Game 3, Kick 3 December 29, 2007

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In 2000, the inaugural Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea Football Club occurred with only four divisions, crowning just two boys teams and two girls teams as champions. Of those four, only one of the clubs came back in 2001 to claim a sec-ond Disney’s Soccer Showcase title. As a matter of fact, they are the only club to have won another consecu-tive championship in 2002…then in 2003…and every year since 2000. Come to think of it, they are the win-ningest club at Disney’s Soccer Showcase. They are the Dallas Texans.

The club out of north Texas was established in 1993 and within a year, the organization expanded with the addition of girls teams and divisional teams from a larger span of communi-ties. In just 14 years, the club has won titles in nearly every major tournament in the United States, including state and regional titles and fi ve prestigious National Championships. Additionally, the club has participated and experienced great success in some of the most elite tournaments in Europe.

Over their years here at Disney’s Soccer Showcase, the Texans have accumulated quite a few records. In the boys divisions, they are tied with Solar Soccer Club, also of north Texas, for the most boys champi-onships, both with fi ve total. The Texans also hold the record for the most girls crowns, with an outstand-

ing nine titles. The next closest club is Eclipse Soc-cer Club of Illin. who has a little over half as many as Dallas’s girls with fi ve championships. What is even more remarkable however, is that combined, the Dallas Texans have 14 Disney’s Soccer Showcase

Championship trophies while no other club in the history of this tournament have more than fi ve.

“The Dallas Texans is a very professionally run youth organization, if not one of the top orga-nizations in the coun-try” commented Mark Luster, Disney’s Soccer Showcase Tourna-ment Director. “They

consistently win tournament championships here at the Showcase, and then turn around and win national championships as well. Overall, they are a very, very good club to work with.”

Good luck Texans in this year’s tournament!

Dallas Texans - A Soccer Showcase Dynasty

DALLAS TEXANS DISNEY’S SOCCER SHOWCASE CHAMPIONSHIPS

IS THIS YOU?If so, go to the results area to redeem

your prize! Keep an eye out for more

photos. Next time it could be you...

Game 3, Kick 3 December 29, 2007

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Coaches Corner with Elmar BolowichNow entering his 19th season as head coach of North Carolina’s men’s soccer team, Elmar Bolowich guides a team that is among the nation’s elite, staking that claim by winning the 2001 NCAA championship and fi nishing ranked No. 1 in at least one national poll twice since 2000. With a career record of 226-122-26, Bolow-ich has the most wins in the history of the program. He has led UNC to a school-record eight straight NCAA

postseason appearances, including three trips to the quarterfi nal round (2000, 2001, 2005) over the last seven seasons.

For his efforts, Bolowich was named the 2000 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, the 2001 NSCAA National Coach of the Year and the NSCAA South Region Coach of the Year in both 2000 and 2001. Bolowich was honored in January 1999, with the National Intercollegiate Soccer Offi cials Association National Merit award, which is given annually to one college coach whose reputation is recognized by soccer offi cials as praiseworthy and refl ective of the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior.

1. How did your soccer journey start?Playing as a kid in Germany and growing up watching Bundesliga games on TV

2. What motivated you to take up coaching?Love for the game and working with young players

3. What is your coaching strategy? Keep it simple

4. What do you look for while recruiting a player?Competitiveness, self discipline, self believe

5. What advice would you give a player looking to attract the at-tention of a college coach?Be yourself, know your strengths

6. What are some things a parent can do to get their player noticed?Nothing a parent should do. The player or his coach should do that.

7. What is the best part of coaching?Helping young adults see more than just a game. The game mirrors the principles of success in life, teamwork, discipline, at-titude, mental toughness, work ethic, etc.

8. What is your favorite coaching moment?Being with the team before a big game

9. If you weren’t a soccer coach, what do you think you would be doing?Trying to become a soccer coach

10. Defi ne “Coaching” in one sentence.Leading a group of individuals towards a common goal

Games of the Day

Real Colorado 89/90 National (CO)vs.

Solar 90 Boys (TXN)

U18 4:30pm DWWS #01 This match-up of two top clubs from Regions III & IV will be highly competitive and no doubt, will attract a

lot of college coach interest.

Michigan Wolves 91 (MI)vs.

Kendall Soccer Coalition White (FL)

U17 12:30pm DWWS #05In this classic match-up of North meets South, the

mid-western power Michigan Wolves will take on the Kendall Soccer Coalition White of Florida.

Today is a day for celebrating…or at least for team coaches, managers, college coaches, referees and tourna-ment VIP’s as they take over club Motion at Downtown Disney’s® Pleasure Island for the

Coaches’ Reception presented by Anthony Travel.

Today at the Showcase

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EXPERIENCE Community Out-reach is about char-acter development, connecting athletes

with community, constructive use of free time, and compassion.

Providing our athletes with the opportunity to show compassion by participating in Passback and donat-ing gently used soccer equipment, will make their Experience at Disney’s Soccer Showcase a memo-rable one! Be sure to drop your donations off at the Passback bin in the results area.

Children in Central Florida and beyond will be able to play the game of soccer because of Passback and this Experience at Disney’s Soccer Showcase. Thanks!

Referee of the Day - Mike Miscannon

Mike Miscannon is one of the younger referees attending the Showcase this year. At age 22, he is fi nishing up his eighth year as a referee and will be at his sixth Disney’s Soccer Showcase. A native of Scotland, Mike now resides in Orlando, FL and is a State Referee for Grade 6, with over 2,000 games under his belt.

1. Why did you decide to become a referee? At fi rst, becoming a referee was a way for a 14 year old to have a job and pay for a cell phone. It was also a way for my father and I to do something together, which is something we continue to do today.

2. What moment in you refereeing career stands out the most?Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with many great opportunities so far in my career. Some of the moments that stand out are being the 4th offi cial on the PDL National Final, being an assistant referee on MLS Preseason matches and an international friendly between the US and Guatemala.

3. Do you only referee youth games or do you referee high school, colleges, etc.?I have refereed at every level except at the MLS and international sanctioned matches.

4. Did you participate in sports growing up? Growing up I played both basketball and soccer. In high school, I played soccer up to my senior year where I had to decide whether to continue playing or focus on refereeing, needless to say, I chose refereeing.

5. What was your view on referees while participating in sports? Did that help you in the way that you ref games today?When I played, I was that one player that was always giving the referee a hard time, complaining, and causing trouble. Just as in any job, when you actually go out and do it, you gain a greater understanding for the job itself. I can’t advocate it enough: Don’t knock it, unless you’ve tried it. I’ve gained such a respect for, not just refereeing, but any service job. Now, when I run into those knuckleheads on the pitch, (I realize it’s deserved karma), I know how to deal with them, and let them know when the next referee class is.

6. Overall, what has your experience as a referee been like? How would you describe your job in one sentence?I love refereeing, it has truly become one of the passions of my life. If I could sum it up in one sentence it would be: Being a ref-eree, you have the best seat in the house for the most beautiful game in the world.

Chelsea FC Passback

In 2007, English Premiership side Chelsea Foot-ball Club became presenting sponsor of Disney’s Soccer Showcase Series. One of the biggest and most successful clubs in Europe, the team they call “the Blues” boast some of the best players in the world, including England captain John Terry, and their famous stadium Stamford Bridge sits in the heart of a fashionable part of London. Their ambi-tions to grow their fan base in the United States are refl ected in the launch of a website and membership program designed specifi cally for American soccer

fans. For Blues news go to www.chelseafc.com/America.

Be sure to visit the Chelsea Football Club table at the Showcase, located in the results area.

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61 teams that have been crowned champions in the event’s seven year history

19 states are represented by past champions, Texas being home to the most (16) and Florida with the second-most (7)

In 2005, six championship games ended in PLACE KICKS and one in OVERTIME

In 2006, not a single championship game ended in PLACE KICKS or OVERTIME

Solar Soccer (TX) holds the record for MOST CONSEC-

UTIVE BOYS CHAMPIONSHIPS by a single club– 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

There are only 7 boys clubs with THREE OR MORE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3 – Colorado Rush Nike (CO) Concorde Fire (GA)4 – CASL Elite (NC) FC Greater Boston Bolts (MA)5 – Dallas Texans (TX) Solar Soccer (TX)

4 boys clubs have taken home TWO TITLES IN A SIN-GLE YEAR; only one club has DONE THAT TWICE

Happy Birthday!!

Alex Casteuble U16 Showcase Potomac SA InternationalsStuart Howard U18 Copa Blue Texas Soccer Club TexansChristian McLaughlin U18 Showcase Reston Football Club AnnandaleRamzi Najeebe U18 Predator Houstonians FC 89/90Christopher Stewart U15 Copa Vardar RedJesus Vasquez U17 Predator Solar 91Brady Wahl U15 Predator Campton United Navy

Photos of the Day - 12/27/07

Snippets - Boy’s Championships

The U18 La Roca Premier poses after a winMembers of the U18 TSC Texans

Corner Kick on Field 7

Team Ohio Green (OS) vs. Javenon SC 91 (KY)

US Youth Soccer ODP took the fi eld in the after-noon