Since day one, Newport News F.C. has taken many deliberate steps to become the club of choice for elite players and parents on the Peninsula. Our signing of the multi-year agreement with international soccer giant Adidas, and the establishing of our annual tournaments both represent significant parts of the infrastructure is necessary to assure that every Newport News F.C. player gets the training and support they need to achieve success on and off the field. However, aside from infrastructure we are building we need another plan in place that will enable our club teams to compete with the other best teams in the state.

With that objective in mind, here is what I determined having spent the last ten years learning the ropes of travel soccer in Hampton Roads and coaching against and observing some of the best teams in the state play. I believe that for any peninsula based team to compete for and win a State Championship two things must happen. The first is that we need all of the best players from York County, Hampton, Williamsburg and Newport News on the same team. Secondly, we need these players on the same team prior to U12 and ideally U10. The rationale behind this is simple. Teams play the best when the players know each other and when you have to compete against teams with 14 exceptionally skilled players we need to have 14 exceptionally skilled players also. I know this isn’t rocket science but by getting the best players from other local teams to join together we would be doing the best thing for the players. I have previously discussed this vision with John Bailey, the president of the Peninsula Based Va. Rush Club and he agreed that by combining our best peninsula players together would give ourselves a chance to compete against the other best teams in the state. Consequently, it is my vision that all of the best young players currently playing on the peninsula consider joining the best team they can find locally. Especially at the critical younger ages.

And it just so happens that Newport News based teams have traditionally fielded the best young teams on the peninsula and this year is no exception. So ideally the best young players in the area are encouraged to tryout for our Newport News F.C. Elite teams, especially, since the State Cup tournament begins at U12 which is why we need to have all of the better players playing together at a early age. And just so I don’t get accused of being anymore bias then I already am, here is a quick review and comparison of the league standings of Newport News F.C. as of Oct. 1, to the other travel clubs playing in our league. Newport News F.C. (19-10-2) is currently by far doing better than Williamsburg S.C (6-22-2), VIP United (3-12), and the younger peninsula based Virginia Rush teams (4-7-1). Not only are we winning more games but we are ahead in the standings of almost every other team on the peninsula at the critical younger ages.

I believe if we work to keep our existing teams together and continue to add more and more talented players we will be able to compete with the other Elite clubs in Virginia, like Braddock Road, Springfield, Richmond Strikers, and Gunston Hall just to name a few.

However for our club to reach this level of success it will take a team effort.

Ultimately, we need dedicated coaches who can teach the game, passionate players who can play, parents who support the teams, and a club that provides a complete vision.