February 27, 2005

US Youth Soccer National adidas Workshop & Coaching Convention is "Above and Beyond Expectations"

The Utah Youth Soccer Association was the host organization for the 2005 US Youth Soccer National adidas Workshop & Coaching Convention, which took place February 17-19 at the Salt Palace. The event is the largest youth sports convention in the country and benefits administrators, coaches, parents, referees, and soccer enthusiasts alike.

Throughout the conference, seminars were given on every topic, from addressing player burnout and dropout, to how to mentor referees, to mediation and dispute resolution. Leading clinicians covered over one hundred topics in the areas of coaching and player development, club and league development, association management, business, health and social issues. Demonstrating sessions also took place ranging from on field tactics and techniques to goalkeeping games.

"It was an honor and our pleasure to host the 2005 US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop and Coaches Convention in Salt Lake City," said Greg Maas State technical director of Utah Youth Soccer. "Without question, US Youth Soccer continues to raise the bar and provide a first-class event for our coaches, administrators and referees from around the country."

The Adidas Coach of the Year Dinner took place on Saturday evening and honored the boys and girls Region I through IV coaches of the year, including UYSA's Robyn Smith-Bretzing . Mehdi Siadat of California was awarded the title of Boys National Coach of the Year and David Bozdeck of Missouri was awarded Girls National Coach of the Year. Bozdeck accepted the award with tears in his eyes and said, "… Looking at the other coaches resumes, they deserve this award too."

Mayor Rocky Anderson was also honored for his dedication to Proposition #5, where on November 4, 2004, voters approved a $15 million bond to build a Regional Sports Complex for Utah's youth. Mayor Anderson was proud to receive the award and said, "You do all of the work, I'm just happy to be able to help make [the proposition] happen."

The dinner also featured Master of Ceremonies Max Bretos of the new Fox Soccer Channel and the evenings Keynote speaker, Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox & Friends and author of the best seller "The Games Do Count: America's Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports."

With the list of distinguished people in attendance at the conference, Bruce Cuppett, the volunteer Operations Coordinator, and the UYSA team of volunteers were truly the stars of the event. "The conference went off without a hitch thanks to our dedicated volunteers," said Scott Harward, Executive Director of UYSA.

Before the first seminar even started, over 100 Utah ODP Players and their parents volunteered to assemble and load the goody bags that went to everyone who participated in the conference. Usually the project takes several hours, but our volunteers displayed such enthusiasm and hard work that the project was done in record time.

Utah ODP and club players also participated in the demonstrating sessions that took place during the convention. "A special thanks goes out to the players and their parents for making the sessions a huge success," reports Maas, "I commend all of the players, coaches, parents, and countless volunteers, for making this event above and beyond expectations."

US Youth Soccer has announced the 2006 US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop & Coaches Convention will be held February 23-25, 2006, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Please visit www.usyouthsoccer.org for more details.