Keep The Game Beautiful

JP Dellacamera is known as a professional play-by-play sportscaster who specializes in soccer and hockey. He can regularly be heard covering MLS games on Fox Soccer. His experiences have taken him around the world, but he loves to stay true to his American roots by relying on the terminology that we use to connect with the game. Although this was a quick episode at the United Soccer Coaches 2023 Convention in Philadelphia (#PHL23) there is a lot of really good information in it. I’m excited to share with you a bit of what I learned, including some of his prep and what got him into broadcasting in the first place.

Sam Martinez is a FIFA Referee who is currently living in Southern California. She joins Keep The Game Beautiful in this episode recorded at the United Soccer Convention in Philadelphia (#PHL23). In addition to talking about her journey we talk about ways to gain confidence, the importance of seeing females in the sport as officials, and in developing and creating opportunities for those around us. After a long break this is a great episode to bring the Podcast back for a special Episode #100!

Kim Crabbe is well known as the first African American player on the US Women's National Team. Before joining the team she played in her youth in Virginia and would attend George Mason University where her team won the NCAA Championship. She is a well respected youth coach who has won numerous honors for her work. She is dedicated to bringing the game to the grassroots level and creates programs that reach youth who may not have had access to soccer otherwise.

Bayonle Arashi immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 2015. He brought with him a lifetime passion for soccer and quickly connected with the game as a soccer official when he settled in the US. He combined his love of the game and his background in broadcasting to laucnh Midas Football Academy and ScoutBallers, LLC. He strives to help players understand pathways that exist and the hard work that it takes for players to pursue their dreams of living and playing the beautiful game.

Esse Baharmast as a young boy in Iran dreamed of playing soccer in the Olympics. He did make it to the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, not as a player but as a referee. He would have an extensive career serving in multiple Olympic and FIFA World Cup competitions as a referee, an assessor, mentor, instructor, and more. He has served FIFA, Concacaf, US Soccer, and continues to work today in his home state association of Colorado.

Esse Baharmast received the Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award from United Soccer Coaches and has been elected to the US Soccer Hall of Fame.

Kick It Forward is an Iowa based non-profit organization that strives to be positive disruptors to the soccer community. In this episode I learn from long time volunteers of the organization Ben Brackett and Blake Siberz exactly what this means. Learn about how Kick It Forward is bringing soccer to more players without consideration of ability to pay, creating safe spaces to play with hard surface mini pitch courts, and raising awareness of high school soccer.

Amy Griffin is a former US Women’s National Team goalkeeper from the 1991 World Cup Championship team. She played at the University of Central Florida and served in a variety of coaching roles at both the youth and collegiate level. Today she coaches for OL Reign’s Youth Academy, is President of the Girls Academy, and is the Head Coach for the USA Deaf Soccer Women’s National Team.

Coach Ozzie White has been connected to the game his entire life. Growing up as a son of a high level coach he set his aspirations early. Ozzie has coached at many levels of the game yet he remains passionate about grassroots soccer and connecting new players into the sport.

Kevin Sims is the Past President of United Soccer Coaches and first started to volunteer with the association in the 1980's. Kevin has coached for forty five years, with much of that time being at the high school level. He has coached college, club, and ODP earning many recognitions along the way. He grew up as the son of a coach and knew that teaching and coaching would be a big part of his life. He is an alumni of the University of Virginia where he played soccer for four years.

Sue Vodicka has coached soccer for over thirty years at the youth and collegiate levels. We talk about her journey as a coach and some of the things she learned along the way. We discuss her early days as her mother worked to create opportunity for female athletes to play soccer. We talked briefly about work ethic and how she empowers her athletes as a coach at Shattuck St. Mary today.

This episode I talk with Jed Eichorn of Little Sports Torts. Jed knew that he wanted to be a coach as he saw the impact that positive role models had on his life. After working in Parks & Recreation he took his skills and started a business working with day care providers to bring sports to the kids they care for. He is currently finishing his second book "Little Sports Torts Fundamentals: Learn To Play Soccer" via Kickstarter. You can learn more about his Kickstarter at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/littlesportstorts/little-sports-torts-fundamentals-learn-to-play-soccer

Geoff VanDeusen who will become the CEO of United Soccer Coaches on January 1st returns to Keep The Game Beautiful to talk about the upcoming United Soccer Coaches REUNITED 2022 Convention in Kansas City. This year the event will be extra special as it has been a while since we've all been together. In addition this convention introduces a new Referee Summit priced at only $99!

Manya Puppione is the head coach at George Mason University. As a player she won multiple youth and high school awards and was a member of the US Women’s National Teams for the U-19, U-21, and U-23 ages. She played at Arizona State University before starting her professional career which included playing in the WPS, NWSL, Iceland, and Finland where she still holds the league record for goals scored. Manya and I spend time talking about her style of coaching, how she helps players in tough times, and her own struggles with injuries, including concussions.

Trip Neil is a board member and past president of USA Deaf Soccer Association and is involved with Powersense in Dallas, Texas. Trip is the captain of the US Deaf National Team and played at Johns Hopkins University where he first learned about deaf soccer. We talk not only about the challenges that deaf and hard of hearing athletes might face but about other great things happening in other adaptive and inclusive soccer programs.

Aidan Reagh began using analytics in the sport of lacrosse as a youth, he began coaching, and then brought his skills to soccer. He continued to develop ways that data could be used to improve performance. Even when using this information he remains committed to remembering the importance of people first.

Coach Matt Ream of Des Moines Soccer Club is someone I've known for a few years now since we first met at a United Soccer Coaches Open Training Week session. He has coached adult amateur, college, club soccer, and at Roosevelt High School. He shares some of the moments where he had to fall in love with the game again and a bit of what drives his passion as a coach.

Dave DiIanni is the Women's Soccer Coach at University of Iowa. In this last season his team faced many challenges in adjusting to COVID and after a rough start had an amazing finish which included winning their first Big Ten Championship.

Jordan McMahon (Jordan Bishop) grew up playing in Texas before playing at Iowa State. As an athlete she had the opportunity to continue playing for the Des Moines Menace and with the Boston Breakers. She returned to Iowa and began coaching even developing into a Director of Coaching role and mentoring others. Today she is a coach for Vision Soccer Academy (VSA) with academy aged players.

Sarah Lowdon recently joined the staff of Penn State Women's Soccer. Prior to her current role she was with the Florida Gators Soccer program and wrote the book A Desk And A Chair highlighting some of the things she learned from Becky Burleigh. We talk about leadership, confidence, and more in this episode.

Lisa Cole has a strong established reputation as a soccer coach. She has helped to develop and lead efforts for United Soccer Coaches related to Goal Keeper Instruction while leading Antigua and Barbuda Women's football. She strives for equity and to create a welcoming environment where all are welcome. She is a former college coach and was part of the Boston Breakers at a time when the Women's league was first growing in the US.

Pete Nowakowski joins me from Australia. He is an advocate and coach for adaptive and inclusive soccer serving both blind and deaf athletes. He also is a big fan of Women's football and has done media work to grow recognition of the game. 

Emma Morris is the head coach at Bethany Lutheran College (D3 Minnesota). Today on the podcast we talk about how an ACL injury when she was 14 led her to start officiating, some of the development milestones that she participated in as a referee in England, and about how she came into coaching in the United States. 

Staci Wilson is a club soccer coach and strength and conditioning coach. She has frequently led sessions at United Soccer Coaches conventions and continues to give back to the game. She not only won three National Championships as part of the University of North Carolina soccer program but she also earned co-National Player of the Year. She would go on to compete with the US Womens National Team and was part of the 1996 Olympic Gold team.

Tanner Krause started working at the family business Kum & Go when he was nine years old, today he is the CEO. Kum & Go is very active with human rights projects and supporting programming related to Black Lives Matter, and Gay and Trans rights. Tanner still plays soccer today and hopes to return to coaching soon. He grew up enjoying the sport and played through his college years at Loyola University. I enjoyed learning about how soccer helped to prepare him for his role today.

Abbie Metz is the head coach of the new Women's Soccer program at Black Hawk College in Illinois, part of the Quad Cities. She attended Black Hawk College as a student before going on to Saint Ambrose University where she also played as an athlete. She has coached for Sporting Iowa East. We talk about what it's like to start a program in a pandemic and some of the things that keeper her grounded as a coach including faith and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Sarah Dwyer-Shick has coached AYSO recreational soccer through ODP and beyond. As a coach she has built a strong network and had opportunities to go around the world. On one trip she learned about the importance first hand of female athletes not having access to Sports Bras and other basic necessities. Today the organization she founded, Sports Bra Project raises awareness and collects sports bras for those in need in the US and beyond.

Charlie Ochoa is the head coach of the new Black Hawk College program as well as the head coach of Davenport West. Before coaching in the NJCAA he was a goal keeper at Scott Community College and played one year at St. Ambrose University. We talk about what it is like to start a program during a pandemic, about goalkeepers, and of the recruitment process.

Dr. Missy Price is the Head Coach of Wellesley College Women's Soccer and the President of United Soccer Coaches. She has been active in the game in a variety of ways and been a strong advocate for players and coaches alike. She earned her PhD and Masters in Sports Psychology with an undergrad degree in kinesiology.

Dan Rothert coached collegiately for over twenty years at Loras College earning an impressive 516-213-51 record, multiple conference championships, Five NCAA Final Fours and a National Runner-Up title. This past year he started Top Student-Athlete Recruiting and is working to provide resources to help athletes pursue college playing opportunities in soccer and other sports. He has started to officiate and continues to serve youth soccer through the low cost Key City Soccer Association.

Tikeh Tazeh is a 12 year old author who I interviewed during United Soccer Coaches Convention this January. During the pandemic he decided to write a book, Hat Trick, about a youth player his own age. Thank you to Duktig Brand and SoccerChat for joining me on this episode!

Margaret Domka is a former FIFA Referee who is currently pursuing her PhD at Clemson University. While pusuing her referee career she also was a full time Spanish teacher. We talk about her journey, the importance of finding mentors, and setting goals.

Kirsten Windbiel is currently a Graduate Assistant at Clemson University where she works on disability and veteran soccer programming. We met in December when she helped to coordinate the first ever US Soccer Disability Awareness month. We talk about how she gained a love of the game playing with the Milwaukee Soccer Club and Northshore United before continuing at Winona State University. 

Kaitlin Kelly is a high school coach and has been a long time staff coach for Stan Anderson's Camp Shutout. We talk about her experiences as a former camper, what it is like to be a part of Stan's team, and her time as a Graduate Assistant at Wayne State College in Nebraska. Kaitlin also shares her experiences volunteer coaching in Jamaica and what the sport and opportunity means to athletes.

Sue Moynihan is the Marketing Director for Keeper Goals, her family business. Sue is an accomplished soccer coach and has dedicated herself to creating opportunities for women through the Wisconsin Women's Soccer Advisory Council. She started her coaching career at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee she coached at Purdue and helps with the University of Utah program. She coached youth, was a Director of Coaching, and frequently worked for the Regional and State ODP organizations.

Jaimee Cooper is a dietician who specializes in supporting female soccer athletes. We talk about how important it is to think of food as fuel and of giving your body what it needs and the impact on performance and recovery.

Rachel Breton is a retired professional ahtlete who played for Sky Blue as well as in Norway. Today she remains active as a soccer coach, strength and conditioning coach, as well as in marketing, social media and operations roles. 

Jen Brooks is the Athletic Director for Ursuline Academy in St. Louis. She was a multisport athlete in high school and college. She is passionate about growing women and girls as coaches and founded the Global Community of Women in High School Sports. She also hosts a podcast Time Out with Jen Brooks. 

Lisa Berg is the Assistant Coach for Women's Soccer at Bethel University. She has been active in the program Growing The Game For Girls where she has helped athletes in Uganda and twenty other countries. She is very active with the ODP program and developing other coaches.

Susie Petruccelli is the author of Raised a Warrior which provides an insight into her experiences playing soccer as a young woman, through her years playing at Harvard, and to ways that we can continue to advocate for women in sports. She is an advocate and someone who pushes for change to create more opportunity and supports projects such as Equal Playing Field and is a producer of Warriors of a Beautiful Game.

Skye Eddy Bruce is the founder of Soccer Parenting Association, a Coach, Coach Educator, and former Goal Keeper. We talk about her leadership in each of these areas as well as why Goalkeepers tend to have leadership qualities and traits. 

Lynn Berling-Manuel is the CEO of United Soccer Coaches. Prior to this role she served as a board member of the organization and worked as both the CEO of Soccer America and as the Chief Marketing Officer for AYSO, one of the largest sports organizations in the world. She talks openly about her mentors and some of the ways she has established her presence as a leader. We also talk briefly about the United Soccer Coaches Convention that will be virtual this year, January 11th-15th. 

Sam Ugulava is a lifelong fan of the game of soccer and played through her years at Grove City College. At the age of 19 she was inspired to start a college recruiting application, Profile Passer. Since then she has continued to serve the game of soccer, been an advocate for the role of women in sport, and helped to co-found Techne Futbol. She gives back willingly to others as a commitment she made to the mentors who helped her along the way.

Adriana Contreras is a California based referee and a swim coach. Today she helps to mentor and helps college referees connect with one another through helping to manage NISOA Social Media. We talk about her journey to get her where she is now and how tenacity and grit can help both referees and swimmers that she works with.

Dean Linke is a sportscaster and announcer that has been in sports media for over thirty years. He has covered a variety of sports but is a very well known voice for soccer. He has worked with the US National Teams, many colleges and leagues, the NC Courage, and more.

Coach Lesle Gallimore spent 26 years leading the program at University of Washington. After ending her tenure as a college coach she joined the Girls Academy as the Commissioner in their inaugural season and working with the organization to save soccer for approximately 7000 females.

Tori Penso became the first women in twenty years to officiate an MLS match. We talk a little bit about this special game, some of her mentors in officiating, and ways she continues to give back and grow other officials. In addition to officiating NWSL and other professional games, Tori also serves as NISOA's Managing Director.

Don Williams was a college soccer coach for 22 years across multiple divisions of the sport. Today he helps athletes find their right college fit through his work at Sports Recruiting USA. He is passionate about helping schools and players align and has some great tips on recruiting and ways to make the process work best for everyone.

Becky Burleigh is the head coach for women's soccer at the University of Florida. She has led the Gators program for over twenty five years and coached for over thirty years. Her team has won a national championship and numerous conference championships. She is very active in terms of giving back to the game and developing other coaches, as well as getting her players ready for their futures both in soccer and in life.

Vince Ganzberg is the Education Content Creator for United Soccer Coaches. In this role he not only teaches the content but he also helps to build new courses, work with new styles and formats of teaching, and leading coach dialogue such as Match Day. He has worked in similar roles for US Soccer and coached at all levels of the game with much of his time being in a high school setting.