The Evolving Game | August 2020 | Issue 52

E M A G G N I V L O THE EV August 2020

Issue 52 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Coaching Newsletter

Ch-ch-changes - David Bowie and FIFA

Law 12

• the boundary between the shoulder and the

arm is defined as the bottom of the armpit (

see diagram)

Gary Stephenson

Director of Soccer

Development &

Performance

• ‘accidental’ handball by an attacking player (or team-mate) is only penalized if it occurs ‘immediately’ before a goal or clear goal-scoring opportunity

• A goalkeeper can receive a Yellow Card or be sent off (Red Card) for ‘illegally’ touching the ball a second time after a restart (e.g. goal kick, free kick etc.) even if the touch is with the hand/arm

• Any offense (not only a foul) which ‘interferes with or stops a promising attack’ should result in a Yellow Card

• A player who fails to respect the 4 m required distance at a dropped ball should receive a Yellow Card • If the referee plays advantage or allows a ‘quick’ free kick for an offense which ‘interfered with or stopped a promising attack’, the Yellow Card is not issued

For all other changes checkout fifa.com

PSA Heat Stroke Heat Exhaustion Quote to live by Pep Guardiola

Ray Gaddis, a Union Stalwart

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Game Watcher EUROPA LEAGUE

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

MLS

Aug 15th, 3:00pm Sevilla v Shakhtar

Aug 14th, 3:00pm Barcalona v B Munchen

Aug 21st, 8:00pm New England v Union

Aug 16th, 3:00pm Inter v Man Utd

Aug 15th, 3:00pm Man City v Lyon

Aug 25th, 7:30pm Union v NY Red Bulls

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July Round-Up: Ray Gaddis, a Union Stalwart On his media availability, Monday,

through different front offices, played

August 3, Jim Curtin said, “Ray Gaddis is a guy that should wear the

for two head coaches, and showed up on the lineup sheet each and every

Philadelphia Union Jersey his entire career.”

week. He’s smiled through it all (Gaddis, if nothing else, is

The quote shows you how much manager Curtin thinks of his player

exceedingly nice in a completely genuine way). And now, eight years

and, also, how well Gaddis played in the MLS is Back Tournament. After a

after he was drafted 35th overall, he’s still improving. To have seen Gaddis

several-months layoff, he shut down the right side of defense, contributed

push up the field in Orlando was to finally understand a player who

in the attack (in fact, he was directly involved in two of the Union’s three

always forces himself into the picture.

Curtin appreciates that character; the

that

goals against Sporting Kansas City in the quarterfinals), and provided

fans do, too. Just as the Union finally emerge as a contender in the league

have driven American soccer historically. Announcers can still, at

leadership as the Union reached the semifinals (not to mention his off-the-

(despite coming up short, 2-1, to Portland in the MLS is Back final

times, pronounce his last name the Croatian way (Pulisich), but he’s most

field contributions in pushing the club’s social justice initiatives).

four), it feels wrong to think Gaddis would wear another team’s kit. He’s

definitely one of us. Here’s hoping to a speedy recovery.

Curtin’s assertion speaks to another trait Gaddis possesses that’s

earned a place in the Union’s Ring of Honor next to Sebastien Le Toux.

Congratulations are in order for the NWSL. They were the first American

not easy to pin down. There aren’t ready-made awards for him to win.

A major trophy would solidify the worthiness of Gaddis’s induction, but

sports league to return and the first to finish, and in many ways, showed the

He’ll never be an MVP, or even an allstar. Gaddis plays far too defensive a

Union fans should be grateful for his contributions regardless. They’ve

NBA, WNBA, MLS, and NHL (all following the bubble model) that

game to garner that kind of support—

waited so long for consistent, quality

he famously has yet

to score for the Union, inspiring a

play, and they finally have it with Gaddis a symbol of the club’s difficult

competition could succeed if they follow proper safety protocols.

“If Ray scores, we riot” rallying cry from the club’s fans.

past and promising present.

Other July Notes

But there’s something about him that deserves recognition, a

Although it was sad to see Hershey native Christian Pulisic go down in the

celebration of an outwardly unremarkable player who’s been a

FA Cup final (Chelsea lost, 2-1, to Arsenal), the last kick of his recent run

picture of consistency in a league that changes, literally, every year. Think

of form epitomized his character.

Slow motion replays showed Pulisic,

about it. Eight franchises have been added since Gaddis debuted in 2012.

who had scored to give Chelsea an early lead, grimacing in pain even as

That’s eight franchise drafts where he stayed put. Perhaps because he was

he attempted to put a shot on goal.

Then he collapsed on the pitch. For

overlooked. Perhaps because the Union, a team that’s dealt with

all the skills he’s shown in recent weeks that reinforced the notion that

instability until recently, understand his value. They liked penciling him in

he’s the most gifted American player of all time and the future of the

every week, one thing they could always count on. Gaddis has been

national team, that last bit of determination tied [!4him ] to the qualities

The Houston Dash defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 2-0, in the Challenge Cup final with a record number of viewers watching. The league is planning to resume training in August, and if you weren’t following before, it’s time to get on board.

Dillon Friday

Quote to live by

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