“We are excited about our new franchise and we look forward to having an impact on the player development environment in Vermont.  We have been active through the spring and will continue to be so, into the Summer, meeting with various soccer programs. We are now pleased to announce the appointment of Malcolm Wilson as VPS Technical Director and Iain Manson as Director of Operations. At least one additional staff member will be also added in the near future” said VPS Director of Soccer Paul Baber.

Malcolm Wilson is a senior coach and educator with 17 years of experience managing all aspects of Premier League Football Club community programs within a region, including 4 years at Fulham FC coaching in the Clubs academy. Malcolm is currently a Vermont Soccer Association staff coach, working with both the ODP program and being a State license instructor.

“I am excited for VPS to be able to employ someone of Malcolm’s caliber. He has showed a commitment to the game by obtaining the highest coaching licenses possible. He holds his USSF A license, USSF National Youth license, National Goalkeeping license and UEFA B License. His knowledge of the game and experience in running programs at all levels will be a huge asset to VPS and the soccer players in Vermont” said Baber.

“We are very fortunate to have Malcolm as our Technical Director and his experience and local knowledge will help us shape the programs we offer to cater for both coaches and players alike in Vermont” Baber added.

Iain Manson, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland has over ten years coaching experience in New England, New Jersey and the UK. Iain joined GPS in 2009 when he first worked for Mass Premier Soccer. He was transferred to Maine Premier Soccer in 2010, utilizing his administrative and organizational skills as both Academy then Finance Director. Through his previous roles Iain has become familiar with all multi-faceted aspects and logistics of running a successful Premier Club.

“Iain has shown that he has both quality coaching and administrative skills. He has been an integral part of making Maine Premier soccer a huge success and now the biggest Soccer club in Maine. While he will be sorely missed from Maine he was the logical choice when I looked at who had the experience and knowledge to help spearhead VPS. He understands how to run successful programs, working with local youth soccer groups and combing his ability along with those qualities Malcolm Wilson brings will give VPS a very experienced management team”. Said Paul  Baber.

On the field Iain coached a variety of ages in both NEP, State Cup and USL SYL on both the boys and girls side and had consecutive High School Fall Seasons at Greely HS. Iain currently holds a USSF License, NSCAA National Youth Diploma and Scottish Football Association Level 3 license.

For more information on Vermont Premier Soccer please visit www.vermontpremiersoccer.com or contact VPS Director of Football Paul Baber on 508 922 2456 or vps@globalpremiersoccer.com

For more information on Global Premier Soccer franchises please visit www.globalpremiersoccer.com or visit the GPS section on each franchise website

Jersey Premier Soccer has been created in partnership with Ocean City FC, one of the leading player development programs in southern New Jersey.  Ocean City also operate one of the leading USL Premier Development League (PDL) franchises in the country, the Ocean City Nor’easters. 

Expanding and enhancing Ocean City FC’s current programs, JPS will offer a wide range of soccer products and services and will introduce the School Of Excellence Program to townships with a view to creating an improved player development environment in New Jersey primarily via curriculum, coach education and year round coaching from professional coaches.

“As well as a unique club system, methodology and support network, JPS will bring a curriculum that has developed national team players and a culture that brings townships and clubs together,” said Jersey Premier Soccer General Manager Neil Holloway.  “JPS will strive to create more opportunities for players and help players fulfill their potential.”

With headquarters in Ocean City, JPS will work with existing townships and clubs to launch year round premier teams with tryouts taking place at the end of the spring.  “JPS will provide players and families in southern New Jersey a tried and tested player development model that has produced regional and national caliber youth players and teams throughout the GPS network,” said Holloway.  “We look forward to providing a pathway to the collegiate and professional level for our players as JPS becomes the Premier club in southern New Jersey and beyond.”

Two prominent local coaches based in central New Jersey have also joined JPS.  Martin Punt and Christy Holly are well recognized in central New Jersey as two of the leading youth trainers and will facilitate JPS establishing a presence throughout central and northern New Jersey.

“With the existing base of programming and staff at Ocean City, coupled with the expertise of Martin and Christy, we are off to a great start,” said GPS CEO Joe Bradley. “We expect to make an immediate impact  in the local player development environment by combining our resources and taking a collaborative approach to building programming.”

For more information on Jersey Premier Soccer please visit www.jerseypremiersoccer.com
or contact JPS General Manager Neil Holloway on nholloway@globalpremiersoccer.com
Also, visit www.globalpremiersoccer.com and www.oceancityfc.com for further details.

TAMPA, Fla, May 9th, 2012; The Tampa Bay Rowdies today announced that they have renewed their partnership with Global Premier Soccer’s Portland Phoenix of the Premier Development League.

The two clubs will continue a relationship that began in 2010, with a focus on player development and domestic player recruiting, as well as expanding brand awareness for both clubs throughout North America.

The Rowdies have placed several players on the Portland Phoenix roster over the past two seasons for further evaluation and development. Past Rowdies trialists that have played with the Phoenix include midfielder Kyle Clinton, goalkeeper Will Dieterich, defender Brian Fekete, defender Ryan Griffin and goalkeeper Ryan Thompson.

The Phoenix has first team status within the MPS organization, which previously fielded the Cape Cod Crusaders (Crusaders) PDL franchise. The Crusaders had a long and outstanding reputation of success after winning back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003. The Crusaders also established themselves as one of the leading clubs for moving players into the professional ranks in the United States and Europe.

The Phoenix currently competes in the PDL Eastern Conference within the Northeast Division along with clubs such as the Ottawa Fury, Vermont Voltage and New Hampshire Phantoms. In 2011, the Phoenix won the PDL Northeast Division title and will be playing the first round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup against the Brooklyn Italians of the NPSL on May 15.

“Global Premier Soccer has had success at all amateur levels and in the PDL,” said Rowdies President/General Manager Andrew Nestor. “The Portland Phoenix and head coach Paul Baber have a similar vision and method for player development which we have refined since 2010, and will help the Rowdies recruit from the college ranks and also further develop players for the Rowdies first team.”

For more information on Maine Premier Soccer, visit their website at www.mainepremiersoccer.com.

The Rowdies return to action this Saturday, May 12 when they host San Antonio at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 813-287-1539 or visit www.RowdiesSoccer.com.

Waltham, 8^th May 2012;

AS Roma is undergoing a restructuring under new American ownership with the goal of establishing Roma as a global brand and securing a regular spot in the UEFA Champions League.

GPS, who currently operate youth soccer programs in eight states, has become a leading source of US Youth National team players in recent years with two GPS players currently in the U-15 National team and three players developed by GPS selected to the US U-17 Residency program in recent years.

The agreement will include access to the AS Roma curriculum and will be unique in providing Academy programming that will identify the best U11 and U12 players in certain regions.  The existing GPS Inner-City initiatives will be co-branded with Roma and will become part of the exciting Roma Academy program that will be offered at no cost to participants.

“The agreement with AS Roma presents a tremendous opportunity for GPS players to touch a leading European soccer club,” said GPS CEO Joe Bradley.  “We hope to make this a ground breaking venture that goes beyond what European clubs have done in the past in the US market.  With the commitment to the inner city program, the ability to offer Roma Academies for the very best players at no cost and the technical support provided, we believe we have something special.”

Roma has already confirmed a summer tour of the US with games at Fenway Park on July 25^th sandwiched between games in Chicago and New York.  GPS will provide a supporting role in promoting the tour.

For more information please contact GPS Media Director Graham Munro on 781.891.6900 ext.36 or gmunro@globalpremiersoccer.com

The official launch of the Florida Knights was via a press conference held on Tuesday 3^rd April at 3pm at JetBlue Park.  The press conference was featured on local media website news-press.com.  To view the article in full, please click here.

“The launch of the Florida Knights brings a new and exciting professional youth soccer program to the Fort Myers community,” said FPS General Manager Alan Hough.  “The multi-million dollar Jet Blue Complex provides a world class soccer facility which will be the base of operations for our coaching staff to deliver age appropriate, structured programs.”

For more information on the Florida Knights please visit www.floridaknights.net or contact FPS General Manager Alan Hough on 321-251-4290 or ahough@floridapremsoccer.com or Florida Knights Technical Director, John Robinson on jrobinson@floridapremsoccer.com

Waltham MA, 4^th April, 2012; The US U17 Men’s National Team headed to France to participate in an upcoming tournament includes a player from Global Premier Soccer. Tommy Redding from FC America (Florida Premier Soccer premier program), will travel as part of an 18 man squad competing in the 40^th annual Mondial Minimes Tournament.  The US will play in Group B and are scheduled to face United Arab Emirates and Portugal.

“It’s exciting to see Tommy compete on this stage against some of the top U17 players from across the world,” said FPS General Manager Alan Hough. “Tommy is undoubtedly a positive role model for all players from FC America and Global Premier Soccer and his endeavors should be an inspiration to all the young players within GPS.”

The U.S. U-17 Men will face UAE at 6:15 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, April 3, followed by Portugal at 6:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 5. Should the U.S. advance, the team will also play April 7 and 9.

Redding joins a list of GPS products to represent the cub in a high profile tournament for youth national teams.  In December 2011, GPS product Guy Kabala was selected as part of the squad to represent the US in tournament games, including a victory over Brazil, held at the Lakewood Ranch complex in Florida and screened live on Fox Soccer Channel.  Kabala, a member of the US National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, FL is a product of the NHPSA Classics Premier Team program.

For more information on Global Premier Soccer please visit www.globalpremiersoccer.com

Waltham MA, 26^th March, 2012; Two former Global Premier Soccer players have recently put pen to paper and signed contracts in Major League Soccer (MLS). After competing for the GPS Portland Phoenix in the USL PDL last season, Bryan Gaul and Aaron Schoenfeld have been signed by the LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew respectively.

“It comes as no surprise that Aaron and Bryan have signed contracts in Major League Soccer after excelling during their time playing as part of the GPS organization in,” said GPS Portland Phoenix Head Coach Paul Baber. “At GPS we pride ourselves on preparing our players for the next levels of the game and we are delighted to act as conveyor belt to the MLS for both these players.  At GPS we have an outstanding reputation of moving players into the professional ranks.”

Schoenfeld and Gaul follow in the footsteps of former Phoenix player Ryan Thompson into the professional ranks. Thompson signed a professional deal with Irish side Shamrock Rovers who competed in the group stages on the 2011 UEFA Europa League alongside English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

The GPS Portland Phoenix competes in the Eastern Conference, within the North East Division, of the PDL against such clubs as Ottawa Fury, Vermont Voltage & New Hampshire Phantoms. The GPS Portland Phoenix will play their first game on Saturday May 12 when they play Vermont Voltage, 6pm kick off at Deering High School, Portland.

For further information on playing opportunities for the GPS Portland phoenix please contact Head Coach Paul Baber on (207) 878 5780 or pbaber@mainepremiersoccer.com

Peter Bradley (GPS Director of Coaching), Nick Dunbar (GPS Academy Director) and Andrew Moir (GPS UK Recruitment Consultant) lead 53 new staff through the training weekend at Mottram Hall, Cheshire that included a presentation on GPS, on field practical training and a coaching assessment for each individual staff member.

“The GPS training weekend allow GPS senior staff to asses each individual not only in a face-to-face environment but also in a practical setting with an on field coaching assessment,” said Dunbar.  “At GPS we pride ourselves on employing positive role models with the ability to provide high quality coaching. We are extremely pleased with the coaching quality and we look forward to the best crop of staff to date joining us in 2012.”

The standard profile of a GPS staff member is a UEFA B or FA Level 2 coach who has at least two years coaching experience.  The typical educational background of a GPS coach is an individual with a degree in either sports management or sports coaching who has a desire to forge a long-term career path in coaching.

“Reflecting on the weekend, we are extremely confident that the latest staff recruitment interview series and training weekend has provided us with an influx of quality coaches for each franchise under the GPS umbrella,” said Dunbar.  “We look forward to welcoming each new staff member aboard and having them undertake a carefully managed further induction program on their arrival.”

For more information on Global Premier Soccer franchises please visit www.globalpremiersoccer.com or visit the GPS section on each franchise website.  For more information on employment opportunities at MPS, please contact Staff Recruitment Director Tom McEnery on 781-891-6900 or tmcenery@mpsbr.com.

The Phoenix are looking to add more local talent to their roster following the success of Cameron Omsberg, Matt Williams and Oliver Blum in the franchise’s first two seasons. Pictured below in last year’s Team Photo.

The PDL (Premier Development League) is part of the United Soccer Leagues Soccer Pyramid and encompasses clubs from the USA, Canada & Bermuda.  The top U23 men’s league in North America, PDL featured 67 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada in 2010. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility.

The Phoenix are the current the New England Division regular season champions which is part of the Eastern Conference; competing against such clubs as Ottawa Fury, Vermont Voltage & New Hampshire Phantoms, the Phoenix ended with a record of 8wins, 3 losses and 5 draws.

You can register for the open try out via the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PhoenixPDLtryout12

 The cost to try out is $10 per player.

For more information on MPS Portland Phoenix PDL team and the try out, please contact Premier Teams Director Ben Havey at bhavey@mainepremiersoccer.com or             207-878-5780      

Waltham, MA, 15th February, 2012; Mass Premier Soccer was delighted to welcome UEFA Pro Licensed Coach Paul Kee, to Forekicks, Marlboro where he delivered quality coaching sessions to local youth soccer representatives.

Irish U17 National Coach, Kee guided over 30 local coaches through a professional development seminar on Saturday morning as part of MPS’s ongoing commitment to providing Professional Development for all staff, and local soccer organizations before leading a classroom session in the afternoon and then guest speaking at the Inner-City Fundraiser in the evening.

“At MPS, we are constantly looking to update our curriculum with fresh ideas and coaching methodology, so it was of great interest to watch Paul deliver sessions from the Irish National team curriculum,” said MPS Director of Coaching Peter Bradley. “As part of our commitment to enhancing the soccer experience of coaches in MA, it was fantastic to have Paul share his expertise with all coaches in attendance at the symposium on Saturday”

Kee has travelled all over Europe as part of a study on professional teams youth development and methodology comparing and contrasting the differences between successful youth systems from top clubs in Europe such as Benfica and Glasgow Rangers.

“At MPS we commit to educating our staff and we are pleased to facilitate the opportunity to provide the very best professional development seminars which aid the individual growth of all of our coaches,” said Bradley. “We were also pleased to be able to extend this opportunity to youth coaches in the community and we are confident Paul’s methodology allowed those in attendance to leave the symposium with fresh ideas.”

The MPS Technical Department will look to include the components discussed in the curriculum across various MPS programs going forward.

Mass Premier Soccer senior staff member Graham Munro interviewed a total of 75 candidates at locations in Chester (University of Chester), Wycombe (Buckinghamshire New University), Leeds (Leeds Metropolitan University), Edinburgh (Easter Road Stadium), Belfast (University of Ulster) and Dublin (UC Dublin) for open positions at each of the eight franchises (Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Jersey and Rhode island). 

“The GPS recruitment days allow us to asses each individual candidate in a face-to-face interview with a view to inviting prospective staff to an induction weekend which will involve curriculum training and an on field coaching assessment,” said Munro.  “At GPS we pride ourselves on employing positive role models with the ability to provide high quality coaching. We are extremely pleased with the quality of candidates interviewed across each location and look forward to the successful applicants joining us in 2012.”

The standard profile of a GPS staff member is a UEFA B or FA Level 2 coach who has at least two years coaching experience.  The typical educational background of a GPS coach is an individual with a degree in either sports management or sports coaching who has a desire to forge a long-term career path in coaching.

“We are extremely confident that the latest staff recruitment interview series has provided us with an influx of quality candidates to select from for each franchise under the GPS umbrella,” said Munro.  “We look forward to welcoming each new staff member aboard and having them undertake a carefully managed induction program prior to their arrival.”

For more information on Global Premier Soccer franchises please visit www.globalpremiersoccer.com or visit the GPS section on each franchise website.  For more information on employment opportunities at MPS, please contact Staff Recruitment Director Tom McEnery on 781-891-6900 or tmcenery@mpsbr.com 

Max Diamond, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Nico Pascual-Leone (MPS Bulldogs), Jonathan N’Dhoratsue (MPS Portland Phoenix) and Abdulkadir Haji (NHPSA Classics) attended the boys event on Saturday 28^th January while Nerida Montrond (MPS Lady Crusaders), Maggie McCabe, Stephanie Ribeiro (MPS Renegades), Mel Vangel and Alexis Elowitch (MPS Portland Phoenix) attended the girls event on the following day.

“The US Training Centers present an opportunity for our players to showcase their talents in front of US Soccer Youth National Team scouts while competing with and against the best players in the region,” said GPS Director of Coaching Peter Bradley.  “GPS has been represented in US Youth National teams by Tommy Redding, Abuchi Obinwa and Guy Kabala in recent months and we look forward to witnessing more of our players compete at the highest levels of the game.”

U.S. Soccer Training Centers are single day, invitational training sessions run by U.S. Soccer staff for elite players in key soccer markets.  Training Centers are open to the top players from any team, club or organization at no cost to the player. The purpose of the Training Center program is to identify the best players for the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team program.

For more information on US Soccer Training Centers please click HERE.  For more information on global Premier Soccer please visit www.globalpremiersoccer.com

Vermont Premier Soccer will launch a wide range of soccer products and services including camps, clinics, coach education and club programs to Towns, Recreation Departments and clubs throughout Vermont. The full time coaching staff from VPS will work with, complement and enhance the soccer experiences of players in Vermont.

VPS will also institute a vertically integrated player development model that caters for development from the age of 4 - 18 years. Commencing in 2012, players will enter an integrated system from an early age with a clear development pathway, working with our professionally licensed coaches and an age appropriate curriculum. This will lead to an improved player development system and the appropriate development environment for these players.

“As well as a unique club system, methodology and support network, VPS will offer camp and clinic programs, bringing experienced coaches into local communities to work with players of all ages,” said VPS Director of Operations Iain Manson.  “As per our mission, VPS will strive to produce players who can compete at the highest level of soccer competition throughout the world.”

The School of Excellence (SOE) Program was launched by GPS founding organization Massachusetts Premier Soccer (MPS) and currently has over 1100 players enrolled in the system in MA.  The SOE program is geared towards dedicated and talented individuals who are looking for advanced soccer training with similarly talented peers and is unique in terms of full-time licensed professional coaches conducting a club wide structured curriculum.  The SOE program was designed to supplement, as opposed to replacing, local club and recreational programs. The success of the MPS SOE program has been highlighted by producing two national team/pool players in recent years. VPS will be implementing a similar program in 2012.

VPS Director of Soccer Paul Baber reaffirmed “We are excited about our new franchise and we look forward to having an impact on the player development environment in Vermont.  We will be active through the spring meeting with various soccer programs and will launch programming in the summer.”

For more information on Vermont Premier Soccer please visit www.vermontpremiersoccer.com or contact VPS Director of Football Paul Baber on             508 922 2456       or vps@globalpremiersoccer.com 

Graham Zusi scored the lone goal in the 8^th minute of the game in the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City in a game broadcast live on Galavision and ESPN3.

“Everyone at FPS and FC America was delighted to see Graham score the winning goal against Panama said FPS General Manager Alan Hough.  “He has had a fantastic week representing his country and hopefully we continue to see Graham, and more of our players make an impact at the highest levels of the game.”

For a full wrap-up of the game, please click HERE
 
After completing his youth career at FC America, Zusi played college soccer at the University of Maryland. During his college career, Zusi helped Maryland win the National Championship in 2005 and 2008, scoring the game-winning goal in the 2008 National Semi-Final and Championship Games.

For more information on playing opportunities at Florida Premier Soccer / FC America please visit www.floridapremsoccer.com or www.fcamerica.org

Orlando, FL, 25^th January 2012;

Graham Zusi started the contest and will again feature in the squad to play tonight (Wednesday 25^th January) against Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City. Kickoff for the USA’s second match of 2012 is set for 8:30 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on Galavision and ESPN3.

“It is exciting to see former FC America players perform at the highest levels of the game,” said FPS General Manager Alan Hough. “Graham represents a positive role model for every young player in the club.”
 
After completing his youth career at FC America, Zusi played college soccer at the University of Maryland. During his college career, Zusi helped Maryland win the National Championship in 2005 and 2008, scoring the game-winning goal in the 2008 National Semi-Final and Championship Games.

For more information on playing opportunities at Florida Premier Soccer / FC America please visit www.floridapremsoccer.com or www.fcamerica.org

Guy Kabala (former NHPSA Classics) and Declan McCabe (former MPS Bulldogs) were listed at #17 and #47 respectively amongst a collection of the top players from around the country.  To see the full list of top recruits, please click HERE

“It is pleasing to see players developed by GPS franchises being identified amongst the top college prospects from around the country,” said GPS Director of Coaching Peter Bradley.   “”At GPS we pride ourselves on preparing players for the next chapter in their soccer career and look forward to seeing both players continue to excel at the highest levels of the game.”

Kabala, who was recently accepted to the US National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, FL, is a product of the NHPSA Classics Premier Team program and was recently selected as part of the US youth national team to represent the US in the International Friendlies held at the Lakewood Ranch complex in Florida and screened live on Fox Soccer Channel.

McCabe, who entered the GPS player development system at 9-years-old as part of the Mass Premier Soccer Bay State West School of Excellence program, graduated into the MPS Bulldogs Premier Team program before being invited to the US Residency Program in 2011.

Kabala and McCabe join Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu (MPS U17 Bulldogs) who was named the #60 collegesoccernews.com top recruit for the class of 2013.

“We take tremendous pride in aiding our players during the college process and it is extremely rewarding to watch GPS products go through the recruitment phase,” said Bradley.  “We look forward to facilitating playing opportunities for our players from all franchises at all levels of college soccer.”

GPS devotes significant time and resources towards ensuring all players are fully prepared for the college process and give significant support throughout the application phase.  These services include college liaison officers, support documents, showcase opportunities and online college profiles.

For more information of playing opportunities at Global Premier Soccer please visit the webpages of all franchises listed at www.globalpremiersoccer.com   

New England Alumni Tournament for Malia

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM 

Mass Premier Soccer in conjuction with Global Premier Soccer are thrilled to announce the New England Alumni Tournament for Malia to the 2012 schedule. The 5v5 tournament is scheduled for March 10th, 2012 and will be open to 16 teams on a first-come first-serve basis.

The tournament will run from 11:00am until 3:00pm at Parsons Field, Northeastern and will be played in a group format with the winners advancing to a semi-final and final. Each team will be required to pay a registration fee of $500 (Max. roster of 10)

In addition, remember that all players must wear jerseys/shirts during play and each team must bring both a light and a dark colored jersey/shirt.

Afterwards there will be a get together in Roggies at 4pm where there will be a trophy presentation for the winners.

To register for the New England Alumni Tournament for Malia, please fill out the application form and follow instructions on returning the application and payment.

Each player must fill out a waiver and bring it with them on the day of the tournament. The necessary documents can be found here.

For more information on the tournament please call Leagues & Tournaments Director - James Hamblin on 781-891-6900 Ext. 29

Waltham MA, 17^th January, 2012; Global Premier Soccer (GPS) has announced an exciting new partnership with Northern Ireland based club Tristar FC which will see soccer players from Derry travel to the US each year for a unique playing opportunity.

During a recent visit to Northern Ireland, GPS General Manager Joe Bradley inked the agreement alongside Tristar FC Chairman Ryan Horner.  The partnership agreement states that GPS will provide travel, accommodation and coaching costs to a Tristar player on an annual basis where they will be placed on a team within the MPS Premier Team Program.

Former Tristar FC players include Joe Bradley, Peter Bradley (GPS Director of Coaching) and Mark McDevitt (NHPSA General Manager).

The link between Tristar FC and GPS highlights the tremendous impact that the late Tristar founder, Jon Clifford, had on all the players that passed through the club over the past 40 years.  Many former Tristar players are now linking up with the club again to ensure that Jon’s life work is maintained and the current members have the best opportunities for enjoyment and development as possible.

“We are all excited by this partnership as it provides tremendous opportunities for the current group of Tristar players as GPS have agreed to fund the travel, accommodation and coaching costs of a Tristar player to the USA every summer,” said Horner.  “As part of this partnership, the player will play in showcase tournaments where the soccer coaches from the top US universities will be present.  Clearly, this is a fantastic opportunity and all at Tristar would like to thank GPS for their generosity.”

“It has always been our intention to develop a link with Tristar as it is one of the most famous and creative clubs on the island of Ireland,” said Bradley.  “Through Jon Clifford, it has contributed massively to the personal and footballing development of generations of players.  This partnership agreement has benefits for both organizations but more importantly, it provides a great opportunity for Tristar players today and in the future.”

For more information on playing opportunities in the MPS Premier Team program, please contact Phil Mitchell on 781-891-6900 ext.19 or pmitchell@mpsbr.com

The MPS Club Development Program has undergone significant expansion and remodeling under the direction of recent hire Nick Dunbar, the new MPS Academy Director.  The former MLS camps and NASC executive has provided extensive input to the model based on his 20 years of experience working in young player development across the USA and the Football Associations of both England and the Dominican Republic.

“The goal of the MPS Club Development Program is to provide administrative support, program development action plans, guidance on coaching methodology and direction on style and standardized systems of play,” said MPS Director of Coaching Peter Bradley.  “The most important component is ensuring that there is a good fit between the organizations on philosophy and mission.”

MPS has successfully implemented Club Development Programs at Maine Coast United (Maine), Rochester Futbol Club (New York) and FC America (Florida).

“When MPS contacted us at first we wanted to see whether this would be a good fit for our players, parents and coaches and what we have found was exactly what we were looking for,” said Maine Coast United President Todd Whitcomb.  “The MPS coaching philosophy fitted our own philosophy of developing players and everything discussed has been followed through with honesty and integrity.”

A key element to the relationship is the education of the US based coaches currently within each organization.  Coach education and professional development are founding principles of the MPS model with weekly sessions directed by MPS senior staff members.  The club often brings in guest clinicians such as NCAA college coaches, US Youth National Team coaches and NSCAA representatives also.

Peter Bradley has recently conducted a professional development training day for NYPS partner club Rochester Futbol Club and FPS partner club FC America.  These coaching symposiums are designed with a classroom seminar and on field component to allow the existing coaches within the club the opportunity to benefit from an education series.

The professional development training days provide the existing coaches in the club the opportunity to provide input on an action plan which will best serve the club moving forward.  The open forum allows an exchange of ideas and gives the current club coaches a platform to relay their insight and visions.

"It was a pleasure to host Peter Bradley, the DOC from MPS, at our recent professional development day,” said Rochester Futbol Club Director of Coaching Nelson Cupello.  “Our US based coaches found this extremely beneficial and the general consensus was that each individual took away something to make them better coaches.”

Since inception in 2001, MPS has sought to develop the most technical players in the state at the very youngest ages.  In the past two years, the club has developed two US U14 National players through the club’s unique School of Excellence (SOE) program. Through the Club Development Program, MPS has brought the SOE model to partnering clubs with success.

“We were attracted to a partnership with FPS as we sought to enhance our offerings to younger players,” said FC America Director of Coaching George Sasvari. “The FPS School of Excellence Program complements the existing infrastructure at the club and will continue to provide a source of quality players for our Premier Program.”

It was imperative that partner clubs share a common belief that player development should be the common theme in all programs.

“The initial feedback we have received from each partnering clubs has been that the relationship has benefited the players, parents and coaches in their club,” said Bradley.  “We look forward to building upon our existing partnerships and bringing our professional player development model to new clubs in the future.”

For more information on the MPS Club Development Program, please contact MPS Academy Director Nick Dunbar of 781-891-690 ext.18 or ndunbar@mpsbr.com  

The club has committed to the creation and implementation of a new Goalkeeper Academy curriculum developed by recent hire Stephen Bermingham and returning staff member Monica McGuirk out of MPS Headquarters in Massachusetts.

The club has also added a new Soccer eyeQ component to the club curriculum which presents a range of innovative exercises, which train and develop the essential skills and habits required for expert field vision.  Soccer EyeQ is designed to increase awareness on and off the ball and teach players to "see the game" more clearly - enabling them to anticipate the play, make better decision and do the right thing at the right time.

“At MPS and our sister franchises, we seek to set the bar high and continually update our curriculum and methodology by incorporating new ideas and innovative programs,” said MPS Director of Coaching, Peter Bradley.  “The addition of a new goalkeeping program and a Soccer EyeQ component is designed for the betterment of all players within the club, with the underlying goal being that when a player exits the club they have fully maximized their potential over the period they were an MPS player.”

These changes will impact the curriculum each level of the unique MPS Player Development Pyramid which allows a player to enter the club at aged U8, as part of the MPS Junior School of Excellence (JSOE), and graduate through the MPS School of Excellence Program (U9-U12), the MPS Premier Team Program (U13-U18) and the MPS U19/U20 Program as part of the clubs comprehensive player pathway. 

At age U8, players are eligible to enter the MPS JSOE which focuses on introducing and developing the core skills of soccer to aspiring young soccer players. The JSOE program is a fun and challenging environment for players and acts as a great introduction to the MPS School of Excellence (SOE) Program.

The MPS SOE is a tiered program with playing opportunities in the SOE Academy and the SOE Elite programs.  The SOE Academy provides skilled and motivated players (aged U9-U12) with the opportunity to train and play alongside similarly talented peers in a development focused environment in geographically convenient locations. The SOE program works in conjunction with town programs and provides a supplemental, as opposed to replacement, program offered by the player’s hometown.

Players aged U10-U12 that show a consistent high level of play, attitude and commitment to the game are placed within the MPS SOE Elite program.  This program offers top level players an accelerated learning program at a centralized geographic location.

The MPS Premier Team program offers serious and talented players (aged U13-U18) the best coaching available in a professional, elite player environment.  This program helps foster an identity of excellence and is designed to help the players develop technically, tactically, physically and psychologically.

The MPS U19/20 teams offer graduates of the MPS Premier Team Program the opportunity to return to the club during the summer months of their collegiate years and continue their development under the MPS umbrella.

“At each and every level of the organization, MPS deliver a club curriculum which is continually updated by the MPS Technical Department to ensure that our players are constantly challenged and forced to play out with their comfort zone,” said MPS School of Excellence Director Justin Capell.  “As part of our philosophy, we continually look to identify and develop players with PACE – Personality, Attitude, Creativity (Confidence for Goalkeepers) and Excellence.  The MPS SOE program has developed two US U14 National pool players in the last two years and we are very excited about some of the talent in our club currently which has emerged from our SOE Elite Program and Inner-City Initiative Program.”

As well as a development focused practice environment, MPS places teams from all levels of the organization in competitive game play which is conducive to maximizing player development.

The SOE Academy teams will play in the club’s internal league where no standings are recorded which ensures no emphasis is placed upon winning and losing.  This format allows the MPS coaching staff to rotate individuals throughout playing positions and allows coaches to introduce and implement the standardized MPS system and style of play at all age levels.

All MPS SOE Elite and Premier teams compete in the external New England Premiership (NEP) which is a development focused league structured so that each age group plays in a format best suited to player development.  U10s play 6v6, U11s and U12s play 8v8 and U13s and above play 11v11.  The NEP is open to clubs who have demonstrated a commitment to player development and does not operate a promotion / relegation system unlike other leagues in Massachusetts.

“The game day experience at MPS allows and encourages players to implement the previous week’s session theme in a live game situation without fear of coach reprisal,” said MPS Premier Team Director Phil Mitchell.  “At MPS we have installed systems and style of play all age levels which our coaches will implement to ensure a consistent approach to player development.  As part of our mission statement, we commit to preparing players to compete at the highest levels of the game and we are confident that any player who joins our club will leave us as a better player at the end of their MPS career.”

For more information on the MPS School of Excellence Program please contact SOE Director Justin Capell on 781-891-6900 ext 20 or jcapell@mpsbr.com  For more information on the MPS Premier Team Program please contact Premier Team Director Phil Mitchell on 781-891-6900 ext 28 or pmitchell@mpsbr.com

Mass Premier Soccer senior staff member Graham Munro interviewed a total of 75 candidates at locations in Wycombe, Coventry, Leeds, Newcastle, Elgin and Dublin for open positions at each of the five franchises (Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, New York and New Hampshire). 

The recruitment day at each location included a presentation on GPS while each individual candidate underwent an on field coaching assessment and a face-to-face interview with Munro.

“The GPS recruitment days allow us to asses each individual candidate not only in a face-to-face interview but also in a practical setting with an on field coaching assessment,” said Munro.  “At GPS we pride ourselves on employing positive role models with the ability to provide high quality coaching. We are extremely pleased with the quality of candidates interviewed across each location and look forward to the high quality successful applicants joining us in 2012.”

The standard profile of a GPS staff member is a UEFA B or FA Level 2 coach who has at least two years coaching experience.  The typical educational background of a GPS coach is an individual with a degree in either sports management or sports coaching who has a desire to forge a long-term career path in coaching.

“We are extremely confident that the latest staff recruitment interview series has provided us with an influx of quality candidates to select from for each franchise under the GPS umbrella,” said Munro.  “We look forward to welcoming each new staff member aboard and having them undertake a carefully managed induction program on their arrival.”

For more information on Global Premier Soccer franchises please visit www.globalpremiersoccer.com or visit the GPS section on each franchise website.  For more information on employment opportunities at MPS, please contact Staff Recruitment Director Andy Prosser on 781-891-6900 ext.16 or aprosser@mpsbr.com

Omuinu, the only selection from Massachusetts, was ranked #60 in the nation by the prestigious website dedicated to NCAA Division I men’s soccer.  To see the full list of recruits, please click HERE

“We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Andrew on this well deserved recognition,” said MPS Premier Team Director Peter Bradley.  “It is pleasing to see a player who has spent his entire youth career at MPS after graduating from the MPS School of Excellence program and into the MPS Premier Team program being recognized amongst a group of players considered the best in the nation.”

Omiunu, from Bellingham MA, was a member of the MPS School of Excellence program based out of the Metro-West region before joining the MPS Bulldogs Premier Program at age U13.  As a current member of the rising MPS U17 Bulldogs, Omiunu will head to Tampa, FL in December to compete at the USL Super-Y League North American Finals.

“We take tremendous pride in aiding our players during the college process and it is extremely rewarding to watch players such as Andrew go through the recruitment phase after being a part of MPS for so long,” said Badley.  “We look forward to facilitating playing opportunities for Andrew and other HS junior and seniors from the at all levels of college soccer.”

MPS devotes significant time and resources towards ensuring all players are fully prepared for the college process and give significant support throughout the application phase.  These services include college liaison officers, support documents, showcase opportunities and online college profiles.

For more information of playing opportunities at MPS please contact Phil Mitchell (MPS Premier Team Program) on 781-891-6900 ext.12 or pmitchell@mpsbr.com or Justin Capell (MPS School of Excellence Program) on 781-891-6900 ext.20 or jcapell@mpsbr.com  

Prior to the start of the 2011 NCAA Division III season, the NESCAC team participated in a pre-season camp conducted by MPS senior coaches Graham Munro and Matt Hardiman prior to heading back to training camp on campus.

As part of the MPS Residential Camp program, 27 members of the team attended a five day training camp held at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac in Lenox, MA where Munro and Hardiman led the players through a curriculum which included technical and tactical training, strength and conditioning workouts and inter squad gameplay. 

“For the second year in a row we brought the Wesleyan University men’s soccer squad in to an intensive five days of on-field training to help them get a head start on their college season,” said MPS Crusaders Director Graham Munro.  “The camp gave the squad an opportunity to come together early to ensure that they were best prepared for their college season.  It is fantastic to see the team enjoying success which will hopefully carry into November for them.”

MPS offers college teams a unique opportunity to train and play together at a residential location prior to reporting back to training camp on campus.  MPS has carefully designed a structured curriculum which best prepares college squads for their pre-season camp and upcoming season.  New in 2012 will be a college prospect component to the camp where individuals will have an opportunity to participate in a week long intensive training camp designed for NCAA athletes. 

For more information on the 2012 MPS College Pre-Season Camp, please contact Graham Munro on 781-891-6900 ext.38 or gmunro@mpsbr.com

USL revealed the Super-Y League First 11 North America club rankings to recognize the top clubs across North America.  The club was also acknowledged in the Super-Y League Second 11 where the MPS Crusaders / Lady Crusaders program was ranked in 19^th position.

“This is a fantastic achievement for the MPS Bulldogs / Renegades program to be ranked first amongst a group of clubs with outstanding winning traditions,” said MPS Premier Team Director Phil Mitchell.  “It was also fantastic to see the MPS Crusaders / Lady Crusaders program earn recognition in the Super-Y League Second 11 rankings which is a terrific achievement for our Premier Team program based in the South Shore / Cape Cod region.”

When calculating the results, the USL uses three categories to calculate the result; point’s percentage, minimum standards and game change requests. The MPS Bulldogs/Renegades received an impressive club score of 89.97 points.  The ranking was boosted by the MPS Bulldogs teams aged U13-U16 and the MPS Renegades U13-U17 all qualifying for the USL Super-Y League North American Finals.

MPS capped an extraordinary 2011 season with the tremendous achievement of qualifying 13 teams from the MPS Bulldogs / Renegades, MPS Crusaders / Lady Crusaders and MPS Knights / Lady Knights programs for the USL Super-Y League National Finals.

The USL Super Y-League administers their own ODP system that was started in 2003 to recognize a pool of players in each age group for identification to U.S. National Team Programs; and to utilize the clubs system in the United States to identify players.   The top players selected by the scouting system in each age group (per geographic division of the Super Y-League) attend the ODP National Camp.  These camps are attended by U.S. National Staff Coaches, to identify players for U.S. National Team Programs, as well as many of the nation’s top collegiate coaches.  The camps are typically held in Florida during February and March.

For more information on the USL Super-Y League please click HERE.  For more information on playing opportunities in the MPS Premier Team program, please contact MPS Premier Team Director Phil Mitchell on 781-891-6900 ext.19 or pmitchell@mpsbr.com