Gerald Laing, Jr.

Love my wife, love our dogs Dax & Beckham. My passion is coaching the Franklin Purple Devil Girls Soccer Team.

[Gerald Laing, Jr. @JrLaing23]

Yeah. So this is actually happening. Honored. Also, congratulations to Jordan Beers. One of the best soccer players I have ever coached. Even a better human being. #PurpleDevilPride

[FCS Purple Devils @fcspurpledevils]

Yesterday, @Sect4Athletics announced their 2025 Section IV Hall of Fame inductees. Congratulations to Jordan Beers (‘14) and Coach Gerald “JJ” Laing, as well as all of the other inductees. The Induction ceremony is May 3, in Binghamton. #PurpleDevilPride

[Tony Holler @pntrack]

100% healthy, 80% in shape

Speed > Endurance

Performance > Grind

Winning > Hard Work

The disciplined pursuit of less ⚡️⚡️⚡️

Not the undisciplined pursuit of more. 🚫 https://t.co/ZmPJhbLOKF

[Mike Golic Jr @mikegolicjr]

Co-sign. She’s awesome.

[Tony Holler @pntrack]

After recently binge-watching 76 episodes of Friday Night Lights, I'm happy to say I got one good slide out of it.

This mentality is at the core of the problem.

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

"On a bitterly cold December evening in 1997, President Bill Clinton was leaving a holiday concert at the Kennedy Center when he noticed a homeless veteran sitting outside the entrance, shivering in a thin jacket and holding a cardboard sign that simply read 'Marine - Desert Storm - Hungry.' What happened next shocked everyone in the presidential motorcade—Clinton immediately stopped, took off his own overcoat, draped it around the stunned man's shoulders, and sat down on the freezing concrete beside him to talk. The veteran, forty-two-year-old Marcus Williams, later recounted to reporters that the President didn't ask him what went wrong or lecture him about getting help—instead, Clinton asked about his service, which battles he'd seen, and whether anyone had properly thanked him for his sacrifice. Secret Service Agent Larry Cockell documented in his memoir that Clinton spent twenty-five minutes sitting on that sidewalk in the bitter cold, and when Marcus mentioned he hadn't eaten in two days, the President sent an agent to get food from a nearby restaurant and insisted on staying until Marcus had finished eating. What makes this story so incredibly moving is what Clinton said to Marcus before leaving, words that Marcus repeated to social workers, shelter staff, and eventually his own children years later when he'd gotten back on his feet: 'Brother, this country failed you when you came home, and I'm sorry—but your story isn't over yet, and I'm going to make sure someone follows up to help you write the next chapter.' True to his word, Clinton personally called the VA the next morning, and Marcus was enrolled in a comprehensive support program within forty-eight hours that included housing, job training, and mental health services. Marcus Williams eventually became a veterans' advocate, and he told the Washington Post in 2015 something that still gives me chills: 'The most powerful man in the world sat on frozen concrete with a forgotten Marine and made me feel like I still mattered—that's the moment I decided to fight my way back.' He reminds us that dignity and hope can be restored with one genuine conversation, one warm coat, and the willingness to sit beside someone the world has walked past.

[Don Williams @Don_K_Williams]

A lot of players are good, but just average…
They are desperate & begging for attention from coaches who they’ve got no shot at helping win more games.

Once you’ve been seen by coaches & assessed, you will hear from them if you can help them or if they think you’re interesting

Go where you’re celebrated,
Not just tolerated!
Go where you’re wanted!

Need help to figure it out?
Let us know
@SRUSA_Official

[Coach Jeff Barnes @JeffBarnes52]

As an AD with a child who plays sports, I understand the struggle of separating parent, coach, and administrator.

My kid has been cut.
He has sat the bench.
He has had to fight his own battles when things were not going his way and he had to talk to the coach.
My kid has found success.
My kid has learned to work hard.

I have never once spoken on his behalf to a coach.

Why? Because learning to advocate for yourself and overcome adversity is what shapes you into who you become.

Growth does not come from protection. It comes from perseverance. I do this because I love him.

[Jim Craig @JimCraigUSA]

Forty-six years ago, we had our shot. 🇺🇸 They called it a miracle. It wasn't - it was trust, preparation, and belief.
Today, the men and women of @usahockey proved it again.🥇🥇
Proud of what USA Hockey was - and what it continues to be.

[Gerald Laing, Jr. @JrLaing23]

@fitsoccerqueen I’ve incorporated so much of what you and @pntrack do. Keep up the good work.

[Erica Mulholland, MS CSCS 👸🏼 @fitsoccerqueen]

So sure soccer community, you can continue to do your lame half-assessed “speed” work and stay slow.

Sure, you can continue to train 7 days a week and wear the “grind” like a pathetic badge of honor. But you’re only getting slower and de-training speed.

Or…

You can go against the crowd and hang out on this side of the internet where the true speed demons thrive.

You can finally raise the ceiling on your speed and blow by your opponents once and for all.

Your choice.

@pntrack

https://t.co/7HGDdDEaBP

[Don Williams @Don_K_Williams]

It may help to think of your ⚽️ Highlight film 🎥 like a movie trailer:

It’s easier to get someone to purchase a ticket & invest 3 hrs in watching a movie if they’ve seen & like the trailer 1st

Especially true if they feel emotionally connected to anyone in or connected with the film

It may or may not be the only thing that gets a player recruited by a college soccer coach, but it’s a teaser to get them to invest more time into seeing if you’re the #rightfit to impact their team

Need help?
Just ask
@SRUSA_Official

[D3Direct @D3Direct]

Going D3 is not “settling”

Going D3 means you among the most elite of HS athletes nationwide

Going D3 (or any level of college sports) is a privilege!

[Don Williams @Don_K_Williams]

Don’t allow yourself to be told that if you don’t make it D1, you’re a failure

It’s a flat out lie

Any opportunity to continue playing the game you love at any level after HS is Big Time & a WIN
You’re in the top 7% of all your HS age contemporaries!
@SRUSA_Official

[D3Direct @D3Direct]

If you're debating D3 vs. D1, read this 👇

[Erica Mulholland, MS CSCS 👸🏼 @fitsoccerqueen]

“I want to play D1!” they say.

And I always follow up with a direct “WHY?”

Oddly enough, no one has been able to give me a genuine, in depth answer.

They just “want to go D1.”

So I press even further and ask, “well, what schools are you looking at?”

Players will list schools like Clemson, UConn, UNC, Notre Dame, Florida State, and all the well-known D1 schools that the top 1% play at.

Then I follow up with, “okay, what specifically about these schools do you like?” No response. Crickets chirping.

READ MORE: https://t.co/Lxb9JRc0xL

[Nate Lull @NateLull]

Charlotte Valley/Schenevus Girls Basketball pulls away from Franklin for a 40-23 win in the championship game of the Schenevus Tip-Off Tournament. CV/S erases a 2-point halftime deficit to take the victory

AT = All-Tournament

CV/S:
@BrinleeWright (16 points, MVP)
@claire_clark8 (6 points)
@LexiKeator (6 points)
Carleigh Reed (AT)
@abby_vroman (AT)

FCS:
Kara Clarke (6 points)
Zaeda Beadle (AT)
Daniella DeSilva (AT)

[Brad Dixon @coachbdixon]

Coach Mueller with a great reminder to all of us from @SteveJonesSPK!

"HUNT THE GOOD STUFF"

@SHSCoachMueller @TFConsortium

[Former Footballers @FinishedPlayers]

Never forget when Eric Cantona did this 🤯

[Gerald Laing, Jr. @JrLaing23]

@davidfrum Now we know why that video message was created by Mark Kelly and others.

[FCS Purple Devils @fcspurpledevils]

From our Instagram posts. Thankful and proud of this athlete and her teammates. Congratulations to Shannon Kingsbury and the Purple Devils Girls Soccer Team. #PurpleDevilPride #PurpleDevil4Life

[Bruce Juneau @BruceJuneauTV]

Shannon Kingsbury is alone at the top as the Section IV girl's soccer goal-scoring record holder!

Hear more about this incredible accomplishment on News34 Sports at 11!

@Shannonk312 @fcspurpledevils @JrLaing23 @NateLull @Sect4Athletics