The Extended National Teams You Need to Know + Head Coach of the ‘Sand Squad’

You’ve heard of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, but did you know that U.S. Soccer has nine extended national teams? They include beach, futsal, cerebral palsy, deaf and power soccer. Stuart Sharp, Head of Extended National Teams at U.S. Soccer, joins this week’s show to provide a comprehensive overview of the program, including the cerebral palsy team he also manages, world rankings, major competitions and how to get more involved.   Later, our hosts enjoy a conversation with the technical director behind one of these Extended National Teams (45:05). Morgan Church, head coach of the U.S. women’s beach soccer national team details the sport’s unique rules, the Acapulco Cup and where to sign the petition to start a Women’s World Cup for beach soccer. (There is one for men’s beach soccer, after all.)  Become a U.S. Soccer Insider into greater detail with our two guests as they discuss tactics, how players qualify for the team and where you can go to play beach soccer.   The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast tells stories in service to soccer and the people who live it, amplifying player voices and the stories behind the game. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.  Click here to learn how you can support U.S. Soccer’s ENTs.  Hosts: David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg  Guests: Stuart Sharp, Morgan Church  Producer: Brad Fosler  To learn more, visit ussoccer.org/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices