Aug. 23, 2001 – With the help of soccer moms and dads, the V.I. American Youth Soccer Organization hopes to bring all the loosely organized groups of youngsters now involved in the sport on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John under one umbrella.
Neal Sullivan, who is organizing meetings on St. Thomas and St. John Friday and Saturday, said the existing groups are not well organized, are not insured and for the most part don't have trained coaches.
"This will bring cohesiveness," said Sullivan, who serves as the organization's assistant regional commissioner for St. John.
Informational meetings for parents and guardians will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Friday in the Pine Peace School great room on St. John and at 7 p.m. Saturday in Room 203 of Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas. At both meetings, Tom Rios, national American Youth Soccer membership development director, and Tracy Bingham, V.I. regional commissioner, will speak.
The two officials also will speak at the St. John Rotary Club luncheon meeting at 12:30 p.m. Friday in the Westin Resort Beach Café.
The newly formed local organization is affiliated with the American Youth Soccer Organization. Nationwide, its programs involve 630,000 children ages 4½ to 18 along with 250,000 adult volunteers. The national motto is "Everyone plays."
The local organization plans to hold open registration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 1 at The Market Place on St. John, in the Charlotte Amalie High School gym on St. Thomas and at the Alcoa recreational facility on St. Croix.
The $50 registration fee includes a 12-month accident insurance policy, a practice ball, complete uniform with shin guards, and a subscription to the national organization's magazine, Soccer Now. Any parent or guardian wishing to register a child should bring the youngster's birth certificate and two wallet-sized photos.
Practice will begin in the first week of September, with games to be played on Saturdays. For more information, call Sullivan at 776-6540.
