Dr. Andrew Jacobs has been a sport psychologist for 25 years and has worked with all levels of competitive athletes from youth sports to the professional and Olympic level. We talked to him recently about the role of sports psychology, the mental challenges an athlete participating in *World Cup 2006 *might face, and what things athletes of any skill level can do mentally to improve their performance.

How does sports psychology affect the outcome of a game?

When teams match up the one that is mentally stronger is the one who more than likely will do better. You must be ready to deal with adversity. If you've got a mental game plan then when you fall behind you don't freak out.

Quite frankly one of the biggest issues is not dealing with success but in dealing with adversity and failure. We don't teach people how to lose but what to do when they lose and how to handle it.

Looking at the World Cup specifically--what kinds of mental challenges will the US National Team face being on the road in Germany?

One of the big things I work with athletes on is how you get yourself mentally prepared. Mental preparation involves not just focusing right before the game but also how you prepare the week before.

Talking about the World Cup team specifically one of the challenges they will face is being able to acclimate themselves. You've got to know how to deal with things like changes in time, schedule, and culture.

When I was with the cycling team in Italy I remember the guys were freaking out about things like drinking warm soda. (They don't put ice in their soda in Europe.) You've got to be able to deal with being away from friends and family and not letting cultural changes affect you.

For the rest of this interview check out our [World Cup Special Section|http://active.typepad.com/world_cup/2006/05/the_ment

(Jeff Agoos is an American soccer legend. Having won more MLS championships (five) than any other player and among the leaders in US National team appearences we thought it'd be great to chat with this "MLS Defender of the Year" and get his thoughts on the upcoming World Cup.)

So how did a kid growing up in a football haven like Texas get involved in soccer?

Good question. Even though Texas is considered one of the football capitals of the world, most of my friends played soccer. I lived in an area of dallas (N. dallas) where a lot of people played soccer instead of football.

You've had a phenomenal career. What was the most important lesson you learned as a young player that helped pave the way for your eventual success?

The biggest thing I learned as a kid, not only about soccer but about life in general, was that you have to work harder than the next person to achieve success. I was never a gifted player or a gifted student, but I had a strong work ethic and I had passion. The ability to persevere is a very important character trait.

What was playing in Germany for SV Wehen like? Any tips on Germany you could give the current team?

SV Wehen was an eye- opening experience. It was a very tough time but it taught me the lesson that soccer as a business is a tough business. I had always viewed soccer as a game. Coming back from Wehen made me realize that at the next level it's much more than just a game. My experience in Wehen and the national team experience in Germany will be very different. I would tell the team to enjoy the experience and soak up the atmosphere. It will hopefully be the best time of their lives.

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(+For the rest of this interview check out the [Active World Cup Special Section|http://active.typepad.com/worl

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The latest eteamz Snapshotz winner: This action photo was taken on February 18th at the Semi-Final game of the Fred Meyer Commissioners' Cup for the Washington State soccer championship for girls GU-11 age group. The girls in blue are the CW Magic soccer team from Camas/Washougal, Washington and the girls in red are the Crossfire Premier 94 soccer team.

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Jaime Trecker has written a very interesting article on FoxSoccer.com that examines the current condition of U.S. youth soccer���and where it���s going in the future.

Trecker describes two very divergent philosophies in youth soccer today���the AYSO model which emphasizes group participation over ultra-competitiveness and the ���select team��� track based on the Olympic Development Program which stresses player development over personal self-esteem.

It���s a fascinating article about what the primary focus of U.S. youth soccer should be. Do those two visions necessarily have to be in contradiction? Can you provide solid player development at the youth level without creating ���club teams��� that require a significant financial commitment on the part of parents? And what effect does this have on the development of American professional soccer leagues in the future?

Click here to join this lively debate. Also check out our soccer message boards to see what other members of eteamz have to say.

(Photo Courtesy of Aris Messinis

[Freddy Adu in the spotlight|http://www.flickr.com/photos/53034700@N00/97234247/] Originally uploaded by eteamz photos. </span></div>

Rumors abound that young phenom Freddy Adu, who���s been groomed as the ���poster boy��� for American soccer since being drafted as a 14-year old, may be shipped over the pond to play for English Premiership power Chelsea. As always the consideration seems to be money---Chelsea seems willing top pay a hefty $8.7 million transfer fee and help Adu���s current team D.C. United out of financial straits.

But this brings up some interesting issues regarding the sometimes blurry line between youth and professional sports. Gymnasts and tennis players routinely turn pro before the age of 18 without much protest. But in team sports things are a little different���especially in an intense soccer environment like the UK. Many question whether the move might just end a promising career before it starts.

Does D.C. United have some sort of some responsibility, considering that they drafted him in the first place, to ensure the 16-year old is not put into an unfavorable environment? Should professional team sport leagues, such as Major League Soccer and the NBA, revisit their age limits when it comes to minors? And how young is too young when it comes to professional sports?

Click here to tell us what you think about youths playing in professional sports. Also check out the message boards to see what other members of the eteamz community are saying about this and other team sports issues.

(Photo Courtesy of Jay Davis