THE LATEST FROM WYOMING SOCCER |
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WYOMING 307 SELECT & ODP
Earlier this month nine Wyoming ODP teams attended the US Youth Soccer West Region ODP Championships in Mesa, AZ. Nearly every team won at least one of their games, two teams also experienced a tie and one of our teams won two of their games! Overall, we faired well and we are very proud of all our teams. Click below to view a gallery of photos taken by our teams at the event.
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Wyoming 307 Select is still active and teams will have several opportunities to train at the Indoor Practice Facility (IPF) at the University of Wyoming. We have upcoming trainings scheduled in February and March. To get more information, please check out the Wyoming 307 Select page on our website, where all upcoming dates are listed.
In addition, Tryouts for next year are scheduled and will occur throughout the summer. Dates are listed on our site and the registration is open (click the button below to register). The tryouts registration for the current season are now closed, but if you are interested in joining, please talk to your local coach and let them know. If they feel you would be a good fit, they can always make a recommendation and our 307 Select Coaches are constantly scouting for players at our events across the state.
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Wyoming Soccer Association is actively seeking a state sponsor for our state programs. If you are aware of a business or organization who would like statewide exposure to families and young athletes, we would like to visit with them! Please contact us if you or anyone you know would be interested in this amazing opportunity. |
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WYOMING SOCCER WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER
Andrew Apfelberg Appointed to Member-At-Large Position
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Wyoming Soccer Association (WSA) Board President, Dan King, officially appointed Andrew Apfelberg to the Member-At-Large position on the WSA Board of Directors earlier this week. The Member-At-Large position had been vacant since May 2021 when University of Wyoming Head Soccer Coach, Pete Cuadrado, resigned from the board to pursue the head soccer coach position at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX.
WSA is thrilled to have Andrew join our Board of Directors and believes he will be an asset and valued addition to our state association.
Andrew’s son plays at the local club level with Jackson Hole Youth Soccer. Andrew also serves as the manager of the 2010 Boys Wyoming 307 Select team and was the manager of the 2010 Boys Wyoming ODP team this past season.
Andrew lives in Jackson Hole and works for Greenberg Glusker. He is a corporate and finance attorney for middle-market companies. Often acting as their outside general counsel, Andrew provides advice on a business’ significant transactions whether it’s a merger or acquisition, private equity or other financing, joint venture or licensing deal. He has a strong business and finance background hailing from his USC Marshall School of Business education and working in investment banking prior to attending Boston College Law School. Andrew has significant experience with not-for-profit boards of directors and is a founding member of the US Soccer Federation At-Large Development Council, which unites business and community leaders across the nation in an alliance undivided by geographic boundaries to support U.S. Soccer. More information about Andrew can be found here.
Regarding his appointment, Andrew says, "I am looking forward to helping grow Wyoming Soccer and getting Wyoming players the recognition and exposure they deserve. If we can find ways for more kids to get into soccer and then keep them playing as they get older, it would be great for the sport, the state and hopefully the U.S. women’s and men’s national teams."
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BE PREPARED FOR THE ACT/SAT TESTS
We are here to help through the eKnowlede PowerPrep10
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Wyoming Soccer Association's partner, eKnowledge, has boosted their programming to assist our high school aged soccer players across the state in gaining some amazing ACT and SAT test prep for a deal almost too good to be true.
The PowerPrep10 Beta Program is a course that is intuitive, student-driven, comprehensive, multi-media, content rich and focused precisely on your student's needs with instant access to a LIVE teacher!
The value of this is $350, but as a member of Wyoming Soccer Association you can get in for as low as $19.99 and can receive EVERYTHING for only $49.99 - a $1500 value!
Registration deadline to register for the next ACT Test of 2022 (April 2, 2022) is February 25, 2022.
The deadline to register for the first SAT Test of 2022 (March 12, 2022) is February 11, 2022.
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SPORTS THREAD PROFILE ACTIVATION - 100% FREE
Attention College Bound Athletes!
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Do you have a player who as aspirations of being a college athlete (even if it is not soccer)?
If you have a high-school aged player, you probably received an email yesterday (check your inbox!) with information on how to activate your profile from our newest partner, Sports Thread. Why is this important and what the heck is Sports Thread you ask?
Well, in a nutshell...
Sports Thread is an award-winning social media-based network that connects student-athletes with team members, coaches, parents and fans.
Didn't see the email? We'll help you out. Follow these instructions:
Profile Creation Process
2. Open Sports Thread App
3. Select "More"
4. Click "My Profile"
5. Press "Edit" followed by "Add Sports Profile"
6. Fill Out Sports Profile
If you have questions, Sports Thread has a helpful FAQ page, which can be found here.
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THE LATEST FROM US YOUTH SOCCER |
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USYS PARTNERS WITH STATSPORTS |
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Over the past several months we have shared multiple articles regarding partnerships USYS is forging to help provide valuable resources, educaiton and technology to members across the country. They have done it once again.
Last week USYS announced they are partnering with STATSports to bring the world’s most advanced performance wearable technology to US Youth Soccer athletes and the clubs of the newly announced US Youth Soccer National League Elite 64 (Elite 64).
STATSports is used daily by the best players in the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Megan Rapinoe, Lionel Messi, Alex Morgan, Mo Salah and Neymar. Its technology is also utilized by top European teams, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Juventus and PSG, as well as some of the biggest international teams such as Brazil, England and Belgium.
Within the United States, STATSports has been the choice of U.S. Soccer’s Men’s and Women’s National Team programs, as well as its youth national teams. It has also been the technology provider for many MLS clubs and all of the NWSL clubs. STATSports also includes U.S. Soccer stars Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah, and Caden Clark as global ambassadors.
STATSports now brings the exact same technology and metrics to US Youth Soccer and Elite 64, with further opportunities for players at all levels of US Youth Soccer and within its 54 State Associations. The FIFA Approved GPS tracker provides data to make players faster, stronger and perform at their physical best by competing against themselves and their peers. Data that Elite 64 players receive will allow them to compare themselves to other elite-level players within US Youth Soccer and give them the opportunity to see how they match up to some of the world’s top professional players. The feedback from the STATSports devices will also make every Elite 64 game a recruitable moment, as the performance data will be shared to a variety of colleges, national federations and professional teams globally.
Read more about this partnership here...
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THE LATEST FROM US SOCCER |
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SAFESOCCER FRAMEWORK
US Center for SafeSport Implements Parent & Minor Training
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All Amateur Sports Organizations across the country are required to enforce SafeSport Certification for all adults working with minors. Wyoming Soccer started implementing SafeSport Training for all coaches, referees, staff, board members and volunteers in 2020.
The US Center for SafeSport now offers additional training for parents and minors.
Parent Training is available free of charge without an access code. In addition, age appropriate training is offered to minors ranging in age from preschool up through high school and can also be accessed free of charge.
We are not required to track completion of parent or minor training, but will report how and when it was offered. We highly encourage parents and athletes to participate in this training. Do you know what grooming looks like? Do you know the signs to be aware of when it comes to athlete abuse? It may surprise you. Help us protect our players by educating yourself and your children on how to prevent abuse.
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Wyoming Soccer is working hard to gain more referees, and the best way to do that is to host referee clinics. We have several referee clinics coming up and we invite you to take advantage of the opportunity to offset some of the costs of youth soccer, earn some extra money, familiarlize yourself with the rules and see things from a new perspective!
Click the below button to find out about all of our upcoming Wyoming Referee Clinics, with the next one coming up this Saturday, January 29th in Casper.
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If your club is interested in hosting a referee clinic, please click HERE.
Wyoming Soccer has recently applied for a grant from US Soccer Federation to help in our recruitment and retention efforts. We will keep you posted!
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Caleb Andrews, who plays with the Lander Strikers is in the spotlight for the month of January.
Caleb is a very versatile player and can play any position on the field, and has done so! With that said, as most players do, Caleb has a favorite and for him it is attacking mid. Caleb typically plays this position now for both his club and for the 2009 Boys Wyoming 307 Select team, of which he has been a part for the past three years. 2021 marked the second year he was selected for Wyoming ODP, although he did not play in 2020 due to COVID, so this past year was his first time to actually participate in ODP, where he played defensive back and right wing. He enjoyed playing with the team at both the ODP Friendly event in Boise, ID held this past November and the USYS West Region ODP Championships which were held earlier this month in Mesa, AZ.
Caleb started playing soccer at the young age of four years old in Alabama. When he was six, his family moved to Wyoming and he started playing with the Lander club and is currently in his 8th season of youth soccer! He is always looking for opportunities to play as a guest player if his own home team/club is not playing. He has also previously been rostered on a Green River team - he is truly always looking for an opportunity to play and get out there on the pitch.
Caleb is a versatile athlete and soccer is far from his only sport. Caleb played for the Lander Middle School 7th grade football team this past Fall and is currently playing on their school basketball team. This Spring, he will be gracing the track with his speed as he looks forward to joining the school track team.
He has been referred to as a highly competitive kid and in addition to the sports mentioned above, Caleb plays baseball and hockey! But, soccer seems to be his main focus and he is driven to be the best he can possibly be. He is a true Wyoming outdoor enthusiast, as well, and enjoys his summers camping and just being outside. During the Fall, he has taken up hunting and goes every chance he can get.
When it comes to school...well, you can probably guess... Yes, he excels there, too. He is naturally gifted in math and continuously scores well above the national average and far above his grade level year after year. When Caleb isn't focused on sports or school, he is probably with his friends.
He is an overall great kid and always puts his best foot forward in everything he does. Hunter Roseberry, Caleb's coach and the Director of Coaching for Lander Strikers, had this to say about Caleb, "I had the privilege to coach Caleb this past Fall. I was able to witness Caleb's leadership on the team as he was often first to practice and last to leave with full attention to training throughout. His competitive nature could be adjusted to ramp up in spirited games or ramped down to show compassion when playing with younger players. Caleb not only plays with Lander Strikers, he also plays with a WY 307 Select team and with a WY ODP team. It may seem like he's very soccer focused, but he also competed in middle school football this fall along with pulling great grades in school and doing all of this with modesty. He is truly the depiction of walking softly and carrying a big stick. Kudos to Caleb!"
We are honored to spotlight Caleb, and want to hear more about players like him. Remember, the Player Spotlight can highlight achievement in any area, whether it's soccer, academics, community, or attitude. Please share your kids with us!
To nominate a player from your club for the Player Spotlight, please download the nomination form by clicking HERE. Once completed, please email to wssa@wyomingsoccer.com.
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WYOMING SOCCER SAYS GOODBYE
David Hayes Moves On
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Wyoming Soccer recently learned that our own Technical Director, David Hayes, has accepted a postion out of state and will be moving on. While we are excited for David and his family and the opportunity before him, he will be greatly missed by all of us here at Wyoming Soccer Association. His final day will be February 10th.
Prior to coming to Wyoming in 2017, where he took on the role of Director of Coaching at Laramie Soccer Club, David was involved in coaching at the state level with Region 1 ODP in New York and lead coach courses on Long Island and in Manhattan.
After settling in Laramie, David started working with the State Association helping with goalkeeper training with Wyoming 307 Select and Wyoming ODP. He began coaching at the state level and eventually became our Lead Technical Advisor in January 2018, and then moved into the Technical Director position in March 2018. Under David's leadership, Wyoming Soccer Association took a more active role in the development of our Wyoming 307 Select Program and developing our coaches throughout the state. The Wyoming ODP Program grew significantly from a player development program to what it is today. We now have more players and more teams than we ever have participating in Wyoming ODP.
Thank you, David, for the work you have done and the contributions you have made to Wyoming Soccer Association, our families, our players and our coaches. You will be greatly missed and we wish you the best in your future endeavors as you continue your career in advancing the sport of soccer!
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USYS PARTNER SURVEY FOR COACHES
Protecting the health of youth soccer players is very important to WSA, USYS and their partner, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).
All Coaches - if you have an opportunity, please take a moment to complete this survey, as it will help experts from the Sports Medicine Institute at HSS develop new player health and injury prevention programs for USYS and youth soccer coaches throughout the United States.
Please click the button below to take the quick survey.
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THE LATEST UPCOMING EVENTS |
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January 29, 2022
February 12-13, 2022
February 18-20, 2022
March 12-13, 2022
April 9-10, 2022
April 23-24, 2022
April 30 - May 1, 2022
May 7-8, 2022
May 14-15, 2022
WYOMING CUP & CHAMPIONSHIPS & UNITED CUP
May 28-30, 2022
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JANUARY CODE OF CONDUCT HIGHLIGHT |
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All registrants must agree to the Wyoming Soccer Association's (WSA's) Code of Conduct.
Commitment: Be willing to give your time and energy to improve your skills for the game.
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GET TO KNOW OUR GROWING LIST OF PARTNERS |
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WYOMING SOCCER ASSOCIATION| www.wyomingsoccer.com
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