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Before More Training, Focus On These Two Things
Inside: Possession game for training, advice from a top-rated sports rehab doctor, & our Teams of the Week: Northeast United and PA Classics.
Colin Gorini
December 23, 2025
Good morning,
My goal with every email is simple: to share my passion for youth soccer and the community that makes it thrive.
I hope you enjoy it, and I’d love to hear your feedback.
Coach’s Corner: 3v3 + 2 Neutrals Keepaway
Setup: Create a 15×15 yard grid. Play 3v3 inside the grid with 2 neutral players who always play with the team in possession. Balls at the coach’s feet.
How it works: Teams score a point by completing 7 passes in a row. All players must play it in 3 or less touches. Play 4–5 minute rounds, then rotate neutrals and teams.
Coaching points: Communication and off-ball movement are critical—players should create clear passing lanes instead of hiding behind defenders.
Adjust difficulty with touch limits or number of passes for a point, and add a small punishment (push-ups or short sprints) for the losing team.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
You bless us with the greatest job on Earth. Thank you for supporting UnitedGoals USA and helping us keep Building American Soccer Together. If you’d like to give us a gift this year, please share this newsletter with one soccer coach who would benefit from it.
Parents’ Corner: The Most Underrated Performance Edge
Dr. Josh Funk (@drjoshfunk), Founder and CEO of Rehab 2 Perform in Williamsport, MD, is one of the best follows on Instagram for smart, science-based advice on sports rehab and injury prevention for young athletes.
In the post below, he points out the simplest “performance program” most overlook: 8+ hours of sleep each night and plenty of real food and hydration.
Research he cites shows athletes who consistently sleep 8+ hours have dramatically lower injury risk—yet youth sports culture still races to add more training instead of nailing these basics. Before you worry about extra sessions, make sure your player is sleeping enough and fueling well.
How much does your family spend on soccer tournaments in one year?Including team entry, travel, hotels, food, and any other fees. |
Team of the Week: NEU 2017 Girls - U9 Girls
NEU 2017 Girls went a perfect 8–0 in the Fall 2025 NorCenPenn season, outscoring opponents by an average scoreline of 8.0–1.6 per game. They carried that form into the Veterans Day Freedom Cup, finishing 4–0 on the day and securing the title with a tight 1–0 win over Central Penn United from the Harrisburg area. Well done, girls! |
Team of the Week: PA Classics 14 - U12 Boys
PA Classics United 14M had arguably the wildest path to a Veterans Day Freedom Cup title we’ve ever seen. They advanced from group play with two scoreless draws, edged Balls Mills SC in a dramatic PK shootout in the semis, and then beat TNT Elite’s 2014 team 1–0 in the final. One goal in four games—yet they still took home gold. Defense wins championships! |
Nominate Your Team for a Spotlight
We feature two programs every week — reply with your team’s story.
Community Spotlight: DMV Youth Academy
DMV Youth Academy, established in 2024, unites the community through soccer, nurturing young talents in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area to shine globally. Their mission is to inspire greatness, develop skills, and provide a platform for student-athletes to showcase their talents to top public and private institutions.
We were honored to have DMV Youth Academy join us at the 2025 4v4 Loudoun Legends Shootout at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA. Best of luck to DMVYA heading into 2026, and we hope to see them again soon!
Join Us in Growing the Game
If you know a coach, parent, player, or fan who would enjoy this, please forward it along and invite them to subscribe.
And if you ever want to share feedback, reply to this email — I read every response.
Here’s to Building American Soccer Together.
Warmly,
Colin Gorini
Founder, UnitedGoals USA
[email protected]
unitedgoalsusa.com
