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ACL injuries sideline thousands of young female athletes every year—but it doesn't have to be this way. In this episode, 17-year-old high school soccer player Maya Lanfer shares what she's learned from researching this injury, interviewing sports medicine professionals, and creating educational resources for coaches and players.

Maya breaks down why female athletes are more susceptible to ACL tears, what the research says about prevention, and the simple warm-up exercises that can significantly reduce risk. She also discusses the emotional toll these injuries take on young athletes and makes a compelling case for why coaches need to move beyond thinking of ACL injuries as "bad luck."

Whether you coach girls or boys, this conversation offers practical insights you can bring to your next practice.

For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

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Tommy Geis, Technical Director at Massachusetts Youth Soccer, joins us to explore why coach education transforms not just how we coach, but how we understand youth development itself. With over 40 years in the game, Tommy shares his journey from thinking he knew everything about soccer to discovering "how much he didn't know" through formal coach education. We discuss the critical difference between telling kids what to do versus helping them discover their own solutions, why coaches need to see the game through children's eyes rather than adult perspectives, and how to meet players where they are developmentally. Tommy walks us through the coaching education pathway in Massachusetts, from grassroots certification to advanced licenses, and explains why even parent volunteers coaching for just one season can benefit from training. Whether you're new to coaching or have years on the sidelines, this conversation offers practical insights on becoming more effective at developing young players while keeping the joy in the game.

For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.

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In this episode of the CoachCraft Podcast, Alf Gracombe engages in a deep conversation with coaches Temisan Williams and Mike Smith about the critical role of player feedback in youth development. They explore how cultural backgrounds influence feedback reception, the importance of individual coaching versus team coaching, and the necessity of specific, actionable feedback. The discussion also touches on the use of technology in coaching, the significance of player agency, and the evolving role of coaches in fostering a positive learning environment for young athletes.

For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.