Guam – After a league meeting last week, the 2011 Cars Plus Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League is now slated to begin September 10. Like last fall, youth player cards have been prorated to the tune of $25, marking a fine time for newcomers to sign up. Please see the attached contact list to find a club today!
Benefits Of Soccer
Like many sports, soccer teaches children discipline and social skills, adding to the health benefits of exercise and nutrition. However, soccer has the added benefits of cost and safety.
“It’s one of the cheapest sports to play,” GFA Executive Committee member Joe Cepeda said.
The sport also enjoys use of the GFA Headquarters & Training Facility, which includes the FIFA 2-Star rated artificial turf main field installed in February. The rating, the highest given by FIFA, ensures all elements such as material, construction and environment meet strict standards to ensure safety and helping to make the sport more enjoyable.
Popularity Of Soccer
Soccer is the world’s most popular sport and is one of the island’s most popular as well with over 1300 registered players on over 100 teams in the youth league alone.
This popularity may help the new Under-14 Girls division – added to help increase female participation – much like the U-18 girls league last season (which has since changed to U-17). Statistical data has shown a decrease in female participation in local youth league soccer starting at age 12, something this new division aims to reverse.
“We’re trying to give more girls more chances to play more soccer,” said Cepeda, who is also the GFA Women’s Committee chairman.
In a bid to entice teams to enter all-girls teams in the division, the GFA Women’s Committee will fund 100 percent of the entrance fee for GFA member clubs and 50 percent of the fee for non-member clubs.
As for last season, looking to defend their championships are Guahan Xplosion (U-18 Girls Division), MDA Cobras (U-16 Division) and Wings (U-14 Division). The U-12, U-10, U-8, and U-6 divisions are non-competitive.
Referee Course Open
Interested in learning more about the rules of the game while making a little money at the same time? If so, then you’d want to attend the Youth League Referee Course the weekend before the season starts. Here is the schedule:
Friday, Sep. 2 – 6 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sep. 3 – 8 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Sep. 4 – (IF NEEDED) start at 1 p.m.
For more information about the youth league or referee course, please call GFA at 637-4321.
Information from press release.
frankie@spbguam.com
