conference’s Freshman of the Year after leading the orange and black in goals (12), assists (5) and points (29).

As a sophomore in 2015, Bagrou played in all 20 of Mercer’s games and was again named to the SoCon AllConference First Team. He scored five goals and added four assists to finish the season with 14 points. Among his goals were two game-winners. He had already ranked ninth on Mercer’s all-time career goal-scorers list (17).

The striker’s offensive work included two of the three fastest goals scored by a SoCon player in school history.

“They just happened,” he said laughing. “Our coach stresses to come out strong and jump on our opponent early. On the real quick one, I was just fed a really good long pass and was lucky enough to score right away.”

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Bagrou’s breakout season started off well and never slowed down. In the Bears’ second game of the season at South Carolina, the junior had a goal and an assist in their 3-2 win. He had two goals in Mercer’s 3-1 win over Jacksonville in September. He also had solo goals against Georgia Southern, Wofford and Furman.

Bagrou said he never saw the “national attention” coming as it all caught him by surprise. And there was plenty to be surprised about. The forward was named a 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and 2016 NSCAA All-America Second Team. “I wasn’t expecting all of these postseason accolades, but it’s a huge honor for me,” he said.

Bagrou is the first Mercer men’s soccer player to receive All-America honors. The Dacula, Ga., product is also the first All-American from the Southern Conference since Wofford defender Forrest Lasso was named a third-teamer by the NSCAA in 2014. The last time a SoCon player was named to the NSCAA Second Team was 2012.

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Bagrou began his US Youth Soccer days when he was just 8 years old playing for Sparta United Soccer Club in Utah. Sparta, the oldest and most prestigious youth club in the state of Utah, was established to provide serious soccer players the opportunities to advance to the highest levels.

“We went to every big tournament around the country,” Bagrou said.

“Yeah, we were very good. We won six or seven state championships during the time I was there. We never won (US Youth Soccer) Regionals unfortunately.”

Bagrou said playing club soccer helped elevate his game to another level.

“It was a tremendous help because of the coaching, and we traveled quite a bit to California and played the dominant teams out there,” he said.

“It was a great experience to play against the players from California and really helped in my development.

“Every time we reached regionals, we would get knocked out by a team from California.”

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Will Bagrou Mercer University

“(Youth soccer) was a tremendous help because of the coaching, and we traveled quite a bit to California and played the dominant teams out there.”

o reach any kind of All-America status requires a unique kind of dedication – both on and off the field. Bagrou learned from his father at an early age to take care of both his mind and body. “(My father) taught me to work hard and stay positive in everything I do, not just soccer,” he said. “He believes in having the right mindset when you take on any challenge.”

When it comes to working out, Bagrou approaches it with dedication and commitment.

“In the offseason, I go to the gym and lift with a focus on lower body,” he said.

“I will then go for a run. I like to vary up my runs. Sometimes it’s just a 2-mile run.

Sometimes I do a 2-1-1. That’s where you run two miles, rest for five minutes, run one mile in six minutes, take another break, and then run another mile in six minutes.”

After his conditioning work, he grabs a soccer ball and goes and trains.

“I like to work on ball-striking, footwork and things like that,” he said.

Nutrition is also important.

“You have to eat well,” he said. “It’s really important for any athlete.”

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The Titan of Travel Two-Time National Coach of the Year Talks Nutrition/Recovery

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o current coach in college soccer has won more NCAA Tournament games on the road than Penn State’s Bob Warming. Between his time as men’s coach at Creighton University and Penn State, he has been recognized as National Coach of the Year twice. He ranks third among active NCAA Division I coaches with 44 career tournament wins.

A lot of US Youth Soccer players will be traveling to tournaments this spring. What is the secret to playing well on the road?

“There’s a pretty good list of things that we think are essential. Some are super simple. Some are more expensive propositions that aid in recovery. The most important regeneration that you can do is sleep. That’s a simple one.”

How can you make sure your players are getting enough sleep?

“We have all of the kids participate in putting down their devices after dark.

Put it on evening mode. The light is not so bright, so the quality of sleep will be better. It’s not only sleep, but the quality of sleep.”

What if the team is traveling in the evening or early morning?

“They’re going to be traveling, so the essential thing for players is to bring along their own pillow. It’s important that they have their own pillow. If they’re in a car or on a plane, that will make a difference in their comfort level.”

Does your team do anything unique in terms of nutrition?

“One of the hot things that we’ve seen a lot of research on is the exceptional

Penn State Coach Bob Warming

recovery effects of cherry juice. It’s getting all kinds of rave reviews.

The Women’s National Team is a big proponent as well.”

What do you recommend in terms of recovery?

“An ice tub is great for after exercise and to get the body temperature down. If you can’t get an ice tub, get in a swimming pool.

Then you can do some light stretching; it gets the weight off your legs. Do some light kicking to relax all of the muscles.”

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Do you travel with any equipment that helps with recovery on road trips?

“We take along foam rollers on all of our trips. Our guys roll out. They all wear compression pants while they’re on the flights and every time right after playing. They’re taking showers, getting something to eat, and getting the compression pants on. That’s become the norm with pro teams.”

Is there anything you would recommend for an athlete dealing with an injury?

“Sometimes you get a little ache, a tweak in a muscle or soft tissue. You need to have some trigger-point tools. Those are things like a smaller ball. You can roll around on a lacrosse ball or softball. It’s a different kind of tool that can be helpful to use on different parts of the body.”

What else can a player do on his own when it comes to recovery?

“Epsom salts have a great quality of reducing soreness. They will really help take toxins out of the body as well. Posttournament, I recommend yoga for a great overall body stretch. That allows

you to focus on being aware of where you are tight and sore. Those will really help you.”

When it comes to recruiting, what is the best advice you can give a high school player?

“The most important thing is to become a great player. I think a lot of kids go to camps – ID camps – and they just keep playing. The important thing is what you do between camps. I’ve had at least one player selected in 21 of the last 22 MLS Drafts. Every player had the same quality.

They either came in early or stayed late after practice and worked on specific things for their position. They didn’t just pass or run; they worked on things for their position to make themselves dominant players on the field. The whole camp business is a huge money-maker and a huge expense. You read articles all the time: Get exposure for yourself. Play in this tournament, play in that tournament.

Or even worse, go to this ID camp. The way to get recruited is to be a great player.

Spend the time to make yourself a great player, and you won’t have to go to any ID camps. Coaches will come to you.”

SOCCER, DIGITALLY DELIVERED

download the official fuel soccer OR SEARCH “US YOUTH SOCCER” ON YOUR DEVICE’S APP STORE

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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Penn State Coach Bob Warming

A PLACE AT THE TABLE

The 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships will by played July 24-30 in Frisco, Texas.

40 of 96 Teams Punch Tickets to the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships

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By Ryan Loy

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U

S Youth Soccer is proud to announce the US Youth Soccer National League 15U, 16U, 17U, 18U and 19/20U Boys and Girls teams that have qualified to compete in the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships, which are being held July 24-30 in Frisco, Texas.

Just six teams clinched their position as division champions prior to the final weekends of play in March in Las Vegas, where the remaining division champions were crowned. Of the 27 National League titles captured during play in Las Vegas, 13 were decided on the respective final day of the boys’ and girls’ seasons — showcasing the league’s depth of talent.

By way of their success in the 201617 US Youth Soccer National League, the division winners in each age group,

along with second-place finishers in the 15U and 19/20U age groups, have earned a direct path to the National Championships. Annually, the final leg of the nation’s most elite and prestigious competition provides the opportunity for additional exposure to collegiate and national staff scouts and the chance to capture the National Championship title in their respective age group.

By US Youth Soccer State Association: California-South (7), Ohio-South (6), Illinois (5), Michigan (5), Eastern Pennsylvania (3), Tennessee (2), Utah (2), Virginia (2), Arizona (1), Florida (1), Missouri (1), Nevada (1), North Carolina (1), North Texas (1), OhioNorth (1) and Washington (1) National League Girls Results: After dropping its first game of the

season, Nationals Union 02 Black (MI) strung together six straight wins to close out its season, which proved to be enough to win the 15U Blue Division. The side that handed Nationals that loss — Legends FC 02 Academy 1 (CA-S) — held on for a tie on the season’s final day to finish second in the group and earn its way to Frisco, Texas, as well. In the 15U Red Division, Cincinnati

United Premier Gold (OH-S) put together a historically dominant performance — outscoring opponents 34-to-1 en route to a 7-0-0 record and the division title. Runnerup La Roca-PO 02 (UT) needed a little more drama to secure its place at Nationals, as it scored a late game-winner on the season’s final day that — coupled with a result in the other group game — helped the Utah side

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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jump into second place in the group.

Following two early ties, Florida Elite 2001 (FL) won five straight to finish the season on top of the 16U Black Division with 17 points.

Michigan Jaguars 01 Green (MI) also earned a 5-0-2 record, which helped it seal the 16U Blue Division title during play in Orlando.

The 16U Red Division title was also clinched in Orlando, as CUP Gold 01 (OH-S) finished a 5-1-1 campaign. The age group’s tightest division race came in the White Division, where Legends FC 01 Academy (CA-S) needed a scoreless draw on the season’s final day to win the group by owning a goal differential tiebreaker.

CUP 00 Gold (OH-S) pulled away on the season’s final day to win the 17U Black Division, while defending National Champion Midwest United FC 00 Royal (MI) overcame an early loss in Orlando to wrap up the Blue Division title in January. With five shutouts, Scottsdale Blackhawks Taylor (AZ) went 7-00 and claimed the 17U Red Division title on the strength of its defense. Meanwhile, the 17U White Division came down to the final day, when Legends FC 00 Academy (CA-S) overcame an early deficit to earn a 2-2 draw and win the group.

Results in Las Vegas went just the way Nationals Union 99 Black (MI) needed, as the Michigan side’s 14 points earned through play in Orlando proved to be enough to claim the 18U Black Division. Meanwhile, TSC Showcase (TN) left no doubt by winning the 18U Blue Division with a 7-0-0 record.

In the 18U Red Division, Legends FC 99 Academy (CA-S) used a late game-winner on the final day of play to secure the win it needed to move into first place. A couple months earlier in Orlando, FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E) did the same, as it won a matchup of the 18U White Division’s top two teams to claim the group title.

The 2016 National Championship finalists each secured National League division titles in the 19/20U age group to earn their way back to Frisco, Texas. Beach FC 98 Academy (CA-S) went 6-0-1 to win the 19/20U Blue Division, while defending National Champion YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (PA-E) recorded the same record to claim the Red Division title. Team Chicago Academy 1998 Elite (IL) hung on to finish second in the Blue Division, and 98 CR Academy (NC) narrowly missed out on first place in the Red Division — going 5-0-2 and finishing second.

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National League Boys Results: A big win over Solar Chelsea Red 02 Stricker (TX-N) on the final day of play helped Boca Juniors OC 02 White (CAS) jump from third to first in the 15U Blue Division, while the North Texas side advanced to Nationals with a second-place finish. Midwest United FC 02 Royal (MI) won its first six games of the season to claim the 15U Red Division title, and St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC Elite (MO) earned seven points in Las Vegas to finish second in the group.

Three straight wins to close out the season helped Raiders FC (IL) finish on top in a close 16U Black Division race, while CUP Gold 01 (OH-S) used five shutouts to help compile a 5-1-1 record and win the 16U Blue Division. Meanwhile, Lobos Rush 01 Premier (TN) displayed stout defense of its own, as it allowed just three goals en route to the 16U Red Division title. LVSA 01 Red (NV) took advantage of playing locally, as it scored five goals in each of its Las Vegas games to finish strong and win the 16U White Division.

Defending National Champion McLean 00 Green (VA) is heading back to defend its title after going undefeated with a 5-0-2 mark in the 17U Black Division. Knowing

it had to win all three games in Las Vegas, West Coast FC Armour 2000 (CA-S) did just that to claim the 17U Blue Division title.

Thanks to 29 goals scored, Raiders FC (IL) finished its second straight season with a 7-0-0 record to win the 17U Red Division.

And in the 17U White Division, a win on the final day of play helped Sparta 00 JK (UT) hold on for a first-place finish.

A quick start in North Carolina helped OP Green (OH-S) post a 5-0-2 record and win the 18U Black Division, while BRYC 99 Elite (VA) did just enough to win a tightly-bunched 18U Blue Division that saw just seven points separate first from last. A head-to-head tiebreaker helped WPFC 99 Black (WA) win the 18U Red Division. Meanwhile, CUP 99 Gold (OH-S) was the clear winner in the 18U White Division, as its 19 points were seven better than a trio of second-place teams.

Chicago Fire Juniors South (IL) scored a victory in a must-win final game to claim the 19/20U Blue Division title. The team it beat in that matchup, Challenger Crew Jrs Gold 98 (OH-N), finished second in the group and will also advance to the National Championships.

A record-setting 31 goals scored helped Penn Fusion 98 (PA-E) win the 19/20U Red Division.

Thirteen National League division titles were captured on the final day of the boys’ and girls’ seasons.

Second place in the group came down to the season’s final day, but FC United (IL) earned

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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nat i o na l l e ag u e

the result it needed to hold on to that spot and punch its ticket to Frisco.

Girls

OFFICIAL TIRE OF

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2016-17 National League representatives for the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships

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The 40 Boys and Girls teams that qualified for the National Championships through the National League will be joined by 56 US Youth Soccer Regional Champions to complete the field of 96 teams this summer in Frisco, Texas.

The National League’s alumni have gone on to prove themselves at the collegiate and professional levels, with former players competing in NCAA Division I, II and III, Major League Soccer, National Women’s Soccer League, the UEFA Champions League, the Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The top pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and the last three NWSL Drafts (2015-17) have each been former National League players.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions that comprise the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. Boys and girls teams in multiple age groups earn their way by competing against the top teams in their state and region. US Youth Soccer State Champions and selected wildcard teams are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the 13U through 19/20U age groups from each regional event will converge in the finals with the National League teams. Click here for the dates and locations of the Regional Championships.

Girls

15U Girls

18U Girls

16U Girls

19/20U Girls

Blue Champion: Nationals Union 02 Black (MI) Blue Runner-up: Legends FC 02 Academy 1 (CA-S)* Red Champion: Cincinnati United Premier Gold (OH-S)* Red Runner-up: La Roca-PO 02 (UT)* Black Champion: Florida Elite 2001 (FL) * Blue Champion: Michigan Jaguars 01 Green (MI) Red Champion: CUP Gold 01 (OH-S) White Champion: Legends FC 01 Academy (CA-S)*

Black Champion: Nationals Union 99 Black (MI)* Blue Champion: TSC Showcase (TN)* Red Champion: Legends FC 99 Academy (CA-S)* White Champion: FC Pennsylvania Strikers (PA-E) Blue Champion: Beach FC 98 Academy (CA-S)* Blue Runner-up: Team Chicago Academy 1998 Elite (IL)* Red Champion: YMS Premier Xplosion 98 (PA-E)*# Red Runner-up: 98 CR Academy (NC)

17U Girls

Black Champion: CUP 00 Gold (OH-S)* Blue Champion: Midwest United FC 00 Royal (MI)# Red Champion: Scottsdale Blackhawks Taylor (AZ)* White Champion: Legends FC 00 Academy (CA-S)*

boys

#roadtotx

15U Boys

18U Boys

16U Boys

19/20U Boys

Blue Champion: Boca Juniors OC 02 White (CA-S)* Blue Runner-up: Solar Chelsea Red 02 Stricker (TX-N)* Red Champion: Midwest United FC 02 Royal (MI)* Red Runner-up: St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC Elite (MO)* Black Champion: Raiders FC (IL)* Blue Champion: CUP Gold 01 (OH-S)* Red Champion: Lobos Rush 01 Premier (TN) White Champion: LVSA 01 Red (NV)*

Black Champion: OP Green (OH-S)* Blue Champion: BRYC 99 Elite (VA)* Red Champion: WPFC 99 Black (WA)* White Champion: CUP 99 Gold (OH-S)* Blue Champion: Chicago Fire Juniors South (IL)* Blue Runner-up: Challenger Crew Jrs Gold 98 (OH-N)* Red Champion: Penn Fusion 98 (PA-E) Red Runner-up: FC United (IL)*

17U Boys

Black Champion: McLean 00 Green (VA)# Blue Champion: West Coast FC Armour 2000 (CA-S)* Red Champion: Raiders FC (IL)* White Champion: Sparta 00 JK (UT)*

#roadtotx

*Qualified during final weekend in Las Vegas | # Defending National Champion

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

n at i o n a l l e ag u e q ua l i f i e r s

Nike Hypervenom Phantom 3

A P R I L

In celebration of Air Max Day, Nike has created football boots

Inspired by the Air Max 97, the Magista Obra II is engineered

Nike Mercurial Proximo II Inspired by the Air Max 90, the Mercurial Promixo II will

Nike Tiempo Legend VI Inspired by the Air Max 1, the Tiempo is engineered with premium leather and quilted foam for a second-skin feel and

in special colorways inspired by Air Max icons. Inspired by the

with micro-textured synthetic material for enhanced control

help you stay fast on the field. Mercurial cleats are designed

Air Max 95, the Hypervenom Phantom 3 has an emphasis on

and a lockdown fit. Benefits include:

with a system of speed, combining minimal construction,

unrivaled touch. Equipped with new hidden innovations that

lightweight materials and a strategically engineered traction

bring your foot closer to the ball than ever, the Nike Tiempo

pattern. The Nike Mercurial Proximo II provides a perfect fit,

Legend VI SE Men’s Firm-Ground Soccer Cleat is made with non-

exceptional ball touch and explosive traction for ultimate speed

slip technologies and premium leather to truly dominate on the

on the pitch.

field. Premium kangaroo leather upper

MSRP: $175

is supported by a new internal midfoot cage to give you less

scoring, which is most evident in the strike zone of the boot. It contains multi-layered Poron® foam pods integrated into a Flyknit upper. The pods are rate dependent, creating a dampening soft touch at low velocity contact, but activating rigidity when

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Nike Magista Obra II

• Flyknit construction with NikeSkin overlay for breathability, flexibility and a sock-like fit • Dynamic Fit collar links the lower leg and foot without impeding motion

striking the ball with high velocity to create a firm launching

• Sockliner contours to the foot for low-profile cushioning

pad for a true strike.

• Nylon and Pebax ® plate provides support and durability

The pods in the strike zone are 2mm thick. The visible texture

• Firm-ground (FG) cleats for use on short-grass fields that

built into the rest of the Flyknit upper is hollow, flexible, and

may be slightly wet but rarely muddy

designed to enhance touch. The texture is also a nod to the scaly

MSRP: $325

upper of the original Hypervenom boot that launched in 2013.

MSRP: $350 BUY

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slippage and unparalleled lockdown.

MSRP: $275 BUY

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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n e w p r o d u ct s

10 Tips to Eating Well on Road Trips

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By Terry Jacoby

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W

hen it comes to improving health and performance, a onesize-fits-all approach fits no one well. That’s why EXOS, a human performance company, created a platform for achievement that goes beyond sports performance, corporate fitness or traditional health care. They believe in connecting people to the things that are vital to their health — the ingredients they need to perform at a high level day after day.

The four pillars of human performance are mindset, nutrition, movement and recovery. EXOS was designed to create an environment,

whether physical or virtual, that helps people feel safe, supported, and in control of their health.

While many of the greatest athletes in the world are supported by EXOS, their programs and platforms can be designed to fit anyone’s goals.

Erika Sharp, RD, CSSD, is the director of nutrition for Pro/ Elite Sports. She understands how difficult it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle for families on the move, especially for families traveling to soccer tournaments every weekend.

Sharp provided a list for FUEL Soccer of 10 things families can do to stay healthy while on the road.

1

BRING A WATER BOTTLE. Hydration is a huge part of daily life and athletic performance so it makes sense that this is No. 1. Pack a refillable water bottle (ideally with some insulation) so you can fill up often.

2

PACK A COOLER WITH A SEPARATE CONTAINER FOR ICE. Game days and especially tournaments turn into very long days, typically in warm environments. Pack a cooler to keep your beverages cold and snacks safe from foodborne illnesses. Adding a separate container dedicated for ice for your drinks takes it to the next level.

3

REQUEST A ROOM WITH A FRIDGE AND MICROWAVE. As simple as this sounds, most hotel rooms do not have these standard. Call ahead and make sure you have these in your room.

4

RESEARCH THE AREA. Locate and identify the following within a 10-minute drive from your hotel or soccer complex for those last-minute trips: • Grocery Stores • Gas Stations • Sandwich Stops • Healthy Food Stores

5

BREAKFAST. A successful game day always starts with a solid breakfast and most youth have their go-to foods or must-have choices. Make sure you pack these with you or locate a place where you can get a complete breakfast for your stars. Aim for a lean protein, healthy fat (avocado, nut butters, nuts/seeds), lots of

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

nutrition tips

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STAY AWAY FROM FATTY FOODS. These are readily available at the complex and what hungry/under-fueled bodies crave since they pack a ton of calories in a small bite.

These foods digest slowly and leave you feeling sluggish, which doesn’t turn into a ‘W’ at the end of the day.

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grains/starches (cereal, bagels, oatmeal), and fruit (dried, fresh, or as juice). Grains, starches and fruit are your child’s fuel so make sure they load up on their favorites in a natural/ unprocessed way to give them energy all day long.

6

SNACKS! SNACKS! SNACKS! This is a big one and can

come in many different forms.

It is important to have options depending on what mood, mindset or need your athlete has. Pre-packaged snacks are readily available at grocery stores and most gas stations.

Stock up on these easy grab-n-go items, like: cheese sticks, yogurt, pretzels, bars (protein and granola), fruit cups, apple sauce,

beef jerky, and trail mix. Whole fruit is great because it comes in its own wrapper, popular choices are grapes, apples, oranges and bananas. Half time or between games are key opportunities to add more fuel or start the recovery process. Peanut butter balls, PB&Js, and sandwiches are quick ways to get them ready for their next move.

RECOVERY ITEMS. These days you hear that performance is really all about how well you recover. Make sure you have the 3 “R’s” to plan for recovery.

• Re-fuel your mind and body with carbohydrates.

• Re-build your muscles and immune system with protein.

• Re-hydrate your body with fluids.

A quick way to accomplish all three is chocolate milk, which can be found at all gas stations or even purchased as a shelf-

stable option and then chilled in your cooler. Tart Cherry Juice is another option that the professionals use. It doesn’t taste sweet like most juices, but packs a ton of antioxidants, helps to decrease muscle soreness, and promotes better quality sleep.

9

VARIETY PACKS. Tournament weekends can be long days and having some variety can make all the difference. Try out the variety packs of different bars, sports drinks, fruits, and snack mixes to help excite the fueling process for you and your players.

10

PLASTIC SILVERWARE AND PAPER TOWELS. This is another one of those next-level tips for the veteran tournament goers. Having a few on hand will allow for different snack options or make the distribution/clean-up process easier.

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

nutrition tips

A Performance No-Brainer: Drink Water

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By terry jacoby

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W

hen travelling or attending a sporting event or any other activity, one beverage stands out above the rest. And it’s as easy as H2O. “Water is best,” said Amber Yudell, team sports dietitian at Arizona State University. “It may be tempting to limit drinking when traveling if taking bathroom breaks will be tough, but athletes should always have a water bottle with them and hydrate early and often throughout the day to maximize hydration before activity and limit potential performance deficits.”

Yudell says drinks such as 100 percent juice and milk do, in fact,

contribute to hydration, and they also provide calories and nutrients that can keep athletes energized and recovered.

Erika Sharp, director of nutrition for Pro/Elite Sports, has a formula athletes should follow when it comes to drinking water.

“Aim for ½ to 1 ounce per pound per day. For the 120-pound athlete, that’s about 60 to 120 ounces (2 to 4 liters) per day,” she says. “Preventing dehydration can be a huge performance booster as it improves energy levels, speed, lateral movement and accuracy.”

She also suggests adding in some electrolytes.

“These help muscles hold more water and promote more efficient

hydration,” she said.

Yudell suggests that during practices and competition athletes should keep fluids available and aim for a rate of about four to eight ounces every 15 to 20 minutes.

“Usually about one gulp is one ounce,” she says. “Again, water is best unless the activity is over one hour long, the weather

is hot or humid, or there are multiple sessions per day in which electrolyte-containing (sodium especially) sports drinks with about 14 to 19 grams of carbohydrate per cup could be added.”

She said that during tournaments, rehydration after competition is especially important and pairing fluids

with salty foods can encourage drinking by increasing fluid absorption and thirst.

“Other hydration signs to look for are urine color, which should be pale yellow, and salty sweat leaving a white residue on the skin which suggests a higher need to replace sodium through salty foods and sports drinks,” she said.

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

h y d r at i o n

Proper Nutrition Comes Down to Planning

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By Terry Jacoby

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A

s the team sports dietitian at Arizona State University, Amber Yudell understands that even Division I college athletes don’t always make the best choices, especially when it comes to health and nutrition.

One of her jobs is to help athletes start not only a healthy and nutritional schedule and program, but also hopefully a lifestyle they take with them along with their diploma after leaving ASU. But her expertise and knowledge isn’t limited to elite athletes. She says the first thing parents should pack when heading out for a long soccer weekend is a plan to help create a

healthy trip.

“The first step is planning,” she says. “Look at the schedule and plan for foods and fluids that you and your athlete enjoy to bridge gaps between meals and competition. Either bring the nutrition with you, or write a list and figure out where to shop nearby.”

She said there are several “key time points” to focus on when out on the road.

And the first is about two hours before competition. Packable mini-meals that include protein and carbohydrate (beef jerky and whole grain granola bars, tuna pouch and crackers, deli turkey and cheese sandwich, Greek

yogurt and granola) are musthave items.

Yudell says quick carbohydrate snacks such as fresh fruit, pretzels or a mini bagel with jam are great for fuel right before a competition. And after

competition, an athlete could choose between a similar minimeal or head straight to a full meal to refuel the body following a tough workout.

Sometimes, finding the right place to eat on the road can be

difficult. The highway is littered with McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy’s, while heathy places to pull over and eat are rare.

Still, you can make the best of whatever choices you have.

“There are plenty of nutritious

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

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choices at fast food restaurants and many have these easily identifiable on menus,” Yudell said. “Build meals by looking to combine menu items that have lean protein such as grilled or shredded chicken, sliced steak, beans or even single or double patty hamburgers. Also, have vegetables and fruit: entrée or side salad with dressing, asking for extra lettuce and tomato on sandwiches, whole fruit or fruit cups.”

Yudell says sticking with these foods leading up to the game, and adding smaller portions of higher-fat menu items such as fries, chips, or nuggets or saving treats for afterward, will help athletes feel their best.

We’ve all seen kids running into the gas station or convenient store and grabbing some snacks for the car. And there are plenty of options other than Mountain Dew, fruit pies and Snickers bars.

“Convenience stores can be a surprisingly great stop for quick nutrition,” Yudell says.

“On the snack and fluid side, look for whole grain granola bars and cereal, nuts and trail mix, popcorn, pretzels, jerky, string cheese, yogurt, fresh fruit, pickles, water, milk, 100-percent juice or sports drinks. Many have meal foods such as wraps, sandwiches and salads now, too.”

SOCCER, DIGITALLY DELIVERED

download the official fuel soccer OR SEARCH “US YOUTH SOCCER” ON YOUR DEVICE’S APP STORE

power recipes ++Cheeseburger Salad

++Chicken Tortilla Soup

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Ingredients

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Directions

+ + 2 pounds ground beef + + 1/3 cup ketchup, plus more if needed + + 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, plus more if needed + + 1 tablespoon Dijon or spicy mustard, plus more if needed + + 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, plus more if needed + + 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter + + 4 hamburger buns with sesame seeds, cut into 1-inch cubes + + 2 heads romaine or green-leaf lettuce, torn + + 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar + + 4 Roma tomatoes, diced + + 8 dill pickle spears, cubed + + 1 red onion, sliced

Brown the meat in a large skillet over medium heat, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove it from the heat and drain off the fat. Add the ketchup, barbecue sauce and mustards to the meat and stir to combine. Taste and add more of whatever you think it needs. Keep warm.

Melt 1/4 stick (2 tablespoons) of the butter in a separate skillet over low heat, then add the bun cubes and toss to coat. Toast the croutons in the skillet over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, adding 1/4 stick (2 tablespoons) of butter every couple of minutes until you’ve used the whole stick.

Total prep time: 25 minutes

Ingredients ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Directions

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 small onion, diced 2 jalapenos, finely diced 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth One 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes + + One 14.5-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained + + 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless + + 2 limes, juiced, plus wedges for garnish + + One 8-inch flour tortilla, grilled, cut into thin strips + + 1 avocado, pitted, sliced + + 1 cup shredded Monterrey cheese

In a large saucepan heat the vegetable oil. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Add the jalepenos and cook for another minute. Pour the chicken broth, tomatoes and beans into the pot and bring to a boil.

Simmer and add your chicken breasts. Cook the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes. In a serving bowl add a mound of shredded chicken. Ladle soup over chicken and top with a lime wedge, grilled tortilla strips, avocado slices and cheese.

Total prep time: 35 minutes

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

quick meals

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The next time a parent asks you the age-old question, “What’s for lunch?” throw one of these recipes back at ’em. Both you and your body will love them!

++Herb Onion Frittata + + 1 cup diced onion + + 1 tablespoon water, divided + + 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil + + 2 eggs + + 2 teaspoons chopped fresh herbs, or ½ teaspoon dried ++Tuna Avocado Salad + + 1 can chunk light tuna (in water) + + 1 small avocado + + 1 lemon + + Mayonnaise

+ + ⅛ teaspoon salt + + ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground pepper + + 2 tablespoons farmer’s cheese, or reduced-fat ricotta

++ ++ ++ ++

Cucumber Parsley American cheese Salt and pepper to taste

++Gnocchi with Chicken Sausage and Spinach + + 1 1 lb. package whole wheat gnocchi + + Parmesan cheese + + 1 1 lb. package cooked chicken sausage + + 1 onion (any flavor), sliced in 1/2-inch thick rounds + + 1 teaspoon olive oil + + 1 10 oz. package spinach (or about 3 + + Tomato paste heaping cups) + + Salt and pepper to taste + + Chopped fresh tomatoes ++Grilled Peanut Butter, Bacon and Banana Sandwich + + 2 thick slices rustic sourdough + + 1 spot of honey + + 2 tablespoons peanut butter + + A side of tomatoes and cucumbers + + 2 slices thick cut smoky bacon + + A piece of fruit + + 1 banana

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lunch time

Smoothies can help youth players achieve maximum performance.

Three Nutrition Tips From an Expert

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By Terry Jacoby

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M

olly Morgan, an Apalachin, N.Y. resident, is a nutrition consultant for professional sports teams as well as a published author. She offers three tips for a nutrition strategy for youth soccer players.

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Refuel on the Go. “Smoothies can be a great addition to boost calories, nutrients and antioxidants. Plus they are great for a snack or with a meal,” Morgan said. “As with most things, not all smoothies are created equal, some smoothies made with a base of sugary syrups rather than fruit and vegetables. A quick tip before ordering smoothies at a restaurant: review on their website or ask for a list of ingredients. Think of smoothies made

with a syrup base as just a treat and not necessarily a nutrient-rich option.”

2

Mix Fiber, Protein and Healthy Fats.

“When a smoothie includes fiber, protein and healthy fats, it will help to provide longer lasting energy and will be satisfying,” Morgan said. “Some food recommendations to rotate through adding to your smoothies include nut butters (adds healthy fat and protein), Greek yogurt or Icelandic yogurt (adds protein), omega-swirl flavored liquid fish or flax oils (adds healthy fats) and Chia seeds (adds healthy fats and fiber).”

3

Time the Smoothie for Maximum Performance.

“Smoothies before a workout or game should have some protein, carbs, and be lower in fat,” Morgan said.

“Plus, they should include ingredients that are easy on the stomach. An example: 1 cup of vanilla yogurt with 1 cup of frozen mango cubes and a 1/4

cup of orange juice or coconut water provides about 325 calories, 3 grams of fat, 68 grams of carbs, and 11 grams of protein.”

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

nutrition

a day i n t h e l i f e 7 am: Breakfast. “I have eggs and a bagel with orange juice every morning.”

7:30 am: Treatment. “We go to treatment and do our mobility work. I use heat pads on my hamstrings.”

9 am: Team meeting. “This is when we do a walkthrough for the upcoming game.”

10 am: Class. “I have one class on game day.”

3 pm: Team brunch. “This is our pre-game meal.

We have things like steak, mashed potatoes, carrots, bread. Sometimes, we have pasta and chicken. I go with steak. I can’t turn down steak.”

4 pm: “I meet with the coaches to go over a few things and also get extra treatment from the trainers so I’m game ready.”

5 pm: Team meets in locker room. “The team meets and listens to music and relaxes.”

benji michel

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University of Portland

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P

ortland freshman Benji Michel helped the Pilots win the West Coast Conference and return to the postseason last fall.

Michel was the WCC Freshman of the Year, while also landing on the All-Conference first team and the league’s All-Freshman team.

His 10 goals and 24 points led the WCC. From Orlando, Fla., Michel played US Youth Soccer for the Florida Rush (FL) and was a member of the US Youth Soccer ODP Region III team.

“Club soccer was really important to me,” he said. “With club soccer, I learned real fast that everyone was really good, and I needed to work a lot harder on my skills.”

Tips from michel Learn the importance of time management: “It took me a while to adjust to college life and managing my time. I didn’t understand how important that really is in college.”

Plan ahead: “We travel a lot, so it’s very important to make sure you have everything you need for the trip. If you get behind in your school work it makes everything stressful.”

Keep a journal: “I keep track of not only what assignments I have to do, but also when they are due.

I constantly go over this with my academic advisor and coaches.”

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

benji michel game-day routine

a day i n t h e l i f e 8 am: Wake up and go to dining hall for breakfast. “I like to have scrambled eggs and toast. I don’t eat a lot in the morning.”

9 am: Go to class.

11 am: Power nap.

Noon: The team gets a pre-game meal from Panera Bread.

1 pm: Go home. “I usually take a shower after lunch on game days.”

2:30 pm: Report to the locker room.

3 pm: Report to the game field. “This is when players who need treatment get that done. I usually get treatment on my knee.”

4 pm: Team talk. “We all talk about what we need to do to be successful and what our goals are. We then play music and have a dance off to get hyped up for the game.”

5 pm: Chalk board talk with the coach and what our responsibilities are for the game.

jade gentile

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West Virginia University

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F

reshman midfielder Jade Gentile played in 14 games this past season for West Virginia, a Big 12 Conference powerhouse that reached the NCAA College Cup Championship.

Gentile previously played US Youth Soccer with the Syracuse Development Academy (NY-W) and was a four-year member of the US Youth Soccer ODP Region I team that competed at the 2015 Interregional Tournament and traveled to Germany, Italy, France and Costa Rica for competitions.

She was a seven-year member of the Syracuse Development Academy club and competed in seven US Youth Soccer Region I Championships. She also was a top-10 scorer in the US Youth Soccer National League three different seasons.

Tips from Pliakos Use the alarm clock on your phone: “My mom would always wake me up for class in high school. But I had to use it when I came to college.”

Arrive early: “Anything can happen, especially with transportation here, so it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to be.”

Stay positive: “Because of your busy schedule you are always being pushed to your limits so staying positive is very important. You need to learn and accept this.”

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

jade gentile game-day routine

p el a e z T i p s f o r Co n d i t i o n i n g

pablo pelaez

Develop leg strength: “I like to have a strong lower base so when I come up against a bigger player, I can use that lower strength to out-body the opponent.”

San Diego State

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By Terry Jacoby

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S

an Diego State’s Pablo Pelaez likes to go to the beach to get faster and stronger for his time on the soccer pitch.

“I like going to the beach and running on the sand,” he said. “I like to go twice a week during the offseason and get a nice run in. Running on the sand really gets to me sometimes. It’s great for your legs and endurance.”

Being from San Diego, Pelaez also has the advantage of nice weather year-round.

“I also have a hill near where I live, so I like running up and down that hill,” he said. “The longer distance varies from flat to hilly. But I usually like to run four miles a day for distance. Other days I do sprints and suicides.”

Pelaez was named All-Freshman Second Team by College Soccer News. He had two goals and three assists in 18 matches for the Aztecs.

Like many players, Pelaez’s success starts in the offseason.

“I do a lot of running, hitting the weights and a lot of ball work during the off-season,” he said. “I’m not the biggest or strongest player, but what has helped me reach this level is my technical ability.”

Pelaez played US Youth Soccer with the San Diego Surf (CA-S).

Stay hydrated: “When I was younger I thought that because I felt fine, I didn’t need to hydrate. But you learn that you need to regardless of how you are feeling.”

Outwork the competition: “You want to work hard, but you also need to know your body’s limits. If you push it too far, you can injure yourself. Your body will tell you what that balance is.”

Pablo Palaez

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

wor ko u t pl a n of t h e m on t h

de armas Nu tr itio n Ti ps

Julianne De Armas University of San Diego

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By Terry Jacoby

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J

ulianne De Armas wakes up to “her favorite thing”: a hot cup of coffee. She then has oatmeal with some blueberries or bananas – or even a vegan bar.

The University of San Diego sophomore striker is then ready to start her day. A native of Escondido, Calif., who played her US Youth Soccer with Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks Elite (CA-S), De Armas was recently named to the WCC All-Freshman team after a solid rookie season with the Toreros.

“Nutrition is very important to me,” said De Armas. “I constantly drink

water throughout the day because you always have to hydrate. And I try to maintain a healthy body through what I eat.”

Eating healthy for college soccer players can be challenging.

“It’s hard with classes because you might have three classes in a row,” De Armas said. “So, you have to plan and bring something to eat in between classes. I will usually have an apple or some trail mix to keep me full throughout the day.”

And for lunch?

“I love a smoothie for lunch,” she says. “I like berries, bananas, almond

milk, spinach, protein powder and things like that.”

Her dinner choice also is healthy.

“I like to have a salad with salmon. I like protein and vegetables.”

Before the game, De Armas limits her eating.

“I like to play on an empty stomach,” she says. “I don’t like to have that full feeling so I go very light before a game. I may have some fruit with peanut butter or another smoothie.”

One thing she avoids is bread. “I don’t eat any kind of bread,” she says. “It’s just a personal choice of something I avoid.”

LIMIT THE COFFEE: “Our nutritionist has told me to make sure I eat something if I’m going to drink a cup of coffee. I do make sure I limit my cups.”

HYDRATE: “You need to always be drinking water, whether you think you’re thirsty or not. If you are dehydrated, that can really take a toll on your body. It’s something our nutritionist stresses to everyone.”

REFUEL: “Fruits and vegetables are my main thing after a workout. Our coaches stress that at least 30 minutes after a workout you need to eat something.”

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

Nu tri tion Plan of the Mon th

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find the 10 differences in the photos below

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Answers on page 70

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f u n pag e s : w h at ’ s t h e d i f f E r e n c e ?

Word Search

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search terms:

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1. NATIONAL LEAGUE 2. PRESIDENTS CUP 3. TOPSOCCER 4. STATE CUP 5. BUBBA BURGER 6. NESQUIK 7. NIKE 8. TARGET 9. WILSON TROPHY 10. YOKOHAMA 11. LA GALAXY 12. REAL SALT LAKE 13. SEATTLE SOUNDERS 14. FC DALLAS 15. COLORADO RAPIDS 16. NEW YORK RED BULLS 17. NEW YORK CITY FC 18. TORONTO FC 19. DC UNITED 20. PHILADELPHIA UNION

Answers on page 70

N U Q U L O H K MWO P O CWA J B I A K B Z X I E GN R E A L S X P J WA NO T O P S F Z D P L C O L O R A P H I L A D E L P H I Y N U P XWY C E P K WE D V Y C F I R X Q I S K S E A T T L E S L Q C S Y T V N EWY S U Y O K OH AMA X O I K J S I E C S B D N K C N A T I ON A L T NWN EWY O R K R R B U B B A B U R G E O P R E S I D E N T S P P H S HWK T D C U H VWD F C D A L L A Y U Z D L NMC G V X F ND P MV Y MU Z Y

L K A O D A V R O O Z D L E R C N S C S

R A L C O U A T U R Q P E D J U I R P T

S J L R I T T A S A H C V O T L A K E J R C E R L Y A O R A P I D S N N I ON H E T C N P MO I O A R G E T R F ND E R SWC K C I T Y F C Y WQ G V B Y A SWF B E P A GU E F GD B U L L SWR R N S L C K G P S V ND E T T E D I T U N S H Y K E QU S R F E MN Y A T E C U P V

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

FUN PA G ES : w o r d s e a r c h p u z z l e

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what’s the difference 5

10

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9

8 6

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1

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1. Maroon socks

6. Red Shorts

2. Hurdle on field

7. McDonald’s arches missing

3. Gopher digging in

8. Construction worker on hurdle

4. Watering gnome

9. Missing number back of jersey

5. Sunglasses

10. Woman sliding down rail

Word Search

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N U Q U L O H K MWO P O CWA J B I A K B Z X I E GN R E A L S X P J WA NO T O P S F Z D P L C O L O R A P H I L A D E L P H I Y N U P XWY C E P K WE D V Y C F I R X Q I S K S E A T T L E S L Q C S Y T V N EWY S U Y O K OH AMA X O I K J S I E C S B D N K C N A T I ON A L T NWN EWY O R K R R B U B B A B U R G E O P R E S I D E N T S P P H S HWK T D C U H VWD F C D A L L A Y U Z D L NMC G V X F ND P MV Y MU Z Y

L K A O D A V R O O Z D L E R C N S C S

R A L C O U A T U R Q P E D J U I R P T

S J L R I T T A S A H C V O T L A K E J R C E R L Y A O R A P I D S N N I ON H E T C N P MO I O A R G E T R F ND E R SWC K C I T Y F C Y WQ G V B Y A SWF B E P A GU E F GD B U L L SWR R N S L C K G P S V ND E T T E D I T U N S H Y K E QU S R F E MN Y A T E C U P V

D o w n l o a d t h e F U E L S o c c e r A p p O n Y o u r D e v i c e b y S e a r c h i n g f o r “ U S Y O U T H S OCC E R ”

f u n pag e s : a n s w e r k e y

PHILADELPHIAUNION SEATTLESOUNDERS NEWYORKREDBULLS NATIONALLE

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