Thoughts from the General Manager
State Cup is in the Air!  Can you smell it? 

The end is finally near or you may think it is the end.  You can feel the tension in the air with the upcoming State Cup.  Teams are preparing for competition, training harder, getting organized, and concentrating on defending and scoring goals.  Even I had trouble training teams Thursday night as I was caught watching our U16 Yellow girls team defeat Birmingham in a “play in” game securing their slot in the State tournament.  There is no doubt the following weeks will be filled with joy and misery. 

State cup can not be seen as the end of the journey.  For the older teams, it is simply part of the journey that determines which path you will follow in the coming months.  With our younger players, it is a chance to play new teams, have fun, and maybe win that coveted but elusive trophy.  All of which will be forgotten by the time they get to school the next day.

As we approach the Cup, I want to remind everyone from our staff down to our players and parents that we will always maintain a professional attitude during these competitions.  The pressure is quite enough without the added burden of unruly sideline behavior, barking coaches (me included) and the referee that will catch a cold before he actually catches a proper offsides call.  Many of our teams train very hard to capture that State title.  This goal is just that – a goal.  It is not a measure of our success as a player, team, or club.  Sure, there are absolute bragging rights at stake but our mission is to ensure our players and teams are better now than they were when we started last summer. 

Let’s keep everything in perspective over the next several weeks.  Let’s rally behind our players and coaches to support their efforts.  Let’s remember that the newly formed HSC has emerged as the strongest and most talented club in North Alabama and continues to provide the best soccer education possible to our youth players.

See you on the field,

General Manager and DOCO, Huntsville Soccer Club

Happy Birthday!
Jozy Altidore 11/6/89
Rio Ferdinand 11/7/78
Jan Vennegoor 11/7/78
Joe Cole  11/8/81
Ryan Giggs  11/29/73

D1 Sports Training/Therapy and Huntsville Soccer Club are excited to announce an exclusive offer for HSC athletes.  In an effort to fully prepare the athlete to perform at his or her peak performance level, D1 Sports Training/Therapy and Huntsville Soccer Club are offering a unique 3 month training program.
D1 Letter
Team Program
Fall 2008 Schedule

Most International Caps (Female):
The greatest number of international appearances by a woman for a national team is officially 319 by Kristine Lilly (USA) from 1987-2007.  Source:  Guinness World Records

 
What is the HEROES program offered by HSC?

For the past five years, HSC has offered HEROES soccer. This program is sponsored by Desmond Armstrong’s soccer club, run and staffed by HSC, and registered through US Club Soccer.  This allows HSC to provide soccer opportunities through a different registering authority, which allows our program to include anyone interested in spring soccer for high school aged players.  This fills a need in our community for those players who are home schooled, attend a high school that does not offer a soccer program, may not be eligible to play for their school, or desire a higher level of training to prepare for the regional tournament or other regional and national opportunities.

Make no mistake; we do support high school soccer! However, as a soccer club we are responsible for providing soccer to those who cannot or choose not to play high school soccer.  The HEROES program has been very successful in exposing our players to college level play and college recruiting.  Many of our players have been identified and recruited by college coaches in connection with our team.  Players are also given the opportunity to meet college coaches, discuss their programs, and conduct campus tours educating the players on the various levels of college soccer and how to find the right college for you academically.

The HEROES season will mirror the high school season.  The spring team will train 3 times a week. In addition, through our partnership with D1 Sports, a weight training/core strengthening and speed/agility program will compliment the soccer training schedule.

The season will consist of friendlies in St. Louis, college showcase tournaments, and playing college teams. Due to a change in NCAA regulations last year we were only able to play college teams in an indoor tournament.  This year, we are hopeful that will change with the addition of our new TDOC who would be able to schedule games with college teams.  The HEROES team will initially be coached by DOC – Marty Clark and taken over by the new TDOC once hired. 

More details will follow, but any questions may be directed to Christie Clark, HEROES Liaison & Administrator.

	MY SOCCER TEAM By Ali Thomas (HSC 99 Arsenal) We have a Great Coach!             And We’re all Best Friends! When we Play, We hope it Never ENDS! We’re out to Win! But we really love to Run             And Have lots of Fun! We pass to each other             And Make a Dream Team! But what makes us Special Is We Always Play With             Our Head, Heart, and Feet!             And WOW, that’s Neat!
U8 YTS Kick Arounds will be held once a month in December, January & February

You may have heard, or seen on the website that HSC 92 Blue player, Zach Clark was named to the ODP Regional team.  Zach, a junior at Grissom High School was recently notified that he had been selected to compete in the Disney Showcase over the Christmas holidays.  The Disney Showcase is one of the most recruited events in soccer for college coaches as well as coaches for the U.S. Men’s National team.  For Zach, this is just the completion of one more step on the path he has laid out for himself.  Zach’s playing career already includes 3 international appearances and he has participated in camps at Brad Freidel’s Premier Soccer Academy.

Although Zach would like to be selected for the National team pool, he realizes that college would probably be the next best step for him before pursuing a pro-soccer career.  He has made no firm college plans yet but says he likes what he sees at Clemson.  So far, long term goals have kept Zach from playing for Grissom but he hopes to rectify that before graduation.  Zach will keep a journal chronicling his experience at the Disney Showcase which will be featured in an upcoming Newsletter.  Good Luck Zach!

Huntsville Soccer Club - Indoor League and Group Technical Skills Training
December 2009 - February 2009

Huntsville Soccer Club will offer an indoor soccer league from the first of December until the first of February at the SE YMCA. In addition, technical skills training will be available. Both programs will focus on Futsal style of play to encourage and improve ball control and ball handling.  A minimum number of players/teams per age will be needed for group training and league play.

INDOOR LEAGUE:  U9 – U14 Teams will play in 30- minute games on Fridays. HSC players can join as a team or as individuals to be placed on a team. AYSO, Club or school-affiliated teams/players may also join the league.  League schedule will be published after program sign-up deadline (November 24) with the goal of 6 games for each team.

TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING:   50-minute sessions for technical skills training per age group will be offered by Huntsville Soccer Club coaches on Tuesday evenings.

Location: SE YMCA, on Weatherly Road.

Costs
League Play: $30 per player
Tuesdays Technical Skills Training: $60 per player
League Play and Tuesday Technical Skills Training: $80 per player

League Play 5:30 – 9:00                    Group Technical Skills Training 6:00-9:00
Fridays                                                          Tuesdays
Dec 5, 12, 19                                                   Dec. 2,9,16
Jan 9, 16, 23, 30                                              Jan 6,13,20,27
Feb 6                                                               Feb 3

Questions or Sign up by contacting Dana Staples