New youth soccer travel team being formed
COSHOCTON – Kurt Knicely is working with SOCCA to create a new opportunity for area soccer players.
“We have several people locally who are taking their kids to places like Canton, Zanesville and Columbus to play travel soccer,” he said. “I started talking to parents at Kids America and thought why don’t we have a travel team here?”
The new travel team named Evolution will be U8 to U11 and Knicely said anyone in the fifth grade now who is going into the sixth grade and will be 12 can still try out.
“There is a lot of talent leaving Coshocton to play soccer,” he said. “Playing in travel leagues can really benefit kids as they go up through the local programs and into high school. It’s better competition as you are playing against the best of the best who really want to excel at soccer.”
Tryouts for the travel team will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Lake Park Soccer Complex. Registration information can be found on the SOCCA Facebook page.
“Come with cleats, shine guards and a positive attitude,” Knicely said.
Anyone who can’t be there that day can contact him at 740-502-6248 to schedule a private tryout.
“We want to cultivate our local kids, expose them to more talent and challenge them more,” Knicely said.
He is hoping they are able to find enough talent to fill two teams that can be competitive.
“The first two years we will have to work out all the kinks,” Knicely said. “You have to establish credibility to get into some tournaments. We’ll start out with friendly matches with local teams and doing open tournaments.”
Evolution’s season will run from August of this year to June of 2017 and SOCCA has agreed to let them use the Lake Park Soccer Complex as their home field.
“It’s a commitment, but we encourage all to try out,” Knicely said. “Players will be carded, which means they can still play in rec leagues, but as far as competitive soccer goes they will have to be dedicated to this team and this team only.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
