Shortly after, Sue was offered the permanent head coach position. Did she want the job? Want, isn’t the right question. Was there ever any question she wouldn’t take it? No.

Embarrassment turned to rage. As Bartek closed in on the goal, Steve was prepared to maim him, but he never got the chance.

Is this a coup? It feels surreal. Am I overreacting?

Jozef walked into the dusk with a single finger stretched to the heavens for all to see. It was his final salute – his epic goodbye.

Meghan Flannery would be 30-years-old today. She was a special person, one worth remembering and imitating. I wrote this about her shortly after she passed in 2017.

I pushed off, kept my feet underneath my body and exploded out about twenty yards. It wasn’t hard for me. I’ve always been quick…

The Big Guy laughed, smiled, and nodded, then said, “You know what Harry. You’re a big baby! Why don’t you just shut your mouth and play soccer.”

Another installment of Great Moments in Soccer. This one’s titled “My favorite team Name Ever.” It’s why coaching is always fun.

In fact, the collective mood of the people living on four of our planet’s continents rests squarely on the shoulders of people running around kicking a ball, sometimes each other and theatrically falling to the ground.

Welcome to Awful Moments in Soccer Selection #2. What constitutes protecting your child?

He was waiting for me to exit, preparing to exact revenge on me. Tonight was his chance. Six years earlier I guest-coached him and his team for a single practice and inspired him to quit soccer forever.

Did you know there are organizations which nationally rank U11 teams? Did you know people actually care about this?

I remember coaching while thinking about Sarah lying on a hospital bed in an intensive care unit fighting for her life.

Another vignette including the funniest words my, now, mother-in-law ever spoke.

The age-group change happened and soccer balls keep getting kicked, coaches keep berating referees and parents are still yelling “get wide” and then quickly explaining to other parents how “getting wide is important in soccer.”

And now another vignette in our running series Great Moments in Soccer. This one tells us all, be careful making assumptions in this American melting pot.

Milwaukee soccer in the 1970s followed an unwritten rule: for your team to be good, your coach’s last name had to end in ic (Serbian or Croatian), ski (Polish), or have an umlaut (German).

Today, another vignette under the title “A Moment in Soccer”. This is a touching story about male friendship.

I don’t remember every moment of my high school soccer career but 31 years later – I do remember the name of that referee.

Two years ago today Jimmy Banks passed away but his legacy and his generosity of spirit and love live on. You are missed JB but know there countless people carrying on your work for you and because of you. Love.