Solo has second thoughts about World Cup Final

Hope Solo signing jerseys for kids at a Sports Commission event in 2009

To cheat or not to cheat? That is the question. If you're a consistent reader of this blog you're probably thinking I've had too many Mountain Dews. Not true. I've only had two today. Cheating is taboo when discussed publicly, but privately...well...ummm. I know it happens in all sports, but I'm specifically talking about soccer today. U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo thinks if she had exaggerated her knee injury a little more while her team was up 2-1, then maybe they would've broken Japan's momentum and won the World Cup last Sunday.

I realize that all athletes have second thoughts after a championship loss. What could we have done differently? What if I zigged instead of zagged? However, Solo's thought process has some validity to it. She legitimately hurt her knee during a collision with an opposing player during the match. Solo thinks she should have called for the trainers and wasted a little time; even though she was able to continue. That happens all the time in soccer. The team with the lead - especially late - will have players falling down as if they were being attacked by invisible ninjas. Tons of time is wasted and this tactic often demoralizes the other team as they try to mount a comeback.

Those who follow soccer will say the officials always add back the time lost during stoppage time. Yes and no. While the referee will add some time, it's rarely equal to the time lost through players faking injuries. Solo is a tremendous athlete with great character and she'll see that she and her teammates played as hard as they could and will be proud that they showed class and good sportsmanship. Our kids need to hear a positive message from us as well. Tell them to play a hard as they can within the rules. And while faking injuries is not necessarily against the rules, it violates the spirit of fair play. The spirit of any sport is my guys against your guys and let's see what happens. A winning attitude always comes before winning.

Make sure you and your coaches develop the skills to help kids become winners on and off the field. You can start by attending the Coach It Right! Soccer Clinic; which will be held Tuesday, August 2 at 6 p.m. inside St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School in Florissant. Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) director of coaching Denny Vaninger will be our instructor. The best part is that every coach who attends and completes the clinic will receive their "F" license from the MYSA free of charge. Coach Vaninger describes the "F" license in the following manner: Focus of the 'F' License is geared for coaching players 5-11 years of age. The course offers "hands on" activities as well as covering characteristics of children, philosophy, age appropriate activities, organizing a lesson plan, care and prevention of injuries and risk management with team management. There is NO test.

This license usually costs $40 per person, but we at the Sports Commission are serious about having competent, well-trained coaches on the field for kids. If you have registered, thank you. If not, please take the time to do so by clicking on the following link for the Coach It Right! Soccer Clinic. You can also call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org should you have any questions or concerns. Remember, great athletes like Hope Solo have had great coaches. Take the first step to being the best coach you can be. Register for the Coach It Right! Soccer Clinic today. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol