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NEW YORK -- Brandi Chastain is confident the U.S. womens soccer team can win the gold medal again in Rio, is advocating for fewer headers in youth games and dealing with her sons diagnosis of Crohns disease.Its been 17 years since Chastains winning kick in a penalty shootout against China in the Womens World Cup at the Rose Bowl, and the celebratory photo of her overhead jersey twirl landed on magazine covers.These days, shes coaching youth, high school and college soccer in California. Chastain is keeping an eye on the current womens national team -- without retired star Abby Wambach -- after helping the U.S. win two golds and a silver in the Olympics during her career.We have a very deep roster, a nice balance of young players and veterans, she said. Those two components have always proved successful.Chastain, who transitioned from forward to defense on the U.S. national team, calls it humbling to be selected for induction into the Soccer Hall of Fame later this year at its new location at FC Dallas stadium.Here are a few things to know about Chastain, who plans to donate her brain for concussion research.SAFER SOCCER: Some think less heading in youth soccer games will lower the risk of concussions. Chastain works with the Safer Soccer initiative, which advocates for fewer headers. Since U.S. Soccer approved no headers for children under 11 last year, the whistle is blown for a foul if the ball is headed in a game. Chastain would like the ban to extend to 14 and under, but for now, its about reducing headers in practice and teaching kids spacial awareness, getting their head up and away from the ball. When the kids get fixated on the ball, their eyes never leave it, so they dont see any danger that potentially could be coming.She tells her boys youth team theyre not quite ready for headers and cautions her boys high school Bellarmine team. At the youth level, she says its best to avoid them.I hope U.S. Soccer educates refs on the rules, so its implemented at all levels and (teach) coaches about how to coach awareness skills for kids to protect themselves.Shes also a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, Santa Clara University, helping her husband Jerry Smith, who has been the head coach for 30 years.BELL RUNG: Chastains experienced her share of concussions during a 24-year career spanning college, national teams and pro soccer. The 48-year-old says shes donating her brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation because she wont need it at the time and might as do some good with it. Chastain wants to leave soccer in a better place and if they can get some information out of looking at my brain, then Im happy to contribute.CROHNS CHALLENGE: Chastains 10-year-old son Jaden was recently diagnosed with Crohns disease, which causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of the disease that affects about 700,000 people in the U.S. include cramping, diarrhea and fatigue. The cause isnt exactly known, but doctors think its a combination of genetics, an over-reactive immune system and environmental factors. Jaden, who plays soccer, baseball and swims, has a supportive school and a treatment plan to manage his symptoms.NEW ATTITUDE: Chastain acknowledges that helping her son deal with the emotional and social impact of the disease initially werent her strengths.As a pro athlete, my philosophy was you kind of grind it out, she said. Sometimes you wont feel good and you still have to do the work. I had to take a step back and know Im not always in control, and Jaden will take the lead. He knows when he needs to rest or cant play. That was a great lesson for me.SOCCER EQUITY: Shes been watching the efforts by the U.S. womens team to receive better wages and benefits from U.S. Soccer.Chastain says a lack of money is absolutely not the reason the federation offers different pay scales for the U.S. mens and womens teams. Its more about distribution, given the money the federation receives from TV revenue, sponsorships and FIFA.Im a big advocate for equal reward for the work we do on the field, she said. Its been a continual fight and a battle that, hopefully, well very soon win.She says its similar to the struggle for womens voting rights and Title IX, which opened opportunities for girls and women in education and sports. Chastain believes people will eventually look back at the wage issue and consider it archaic.Women -- and not just women, there are a lot of male advocates out there -- are saying, `Its time. Theres no logical reason for this to exist any longer.---Online: http://concussionfoundation.org/national...er-soccerOnline: https://www.ibdgameplan.com Doug Rader Jersey . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Derek Bell Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom-j-r-richard-jersey-large-356y.html . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Enoli Paredes Jersey . 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Rebel Dane is breathing a lot easier these days and so is his trainer.Gary Portelli credits a successful throat operation and a change in his training methods with getting the horse back to Group One winning form which he hopes he can transfer to the big stage in Hong Kong.Rebel Danes win in the Manikato Stakes earned him an invitation to the International Sprint at Sha Tin on December 11.The seven-year-old will tune up for the trip with a barrier trial at Rosehill on Tuesday which will be held on the course proper as a mark of respect for Australias lone representative at this years showcase meeting in Hong Kong.Rebel Dane took three years from his first Group One win in the Rupert Clarke Stakes to win his second with many near misses in between.He can breathe normally now and he turns up on race day, Portelli said.And Ive got no doubt the way we are training him has helped. He has gone over a few jumps and weve been taking him to the beach and the change of scenery has sharpened him up.Att the moment he is the best Ive had him this deep into a preparation.ddddddddddddHes vibrant and happy and has four sound joints which is always a plus.Portelli has no concerns about how Rebel Dane will handle the trip to Hong Kong on December 4, a week before the big race.Hes done many trips to Melbourne and Brisbane on a float so I think a plane to Hong Kong will be much easier, he said.There are no traffic lights or turns. It will be a breeze.A seven-year-old, Rebel Dane has earned more than $2.4 million but attempts to find a suitable home at stud have so far come to nothing.And if a stud cant be found, Portelli is more than happy to keep him in his Warwick Farm stable.Hes part of the furniture and I hate to think about the day he retires, he said.Id be happy to keep training him for another year.A field of six will take part in Tuesdays 1000m barrier trial. ' ' '