The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Soccer Association growing
By Daniel Lai, Editor
PUBLISHED: May 24, 2007
Soccer interest is strong in the Manchester area and the Manchester Soccer Association is hoping to make it stronger with several upcoming events.
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"It (soccer) has definitely come a long way from what it was five years ago," MSA President John Collins, said. "Every fall we have about 200 kids playing on our rec teams."
The MSA is open to children and teenagers of all ages, he said.
"Our rec program usually caters to kindergarten through sixth grade while our travel program goes up through high school. It would be nice to offer to the older kids too. It's a matter of resources. Some towns have soccer and some don't."
This year tryouts for the fall rec league will be held the weekend of June 30, he said.
"Tryouts are open to anybody," Collins said. "We want to match kids' ability with the appropriate level of play. We try to accommodate as many as we can."
Collins said rec teams are broken down into age appropriate groups including six and under, eight and under, 10 and under and 12 and under.
"... After that we try to get them into the travel teams because we want them to continue with soccer," he said. "However, there is a phenomenon in soccer with kids; after a certain age they loose interest and join other programs. We want to keep them in soccer."
While participants in the rec league are pitted against other MSA rec teams, the travel team faces off against other area soccer teams in the Southeast Michigan Soccer Association including Milan and Tecumseh.
"We have a strong turnout for the travel team," he said. "We're playing in the SAMSA tournament in Adrian in June."
Collins said support from the Manchester community and surrounding communities has been extraordinary.
"The stores and businesses have sponsored teams in the past," he said. "We've had a great relationship with them and want to continue to grow and evolve with that."
This year, the MSA will sponsor its fifth annual soccer camp June 25-28 at Alumni Field in Manchester.
"Soccer is one of those sports that are great for kids," he said. "Everyone is involved and everyone gets to play."
The camp will be run by Rob Miller, head men's soccer coach for Anderson University.
"The camp will present participants with the fundamental techniques of soccer in a fun, learning atmosphere," Collins said. "The technical, tactical, physical and psychological aspects of the game will be presented daily."
The cost of the camp is $65. Each additional child will receive a $5 discount, he said.
In addition to the MSA camp, athletes between the ages of four and 18 can also participate in the Detroit Ignition advanced team camp. Collins said Ignition players will run the camp in Manchester on August 6.
The MSA will also host free drop-in soccer games at Alumni Field during the summer. The games are open to anyone with an interest in playing, Collins said.
As president of the MSA, Collins said he is always looking for volunteers to help out at the club's events.
"We've been able to recruit a few parents every year," he said. "Everyone here has been willing to help out in some capacity.
"It's all about getting kids and adults educated on the benefits of soccer."
For more information on MSA rec teams, travel teams or the MSA summer camp, contact Collins at 428-1486.
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