The best for your little one....

Listening to my twin brother tell me about the local soccer club scene in the Bay Area, I realized this was a problem not constricted to his family.  With AYSO, Cal North, ECNL, and the US Soccer Developmental  Academy, parents are overwhelmed with where to place or what to do with their aspiring little Messi's, Ronaldo's, or Donovan's.

In my brother's case, it's his oldest son, Jace.  Jace is 5 years old and is looking for a soccer club to help him get started in the sport.  Not only are there so many programs, but there are so many parents with so many different opinions.  Which one is right?  Where will my son or daughter want to play?  Will they be happy?  Coaches, parents, and everyone it seems has an opinion on everything.  

Being the son of a former pro baseball player, and a nephew of pro soccer player, Jace has some pretty heavy shoes to fill.  As my little nephew, you think his path would be straightforward:  AYSO, Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club, then on to Santa Clara University and end up with the San Jose Earthquakes, just like his uncle right???  Well not so fast....times have changed.

With the popularity of the sport, the competition for a parents dollar is fierce.  Camps, academies, club teams, programs, and individual training sessions are readily available for parents to choose from.  Which one? How much?  Even in Canada, there are many different options, which will only increase in the future.  What is a parent to do?

Well below are a few steps every parent should take before they decide.  Also, feel free to leave a comment below if you have any further questions.  As someone who has been involved with youth soccer for over 30 years (playing, coaching, organizing, etc), I look forward to helping parents and friends looking for the right program to start or re-start their interest in the beautiful game.

1.  Start your little one in a semi-public program.  The program won't matter as much as the people running it.  Introducing your child to the sport is the small first step we need to take.  I played soccer for four to five years before I really started to love the game.  There are many programs like Kids Love Soccer that cater to children who are young, and whose parents just need a little rest.

2.  If your little angel still loves playing, I would suggest looking at recreational soccer.  My first 3 years of the sport, I played in the American Youth Soccer Organization.  Without the efforts of AYSO, and other soccer recreational programs, the seeds of MLS would have never been planted.  Most of these programs are Saturdays only and give your child their first real team soccer experience.  

3.  If little junior is ripping it up in the recreation leagues, it's time to move them to a more competitive environment.  "Select soccer" is what we called it back in my day, but now there are so many more options.  CYSA, ECNL, US Club are a few of the programs which host competitive soccer teams.  Asking other parents helps, but lots of them will be biased towards their own coaches and clubs.  The best is to try and reach out to prominent people in your soccer area.  College and high school soccer coaches, prominent area soccer figures, and even research done on Internet forums can all equip a parent to be in a better position regarding club choice.  If you are brain dead and really lazy, just google NSCAA or US Soccer and contact a representative.  It might take awhile, but both organizations can eventually lead you to the right select team, league, or club.

4.  So you've made it to club and your teen is ripping it up. Now's the time to really decide.  US Soccer has done a great job in creating an academy system to help identify up and coming soccer stars.  The clubs are scattered all across the United States.  Prepare to drive your child hours away if you live in a small town.  At first, they most likely will want a tryout or need some evidence of the ability of your player.  After this period, they will decide if they can take him/her on.  There are tons of politics about this step, but this is the reality and always will be.  It's not fair that they only see your little one for a few minutes and then pass judgement.  To help prepare you child, have someone from these academies, a coach or trainer, see your child individually and work with them.  There is nothing a coach wants to see more than some kid they work with get better.  If you reach out to academy coaches, trainers or someone tied to the club that does individual training sessions, that's a great place to start.

5.  So let's say we've gotten this far and your son/daughter is doing good in their academy.  There are many types of children but let's place them into 3 categories.  First, the superstar.  In this case, colleges will already be contacting you or your team's coaches and asking about their intentions.  It's easy for the parents because the schools come to them.  Second, the burned out player.  They like soccer but don't love it, and they really just want to go to school and work on their education or whatever passion other than soccer that drives them.  Finally, there is the kids in between.

This kid was me.  I was good at soccer, but not the all star.  I blossomed late so the only colleges that sent letters were ones from far off distant lands or small schools who just got my name out of a database.  Here's the thing, colleges have no clue what kids want to attend their schools.  Sit down with Tommy or Tina and figure out where they want to go to school, what type of school, what type of soccer program (Division I- NAIA) and start contacting coaches.  

Don't wait on this part, and you should be contacting them the summer before their senior year.  Officially coaches cannot call prospective students back until they become seniors.  Don't be like me and wait around for the coaches to call and want you.  NO!  You have to be proactive on this step and do some work.  This is your dream and your goal right??  Well if that's the case, you're going to learn a great lesson early on that none of the superstars learn.   This lesson will test you and force you to ask yourself how bad you want to take this next step.

If you have the talent and the belief, then you have all you need.  Use this lesson to pass those high school and academy superstars.  That's what I did, and here I sit, writing to you after 17 years of playing Major League Soccer.  Make sure to pass it on to the younger generation when you retire from MLS.

may the posts be with you........

Joe Cannon
MVLAGK@gmail.com

MLS prediction contest.....

Hey folks, here's your chance to win a pair of brand new Nike soccer shoes or goalie gloves.  The first contest winner is below as to proof I keep my word!

Enough small chat, here are the rules.

1. Must follow me on twitter or subscribe to the Cannon Fodder blog. (This blog!)

2. Choose the winner (or a draw) of each MLS game this weekend. (August 17 & 18)

3. In case of a tie breaker, choose the total # of goals scored in all 9 games combined.

4. Person with the most correct picks wins

5.Tiebreaker will go to person closest to total amount of goals (without going over)

6. 1 vote per person

7.picks must be in by kickoff of the first game

You can leave your predictions on Facebook, twitter or email me at GKUnion101@gmail.com

If still tied we will ask each person for their best joke & my followers will judge between the two, three, etc.

That's it!! 

Good Luck & enjoy the games!

Know your player....

Whenever coaches step on the field, they need to know that this is a small amount of time where they will greatly affect the lives of other people.  As you are about to begin practice on the field, I believe it's really crucial that you enter into your session almost like you prepare for a game.

Sessions that are timely, organized, and varied are a great start.  Changing things up continuously will manifest how well you know your trade.  Keep in mind what works for some individuals and what doesn't.  As much as you teach in your sessions, you will find that you also learn so much about the players you are interacting with.  

Remember that even young players will not care about what you know until they find out how much you care.  Investing in the well being of your players is not only smart coaching, but also truly rewarding.

Many of today's youth spend lots of times looking at computer screens, TV's, smartphones and other devices.  Away from that, they are constantly bombarded by the images and societal pressures we all felt as young members of our society.  

As a coach, you have a unique opportunity to shape and mold the direction of your players lives.  Become a visionary, a leader, and decide how each one of your sessions fits into your long term view of sport.  

Like our teachers in school, we must also have a syllabus for months down the road.  Looking at the big picture will keep you from getting bogged down and overwhelmed with your individual practices.  If you need help making a plan, ask others, look online, or just shoot me an email.  I'm always open to helping out other coaches.

Best wishes and remember that behind every great player, is a great mentor, coach and support system.  

May the posts be with you.......

Joe Cannon

MVLAGK@gmail.com

Coaching the GK....

With the fall soccer season coming up, I would like to share a little story.  When I was 13 years old, I came to soccer practice ready for the same old drills and routines.  We warm up, jog around, I put my gloves on and the team starts going to goal.  

However, this day was different.  A parent who was helping our team out, Nick DaCunha was there with his son, my teammate Justin.  Nick was a successful coach at South San Jose Soccer Club and brought over his talented son to join our team.  Before we started playing, Nick took me aside and started kicking balls at me.  

It was the first time, anyone had ever taken the time to warm me up and give me a few pointers.  I felt so excited and so grateful someone would take their time to teach me.  It inspired me for the rest of my life to learn more about the position I now call a job.  As I look back, I want to offer some suggestions for youth coaches out there.

If you can, at least once a week.  Try to get out and kick some volleys at the goalkeeper.  Watch his or her hands and make sure he/she is catching with the index fingers and thumb behind the ball.  If you put your thumbs together, rotate your hands so that index fingers touch one another, this will push the elbows out.  Pull the elbows back in form a straight line down from your hands.  Now, pull the index fingers and thumbs away from one another along the same plane about an inch or two.  Don't forget to bend the wrists a tad inward (see photos).  With younger GK's, try to get more of the index finger & middle finger behind the ball.

This is how you should catch a ball.  The shape is almost an upside down heart.  I just bought a video camera and I will demonstrate this clearly in the future.  However, if you have time to kick balls at a gk, you can demonstrate this technique.  Even if you are unsure of the exact technique, a little attention to the GK will go a long way.

For all coaches, make sure to give the GK just a few minutes (5-10) of specialized training.  This personal attention will go a long way in making them feel responsible for their position and important to the team.  Remember it doesn't even have to be the head coach or a verified assistant.  Just delegate someone to go out and make the GK feel special.  

Having your team just kick at them is not going to teach them anything.  Engagement and involvement are always keys to motivating young players.  Hope this helps.  

and 

Thanks Nick........

may the posts be with you......

disappointed...

Just read some article on MLSsoccer.com which talks about my "curious" absence.  I think this type of article is the problem with the league's website.  One person decides that there is a curious absence, takes something I wrote on twitter, and tries to make a story.   

All parties involved that matter:  The Whitecaps, my family and myself knew about my trip.  Martin Rennie was correct on saying that I was in the US to take care of a previous appointment.  That's it.  No story, no ulterior motives, and I'll be back at training on Friday.  

There is no reason to try to "clear" anything up because this is a non issue.  Everything is clear with the people who matter.  If fans think they should follow the lead of a journalist that is just trying to create drama, then that is what they choose.  

Giving back....

Wow, where did the last 15 years go?  Well it seems as if time has flown by and here I am, at the twilight of my career.  I feel so blessed and grateful i've been able to last this long.  However, after so many years in the professional game, you lose touch with what the sport means to the boys and girls out there playing for the love of the game.

I would like to try to start the conversation by saying that after my career, I'll be interested in helping build a successful youth soccer club.  However, after almost two decades away from club soccer, I think I need a little feedback.  I want to know what kind of things parents like or don't like about their own club soccer experiences.  Costs, jerseys, coaches, anything really.  I know there are lots of stories, so feel free to leave them below or just email me at mvlagk@gmail.com.  I will use this blog to try and understand the youth game.

In essence, if i were to build a soccer club from the beginning, what types of things should I try to do?  Like I said, all feedback is welcome.  Thank you for your time, and looking forward to reading your responses and starting the conversation.

Best,

Joe Cannon

Yallop & Rochat....

Well it's been a crazy month here in MLS, especially on the West Coast.  Here in Vancouver, things are getting very interesting as well.  I just want to give a shout out to two men who are incredible professionals.  The first is someone I have to call one of the biggest influences on my career.  In 2001, Frank Yallop saw something in me.  The first time we sat down to discuss my future he told me that I had a lot of qualities great goalkeepers carried with them.  He then told me the thing I lacked to my game was consistency.  Over the course of my career, I've tried to take his advice to heart.  Although at times, I have made some mistakes, consistency was always a quality I strived for.

Later that year, Frank took our last place team and we became MLS Champs.  As I look back now, I was so lucky to have someone like Frank come into my life.  All in all, we spent six years together, or 40% of my career at this point.  I can honestly say Frank was the best coach I've ever played for.  His teams all play for him and I am sure that after leading a low budget San Jose team to the Supporter's Shield, he won't be out of a job for long.  I really wish Frank and his family the best for their future and can't wait for the day to see him back on top.

Here in Vancouver, we also lost another top pro.  Alain Rochat was a quality player and a great family man.  He had lots of friends in the locker room and ironically on the day he was traded, he was writing down driving directions to a team bar-b-q he was about to host.  Alain was not happy when he got to DC, and being from Europe, I can understand how a mid-season move without his approval might have felt.  Right or wrong, this is what we all sign up for in MLS.  I can't tell you how many friends I have been hanging out with one day, only to see them pack their things the next.  

As fans, I think we should try to understand that these are guys making thousands and maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars.  In some cases, it's a lot of money, but it's definitely not enough for most of us to retire on after our careers.  Moving across country is a huge deal because you have to deal with a new city, trying to make new friends away from soccer, trying to find a new place to shop, eat, hang out with your kids, get your hair cut and all the little things we do every day when we are "home".  

I want to wish Alain and his family all the best in their move to DC.  It's never easy seeing good people move on, but like I said, it's what we've all signed on for.

I know it's a tad long winded, but i just wanted to give a shout out to a couple of guys who are going through life changing events as I write.  Wish you both the best.

may the posts be with you....

Joe Cannon
mvlagk@gmail.com

CL final....

I'm gutted.  I really feel terrible right now.  Its not the terrible that will ruin my whole day, but rather I feel gutted for fellow goalkeeper Weidenfeller.  Today, he did everything he possibly could to keep his team in the game.  Sure his counterpart was also good, but my childhood hopes and beliefs still have me hanging on to what is right and what should happen.

I have played in several finals where I did my part, and things just did not work out.  It's an empty feeling as a goalkeeper.  It hurts because there are really only so many games you can have a big influence on.  When the time comes, and you make the big saves, it is heart wrenching when your team does not take home the title.  

Thus, even though we are alone as goalkeepers, we are together as a team.  It must be noted to all Gk's that you are really only as good as the guys in front of you.  Time and time again you can make saves, but there are shots and situations you are helpless and what are we to do?

I just want to give a huge shout out to Roman Weidenfeller.   There is a difference between winning and being a winner.  Today Roman, you are a winner.

may the posts be with you....

MLS expansion....

Yesterday was a huge day for Major League Soccer.  Not only did the league get to the elusive 20 team standard that was set by Garber himself, but they found themselves some very influential and deep pocketed partners.  The supposed investment is supposedly just under half a billion dollars with 100 million going to expansion and supposedly 340 million into the Stadium project.  I don't know about you guys, but that should be a pretty good looking stadium.

As expected, the opinions of fans have been very diverse.  Some fans wrote to me that they were afraid the team would become another one of MLS' favorites in which case, their team (OK, it was a Whitecap fan, so our team) would fall further down this imaginary MLS "pecking order".  

Others suggested that there were more "deserving" markets.  I really don't understand what criteria they used when they said more deserving, but it really doesn't matter.  They obviously don't understand a few things about business.  Or maybe they do, and I just don't understand their arguments.

In my life, I have come to realize some important things.  We all have set ideas of what should be.  Over 99% of your life, things that should be tend to just be things that are.  We struggle with the gap reality and idealism present and it is this struggle which seems to be a huge indicator or our character. Looking at the big picture helps and this is how I view NYFC.

As a player who played in this league with 12 teams, then down to ten, it is absolutely amazing to me that we will have a 20 team league.  In my earlier years, my fellow teammates and I would routinely joke about whether or not we are coming back after the offseason.  It wasn't because of how we did individually, but rather, if there was going to be the league.

In all honesty, looking back, the conclusion of Fraser vs MLS and the hiring of Don Garber have to be the two big catalysts in the emergence of our league.  I could also point to the origin of the MLS players union but the gains have been so limited that I'm not sure it has been the catalyst us players hoped it would be. 

In the big picture, more exposure is a great thing.  Are there markets more deserving?  YES.  Are there markets that need help?  YES!  But can you really say that for MLS this is a bad business decision??  NO CHANCE.  

The teams may have more competition for MLS attention but in the big picture, this will improve the league and in turn, each franchise.  The values of all teams have just been raised by yesterdays sale and regardless of where you stand, that has to be looked as a great thing.

We easily forget that there were owners parting with tons of money before this all happened and MLS is like any other business, it must make money or show potential to make money or it will otherwise die.  As a fan of the league and a player, I really think this will be one of the biggest moments in our brief history.

I know this is off the topic of goalkeeping....but I wanted to put in my two cents.  

On the topic of GK's.  Who will be NYFC's 1st goalkeeper?????

thanks for reading......

may the posts be with you...

MLS Result contest....

So I've been playing MLS for about 15 years now.  I feel so blessed that i've been able to do what I do.  So here's a little attempt at making tonight more interesting in some ways and giving back to one lucky fan!

Ok, so I'll be watching the MLS tonight, and I wanted to have a little fun.  For any of my followers who correctly pick all 6 results tonight, I will choose one of them to receive a free pair of soccer shoes or goalkeeper gloves.   I also ask that you choose the total number of goals scored throughout the night as a tie breaker in case we have many successful entries.  If there is still more than one winner, I will personally determine who win's the contest based on a coin toss or another random factor.  *

I wish everyone the best of luck.  Only 1 entry per person.  

Contest directions:  Via Twitter:  @JoeCannonGK1  

#1 Pick the result (Winner or tie )  per each Major League Soccer game.  

#2:  decide how many goals total will be scored in all games tonight 

Winner will be person who gets #1 correct and closest to #2  

If the total number of goals scored is 20, and one person chooses 19 and another one 21, I will go with the higher number.

*I have the sole discretion over every aspect of this contest, and can change rules at any time as I see fit.

If  no one correctly gets each game then there is a possibility of no winner or I may choose someone if they are closest.

Good Luck!

Entries must be tweeted out to me by 7pm East Coast time.

Champions League Semi #1....

Great game by both keepers today. Really impressed with both GK's. Weidenfeller and Lopez both stood on their heads. Weidenfeller was great today. Stayed big for a couple of huge saves and even when he did not get their first, his aggression helped save the game. Lopez played incredible under the circumstances and you have to feel for him.

For young goalkeepers, it's important to watch the decision making from the professional goalkeepers. The higher the level, the faster the play, the faster the decisions have to be made. Great day for soccer and a great day for goalkeepers.

may the posts be with you.....

Guzan....

So i've decided to start blogging more frequent. I won't do the same old ten paragraph essay, just try and provide little thoughts during the weeks. Today, I want to say how much I admire Brad Guzan and his performances this year. So many keepers get frustrated being a back up goalkeeper, however Brad did not. After returning on loan last year, he has come to be arguably Villa's best player (I know the Belgian is incredible, that's why I said arguably). His performances throughout the year kept his team rescuing points when all else would of been lost. Although it's not for certain, but Brad's play has been one of the main reasons Villa will survive and remain in the top flight.

Young goalkeepers should watch how Brad goes about his job. Distribution is crisp and technique on the spot. I am looking forward to him establishing himself at Villa in the near term and hopefully a move to a big time club in the long term. Great season for a great goalkeeper.

may the posts be with you.....

Heart of the matter....

So there has been a topic on my mind for some time now. Here in Vancouver, we have had the opportunity to work on the mental side of sport with a few different teachers. All have the same message, but very distinct styles and personal stories. The basic message is to focus on the process and the outcome will take care of itself.

As coaches, it is sometimes really tough to see where players are at in this aspect. You can tell them to come to you for help, but many are afraid to, or even worse, don't know they need it. However, my thoughts have not been on the utilization of positive imagery and the mental aspect, but rather our attempt at trying to quantify it.

I believe that trying to instill great performances using known methods are noble, but they can at times do more harm then good. Many athletes, including myself, who have tried to right their struggles in the mental game know all too well how hard it is to overcome such a hurdle. Imagine telling yourself not to think negatively about a play or a decision, but to focus on the positive. All good in theory, but you end up neglecting your feelings about the event in question and end up creating an even bigger mental hurdle.

I believe sports psychologists should be very careful when introducing new material to athletes. Mental training can be very helpful, but it needs to be practiced like every other skill or trait. I am not disagreeing with mental training at all, but when done halfheartedly, I truly believe it will be detrimental to the athlete.

From personal experience, I think there is something that mental psychologists overlook in their models. The X factor here is the will, determination and heart of an athlete. I will take an inspired athlete over a mentally trained one any day. You could make the argument that they are one in the same, but from my point of view, there is definitely a difference.

For example, when I was a child I was obsessed with college basketball, the NCAA tournament in particular. One year, a team from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles lost their star player, Hank Gathers. He collapsed on the court and died later that night. The team, coached by Paul Westhead, as well as the entire country of basketball fans, were shocked and saddened.

You would think this would devastate a team to lose their star player in such a traumatic way, causing such personal grief and a major emotional distraction for everyone associated with this tragedy. Although, to the country's surprise and my joy as a kid, the Lions played inspired basketball to make it into the country's Elite 8 teams. They upset Michigan and Alabama and were finally stopped by the best team in the country that year, UNLV.

Ever since this run, I have always wondered about the effect of inspiration on sport. The determination as a group to collectively channel this energy was absolutely mind blowing and incredible.

This determination and desire to succeed can also be found in individuals. Of course, not everyone will be in the same situation as LMU, but many athletes have overcome emotional, psychological, and physical hurdles to achieve success. What drives them? What creates champions?

So at this point, you're probably thinking where am I going with this? It's a fair question and here is my answer. As coaches we cannot overlook the determined and driven player when trying to put players on a field or make selections for the team. As a player, we cannot underestimate how this quality will affect our success.

John Wooden would study the background of players as far as what kind of environment they were from. He believed that certain characters shared similar qualities. I believe the same.

To be the best and to achieve success, you have to ignore all the BS and distractions and focus on your goals. It sounds so simple but is it really?

What is your response when the coach says you're not good enough to play goalkeeper? When other teams highly touted coaches call you "weak sauce"? Or when a younger teammate of yours calls you a "has been"?

What is your response when you don't get drafted into the big leagues and have to play for peanuts in front of small crowds? What is your response when you get benched? What is your response when the local media ignore your great plays and point out your mistakes? What is your response when someone tells you that you are too slow, too short, too weak?

As a goalkeeper, what is your response when your rival goalkeeper on your club team scores on you in a big high school game? What is your response when you are told you will never be that good? What is your response when you can't get a scholarship to college? What is your response to a bad goal?

Every one of these situations has happened to me and I'm sure it's happened to a lot of my peers. The goalkeepers who have had great careers in MLS are mostly guys who have gone through these types of challenges. As a goalkeeper, or any player, study the history of guys like Matt Reis, John Busch, Zach Thornton, Kevin Hartman, and Nick Rimando. Success stories can also be seen from players like Preston Burpo, Troy Perkins, Pat Onstad and even my old field playing friend, Jimmy Conrad.

The best example in our league today is the story of Chris Wondolowski. He is a guy who went from a developmental contract to a Designated Player. I've had the opportunity to work with Chris and everyone will tell you that he has the desire and work ethic of a champion.

Yes, your thoughts dictate your self image. But your heart, will, and determination give it substance.

I have been so blessed to see these role models prove skeptics wrong over the years, and mention them so you can learn from them as well. I know we have all been exposed to mental training at some point. However, most champions know that practice cannot be replicated in your mind, you have to get off your rear and put the work in on the field.

May the posts be with you....


Joe

mvlagk@gmail.com

random thoughts....

So it's been a few weeks since i've posted anything. I think during the season its tough to come on and feel like i'm giving valuable insight or anything worthy to write about. There are so many topics and subjects which I think about and inspire me. However, being apart of a team and a league, it is also important for me to keep perspective and not get a head of myself.

Tim Howard recently discovered broken bones in his back and is out for the next two qualifiers. Reading MLS website and other twitter followers, there was a lot of controversy who would take over. I really don't know why. It's almost too obvious and sometimes I wonder if media creates controversy just to rile up their readers. Guzan is clearly the next in line. He plays in the top league in the world.

I was also surprised to see Don Garber give a time line for when he would like to see MLS become one of the world's greats. It's a nice ambition but it's all talk and ten years down the line is so far that when the time comes, what are really the consequences of this statement? (project 2010 anyone?) Don't get caught up into stats the league throws when trying to compare our league to any others. Apples and Oranges.

As a player, I hope the league backs this up with guaranteed salaries for all players after their first year and keep options in line with the rest of the world. Every rookie should get housing paid for as well..... especially in expensive markets like here in Vancouver, San Jose, DC, etc.

On this topic though, I've been watching a lot of MLS games lately and really impressed with the style of play in most instances. We have come so far in such a short time, but like most growth curves, the challenge to get the league to the next level seems bigger than ever. Lackluster ratings, weak markets and minimal interest from the general sports fans are just the start.

There have been so many rants and raves about the commentators, that I won't even bother. I really have no clue how to drive television interest in our game. I know the league takes a lot of pride in employing such great individuals. On the whole however, our league comes across as Vanilla and cliche. The new infusion of personalities in the coaching world needs to be mirrored on the field. There are lots of great guys but how do we make great guys interesting? I wish I had more time to devote to this problem. Can we all agree to just bring Ray Hudson back??

Back to my job, the Whitecaps have started 2-0 and we've only given up a goal. The team looks really good this year and if we can continue to grow and come together, this is going to be a great year for us. It's been refreshing being out on the field again, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The players feel like my kids and I don't even have any. The happiest times are literally hanging in the locker room and enjoying the camaraderie with the guys. I will miss this more than anything, and it's sad, because I know this.

Every day I walk into the locker room trying to create more memories. It's going by too fast. My old friend Darren Huckerby said that soccer players are like "two ships passing in the night". You see one another then move on in your careers. He was a great guy and a pretty big boat in my life.

I won't bore you by going down memory lane, but I will tell you that I feel personally responsible for our team this year. I love our group, our energy and the mix of youth and veterans. It's fun to watch but just incredible to be a part of. I feel so blessed every day.

This year i'm literally trying to get my bearings for the future. I'm considering going back to school to further my education. It's been so long. Being married now, you have to think about more than yourself. My wife and I miss our family back in the Bay Area, but we are thriving here in Vancouver. It's a really incredible city and in all honesty, it's an extended paid vacation for me. I can't begin to tell you how lucky I feel these days.

Thanks for reading.

& may the posts be with you....


Joe

College dreams & the off season....

College dreams and the off season...

Hey friends and fellow GK's,

Sorry it has been so long but I was back in California for the offseason, went to a couple bachelor parties, made a few trips, and got married. Wasn't really in the mode to chat soccer, but now that I'm back in Vancouver, I wanted to write a few thoughts down.

Recently, I have received some emails asking what high school kids can do to play college soccer. Although it seems a fairly simple question, the answers are sometimes not so simple. The first thing one must do is to realistically view themselves. Do I have a chance at playing? If so, what level? Have I been contacted by anyone? Has someone ever recommended college?

So you think you have a shot huh? Well there are a few basic things that all students should do to have the best options to play at the college level. First, you have to study. I look back on my high school days and wish I would have put a little more time and energy into my schoolwork. There were so many colleges where I did not have the opportunity to play because of my grades. Right away, I closed a few doors. Secondly, you have to currently be playing soccer at a competitive level. Of course there are always exceptions, but for the most part, coaches are looking at players from all over the country (sometimes the world) to fill out their rosters. Like everything else in life, the higher you go up in level, the more competitive the field becomes. To help yourself out, make a list of colleges you would like to attend. Dream colleges, back up schools, interesting places that you could see yourself going and being happy.

The next step is to simply write to the coaches of those schools. Let them know you are interested. This will go a long way. Coaches have no clue who to recruit at times and the last thing they want to do is waste time trying to recruit someone who is not even interested in their school. When I was younger, I had a lot of pride and waited for coaches to contact me. I look back and realize how foolish I was. Don't make the same mistakes I made.

Also, make sure that you have on file a highlight tape that includes a few minutes of you in games. Be very selective with the highlights. Make them relevant to what you want to show. Try not to show you kicking the ball a thousand times and then making 3 saves. Coaches want to see you making good decisions and manifesting good technique. Ask a current coach or someone who has played in college to give you more direction. Or you can just send me a link to your videos and I can give a quick summary. You may have to wait awhile though..haha

The next topic I want to touch on is the offseason. For younger players, this is usually the summer, but nowadays, it's different all over. If you are really serious about your dream of playing soccer in college or professionally, the offseason is not a time to waste just vacationing and playing video games. Although I did my fair share of that as a youngster, I was also very keen on trying to find people to play with and find games. If you're a bit older, you can lift, do plyometrics and basically work on getting stronger. Ask your coach or trainer what they would like to see you work on and just do it!! (Nike reference ;-)

There was an old saying at the St. Francis High School weight room. It went something like this: "When you are not training, there is someone out there who is. And when you meet them, they will win." It pretty much tells you the story. You have to want it more than anyone else. Throw out skill and technique, and give me a kid with desire. It is easier to take these motivated kids and work out the other stuff. In saying that, these motivated kids tend to also be students of the game.

Here in Canada, our younger players in the Whitecaps Academy live and breathe soccer. They train almost daily in hopes of realizing there dreams to play soccer professionally. What will happen when you face these kids?? Your work ethic and determination are the only answers to that question.

Best Wishes and

may the posts be with you....


Joe Cannon