Thank you to Dr. Cindy Durakis and Director of Coaching and Player Development Ryan Quinn for organizing ASA’s first Performance Enhancement/Injury Prevention Clinic.  Many interested parents, players and coaches attended the session.  In her presentation, Dr. Durakis highlighted The Santa Monica ACL Prevention Project which developed a training session as a replacement for a team’s traditional warm up. The Prevent injury, Enhance Performance (PEP) Program, developed by a team of physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers and coaches, is designed to integrate an injury prevention program into a team’s regular training routine.  

Below is information on how to download the program for use in practice and more information on Dr. Durakis.

To download Dr. Cindy Durakis’ presentation:  http://www.alexandria-soccer/docs/injury-prevention.pdf

To download the program:  http://www.aclprevent.com/pepprogram.htm

To view the Web-based lesson:  http://www.la84foundation.org/3ce/acl_frmst.htm

THE CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATES AND ELITE SPORTS REHABILITATION, LLC
Dr. Cynthia Durakis, PLLC
drcindydurakis@chiroassoc.net
 
Dr. Durakis has had 15 years of experience in private practice as well as lecturing and writing on the subject of chiropractic as the Professional Affairs Director for the International Chiropractic Association.
 
Extended study in the areas of sports rehabilitation, nutrition, exercise physiology, prenatal care, pediatrics and veterinary orthopedic manipulation has allowed her to provide a comprehensive approach to healing.  A lifelong sports enthusiast, weekend warrior and mother of two soccer-playing daughters has guided her practice in the direction of sports injury rehabilitation, leading to the opening of Elite Sports Rehabilitation, LLC in 2008.
 
Dr Durakis holds a bachelors degree from Colgate University, and a DC from Life University.  She served on the Alexandria City Public School (ACPS) Wellness Task Force 2006-2008, served as chairperson for the Alexandria Professional Women’s Network and has been a frequent contributor to the Old Town Crier. 
 
Dr. Cindy has coached ASA soccer for three years and has earned a black belt in taekwondo.

                 To request a practice field, please e-mail Jeff Newhouse at:

                   ASAfieldreservations@verizon.net

PRACTICE FIELD RESERVATIONS MUST BE OBTAINED EACH SEASON; THERE IS NO CARRY-OVER FROM THE PREVIOUS SEASON.

Coaches, please contact the ASA office if you need a copy of the Field Permit for the current season.  The permit should be carried with you to all games and practices.

ATTACK                                                            DEFEND
1.  Penetration - players should                       1.  Delay - pressure on ball or drop off
         look to go forward with a shot,
         dribble or pass as their first option
 
2.  Support - be available for a pass,               2.  Cover - behind pressure on ball
         get open, proper                                                     proper distance and angle
          distance and angle                                                                
 
3.  Mobility - runs off the ball, diagonal,           3.  Balance - watch danger area
         checking, square                                                   away from ball
              
4.  Width - for crossing, stretch the                   4.  Concentration - in danger area
         defenders
 
5.  Improvisation - creativity in the right            5.  Control and restraint - no
         places on the field                                                  unneccesary yellow cards
 
6.  Finish - hit the target, no excuses                 6.  Quick counter - intelligent and
                                                                                             fast ideas

• Virginia Youth Soccer Assn. Recreation Coaches Handbook (http://www.vysa.com/docs/home/vysacoacheshandbook.pdf)
  VYSA is proud to announce the release of the VYSA Recreation Coaches Handbook developed by the Technical Department. This Handbook is designed to provide recreation coaches, of all ages, with a resource that will aid them in becoming a better soccer coach. It is in a pdf where coaches can download all or a portion of the document at their leisure. Amongst other helpful information that they will find are age appropriate lesson plans, organizing your parents, characteristics of the children that they are coaching.
  
• Training Priorities for U6-U19 (http://www.vysa.com/programs/34831/94688.html)
  Coaches from Recreation to Travel can click on the link above to find out what priorities should be taught at specific ages in the child’s soccer development. It is extremely important that we develop players by design and not by error. And by following these Training Priorities we are ensuring that the players learn aspects of the game when they are physically, emotionally and psychologically ready to do so.
  
  It is highly recommended that players between the ages of 9-14 are trained a great deal in the technical fundamentals and that the majority of the session (65%-75%) be aimed at improving a players 1st touch and improving the quality of striking the soccer ball.
  
  Goalkeeping Training Priorities are also part of the attachment so that teachers of the game can progress in a systematic manner as well.
  

INFORMATION FOR TRAVEL COACHES

• Best Practices for Coaching Soccer in the US (http://www.vysa.com/programs/34831/119084.html)
  US Soccer has developed this document to give youth and junior level coaches a basic set of ideas that can help open the game of soccer to children in ways that celebrate the spontaneous qualities of soccer. 
  
• Virginia ODP (http://www.vysa.com/odp/index_E.html)
  The Olympic Development Program is a US Youth Soccer Program to identify players of the hightest caliber which will lead to increased success for the US National Teams
  
• Training Priorities for U6-U19 (http://www.vysa.com/programs/34831/94688.html)
  Coaches from Recreation to Travel can click on thelink above to find out what priorities should be taught at specific ages in the child’s soccer development. It is extremely important that we develop players by design and not by error. And by following these Training Priorities we are ensuring that the players learn aspects of the game when they are physically, emotionally and psychologically ready to do so.
  
  It is highly recommended that players between the ages of 9-14 are trained a great deal in the technical fundamentals and that the majority of the session (65%-75%) be aimed at improving a players 1st touch and improving the quality of striking the soccer ball.
  
  Goalkeeping Training Priorities are also part of the attachment so that teachers of the game can progress in a systematic manner as well.
  
• State Cup Information (http://www.vysa.com/statecup/index_E.html)

COACHING COURSES/EDUCATION

National Youth License  (http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/NatYouthLicense.asp)
The National Youth License, a U.S. Soccer course, focuses upon the nature of children and the adjustments adults must make to coach them. The course curriculum covers the ages of 4-12 years old. Each day of the course, the focus is upon one of the traditional soccer age groups of U6, U8, U10 or U12. Each day, children of the appropriate age group are brought to the course site for the candidates to work with them in a practice training session. The candidates are videotaped while coaching the kids and the video is reviewed with each candidate to aid in the education of the coach. The course combines both classroom (theory) and field (practical) sessions. The course concludes with written, oral and practical examinations. The National Youth License course is six days in length, sometimes being held over two weekends rather than 6 days in a row. It is ideal for anyone hoping to become a better and more effective coach.

• FIFA Laws of the Game (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html)
  
• The Coaches Connection (http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/Coaches_Connection.asp)
  
• US Youth Soccer Coaching Connection (http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/index.html)
  Register and get connected with leaders in the field of coaching, referee education and player development.  Stay current with discussions on such hot topics as small-sided games; recreation vs. competitive soccer; parent education, ethics and morals in sport.
  
• VYSA Sanctioned Tournaments (http://www.vysa.com/tournaments/index_E.html)

• Article:  "Stifling The Development Of The American Soccer Player" by Gary R. Allen http://www.vysa.com/coaches/99579.html
   

• Article:  "Realistic Shooting Exercise" by Jeff Tipping, NSCAA Director of Coaching Education

  The major benefit to these penalty box exercises is that they replicate what really happens in a game with balls being played into forwards where they have to receive them at numerous angles. It is a much more realistic environment than simply lining players up outside the penalty box to take shots.
  Too many coaches line players up to shoot at the goal and expect players to be able to adjust to the many situations they find themselves in when shooting in a real game. A far better and more realistic approach would be for coaches to use penalty box exercises in which players in and around the penalty box receive balls under pressure, frequently facing the wrong way and off balance and are expected to swivel and get a shot off. The following exercises are a good way for coaches to put players in more realistic shooting situations.
  
  
  
  Three attackers are situated in the penalty box just off the 18-yard line. There are flank players on both sides of the box near the touchlines and a central midfield player 10-15 yards off the top of the box. The ball begins with the central midfield player who can either feed the ball into the forwards or play the ball to the flank players. If the ball goes to the forwards, they must shoot on the second touch. If the ball goes to the flank players they must serve the ball in and the forwards must shoot the ball first time.
  
  
  
  The second stage is that the forward inside the penalty box who takes the first touch cannot score, which means that the ball must be laid off to another one of the forwards to shoot. The coach keeps track of how many goals the unit of three can score in a minute.
  
  
  
  The third stage is adding three defenders to mark the three forwards. The forwards can score any way they wish. In this particular exercise when the defenders win the ball or the goalkeeper saves it, the ball goes back to the center midfield player and the players’ roles in the penalty box switch (Attackers become defenders, defenders become attackers).
  
  
  

ASA’s philosophy is “Winning is to learn”.  Winning at all costs is not the goal.  The two aspects of “winning is to learn” are good decision making and confidence.  As coaches we want to teach players:

1.) Respect for the game

• Playing within “The Spirit of the Game”
• Showing respect for each other, our opponent and referees

2.) A love of the game

• Alexandria Soccer Programs create a child friendly environment where friendly but fierce competition is the basis – not winning at all costs

3.) The game demands, the player responds

• When you play the game of soccer the game presents many challenges
  {Example, good opponents, field conditions, weather}
• We plan over a period of time to prepare each child to meet the demands of the game
• It will take time before all the challenges are met
  

Coaches

The coach’s role is one of teaching soccer skills and sportsmanship to the players. The coach is responsible for communicating practice and game times to the players and parents. The coach is also responsible for monitoring the behavior of the players and parents during practice and games. All coaches within the soccer program will promote good sportsmanship among players, foster team camaraderie, and help participants have fun while teaching players the technical skills of soccer. Unsportsmanlike conduct of coaches will not be tolerated by the program. Such unsportsmanlike conduct includes berating or making unkind comments to a player or referee that would reasonably be expected to cause substantial embarrassment to the player or referee.  Other examples include the intentional abuse or attempt to abuse the player selection system or willful failure to follow program rules.

Each coach agrees to the above code of conduct, certifies that he/she has read all Alexandria Soccer Association Rules and will abide by them and acknowledges that coaching in the soccer program is a privilege and not a right.

In addition, each Coach will ensure that his/her conduct sets a good example for team members and spectators. To meet these responsibilities, the Coach is expected to:

• Know the official Laws of the Game of soccer and the rules of Alexandria Soccer Association, and abide by them.
• Instruct player and parents in the rules and motivate each player to compete according to the rules at all times.
• Respect the game officials at all times. Refrain from questioning their decisions or challenging their authority.
• Ensure that rules are followed by all players and spectators.
• Ensure that fans of his or her team exhibit sportsmanship and maturity at all times and assist league and game officials in maintaining control of spectators during games.
• Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team before, during, and after the game.
• Take appropriate steps to minimize scoring in runaway games.  Instead set limitations for your team ot work on other tactics.
• Teach each player, especially through personal example, to be humble and generous in victory and proud and courteous in defeat.
• Maintain control of his/her emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.
• Teach and practice good sportsmanship and fair play by personally demonstrating commitment to these virtues.
• Promote the concept that soccer is merely a game, and that players and coaches on other teams are opponents, not enemies.
• Remember that soccer is a game, and treat players and coaches on other teams as opponents, not enemies.

Codes Of Conduct

In order to ensure that the principles of sportsmanship, fair play, and mutual respect among players, coaches, officials, and spectators the following Code of Conduct has been established. It is the obligation of all program administrators, coaches, parents, and players to create an environment that promotes this objective. Those who willfully violate this code jeopardize their participation in the Alexandria Soccer Association.

Residential Camp-Soccer Academy
http://www.soccer-academy.com/summer_residentialCamps.aspx

Residential Camps are for boys and girls of all abilities. Five to 10 days living and training like a soccer pro.

• Programs: Soccer Academy offers a wide range of innovative, state-of-the-art programs that meet the interests and playing abilities of all players and teams.
  
• Experience: Soccer Academy pioneered youth soccer training nearly twenty years ago, and continues to be at the vanguard in developing the latest methods of training individual players and teams.
  
• Excellence: Soccer Academy has a strong commitment to providing excellent soccer instruction and in a safe environment, where the players will have an enjoyable, positive learning experience.
  
• Trainers: Soccer Academy has developed an outstanding staff of trainers who share a passion and dedication to soccer, and who are committed to sharing their knowledge with soccer players of all ages.
  

Dynamo Elite Soccer Programs will be holding summer camps in Alexandria for the fifth summer in Alexandria, VA.
The camps provide players with quality personalized/small group training to help each player grow to their full
potential.

Players will gain renewed energy, enthusiasm for the game and improved self-confidence - all keys to a players’
growth. Each player will receive an evaluation upon the conclusion of camp to help them set goals for the upcoming
season. The camps are directed by Ryan Quinn, Director of Coaching and Player Development for the Alexandria Soccer Association. "Our goal is to create a FUN and challenging environment for players.  We encourage players to aim high and try things outside their comfort zone.  Allowing players to be creative, dynamic and self-expressive will help them grow and develop. We expect players to leave camp with refined technique, new skills and a renewed passion for soccer."  

Goalkeeper training will also be provided at the camp for players who are interested.

Dates:  
U9-U16: July 26-30
U9-U16: August 2-6
U9-U16: August 9-13

Location:  Ben Brenman Park, 5000 Duke Street

Time:  9am-3pm

Cost:  $275/player
*Sibling Discount: Families with more than one
player attending the camp receive a $75 discount
on the second camp registration.

 

Typical Daily Schedule:  
9 a.m. Check/Roll Call
9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Camp Contest (i.e. Wacky Hat)
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Snack
10:30 - 11:45 a.m. Morning Training Session 
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Camp Games (Capture the Flag, Soccer Golf, etc.)
1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Afternoon Training Session
3:00 p.m. Check-Out (Players will only be released to people who have been pre-authorized for pick up.)

ONLINE CAMP REGISTRATION FORM

Contact Ryan Quinn with questions (quinnsoccer@gmail.com)