Press Release:Williamsburg Soccer
Club Announces Agreement with Newport News United Soccer Club
The
Williamsburg Soccer Club (the “WSC”) and the Newport News United
Soccer Club (the “NNUSC”) announced that beginning June 2003, all
players and coaches of both organizations will operate as members of the
Williamsburg Soccer Club. A coaching slate has been drafted combining the
staffs of the two clubs and all players will be evaluated and placed on
teams after the WSC tryouts in early June. This cooperative agreement
between the clubs creates a much stronger club, both in terms of talent
and coaching ability. Furthermore, the WSC will have access to fields in
Newport News, which will help alleviate the strain on existing fields.
Richard
Butler, Director of Coaching for the WSC, stated that “the cooperative
agreement between the clubs will improve the quality of play at all levels
of development for players of both clubs.” Steve Shaw, head coach of the
Christopher Newport University Men’s Soccer Team and the Technical
Director of the NNUSC, will bring a strong cadre of players and coaches.
Mr. Shaw stated that “this union will greatly benefit the NNUSC because
of the administrative organization and reputation of the WSC. Our players
and the coaches can focus on the development of soccer skills.”
The
players in the WSC will realize an instant benefit from an increase not
only in the number of quality certified coaches, but also with added depth
from the increase in the number of quality players as their teammates. The
WSC will be structured with three levels of play: Elite, Premier and
Classic. The Elite teams will compete in Virginia’s elite youth soccer
league, the Virginia Club Champions League; the Premier teams will compete
in the IL division of SEVYSA, the highest level of SEVYSA play; and the
Classic teams will compete in SEVYSA, as well. Furthermore, all players
will be eligible to participate with the Williamsburg Legacy, the WSC’s
Super Y team in that national premier summer soccer league.
Mr.
Butler stated that “as the soccer world continues to change, it is going
to be increasingly more difficult to compete against the soccer clubs from
larger geographical areas. Integrating players and coaches from the
neighboring areas will make the WSC even more competitive in state and
regional competitions. More importantly, we will ensure that our programs
will continue to address the soccer needs for all our Williamsburg-area
players.” Mr. Butler added that Al Albert, member of the WSC Board of
Directors and Head Coach of the William and Mary Men’s Soccer Team, will
host an open forum for the parents of WSC players on April 9, 2003 6:30
p.m. at the James City County Human Services Building to answer questions
relating to the WSC.
