Hello NorCal Premier Soccer Members,
We are proud of our NorCal Premier Mission:
We elevate soccer by developing players, clubs, coaches and referees.
In order to support this mission within NorCal Premier Soccer, we are committed to streamlining our operations and improving our competitions so that we may better serve the clubs and all their members – players, coaches, managers, board members, referees and parents.
Over the past few years, we have experienced some substantial changes in both the youth and professional soccer landscapes, changes that will continue as we move forward. We are confident that these changes will improve the club soccer experience for everyone.
Here are some of our recent accomplishments, ones we believe enhance the services NorCal provides to all its constituencies:
- Evolving competitions, statewide, continue to provide an enjoyable soccer playing experience for club players from 7 to 30+ years of age.
- The Player Development Program sent teams to Man City Cup, Surf Cup, the Gothia Cup in Sweden and Chivas Cup in Guadalajara.
- We continued to develop the Regional Player Development Program in order to deliver an exciting, local soccer program for the youngest players. And our State Pool training for older athletes provides motivated players an opportunity to be seen by college coaches.
- Over four days in June we hosted our first-ever NorCal Symposium, which included workshops for referees, club board members and soccer coaches.
- We hosted a successful test pilot Coaches Education Program in Region 7-8, at which coaches committed to attending the course one day a month, with coursework extending over 6 months.
- We hosted the first La Liga Level II Coaching Course with over 100 attendees from across the country.
- We sent five women coaches on a coaching education trip centered on the 2017 Women’s Euro Championships.
- During the past year, our Referee Program hosted and funded more than 45 referee courses across the state. In addition, we hosted over 200 referees at our Soccer Symposium and provided financial assistance to selected top referees, allowing them to travel to National Events across the country.
We are excited to begin the 2017 Fall Season with a new calendar, the same one followed by US Soccer and most other organizations across the country. This means our season begins in the fall and ends in May – June 2018. We anticipate that this new calendar will allow clubs to build in appropriate breaks for players and their families, coaches, board members, managers and referees.
We are very aware that we are only as strong as our participants and the people supporting the clubs and their teams. We are very grateful for all those behind the scenes helping to make NorCal Premier Soccer a success. We truly appreciate the countless volunteers who are assisting clubs, thereby allowing us to provide access to club soccer for players of all backgrounds. Your efforts are greatly valued and applauded by everyone at NorCal Premier Soccer.
Thank you,
Benjamin Ziemer
President
NorCal Premier Board of Directors
