Junior Stars is not about scoring goals and winning games; it’s the development, fun, and excitement of dribbling and the thought process of making decisions on their own as players to beat a defender and go to goal. To watch these young players actually look up and try step-overs, feints, scissors, and to change speeds to beat players is extremely rewarding and can only happen in an environment where each of them is encouraged to take risks and chances and to see what their awesome bodies are capable of doing!
Players with dribbling skills and confidence that can take on defenders are very rare, and must be developed early with no pressure of failure in a game situation and each year it takes awhile for parents to stop yelling “pass the ball” and begin to yell the Junior Stars motto “go to goal,” but slowly it has happened. And just maybe, the first great American dribbler will be born to amaze and dazzle us like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and join the ranks of the world’s best!
Charlie Cleaves
Director, SD United Junior Stars program
Upcoming Dates
High school program: College prep night, 6:30-8 p.m., Oct. 20, at Steele Canyon High School.
Goalkeepers Clinics: For U8-U10, Oct. 11 and 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m. @ Hillsdale Middle School.
U11-U12, Oct. 12 @ Greenfield, 4-5 p.m. U13-14, 5-6 p.m., U15-19, 6-7 p.m.
U11-14, Oct. 19 @ Greenfield, 4-5 p.m., U15-19, 5-6 p.m.
Team shop hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 10 @ Granite; 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Oct. 23 @ Greenfield; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Oct. 24 @ Granite; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 30 @ Greenfield; 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Nov. 6 @ Cuyamaca.
Check out http://www.livesoccertv.com/ for games times and dates for all your favorite teams.
For more information on club activities visit http://www.sandiegounited.net/.
United players visit collegesMany United high school-aged players have spent some of their spare time visiting college campuses in an effort to get more insight on the college recruiting process. At each visit, someone from that school’s coaching staff has been on-hand to show players and families around! At some campuses, the players also had the opportunity to train with the college team (not available at all schools due to NCAA rules). By touring colleges, players increase their knowledge and their chances of playing college soccer! If you want to attend an “unofficial” visit, you and your parents are welcome to attend. Schools on the list to be visited list are: Point Loma (men and women), SDSU (women) and USD (women). These will again be free of charge! E-mail updates will be going out soon on those three activities.
Here are comments from two United family members who have gone on the visits. “The SD United college tours are a great way to visit a wide variety of campuses, from the small and friendly to the large and complex, and from NAIA to Div. I. We could tour these campuses on our own, but it's a lot more fun and informative to go as a group and get a personal tour from one of the coaches. The coaches were always really friendly and well prepared for our group. They usually gave us a tour of the entire campus, including the athletic facilities, offered a ton of information on both their athletic programs and the academics, and answered any questions we had. It gave us a good feel for the atmosphere of each campus, and the personality of each coach as well. The best part is that it was all set up for us, all we had to do was go. Many of the coaches commented that of all the local clubs, SD United makes an outstanding effort to familiarize their players with the college recruiting process. Even if you are not interested in a particular college, it's good to go anyway to see the choices that are out there and make comparisons.” Simone (mom) and Raleigh Matern (BU17 Black).
Linda Ackerly (mother of Jenna Ackerly – GU17 Black): “College visits are one of the most valuable services offered by the club. Not all clubs do it and not many do it as well as SDUFC. Jenna had invitations from other clubs this year and after much soul searching decided to stay with SD United in large part due to the college program. It was the best decision she could have made. Jenna discovered a school that fit her academic and athletic goals where she least expected it.
She visited Cal State Northridge two summers ago as merely a stop along the way to a Northern California tour led by Sami Nedjar. The academic adviser who spoke to our group began to describe some of their most acclaimed programs, and Jenna realized that one of them was the perfect fit for her. It turned out that none of the Northern Cal schools felt like a good fit, but Northridge has been at the top of her list since then.
Everyone interested in playing in college should attend as many tours as possible, even if you don't think it is a school you would be interested in. Check out DII, DIII, and NAIA schools as well as DI. I know someone who ended up at an NAIA school that she visited as a ‘practice tour’ because she ended up falling in love with the program and coach.”
David Donner (BU18 Black): “I've been on three of the college tours and they are very informative. You get to meet with the coaches, and they are helpful and nice. It's a great way to make connections with college coaches.”
Congrats to United’s Teams and Players
GU15 Black team is off to a great start this year. The girls were champions in the Elsinore Summer Classic and San Diego Premier Classic, and were finalists in the Pegasus Cup. The summer tournaments prepared them well for Presidio League play; halfway through the season, they're tied for second place with a record of 4-2-1. The girls are hoping to finish strong and overtake the first place team to win AAA and make their way back into Premier.
Congratulations to the following teams which are in first place in the Presidio League: BU9 Black; GU10 Black; GU13 Black; and GU17 Black.
The following players have been selected by their coaches as players of month for September: GU10 Rylee Curran (center mid); GU11 Kate DeWent (goalkeeper); BU11 Matthew Pearson (outside mid); BU14 Black Gabe Rodriguez (mid field, left back and forward); GU18 Black Megan McDermand (center back); BU13 Black Jorge Navarro (center mid).
Drink Jamba Juice and United scores
Each United player who received team picture packets also got a Jamba Juice sip and swipe card. All you have to do is present the swipe card at any Jamba Juice at the time of purchase and 10 percent goes back to San Diego United FC. Swipe cards are good until June 2011.
3rd Annual United Golf Classic a huge success
Thank you to all the golfers and sponsors of the 3rd Annual United Golf Classic held Oct. 1 at Carlton Oaks Country Club. This years winners were:
1st Place: Don Lupo, Levi Kealaluhi, Scott Henige, Brandon Snyder (Score-58)
2nd Place: Steve Cornish, Tom Bloom, Kent Holly (Score-59)
3rd Place: Jeff Easson, Jeff McGuire, Tim Garlin (Score-60)
Closest to the Pin – Jim Parks
Longest Drive –Scott Henige
This year’s tournament sponsors were: Whillock Construction, Da Boyz Pizza, Haugen Roof Corporation, Prime Sports, La Mesa Indoor Soccer, Gateway Recycling, Top Notch Construction, Brody Builders, and Stammerrama Contractors Inc. Thank you to all the vendors who donated prizes: Robert Romero, Sami Nedjar, Elio Bello, Donald Laing, Dan Codina, Daniel Nunn, Brett Williams, Cookies by design, Lowes Santee, Isabel Coffee House, Janet’s Café, Omlette Factory, San Diego Padres, Santee Lakes, Serenity Now Spa, Sonik Car Wash, Viejas, In and Out Burger, Vertical Hold, YMCA East County for all the prizes, Disneyland, Doug Sampson and Family, Da Boyz, 7-11. Proceeds from the Golf Classic will go toward purchasing lighting for the practice fields. Mark your calendars for June 2011 to take part in the 4th Annual United Golf Classic.
High School Liaison Program free for players
The purpose of the high school liaison program is to assist San Diego United players with the transition from club play to participating in high school. These activities are another FREE program included in United’s registration fees. The 2010 program consists of a discussion night at Steele Canyon High School on October 20 (6:30-8 p.m.) and combined workouts the first two weeks on November. During the discussion session, United’s Technical Director Sami Nedjar will speak to 8th- and 9th-graders (and their parents!) about the transition process. Some coaches as well as 11th- and 12th-graders will be on hand to answer any questions that might come up. The combined workouts are to give United's players opportunities to interact with others in the program. The workouts are tentatively scheduled for November 1 and 8 for the boys and November 2 and 9 for the girls (6:45-8:45 p.m. at Cuyamaca College).
Alumni UpdateSome United alumni are getting along well with their college teams. Here is an update (alpha order) from some who have sent e-mail messages to current club members!
Jasmine Bell (CSU San Bernardino – 1 start, 4 appearances): "Be fit and healthy coming into your college season and eat as healthy as possible. I haven't had any junk food since I've been here and that's helped me so much!"
Katie Brawley (CSU East Bay –1 start, 11 appearances): "Since starting school it has been a pretty weird adjustment into the student-athlete life. It takes a lot of effort to balance both academics and athletics, especially when playing at Division II. I hope everyone in United keeps working hard and stays on top of school and soccer!"
Willie Broderick (Academy of Art – 2 starts, 11 appearances): Just came back from a long trip to HAWAII!
Ashley Cook (Wentworth Institute of Technology – 9 starts, 11 appearances with one goal and one assist)
Kayle Fields (Biola – 3 appearances on the season)
Christie Hendel (Chapman – started all 8 games): "Christie is a freshman at Chapman University and is a starting defender. Chapman Panthers play as an NCAA Division III independent and are currently 5-3. They play all the members of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) which are schools in the Los Angeles area including Occidental, Pomona Pitzer, Claremont Mudd Scripps and Cal Lutheran as well as other Division III schools in California, Oregon and Texas. Christie plays side by side with another San Diego United alumnus Carly Sanchez of Helix High School. Chapman plays its closest game to San Diego at Cal State San Marcos on October 9 at 1 p.m.. Come out and cheer on two of our United alumni!" From Mike Hendel (Proud dad)
Natalie Oliver (Biola – 2 starts, 8 appearances with one goal scored)
Danielle Ross (Azusa Pacific – 3 starts, 5 appearances) Just helped APU win a big game over Point Loma!
Carly Sanchez (Chapman – started all 8 games so far)
Mackenzie Turner (Aurora University – 7 appearances so far on the season)
Aussie Wagoner (Salem International University in West Virginia) "Sprints and running like crazy, our campus is near the forest so lots of uphill running, much harder than United practices but I love college and my teammates!"
San Diego United Football Club would like to thank these generous sponsors.
INTERPIPE CONTRACTING
HAUGEN ROOF CONSTRUCTION, INC.
CALLE SOCCER
CHIROPRACTIC FAMILY HEALTH CENTER
