WWC Watch Party, RCU Finale Saturday, NPSL Tournament Taking Shape, RCI Coming Together

American Outlaws to Host Women's World Cup Final Watch Party at the Brickhouse

The new American Outlaws-Huntsville chapter will host a Women's World Cup Final watch party at the Brickhouse Sports Cafe on Sunday at 1PM.  After the US Women took care of business in Wednesday's 3:1 semi-final win over France, they'll look to bring home their first World Cup trophy since 1999's memorable triumph at the Rose Bowl.  Let's get out there and support our ladies!  HAIL, COLUMBIA!


Rocket City United Look to Pick Up First Home Win in Finale

The ad says, "We must protect this house!"  Rocket City United must not have seen that one.  The team is strangely more successful on the road then they are in the confines of the Madison City Schools Stadium.  Coach Gerry Cleary is at a loss to explain the losses in which RCU seems to be the better side, "Again we’re saying Rocket City should have won a game when we didn’t win, but maybe we’re just not that good."  RCU has its final opportunity to win at home of the 2011 regular season Saturday night against expansion side and surprise of the NPSL Southeast Georgia Revolution. 




NPSL Championships Taking Shape

RCU's match against the GA Revs will have postseason implications.  GAR sits in second in the Southeast region and can take the top spot with a win and loss or a tie by Chattanooga FC in their match against the Knoxville Force.    Only one of the other NPSL regional titles have been claimed as the Milwuakee Bavarians have won the Midwest.   The NPSL Championships will be hosted by RCU for the second consecutive year on July 28-30.

Rocket City Invitational

The 2011 Rocket City Invitational is coming together nicely, and Jacob and Co. over at Southern Soccer are looking at another smashing success of a tournament.  Photos of the tournament T-shirts were just released as have details of the tournament party at Amendment XXI.  Looks like it's going to be classic!

American Outlaws in Huntsville, Rocket City Invitational

American Outlaws Want You!

The American Outlaws, a supporters group for the US Men's National Team started in 2007 by some soccer buddies in Lincoln, Nebraska, are looking to expand to the Rocket City.  AO member Andrew Adams is looking to organize the new chapter in Huntsville and needs 25 paid members to become official.

The chapter will gather for USMNT viewing parties at the AO's home bar, organize trips to USMNT games, and generally support soccer in the Huntsville area.  It will also be the first AO chapter in Alabama.  Right now, Andrew has 12 members.  I've just signed up, and if you are a fan of US Soccer, you should too!

With your $20 membership fee you get an AO t-shirt and bandana, discounted tickets for USMNT games, flight discounts on Continental airlines to any US Soccer game, even games in other countries.    
Join now through the AO Membership page.  


Rocket City Invitational Announced

The Rocket City Invitational 6-aside tournament is back.  The 2011 version will be held at Dublin Park on the weekend of July 23-24.  Southern Soccer is going all out once again to provide the best tournament possible including several divisions for all skill levels, on site massage and mist tent.  Register your team now.

Reminders: Weekend Warrior and Women's League

Weekend Warriors Registration Deadline

Registration for the Weekend Warrior tournament ends this Friday, January 28th.  Sign your team up for the traditional opening of the Huntsville adult soccer playing year.  The six a-side competition is being held at Dublin Park in Madison on February 5-6.  Check out the Southern Soccer blog for more info.


HASL Women's Division Registration

The newly formed HASL Women's Division will hold player registration drives on Thursday, January 27th 5-7 PM and  Saturday, January 29 2-4 PM at Pete's Soccer Shop.  Players will register individually and will play 10 games on Monday nights at Dublin or Palmer Park in Madison.  The fees will be $65.50 per player and that covers fields, refs, state fee, player cards, insurance and uniforms.  Check out the HASL website for more info.

Weekend Warriors, USA v Chile on TV?

Weekend Warriors Returns

Weekend Warrior is back!

There's still time to sign up for the 4th Annual Weekend Warriors 6-aside Soccer Tournament returns to Dublin Park in Madison on February 4th and 5th.  There will be an Open, Recreational and Womens division.

The Weekend Warriors Championship Trophy

This is tournament is always a lot of fun, and allows the weekend warriors in the area an opportunity to gently (or not so gently) ease into the spring season.



USA v Chile TV Options

Due to contractual conflicts, Saturday's 9 PM friendly between the USMNT and Chile will have no English language TV.  If you're looking to watch it you'll have to find Telefutura on your system or you can watch it online on ESPN3.  Fortunately, my Xbox has ESPN3.  So, I'll be able to see it on my TV, but you may want to make preparations.

Rocket City Invitational and More NPSL Final Four

Rocket City Invitational Set To Kick Off on Saturday

This year's Rocket City Invitational will be held on Saturday and Sunday in Madison at Dublin Park.  The small-sided adult tournament is being held in conjunction with the NPSL Final Four and the Soccer Wars Festival.  In addition to the fun format of soccer action on the field, all RCI players are also invited to take in the action of the NPSL Final Four and will be special guests at the Station II at Bridgestreet for a tournament party on Saturday night after the NPSL Championship match. 

The RCI is still looking for female players to fill out one more team in the Women's division.  So, if you know any female players have them register for the fun.


NPSL Final Four Audio Webcast On Teamline

All of the matches during the NPSL Final Four will be broadcast on a live audio webcast.  Click here to listen live to the matches.



CFC Drops NPSL Final Four Warm-up to DC United

NPSL Southeast Region Champions Chattanooga FC traveled up to my home town to face the MLS club DC United's Super 20 team in a friendly this past Saturday.  CFC used this match in RFK Stadium as a warm-up to the NPSL Final Four, but hopes the result are a little better than the 3:0 shut-out loss they received at the hands of the DCU.  CFC's coach and I are from the same area in the DC suburbs and he was featured in the Annapolis paper, The Capital.


RCU President To Appear on Lite 96.9

RCU's President Andy Zorovich is doing a lot of appearances lately to promote the NPSL Final Four and the Soccer Wars Festival.  Listen in on Wednesday when he will appear on Lite96.9.

Local Happenings: RCU, AHSAA All-stars, Women Wanted, Decatur

Now that the World Cup is over, it's back to the regular life, and back to a more local soccer focus for PWT-blog.

RCU Thumps Atlanta FC 5:1

After learning that they would not return to the NPSL Final Four, Rocket City United took out its frustrations on Atlanta FC with a 5:1 victory.  Chattanooga FC had already claimed the Southeast Region Championship with a 3:2 win at Pumas on Saturday night, but that only seemed to spur RCU's offensive firepower as Andrew Nkurunungi's hat trick paced RCU.  Late goals by Norbert Webley and Calvin Mbata finished off the scoring for RCU.

RCU will now prepare for its season finale when it takes on the newly crowned champions next Saturday in Chattanooga.  My broadcast partner, John Moran, and I will be on hand to call the game for Chattanooga's ESPN Radio, 105.1 The Zone.  If you have the chance, I highly encourage you to travel up to Finley Stadium to take in this match.  The crowd and atmosphere are top class.


AHSAA All-star Games Tonight

The best high school players in the state will take the field tonight at John Hunt Soccer Stadium for the AHSAA All-star Sports Week.  The Girls game will be at 5PM, followed by the Boys game at 7PM.


Women Wanted For The RCI and HASL

The organizers of the Rocket City Invitational soccer tournament are looking for women players to complete a four team Women's divsion.  Adult female players can sign up as individuals and will be placed on teams for the 6 aside games.  If the tournament is a success, there is interest from HASL in starting a women's division.  Now's your chance ladies!  And gentlemen, if you know any women who may be interested in playing have them follow this link to register a team or individual.


Decatur Is Looking For More Soccer

Here's an interesting article Decatur's Jack Allen Soccer Complex and the economic impact that it brings to the city.  It looks like they'd like to bring more high-profile soccer to the area.  Cool!

Local Happenings: HASL Champs, Summer Tourneys, CFC v Atlas

HASL Declares Champions, Prepares for Over-35 Division

Law Dogs secured their 12th Huntsville Adult Soccer League Premier Division championship last night when they beat Digium 2:0 at John Hunt Park. The race for the premiership was a close one as Law Dogs and Foot Clan were even points (25) after the 10 game season concluded. The victory insured that Law Dogs took home the title via goal difference (Law Dogs 28 to Foot Clan's 22).

Arsenal FC won the Division I title and promotion into next year's Premier League. Chivas USA claimed the Division II title. Juventus and One Man Wolfpack took the Divsion III and IV titles, respectively.

The HASL divisions will take on a new look for the Fall 2010 season as Division IV will be eliminated to make way for the new Over-35 division. Several teams plan to drop from the open divisions into the Over-35. The league is planning to shift teams "up" into the open slots to maintain the tiered structure and keep the total team numbers at 30. The league's Captain's Meeting is scheduled for June 27th. More information can be found at HASL.org.

Summer Tournaments

This summer will be a busy one for soccer in the Tennessee Valley. Of course, there's the World Cup, Rocket City United games, the NPSL Final Four festivities taking place, and there are several tournaments being hosted in Huntsville/Madison area.

Stomp the Yard is a 5 v 5 futsal soccer tournament hosted by RCU at the new indoor facility at the new Soccer Village at Greenbrier. It will be held on June 25-27th and has divisions from U8 up to Adult, including a Women's division.

The Rocket City Invitational is the annual summer 6v6 outdoor adult soccer tournament put on by the guys at SouthernSoccer.net. It will be held in conjunction with the NPSL Final Four at Dublin Park in Madison on July 31-Aug 1. There will be Open, Rec, O-30, and Women's divisions.


Chattanooga FC v Atlas of Mexico Tomorrow Night

While RCU is participating in the US Open Cup qualifying tournament in Tuscaloosa, fellow NPSL Southeast Region team Chattanooga FC will host one of Mexican soccer's oldest clubs, FC Atlas, tomorrow night at Finley Stadium at 7PM. John Moran and I will be traveling up to Chattanooga to call the game for the team's radio broadcast. Tickets are still available.

USASA Region III National Cup/US Open Cup Teams

The Perfectly Weighted Through Blog has learned the identity of the teams that will join Rocket City United in the United States Amateur Soccer Association's Region III National Cup/US Open Cup Qualifying tournament.
The USASA Region III stretches across the Southeast United States from Oklahoma and Texas east to the Atlantic Ocean.

The participating Region III teams are:

Aria SC New Stars - South Texas
Atlanta FC - Georgia (NPSL)
Brazil Soccer Academy - Florida
FC Tulsa - Oklahoma (NPSL)
Justice - South Texas
Legends FC - North Texas
Lynch's FC Irish Pub - Florida
NC United - North Carolina
Pumas USA - Alabama (NPSL)
Rocket City United - Alabama (NPSL)

The tournament will be hosted by the Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation and held at the University of Alabama Student Recreation Center over the Memorial Day Weekend. The ten participating teams will likely be placed into two pools of five to play in the group stage. The winner's of these groups will qualify for the knockout stages of the US Open Cup where they will be paired with teams from the professional divisions of US Soccer including MLS, USL, and NASL teams.

2010 Rocket City Invitational Details

The 2010 Rocket City Invitational, the area's summer adult six-a-side soccer tournament put on by Southern Soccer, will be held in conjunction with the NPSL Final Four hosted by Rocket City United in Madison, AL. The Rocket City Invitational action will take place on July 31st and August 1st at Dublin Park in Madison and will be scheduled in such a way that players taking part will miss none of the NPSL Final Four matches going on just up the street at Madison City Schools Stadium. For more information, go to http://southernsoccer.net.

UNA 7-Aside Tournament in Florence

The University of North Alabama Women's Soccer team will be holding a 7-a-side tournament in Florence, Al this Saturday April 10th from 9AM - 3PM. The tournament will help raise funds for the program. They are looking for players or one team to fill out the final team opening. The level is fairly high as there are mostly college level teams competing. The tournament will be held at the University of North Alabama Athletic Complex on the turf soccer field and will cost $150 per team.

If you or your team is interested in playing, contact the UNA Assistant Coach, Graeme Orr at graemeorr23[at]hotmail[dot]com.

Weekend Warrior Vids, US World Cup Pay, Scorpion Kick Goal, and TV Soccer This Weekend

Weekend Warrior Vids and Polls

Jacob over at Southern Soccer posted a ton of videos from the successful Weekend Warrior tournament held this past weekend. He's also updated some polls to help get an idea of how they can make the tournament better in the future.


USMNT Player Bonuses For World Cup

For some of the guys playing in Europe, the bonuses that they earn from playing in the World Cup are nothing more than pocket change, but for some of the MLS players who are not making astronomical salaries, the money is a big deal. Stephen Goff gives us an idea of just how much the World Cup is worth to the US players.


Sweet Scorpion Kick Goal


This vid from the Portugese League has been tearing up the web in the past few days and for good reason.

It's an audaciously taken goal.


What I'll Be Watching This Weekend


While I wait for DirecTV to upgrade their satellite, so I can get FSC in HD, I'll be watching the following games this weekend, mostly in SD. :(

Today
Bundesliga, Hoffenheim-Moenchengladbach 1:30 p.m GolTV

Saturday
EPL, Everton-Manchester United 6:30 a.m. ESPN2 (IN HD)
Bundesliga, Hamburg-Eintracht Frankfurt 8:30 a.m. GolTV
EPL, Wolves-Chelsea 9 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel
La Liga, Barcelona-Santander 1 p.m. GolTV
Serie A, Inter Milan-Sampdoria 1:30 p.m. FSC
Campeonato Brasileiro, Corinthians-Rio Branco 3:30 p.m. GolTV

Sunday
Manchester City-Liverpool 9 a.m. FSC
Italy, Bari-AC Milan 1:30 p.m. FSC

Wintry Weekend Warrior, US World Cup Jerseys, RCU and MLS News

Weekend Warriors Battle Wild Wintry Weather

Open Champions High Life work the ball around Blaze defenders in the final.

Nearly 20 teams competed at John Hunt Park in the Weekend Warrior tournament put on by Jacob and Rob from Southern Soccer. In addition to the action on the field, the tournament raised money for the The Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund at Huntsville Hospital and collected used soccer equipment to benefit the Haiti earthquake victims.

Conditions prior to Sunday's action

The tournament had to deal with various forms of wintry weather this weekend, but in the spirit of the Weekend Warriors, the teams battled on. Saturday featured frigid temps in the 30s and brutal winds that made it feel even colder, while Sunday started with snow that soon changed to sleet turning the fields into not much more than muddy bogs.

The Championship Trophy!

The Open Championship went to High Life who outlasted the Blaze from Columbus, MS while Schurke took down BrO-kiN-toE in a tight contest for the Rec Championship.


US World Cup Jersey To Be Unveiled in March 3rd Friendly

According to Sports Illustrated reporter Grant Wahl the US National Team will debut their World Cup uniform on March 3rd when they play in the Netherlands.


RCU To Run Spring Break Youth Soccer Camp


Rocket City United will offer a Spring Break Soccer Camp for kids ages 5-16 featuring the RCU players and head coach Desmond Armstrong at Dublin Park in Madison, AL from March 15-19th.


MLS Notes
I've strayed away from commenting on the MLS collective bargaining negotiations because there hasn't been much to say, but as this article from fakesigi.com reports, the issue that the MLS have to work out with their players are minuscule when compared to the issues that the NBA will face when they sit down to negotiate.

FIFA has decide that the referees in MLS are not up to snuff, but the standard of play and the media coverage of the league and the sport in general is getting better and better.

More Weekend Warrior, Ref's Sweet Backheel, and Eurosnob Smackdown

Weekend Warrior Is Upon Thee


Don't forget to bring your new or used soccer equipment to benefit Haiti out to the Weekend Warriors tournament this Saturday and Sunday. They'll also have a juggling contest to benefit the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund at Huntsville Hospital with some great prizes including Rocket City United gear and season tix. PWT-blog will be on hand to bring you highlights of the fun from John Hunt Park this weekend. Lastly, they'll be selling T-shirts featuring the logo above.


Nice Backheel, Ref!

Apparently, fancy footskills aren't the sole domain of players anymore. When Spanish referee Alvarez Izquierdo accidentally got in the way of a pass, he decide the fair thing to do was to return the ball to the intended player with a nonchalant backheel. Nice pass!

You're So Vain, Eurosnob!

Adrea Canales of Goal.com calls out the American born Eurosnob in her weekly column. She lays it down on the fools who for years dissed Landon Donovan, who is currently tearing it up for Everton in the EPL, because he choose to play in MLS rather than sit the bench for a European team. They claim that Donovan's years of playing for San Jose and LA have stunted his growth as a player and has subsequently hurt the USMNT. Suddenly, those same fools are his biggest fan, and Canales let's 'em have it.

Weekend Warrior, Super Games, and UAH prospect

Weekend Warriors Are Warming Up

Registration has closed and the schedule is set for the Weekend Warrior's tournament this Saturday and Sunday at John Hunt Park. Time to go dig into your closet to find your shoes and shinguards that you threw in there after your last HASL game a few months ago. While your in there, remember to grab your old soccer equipment to donate to help the Haitians.

Super Games


There were some big games this past weekend on the tube, and I'm not talking about the Super Bowl. Although the Merseyside Derby could have been mistaken for a gridiron game with all of the hits being dolled out. That game was lucky to finish with only two ejections. Also, Barcelona had to deal double ejections to get by Getafe and Drogba dealt a double blow of his own to Arsenal who were too busy playing keep away to bother with going at goal. I find it ironic that this team is called Arsenal when they never shoot!


UAH Gets One On Signing Day


According to the Westside Story student newspaper, Dylan Pepia of West Boca Raton High School signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Alabama-Huntsville. It would appear that Tadfadwa Ziyenge's departure was not a factor in his decision.

Clean Out Your Closet For Haiti: PWT-blog looking for your old soccer equipment

As you may have read over at Southern Soccer, I've been organizing a new or used soccer equipment drive in conjunction with the folks over at the local Haiti Food Drive.

Kids play soccer in the Haitian National Soccer Stadium that is being used as a temporary tent city. Image via Daylife.

Josh Russo of the Haiti Food Drive has this to say about the soccer equipment drive, "I know that it's going to bring a lot of joy to kids of all ages down there. We're supporting an organization that had 10 orphanages, seven of which are now rubble. Thankfully, almost all of the kids survived the quake (most of them were outside at the time) but a "return to normalcy" as you say seems far off. ...[soccer equipment] is not a priority at the moment, but I'd love to know that we can plan on bringing soccer equipment down there at a future date. ...Once we get to a point where we're sending clothing and comfort items, that's when we'll want to have your help getting those kids kicking (and dreaming of World Cups) again."

Pull those old cleats out and bring 'em down to Pete's Soccer Shop.

So, go dig into your closets for yours or your kid's old soccer cleats, shirts, shorts, socks, balls, etc. and bring them down to Pete's Soccer Shop at 8408 Whitesburg Drive over the next few weeks. If you're playing in next weekend's Weekend Warrior tournament, you can also drop your equipment off there.

I'm also trying to coordinate with Rocket City United on an equipment collection at one of their home matches this spring. Keep an eye out for those details later.

HASL: Help Wanted and More

HASL: Get Stuck In!

Jacob over at SouthernSoccer.com gives his take on what should be done to resolve the vacancy that Daryl Owens stepping down as the Vice President of HASL. I have to say I agree with all of his points. It's time for a few young men or women to step up and "get stuck in" and help the league move forward.Jacob also announced that the HASL team meeting will be held at 2PM on January 24th at Pete's Soccer Shop. This is not one to miss.

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for the Weekend Warrior tournament while you're at it!

TV Commentators Certification?


As a person that actually has some experience as a TV commentator, I know just how hard the job is. Analyzing a game and instantly providing interesting, insightful commentary without sounding like an idiot is brutally hard and is surprisingly draining. I am fully aware that I sometimes come across as a bumbling numbskull during my broadcasts. But as in everything else in life, it's all about practice. And I promise that as I watch FSC and GolTV on the weekends, I'm running the commentary in my brain, often while I'm folding clothes for my wife! :) So, I'm hoping to be better in the future.

Now, my broadcast partner John and I have had several conversations about who does a good job and who does not. A certain "Captain for Life" is not one of John's favorites. I do admit there are guys out there that consistently say the dumbest things and do not have the faintest idea who or what is happening on the field. The Gaffer at EPLTalk has an interesting idea on how to limit those guys who irritate us the most each weekend from getting on the air in the first place. He'd like the leagues require a broadcasting license in order to become on-air talent similar to the coaching licenses that the leagues require. Interesting...


More 3D TV!

As I told you before, 3D soccer on TV is coming this summer. Now, it appears that ESPN will be starting an all 3D Channel with the World Cup opener as the first broadcast event. Get your 3D glasses now!

Back, Back, Back for the Holidays

I am Back!

Thanks again to Chris for providing content while I convalesced. I learned a few things about H1N1. According to my doctor it's actually been less severe than the regular flu virus, but it's very contagious; both my daughter and wife now have it. Please try your best to stay away from it. So, wash your hands and cover your mouth while coughing/sneezing. Back to our normal content now...


Weekend Warrior is Back!!!

The boys over at SouthernSoccer.net are at it again. They will be putting on the 3rd Annual Weekend Warrior 6-aside Tournament again on the Valentine's Day weekend at the John Hunt Soccer Complex. There'll be more divisions so old guys like myself won't take myself out the week before HASL trying to track down a kid half my age. We'll done Jacob, Rob and crew...


And Andy Zorovich is Back

I had been slacking over at the NPSL Insider for a while. So, I've posted the remaining portions of my interview with RCU Prez and NPSL SE Commish Andy Zorovich as an apology. Check it out.

A Few Things

UAH Coach/Players Honored By GSC

GSC Coach of the Year and UAH Head Coach Tafadzwa Ziyenge

University of Alabama-Huntsville Head Coach Tafadzwa Ziyenge has been named Gulf South Conference coach of the year after guiding the Chargers to an undefeated conference season and second seed in the conference tournament.

Also, honored by the GSC were senior defender Devon Schleif and junior goalkeeper Tyler Earley who were name to the All-conference first team. UAH was also represented on the second team by senior Brian Hadley and Tomoaki Matsuo.

Soccernomics: Moneyball For Soccer Geeks


Moneyball was the seminal sports book about the business side of baseball and how the A's GM Billy Beane was able to scout players using statistical analysis instead of the tried and true methods that had been used by generations of previous baseball clubs. Well, when I heard that Soccernomics was coming out, it made it to the top of my Amazon.com Wish-list because it takes a look at soccer with the same kind of critical eye to uncover some surprising nuggets. The author Simon Kuper has been all over the soccer blogosphere lately and here is the best of the interviews.

Southern Soccer Is Looking For Your Help


The guys over at Southern Soccer are looking for ways to improve the tournaments that they offer the Huntsville soccer public. There running a survey here. So, head on over and click away.