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In the summer of 1982, SoccerPlus had its first
educational experience: a two day goalkeeper clinic
which was both exciting and successful. That first
experience launched our national camp program as it is
today. 30 years ago, if someone asked me why I was doing
these clinics or camps, my answer would be very
consistent with my answer today. Let me explain.
I am an educator by trade and taught school (middle and
high school) in the 1970’s. Teaching is still my
passion and I started SoccerPlus to continue teaching
and to have a positive impact on the lives of young
student-athletes through the game of soccer. I wanted to
make a positive difference in EVERY one of our
young player's lives; I wanted to show a young girl or
boy what they could achieve with hard work,
persistence and an action plan. The greatest thrill for
me has always been seeing a transformation in one
of our students…a transformation that goes beyond soccer
or sports and is about life, values and living
well. Indeed, a transformation that includes helping
every member of the SoccerPlus family to understand
that they have the power to make the world a better
place.
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School and FieldPlayer Academy
have celebrated many, many successes of players that
went through our program and played collegiately,
professionally or internationally. Our biggest
successes however are teaching and coaching the players
that were not good enough to be pros but loved
the game of soccer and are still playing amateur soccer
today. Indeed, many of our students have gone on to
pursue successful careers in medicine, teaching, the
military, law and every other field you can imagine.
However, regardless of their chosen path in life, one
constant remains: the individuals who attend our program
leave with a better sense of themselves and an
understanding of what it takes to succeed.
This is why SoccerPlus is different and why the
SoccerPlus experience is so powerful; it is the key
ingredient to our success. Passion to teach fuels the
culture of SoccerPlus. Word of mouth and the
reputation we have developed as soccer educators allowed
us to grow. But today, 30 years later, it is
still the impact on each player that provides me the
same excitement I had over those two days in 1982.
SoccerPlus has grown into a Goalkeeper School, a
FieldPlayer Academy, day camps, clinics, academies and
more and we have impacted the lives of tens of thousands
of students. When a student, coach or anyone
else joins the SoccerPlus family, we want them to learn
about our culture…a culture of fun, of values, of
positive personal decisions and of EXCELLENCE. Join us
for a day, a week or longer and experience the
positive change in your life!
Yours in soccer & life,

Hartford, Connecticut
November 17, 2010 |