Players when you think you are not being given a chance to prove yourself?

Gordon Strachan has told Celtic's disgruntled stars they only have themselves to blame if they are being left out of his starting XI.
The Hoops boss is adamant every one of his players is given the chance to prove they should be a fixture in the first team each day during training.
He said in the Evening Times: "People have to remember, I watch training every day, and I notice players who are working well.
"I hear some saying, 'I'm not getting a chance'. Well, you do get a chance. I see you every day. I see your fitness. I see your commitment, I see your mental strength, I see your drive.
"I have never missed training since I came here. I make sure I see every session. And I can sniff out if players are at it or not."
Strachan has made maximum use of his squad this season, a policy that has led to criticism in some quarters that he needs to have a settled line-up.
There were seven changes for Tuesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup victory over Livingston, including Massimo Donati being handed his first appearance of the season.
The Italian midfielder failed to shine in an otherwise impressive team display and was withdrawn just past the hour mark.
And while Strachan has assured his players they will get more than one chance to impress, he refused to guarantee Donati another game any time soon.
"The likes of Tuesday will never be considered make-or-break nights for anyone," Strachan confirmed.
"Massimo's best stuff was done attacking wise. He was driving forward and getting into good positions.
"He just needs to tidy up one or two little things in the middle of the park. That comes with games. But is he going to get games? I don't know."

Soccer Americas Top 25 Womens's weekend results

There was just one change in the top seven spots in the Soccer America Women's Top 25 rankings -- Stanford and UCLA changed places at No. 2 and No. 3. Texas A&M moved up two spots to No. 8, while Duke and West Virginia cracked the top 10. For this week's complete Soccer America Women's Top 25 ...

Soccer Americas Top 25 Men's weekend results

Preseason No. 1 Wake Forest remains in the top spot in the Soccer America Men's Top 25 followed by St. John's and Saint Louis. For this week's complete Soccer America Men's Top 25 ...

International Player Draft for new women's (WPS) professional league.

Four of the first five selections in the initial WPS International Draft were Brazilians. The Bay Area team selected former W-League star Formiga with the No. 1 pick. FIFA World Player of the Year Marta was taken by Los Angeles with the No. 3 pick. Daniela (St. Louis) and Cristiane (Chicago) were also taken in the first round.

Soccer America's Top 25, Women

With conference play heating up in many parts of the country, Thursday becomes a big night in women's soccer. Thursday matchups include Florida State-Virginia and Duke-Boston College. A non-conference match to watch: Santa Clara-UCLA. For this week's Soccer America Women's Top 25 results and schedules,,,,,,,,,

Soccer America's Top 25, Men's College game of the week

No. 1 Wake Forest travels to No. 3 Maryland Friday in one of the most anticipated matches of the season (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 8 pm ET). No. 2 Connecticut also plays at No. 6 St. John's. For this week's Soccer America Men's Top 25 results and schedules .......

Arsene Wenger of Aresenal

Arsene Wenger's notes to his team on team spirit and humility

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/3698706.Gunners_boss_unhappy_about_leaked_document/

Confidential
Team meeting 19th September 2008

The Team:
A team is as strong as the relationships within it.

The driving force of a team is its member's ability to create and maintain excellent relationships within the team that can add an extra dimension and robustness to the team dynamic.

This attitude can be used by our team to focus on the gratitude and the vitally impor tant benefits that the team brings to our own lives. It can be used to strengthen and deepen the relationships within it and ma ximise the opportunities that await a strong and united team.

Our team becomes stronger by:
Displaying a positive attitude on and of f the pitch

Every one making the right decisions for the team

Have an unshakeable belief that we can achieve our target

Believe in the strength of the team

Always want more - always give more

Focus on our communication

Be demanding with yourself

Be fresh and well prepared to win

Focus on being mentally stronger and always keep going to the end

When we play away from home, believe in our identity and play the football we love to play at home

Stick together

Stay grounded and humble as a player and as a person

Show the desire to win in all that you do

Enjoy and contribute to all that is special about being in a team - don't take it for granted.

Skill Skool - Africa

Winner stops on in a juggling contest in Africa. Got to love the little guy, West Brom shirt with Aston Villa shorts. The grass looks like old PA Park last year. DW

Rush Festival - My Experience

My name is Kylee Kohl and, at just 12 years old, I recently had the opportunity to participate in an amazing experience, the first ever Rush Soccer Festival for U12 girls and boys. It took place in Lincoln, Nebraska. To most people this seemed like an unusual place to have a soccer friendly, but for this event it was the perfect place. Rush teams from all over the country gathered together to play soccer. The 8 girls and 29 boys from Virginia Rush Soccer Club, where I play, began their journey when they boarded the plane to Nebraska. Since there were only 8 girls from my team going, we joined forces with another group of Rush players from Arkansas. This was an interesting experience to play with a brand new team also be coached by a brand new coach. We all had to adjust quickly to Arkansas technique and our Hawaiian Coach Ari’s technique. Everyday we competed against a new team from a new state. Along with daily games, we also had training and classroom sessions. Training was different every day. First we had team training. That gave us a chance to get to know our new Arkansas team mates. The next day we had position training. I attended mid field training with at least 4 coaches who were there to help us become better midfielders. This was not only a great opportunity for the players but also the coaches who had a chance to get together from all over the country and share coaching techniques. Then we had classroom sessions. Each day we sat in a big open room and listened to some amazing soccer experts, like Dave Dengerink from Virginia Beach, talk and teach about different topics like good sportsmanship. They showed videos and even brought in guest speakers.

But not only do I feel this Festival has benefited me as a soccer player, but as a person as well. Off the field at the hotel, I made so many new friends with players from all over the country. After a tiring day of playing as hard as we could, we would return to the hotel or go have fun and hang out with other teams at local places. One night we had an ice cream social, another night we went to an arcade/go cart place. The night we first arrived we went to the local Cornhusker Marriott for a welcoming ceremony. We were introduced to the staff and our Coach Ari. I am proud to say that the Virginia Club was represented by the largest group of boys and girls. During dinner, we were surprised with a visit from a professional soccer player, David “Wags”, who plays for FC Dallas. We all got pictures and autographs as well as some great soccer advice. Later in the week, we went to a captains meeting where we did exercises and learned how to be a great leader for our team. On the last night in Nebraska, Coach Matt Dacey took us all on a walk around downtown Lincoln. He wanted us to visit the Cornhusker Stadium and see what it would feel like to be a “Big Timer.” I got to see a Heisman Trophy up close. Later that night, we packed our things and said goodbye to all our new friends. The next morning we all boarded the plane. We were all sad that we would be leaving all of our new friends.

In my opinion, this experience helped the Virginia Rush girls and boy’s teams build especially close friendships. We have continued our friendships since we have returned home and enjoy cheering at each others games and saying hello as we pass each other at our local soccer complex. It makes us feel even more a part of this incredible Rush family. I feel this Nebraska trip was definitely a once in a life time opportunity to increase my soccer skills and build memories to last a lifetime. I am excited for the rising U13’s who will have the opportunity to have this experience next year. I feel proud to have been a part of something that will make Rush history and in a couple of years it will still feel amazing to be able to say I was a part of the Nebraska experience and to know I helped to make this event a success. I feel this is something all soccer clubs should experience. Your players will come back prepared for huge soccer tournaments and they will learn to be responsible and trusted by learning to be independent away from home. It is an opportunity to improve not only as a player but to grow as a person as well!

Catch up on the latest college soccer news!

Read the

VA Rush TOPSoccer Program Now in Full Swing!

Virginia Rush TOPSoccer program kicked off last Saturday with an awesome turnout of 18 Rush Thunder players on the southside and 12 players on the peninsula. Coaches and staff were on-hand to greet each player and give them a brand new ball for their upcoming Thunder season. Buddies, who are VA Rush players, teamed up with the Thunder players to practice some skills and have a great time. The next session is Saturday, September 20th from 2-3 pm on Field 6 of the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex on the southside and from 2-3pm at Cooper Elementary on the peninsula. (Session dates 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/18, and 10/25). Players will get their official Thunder t-shirts at the 9/20 session and team pictures on the southside will be taken on 9/27 at 1pm before the regular TOPSoccer session. If you haven't signed your player up yet, it's not too late! We are still accepting players. For more information on signing up your player or to sign up your team (U13 and up) to be buddies contact judi@varush.com on the southside or steve@varush.com on the peninsula. (Picture is from our Spring TOPSoccer season.)

Elite GK/Finishing Training

The elite GK and finishing session is still going to take place tonight, 9/16. Please check back at 7:00 for any change in plans.

Brad Friedel's PSA Tournament Championship Highilights

Check the highlights of the PSA Finals! RUSH Select XI vs. Blackburn Rovers. Virginia Rush's Alex Vaughn, Trey Saunders and Richard Diaz all play a role in one of the biggest tournament wins in Rush History

US SOCCER WIRE

US National Teams updates from the US Soccer Wire

COLLEGE SOCCER TOP 25 MEN

COLLEGE SOCCER TOP 25 WOMEN

Kristin Carden receives Wake Forest All Tournament Team honors

Kristin Carden received all Wake Tournament honors after leading VA Tech to two wins this past weekend. Kristin recorded a 3-0 shutout against Cal State Fullerton and a 5-1 win against UNC C.

2008 Wake Forest Nike Tournament All-Tournament Team Hailey Beam - Charlotte
Kristin Carden - Virginia Tech Bianca D'Agostino - Wake ForestCamelyn Dillon - Wake ForestJenae Gibbons - Cal State FullertonBess Harrington - Wake ForestJennifer Harvey - Virginia TechEmily Jukich - Virginia TechDanielle Mayeaux - CharlotteLaura Morse - Wake ForestLaurie Beth Puglisi - Virginia TechCasey Schostag - Cal State Fullerton=

Rush Alum Sean Flatley scores versus UCLA

Rush Alum Sean Flatley scored the game tying goal for Maryland versus UCLA to help the Terps to an overtime win over the Bruins. The game was played at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Dullea playing for VCU

Kristin Carden Earn First Start with Virginia Tech

Referee?

Is the referee in the picture about to give himself a red card for a dangerous two footed tackle?

State Cup Schedule - September 13

Virgina Rush teams are playing in VYSA State Cup games this Saturday:

HRSC13 @ 10am - U15G Nike versus Swoosh1
HRSC14 @ 10am - U18B Nike versus Rush Pen. Predators
HRSC14 @ 12pm - U16B Nike versus Herndon Blackhawks
HRSC14 @ 2pm - U17G Swoosh versus SYC Liberty
HRSC14 @ 4pm - U15B Nike versus Loudon 93B Red

Chinn Park1 @ 1pm - U15G LMVS Patriots versus Pen Tides

Bryan Park @ 3pm - U16G Richmond Kickers Elite versus Swoosh

USSDA Games - September 13

The Virginia Rush USSDA (United States Soccer Development Academy) U16 and U18 boys play the Richmond Kickers Academy this Saturday at HRSC.

3:00pm - U16

5:00pm - U18

Hull City Academy Head2Head

Premier League newcomers Hull City have two of their Academy players square off in a juggling showdown. Don't try this one with your cleats on. DW

Technical Skill Breakdown with Mia Hamm

This link was forwarded to me by one of our coaches, Mike Taylor. It shows some good technical breakdowns of different skills on the site; this one is how to execute the scissors move. The full site address is http://sportskool.com/sports/soccer.



Notice how Mia dribbles in the opening clip, and how she dribbles when she attacks space to execute the move. She has her toe down and pushes it ahead of her out front, at the top of her stride. The ball doesn't get underneath her hips when she attacks space. This is "running with the ball". All of our youth players should be proficient in this technique.



MF

Alum Julian Johnson Sets VT Assist Record

Congrats to VA Rush Alum Julian Johnson breaking the career assist record at Virginia Tech, as she assisted on the first goal against Davidson.

Financing A College Education

Read Paul White's article, in The Virginia-Pilot, on the realities of scholarships monies, especially full athletic scholarships.

Here are a couple of Newsweek articles on the trends, realities and strategies in regards to financing a college education:

Jane Bryant Quinn, Newsweek, "College Needn't Bankrupt You"
Arian Campo-Flores: "A Financial Earthquake"

The most important lessons? Don't bank on athletic money; hard work and good grades can be highly (financially and otherwise) rewarding.

Barnsley Academy Head2Head

Barnsley FC Academy players juggling comp. Best one yet me thinks. DW

9/5 DOC Canceled

Youth boys and girls DOC to be held tonight, 9/5 at 5:30 is canceled due to weather. Stay dry and safe this weekend!

2008 Fun Fours Cancelled

The 08 Va Rush Fun Fours & Carnival canceled due to tropical storm Hanna!

Worst team ever?

Whenever you are having a bad day on the soccer field, just think about these players? Some of the Rush staff might have to go on a special mission to get Hoffy's goalkeeper shirt back. A gatorade to the first person that can name the 3 players shown in the studio at the end. DW

Virginia Rush U15 Men Dominate Nike Jr Friendlies

The U15 Nike men won 4 of 4 matches this Labor Day weekend at the Nike Jr Friendlies event in Richmond. The Virginia Rush also sent the U13 and U14 boys and girls Nike teams as well as the U15 Nike women. The event hosted local teams such as Legacy and the Strikers as well as other Nike clubs from across the country. Other Rush clubs in attendance included Michigan, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania.

Head 2 Head - Aberdeen FC Academy

Aberdeen FC Academy players go head 2 head juggling. Little bit of retro breakdancing thrown in (I remember the days at the local disco). DW