Sky Blue Soccer announced today that Kelly Lindsey has been hired to fill the role of assistant coach for the organization’s pro team Sky Blue FC – the NJ/NY entry into Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). Lindsey joins head coach and general manager Ian Sawyers on the Sky Blue FC staff after serving as the head women’s soccer coach at Saint Mary’s College in California.
Lindsey guided the Saint Mary’s program the past three seasons after spending two years as the top assistant to Chris Petrucelli at the University of Texas. She also served as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado for one season in 2003. A United States Soccer Federation “A” License holder, Lindsey also worked with the US Under-21 National Team in 2004.
The former University of Notre Dame standout will be reunited with Sawyers after playing for him for three seasons with the San Jose CyberRays of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) from 2001 to 2003.
CLICK HERE for the whole story about Kelly Lindsey and Sky Blue FC ...
Sky Blue Soccer earned another honor from United Soccer Leagues this past weekend when Jersey Sky Blue was presented with the W-League Communications Award at the USL Annual General Meetings in Tampa, FL.
Sky Blue Soccer has operated Jersey Sky Blue in the W-League the past two seasons with success both on and off the field. Jersey Sky Blue reached the playoffs in 2007 before earning the W-League Rookie Franchise of the Year Award. The Somerset, NJ based organization will seek to maintain this success in 2009 when it introduces Sky Blue FC - the NJ/NY franchise for Women's Professional Soccer.
"We're proud of this award because we've always put an emphasis on a strong communications plan," said Sky Blue Soccer President and CEO Thomas Hofstetter. "We had a communications plan before we even had a team and we plan to continue this effort forward into the WPS season in 2009."
Sky Blue FC will kick off the inaugural season of WPS in April of 2009 and will play its home games at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ. Season tickets and holiday gift packages are on sale now at the Sky Blue Soccer website www.SkyBlueSoccer.com.
By Ian Sawyers
Reprinted with permission from Soccer America
When I was growing up a soccer-mad youngster in England, the way we truly learned to play was by copying the game we watched. Whether it was on television, or for those lucky enough to soak it up at a live match, our "lessons" came by going out to the streets, and in informal kick-rounds, attempting to copy the professionals we had seen play the game.
My wife, Hall of Fame soccer star Julie Foudy, tells a different story of her childhood. It includes her early memories of the only available athlete role models she could find -- professional American football and basketball players.
It's true that in the past in this country, it's been difficult to find the top players to imitate, especially for girls. But the new Women's Professional Soccer league, and teams like Sky Blue FC, are a positive step in the right direction. Now, you can complete the pieces of your soccer education with the third, and vital part, of the equation: train, play, watch.
Why watch the game? There are a lot of reasons, but as an educational tool it's simple: you can't do what you can't see. Soccer is a visual game and a lot of young players are visual learners.
Establishing mental images by watching my heroes play provided me with a road map equal to watching a TV re-run. I knew what was coming next in a given situation as I felt I had already seen it and lived it, and all I had to do was copy the movement.
A sports psychologist and old friend of mine once told me "the brain cannot differentiate between what is real and what is imagined." This has helped me a lot in my coaching career to try and encourage a constant use of mental imagery and "creating good pictures" in the soccer brain. It is said that the best players have good vision -- the seeming ability to see the entire field and anticipate potential movement. Sure, this comes from playing experience, but this experience also includes the careful attention to the skill of experts and role models and thus the formation of "positive pictures."
There are many ways to watch the game, each of them valuable and interesting. Watch with an eye toward different aspects of play. Isolate your watching experience. Start with the warm-up, one of the most essential parts of the game, and often overlooked by youth players. The warm-up of a professional entails many parts. It has a progression; it is physical (what they do); emotional and mental (How they act and feel. For example, do they chat with teammates? Are they silent and focused on their effort?). Imagine what would work best for you in a warm-up, or for your team.
During the game, try focusing on a player in your position, and then, switch focus to another aspect, such as movement off the ball. Most people watch the obvious -- the action with the ball -- but it is the activity that goes on all around that sets up that pass or shot.
Consider this: on average, a player runs between 5 and 6.5 miles per game, yet the distance that player covers with possession of the ball is only 2 percent of that, about 200 yards. So obviously, there's a lot to learn by watching what goes on all over the field.
Finally, watch the game because you enjoy it. What happens on the field is just a part of what WPS will offer you. Game days are also opportunities to celebrate your sport, and to share an exciting and fun experience with family, friends and teammates. It is also one of the rare opportunities to be with them in a relatively relaxed atmosphere, without the stress of usual of competition with your club or school teams. And, too, you will share that sense of pride when you look out at the greatest women players in the world and think: I play that game too. And I can dream to become one of those players.
(Ian Sawyers is the general manager and head coach of Sky Blue FC , the NY/NJ franchise of Women's Professional Soccer. As former head coach of the women's professional San Jose CyberRays, he led that team to the inaugural championship of the WUSA.)
Sky Blue Soccer officially announced today the hiring of Joe Dorini to serve as the Director of the Sky Blue Soccer School. In addition to overseeing the educational branch of the Sky Blue Soccer organization, Dorini will also serve as the Team Administrator for Sky Blue FC - the NJ/NY entry into Women's Professional Soccer.
Dorini joins Sky Blue Soccer from West Virginia, where he most recently served as the Head Coach and General Manager of the West Virginia Illusion of the W-League. An NSCAA Premier Diploma holder and a USSF Licensed coach, Dorini also worked as the Director of Coaching for the West Virginia United Soccer Club and as the Director of Soccer at ProPerformanceRX in Morgantown, WV.
A national star came to East Texas to pass on her lessons to the next generation.
U.S. Women's National Soccer Team member Kacey White was at Tyler Junior College Monday night, signing autographs and putting on a soccer clinic for local players. White, an alternate for the Olympic team, said teaching the kids about being part of a team is the most important part.
"I think it's important that they have a good time,' White said, "and use their talents to benefit other people. It's not just about yourself, you can give back to your community while you work hard."
OK. Let me--finally--get personal. Today, an article came out on the WPS website mentioning my daughter (http://www.womensprosoccer.com/newsitem_ektid6274.aspx). So, it's time to get personal.
Am I the only aspiring WPS soccer mom out there? Of course not! Every player, every person (duh), has a mom! But the reason I put it like this is that I'd like you to know that while I don't speak for every one of us, I do speak personally.
When I pitch for Sky Blue FC, it is personal; when I hope and dream for this team, and this league, it is personal; when I put in my hours, my effort, it is personal. And yet, I am not alone.
For everyone involved in Sky Blue FC, it seems, it is personal. For Ian Sawyers and Julie Foudy, it is the opportunity to continue their efforts for the sport that they will tell you has been so good to them. For Thomas and Chris Hofstetter, Francesco Prandoni--fellow soccer parents, it is personal. For the corps of former players, coaches and current fans who make up the rest of our staff, it is personal.
When we reach out to you, it is with a passion born of our personal connection to this game, to Sky Blue FC, and to WPS. And we want you, and your players and families, to feel it is personal as well. Because trust me, if it isn't, one day it will be. After all, it seems such a fraction of time ago that I was the mom who watched her 8-year-old and 5-year-old daughters run around with 10 other girls, having fun, doing what they clearly enjoyed. Today, they are 22 and 18. Their enjoyment of the game became their passion. And I dream their dreams with them, like every parent does.
And those dreams include Women's Professional Soccer. So join me, and dream those dreams as well.
SBS Blogger
First, for the good. How cool is this? The Olympic gold medalists you're used to seeing in soccer shorts and jerseys, took to a different 'field' on Halloween. And do they look great! My vote goes to Shannon Boxx, who whether she makes it to FIFA Player of the Year (she is one of ten world finalists), could win the prize for best costume. In fact, you won't even recognize her, if not for name I.D.
http://wnt-ussoccer.blogspot.com/2008/10/happy-halloween.html
On the flip side, I wish as many people would come to watch these women play as likely check them out in Halloween garb. In the Nov. 1 post-Olympic tour game in Virginia vs. South Korea, a paltry 3,387 came out to see the U.S. win, 3-1. I don't know where or how the tour is falling flat, but this does not do justice to these women, and to the sport.
I don't know on who or what to attribute the blame; I only know it is a reminder to work extra hard for Sky Blue FC and WPS.
SBS Blogger
We all worked long and hard--and with excitement--for the Sky Blue Summit meeting of soccer club presidents which was held Wednesday evening at the Marriott in Bridgewater. So imagine our satisfaction when a full room of passionate fellow soccer people accepted our invitation. The evening's script featured inspirational videos and speeches by Head Coach and GM Ian Sawyers, CEO Thomas Hofstetter, Julie Foudy and Heather O'Reilly. What was notable about their brief comments was each of their personal stories, and how their involvement in soccer created their devotion to both working in and playing "the beautiful game."
An entire array of Sky Blue programs was debuted. A CD of the presentation was given to all participants. We knew the event was a success by the immediate offers of support and desire to become concretely involved with us. Our offer to them is the same we make to all of you: become Affiliates of Sky Blue. Let us tell you how, if you want to know. Just pick up the phone, or email, and we will be glad to have a discussion with you on how you can become a part of our team.
This leads me to the central theme of the evening. If you are reading this, by definition you are interested in Sky Blue, WPS, and women's soccer in general. I am personally asking you to consider making a gesture of support for our cause, by investing in a ticket purchase. I know it is early; I know there are questions you might have. But do this for the reason some of our ticket buyers have already expressed: simply to say, and to show: I'm with you; I believe in you; I will step up and support you.
You could feel the energy in the room at the Summit following the speeches. Trust me, you would have plunked down your ticket payment right then and there. Thomas made us understand how he and Francesco Prandoni have invested in Sky Blue with the love of their European roots in the game; Julie told us what it was like for herself as a young girl, with only male athletes to emulate, and how the league will mean so much to little girls who can look toward women athletes; Heather is happy to be home in New Jersey, and to play and work hard to promote her new team.
Perhaps Ian expressed it best when he said: This game has given Julie and me so much. Now, we want to give back. (And they moved to to New Jersey from California to prove it).
So, for everything the game gives you--your players, your family, your coaches--give back. Invest in us. Tickets are only a phone call, or an email click, away.
Yours in Soccer,
SBS Blogger
Our friends at Top Drawer Soccer are featuring a short poll on their homepage. Head over and see what folks have to say about the start-up of WPS.
We're busy at Sky Blue, getting ready to host soccer club presidents to join our cause, and promoting Sky Blue FC Soccer School and ticket sales. When I'm not working on all this, I'm taking weekend trips to see my daughters' college soccer games. It keeps me in direct contact with our market, and keeps me tied into sharpening my soccer parenting skills! (which get pretty minimal when the players get to this age)
SBS Blogger
Women's Professional Soccer in L.A. will be known as Los Angeles Sol
The Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) franchise which will begin play next spring at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, will be the Los Angeles Sol, the team announced today.
Sol is the Latin translation for Sun and the modern word for 'Sun' in the Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish languages. Los Angeles is renowned for its sunny climate and rich heritage. With our team's name, The Los Angeles Sol, the team honors L.A.'s history and cultural tradition.
Read more about the Los Angeles Sol ...
Women’s Professional Soccer Names International Soccer Executive and Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Harvey as Chief Operating Officer
Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) today announced the hiring of veteran sports and business executive Mary Harvey as its new Chief Operating Officer effective November 10.
Harvey will directly oversee day-to-day operations at the league, with a particular focus on league financials, expansion, non-revenue partnerships, player processes and competitions. As part of the oversight of competition issues, Harvey will be responsible for scheduling, day of game standards, procedures, match officials and in-stadium experience for league games.
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