Hello AC Sandhills Members,
It is my pleasure to offer you our February edition of “Inside the #OrangeLife”, our monthly guide to everything AC Sandhills! In this edition you will discover who our special summer camp guest coach will be, what tournaments and events the club will be hosting, and so much more!
Once again, I want to personally thank you for choosing to be a member of AC Sandhills and hope you enjoy the second edition of our newsletter.
Todd Abbey, Executive Director
In this issue, we have “upped our game” with a new look to our cover!
We want excitement to start from the beginning of each month and build to the next. Each issue o f “ I n s i d e t h e # O r a n g e L i f e ” w i l l spotlight a group, player or something that we feel exemplifies AC Sandhills and what the “#OrangeLife” is all about. This month, and for our first new cover, we decided to feature one of our brightest up and coming players in our soccer division; Kamden Lewis. Kamden constantly shows what it means to live the #OrangeLife, as explained by her ’04 Girls Orange Coach Tyler Hudson, “Kamden shows the true qualities of an AC Sandhills athlete. She demonstrates these qualities by always showing up to training with a smile on her face while coming to compete and progress as a player and an individual. It has been a great pleasure of mine to have coached Kamden the last 2 years and watch her develop as a player and as an individual.”
Congratulations to Kamden for making the first cover of “Inside the #OrangeLife”!
A Special Thank You!
Behind every good newsletter, there’s someone who must put in a lot of time & energy creating it. AC Sandhills would like to thank Tiffany Abbey for using time & energy toward helping ACS become more. Since agreeing to come on as our Director of Community Outreach, she has developed not only a great newsletter as a tool for communication with our membership and the community but has utilized her social media expertise to make AC Sandhills much more prevalent on multiple platforms.
Thank you to Tiffany for all you do for ACS!
In this issue, Travel Soccer Coaching Assignments will be announced, along with a brief explanation of the newly mandated age group realignment sent down by the US Soccer Federation.
You will also read about two new events coming this spring, “Spike Between the Pines” Volleyball Tournament and “Run or Dye Tryin’ Off Road 5k Color Run.” Each page will give you the information you need with important dates to allow you to lan for the upcoming year.
We have brought you updates & interesting stories from our current teams and staff, our coaching corner will tell you more about our special guest for summer soccer camp! We have also added a “Did you Know?” section that will enhance your knowledge of AC Sandhills. Don’t miss our sponsors and partners section that focuses on the local businesses that have decided to join us and support the #OrangeLife!
February Bubble Soccer Tournament is here!
Join us February 27th for some fun and exercise in our Bubbles! Youth and Adults (ages 10 and up) are welcome. Register on
our website today. $10 youth and $15 adults. Gather a group and sign up today!
Spring Break Technical Proficiency Camp! Join our technical staff for this fun filled week of soccer.
Take advantage of our expertise in speed, agility, passing, receiving, and a variety of fast paced small sided games.
Register online today. $150 for the week. March 28th - 31st / Monday - Thursday
9am - Noon at Morganton Road Fields Ages U8-U18 Coed Coached by Julio Penalillo, Todd Abbey & Trevor Spencer
Interested in playing Select
Travel Soccer with AC Sandhills?
Register today to Try Out! Coaching
information on Page 4!
Spring Recreational Soccer begins soon!
Interested in sponsoring a team? Contact us today to
learn how!
Mini Kickers is in full swing, but there is still time to
register for our Late Spring Session. Register online
today for your 2-4 year old to begin their soccer journey!
SOCCER
SOCCER
Special Summer Camp Offer! (START PLANNING FOR SUMMER NOW!!)
What: ACS Specialty Soccer ClinicWhen: June 29th-July 1stTime: 9AM-12PMDays: Wednesday-FridayVenue: Cannon ParkAge Group: U11-U18Gender: CoedFee: $150Instructor: Bob Jenkins
Bob Jenkins has coached at all levels of the amateur game in the United States, from high school and club soccer, to youth National teams and NCAA national championship college teams.
As an assistant coach at University of Virginia, Bob helped the Cavaliers win their first two National Championships. He then spent 8 years as Head Coach at American University where his team advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA championship and he earned conference Coach of the Year and NCAA regional Coach of the Year.
Following his time at American University, Bob worked as US Soccer's U18 National Team coach and Director of Coach Education and Youth Development. From 2008-2014 he was the Director of Coaching at Richmond Strikers Soccer Club in Virginia.
Bob currently works with PUMA and Arsenal FC, London to deliver the PUMA Elite technical program to a select number of youth clubs in the United States. Bob is also a current scout for US Soccer Development Academy.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT!!
FIRST HEALTH HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC SUPPORTER AND PARTNER WITH ACS
FOR MANY YEARS. WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS OF FIRST AID KITS FOR OUR TRAVEL TEAMS AND ONGOING
SUPPORT FROM THEIR CONVENIENT CARE, REHABILITATION SERVICES & HEALTH & FITNESS CENTER!
2016-17 Travel Soccer Try Out Schedule
Age Group Date Day Time Field Coach06 Boys May 23rd/25th Mon/Wed 5PM-‐6:30PM Morganton 6 Julio Penalillo
06 Girls May 23rd/25th Mon/Wed 6:30PM-‐8PM Morganton 6 Julio Penalillo
05 Boys May 23rd/25th Mon/Wed 5PM-‐6:30PM Morganton 5 Teo Miron
05 Girls May 23rd/25th Mon/Wed 6:30PM-‐8PM Morganton 5 Tyler Hudson
04 Boys May 23rd/25th Mon/Wed 5PM-‐6:30PM Morganton 1 Ray Blatz
04 Girls May 23rd/25th Mon/Wed 6:30PM-‐8PM Morganton 1 Todd Abbey
03 Boys May 23rd/25th Mon/Wed 5PM-‐6:30PM Morganton 2 Jeremy Blake
03 Girls May 23rd/25th Mon/Wed 6:30PM-‐8PM Morganton 2 Tyler Herbst
02 Boys May 24th/26th Tue/Thurs 6:30PM-‐8PM Morganton 1 Teo Miron/Luis Pages
02 Girls May 24th/26th Tue/Thurs 6:30PM-‐8PM Morganton 2 John Cooper
01 Boys May 24th/26th Tue/Thurs 5PM-‐6:30PM Morganton 1 Hunter Pages
01 Girls May 24th /26th Tue/Thurs 5PM-‐6:30PM Morganton 2 John Cooper
00 Boys May 30th/June 1st Mon/Wed 5PM-‐6:30PM Morganton 2 Dalton Hadlock/Trevor Spencer
00 Girls April 29th Fri 6PM-‐8PM Morganton 1 Hunter Pages
99 / ’98 Boys May 30th Mon 5PM-‐6:30PM Morganton 1 Luis Pages
99 / ’98 Girls April 29th Fri 6PM-‐8PM Morganton 2 Trevor Spencer
TRAVEL SOCCER
Director of Coaching Trevor Spencer
1999 Girls & 2000 Boys
Todd Abbey 2004 Girls
Jeremy Blake 2003 Boys
Assistant Director Julio Penalillo
2006 Boys & Girls
Tyler Hudson 2005 Girls
Ray Blatz 2004 Boys
Tyler Herbst 2003 Girls
Teo Miron 2002 Boys & 2005 Boys
John Cooper 2001 Girls, 2002 Girls
Dalton Hadlock 2000 Boys
Hunter Pages 2000 Girls, 2001 Boys
Luis Pages 1999/98 Boys, 2002 Boys
2016-2017 AC Sandhills Select
Travel Soccer Coaches
TRAVEL SOCCER
TRAVEL SOCCER
New Age Chart Description for Travel Soccer
In the fall of 2016, the United States Soccer Federation will be mandating that ALL youth affiliates and sanctioning bodies switch their age charts to true calendar years. This is being done for several reasons that are in accordance with new scouting ordinances set down by USSF, but also due to the fact that the United States is only one of two countries around the world that is still on the old system.
What does this mean for your player that is interested in Travel Soccer?
The biggest difference between the old system and the new, is which team(s) a player will be eligible for. For example, (we will use 1999 and 2000 for our explanation):
Under the old system:A player that is born between August 1, 1999 and July 31, 2000 would be eligible to only play on what was considered the '99 age group team or older if they chose to tryout "up".
Under the new system:A player that is born in 1999 or 2000 will be eligible to play in their true age or older if they choose to tryout "up".
The difference:The player that was born in 2000 that was only allowed to play with other players born between August 1 and Dec 31 of 1999, but not allowed to play on a team consisting of players born in that same time frame of 2000 (Aug. 1-Dec. 31, 2000), will now have an opportunity to do so.
The basic change is that players may have the opportunity to essentially play "down" if they were one of the players born in the younger year of the old system. In our example it would be the 2000 age group. They would now be eligible to play on the '00 team that consisted of 2000's born after Aug.
In the end, each player should try out for their true birth year. Then, if they so desire, that same player can tryout "up" in an older true age. (2000's can tryout for 1999's)
A 2000 can not tryout out for a 2001 team, and a 1999 can not tryout for a 2000 team, and so on. If you have any questions regarding these new guidelines, our coaches are happy to help you during tryouts.
COACH SPOTLIGHT: Tara Hartman - Head Coach U12 Development Program
Tara is in her 2nd year coaching with ACS and leads the Developmental Academy program, for our younger ages. The program has doubled over the past 2 years, and that is a direct tes?mony to her passion, knowledge and atmosphere she brings to coaching the players! Tara is a lifelong par?cipant, in the sport, and has addi?onally coached youth soccer for 3 years, with ACS. During her high school career, Tara earned several accolades and played club for 2 years. She went on to play intramural volleyball in college and assisted in volleyball camps for underprivileged youth. Currently, she con?nues to play volleyball recrea?onally. Tara is cer?fied at level I with USA Volleyball through their
Coaching Accredita?on Program (CAP) and is also IMPACT cer?fied. If you want to learn the game of volleyball, come check out Tara and her coaching staff in ac?on!!
VOLLEYBALL
All 5 of our travel teams were in ac?on this past month, throughout the region. The U16 & U17 Teams traveled to Myrtle Beach over MLK holiday weekend, finishing very strong at each age group. The U16s competed in the Silver division, finishing in the top third. The U17s capped off a strong weekend compe?ng in the Gold division and finishing 5th overall! Over Super Bowl Weekend, we took all of our travel teams to a huge overnight tournament in CharloWe. All of our Teams competed hard and had a blast playing and cheering each other on throughout the tournament. Our U13s competed in the Silver Division, U14s in the Copper, U15 & U16 Teams in the Bronze and U17s in the Gold, finishing 9th overall. Congratula?ons to all the players! All teams will compete in Region events throughout March, with the U17s going to Roanoke, Virginia for an overnight Tournament. The U12 Developmental Academy also played their first tournament over Valen?ne’s Day weekend. Great job to the U12s!
TRAVEL NEWS…
DID YOU KNOW!? Lacrosse is a spring sport! Youth, high school, and college lacrosse is played primarily in the spring. Although February is still technically a winter month, all of us laxers are gearing up for spring and can’t wait to get back on the @ield! If you are looking for more information about lacrosse, visit
our website and click on “Girls Lacrosse FAQ “ under the Girls Lacrosse tab.
EXCITING NEW PROGRAM: AC Sandhills is excited to offer a new program that will begin this April! Kinderlax is a is a clinic-based program for girls designed to introduce Kindergartners to the game of lacrosse in a fun, supportive way using soft lacrosse equipment (i.e. plastic sticks and spongy balls or tennis balls). Kinderlax will meet 4 Fridays in a row from 4pm – 5pm staring April 8th. We will provide the equipment. Visit the website to register your Kindergartner today!
SPRING RECREATION LACROSSE BEGINNING! Teams will begin practice on Saturday, February 27th. Spring is almost here!
ACS SELECT TRYOUTS SATURDAY, MARCH 12: Players in 4th – 12th grade that are interested in competing on a travel team this summer tryouts will be held Saturday, March 12th from 1pm – 3:30pm. We are excited to announce the addition of a brand new division for our Select program. We will host tryouts for an ACS Select Junior team in addition to our Middle School and High School teams. Players must register to tryout, please visit the website for more information and to register.
For more information on ACS Lacrosse offerings contact Nikki at
LACROSSE
OUR FIRST EVER 5K!!
Join us on this amazing course and
for an afternoon of fun in Pinehurst. Go to
our website for information on
registering for the event! This is one you do NOT want to miss!
KONA ICE
MEAN BEAN COFFEE
BOUNCE HOUSES
BUBBLE RACES
MUSIC
AND MORE!!!
Sign up by March 1st and get a FREE race
T-shirt!
SPIKE BETWEEN THE PINES
Volleyball…you have to live it to understand it!
Tournaments are a great way to grow the game and help our
local economy at the same time.
We are thrilled to be partnering
with many local schools / courts to throw our first
Home Hosted Volleyball
tournament.
Important Dates to Remember!
February 20th Saturday Soccer Mini Day Camp (U6 Coed) 25th Spirit Night @ Buffalo Wild Wings 27th Bubble Soccer Tournament 27th Girls Lacrosse Recrea?onal Prac?ces Begin 29th Recrea?on Soccer Prac?ces Begins
March 5th Winter Clash Adult Futsal Tournament 7th Spirit Night @ Hickory Tavern 12th Opening Day of Recrea?on Soccer 28th Spring Break Technical Proficiency Camp
If you have any stories, suggestions, or ideas to share or submit for our newsletter please email [email protected]
Did you know???
Did you know that AC Sandhills was originally just a soccer club? Soccer has been in the Sandhills Area since the early 90's beginning as the “Sandhills Youth
Soccer League.” After more than 25 years, and several identity changes, AC Sandhills has become the largest provider of soccer as well as other sports in the
area with close to 3,000 members.
ACS encompasses close to 20% of all of Moore County’s youth within the K-5 grade levels. With the additional sports of Volleyball, Lacrosse and Youth
Triathlons, we are one of the only multi-sport providers outside of Parks and Recreation Departments in the entire state of NC!
SPONSORS & PARTNERS AC Sandhills is thankful for amazing sponsors and partners that make it
possible for us to offer sport to all kids regardless of their ability to pay. We could not reach our community without your generous support.
Please be sure to patron these fine businesses and thank them for giving back to our community!
We have many opportuniYes for you to support these local establishments while also supporYng fundraising efforts for our club.
Be sure to take advantage of these offers!
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST SPONSORS!
Visit SportsClips in Southern Pines for discounted haircuts or upgraded services. Be on the lookout next month for our Coach of the month and a special
gie from SportClips!
If you would like information on
becoming a sponsor please contact
tiffany@acsandhills.
ACS Dining Nights are here!!
Join us for fun & to support your club!
Buffalo Wild Wings: Thursday Feb. 25th, 6-10pm
Hickory Tavern: Monday, March 7th, 4pm-Close (12am)
Top Related