1 of 2
Photos by Ron Burkett.
The club is adding two new programs this season.
2 of 2
Photos by Ron Burkett.
Trussville United Soccer Club director of coaching Jeremy McLane.
It’s the time of year when colorful lightweight jerseys and baggy shorts will once again decorate Trussville soccer fields. Since spring registration has officially closed, Trussville United Soccer Club is gearing up for its 11th spring season and has added two new programs for its players.
The first program is for all 8- and 9-year-old recreational players who are considering playing for the academy, which provides competitive training. While in the academy program, basic principles are introduced to players that are required at the next level — competitive soccer.
“Basically, this first program means we are bringing in a new skills trainer for our pre-academy players,” said Jeremy McLane, director of coaching. “They will be in a competitive and academy coaches training environment.”
Training is on six Friday nights, and players will work for one hour with an academy and competitive coach.
“It’s very similar to the academy training,” McLane said. “That way, when it comes time to decide if they want to do the academy, they have had a chance to see the benefits and see if it’s for them.”
The second new program involves strength and agility training for players age 9 and up, and it is hoped it will keep parents’ extra soccer spending in Trussville. Surrounding cities with strong soccer clubs also offer programs such as these, McLane said.
“We wanted to make it more convenient for parents, in case they were driving elsewhere to get programs like these,” he said.
Both new programs are considered separate from the traditional soccer leagues and will cost additional fees, but they are optional, McLane said.
The leagues for kids interested in soccer in the area are juniors, kids ages 3-5; intramurals, ages 6-8; recreational, ages 9-18; academy, ages 9-10; and competitive, ages 11-14.
“Our goals are always different for each program,” McLane said. “For juniors and intramurals, we want them to have a good experience, to develop a love for the game and to increase the amount of people playing the game.”
For competitive groups, and for the 9- and 10-year-old academy players, the main goal is to develop each individual player, he said.
“The goal is to develop overall soccer players,” McLane said. “And there are lots of technical training, lots of skills for those competitive players. Our main goal is to make every player better, and to try to get them ready for the next progression — ready for success at the highest level. We want to keep every kid in soccer in Trussville playing.”
In 2006, Trussville United was formed to promote the betterment of youth soccer in Trussville. It is a member of Alabama Soccer Association, and the players have access to teams competing at an elite level in Alabama and the Southeast region.
There are four soccer fields and about 18 coaches in the spring season, he said.
McLane is in his second spring season with Trussville United Soccer.
“What I think is very important for parents to know is that no matter what your age is, it’s never too late to give soccer a try,” he said. “We visited all the elementary schools to tell kids that. Our program encompasses so many ages and levels. There’s a team and a level for everyone.”
For questions or more information about Trussville United Soccer, go to trussvilleunitedsoccer.com. For more information about the academy, contact David Palmore at dpalmore@trussvilleunitedsoccer.com.
