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Arlington Soccer Association: Rec, Teen & Travel soccer in Arlington, VA

U15Boys Strikers Red win Region 1 Colonial League

After a slow start to their Region I Colonial League campaign this spring, U15B Strikers Red compiled a 4-1-2 to win the Blue Division and advanced to the Championship game against Red Division leader Philadelphia Soccer Club (PSC) Coppa Arsenal in Kirkwood, DE on 12 May.  Strikers faced several injury challenges this spring and came into the match with only 2 subs.

Strikers went down 0-1 to the Eastern PA State Cup finalist after approximately 10 minutes, and then faced an additional hurdle after a red card was shown, leaving Strikers down a man and a goal.  It was a this point that Strikers began to assert themselves.  Players demonstrated tremendous courage in cutting out attacks and making timely forays towards the PSC goal, before finally being rewarded with an opportunity to draw even from the spot early in the second half.  The score now even, Strikers continued to press and found another break when a PSC fullback found his way into the referee’s book to make the match 10 against 10.  The Arlington side created several opportunities to take a lead, but a tremendous display from PSC saw the statistically strongest defense in the Colonial League continue to turn away the league’s most explosive attack.  The match entered overtime where the exhausted players fought to find the strength to press onward.

Arlington benefited from a straight red card issued to PSC, which placed the sides at 10 against 9, and then courageously raised the level as PSC bunkered down for the remaining minutes and the ensuing penalty shootout.

Arlington’s best, last chance came as a Striker weaved through the defense and felled the goalkeeper, only for the final effort to be swept off of the goal line by a sliding PSC defender.  In penalty kicks, Strikers created an early cushion with 2 saves before parity was restored, which required sudden death spot kicks.  When PSC hit the post, Arlington stroked home the winner to claim the Colonial League championship and the added bonus of automatic entry into the prestigious Region I Premier League next spring at U16.

Strikers Red are coached by Chris Smith and Matt Miller.  Congratulations to Strikers Red!

Travel Coaching staff for 2012-13 soccer year announced

State Cup successes for ASA teams this past weekend!

ASA is thrilled to have 4 Travel Program teams still in the running for Virginia State Cup titles. We have two teams already set to play in the Semi-finals on May 19th in Virginia Beach.  Congratulations to the U14 Girls Rowdies Red and the U12 Boys Eagles Red for advancing.

The U14 Girls Rowdies Red had a difficult road to the semis by having to beat two higher seeded teams.  They first met the 5th seeded Richmond Kickers in the first round and won 2-1 in Richmond.  This past weekend they beat the 4th seeded Roanoke Elite team 1-0 again on the road.  Congratulations to the Rowdies Red and their coach, Luis Gendive.

The U12 Boys Eagles Red have won 3 games so far to get to the semis.  The first win was against LOUD 99 Black followed by a win against BRYC 99 Elite.  And then this past Saturday (5/5) in penalty kids against the VBTS Beach FC in Virginia Beach.  Congratulations to all the Eagle Red players and their coach, Jawed Sanie.

State Cup Games May 12th  at Gunston MS in Arlington – Don’t Miss Them!

We have two teams scheduled to play May 12th in Arlington.  The U13 Boys Attack Red will play at Noon at Gunston MS against NVSC Junior Royals 98 Blue.  The defending State Cup champs U14 Boys Impact Red will follow this game against the FCR Magic 97 from Richmond at 2pm.  Wins on Saturday will advance our teams to the Semi-finals joining the Rowdies and Eagles.  Come out and support our teams this weekend and see some great soccer!

Call for ASA Board candidates

Elections for the ASA Board will be held at ASA’s annual meeting in late June.

The terms of Board members Ken Bass, Bob Waffle, and Devin Corini expire this year.  Each is planning to stand for election again, but we encourage other interested candidates to come forward and express interest.

Please contact the Chair of Nominations Committee, Kirk Leach, at roadrunnerecuador@yahoo.com with any questions or to have a candidate form sent to you.  Individuals must inform Kirk of their interest in becoming candidates by May 21, 2012.

Silent Soccer weekend coming for U8s and older – info and rules listed here

Rec and Teen soccer matches this weekend (May 5 & 6) will be played under Silent Soccer rules.  Here’s what you need to know!

The reason for Silent Soccer is to let the kids enjoy the game of soccer and make decisions on their own.  During the ‘silent’ game, coaches should only provide positive and encouraging feedback and allow players the time to work through issues on the field.  Parents should support their players and teams in non-verbal ways, and not by intruding in the game.  As ASA’s Technical Director Bob Bigney has stated, Let them play!

From the American Youth Soccer Organization’s wiki, here’s a solid explanation:

Common to all the forms of Silent Soccer is the key message let the kids play. While the practice does remove positive cheering of the kids accomplishments from the field, the goal is to make parents aware that the kids can play without their coaching, yelling, and other disruptive influences during play. At any age. So we remove all voices coming from off the field for this one day.

AYSO already adopts slogans like “(Let the) Players Play, Coaches Coach and Parents Cheer”. Or only Soft, Occasional, Strategic along with Positive, Instructional and Encouraging (P.I.E.) coaching from one coach on each team. And we all know that in any soccer, but especially youth soccer, referee’s calls cannot be questioned, argued or discussed with the referee team during a game; period. So what is Silent Soccer to achieve if this is already stressed in our regions and programs?

Silent Soccer goes a step further. By making everyone be quiet who is not on the field, everyone can finally hear what is happening on the field. What a concept! They can hear how supportive and talkative the referees really are with the kids. Or how the referee tells the players they see a trifling or advantage foul. How they warn the kids of behavior approaching a problem. Most importantly, they can hear how the kids support each other as teammates — whether tactically or in sportsmanship for making or missing a great play. Coaches can bite their tongue, as oft needed, and watch the game and share in the triumphs and failures of their team with the parents as it becomes a learning experience for all. That is, be supportive of letting the players act instead of overly controlling of how you want them to act. We go from being Marionette coaches to observers of the great game with our kids.

Simply put, the objectives of Silent Soccer are:

• To emphasize that the game is about letting the kids play and have fun
• To give the players a chance to play totally on their own
• To help the few parents and coaches who feel they must provide constant direction understand how disruptive it is
• To show all parents that the kids can play well on their own with limited instruction

Spectators — We request that you make no verbal comments about the game or direct any comments to the players or referees (or coaches) on or off the field. Clapping IS allowed! Be creative in how you choose to cheer your child’s team – make signs to hold up or bring a rally towel in the team’s color and wave it wildly. There are lots of ways to cheer other than verbally. But please no noise makers and especially no whistles. Often field permits for these school fields surrounded by neighborhoods will not support artificial noise makers. Especially no compressed air horns.

Coaches — It is recommended that you do not provide any direction – verbal or non-verbal – to players who are on the field. You may speak quietly to any players on the bench and have a conversational discussion about the game with the players before and after the game, and during halftime. If absolutely required, rarely and quietly call a player on the field to the touchline to provide tactical instruction while the game is in play. Just like you are allowed to do during a normal game.  Then let the player convey the message to his team.

Players — You are encouraged to speak to each other on the field as normal.  You are free to support each other and provide direction to each other.  Substitute players on the bench must be quiet as well and not cheer or provide tactical instruction to their teammates. Lest they simply replace the coach or act on his behest.

Referees — For this special day, referees are being asked to remind the spectators and coaches about these guidelines.  Continue to verbalize often during the game as you normally would and do not to be concerned about the fact they can now hear you off the field as well. You are there to help the players have a safe, fair and fun time.

Let’s always encourage and support our players while they are learning and playing the game, but for this one weekend, “Mums the Word”

Join us at ASA Night with DC United on May 19

Saturday, May 19 is ASA Night with DC United.  Join us at RFK, enjoy the game and represent your club.  This is a great team event for the Spring!

Details: Saturday May 19, 7:30pm kickoff.  Opponent: Toronto FC

Join your fellow teammates for a chance to play on RFK’s pitch before the match.  Experience the game with field level access.  Enjoy other opportunities, including:

• Play on the Pitch
• Player Escorts
• High Five Tunnel
• Flag Carriers

Come out to the game, tailgate prior, and represent ASA by wearing your team jersey or warmups! To buy individual tickets, click on the image above.  For group ticket sales or to ask about fun opportunities like those listed above, please contact Scott Miller, ASA’s DC United Rep, at 202-587-5435 or smiller@dcunited.com.

ASA Office wins Silver Award in Inaugural Arlington Green Games competition

Competing in the inaugural Arlington Green Games competition (2011), ASA won a Silver Award for its efforts.

This award recognizes improvements in office practices in seven different areas:

energy, transportation, waste, water, materials, employees and outreach, and innovation.  Along with other award winners, ASA was recognized at the Green Games Awards Event in late March at Arlington’s Artisphere.

More info is available at the press release linked here.

Thanks to ASA’s staff and other office users / visitors for helping ASA improve it’s green practices and reduce emissions!

ASA seeks candidates for Director of Travel Coaching opportunity

As we plan for the late Spring departure of our Director of Coaching, Grant Smith, we also are pursuing candidates to replace Grant.

The Search Committee has developed a job description describing the new opportunity, and we will be posting this job on a number of soccer sites.  We also have asked our staff and our coaches to forward the description to any applicable would-be candidates.  Over time, ASA has developed a strong network amongst the area’s coaching community, and we are confident that the news of this opportunity will travel quickly.  If you know of anyone who is a likely candidate, please urge them to review our posting (linked below) and to apply for this position.

We are seeking to start interviews in mid-March, and we hope to have the new Director start with us by June 1 at the latest.

The full job posting is linked here.

2012 edition of the ASIST brings 297 teams to play soccer in Arlington

The Arlington Spring Invitational Soccer Tournament (ASIST) celebrates its 7th year this weekend!

This is our largest event to date with 297 teams participating.  The ASIST is one of the most competitive youth soccer tournaments on the East Coast, featuring teams from Arlington and the DC Metro area plus teams from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Quebec, Canada will be playing.  The Empire Soccer Club from NY is bringing 21 teams from Western NY.

DC United will again have a strong presence at Long Bridge Park, featuring:

• Professional Sales Table with STH Info, First Kick cards, Coaches/kids Day cards, and Youth Groups
• DCU Pinwheel – Prizes Include Water bottles, Baseball Hats, and Bobble Heads
• Grand Prize Winner will receive two (2) tickets to our match against FC Dallas on Friday, March 30 at 7:30pm

Full tourney info and schedules are posted here. The Girls teams play this weekend.  Proceeds from this event provide playing opportunities for many Arlington area kids; this event essentially funds our Travel program’s Financial Aid process.

Games played in Arlington include:
U10 – Long Bridge Park, U11 Long Bridge Park, U12 TJ Lower, Virginia Highlands, and Marymount, U13 Wakefield HS, U14 Greenbrier Park, and U15 Washington Lee HS, and Long Bridge Park.  Full field directions are available here.

Featured Games for March 10th:

U13 Premier: Bethesda Academy 98 vs.Empire Syracuse (state champ), 10am Ft. Ward Park Alexandria
U11 Premier: Arlington Comets Red vs. Empire Rochester 11am, Long Bridge Park 3B
U14 Premier: Arlington Rowdies Red vs. ODFC Revolution 1pm, Greebrier Park (Yorktown HS)
U15 Premier: Arlington Atletica Red vs. HSC Lady Hawks (state finalist), 2:30pm, Washington Lee HS
U14 Premier: Richmond Kickers Elite v. Empire Rochester (state champ), 4pm Greenbrier Park (Yorktown HS)

Field directions are listed here.

Come on out and support the event and support your Arlington teams!  If you encounter other tournament participants, please offer them a courteous greeting and help them enjoy our event.

ASA teams wins sportsmanship awards for Fall 2011 play

Congratulations are in order for some ASA teams that have received sportsmanship awards from their respective leagues!

Arlington’s Rowdies Blue (U14 Girls) and Eagles Black (U12 Boys) both won the ODSL’s Randy Rawls Sportsmanship Award for the Fall of 2011.  This is a great recognition for our team’s hard work and fair play attitudes.  This is also a reflection of a great group of parents who stay positive on the sidelines!  One team from each division is granted this prestigious award based upon voting by the teams in their division.

The winning teams will be honored at the ODSL Preseason Meeting on March 25, 2012 and will be presented with a team trophy and individual awards for the players and coaches.

Elsewhere, Arlington’s Flame and Blast (both U16 Girls) won the WAGS Sportsmanship Award for Fall 2011 play in their respective divisions.  The teams were given this award after being nominated by other teams in their divisions.  The teams will be presented with a check to commemorate this achievement.

Congratulations to these teams, and thanks for representing Arlington in such a positive fashion!

ASA coach wins VYSA Coach of the Year Award; reception set to celebrate award

ASA’s Grant Smith has won the 2011 VYSA Boys Competitive Coach of the Year award, and we’re going to celebrate!

Grant had an outstanding 2011, and he’ll receive his award on February 3rd in Richmond, VA at the Virginia Youth Soccer Association Convention.  For Arlington-area folks, ASA is hosted a reception for anyone who wants to come by and give Grant an “attaboy” or some other comment of choice.

What:  Congratulations Reception for Grant – with appetizers and a cash bar

When:  5 to 7pm on Sunday, January 29th

Where: Whitlow’s on Wilson (map link here) in the Sandbar Room

Who:  Anyone interested in saying “good job!” to Grant.  Players are welcome to attend.  No need to RSVP.  We hope to see you then!

This award is based on the nominee’s success in 4 areas: sportsmanship, player development, personal coaching development & community involvement.  Grant’s award reflects the following year in soccer for Grant:

-         Served as assistant coach for Virginia’s ’95 ODP boys team that won the national championship title in March.

-         Served as head coach of Arlington’s U13 Boys team, Impact Red, who won the State Cup this Spring, as well as finished  first in NCSL’s Division 1.

-          Grant took over as head coach for the ODP ’95 boys team who played for the national title under Grant’s leadership.

-          Grant led Impact Red to a sweep of preliminary games in the Region 1 Cup competition, and into the championship game, where his injury-depleted squad finished as runners-up.

-          Over Labor Day weekend, Impact Red won the top flight of the OBGC Capital Cup and became the number one ranked team for their age group in the nation on GotSoccer.

-          Grant continues to coach the ODP boys ’95 state team, as well as the ’99 boys district team, and Impact Red has succeeded in its first season in the newly formed VCCL North league.

 

ASA teams admitted to prestigious Region I competition

Congratulations to the following ASA teams for gaining admission to Region I play!

Based on their record of play, each team was granted admission to prestigious Region I league play this Winter/Spring.  The Region I Colonial League is available ONLY to those teams within the following State Associations of Region I:

Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York West, Pennsylvania West, Virginia, West Virginia

Representing ASA in the Colonial League are U15 Girls Athletica Red, U15 Boys Strikers Red, U16 Girls Flame, and U16 Boys Suprema Inferno.

The Region I Premier League is for the top sixteen teams through out the Region in the U14 to U18 age groups for both girls and boys. The competition is designed to allow the very best teams in Region I to play each other in a league format. With only sixteen positions available in any age group through out the Region, entry into the league is competitive.

Representing ASA in the Premier League is the U14 Boys Impact Red.

 

Congrats to all participants and good luck!

Rec playing rules by age group – including REVISED U8 rules – online for your reference

• 

• All News
  • U15Boys Strikers Red win Region 1 Colonial League
  • Travel Coaching staff for 2012-13 soccer year announced
  • Call for ASA Board candidates
  • Join us at ASA Night with DC United on May 19
  • ASA Office wins Silver Award in Inaugural Arlington Green Games competition
  • Concussion awareness – Information available to all parents, coaches and players
  • Rec playing rules by age group – including REVISED U8 rules – online for your reference
  • ASA opens the E-store with Score sportswear!
  • Player Safety Policies document (UPDATED) – a must-read for all ASA parents and coaches (please)
  • ASA car magnets are now for sale
  • ASA Apparel is available, including new ASA polo shirts
  • ASA is on Facebook and Twitter