Everyone should be in their individual team training now.  Hopefully these are going well.  The preseason is the time to make sure that your team is well grounded in fundamental techniques.  It's much harder to make large scale technique corrections late in the season.

   Barry

1. coach training - New Coaches training 3/14
2. Jan/Feb training wrap-up
3. VUSC club keeper training
4. VUSC hosted MYSA Y Module - 4/18

5. MYSA/USSF coach training
6. South Parameters meeting 3/21

7. website of the month - UEFA.com

8. videos of the month - Messi on google video

9. article of the month - Coaches Must Teach Young Players to Think and Act Creatively

1. Coach Training
   A reminder that we will have a new coaches training session on Sat. 3/14 from 9A-11A (or 12P) in the VAA Field House.  All coaches with any experience level are welcome to attend.  We'll discuss topics such as What to teach, How to teach and Coach/Team logistics.  We will, of course, have coffee and donuts!

2. Jan/Feb training
   I hope you all got a chance to either take advantage of, or at least watch, the training provided by Marc and Melissa Sutton.  I think the players had fun and learned new techniques or got some new practice on old techniques.  I am very interested in hearing your feedback on the sessions.  It's still early, but we will be discussing ideas for future seasons.  We want to hear your thoughts!
   The practice plans used by Marc and Melissa are posted here: http://www.bjb.org/soccer/coachinfo/.

3. VUSC club keeper training
   We are planning to once again offer free professional keeper training in the spring.  The details are not yet set but it will probably be similar to last year, with training on Sunday evenings 5P-6P for U12 and younger and 6P-7P for U13 and above.  As soon as we have the details I will pass them along.

4. VUSC hosted MYSA Y Module - 4/18
   VUSC will host an MYSA Y Module coach training class on Saturday 4/18, 1P-5P at Velocity in Burnsville.  The class consists of: 1 hour classroom training, 1 hour field practice with coaches, 1 hour field practice with U9 players (VUSC BU09), and 1 hour field practice with U10 Players (VUSC GU10).  Coaches completing the course will receive a Y certificate.  This class is free to all VUSC and VAA coaches.  Please sign up in advance by sending me an email.  Although the class is free to you, there is a cost to VUSC, so please sign up if you are going to come, and come if you sign up.

5. MYSA/USSF coach training
There have been no new E certificate or D license courses announced at http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/coaches/clinics.cfm.  Registration for the E certificate class in White Bear Lake is still open.  There are a number NSCAA classes listed as well.  Please check the site regularly.

6. South Parameters meeting 3/21
   League formation will be announced after a meeting on 3/14.  Those VUSC teams who are in the South District (probably most of our teams) need to have a representative at the Parameters meeting on 3/21 in Faribault.  Information is listed here: http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/about/southforum.cfm  You only need to attend for the hour listed for your age group.  Remember to bring a calendar with your players' school/religious/family/vacation obligations so you can reschedule games if needed.  Remember that after the 2-week rescheduling window you will not be able to reschedule a game unless it is called for dangerous weather.  If you must forfeit a game your team may need to pay a fine.  Please let me or any board member know if you have any questions about this process.

7. website of the month - UEFA.com
   The main page features information about European soccer.  However, follow the "training ground" link (http://www.uefa.com/trainingground/index.html) for great coaching information including videos of drills and the "crossbar challenge"  (Joe Warren, former Thunder keeper, did this at last year's keeper training and was incredibly accurate!)

8. videos of the month - Messi on google video
Argentina's and FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi is one of the most exciting soccer stars in the world.  Players can learn from his precise dribbling technique and improvisation... you never know what's going to happen when he touches the ball.  This link has a bunch of clips of Messi on google video: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=messi&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#  In particular, watch the awesome dribbling in the Messi vs Getafe video as Messi slices and dices his way from the halfway line through six Getafe defenders to score!

9. article of the month - the LOTG according to players and coaches (humorous)
http://ogaunt.com/ayso9/humor/index_files/lawsofthegameplayerscoachesversion.htm