09:49 PM EDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Frank the moderator: Hey everyone. TONIGHT @ 8 p.m. we will have Carolyn Thornton and Ryan McCormick, a senior tri-captain for the five-time defending state champion La Salle soccer team, stopping by to answer questions and comments about competing on the high school level.
Submit a question now and then comeback at 8 p.m. tonight.

tom : Rhode Island is the smallest of the states. What's your view of the quality of high school soccer here?
Ryan McCormick : Even though Rhode Island is the smallest state, I think the quality of high school soccer is very high. Last year the smallest state had two teams during the year ranked in the top 25 in the country.

tom : How has participation in sports contributed to your high school experience?
Ryan McCormick: My participation in sports has contibuted greatly to my high school experience. You make friends with other athletes not only from your school but from other schools.

tom : How do you keep academics, sports and a social life in balance?
Ryan McCormick: You definitely have to have a balance between the three. Academics are the most important out of the three,especially if you want to get into a good college. You have to have a social life, but at times you have to sacrifice your social life to concentrate on your sport, whether it is practicing your sport or going to a game/tournament.

tom : What advice would you give to parents' whose children want to play high school sports?
Ryan McCormick: I would tell the parents to let their kids play whatever sport they may choose and support them in their decision. If you play a high school sport it will be one of the most memorable experiences of your high school career.

tom : In your years of playing, how often have you seen parents over-reacting to play on the field?
Ryan McCormick: I have been playing competitive soccer since I was 7 years old. At every game there are at least 5 parents who are constantly screaming at the ref, coaches, kids on the field or even other parents.

tom : What's the best training/workout strategy for young soccer players?
Ryan McCormick: The Best training Strategy for young soccer players is dribbling through cones and juggling. Even if you are not a good juggler at first, with practice you will get better and better and develop a good touch on the ball, and your touch is the most important thing in soccer. The best workout strategy by far is just basic running and sprints. You have to keep your cardiovascular up so you don't get tired during the game.

BEACH: Have you ever played against Hope High School and if so who do you think is the toughest player to compete against on that team?
Ryan McCormick: Yes, I have played against Hope High School in the past. I don't remember the players on that team, but I do remember there were a couple quality players on Hope.

mcimini: What's it like dealing with parents coaching from the sidelines?
Ryan McCormick: It is difficult at times especially if someone from the stands is telling you something different than what your coach is telling you. You have listen to your coach because he may be thinking of something different tactically than the information you are getting from the stands.

christine: Hi, who do you think your toughest competion is going to be this year in high school soccer?
Ryan McCormick: There are a lot of good teams this year. It is tough to say. We had some good games last year with Cumberland, North Kingstown, South Kingstown and Portsmouth. I don't think it will be any different this year.

Carolyn Thornton: What kind of pressures do you feel as a player on a team that has won five-straight state championships? Do you feel a great deal of pressure to keep the streak going?
Ryan McCormick : There is a lot of pressure leading up to the games, but when you are playing in the games you don't think about anything else but winning and you try to do the best you can to accomplish your goal of winning. I don't feel a great deal of pressure to keep the streak going. You can't think about losing.

Booliaf: do u think ODP (Olympic Development Program) and/or Premier (League) is needed to be able play college-level soccer?
Ryan McCormick: I definitely think both are needed to play in college. They are both ways to get identified by college coaches or scouts. If you play ODP you are on your state team and compete against different states. You also have a chance to make it to the regional or national teams. If you play Premier, you are always playing against the best players and constantly improving.

Carolyn Thornton: It's time to wrap things up now, but we'd like to thank Ryan for taking the time to chat with us. You've offered some interesting insight into the game of soccer, and we especially appreciate your advice to parents with young aspiring players. Best of luck to you and your team as you begin the new season!