The Premier Soccer Club in West Michigan
and a non-profit 501c3 organization 
June Tryouts
Our tryouts took place on June 15 - 19, as described on our Tryout page. We are currently (June - July 2009) forming our select level teams. We have openings for a few more players in the following age groups:
U7/U8 Girls
U10 Girls
U9/U10 Boys
U13 Boys
If you are interested in pursuing one of the openings, or have inquiries regarding other age groups, please contact our Director of Coaching, Josh Sheldon jsheldon@mvpsportsclubs.com
Board member Tom Bestrom presented information and answered questions at tryouts. The slides for his presentation are available at the following link:
Parent Meeting Presentation - June 2009
Player Registration
For those players who are invited to a team and accept, player registration will take place as follows:
Premier teams
(Registration is complete for the premier teams.)
Select teams
Select player registration will be held on Wednesday July 8 from 12-3 pm and from 4-8 pm, at the MVP Sports Spot (3701 32nd St SE, Kentwood - located on 32nd Street just west of Eastbrook Blvd.). Parent and player may stop in any time during those periods. Anyone unable to attend the registration should submit their forms prior to that date. See the Forms page for access to the registration forms.
Uniforms, all players
All players must order their uniforms separately from the Gazelle Sports website. Deadline for premier players is July 2, and deadline for select players is July 15. (Note that uniform numbers are assigned by the club, and the uniform number field on the website form is not used.) Uniforms will be delivered directly to the players, and must be ordered through the Gazelle website at: http://www.gazellesports.com/coupon codes.aspx
Please pay attention to deadlines. Things happen quickly to meet league and other deadlines. Registration and other forms are available on our Forms page.
GR Crew Juniors Team Camp
The team camp for the GR Crew Juniors teams will be held August 10-14. Details will be worked out after the teams are formed following tryouts when we know what teams we have in different age groups. We know the camp will be all five days, there is no extra cost for it, every player in the club is welcome, and at 5pm on Friday the 14th we will have a clubwide ice cream social/mixer.
Coaching Announcements for 2009-2010 Teams
The coaching assignments for the 2009-2010 teams are shown below. Note that these assignments may be adjusted a bit as teams are formed (or not formed) in the various age groups.
Premier Team Coaches for 2009/2010:
BOYS
U13A: George Moni / Joey Barone
U13B: Lewis Robinson
U14A: Steve Herdsman
U15A: Joey Barone / Kevin Connerty
U15B: TBD
U15C: Chuck Ritchard
U16A: Remco Bergsma / Todd Stacy / Josh Sheldon
U17A: Jeff Crooks
U18A: Dave DiIanni / Scott Modisher
U18B: Jeff Crooks
GIRLS
U13A: Josh Sheldon / Leo Garcia / Dave Prout / Lauren Astry
U13B: Marc Frankland
U14A: George Moni / Pat Doyle
U14B: Matt Roberts
U15A: Jeff Brown / Josh Sheldon
U16A: Jeff Brown / Josh Sheldon
U16B: Lewis Robinson
U17A: Josh Sheldon / Marc Frankland / Lauren Astry
U18A: TBD
Select Team Coaches for 2009/2010:
BOYS
U8A: Pat Doyle, Jeff Clark
U8B: Pat Doyle
U8C: Aric Dersham
U8D: TBD
U9A: Chris Hughes
U9A: Chip Hoebeke
U9C: Matt Roberts
U9D: TBD
U10A: Remco Bergsma, Kevin Connerty
U10B: Brian Hughes, Paul Pawlowski
U10C: Scott Fraungruber, Mike Edwards
U10D: TBD
U11A: Joey Barone, George Moni
U11B: Lewis Robinson
U11C: Dave Riser, Matt Kerr
U12A: George Moni, Joey Barone
U12B: Marc Frankland
U12C: Jamie Bassow, Joe Kline, Peter Dejong
U13A: Mike Hoevenaar
U13B: Doug Jackson
U14A: Adrian "Curly" Grozdanic, Tom Hayat
U14B: Matt Smith, Joe Kline, Peter Dejong
GIRLS
U7A: Dianne Strawser
U7B: Maria Kuitula
U8A: Chip Hoebeke
U8B: Lisa Myers
U9A: Leo Garcia
U9B: Matt Roberts
U9C: Dianne Strawser
U10A: Greg Kwaitowski, Michelle Becker
U10B: Betsy Herdsman, Steve Herdsman, Chris Blanchard
U10C: David Salisz
U10D: Jessica Greaney
U11A: Pat Doyle
U11B: Chip Hoebeke, Marc Frankland
U11C: Matt Smith
U12A: Jeff Brown, Sue Lundblad
U12B: Lewis Robinson, Jennifer Ostrander
U12C: TBD
U13A: Ian Hall
U13B: TBD
U14A: John Hall, Jennifer Garcia, Dan Mellin
U14B: Ian Hall
U15A: Doug Jackson, Kevin Holsinger
U16A: TBD
U17A: Justin Vanderkodde
U17B: TBD
U18A: Dave Juzwiak
U18FHE: Steve Herdsman
For more information on 2009-2010 coaching announcements, click here!
Girls U14 MRL Team Season Highlights
The girls of the Crew Juniors U14 Gold MRL team send a big thanks to all of the parents for their support throughout the season! Another great season for Jeff Brown's Crew U14 Girls Gold started in March at a very high profile Region 3 Tournament. The team beat teams from MO, OH and TN before losing to the eventual champions - Birmingham Soccer Club from AL.
Before the MRL season started, the team prepared with a few friendlies. At this level all games are very competitive and they managed a very hard fought tie with the MI Hawks 2-2.
There was a rough start to the MRL season in Indianapolis, where they lost the first two games against CUSA and Lady Celtics from Ohio. The following weekend they bounced back with a great performance against FWSC. They ended up having to play their remaining MRL league games all in one weekend. They came away third in their MRL division with 3 wins and a tie, playing four very competitive games in one week-end.
In Tournament play they lost to the champions in the semi's at the Novi Tournament and again lost to the champions at the Best of the Midwest. They finished off the season with friendlies against MRL teams Hawks and MFC with a win and loss.
This team will look forward to playing in the MRL League again in the fall and competing in the MI State Cup. Tournaments will include NSR Cups, Metro College Showcase and Disney College Showcase. The players should be very proud of their accomplishments this spring. Along with the U14, U16, and U17 Crew Jr. Girls' teams they will also be competing at the highest levels again in the fall. Great Season and well done to all players.
George Moni's Spring Season Highlights
The Crew Jr. Boys Technical Director, George Moni, has had a memorable Spring of 2009. To begin Coach Moni’s good news, he and his wife welcomed in a baby boy to the family just in time to enjoy the State Cup finals!
Over Memorial Day weekend George took both his U11 and U12 boys teams to the Best of the Midwest tournament, recognized as one of the top competitive tournaments in the region. The U11’s dominated their bracket beating Rockford United (IL), the Chicago Wind (IL), and Chicago Magic (IL) by a combined score of 30 goals scored to 1 allowed. The U12’s were also the big dogs in their bracket beating the Lemont Raiders, Chicago Magic North, and Chicago Magic SC by a combined score of 17 goals scored to 4 allowed. Both teams advanced out of their brackets.
The U11’s won their semi-final against the MSA Heat (IN) winning that game 3-1. In the finals our U11’s beat the Alliance U11 team 1-0 in a hard fought game and brought the Gold home for the Crew!
The U12’s also had the chance to knock the Alliance out o the tournament in their semi-final matchup and did, beating Alliance 4-2. In the finals we faced off with the Chicago Magic, dominating that game and winning 4-0.
The next weekend George took his U13 girls team to the State Cup finals. Unfortunately the team fell to the Hawks 2-0, but we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments getting that far.
George is resting up a bit now as the season winds down. He’ll get to spend some time at home with his new little one and recover from a super successful campaign with his 2008 teams.
We are excited to see how the 2009 groups do. With his u13 girls moving onto u14 and the u12 boys moving into premier we’re excited about seeing George make two deep runs into State Cup next year!
Boys U15 MRL Team Advances to National Championship Series
The GR Crew Juniors U15 Boys MRL team has qualified for the National Championship Series in Boston this July 21-26th. This is an incredible opportunity for our boys to represent our club, state, and the Midwest part of the United States as well as to compete on one of the highest levels!
The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series starts with more than 10,000 teams and concludes with four teams from each National Region. The young men on this squad will represent Region 2 and its 13 States as they go and compete in the U15 age group.
The team is working to raise money to help fund their trip to Boston. During the week of tryouts they will be selling sandwiches and hot dogs as well as a variety of other items. Please plan to join us for dinner or a snack!
Boys U15 MRL Team Wins State Cup
All of the boys played a Great Game, resulting in a 4-3 win over the Novi Jaguars. They got off to a quick start with the first goal scored by Jason Stacy on a free kick. Near the end of the first half Sean Conerty added to it off a free kick, but they were still behind by half time. In the second half the team worked hard, Jason scored again, and the final goal was a header by Caleb Postlewait.
Soccer in the Sand, June 27-28 2009
The Grand Rapids Crew Juniors are co-hosting the 2009 Soccer in the Sand tournament held at Grand Haven State Park, in conjunction with sponsorship by Quickstep Sports!
Game schedules are available at http://www.soccerinthesand.com/
What is it - A two day small sided 5v5 (with goalkeepers) soccer tournament played in the sand creating lots of shots and GOALS!
What are the benefits - Every team will be guaranteed 3 games filled with lots of touches on the ball and an environment to try all your latest moves.
How about the family - The entire family is encouraged to come and enjoy the games and the beach. This is one soccer tournament you won’t have to drag the siblings to.
Format - Games will be 4v4 plus goalkeepers (5v5). Games will consist of three 11 minute periods with 2 minute breaks. All teams will be guaranteed 3 bracket games with the opportunity to advance to the semifinals and finals.
AGE DIVISIONS: U9-U18 boys and girls, men's, women's, and adult coed.
Cost: $350.00 per team
Tournament Director: Chris Lemay
858-442-9082
chris@soccerinthesand.com
Club Co-Host: Grand Rapids Crew Juniors
Tournament website:
http://www.soccerinthesand.com/
Cleats For Kids
MVP Sports Spot and Grand Rapids Crew Juniors are partnering with "Cleats for kids" to bring gently used soccer equipment to area kids.
If you have unused soccer cleats, balls, shin guards, shorts, socks, or uniforms in good condition, please consider donating them to the Cleats for Kids program. The goal is simple, to provide gently used indoor and outdoor soccer gear for kids that want to play soccer but lack proper equipment. For more information, click here.