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GRAND OPENING
Euro/American
Youth Soccer Week
July 25-29
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New
England Soccer School’s Grand Opening
Euro/American
Youth Soccer Week, July 25-29, in Amesbury
AMESBURY, Mass. (July 6, 2004) – New
England Soccer School (NESS) will celebrate its official grand
opening July 25 and continue festivities through July 29, hosting
the inaugural Euro/American Youth Soccer Week, headlined by a visit
from the famed English under 12 Everton Academy boys team, at
Amesbury Sports Park.
NESS is a state-of-the-art training center
owned by Ted Dipple, of Andover (MA). “We intend to teach the very
technical European style of soccer taught at Everton Academy,”
Dipple explained. “We
share the same philosophy that stresses the importance of developing
soccer skills at a very young age (even at the four and five year
level) in order to become elite players. The emphasis for young
players shouldn’t be on winning, although the desire to win is
recognized as part of the game. However, victories are downplayed at
Everton games, as well as other top youth teams in Europe, since the
results are not reported for these younger age groups. Our coaches
feel that learning basic fundamentals and techniques can be taught
while encouraging players to have fun in the process.
“We’re also giving young players an
opportunity to play soccer nearly year-round. Most youth soccer
players in this area only play three or sometimes six months a year.
They play in the spring and/or fall, take the summer off, and
don’t play outdoors in the winter. Cold weather shouldn’t
prevent enthusiastic youngsters from playing outside. Soccer can be
played here nine months a year just as they do in Europe. They have
an opportunity for fast-paced practices with plenty of ‘touches’
within our Wall2Wall stadiums (inflatable courts installed around
four small sized fields of synthetic turf) and on our
regulation-size tournament field featuring synthetic grass specially
designed for soccer. Weather will not be as much of a factor here as
in other places with natural turf fields because our surfaces drain
so well after snow or rain it can be played on all day, every
day.”
The Everton Academy is recognized as one
of the premier youth development schools in Europe and highly
respected Tony “Tosh” Farrell coaches the U12 boys. Graduates of
Everton’s program include stars such as Wayne Rooney, David
Unsworth, Tony Hibbert, Francis Jeffers and Michael Ball. Members of
Everton’s U12 team on tour in Boston plan to take full advantage
of several daytime experiences including a visit to the Museum of
Science and a whale-watching trip.
An exhibition match between Everton –
“The Boys in Blue” – and Western United
(kick-off at 5:30 pm) will highlight NESS’ official grand opening
Sunday, July 25. David Hildt, Mayor of Amesbury, will cut the grand
opening ribbon and popular Joe Max-Moore of
the New England Revolution will be in attendance and available to
sign autographs at a specified time slot during the event.
Euro/American Youth Soccer Week will continue through July 29 with
Everton exhibition matches Monday (6:30 pm vs. Olympic Development
Program select team), Tuesday (6:30 pm vs. Pro Soccer Motion
All-Stars) and
Thursday (6:30 pm vs. Boston Bull Dogs of Mass Premier Soccer).
Euro/American Youth Soccer Week’s
festival-like atmosphere, featuring promotions and giveaways, will
be evident during the week as well as “Dutch Touch” soccer
camps, coaching education clinics and a child safety awareness
session for coaches and parents.
“One of our goals is to define and groom
young talent at NESS to become good enough for placement on the
national team within five years,” Dipple concluded. “We feel the
natural talent level in this area is comparable to anywhere in the
country and there must be another Freddie or Mia somewhere in the
Merrimack Valley. But player development has been hampered by New
England’s inclement weather and the absence of an elite soccer
facility like NESS. We are adopting an international influence here,
utilizing talents of European and South American coaches, as well as
the top Americans. There also will be strong emphasis on educating
aspiring coaches and referees and promoting our facility to special
needs players in New England.” Dipple further underlines, “It is
our intention to serve all factions of the soccer community not just
talented youngsters.”
Go to NESS’ Website at www.nesoccerschool.net
for a detailed Euro/American Youth Soccer Week program of events.
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CONTACT:
Bob Trieger
Full Court Press
978.207.0165
bobtfcp@hotmail.com
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