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I go through many charts every single night. In a trending market, I am apt to find so many attractive setups that I usually have several different lists of scans, ranked by quality. Although we have not had the pleasure of operating in a trending market since I have had my own tab on iBC, we may indeed be on the verge of seeing one now. I have fondly named my very top tier of scans, “The Elites.”
What am I looking for? Quite simply, in a trending market I want the silky smooth leaders. I am not looking for laggards to snap back from oversold conditions. Sure, the Ragin’ Cajun and I are always looking for ascending triangles, bull flags, BTFO setups etc.. However, what I want above all else are stocks “flying the friendly skies.”
What I mean by that is I want to be in those stocks which are operating above all of their major moving averages on their daily charts. Moreover, they should have no big menacing selling volume. I would also like to see all of the major moving averages lined up in temporal order (20 above the 50, 50 above the 100, etc.) with all of them sloping up as well. The analogy is to an airplane flying above the clouds at 30,000 feet, with only occasional light turbulence as the plane swoops down and touches the 20 or 50 day moving average “clouds.”
If the broad market makes another higher low in the coming days, below are the charts of my “elites,” that I am eyeing for long swing trades. I am not going to give my usual annotations, so as to keep things very simple.
You are looking for three prongs to be satisfied:
- Price is above all of the major moving averages;
- The volume pattern is bullish–look at the size and quantity of green versus red volume bars;
- The moving averages are inclining and not too entangled with each other.
Once that three pronged test is satisfied, you will look for an entry as the stock comes in to touch the benign clouds (the 20 day moving average, or thereabout), so long as the selling volume is not heavy. You do not want to chase these stocks after they have moved higher four or five days in a row. Take a step back and think about this strategy. What you are doing is waiting to find yourself in a trending market higher, and then you are buying the leading stocks on light pullbacks.
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Women's Football 101
To go along with all the various 101 posts recently, I bring you an introduction to women's football.
(Brandi Chastain's famous world-cup-winning celebration)
This could get a bit tl;dr, so I've tried to break it up into sections...
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS:
There are three major global competitions in Women's Football:
- FIFA Women's World Cup: established in 1991, this tournament occurs every four years and includes sixteen teams. The tournament has been won by the USA (twice), Norway (once) and Germany (twice).
- Olympic Women's Football: unlike men's football in the Summer Olympics, women's football is a major tournament. It was added to the Olympic programme in 1996.
- Algarve Cup: this is a global invitational tournament held annually in Portugal. It was established in 1994 and is, with the two above tournaments, one of the most prestigous tournaments in women's football. It consists of twelve teams. the most successful team is the USA.
There are also regional competitions, just as in men's football (CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, AFC, CAF, OFC)
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL IN THE USA The USA is one of the countries regarded to be the most advanced in the promotion and playing of women's football, with a strong national team, league, and youth programs.
The success of women's football in the United States is largely attributed to Title IX. TITLE IX: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, commonly known as 'Title Nine' is a law that states
"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..." Essentially that all opportunities in schools need to be equal for both genders. The law itself was not specific to sport, but that is where it has had the most impact, as it ensures that
funding and opportunities in school sports are equal for both boys and girls. Therefore girls' football (soccer) was able to grow at the school level, building a foundation for further development. In 1979, the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare issued a policy interpretation for Title IX, including the "three-prong test" of compliance:
- Prong one - Providing athletic participation opportunities that are substantially proportionate to the student enrollment, OR
- Prong two - Demonstrate a continual expansion of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented sex, OR
- Prong three - Full and effective accommodation of the interest and ability of underrepresented sex.
Now, almost 40 years after the passing of Title IX, girls' football is hugely popular at the youth recreational and school level -
in fact, there are more girls that play football than boys. The stereotype, present in many other countries, that "girls don't play football" has been largely dispelled, making the sport itself much more attractive to girls. Because they are given the opportunity - and are encouraged - to play at a very young age, girls in the USA are more likely to continue playing the sport as they get older. It is much more difficult to persuade a teenager to pick up a new sport than to encourage a five-year-old.
The extensive opportunities, attention, and funding at the youth level have contributed significantly to the highly successful USA Women's National Team
USA WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM: Successes:
- FIFA Women's World Ranking: 1
- World Cup 1991, 1999: Champions
- World Cup 1995, 2003, 2007: 3rd Place
- Olympics 1996, 2004, 2008: Gold Medalists
- Olympics 2000: Silver Medalists
- Algarve Cup 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010: Champions
- Algarve Cup 1994, 1999, 2006, 2009: Runners Up
- Algarve Cup 1997, 1998: 3rd Place
- CONCACAF Gold Cup 1991, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2006: Champions
- Champions of various other Invitational tournaments
History:
The USWNT played its first match on August 18, 1985 against Italy (Italy won 1-0). Their first coach was American Mike Ryan. Since then all but the current coach (Pia Sundhage from Sweden) have been American.
In 2004, Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers were named on the FIFA 100 (a list chosen by Pele of the greatest living footballers). They were the only women present on this list.
the USWNT has appeared 5 times in the Women's World cup, winning the first ever Women's World Cup in China in 1991. They later won again as the host country in 1999 in a penalty shootout against China, drawing a crowd of 90,000 in the Rose Bowl - the largest attendance for any women's sporting event. Brandi Chastain, after scoring the winning penalty, famously celebrated by removing her shirt - making global headlines.
The USWNT is one of only two teams to have held the top ranking spot in the FIFA Women's World Rankings. The other is Germany. The lowest the USWNT has ever ranked is 2nd.
In 2004, after the Olympic win, the USWNT went on a "farewell tour" of the USA to commemmorate the Gold Medal, as well as to say good-bye to legends Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy (captain) and Joy Fawcett. (I actually remember this...it's only 3 players that retired but it was hugely significant for the sport and the team. The Olympic win meant so much to them, something to end their careers on. It was kind of the end of an era for the team, though they have certainly not declined from there, but the sport is young enough that these women really were some of the first 'legends' and their retirment was important).
Biggest Win: 12-0 against Martinique, 1991
Biggest Loss: 0-4 against Brazil, 2007 (sparking the Hope Solo controversy...she felt slighted at having not been chosen over senior goalkeeper Briana Scurry, and spoke out after the match. She has since managed to mostly live this down, and is regarded as one of the best female goalkeepers in the sport).
Top Scorers:
- Mia Hamm (158)
- Kristine Lilly (130)
- Abby Wambach (109)
- Michelle Akers (105)
- Tiffeny Milbrett (100)
Most Caps:
- Kristine Lilly (347)
- Mia Hamm (275)
- Julie Foudy (271)
- Joy Fawcett (239)
- Christie Rampone (217)
Notable Players:
Kristine Lilly: with 347 caps to her name, playing from 1987 to the present,
she is the only player of either gender to reach over 300 caps, and is the most capped player, male or female, in the history of the sport. She is now 39 years old and plays for the Boston Breakers. She was one of the first players to play in the WUSA, the first paid women's league, founded in 2001. In her first season with the Boston Breakers
she played every minute of every game (a feat she has repeated in later seasons). In 2007 she became the first woman (and third player of either gender) to play in five World Cups, and by scoring in the WC2007, became the oldest woman to score in a World Cup.
Mia Hamm: now retired, Mia Hamm has
scored more international goals than any player in history (male or female). She was named FIFA Women's World Player of the Year the first two times the award was given (2001 and 2002). She retired in 2004 after the USWNT "Fan Tour" of the USA to commemmorate the Olympics win (and serve as a farewell to several other long-term team members and legends). In 2007 she was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. She was selected by Pele as one of the 125 best living players. At the age of 15, she became the youngest player to play for the USWNT, and at 19 became the youngest to win a World Cup. She is possibly the most well-known female football player.
Michelle Akers: missed the first ever USWNT match in 1985 due to an ankle injury, but played the second and scored the 2nd goal in the history of the program. She won several tournaments with the team, and in 1998 was awarded FIFA's highest honour, the FIFA Order of Merit, for her contribution to the sport. She retired in 2000 and has since continued to promote the sport in the USA. Along with Mia Hamm, she was the only other woman to be named to Pele's selection of 125 greatest living footballers. She was also inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
There are many more notable and legendary players, including Julie Foudy (captain, now retired, and a great commentator), Christie Rampone, Brandi Chastain, Briana Scurry) as well as current players (Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, etc) but believe it or not I'm actually trying to keep this as brief as possible. If you're interested, look them up.
Of the USWNT 26-player roster, only one, Ali Krieger, does not play league football in the USA (she plays in Germany).
WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER (WPS): THE AMERICAN WOMEN'S LEAGUE: Consisting of 7 teams, WPS is the top of the pyramid of American professional women's leagues, attracting players from both the USA and abroad. All but one of the USWNT players play for a WPS team, as well as international stars such as Marta (and other members of the Brazilian national team), etc.
The WPS was created in 2007 to replace the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) which folded in 2003. In 2004, the Women's Soccer Initiative was founded, with the goal of "promoting and supporting all aspects of women's soccer in the United States." This included the founding of a new professional league. The WPS launch was pushed back from the original date in 2007 to avoid clashes with the Women's World Cup, and played its inaugural season in 2009. The league was announced in 2008, with 7 teams to begin. Mia Hamm is featured on the logo.
After the 2008 Olympics, player allocation begain with 21 USWNT members being allocated to the 7 teams, 3 players to each team. Players were generally allocated based on where they had previous connections (ex. Kristine Lilly, having already played in Boston, was allocated to the Boston Breakers). There was then a draft where each team could select four international players. Four of the first five selections were from Brazil: Marta, Formiga, Daniela, and Cristiane.
First Season: the inaugural game was played between the Los Angeles Sol and the Washington Freedom (Sol 2 - 0 Freedom) in front of a crowd of 14,000. The first season faced several ups and downs such as an uneven schedule due to the odd number of teams, low sponsorship, and injuries. The LA Sol ended up winning the league, and there is a feeling of general optimism about the league for the future.
The WPS has made efforts to be linked closely to its male equivalent, the MLS. It also plans to expand gradually in the future, hopefully including more teams and making more money.
The WPS season, like the MLS season, is currently in progress, with FC Gold Pride leading the league. The season began in April and runs through September 11, with playoffs beginning September 19. Matches are televised in the USA on various channels, the most common being Fox Soccer Channel.
For more information on WPS, go to its wikipedia page or the official website.
OTHER USA WOMENS LEAGUES: Though the WPS, the top leauge, consists of only 7 teams, there are other, lower-level women's leagues in the USA, under the US Soccer confederation. The second-tier, associated with the USL (including the men's league) is known as the W-League and consists of 29 teams in 5 divisions. It is widely recognised as the main developmental organisation for women's football in North America.
The W-League was established in 1995, playing on a single-tier system. In 1998 it became a two-tier league with W-1 and W-2, before reverting back to a single tier in 2002. Like the MLS, it is organised into conferences - groupings by region. It is an open league, meaning college-level players can play in this league alongside more experienced players, but still be eligible for college leagues.
the W-League also includes some teams from Canada, much like the MLS and USL.
Entertaining fact: the Seattle Sounders Women played against Seattle Sounders Men (before they expanded into the MLS), several years ago, and won. (There could have been other matchups like this with the other men's/women's teams, but I don't know about them...I just know this one because they were my local teams at one point).
There are a few other leagues on the women's football pyramid, but again if you want to know more you can look them up.
OTHER NOTABLE NATIONAL TEAMS:
I apologise for making this a less extensive section than that for the USWNT, but the USA does historically have the strongest women's team, and coupled with the WPS, has a very strong women's football program. Plus this post is ridiculously long anyways. If I do not include your national team, or something important about your national team, let me know and I'll try to add it in.
FIFA Women's World Rankings: - USA
- Germany
- Brazil
- Sweden
- Japan
GERMANY: the German Women's National Team played its first game in 1982. They are the only team besides the USA to have ever held the top spot in FIFA's World Rankings. Their lowest FIFA ranking was 3rd, behind Brazil. They are regarded as one of the greatest women's teams in the sport. Germany is the only country to have won the World Cup for both men and women. The only major title the German team has never won is the Olympic Gold Medal. The team is the first women's team to win consecutive world cup titles.
In 1955, Women's football was forbidden in West Germany, though informal matches were played in spite of the ban. The ban was lifted in 1970, though the DFB remained largely uninvolved in women's football. After a difficult start, partly due to the fact that women's football was largely frowned upon in Germany (even the coach was reluctant to take the job) the team eventually established its place as one of the greatest in the world.
Biggest Win: 13 - 0 against Portugal (2003)
Biggest Loss: 0 - 6 against the USA (1996)
Successes:
- World Cup 2003, 2007: Champions
- World Cup 1995: Runners Up
- Olympics 2000, 2004, 2008: Bronze Medalists
- European Championships 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009: Champions
Notable Player (yes there are more than one, but again, trying to keep this as brief as possible): Birgit Prinz. She is the current team captain and holds the national record for most caps (204) and most goals (126). She was the top scorer in WC2007, and has received the FIFA World Player of the Year award three times, second only to Marta (4 times).
BRAZIL:
The Brazil Women's National team played their first match in 1986, against the USA (they lost 1-2). They are currently ranked third in the world, their highest ever ranking being 2nd, their lowest 8th. They are the most successful South American women's team, having won the first four South-American Championships (though they came 2nd in 2006). They have appeared in all five women's World Cups, but have never won.
Biggest Win: 15 - 0 (Bolivia 1995, Peru 1998)
Biggest Loss: 0 - 6 against USA (1999)
Successes:
- World Cup 2007: Runners Up
- World Cup 1999: 3rd Place
- Sudamericano Femenino 1991, 1995, 1998, 2003: Champions
- Sudamericano Femenino 2006: Runners Up
- Olympics 2004, 2008: Silver Medalists
Notable Player: Marta. Currently playing in the WPS in the USA, Marta is the Brazil Women's Team highest goalscorer with 54 goals. She has been awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year 4 times, more than any other woman. In WC 2007 she won both the Golden Ball (best player) and Golden Boot (top scorer) awards.
ENGLAND: THE FA WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE
This is the women's counterpart to the renowned English Premier League, though it is not an entirely professional league. Most of the clubs are amateur or semi-professional affiliates of the men's teams. The league functions in a very similar way to the men's league, but
most of the players also have full-time jobs. By far the most successful club is
Arsenal Ladies, with 12 league championships out of 17 seasons. They have won the past seven championships, since 2003-04. They
have also won ten FA Woman's cups, ten Premier League Cups, and the UEFA Women's Champion's league. Founded in 1987 they are the most successful English Women's club. They have won the Double five times, the Treble three times.
Their most successful season was 2006-07 where they won the domestic Treble, the UEFA Women's Champions League, and were not only Invincible but won every Premier League game they played. (I would mention other clubs, but Arsenal Ladies really are by far the most successful)
Cesc Fabregas said that if the Arsenal Ladies and Tottenham's first team played each other: 'They would do really well. I'm sure they would get a point!' He was unclear, however, as to which team would be lucky to get the point ;)
Edit: here are a few videos of women being awesome at football. Thanks to
teenny for finding these.
Basically, women's football does exist, at high levels, and it's usually just as entertaining to watch as men's football. Unfortunately it is underrepresented and underfunded, and many people take no interest whatsoever. Which is sad, and should change. So next summer, an odd-numbered year, you should definitely try watching the Women's World Cup.
If I have left anything out which you consider important, please let me know and I'll do my best to add it in.
