Dutch Drill, Smart Warm-Up, & Your Say on 2026 Tournaments

(3-min read)

Author

Colin Gorini
October 14, 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: Dutch Possession Drill

A continuous, high-energy drill that builds communication, awareness, and composure under pressure — all while improving conditioning.

Setup:

  • Divide players into three equal teams

  • Create a cone grid large enough for movement and spacing

How It Works:

  1. Begin with 2 teams possessing, 1 defending.

  2. If the defending team wins the ball, they swap in for the team that lost it.

  3. Play continuously to keep intensity high.

Fun Tips:

  • 10-pass streak = 1 point. Lowest score runs!

  • Limit players to 3 touches to force quicker decisions.

  • Shrink the grid for higher difficulty.

Let’s hear from you — should we keep sharing new drills?

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Parent’s Corner: The Power of a Proper Warm-Up

A short dynamic warm-up (7–10 minutes) improves explosive performance and sprint speed compared with static stretching. (BioMed Central)

For youth soccer specifically, the FIFA 11+ Kids program has been linked to about a 50% reduction in overall injuries and ~60–74% fewer severe injuries.

Team Spotlight: Hughesville Boom - U12 Girls

Hughesville Boom dropped a tight 1–0 match to Team Wildfire during group play at the 2025 Kicks 4 Canines Soccer Tournament. They rebounded in a big way — outscoring their other three opponents 23–2 — before earning redemption with a 2–1 victory over Wildfire in the U12 Girls Final.

Team Spotlight: Mount Lebanon - U12 Boys

The U12 Gold Division at the 2025 7v7 Colonial Classic was as competitive as it gets — every team finished within three points of each other, and half the matches ended in ties. Mount Lebanon’s 2014 Blue team, the only community-based team in the bracket, rose to the challenge and took the title. Excellent work, boys!

Community Spotlight: Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Inc.

PA Wounded Warriors, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Pennsylvania veterans and their families in times of need. 100% of donations stay within the state, providing emergency financial assistance for essentials like housing, utilities, and transportation. Their mission ensures that no veteran is left behind after serving our country.

We’re proud to partner with PA Wounded Warriors through the Veteran’s Day Freedom Cup — with all apparel proceeds directly benefiting their cause.

If you want to support PA Wounded Warriors, order your Veteran’s Day Freedom Cup apparel by Friday.

⚽ Looking Ahead: A Massive 2026 Season Awaits

Our 2026 calendar is shaping up to be our biggest yet — with 12 tournaments planned across Central and Western PA, the DMV, and new territory in North Carolina. From quick 4v4 battles to full-field 11v11 showdowns, there will be something for every team.

We’ll release the full schedule after the Veteran’s Day Freedom Cup — and let’s just say, a few surprises are still in the works. Big year ahead. Stay tuned!

Which 2026 tournament format excites you the most?

Tell us which format your team loves most to play in!

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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

UnitedGoals USA hosts youth soccer tournaments and grows communities in Central PA