Recently in Youth Soccer Category

Clearing up a few odds and ends before the weekend (that would have posted hours sooner had our soon-to-be-replaced blogging software not freaked out):

*Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens, Chivas USA's Jorge Villafaña (formerly Flores) and UCLA midfielder Kelyn Rowe were named today to the U-23 camp set for Sunday through Jan. 25 at Carson's Home Depot Center and in Costa Rica. All but four of the 22-player roster, including Rowe, were in the December U-23 camp in Florida. Full roster, camp details here.

*The increasingly unimportant MLS Combine, a precursor to the increasingly unimportant MLS Draft, is under way in Florida.

There are several Southern California-based players involved from the likes of UCLA and Cal State Northridge. The complete roster of combine participants is here. You can watch the combine here.

*Chivas USA President Jose Domene tweeted this morning that a new player signing was imminent.

The club has also released four players who won't be missed: starting midfielder midfielder Marcos Mondaini; defender Michael Umana, a second time wash-out in MLS after featuring for Steve Sampson's Galaxy back in 2005; striker and noted braggart Victor Estupiñán, who boasted he would score 25-plus MLS goals and ended up with one; and third choice goalkeeper Sergio Arias.

*Former Chivas USA coach Thomas Rongen has joined Toronto as Academy director, the club announced today.

*Toronto also announced today that tickets for the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against the Galaxy will go on sale next Friday. Tickets start at $29. Anyone making the trek from LA?

*Hermosa Beach native Dan Tobias has joined the South Bay Force as director of coaching for the club's girls program. The Mira Costa High grad and was a two-time PAC-10 Coach of the Year at the University of Arizona during a seven-year tenure at the school.

*Glasgow Rangers manager Ally McCoist said the club turned down an inadequate offer from French club Sochaux for midfielder Maurice Edu of Fontana.

McCoist was quoted by the Associated Press as saying the bid, which he didn't disclose, "was so far away that I would be very surprised if they came back in."

Sochaux is already home to American forward Charlie Davies, who spent last year on loan with D.C. United.

"I can tell you that I want Maurice Edu to sign a new contract rather than go anywhere," McCoist said.

*There's yet more on the scandals involving FIFA and CONCACAF today:

ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA says former vice president Jack Warner peddled "inaccuracies and falsehoods" when he claimed last month that he got World Cup television rights for $1 in exchange for supporting Sepp Blatter's presidential campaigns.

FIFA confirms that Warner received Caribbean broadcasting rights for $1, though from 1986 and not -- as Warner claimed -- from 1998 when Blatter was first electe d.

FIFA says the deals had "nothing to do" with Blatter's election campaigns.

FIFA says World Cup rights were often sold until 1998 for nominal sums to maximize coverage in developing nations, and provide soccer bodies with extra revenue from selling on rights to broadcasters.

The governing body says Warner was expected to raise money for the Caribbean Football Union.

*Finally, if you only watch one game this weekend, I recommend the Manchester derby in the FA Cup third round that's set to air locally at 5 a.m. Sunday on Fox Soccer.

Enjoy what is shaping up to be another stunning winter weekend in Southern California.

What better way to get psyched for the 2012 season opener in Carson...:

Than to watch the best Chivas USA goals from 2011:

In other Chivas USA-related news:

*Wonder if it's three MLS clubs and out for former Chivas USA striker Maicon Santos?

*Chivas USA has announced a new partnership with Orange County youth club United FC. Read the press release here.

In 60 seconds or less.

The Galaxy shot blanks Sunday in Arizona, the USMNT decamped from Carson Sunday, David Beckham played all of nine minutes Sunday for AC Milan, while local high schools are increasingly losing players to the Chivas USA and Galaxy academies and negotiations between MLS and the players union over a new collective bargaining agreement took a turn for the worse over the weekend.

Also:
Chivas USA have headed to Arizona today as well, but beat San Diego Boca FC of the National Premier Soccer League twice at Home Depot Center Saturday, winning two 60-minute scrimmages by the score of 5-1 and 3-1 respectively.

Chivas USA lineup (first game) - Dan Kennedy, Ante Jazic, Carlos Borja, Emilio Viades, Carey Talley, Jorge Flores, Marcelo Saragosa, Blair Gavin, Mariano Trujillo, Justin Braun, Maykel Galindo

Goals:
SDB - 12'
CHV - Carlos Borja (Mariano Trujillo) 22'
CHV - Marcelo Saragosa (Trujillo) 27
CHV - Jorge Flores (Ante Jazic, Blair Gavin) 36'
CHV - Carey Talley (Trujillo) 38'CHV - Maykel Galindo (Trujillo) 58'

Chivas USA lineup (second game) - Jon Conway (Jose Manuel Miranda, 31), Kevin Tangney, Claudio Suárez, Yamith Cuesta, Miguel Sanchez, Amaury Nuñez (Jesus Ochoa 31), Ben Zemanski, Chris Ross, Cesar Zamora, Chukwudi Chijindu (Armando Ochoa 45), Artur Aghasyan

Goals:
CHV - Chukwudi Chijindu (unassisted) 12'
CHV - Artur Aghasyan (Chris Ross, Chijindu) 25'
CHV - Armando Ochoa (Kevin Tangney) 49'

Finally, a Chicago-based sports marketing company, Cardenas Marketing Network, has signed a four-year agreement with the Argentine Football Association to produce national team games in the U.S. and some European nations. The first game will take place in the U.S. after the World Cup.

"It is encouraging to know that Argentina will have a bigger presence in the U.S., where soccer continues to grow and where South Americans have played an important role," said Julio Grondona, President of AFA and Vice President of FIFA. "We hope that this influence will continue to develop and complement the great efforts, both on the field and off, that are already in place in today's fastest growing soccer market."

Mexico, of course, already plays a series of money-spinning games in the U.S. annually.

The annual Cal South-sponsored event is free and it's at the L.A. Convention Center.

*Full details here.

*Coaching schedule (including Galaxy Assistant Head Coach Dave Sarachan and former U.S. National Team Coach Bob Gansler here.

*Galaxy players autograph schedule here.

Other autograph opportunities:
*Fox Football Fone-In hosts Nick Webster, Eric Wynalda and Temryss Lane sign from 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday.

*University of North Carolina and U.S. international Tobin Heath signs at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Nike booth.

Notable: For the first time, an indoor beach soccer field will be set up at the expo. The field, with eight tons of sand, will have a goal and penalty box so that players can practice shooting on the sand, a considerably different pitch for most players.

Oh, and I might be wandering around.

I've been accused of lots of things during my two decades as a reporter and soccer columnist.

Democrats have accused me of being Republican. Republicans have accused me of being a liberal. Galaxy fans have accused me of being pro-Chivas USA. Chivas USA fans have accused me of being, well, you get the idea.

But this accusation was a new one on me after I wrote this story last weekend recounting how the city of Torrance wanted to turn a little-used sump into youth soccer fields:

"First, Nick Green should be removed from reporting this issue. He covers occer (sic) and AYSO clearly making him biased and thus compromising journalistic ethics. Shame on the Daily Breeze editors!"

Drat!

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone discovered I'm part of vast soccer-loving conspiracy hoping to leave every spare plot of land in this nation littered with lush, green sports fields the youth of America can run around on, stay healthy and enjoy the great outdoors.

Actually, I couldn't care less what they do or do not do with the site since I don't live in West Torrance where the sump is, don't have kids and will likely never step foot on the tract whether it becomes soccer fields or not.

But I do care I will have to miss the finals of InterLiga tonight at Home Depot Center to listen to a sump "debate" that judging by the above comment may struggle to rise above the level of a Steven Colbert interview.

The implications of tonight's two InterLiga games are succinctly summed up here, BTW.

And if you do head out to Carson, dress warmly.

Lastly, Galaxy playmaker Landon Donovan is saying all the right things about his likely home debut this weekend at Everton's Goodison Park.

Incidentally, I'd like to thank U.S. Soccer Players for linking to my Tuesday column on the Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez in their (usually) excellent daily e-mail today.

However, they attributed the story to a "Nick Garcia" for some reason that escapes me.

Hey, if you're going to give me a random Latino surname that's "Verde" not "Garcia."

Just don't let folks in Torrance know. Because we all know how those Latinos just love futbol.

This is a stunning venue, BTW.

There's nothing else like it in Southern California.

Photo by Scott Varley

Check it out.

First things first: the Galaxy's Alecko Eskandarian is on Drew Carey's "The Price is Right at 10 a.m. on CBS (sorry for the late notice).

In other momentous MLS Cup related news:

*Seattle introduces - the Galaxy dog.

*Former Galaxy midfielder Ned Grabavoy is a hero in Salt Lake City after scoring the PK that put them through to the final - but may not play Sunday against his former team.

*David Beckham hasn't trained fully with the team all week and may take pain killers to get through Sunday's game. (And be sure and check out Beckham's hairstyles through the years at the pic just to the right of the story on that Web page).

*Former Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas (and current ESPN soccer analyst) talks to Daily News sports media columnist Tom Hoffarth here.

*The Seattle Times is going all out with its on-line MLS Cup coverage.

And because we can't have enough pictures of the Galaxy logo atop Seattle's Space Needle: (MLS Photo)

In other soccer news:

*Some residents of a West Torrance neighborhood equate AYSO with prostitution (seriously).

*The CSUDH women's team plays its biggest game of the year tonight without its biggest offensive threat.

Jones is described as an owner, advisor and promoter in the company by Socal Soccer City Holdings President Kevin Gilmore, a partner in the proposed indoor Futsal facility on Maple Avenue that will occupy a former shipping facility.

Jones, now an assistant coach with the Galaxy after a glittering 12-season career with the MLS club, grew up in Westlake Village.

"Cobi brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion, not only to the game itself, but also how it relates to the Southern California youth players as they develop into future generations of professional players," said Paul Higgins, president of South Coast Soccer City, the first in what's envisioned as a chain of similar state of the art indoor soccer facilities in the region. "His passion for the game is unparalleled and his excitement for our concept was evident the first time we walked him through the building and described our plans. Cobi made it clear from the start that he had no interest in being a passive investor - he wanted to be actively involved in not only this first location, but also the growth of Soccer City in California and beyond.

Jones will host camps and clinics at the facility and help develop the programming and curriculum for youth programs.

"Futsal allows young players to learn soccer skills that include finesse, creativity, ball control and so much more - all elements of the game that would greatly impact their success in the outdoor game," Jones said. "I strongly believe that developing a network of facilities that promote small five-a-side soccer will revolutionize the way young soccer players develop in the U.S."

Soccer City expects to open in December.

To learn more, check out previous posts about South Coast Soccer City by clicking here.

Sent by a soccer mom:

Subject: Change to End of Game Ceremony

To the players, parents, and volunteers of AYSO Region 17,

One of the most basic and vital components to the AYSO sportsmanship program is the end of game hand-shake/high five line for the opposing teams and the referees. The Board of Directors of Region 17 also considers the health and safety of all our players and volunteers. We find ourselves now trying to balance these two facets.

The cold and flu season is now upon us. To reduce physical contact, Region 17 will now through the end of the Fall Season change the end of game ceremony to lining up at midfield at the end of the match and clapping for the opposing team and saying "thank you" to the referees.

What if players touch during the game? Quarantine?

The backers of Torrance's planned state of the art Futsal facility in a former warehouse on Maple Avenue have signed a lease for the 73,000-square-foot building and are projecting a December opening.

Dubbed South Coast Soccer City, the refurbished building will accommodate five Futsal fields with modular flooring and two artificial turf fields, a 4,000-square-foot training center, four party rooms, a homework room, cafe/lounge and store selling Futsal equipment.

Paul Higgins, president of South Coast Soccer City, said it will be the largest facility in the U.S. dedicated to the fast-growing sport.

"Soccer City will not only help address the lack of fields and playing opportunities for players of all ages in the region, but will help redefine the way young players develop their soccer skills by introducing them to a version of the game that emphasizes creativity, skills and ball control," he said.

Full eight-week leagues should begin Jan. 3, 2010.

"We can provide playing and training time for not only young players and adults, but also create innovative toddler programs, Mommy and me programs and other programs that enhance the soccer experience," said Kevin Gilmore, president of parent company Socal Soccer City Holdings, which eventually hopes to open additional locations in the region. "The fact that we found a location in Torrance is an added bonus given the city's strong soccer tradition and high youth participation levels."

Torrance is the birthplace of AYSO.

For updates on Soccer City, check out their Twitter feed.

And if you haven't experienced Futsal before, take a look at this video: