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[Dragon]

COVER




Who were the lucky teams to host the trophy at SF this weekend? :mrgreen:






The Pulse!  No. #19






COVER STORY & LATEST HEADLINES:


The Pulse recognizes the winner's of the US Club Cup!!!


U11 CHAMPIONS:  EASTSIDE RED 96!

The gals from EFC Red 96 had a fantastic weekend this past weekend at SF in the US Club Cup!  They amassed 29pts on their way to the final.  1st beating the Heartbreakers 8-0, then playing HPFC Blue and winning 6-0 and finishing off their bracket play with a solid win over Saprissa 2-0.  They then faced off against a tough HPFC Eagles team who had done awesome in their own bracket.  Winning the finals 3-1 the little EFC Red gals proved they were the cream of the crop this weekend!  Dragon is very proud of each and everyone of you!!!  (No recap was sent in for this team.)



U12 CHAMPIONS:  EMERALD CITY FC GREEN 95!



Congratulations to the Emerald City Girls 95 Green Team, the 2007 US Club Washington Cup GU12 Champions. The girls emerged from the Group of Death and a crazy schedule with an 8AM breakfast club 1-1 tie with Synergy Morse, an 8:30 PM nightcap 3-0 win over Spokane Elite, and a very tough 2:30 Sunday 1-1 tie with Timbers Royal. Lots of hard work, team effort and a little crossbar defense late in the game helped the Green Team move on to the finals with only a short break against a very good FC Alliance Gold team. #32 Alyssa netted one early in the game on a fabulous finish, and the girls used every drop in the tank as they hung on for the 1-0 win. Congratulations to the Alliance girls, who played hard and pushed Green all the way. This was not only a tough tournament win, but a great opportunity to play some very, very good teams they don't have a chance to see very often.  Great job gals, Dragon is proud of each and everyone of you!!! :mrgreen:



U13 CHAMPIONS:  SNOHOMISH UNTIED CHIKA LOBOS!



The Crazy Girls had a great weekend!  They started off beating Harbor FC 1-0, and followed it up with a great win over Crossfire Amy 1-0.  Placing themselfs in the drivers seat, they poured on the defense in the 3rd game against EFC Red and shut them down in a 0-0 tie.  Their 4th game "did not count" as they battled NWN Red to a 1-1 tie.  They finished with 20pts and awaited Crossfire P. in the finals.  Here is a quote from the Coach on their finals and their weekend:

This team worked hard and had more determination than I have seen in a long time. Verses Crossfire in a final they knew what they where about after a 2-0 loss to them in league play. Lobos came out with a 4-4-2 but the first 10 minutes they could only defend. Then we adjusted to a 3-5-2 to shut down their midfield and play man to man defense. This started to help however the first half of the game was all Crossfire. If it was not for some amazing goalkeeping by Bri and a bit of luck on a knock to the crossbar Crossfire would have been up on the board.

Second half Lobos came out with a game plan and some player adjustments. The game evened out a bit and with a stearn talk with our forwards and telling Ashley to play deep, turn and burn. The first goal was a beauty. Ashley on the left side of goal wide and just above the 18 saw the keeper near post and hit a upswinger far post hitting the side netting. Crossfire came back with a vengance and once again some brilliant goalkeeping by Kiaya and one amazing defensive clear by Ciara the Lobos hang onto a 1-0 lead. Then Rachel gets lose on the left wing and is all alone and sees the keeper near post and places a well driven ball to squeeze inside far post but NO, Crossfire goalkeeper makes a wonderful save pushing the ball away however Lobos giant ASHLEY (aka "the big nasty") comes sprinting onto the ball and smashes it into the net.

Crossfire made some tactical adjustments and we responded by pushing another body into the midfield and pushing another back into the defense playing a 4-5-1 with 5 minutes left into the game. Crossfire is a team with the ultimate form of class all the way across the board, from the coach to the players.

Wow, what a great finals girls!  Dragon is proud of each and everyone of you!!! :mrgreen:



U14 CHAMPIONS:  MT RAINIER FC THUNDER!

Did not get any report from anyone on this team :cry:   Looking over the tournament though they started off with a win against Spokane Elite 2-0, then had to hard fought ties back to back!  Getting to 0-0 finals; First against HPFC Blue, and then Timbers Red.  In the Finals they played the tough FCV Independence and from the score board looks like they were on fire with a 3-0 victory.  Sorry no Recaps from the coach/parents, but Dragon still proud of you all!  Best wishes for a fast recovery to the player that was injured on Saturday night, two broken bones in her lower leg...ouch.  Dragon thinks the whole team picked up their game to win for their hurt buddy :mrgreen:




HEADLINES!



Bye Bye Little Dragon??



DRAGON-KID MIGHT BE GOING TO A "NEW TEAM" NEXT YEAR!

Yes it is true!!!!!! :shock:   Dragon and family (that includes DK of course) have decided it may be time to move on...Nothing wrong with our current team (that D wants to post), but for real we are ready for a new horizon!  Now, the question is; "Where are we going"?  Well, that is the cool point of it all.  We are going to let the CP's/Posters decide it!!!  

In the next few months Dragon will post a post here in the Pulse for all of you to vote on the Club/Team you think Dragonkid should move to.  Dragon (and his work) is very mobile, and we are willing to play anywhere from down here in Cowtown to as far North as Needletown!  So all teams will be considered!  Don't have to be a PDL team, just a team that is willing to have the "craziest" of all CP's on their sidelines LOL.

If you know me, don't send me a PM about this.  If you "think" you know me, don't send a PM about this.  Do NOT ask about this until Dragon does the contest.... But it is true!  If DK makes the decision to move, then ALL of you will pick DK's next team :mrgreen:

You heard it here first folks!  We don't call this the "Pulse" for nothing



LEAGUE LOONEYNESS!


"League News!"

First we will look at the "highlighted" games that happened this past weekend:


PAST

Lets see how Dragon did with his GOTW picks in week #10!


U11
TOP 4-
EFC RED - HPFC EAGLES BLUE - FC CRUSH 96 - SAPRISSA
Easy week, Dragon was deadon! :mrgreen:



U12
TOP 4-
ECFC GREEN - SYNERGY MORSE - FC ALLIANCE - GRFC PAT'S
again, Dragon was deadon! :mrgreen:

 

U13
DOH!!!!!!!!
TOP 4-
NWN RED - EFC RED - FC CRUSH - CROSSFIRE P.
Dragon blew it in his own age group! :lol:

 

U14
TOP 4-
PAT'S BLUE - FCV INDEPENDENCE - TIMBERS RED - MRFC BLUE
Again, deadon...I am a genius :lol:

 

Dragon claims a lame 3-1 this past week...Of course it was kinda lame picking the "top 4", but hey!  Dragon needed a good week for a change! :lol:


For all other game scores go to our new STANDINGS AREA.  For recaps though, you know what to do....please look to our Recap thread for week #10:
http://washingtonpremiersoccer.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6862
and as always, If there is not enough blah blah blah there for you, then you only have yourselfs to blame :lol:


FUTURE

No games highlighted for next week.  A lot of teams wrapping up their league's now and doing friendly games or getting ready to go south for Thanksgiving.  Will look into the teams headed for warmer climates next Pulse

State Cup (s) Spotlight coming soon.....




WPS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK!!!





**Any age group that has more then 5 nominations will also get some "shout outs" from Dragon!

BOYS U11

#2 JACOB - WPFC BLACK 96! -  

This young stud played up in the US Club tournament this weekend. Always being moved around to mark-up the other teams best player but expected to move forward on the outside when WPFC  was attacking. Can you say little legs on those big fields!!  No rest -no excuses- gotta get it done attitude and dedication!  Great job little one in playing with Heart & Fire all weekend! :mrgreen:



GIRLS U12

#2 CHANTELLE - SNOHOMISH UNITED 95! -  

This little superstar GK played her heart out in helping her team to secure the job over Lil' Red this past weekend!  She saved several good shots and a "Bullet" in the last moments that would of tied the game on a diving/flying save!  Great job little one, Dragon is very proud of you! :mrgreen:


shout outs:
#29 Ally - Cascade FC :mrgreen:



GIRLS U13

#8 BECCA - SOUTH HILL REVOLUTION 94! -  

This Young super star played in two tough games this weekend as her team faced off against the 1st and 2nd place teams in their league.  Even though they suffered losses Becca played her butt off the whole time and never lost faith, and kept giving positive verbal reinforcement to her team during both games.  Way to play with Heart & Fire and make it contagious to your team mates!  Dragon is very proud of you little star! :mrgreen:


shout outs:
To the whole Crazy Girl team! ~ Olivia, Rachel, Ashley, Ciera, Kiaya, Bri, Taylor, Tiffany, Morgan, Kamryn, Payton, Emily N., Emily R., Hannah, Megan, Mik, Courtney, Anne :mrgreen:



GU14

#29 LIZ - MUKILTEO LIGHTNING! -

This young star defender was the definition of heart & fire this past weekend.  Being down 5 starters she had to work extra hard on attacking as a defender and running back to help stop several breakaways.  She ran down at least 6 herself!  She was tireless as she wasn't given a moments rest but played in top gear the entire game.  During her teams 2nd game on Sunday she even had a beautiful assist on a nice trough ball after she had pushed up and committed the defense.  All around a Heart & Fire weekend.  Dragon is proud of you little star :mrgreen:

shout outs:
#GK Emma - FCSC Nemeis 93!

 

Thats it for this week.  Next week is the LAST WEEK FOR "PLAYERS OF THE WEEK"!  Send in those nominations because it is time to get ready for Player of the YEAR!! :mrgreen:

Will have instructions on what to do for all the eligible players in next weeks Pulse  



CRAZY PARENT WATCH:



"Shout out to da newbies"

A few new posters this week that Dragon noticed!  As always lets give a shout out to all the new ones that have taken the time to post at least one post since joining recently:

This week Dragon would like to point out!

HowNowBrownCow
bobcat
Ghostly One


Welcome aboard folks! :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:



"A view from the Mini-Van"

While watching a great game of soccer this weekend, my daughter and I noticed on several occasions that there was one particular player that would not pass the ball, I hear one of her teammates shout her name and wave their arms, she looks up at them and tries to take the ball through three defenders, first one, piece of cake, second one, just as easy as the first, third time, the defender says, “I don’t think so sweetie.”  Was I the only one that was noticing this?  The next time down it was the same scenario, except this time the kid forces a wild shot before the 3rd defender gets to her.  Her teammate was clearly frustrated.  Coach said nothing, sideline said nothing.  How do you deal with a kid that wants to be the star of the show?  How long can a teammate tolerate asking for the ball and the ball doesn’t come?  If there is no discipline for her actions then the actions will not be stopped, regardless of how good the player is.  What could her parents be telling her?  I guess it doesn’t matter, because no one can think they can single handedly win a game 1vs 11, without the use of their teammates.  The use of your teammates creates much needed support and can create better opportunities...

"WPS Paparazzi"




U11 Player of the Week showing off some skills on the Pitch... :mrgreen:






"...Out on the Pitch"



Prior to the US Club tournament, the Chika's Chill on the grass... :mrgreen:



Sportsmanship is when kids come together to help a fallen comrade, regardless of what team your on... :mrgreen:

Please submit pictures for the newsletter to the Pulse email




**Please continue to send pix's to the Pulse newsroom!  Anything soccer related is welcome!** :mrgreen:  




"Help!  Is there a Doctor in the house?"



Soccer and the Brain
(Heading for Trouble?)  

Soccer:   What a game! Where else do people use their heads to bounce balls going 100 kilometers/hour?
Contact and occasionally severe contact occurs regularly. This contact can be:
player-to-player
player-to-ground
player-to-goalpost
player-to-ball
   
As you might expect, most (50-80%) soccer injuries affect the feet and legs. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that the contact that occurs while playing soccer is at the same level as during boxing, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, rodeo and wrestling and field hockey.
Head injuries account for between 4% and 22% of all soccer injuries. Can this contact cause brain damage? Let's look at the data.

 

The Damage

Concussions

 A concussion may occur when someone's head strikes an object. A person with a concussion may lose consciousness or suffer memory loss and appear confused. In soccer, concussions make up 2-3% of all injuries. This is the same rate as for American football!So be careful about the teams you play

 A study involving men's and women's college soccer teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference found a total of 29 concussions in a 2-year period. The most common cause of the concussions was when one player's head struck the head of another player. This was also the most common source of concussions in a group of soccer players at the US Olympic Sport Festival in 1993. The second most common cause of concussions occurred when a ball struck a player's head. These head-to-ball concussions happened when a player was hit in the head by a ball kicked from close range. In many cases, the ball traveled so quickly the player did not have time to react. NONE of the concussions were caused by proper heading of the ball.

Heading the ball, however, is not without consequences. A player may head the ball many times during practice sessions and about eight times during a game. Many players at the 1993 US Olympic Festival experienced headaches after heading the ball. These headaches lasted from a few seconds to several days.
 
Brain Damage
A Norwegian study found that 35% of 69 Division I soccer players had abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns. This is more than twice the rate of abnormal EEG patterns in control subjects. Retired soccer players had several brain abnormalities including reduced cortical tissue and increased lateral ventricle size.  
Neuropsychological Effects
Soccer players also seem to perform more poorly than control subjects on some types of IQ tests and many former players (81%) suffer from problems with attention, concentration, and memory. Players who typically head the ball have also been found to have more neurological problems than non-headers. Compared to goalies and midfielders ("non-headers"), forwards and defenders ("headers") performed more poorly on some memory, visual perception and planning tests.  


The Controversy: Does Heading the Ball Cause Damage?
 Soccer balls kicked by highly skilled players can travel over 100 km/hour. Although these ball speeds are not reached during most recreational games, some people believe that young players should wear protective helmets.
Heading of the ball may have caused the neurological problems reported in soccer players. However, it is possible that other types of head injury were responsible for these injuries. For example, many professional soccer players suffer head injuries when they collide with other players or hit the ground. Therefore, soccer-related brain injury may not necessarily be due to heading the ball. On the other hand, it is unknown if repeated low intensity impacts, like those that occur when the ball is headed, make players more susceptible to later impacts.

Most of the data come from players at the elite level who have played soccer for many years. Professional soccer players head the ball thousands of times during their careers. There has not been much research on the effects of heading the soccer ball on children or recreational players. Although helmets may protect players from concussions, their usefulness has not been tested. At least one company is selling helmets to be used by children while playing soccer. Mouth guards shou;ld also be considered to prevent injuries to the growing mouth . They help dampen the concussive effect of a blow .
 


Possible Protections
 So, how can head injuries be reduced and minimized? Here are some recommendations:
Players should have proper instruction on the correct way to head the ball.

1)The ball should be the appropriate size for the age of the players. Smaller balls are less likely to cause injury. Also, make sure the ball is inflated properly.

2)Use "no heading" rules for younger players. If a player is not allowed to head the ball, the ball is less likely to hit a player's head.

3)Use padded goalposts.
 


Did you know?

There are very few soccer-related deaths. However, the US Center for Disease Control reported that 18 people between 1979 and 1993 had been killed by falling goalposts. Of these 18 people, 14 had head injuries and most were children who were climbing on unstable goalposts, not playing soccer.

Stay healthy,
The Doc



*Send all medical questions for "the doctor" to the Pulse email address*



 

GIRLS U13 NORTH-CALIFORNIA REPORTS!!!

Hello Dragon and our friends from Washington, it was not pretty but the Chilipeppers earned their 4th straight District 2 Championship this weekend.   It had rained for almost 24 hours straight when the Peppers took the field in Almaden against the Ice. The Peppers scored early as Colby # 4 put us up 1-0 just  5 mins. into the game. The 2nd goal came on a great sequence starting with Sam #21 and Slaon #5, two  of our defenders who moved up from our endline with three give and goes who then passed to Zarette #15 who fed Kaylyn #3 for the goal. Our last goal came on a cross from Janessa #17 to Marissa #13  final 3-0 Peppers.
 
On sunday morning we played our archrival OV Storm for the 2nd time in as many weekends we came out on top 1-0 as they layed back in a 4-5 -1 formation hoping to tie us but  Colby #4 would not let her old team get the tie scoring on a beautiful shot 5 mins. into the 2nd half. with that win we clinched the title but we still had one game remaining against Almaden again. The Peppers played in different positions and cruised to a 1-1 tie finishing 8-1-1 for the District 2 Championship.
 
Take Care up there in Washington State: next up D2 cup tourney!
 

Great job Pepperkids!  We are rooting for you!! :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:



OTHER NEWS AND GOSSIP AND TIDBITS:



"SIDELINE SNIPPETS"

Well I was out and about. it was pretty mellow this weekend, but a few snippets were heard so here they are.
 
sideline parents.  "You gotta get the ball in order to score...  "ya think?
 
parent with wrong sport in mind see if you can guess it.
 
"shoot shoot. your at the top of the key shoot it"
 
Ok ,got that one how bout this one
 
"Your in the end zone shoot it shoot it. get a touchdown?"
From a ref. at the beginning of the game coin toss.
 
I dont call handballs and I dont call offsides.... now I will call handling the ball and I will call offside and I wont take my cue from the sideline. I will use my own eyes and my Ar's eyes. so please just play to the whistle and dont worry about the yelling, ninnies on the sidelines.




"COACHS CORNER!"

This weeks topic for the coach is "Coaching Stump?!"

Alright everyone, Very sorry for the Delay, but it was beautiful down in BRAZIL. Just didn’t want to leave, but now that I am back I have a great question.

How do you ask your coach to get up and COACH during the games instead of just sitting there watching..... without hurting your kid?

How can a team expect to win when their coach is a "Stump"?

This is a great question, however the writer is assuming a coach that is up on the sideline constantly talking to the team is what a good coach does, and a coach that sits and waits till halftime, after the game, and practices to do their coaching is a poor coach. Each coach has their own style. Some are yellers, some are sitters. Either way can be successful, but it depends on the coach themselves. I’ve seen yellers that belittle the kids so much the kids play horrible, but I’ve also have seen ones that affect the kids positively. On the flip side I have seen coaches that don’t get off the bench that cost their kids important information, but I’ve seen teams that were so well coached during the week the coach did not need to get off the bench. As a general rule the younger the ages the more direction they need, but they don’t need constant instruction. As they get older you should see more and more coaches spend more time on the bench. An interesting thought for you is also the experience of the coach. I have noticed coaches who are worried about the parents questioning their coaching ability tend to yell more to “prove” to the parents they know what they are doing. However coaches who have a great reputations that have nothing to prove pick the times they feel they need to yell.

That’s not the question though. The one is how do you approach the coach. First thing I would do is contact your Coaching director and set up a meeting. Talk with them and let them know your opinion, and concerns. If they agree with you then they can approach the coach and do it anonymously so that your child will see no repercussions. That would be the best way to handle the situation. If afterwards you still feel that this coach isn’t getting it done, then maybe its time to move onto a different club or team who has a coach that you are confident in.

Remember one thing, 90% of coaching is done during the week. That is where a coach can work on technique, tactics, and team chemistry. Before and during the game all a coach can really do is get the players warmed up, put them in positions, and remind them of the game plan. I can yell at a player all game long, but if we never worked on it during the week the player isn’t going to understand what I’m asking of them. Your not going to teach a player something brand new in the middle of the game. If you want to find a great coach pay attention to their practice sessions, not their game conduct. If you have a “stump” that runs the best practices I the state then that’s the team I want my child to play for.

When look forward to your return coach, have some good questions in your inbox :mrgreen:



"VIEW FROM BEHIND THE WHISTLE"

Myths of the Game and other Nonsense

How can young referee's deal with wacky parents on the sidelines?

The best advice I have to give young referees is to treat the sidelines as you would a visit to the zoo.  Sometimes the animals (fans/sidelines) become very excited by the activities outside their cages and they can become very agitated.  This can become scary for you and your young charges (players). Follow the common sense rules you would follow at any zoo:

1.   Be prepared to recognize when the behavior of the animals begins to affect your enjoyment of your visit (match) to the park.   Be clear in your mind what your boundaries are for an enjoyable visit and stick to them.  Err on the side of setting these boundaries low.

2.   Keep your distance and don't tease or feed the animals (best if you simply don’t talk to them).  Recognize that these animals may misbehave regardless of any action you take (after all, they are wild beasts).  Work with the zookeeper (coach) for any problems with the animals.

3.   If the behavior of the animals is taking away from your or your young charges' ability to enjoy this visit to the park, bring it to the attention of the zookeeper.  Ask him to fix the problem and stop the visit until it's fixed (suspend the match while he deals with the issue).

4.   If they are being unruly or obnoxious (you can't ignore how loudly they're banging on the cage bars and they might scare you and the other kids), then ask for their zookeeper to calm them.  Let the zookeeper know you will leave (terminate the match) if he can't calm the beasts.

5.   If the zookeeper is unsuccessful or is part of the problem, then leave the zoo (terminate the game)! Get yourself away and to a safe place immediately.

6.   If any of the wild beasts leaves their cage (steps onto the field), regardless of how cute and domesticated they may appear, get away immediately!  Call for the zookeeper to take control and leave the zoo!!  Don't let the zookeeper talk you into returning.  Report the incident to the proper authorities.

It can be very intimidating for a teenager or young adult to be confronted with an environment where he/she is surrounded by large/loud wild beasts.  It takes courage to deal with a zookeeper that does not keep a safe zoo.  It may be helpful to have a mentor or another adult nearby for moral support and safety.

"Dear Eggy"

Dear Eggy,

I play with this one kid who is so selfish it effects my whole team. What is a good way to approach the selfish player? I don't want to hurt their feelings but he loses games for us when he worries more about shooting then passing.

Thanks,
Frustrated Teammate

Dear Teammate,

This is a tough situation for anyone involved. I would bet that there are many players out there that have this same questions. I think you could approach this a couple of ways. First, have the captains of your team, or you, approached the coach with this problem? That would be my first solution. Second, have the captains, or you approached the player? That would be my last solution. In the middle you might try a "round table talk." This is a time when everyone on the team sits around a table, or on the ground, and airs out any problems they see with the team. You could call it a "State Cup" clean-out. Try this as a lead question for your discussion. "Lets discuss team issues before we head to state cup so that we are focused as a team and nothing distracts us from the goal of advancing as far as we can."

Lastly, and I do not reccomend this- Ignore it and hope it goes away.

Yours on the pitch,

Eggy





"My 2 cents worth...The Posters Voice!"

Sick and tired of all you CP's

I am getting sick and tired of  all the youth soccer Conspiracy Theorists.  If one is to believe much of what is being tossed around it might look as though there are folks sitting around with nothing better to do than screw over a bunch of 12 year olds.  We have all heard ramblings about schedules supposedly being manipulated to give a disadvantage to one team.  In the last week I have also heard of Asst Refs not being supplied to a certain teams in an effort to handicap them because they are known to run an offside trap.  Water logged balls were reportedly used in a game to stop a team that has powerful boots.   How about those who think the WSYSA or PDL or the United Nations are making rules specifically to hurt their sons or daughters team?   News flash!  The world does not revolve around your kids team.  Almost if not all the people in youth sports are doing it for the kids.  Where is the benefit of targeting 15 young ladies or men to make their youth sports miserable?  You parents need help!

[/size]
 


THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO MMMMMMMMMMMMMM?


"Black Knights U14 Prediction Challenge!"

Alright everyone, Although it was a little confusing with HPFC not having any reported scores, I assumed they rescheduled there games. But it was still a great weekend of predicting. So here we go:

Overall Predicted games
1st: Victory 14/23
2nd: Ghostlyone, Nineteethree 12/23
3rd: BK, DS, 93soccerdad 10/23

Group 1
1st: Nineteethree 7/9
2nd: BK, Ghostlyone, DS, 93soccerdad, Yote 6/9
3rd: Victory 5/9

Group 2
1st: Victory, Flash 4/7
2nd: Brat 3/7
3rd: BK, Ghostlyone, DS, 93soccerdad 2/7

Group 3
1st: Victory 5/7
2nd: Ghostlyone, Nineteethree 4/7
3rd: BK, DS, extremesoccer, 93soccerdad, flash 2/7

Perfect scores
1st: Victory 6
2nd: Brat 4
3rd: 93soccerdad, yote 3

WINNERS

1st: Victory 13 points. Great job victory. Took 1st in Overall, group 2, group 3, and perfect scores, and 3rd in group 1.

2nd: Ghostlyone, Nineteethree with 7 point. Nineteethree continues to be consistant and took 1st in group 1, 2nd n overall, and group 3. Ghostlyone welcome aboard. Not a bad first week of predicting for you. finished 2nd in overall, group 1, and group 3. and 3rd in  group.

3rd: 93soccerdad 6 point. Way to go this week 93soccerdad. Not bad considering your daugther plays in a district league and you have not seen most these premier clubs play. You amaze me. finished 2nd in group 1. 3rd in overall, group 2, group 3, and pefect scores.

Great job everyone, I really enjoy doing these every week, and you'll have to bear with me, as the PDL website isn't always the most up to date. But as a little special section Just wanted to let everyone know this is the 6th week I have done this contest. And here are the leaders so far:

1st: Nineteethree, and Brat. Great job you two

2nd: Victory, Yote, Daditude, and Extremesoccer

3rd: April

"Dragon Coachs Interviews!"

No interview this week, but always looking for one!

If you are a coach, DOC, trainer, or have anything to do with soccer, contact the editor for your chance to do an interview  



Guest Editor's, EDITORIAL:

REF RAGE!!!!



All across the State there have been numerous eyewitness accounts of near sighted, far sighted, hind sighted, and blind sighted officiating.  To compound this o so common occurrence is the unfortunate circumstance that these same “sight” challenged officials have also been diagnosed by CP’s as to have contracted some rare disease which has disabled their ability to make rational decisions.  Some officials in the later stages of this “disease” have been reported to be unable to make a call in a phone booth.  O the shame of it all.  

Is there a cure for this debilitating soccer disease???  I have been down at Moe’s Tavern for the past week looking for answers at the bottom of my Pint and I do believe I have a cure.  It’s a risky and possibly life altering procedure but when applied correctly, this cure will indeed change the face of soccer officials everywhere.  What is the cure you ask? Well for just 3 monthly installments of $19.95 I’ll tell you.  Hey come on now, how else am I going to be able to pay down my bar tab at Moe’s?  

I refer to this affliction as “Ref Rage”.  Each one of us has been affected by Ref Rage at some point in our lives.  It is a sad, embarrassing disease which strips away a persons logic, humility, and compassion.  It is a disease that knows no limits.  It affects players, coaches, parents, and even the seniors in our local soccer communities.  You say, “Enough Homer J., give us the cure”, I ask you “Are you ready for the cure???”  You must be willing to administer this cure immediately and without hesitation. Can you handle it? Just a reminder every Tuesday night is free fish tacos at Moe’s during happy hour.  

The cure is simple but yet difficult to adhere to at all times.  In order to prevent “Ref Rage” each participating parent must be willing to………..RELAX, and simply enjoy the sport of soccer.  Crazy I know, but yet very effective.  Homer J. has heard of parents yelling at teenaged officials, degrading players, cursing coaches and officials a like.  This kind of behavior is not what youth sports are about and frankly gives soccer a bad name.  Think about it, there’s no such thing as a basketball mom, but everyone has a crazy soccer mom story.  

You go to a soccer game to first and foremost watch your child play soccer.    Watching your child play is the reason you’re out on the field to begin with.  Why then do so many parents feel compelled to worry about the officials?  Were they traumatized as a small child?  Is it a Freudian thing?  Homer J. thinks it’s as simple as understanding that many of you have lost your way and need to get back to the basics of watching your young ones play soccer.  Enjoy seeing them play and quit worrying about the called PK’s, offsides, or the missed handballs.  

Once you folks begin to relax and just enjoy the game, relinquishing what you feel is your right to denigrate the officials, you will see these same Officials aren’t so bad after all.  Sure there will be bad calls.  Everybody is human and nobody is free of mistakes.  Didn’t Diego Maradona “punch in” a goal during a world cup game which was not caught be any official?  If this can happen on the world stage why do you “ref rage” afflicted parents believe your daughters’ U14 game will be officiated perfectly???

 I hear so much about how important it is to set a good example for the players, so start with yourself.  Start by not posting about how unfair officiating is east of the mountains; BTW if the officiating IS that bad east of the mountains then it should come as no surprise when it happens to your team.  Get over it.  If you have your “ref rage” under control and are currently being treated for it then please for Homer’s sake treat the parent next to you.  Positive attitudes are contagious.  It’s true; I read it on TV once!!!




  Remember this truly is a FAMILY sport and should be treated as such.  Shout out to Dragon for giving me a chance to share my views on the subject.  I would also like to thank my mother for giving me the ability to think before I speak and my father for showing me how to ignore the same ability.

Thank you guest Editor Syngy!  Very Cool editorial, and the pix were an awesome addition! :mrgreen:


**let's hear it folks for all the great articles submitted this week! :mrgreen:


Thats it for this weeks Issue of the Pulse, hope you enjoy it...and as always never forget to...Play with Heart & Fire, Heart & Fire Always!