Empire United SA Syracuse Copryright 2013 05/23/2013 05/23/2013 www.empireusa-syr.org News from Empire United SA Syracuse Welcome! 08/31/2012 01:29 AM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/370940.html Welcome to the online home of the Empire United Soccer Academy - Syracuse!

In August 2007, Western New York’s top soccer clubs, the Rochester Junior Rhinos, Syracuse Football Club and Buffalo United Soccer Club joined together to form the Empire United Soccer Academy.  In the Spring of 2009, Crown City FC from the Cortland/Homer area joined the Academy.  The unification of these clubs, acknowledges their strong working relationship and shared vision of the development of youth soccer.  This combined organization will enable soccer players at all levels to attain their individual goals and maximize their potential.  In fact, the strength of the new club was recognized when Empire USA received one of the sixty-four initial memberships in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

 

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/370940.html Eva Gordon Selected To US Youth Soccer ODP National Camp 04/25/2013 02:49 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/713777.html  

Posted on

 


Eighteen girls from the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) have been invited to participate in the US Youth Soccer ODP Girls 1996 National Camp, April 20-27 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The camp will coincide with the Under-18 U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team Camp, and players will be evaluated for possible participation in U.S. National Team events.

Players were selected based on noteworthy participation in the 2012 US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional event and/or by recommendation by US Youth Soccer Regional Coaches.

Head coaches Jerry Smith and Mike Dickey will lead the event, and U.S. Soccer Women’s Technical Director April Heinrichs will also be present to evaluate players for possible inclusion in U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams. "I would like to congratulate all the players chosen to participate in the US Youth Soccer ODP Girls 1996 National Training Camp,” said Heinrichs.  “We’re excited to have another opportunity to see these players compete alongside the Under-18 Women’s National Team for evaluation and possible inclusion in future U.S. National Team activities.

US Youth Soccer ODP players will get the chance to improve their playing proficiencies with unique training activities, including two scrimmages against the U-18 U.S. Women’s National Team.

The US Youth Soccer ODP Girls team will also participate in a player evaluation combine conducted by US Youth Soccer national partner SKLZ for an exclusive training session at the SKLZ headquarters in San Diego, Calif. Players will participate in a soccer-specific player evaluation and assessment platform to provide them with a standardized way to assess and address their athletic strengths and weaknesses, while also providing them with education on conditioning and recovery.

US Youth Soccer ODP Girls 1996 National Camp Roster:

Region Name Position Club
I Elysse Branton DF BRYC 95 Elite
I Payton Cook DF/MF Richmond Kickers
I Eva Gordon FW Empire Revolution-Syracuse
I Abigail Pyne GK Soccer Plus
II Shannon Hendricks DF/MF Junior Irish
II Kaitlyn Keen MF Carmel United Soccer Club
II Samantha Kokoska DF/MF Carmel United Soccer Club
II Megan McCashland DF Gretna Soccer Club
II Cassie Phillips MF Michigan Hawks
III Sydney Lurie MF Concorde Fire
III Marnie Merritt GK Lake Norman SC
IV Sarina Bolden FW De Anza Force
IV Madison Gonzalez FW/MF Santa Rosa United
IV Hailey Harbison MF Del Mar Sharks Carmel Valley
IV Mariah Lee FW Washington Premiere FC
IV Stephanie Malherbe MF SoCal Blues
IV Christina Settles MF West Coast F.C.
IV Pilar Torres FW San Diego Surf

 

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/713777.html 2 Empire United-Syracuse Soccer Stars Win Gold For United States U19 Team in Russia 03/19/2013 06:08 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/704129.html Emma Firenze and Eva Gordon were selected to represent team USA (Under 19) Region 1 Olympic Development (ODP) soccer team to play at the “Spring Kuban International Soccer Tournament” in Russia. The girls traveled from March 2-March 17, 2013 to Moscow and Sochi, Russia. There, they competed against National teams from North Korea, Russia, Estonia, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Iran, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Estonia and Krasnodar Region.
 

Emma and Eva competed in five matches opening up with a game vs Russia U19 national team with a 1-0 win. They went on to win four of their games on penalty kicks to advance. Most notably, they tied the Women’s full national team from Iran, and then beat them in Pks.
Eva who started and played a winger forward made quite an impression will her skill throughout the tournament as she earned recognition on the 2013 Kuban All- tournament team and the entire Tournament MVP award!  Wow! Emma, starting center midfielder had three goals and four assists in the tournament, while taking 4 pks and scoring each. Emma scored a goal, an assist and a pk in the championship match USA vs. Ukraine and was voted MVP of the championship match. Out of 12 teams, 267 players spanning 3 different continents, it is such an honor to have two of our very own players make such an impact internationally.  International Coaches and teams could be heard chanting “Emma, Emma!”, “Eva, Eva!” throughout the tournament and final match.
 

Emma and Eva will go down in the history books with Region 1 ODP Team as they are the first team to win gold for the US at this Kuban International Tournament .  Emma has recently signed a national letter of intent to play soccer at Syracuse University this fall, while Eva has verbally committed to play on the Syracuse squad herself in the fall of 2014. Emma and Eva have both played for Empire-Syracuse for the past several years as well as Region 1 ODP teams. In addition, both Emma and Eva are members of the newly formed 2012 Syracuse Lady Knights team. The team is part of the WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League) where top local women soccer players and top local college players compete during the summer.
 

Please join us in congratulating these players for their success and for representing Empire, Central NY, and team USA with such honor.
 

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/704129.html US Soccer Development Academy Boys Program to Include the U13/14 Age Group Beginning in August of 2013 02/19/2013 02:56 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/696797.html Empire Revolution is excited to announce the expansion of our US Soccer Development Academy Boys Program to include the u13/14 age group beginning in August of 2013. Empire was an inaugural member of the US Soccer Development Academy and has competed at the u15/16 and u17/18 levels for 6 years. In 2012 US Soccer lengthened the Academy season to 10 months in order to align with international youth development standards. Beginning with the 2013/2014 season, US Soccer is expanding the Academy Program to include the u13/14 age group and Empire Revolution is thrilled to offer this opportunity to our players. High level training, quality coaching, meaningful matches, prioritizing development over winning and an appropriate 1:4 match to training ratio are core values of the Academy and expanding this program to 13 and 14 year olds will increase the rate of growth for our players. To read more on the US Soccer u13/14 initiative go to:

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Development-Academy/2012/08/Development-Academy-to-Launch-U13-U14-Program-in-Fall-of-2013.aspx

For over a year, Empire Revolution has been hosting ETCs (Empire Training Centers) and RTCs (Revolution Training Centers) in order to identify young talent and offer a taste of Academy level training to potential Academy players. Over 90% of our ETC and RTC invitations have been and continue to be extended to current Empire Revolution players with a few remaining invitations going to players outside the club who have been identified by our staff. We expect to utilize the ETC and RTC events to create our u13/14 Academy Roster and will be offering positions on that roster between now and June. We will reserve additional roster spots for an open tryout to be held in July.

We anticipate the cost for this program to be approximately $2500 plus travel. The general outline for the 2013-2014 season calendar for the u13/14 Academy is:

August-November

Outdoor Training 4 days per week: 2 sessions midweek regional training (in local city) and 2 sessions full-team training on weekends in Rochester. (During weeks with weekend competition, we expect to add 1 midweek full-team training in Rochester).

Competition: MLS clubs, US Development Academy Clubs, u15 Premier teams, 1 US Soccer Development Academy Regional Event.

December

Break Period.

January-February (US Soccer designated Futsal Period) Indoor Training

2 days per week: 2 regional sessions (in local city).

Competition: “In house” futsal competition u13-15 Academy league and u16-18 Academy league, 1 US Soccer Development Academy Futsal Event.

March-June

Outdoor Training 4 days per week: 2 sessions midweek regional training (in local city) and 2 sessions full-team training on weekend in Rochester. (During weeks with weekend competition, we expect to add 1 midweek full-team training in Rochester).

Competition: MLS clubs, US Development Academy Clubs, u15 Premier teams, 1 US Soccer Development Academy National Event.

July

Break Period.

We expect to announce the u13/14 Academy coaching staff in the coming weeks. Any questions regarding the Empire Revolution USSDA Program can be directed to your local D.O.C.

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/696797.html 'Boss' Comes Full Circle 12/24/2012 09:15 AM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/684930.html Capped to the U.S. national team at the age of 19, Gale Agbossoumonde has not had his career go the way he probably hoped. He spurned a Generation adidas contract from MLS, so hoping to get a better off in Europe, he sold his transfer rights to Traffic, the South American player firm. But after stints at six clubs in the last four years and little playing time to speak of, the Togolese-born defender is back at square one. He finally signed with MLS and was assigned to Toronto FC through a weighted lottery conducted Thursday at MLS headquarters. At 21, he is still considered one of the top U.S. defensive prospects, but he is still just that: a prospect.

THIRTEEN FOR ’13:
7. Gale Agbossoumonde (Carolina RailHawks-signed with Toronto FC)
Follow @galecuse17
6. Oscar Sorto (Los Angeles Galaxy U-17/18s-signed with Los Angeles Galaxy)
Follow @oscaritosorto13
5. Mikey Lopez (North Carolina)
Follow @MLopez5tarheel
4. Amando Moreno (New York Red Bulls U-17/18s-signed with New York Red Bulls)
Follow @Amando_moreno
3. Andrew Farrell (Louisville)
Follow @louisville5
2. Ashton Bennett (Coastal Carolina)
1. Wil Trapp (Akron-signed with Columbus Crew)
Follow @wil_trapp

Agbossoumonde (pronounced gah-LAY ag-BOSS-ooh-mon-day) had spent 2012 in the NASL with the Carolina RailHawks but injuries limited him to 17 appearances.

That is still more than he got in Europe, where he spent time at Sporting Braga, Estoril, Djurgarden and Eintracht Frankfurt II, but the most he played was eight games in Sweden with Djurgarden in 2011.

Boss was born in Togo and raised in a refugee camp in Benin, where his family fled after it was targeted following a military coup in which his father, Koku, was involved. The conditions at the refugee camp were harsh, but Gale learned to play soccer with his brothers, who made balls out of socks and newspapers.

A boxer in his youth, Koku did not approve of his sons playing soccer -- he worried that they would stand out for their soccer talents and be pulled into the military like he had been -- and he never got to see them play. Shortly before the family moved in 2000 to Syracuse, N.Y., through the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement program, Koku died of cancer.

The youngest of six brothers, Gale was 8 years old when he arrived in Syracuse and he quickly made a name for himself in soccer. He enrolled at Christian Brothers Academy, which he helped lead to the state semifinals -- as an 8th grader. By the next year, he was off to the U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla.

Agbossoumonde was too young to make in the U.S. Under-17 World Cup team in 2007, but he started on the 2009 U-20 World Cup team at the age of 17. He was on the 2011 U-20 team that failed to qualify for the world championship and missed Olympic qualifying with the under-23s in 2012 with a foot injury.

Few U.S. central defenders have come along with his combination of size -- he’s 6-foot-2 -- and skill on the ball.

This what Thomas Rongen, Agbossoumonde’s coach on the U-20 national team, had to say about him in an interview with ESPN.com:

"He’s got international center-back height, he’s physically imposing, he’s athletic, he’s powerful, he’s got a level of quickness, and he can recover because he has good speed. He’s got all the physical attributes to be a very good player. If you look at his technical qualities, he can tackle, he can head a ball, he can play 1-v-1 defense. But he’s pretty smart, as well, and he can give us an advantage in possession of the ball. He’s very comfortable on the ball and a good passer. Fundamentally, technically, he’s very sound."

That was 2010, right before Agbossoumonde debuted for the senior national team in a friendly against South Africa.

Rongen is now the Toronto FC academy director, so it was natural that the Canadian club, desperate for help on his backline, would want Agbossoumonde. It won Thursday’s lottery in which it held a 57.3 percent chance of acquiring Agbossoumonde.

Thursday’s signing of Agbossoumonde only adds to the intrigue surrounding Toronto’s plans for the 2013 MLS SuperDraft in which holds the No. 1 pick and No. 3 pick -- acquired from Portland in the deal that sent Ryan Johnson to the Timbers.

Defenders Andrew Farrell (Louisville) and Walker Zimmerman (Furman) are considered the top prospects in the draft and both have reportedly agreed to Generation adidas contracts. Toronto would unlikely want to sign a second defender but surely wouldn’t want to sign a second and third defender to go along with Agbossoumonde.

TFC might deal the No. 1 pick and then take one of the three Jamaicans (Ashton Bennett, J.J. Johnson or Deshorn Brown) considered the top forwards in the draft with the No. 3 pick. (Chivas USA is expected to take Mikey Lopez with the No. 2 -- if he signs with MLS and if Chivas USA, now under new management, doesn’t punt on the draft.)

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/684930.html Empire Revolution Fall Technical Sessions a Great Success! 11/01/2012 02:18 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/675444.html Fall Technical Sessions have ended for the season with great success and fun for all....

 

Our U12 and under age groups participated this fall in combined technical sessions. Several top coaches ran the sessions from September through October. The training provided allowed players to improve the technical aspect of their game. And have fun too - the last technical session was followed by an exhibition game by the Syracuse Silver Knights! Come out and join the fun this weekend for the Silver Knights opening season games on Friday Nov 2nd at 7:30pm and Empire Night Saturday Nov 3rd at 7:00pm. Visit www.syracusesilverknights.com for ticket information.

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/675444.html Empire Revolution Syracuse Fall Technical Sessions 11/01/2012 02:27 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/675454.html Some of our younger Empire Revolution Syracuse players participating in our Fall Technical Sessions

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/675454.html Share@EmpireUnitedSA.org 11/16/2012 02:45 AM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/678119.html There are a lot of really great things happening every day with our players, coaches, and teams.  Empire needs your help in sharing these great accomplishments with the rest of the Empire family and those who are following us.  Anything you find or think of that you would like to share please email them to share@empireunitedsa.org.  Below are some general ideas and guidelines.

Content to Send

  • Images of players in action
  • Team photos
  • Relevant videos
  • Self created article or blurb about team accomplishments
  • Self created article or blurb about individual accomplishments
  • Article found online or in print

Uses

  • Facebook Posts
  • Web Site Articles
  • Email Blast Article / Notification from Demosphere
  • Email Newsletter (Coming soon!)
  • Twitter Tweets (Coming soon!)

* Not all content will be posted.  Empire United reserves the right to edit or exclude any content it receives!

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/678119.html Empire Revolution Syracuse U13 Boys #1 04/09/2013 07:54 AM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/709185.html The Empire Revolution Syracuse U13 Boys swept the weekend in the Colonial League with victories over Black Watch Premiere Dundee (2-1), Princeton SA (3-1) and Kirkwood SC Revolution (3-0) under the guidance of Coach Tom Bonus.
 
We are now first in our division with a record of 4-0-1
 
We will travel to Maryland to play our last 2 games on April 20th. Congratulations Boys!
]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/709185.html National Signing Day Emma Firenze 02/12/2013 04:52 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/695405.html Empire's Emma Firenze signed her letter of intent to play soccer at Syracuse University on Signing Day, joining her sister Jackie, who is currently a freshman on the team.

http://youtu.be/PWXMjMti9EM

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/695405.html National Signing Day Cheyenne Hall 02/12/2013 04:47 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/695403.html OXFORD, Miss. – Empire's Cheyenne Hall of Fayetteville-Manlius HS Signs with Ole Miss!

The Ole Miss soccer team has added nine new faces to the program as a part of the signing class that will be on campus to compete for the Rebels beginning with the fall 2013 season, fourth-year head coach Matthew Mott announced on Monday.

The nine players are expected to arrive on campus over the summer to begin preparation for an exciting 2013 campaign on the heels of a successful 2012 season in which Ole Miss advanced to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament and posted 13 wins, including eight shutout victories.

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/695403.html 2013 Outdoor Training Schedule 05/08/2013 02:39 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/717361.html                        EMPIRE REVOLUTION SYRACUSE 2013 OUTDOOR TRAINING SCHEDULE

Monday - CNYFSC-Jones Rd      
Age Group: Time: Field #: Coaches:
U9Boys 5pm-6:20pm Field 1 - Half 1a Mikey/Nate/Derek
U15Boys 6:20pm-7:40pm Field 1-  Half Mikey
U12Girls 6:20pm-7:40pm Field 1-  Half Jim/Tommy
U17Girls 7:40pm-9pm Field 1 - Half Kevin/Lauren
U16Boys 7:40pm-9pm Field 1  Joe/LJ
Pc2 7:40pm-9pm Field 6-  Full Mike 
       
Monday - Donlin Drive      
Age Group: Time: Field #: Coaches:
U9Girls 5:30pm-7pm Field 1  Kevin P Jr/Pops
U13Girls 7pm-8:30pm Field 1  Kevin P Jr/Pops
       
       
Tuesday - CNYFSC-Jones Rd      
Age Group: Time: Field # Coaches:
U11Boys 5pm-6:20pm Field 2 - Half Robie/Tommy T
U11Girls 5pm-6:20pm Field 2-  Half Lauren
U17Boys 6:20pm-7:40pm Field 2 Papa T/LJ
U14Girls 6:20pm-7:40pm Field 1 - Half Mike P. 
U16Girls 6:20pm-7:40pm Field 1- Half BJ/Papa T
U15Girls 7:40pm-9pm Field 1 - Half BJ/Janine/George
U13Boys 7:40pm-9pm Field 1- Half Tom/Sean
U12Boys 7:40pm-9pm Field 2-Half Mike/Cesco
U18Girls 7:40pm-9pm Field 2-  Half Keith
       
Tuesday - Donlin Drive      
Age Group: Time: Field #: Coaches:
U10G 5:30pm-7pm Field 1  Kevin P Jr/Pops
       
       
Wednesday - Donlin Drive      
Age Group: Time: Field #: Coaches:
U9Girls 5:30pm-7pm Field 1  Kevin P Jr/Pops
U13Girls 7pm-8:30pm Field 1  Kevin P Jr/Pops
       
Wednesday-Burnham Park      
Age Group: Time: Field #: Coaches:
U11G 5:30pm-7pm Field 1  Lauren
U11B 5:30pm-7pm Field 1  Robie/Tommy T.
U13/U14Boys 7pm-8:30pmpm Field 1  Robie
       
       
Wednesday - Jones Rd:       
Age Group: Time: Field #: Coaches:
U17Girls 6pm-7:30pm TBA- Half Field Kevin/Lauren
U10Boys 6pm-7:30pm TBA- Half Field Josh/Sean
U9-U12 Girls and Boys GK Training 5pm-6pm TBA Phil W/Mike M
U13-U18 Girls and Boys GK Training 6pm-7pm TBA Phil W/Mike M
       
Thursday - CNYFSC-Jones Rd      
Age Group: Time: Field # Coaches:
U11Girls 5pm-6:20pm Field 1 - Half 1a Lauren
U9Boys 5pm-6:20pm Field 1 - Half 1a Mikey/Nate/Derek
U10Boys 5pm-6:20pm Field 1-  1b Josh/Sean
U12Girls 5pm-6:20pm Field 2 Jim/Tommy
Little Barcelona  6:20pm-7:30pm Field 1 - Half Mikey/Mike
U17Boys 6:20pm-7:40pm Field 1 - Half Papa T/LJ
U16Girls 6:20pm-7:40pm Field 2-  Half BJ/Papa T
U13Boys 6:20pm-7:40pm Field 2-  Half Tom/Sean
U15Boys 7:40pm-9pm Field 2-  Half Mikey
U15Girls 7:40pm-9pm Field 2-  Half BJ/Janine/George
U12Boys 7:40pm-9pm Field 1-  Half Mike/Cesco
U14Girls 7:40pm-9pm Field 1-  Half Mike
       
Thursday - Donlin Drive      
Age Group: Time: Field #: Coaches:
U10G 5:30pm-7pm Field 1  Kevin P Jr/Pops
U18Girls 7pm-8:30pm Field 1  Keith
       
Thursday - Burnham Park      
Age Group: Time: Field # Coaches:
U16Boys 7pm-8:30pm Field 1-  Full Joe/LJ
       
       
Friday - Jones Rd      
Age Group: Time: Field # Coaches:
U13/14Boys 6pm-7:30pm Field 1 - Full Robie

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/717361.html 2012_2013 Preliminary Coaching Assignments 10/02/2012 02:51 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/651678.html Empire Revolution - Syracuse is pleased to announce the following coaching preliminary assignments for the 2012-13 season:

Team/Age Group Head Coach Asst.Coach
BOYS
  BU08-10 Trainer  Mike McQuatters Tommy Tanner, Mike Paolini
  BU08 (2004’s)  Josh McDonald Derek Wheeler
  BU09 (2003’s)  Gilli Tracey Blake
  BU10 (2002’s)  Josh McDonald Gilli, Sean Lawylor
  BU11 (2001’s)  Darren Wynne Robie Robillard
  BU12 (2000’s)  Mike Kirmse Cesco Riverso
  BU13 (1999’s)  Tom Bonus Sean Lawylor, Joe Papaleo
  BU14 (1998’s)  Robie Robillard  
  BU15 (1997’s)  Mike McQuatters Joe Papaleo
  BU16 (1996’s)  Joe Papaleo  
  BU17 (1995’s)  Darren Wynne Robie Robillard
  BU18 (1994’s)  Tracey Blake  
  BU19 (1993’s)  Cesco Riverso  
       
  USSF BU16 DEV.  ACADEMY (1997’s)  Paul Valenti  
  USSF BU18 DEV. ACADEMY (1995’s)  Ben Cross  
       
GIRLS
  GU08-11 Trainer Kevin Perrigo, Jr. Kevin Perrigo, Sr.
  GU09 (2003’s) Kevin Perrigo, Jr. Kevin Perrigo, Sr.
  GU10 (2002’s) Kevin Perrigo, Jr. Kevin Perrigo, Sr.
  GU11 (2001’s) Lauren Wiese  
  GU12 (2000’s) Jim Baranello Tommy Tanner, Chris Perkins
  GU13 (1999’s) Kevin Perrigo, Jr. Kevin Perrigo, Sr.
  GU14 (1998’s) Mike Paolini  
  GU15 (1997’s) BJ McGrane Mike Paolini, Janine Bennett, George B.
  GU16 (1996’s) BJ McGrane Adam Reekie
  GU17 (1995’s) Kevin McGrane Lauren Wiese
  GU18 (1994’s) Keith Perrigo  
  WPSL (1993’s) Tommy Tanner Mike Paolini
       
  GU16 STATE ACADEMY (1996’s)  Liz Masterson  
  GU17 STATE ACADEMY (1995’s)  Tom Dardaganis  
  GU18 STATE ACADEMY (1994’s)  Dave Lopez  
       
OTHER
  Director of Coaching Mike Paolini  
  GK Director Phil Wheddon Mike Miller
  U4-U10 Boys & Girls Little Messi:Pc2 Mike Paolini, Mike McQuatters Tom Bonuns, Robie Robbilard, Derek Wheeler
]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/651678.html Empire United-Syracuse Players In College 02/04/2012 04:30 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/573517.html
2011 Grads College
Bairdy Hansen Case Western Reserve University
Matt Massenzio SUNY Brockport
Austin Roney St. Lawrence
Emily Nuss Binghamton University
Kindrah Khone Penn State
Lauren Hunter SUNY Oneonta
Brian Ward Bucknell
Andrew Coughlin Syracuse University
Katelynn Chamberlain Canisius College
Amanda Heberger SUNY Oswego
Bri Dolan SUNY Oswego 
   
   
2012 Commitments College
Jimmy Fazio Binghamton University
Logan Roberts Binghamton University
Drew Thompson Colgate
Jackie Firenze Syracuse University
Taylor Haenlin Syracuse University
Kelly Ristoff Siena
Tessa Devereaux Stony Brook
Kim Murphy Mercer University
Stephanie Senn Kent State
Christina Sarokon St. Bonaventure
Kaelyn Gamel NJIT
Alex Bono Syracuse University
Stefanos Stamoulacatos Syracuse University
Kathryn Busa William Smith
Michelle Wiese Villanova
Adam Lauko Wisconsin
Sam Crane Binghamton University
Jamie Boufard

Liberty University
Kayla Distin Oneonta
   
2013 Commitments College
Emma Firenze Syracuse University
Cheyenne Hall Mississippi
   
   

 

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/573517.html Little Barcelona Youth Program Youth Training for Girls and Boys 4-12 Years Old 09/07/2012 12:20 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/653991.html

Little Barcelona

Youth Training for Girls and Boys 4-12 yrs. old

Who can participate?

  • Girls and Boys  4-12 years old

What is the cost?

  • The cost is $50 for the session (5 weeks)

What are the dates for Training and Where?

  • November 8th, 15th, 29th and December 6th and 13th
  • Syracuse Indoor Soccer Center
    4989 Hopkins Road, Liverpool, NY 13088

Program Overview:

With the very young players, the most important thing is to control the ball very well, to have the ability to run with the ball and to think very quickly and execute their passes very well.

The biggest area of focus needs to be on the technical side of development.  Our goal is to make the player technically competent under pressure from an opponent, so that they can spend their time managing the challenges in the game, not the challenges of the ball. 

Click here to download a registration form.  Please fill out the registration form and email back to Micahel Paolini at eusasoccer@twcny.rr.com

Checks Made Payable to Michael Paolini

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/653991.html Mastering Ball Skills 05/27/2010 02:14 PM http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/433917.html A player can always improve his fitness by working out hard. He can comprehend certain tactics by studying the game. But how far he or she goes will be determined mainly by how well he or she has mastered ball skills. Those are acquired by playing, day after day, year after year.

A player who really wants to excel will spend as much time as possible playing small-sided games when he has playmates, and juggling and kicking against the wall when he's on his own.

I spent a lot of time hitting the ball against the side of the house when I was a growing up. If my mother complained about the noise, I'd hop down the retaining wall at the end of our property to the office-building parking lot.

I'd use that wall -- hitting the ball with both feet, seeing how long I could return the wall's passes without losing control. I found out later that so many pros spent lots of their childhood doing that.

Dennis Bergkamp, the great Dutch striker who scored and set up hundreds of goals for Ajax Amsterdam, Arsenal, and the Dutch national team, said that when he was a youth player at Ajax, they had little three-foot-high walls. He would knock the ball against the walls for hours. Every time he hit the ball, he'd know whether it was a good touch or a bad touch. He'd do it over and over, trying to establish a rhythm.

Whenever I saw Bergkamp slotting a perfectly placed ball past a goalkeeper or making a precise pass, I thought of him practicing against the wall.

Kicking against the wall is an excellent way to work on improving your weaker foot. You can back up and practice shots on goal, or move close to the wall and work on passing, because where there's a wall, there's a teammate.

You can practice trapping and work on your first touch by controlling the ball before you kick it, or hit it back first time.

Passing the ball against a wall from close distance takes timing and coordination. Hit the ball faster, and you've got to react faster and get a rhythm going. It almost feels like you're dancing.

Practicing the correct striking of the ball over and over helps it become second nature. It has to be, because in a game a player doesn't have time to think about his form or approach. Under pressure, everything is more difficult. Mastering technique while playing on your own is the first step to being able to do it right in a game.

]]> http://www.empireusa-syr.org/home/433917.html