Team USA Soccer

​Right now, let's focus on conditioning and getting in shape during the off season before the Games. The goal is for everyone to be in shape by August. 

Check out conditioning workout ideas here: 
http://www.active.com/soccer/articles/soccer-conditioning-tips-and-tricks

For soccer, shin guards are mandatory for all participants.  Long socks to cover shin guards are recommended. Plastic or Rubber soccer cleats are optional but encouraged.  Goalies should bring their own gloves. 
According to IDAF rules, soccer competition for the Junior A, Junior B, and Open shall consist of 8-on-8 play with 7 field players and 1 goalkeeper on the field at any one time. Soccer competition for the Futures Division shall consist of 3-on-3 play without a goalkeeper.  As with DAAA National games, headers and slide tackling are prohibited.

Here are some great training exercises for soccer:

Fitness and Conditioning:
Soccer is a cardio-intensive sport that involves constant movement.  As an athlete you will be asked to play a number of games within a short period.  Keep this in mind when planning your training sessions. Try incorporating sets of 25 yard sprints with short breaks in between along with extended periods of moderate speed movement into your training. 
Skills and tactics:
The best way to get better at soccer is to play!  Get friends and family together for a pick up game. Work on shooting/passing accuracy along with dribbling with the ball while keeping your head up.  Also remember that since a soccer match never really stops, you as a player should not either.  Keep your body moving to position yourself in the best place for a pass, shot, or to defend.  You don’t have to be constantly running around the pitch, but you should always be tactically positioned.   
Need a refresher on soccer technical skills? Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEtEQbcerFY​

Meet Steve Wilde, Team USA Soccer Manager

My name is Steve Wilde and I am 34 years old and live with my wife, Aris, in Denver, CO. I have been involved with DAAA since I was 7 years old. My first event was for our regional disability team in Houston, TX, competing in track and field. Once I had heard there were other sports offered, I wanted to do them all.  I have competed and excelled in every sport DAAA has to offer, holding numerous national and world records in swimming and traveling and competing against other top athletes from around the world.

I started playing soccer when I was 5 years old. I started off competing locally against other neighborhood teams with my friends. This transitioned to playing competitively against other city teams and led to playing in high school. I was a member and team captain of the DAAA USA soccer team in 2001 when team USA won the first gold in soccer, in the Open division, at a world games event. I also competed in the soccer tournament in Peterborough, England, on the Junior and Open level at the age of 14.

I am happy and honored to become Team USA’s soccer manager and look forward to working with everyone. If you have any questions, please contact me via email that’s posted on the website

Steven Wilde
Team USA Soccer Manager
[email protected]