Shomit’s Youth Soccer Training Tips

The U-15G Arlington Express have concluded a twelve month period between March 2007 and March 2008 with an overall record of 27-7-5. The team has appeared in five consecutive tournament finals during that time period, winning two titles. The Express won championships at the 2007 Arlington Spring Invitational and Mid-Atlantic Cup while earning runners-up honors at the FPYC Labor Day Patriot Cup, Dulles National Tournament, and 2008 Arlington Spring Invitational.

In league play, the Express are entering spring 2008 coming off of back-to-back league titles in ODSL Division 1 and WAGS Division 5.

Congratulations to all of the players and parents of the Express for their time and dedication to the team.

The Under-15G Arlington Express and Arlington Blitz both reached the tournament finals in the classic and premier groups. The Express lost a close game in the Classic group final 2-1 to the Chantilly Arsenal and the Blitz lost a close game in the Premier group final 2-1 to Rochester Rhinos.

All of the players on both teams deserve congratulations for making it to the finals with such tough competiton in each of their groups.

“A champion is someone who does not settle for that day’s practice, that day’s competition, that day’s performance. They don’t live in the past. You can’t step out onto the field and expect anyone to roll over because of what you did a year before. Champions think about that everyday. You need to stay on the edge of your game. You need to get better every year. You need to leave them in the dust and leave no question of who is the best. That’s what a champion is, that person who perseveres and doesn’t ever get satisfied with what they have done in the past.”
– Brianna Scurry, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist

I want to wish all players of my U-15G Arlington Express the very best of luck in their high school tryouts this week. The way that all of you play the game speaks for itself. Through the ups and downs of tryouts, keep an even keel and do your very best at all times. Please know that you have my support and I personally think that any high school in Arlington would be lucky to have any of you. Good Luck!

This past weekend was such a great soccer experience for me that I thought I would share. On Friday February 1st, I was able to make it to the opening night of the VYSA Workshop in Richmond. It was great to see so many great coaches from around the state all in one place. There were a lot of people there whom I have the utmost respect for in Virginia youth soccer. I wanted to stay for Saturday’s events, but I had standing obligations to my two girls’ travel teams.

The highlight of Friday night was Liverpool Youth Director John Owens presentation about the systems and ideas of the prestigious English club’s youth development system. He mentioned that he took great pride in the belief that every player that comes through their youth system will look back on their time as a player in the Liverpool system as a positive experience. I could tell that he felt very fulfilled by that, which is great to see from a person who is a leader in one of the world’s most famous clubs.

The U-15G Arlington Express and the U-14G Arlington Eagles are a combined 11-0-1 after twelve total games in the 2008 FairfaxSportsplex Indoor Session II.