Players, Parents, Family & Friends –

On behalf of the Riverside Youth Soccer Club Board of Directors, coaching staff, and many volunteers, I want to welcome you to our club and our website. I want to thank you for choosing us as your child’s home for soccer training and play. I am so happy you are joining with us this season for what I am sure will be a very exciting and enjoyable time of instruction, competition, team building, and character building.

If you are trying soccer for the first time, I am sure you will find it a very rewarding experience for your entire family. Soccer is a very exciting sport and grows even more so as you gain a better understanding of the game.

Our coaches proudly use the “long term player development” method.  The coach is not concerned by the pressure to win. They are more concerned with forming and developing every young player into a well-balanced, happy, skilled athlete. They go to a game for pleasure, to put their skills into practice, and to model sportsmanship and respect. They always win; the score is unimportant, what counts is that they all had a great enjoyable game.

Every team works hard to prepare for their games. All go into the contest with excitement and hopes of a victory. Victory?  Is victory only measured by the score of the game?  My answer, and I hope yours, is no! Victory/winning is many different things. The player that scores their first goal, that’s a victory regardless of the outcome of the game. The excitement from your son or daughter after the game is as high as before the game because he/she played well, that is a victory. Many more things become victories when we allow that to happen.  Good sportsmanship, encouragement, positive support and many more can all add to the enjoyment of the game.  I know it can be hard to be positive sometimes while in the “heat of battle”, but we must remember that our children will respond the same whether positive or negative. What do we really want to teach them?  All club participants, whether a player, coach, or spectator, are expected to be respectful of officials, coaches, and players at all times, whether from our club or others

As we look toward the future, we have plans to expand our programs, facilities, and offerings to the youth in the area. As with any organization, we need help to grow our club and to see our plans and dreams come to fruition. If you feel you can help by becoming involved whether by volunteering to be a head or assistant coach, by being a team parent, helping with field maintenance, or maybe soliciting donations, then we need you. You do not have to be a parent of a player to get involved! Possibly you could sponsor a local child who, otherwise, could not afford to play soccer. There are many areas in which you can help make a difference.  There is nothing more rewarding than playing a positive role in the futures of hundreds of children in this and surrounding areas.

As the President of the Riverside Youth Soccer Club, I will always be available to you to discuss any concerns you may have, whether within our organization or issues concerning other teams/clubs. Please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail or call me at any time and I promise to make every effort to address the issue and bring some form of resolution, if possible.

Again, I just want to say welcome and I hope to see you “around the fields” for many seasons to come as we grow together

Crystal Lawrence, President

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do!” – Pelé