Chesterfield United Soccer club looks to make a splash

Chesterfield United Soccer Club has expanded south and are looking to make a big splash in the Tri Cities.  Over the last two years, Chesterfield United has experienced phenomenal, climbing from 25 to 38 travel teams in the space of just 2 years as well as increasing their UDP program numbers from 2 to 200 annually.

"I feel that Chesterfield United has transformed itself into a club that people want to be a part of.  We feel that the environment we look to create, along with our curriculum and developmental structure, allows for players to thrive and we are excited to build this structure within the tri cities area."-Pat McStay, Technical Director

The two new programs being offered will start this March and registration is going on now at www.chesterfieldunited.com.

Chesterfield United Technical Director, Pat McStay w/Marta at 2013 NSCAA Convention

A New and Improved Recreational program based out of Richard Bland College

All practices and games will be played out of Richard Bland College. Richard Bland College located on the border of Prince George and Dinwiddie County just south of Petersburg.  7 games will be guaranteed plus 6 weeks of FREE Friday Night Skills Nights.  The skills nights will serve as both a fun environment for the players of our new rec program to learn and improve, but also as coaching education sessions for recreational coaches.

"It's important that the coaches learn during these skills clinics.  This will be the basis for their practices and will be a chance for the coaches to become educated in the sport.  A lot of times recreational coaches are left on their own.  As volunteers, we feel that they are extremely important to the success of this new program, so we plan to put a lot of time and energy into properly educating them."-Miquel Casajuana, Director of Richard Bland Rec Soccer

On top of the 7 games, practices, and free skills nights, each player will receive season passes to all Chesterfield United Semi Pro games played at Ft. Lee this summer as well as free coaching education and practice plans each season. For more information about recreational soccer at Richard Bland, please email Miquel Casajuana at mcasajuana@chesterfieldunited.com.

A new branch of the club's development program called UDP which will be out of Ettrick Park

The primary goal of the program is to act as a transitional link between Recreational and Travel soccer, which will create the perfect learning environment for players to progress through our club's stages of development.

If you would like your child to receive enhanced skills training and to be involved in an educational experience that inspires players to be creative, perform with confidence, and to have fun while improving their overall soccer game and taking it to the next level then sign up for the United Developmental Program.

“The United Developmental Program is a great way for young players to learn all the fundamental technical skills needed to play travel soccer in a fun environment” commented Matt Lacey, Director of Player Development. “This is a great way to continue the growth between Recreational and Travel soccer. We all feel here at the club that with this program the future is very bright for our young soccer players”.

Sessions for United Developmental Program teams will be held twice a week and will consist of age specific technical training and small sided scrimmages. Professional and Licensed coaches from within the United FC Staff will conduct all sessions and monitor the progress of each player.  For more information about UDP, please contact Matt Lacey at mlacey@chesterfieldunited.com.

Wambach beats out Marta, teammate Alex Morgan to win FIFA Women's World Player of the Year

ussoccer.com News Release:

U.S. WNT FORWARD ABBY WAMBACH NAMED FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR;
PIA SUNDHAGE NAMED WORLD COACH OF THE YEAR FOR WOMEN'S SOCCER

 

Alex Morgan Voted Third in Women's World Player of the Year Voting;
Wambach's Honor Marks Third Time American Woman Named World Player of the Year
Following Mia Hamm's 2001 and 2002 Selections

 

CHICAGO (Jan. 7, 2013) - Abby Wambach, the co-captain of the U.S. Women's National Team, has been named the 2012 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, and Pia Sundhage, who led the USA to the 2012 Olympic gold medal, has been named the 2012 World Coach of the Year for Women's Soccer.

• Quote Sheet
• Wambach Climbs the Charts
• Sundhage Wins in Final U.S. WNT Game | Pia Plays Her Final Encore

Wambach and Sundhage received the awards today at the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich, Switzerland, as the world's governing body for soccer held its annual event. Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina was named the FIFA World Player of the Year for the fourth year in a row.

USWNT Fight Back, Silince Critics



Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

 After all the unbelievable drama surrounding the 2011 Women's World Cup Quarterfinal match between the U.S. and Brazil it all came down to one play and one player who always seems to find herself right in the middle of most USWNT drama - goalkeeper, Hope Solo.

With quite possibly the most important penalty kick save in women's soccer history, Solo and the rest of the U.S. women not only silenced the many critics but also helped bring soccer back into the American conscious.

U.S. head coach PIA SUNDHAGE

On the drama of the match:

“I have no words. Phenomenal. The goal and then the PKs. Someone is writing this book. There is something about the American attitude to find a way to win. Unbelievable.“

With a slow start to this years World Cup Abby Wambach has now scored in two straight matches including her header that secured the tie for the Americans and kept them alive.

Abby Wambach On her goal:

“It was a perfect ball. (Megan Rapinoe) got an opportunity down the left flank and sent the ball in. It just popped over that defender's head. I was sitting on that back post. I’m so happy it went in.”

Now needing to beat France on Wednesday to advance to the Championship match of this years Women's World Cup in Germany, the USWNT will hope to ride the confidence earned from their amazing and surely instant classic win over 5-time FIFA Women's Player of The Year Marta and an always formidable opponent in Brazil.

The match will be July 13, 2011 on ESPN at 11:30 p.m.

Beat Brazil, Marta and USWNT advance to Semis

It is not an easy task by any measure but the equation is simple - beat Marta (click HERE to see what the U.S. defense faces) and Brazil to advance to the semi-final round of the 2011 Women's World Cup. Now all U.S. Head Coach Pia Sundhage has to do is figure out how to stop slow down 5-time FIFA Women's World Player of the year. Or, in the words of ESPN sportscenter anchors, you can't stop her you can only hope to contain her.

Sundhage On the USA's quarterfinal match with Brazil:


“What we will talk about from now on is playing in the final. In order to play in the final we need to step up and be sharper with our chances. We start with Brazil. That will motivate the players more and this is a big chance.”
 
This is not the easiest way to win a third Women's World Cup for the USWNT but it may be just the medicine this team needs. A win against a very strong Brazilian side would immediately pay dividends to boosting the confidence of the U.S. women (even though they say they already are confident).

The history is there for the Red, White, and Blue as well as for goalkeeping standout Hope Solo with the team having beat Brazil 1-0 to win the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal in China.

Solo On facing Brazil in the quarterfinal:


"We knew it could happen. Brazil's a great team with great individual players. Of course they have the best individual player [Marta] but there are holes. You can find holes in their defense and their midfield and there's space to play. If we come to play and play as a team we can come out on top. If we play well we can really take it to Brazil."
 
The U.S. plays Brazil July 10 in Dresded, Germany. The game will be on ESPN at 11 a.m.

BREAKING NEWS! Washington Freedom to Cease Opperations

The website: equalizersoccer.com is reporting that two more WPS franchises have folded. The Washington Freedom as well as defending champion FC Gold Pride.

Sadley for the WPS for the second season in a row the defending champion team will not be around to defend their title.

http://vasoccernews.blogspot.com/2010/09/top-3-obstacles-for-wps-success.html

I may have seen this coming from FC Gold Pride due to their geographic location on the west coast when all other WPS teams are aligned more closely to the east coast but the Washington Freedom folding is somewhat of a surprise.

I just recently spoke with Freedom GM Mark Washo for the story regarding their top offseason priorities and other than the fact that the current owners where looking to sell their ownership there was no indication given that the team was in perril. In fact they had just resigned star forward Abby Wambach.

http://vasoccernews.blogspot.com/2010/09/top-3-obstacles-for-wps-success.html

Is this the last hope for the WPS? And what where the owners of the newest expansion franchise in Western New York thinking when they decided to join the league.

*UPDATE - Nov. 2, The Washington Freedom released an official response: http://vasoccernews.blogspot.com/2010/11/message-from-freedom.html

Other Related Posts:

• Top 10 Offseason Priorities for Washington Freedom
• Abby Wambach returning to Wasington Freedom
• Top 3 Obsticles for WPS Success?

Top 3 Obstacles for WPS Success

On September 26, 2010 FC Gold Pride will host the WPS Championship game and the second WPS Champion will be crowned. For the second year in a row the best women’s soccer player in the world will be playing in the leagues championship game which will be shown live on Fox Sports Net.

For the WPS to have the sports best player and championship game broadcast live on television should indicate the Women’s league is on stable ground and poised to remain in existence. However following the 2009 season making the WPS championship game, being in the country’s second largest media market, and having Marta on their roster was not enough to keep the Los Angeles Sol from ceasing operations. Ending in nearly identical fashion for its second season, WPS will again showcase Marta on television battling for the championship on a team based in California.

With average per game attendance figures continuing to fall from 2009 to 2010 and having one of its teams (St. Louis Atletica) cease operations mid-season the focus is on how or if the league will survive.

The predecessor to the WPS, WUSA, completed just three full seasons before closing down shop. Even with the star power of the still popular Mia Hamm and her 1999 World Cup teammates the WUSA was unable to find the resources needed to be a profitable sports league in America.

  

Compare some of the issues that plagued the WUSA to those of the current incarnation of professional women’s soccer and you will see they are identical with one exception. The WUSA had much better attendance figures. In 2001, its inaugural season, the WUSA had an average of 8,116 per game which dropped to 6,667 per game in 2003 its final season. Currently the WPS is averaging 3,611 per game for the 2010 season, down 23% from the 4,684 in 2009.

Along with having much lower ticket sales than the WUSA, the WPS is facing three of the same demons that eventually forced the previous league out of the business of professional soccer in America. Other than PUMA the WPS faces a lack of major corporate sponsorships along with a lack of much needed television and media coverage. Combine the lack of much needed revenue from lowering ticket sales and sponsors and you can see how as a business the WPS may be in dire straits.

Already on the outside looking in, soccer in America is simply not as popular among professional sports as the ‘top three’ Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Although the participation numbers in youth soccer are near the top of any sport it has yet to translate to the numbers necessary to maintain a professional sports league. Major League Soccer has battled for recognition and respect as a league both in America and within the international soccer world. Even after 14 years in existence MLS struggles for its share of the professional sports market behind not just the three major sports but the NHL as well.

The obstacles are easily recognizable by all those involved in the WPS from the management level (GM’s) to the players on the field. I recently asked players, GM’s, and WPS employees past and present for the top 3 obstacles the WPS will need to overcome to become a financially profitable business and successful profession sports league. Not surprisingly most of them pointed out the following three areas the league will need to focus on immediately:

1. Increased ticket sales
2. The need for major sponsorship deals
3. Increased TV/Media coverage

If you are a fan of the WPS and professional women’s sports in general, do you think the WPS will be able to continue on for a third season and/or even surpass the 3 year mark of the WUSA? Do you believe our daughters or sisters in college, high school, and in the youth levels of soccer have a realistic dream of one day playing professional soccer in America whether in the WPS or some future version of the league?

---

References:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/wusa/2003-09-15-wusa-folds_x.htm
All White Kit WPS Article: Bruised Battered but still Kicking
WPS 2010 Schedule

Jenna Pel of All White Kit: An Interview With Becky Sauerbrunn

This interview is courtesy of Jenna Pel.
Jenna covers Women's soccer & WPS and runs the site http://www.allwhitekit.com/

The Washington Freedom defender will help hold down the back line of Marta’s XI in tonight’s All-Star Game. She discusses what makes Marta’s XI unique, why the Freedom concede late sometimes and why she looks forward to playing alongside Marta.

AWK: Do you know if Albertin’s playing with a 3 back system?

BS: It was picked so that teams could play in a 3-5-2 but our team somehow has more defenders than the other team.
AWK: I saw a lot of defenders making over-lapping runs and helping out in the attack.

BS: Yeah, I think some of are going to be midfielders too which would be really interesting.
AWK: What’s the main difference between Montoya’s style to [Freedom Coach] Jim Gabarra’s?

BS: It’s hard right now because this was kind of a fun, ‘get to know you’ practice but we actually did a lot of similar things. Small-sided possession, small-sided games, crossing, finishing, that kind of stuff. Technical stuff with just a little variation from what Jim does but not a huge difference at all.
AWK: So how has your team gelled so far?

BS: We definitely have more international players on our team so that’s going to make it a little more fun because everyone’s a little different and has their own style of soccer so it should be very entertaining.

AWK: Ok, so please don’t be offended by this question, but what the hell happened this past weekend against Philadelphia?

BS: As was seen in the Chicago game a week before, we get a lead in the first half and then we just can’t protect it. So there’s need be a mentality change or just some kind of shift in how we’re playing or what we’re thinking in the second half.
AWK: Is it fitness-related because I know the goals from Philadelphia came pretty late in the game?

BS: I don’t think it’s a fitness thing because our team is quite fit right now but I think we kind of wore ourselves thin in the first so we were kind of struggling in the second. But we’re definitely fit enough to play the full 90 plus some time. I just think it needs to be a mentality shift right now.
AWK: Your back four has improved dramatically from last year. You guys have been pretty rock solid up to this point. So what’s been the biggest catalyst for that change?

BS: I think we did a lot of work in the off-season watching European games and I think we studied a lot as a back line. And I think we learned a lot from what happened in the back line. We’re a little quicker to react to things that we didn’t react to last year.
AWK: And [Freedom goalkeeper] Erin McLeod has also seemed to improve a lot too.

BS: Yeah, Erin makes game saving saves all the time.
AWK: I think one of the biggest reasons for Washington’s success so far is having two holding midfielders Allie Long and Sarah Huffman. Do you think that tactical difference from last year has helped you? Especially because Huffman is practically a new player.

BS: I absolutely think so. When Allie gets stuck in she usually comes out with the ball. And then Huffy is always busy, always running, she’s got a great engine so she’s always closing down spaces. And that helps unbelievably with our back line because they’re always putting pressure on the ball so we don’t have to worry as much about them chipping balls over the backline. I think that’s been one of the major differences in not conceding as many goals as we did last year.
AWK: They really gives you six defenders, plus McLeod and I think that makes a huge difference.

BS: And even with [Homare] Sawa and Sonia [Bompastor] and Bev [Goebel] who was really come through a lot. They’re all very good at tackling and pressuring the ball so I think it’s just been a whole mentality shift that we just need to continue into the second half of games.
AWK: What do you look forward to the most from this whole experience?

BS: I’m just having fun playing with players I’ve never gotten to play with before. I’ve never gotten to play with Marta. I’m just looking forward to playing with her and not chasing after her.

Ten Observations from Washington Freedom vs. FC Gold Pride game 7/24

This past Saturday evening my daughter and I were part of the record attendance of 4,809 at the Maryland SoccerPlex to see the Washington Freedom take on Marta and FC Gold Pride.

As fans of the Freedom, the result was not what we had hoped for but it was a very entertaining evening none the less. There was so much action and an unbelievable chain of events that at one point my daughter (who is connected to her "world" via texting) told me that I Twitter too much! The twitter was definitely on overdrive in my attempt to keep the 'followers' up to date on all of the strange events taking place during this much anticipated match up of WPS all-star team captains, Marta and Abby Wambach.

(photo property of: Brad Smith | isiphotos.com)

Without posting the entire nights twitter log this following list is an attempt to compile the top ten observations before, during, and after the match. In all reality the list could most likely be expanded upon in the comments section from those of you in attendance as well, since I most surely was unable to notice every bit of craziness.

1. Marta is AMAZING! - Without being much of a factor for the entire first half, Marta added 2 goals to her already record setting total of 11. She now has 13 goals with 8 games left to play. (consider the record shattered!)
2. Abby's touch was OFF - Stats can sometimes be misleading. Abby did have the only goal for the Freedom on the night but anyone in attendance can tell you her touch was off the entire night. Makes you wonder if all the recent National Team play is taking its toll on her.
3. Mia Hamm can still draw the fans - By simply being at the SoccerPlex, Mia Hamm helps draw 4,809 fans to the SoccerPlex (best attend. this season).
4. Tiffany Milbrett still has "IT" - Even at the age of 37, Milbrett is still an intimidating task for the oppositions defenders. She had 2 goals along with Marta and gave the Freedom defense fits alll game.
5. The pre-game Fan Zone area is boring - Sorry, I am a fan of the Freedom and the value is great when attending a game but the Fan Zone area outside the front gates need a face lift. Other than the all female drum group who were great, there is very little to keep fans entertained.
6. Washington Freedom Defence needs help - Yes the Freedom defenders were tasked with defending the best female player in the world but she was not the only player they had trouble with. Tiffany Milbrett was much to fast for them to mark and they were often out of position during the transitional attack by FC Gold Pride.
7. Coach Gabarra must be very frustrated - He has been ejected from a game this season and then during the match against FC Gold Pride after using his allotment for subs, the Freedom keeper, Erin McLeod went down with an injury and Coach Gabarra is forced to play a player down and put Cat Whitehill in as the new goalkeeper. (probably the craziest ending to a game this season in the WPS)
8. Women's Professional Soccer is important - The existence of a professional women's sports team in our area is a great benefit to the female youth fans. There were literally hundreds of young ladies in attendance and lined up waiting to get autographs from some of the biggest names in women's soccer. Marta, Wambach, Milbrett, Whitehill, and plenty more. Great role models for our young ladies.
9. Mia Hamm can still sell more jerseys than any other player - There had to be at least 100 Mia Hamm jerseys being worn by fans of all ages in attendance. The youngest fan in a #9 Hamm jersey that I noticed was a 5 year old girl. How does she even know who Mia Hamm is, priceless.
10. Marta, Marta, Marta - How can enough credit be given to Marta? She is the new face of the WPS, Women's Soccer, and FC Gold Pride. After the game Abby Wambach was quoted as saying:
    

    She (Marta) is the best player in the world. She runs faster than any of us, and she is just as fast when she has the ball. Her ball skills are terrific, and by far the best on the field.

The game had all the drama you could imagine and more. From Mia Hamm making an appearance to the two current most popular players in the league facing off. There was a defender playing as a goalkeeper, and two players on the same team with two goals each. There was record setting attendance, heat, and the best goal scorer the WPS has ever seen adding to her season total.

For all the discussion about whether or not the WPS will survive it is important to point out that this is not a league created to appease those who argue for equality in sports. No, the Women's Professional Soccer league is outstanding entertainment with quality players and the mere existence of the league allows for our daughters and sisters to have the realistic dream of playing in front of thousands of fans and one day trying to be the next Marta. Good luck with that last dream though!

Follow the discussion on twitter:

 @VaSoccerNews

Abby, Marta, and Mia Hamm will all be in one place; at the Maryland SoccerPlex

Washington Freedom Coaches Club - Weekend Highlights
Friday, July 23rd

The Washington Freedom are hosting the upcoming Washington Freedom/Athletes for Hope charity game this Friday at 4:30 p.m at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Freedom Alumni will be playing a 6 v. 6 game against the Montgomery County Police Department to benefit the Sharon Margaux charity.

There will be a Q&A session following the game with the Freedom Alumni as well. This game is open to the public, so come on out for a great cause!

For more infomation about the Sharon Margaux charity please click HERE.

Saturday, July 24th

The Freedom have a big game coming up this weekend---maybe the biggest game all season! Abby, Marta, and Mia Hamm will all be in one place; at the Maryland SoccerPlex! Come and check out 3 of the best women's soccer players, we have plenty of opportunitites for you!

Want to meet Mia Hamm? The Freedom Alumni will be taking pictures with the first 12 groups to sign up prior to the game (50+ tickets sold). The Alumni will also be inducting a new member at halftime.

Abby and Marta come head-to-head once again. So far Marta has come out on top, at the All-Star game as well as their last meeting, FC Gold Pride won the game 3-2. But we think Abby is due for a victory this game!

Please contact Jaclyn Benjamin if you would like to witness one of Freedom's most exciting games this season! Call 240-449-1620 or email jaclyn.benjamin@washingtonfreedom.com.

Thanks and GO FREEDOM!

Quick Breakdown

• Friday, July 23rd
• 4:30pm Freedom Alumni vs. Montgomery County Police Department charity game
• Q & A session immediately following.
• Game is open to the public, but donations are highly encouraged to benefit the Sharon Margaux charity.
• Saturday, July 24th
• 5:00pm Freedom Alumni pictur
• There's just a few spots left so sign up today! (50+ tickets sold)
• 6:00pm Freedom FANFEST
• 7:00pm Washington Freedom vs. FC Gold Pride.
• Abby & Marta come face-to-face again, who will come out on top this time??

Ticket Prices

Youth Soccer discounts apply!!

• Premier Sideline: $20 (savings of $15)
• Unreserved Bleacher Lower: $18 (savings of $7)
• Unreserved Bleacher Upper: $15 (savings of $5)