Tom Shields

Tom Shields, STA Technical Director and youth soccer development expert, dives into the recent US youth soccer age-group registration change. He discusses how this shift from calendar-year to seasonal registration aims to enhance player development, aligning more closely with school years. Tom addresses common parental concerns about team placements and the transition for late-birthday players. He also shares his five-part communication framework to foster trust and collaboration among coaches and families, highlighting the need for professionalism and well-being in coaching.