Shoot ‘N Save Drill, Why Multi-Sport Athletes Win, & 2026 Sneak Peek

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: Shoot ‘N Save Drill

Fast-paced game that sharpens finishing skills, builds competition, and sneaks in conditioning.

Setup:

• Divide players into two teams

• Place 1 cone at the top of the penalty arc and 2 cones on the end line, equal distance from the goal.

How It Works:

1. On coach’s whistle, Team A sends a shooter and Team B sends a goalie

   1. Shooter sprints around the penalty arc cone and must finish on goal within 2 touches

   2. Goalie sprints around the back of the goal before making the save

2. Coach plays the shooter a ball

   1. Each goal scored = 1 point

3. Every player takes one turn as shooter/goalie

4. After all players have taken a turn, teams switch sides.

5. Team with the most goals after the round wins

Fun Tips:

• Make 1-touch goals worth 2 points and 2-touch goals worth 1 point.

• Serve balls in the air for volley/first-touch training.

• Make them do a push-up before sprinting out for added fun 🙂

Parent’s Corner: Supporting Multi-Sport Athletes

There’s plenty of research supporting youth being multi-sport athletes instead of one-sport specialists. Playing multiple sports reduces injury risk, builds transferable athletic skills, expands friendships across different teams, and helps kids avoid burnout.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association notes: “Youth who play multiple sports are less likely to get hurt.” (NCSA Article)

I personally support this — I played four sports through high school, and each one helped me improve in the others.

Team Spotlight: ODFC 2012 - U14 Girls

Team Spotlight: Worldie FC - U12 Boys

Community Spotlight: Pet Pantry of Lycoming County

The Pet Pantry of Lycoming County supports families in need by providing food and essential supplies for their pets. We were honored to meet Karen and her team at the 2025 Kicks 4 Canines Soccer Tournament in Montoursville, PA.

32 Days Away

The 2025 Veteran’s Day Freedom Cup will be one to remember! Over 70 teams are registered from across the NorCenPenn, CPYSL, PA West, Poconos, & Upstate NY. Some divisions are sold out — check with us today to see if your team can still join.

We’ve raised $270 so far to donate to PA Wounded Warriors, with all event apparel proceeds benefiting their mission. Pre-order now at the Event Apparel Store.

If you own a business, you can support both veterans and youth soccer by sponsoring the Freedom Cup. Contact us or complete the Sponsorship Form today.

⚽ Get Ready. 2026 Will Be Our Biggest Year Yet!

We already have 12 events on the calendar spanning Central & Western PA, the DMV, and new territory in North Carolina. From fast-paced 4v4s to full-field 11v11 tournaments, we’re creating opportunities for every player and program.

Full announcements will drop after the Freedom Cup — and don’t be surprised if even more events get added. Stay tuned for a year of soccer you won’t want to miss!

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