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Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Club

Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Club

News Detail

5

Jul, 2018

Interview with Director of Tournament

How long have you been with the club?

22 years with the club and I had four children go through the program.  I got involved with the club in 1996, we moved from Virginia, my oldest son Mike who was 9 years old then, was playing soccer and continued to play through the age of 24 with the Bolingbrook soccer club, even in the adult league, which I either was the coach or assisted.  At the time there was only 3 boys travel teams and the 4th team was being formed which was a U9 team which he joined that same season.  We signed him up originally for the Rec program in 1996 and the board recruited me to be a coach.  My daughter Deanna who was 7 at the time started playing on a team and I coached her rec team as well, she too eventually played travel off and on until she was 17.  In 2001, I was fortunate to start the clubs first ever U8 boys team with my third child Matt, where we were a top team in NISL for a few years.   I was able to coach him for 6 years.  Matt was also in the very first little kickers program in the club on Friday nights.  Then came my youngest daughter (Lexi).  I coached her U8 girls’ team in 2004, all the way through the age of 18.  We were able to enjoy being one of the top five teams in the state and a seven time consecutive BSC Labor day tournament winner, typically playing a year up. 

The club for our family started in Indian boundaries all the way until 2002, when the Lily Cache East fields where built and we moved to the wonderful new location that had lights on the fields.  Back then, we practiced in open fields like Ballstrode Park and turned car lights on to get extra playing time in.  In Indian Boundaries, parents use to help drag out and set up the goal posts for the fields weekly.  In doing this, we got to work with the board members closely and this is how I was introduced to the board and in 2002, they asked me to help as an assistant tournament director for our Labor Day soccer tournament, which I was able to help until 2010.  In 2006, I became tournament director all the way to 2010.  In 2008, we were the pilot program for a group called “gotsoccer.com” and in 2016 I was again nominated to the board as a tournament director.  We also started GK camps in 2007 at the club.  Which was important as this was the first time for our clubs goalies to get formal training as a group.  In 2012 a couple of parents to help coach their girls’ team, which was U08 at the time, approached me and now we are playing at the U12 level.  I love the sport, the kid’s smiles, the excitement of the wins and losses, but mostly the wonderful families and people.  You do not get this atmosphere in other clubs it is all about the business in those clubs in my opinion. 

What was your impression of the club before you joined, and you became a board member?

When we moved we just wanted to enroll my son in soccer and we found out from the Park district that the BSC soccer is a club that we can enroll our son.  My thoughts were that it was a small-town club and originally was looking at the Galaxy soccer club.  Being from Virginia and Germany, where I played in bigger clubs I was skeptical of this club.  However, because they had the same beliefs in soccer as I did, which was; it should be a fun family atmosphere, with good friendships and not just about money, we decided to try it.  The people were very friendly in the club; hence, I got involved and have been for the past 22 years. 

What vision do you have for the club?

I would like to see Raiders climb to become the top club in the state with its parent volunteer program.  I have seen so many clubs bought by others and/or disappear by going away from the parent volunteer beliefs.  We are truly one of very few clubs that allow players to play for their parents and are one of a kind in the Chicagoland soccer family.

What wishes do you want to see come true for the club?

I would like to see a more rounded program to help improve the view of our team talents and have the respect our club deserves from other clubs.  To continue to provide a place where families that cannot afford to pay huge fees can still have a place for the child to play and compete at top levels with their friends.

Fun Memories to share?

The most fun for me is when I see kids that I have coached in the past, now are coaches as well; this gives me a great deal of pleasure to see that we had an impact on these kids.  Along with all the great relationships, we have had, with all the families that have come through the program.  It has been a great place for my family, our friends, and me.  I truly have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the Club.

Contact

Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Club
325 Cornerstone Lane 
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802

Phone: 540-383-6341
Email: [email protected]

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