Soccer Viewing Opportunity - #1 2013 Boys Team in the Country

The #1 2013 Boys team in the country - according to GotSoccer.com - will be playing locally this coming weekend in the 2024 Arlington Spring Tournament. Coppermine Soccer Club 2013 Boys Blue, a team based out of Maryland, will be taking on teams from Arlington, the Virginia Soccer Association (VSA) and Virginia Valor FC in the tournament's highest division. If you're in the area, and want to get a look firsthand at what the "best team in the country" at the U11 age looks like, this is a great opportunity. Their game schedule is as follows with all games at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, VA.

2/24 0800 vs Arlington Soccer Association 2013B Pre-ECNL - Field 3A

2/24 1200 vs Virginia Soccer Association 13B Pre-ECNL I VDA West - Field 4B

2/25 0800 vs Virginia Valor FC 2013B Gold - Field 3B

https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/28267/schedules?team=1982954

Celtic Blue Move Atop Fiesta League Standings

Last weekend was a great one for BAC Celtic as they went toe-to-toe with a trio of SYC teams and emerged unbeaten. Celtic Blue started the day with a 4-2 win over SYC 2014 Blue. That win coupled with SYC 2013 Orange’s 10-4 loss to SYC 2014 Boys move Celtic Blue atop the table with just one match to play. Celtic Navy followed that up with an impressive draw against SYC 2014 Orange. After falling behind 4-1 late in the second half, Celtic Navy got a pair of goals from Zander Cantone (his first two of the indoor campaign) and another from Teddy Delafield to complete the comeback. Celtic Navy overcame an own goal, having a goal called back for not waiting on the referee, and conceding a goal off a deflected clearance, and still needed a late PK save from goalie Mitchell Lightfoot to preserve the result. Finally Celtic White had their signature win of the season when they rallied for a 2-1 win over SYC 2013 Blue despite the absence of star midfielder Elliot Bratton. After conceding an early goal, Griffin Fox equalized for Celtic White right before halftime, and Tristan Smith put Celtic White ahead for good early in the second half when he pressured SYC’s left back into a turnover deep in the attacking third and hammered a shot into the top of the net. From then on, BAC defended furiously getting tremendous performances from Karas Shenouda, Teddy Alarie and Tyler Kesterson, as well as goalie Liam McLeish. 

Here are the current standings and the match-ups for the Fiesta League’s final match week:

 

 

SYC 2014 Blue vs SYA Warriors

SYC 2014 Boys vs BAC 2013 Celtic Blue

SYC 2013 Orange vs BAC 2013 Celtic Navy

SYC 2013 Blue vs SYC 2014 Orange

Valor 2013G vs BAC 2013 Celtic White

U7/8 Boys Coaches & Assistant Coaches Wanted

We're still in search of more volunteers for the spring soccer season at BAC to help with coaching and assistant coaching for the U7/8 (2016-2017) boys age group. We did add four assistant coaches over the past week so thanks to those of you who stepped forward and volunteered, but we're still short. Currently we have six head coaches and nine assistant coaches, but as we're anticipating ten teams when the dust settles we need at least five more volunteers, and ideally fifteen so each team can have two assistants. I know everyone's busy, but if you can fit time into your schedule to help out, I highly encourage you to do so. As I've said before, you do not need to be a soccer pro to coach at this level. All we're looking for are enthusiastic parents with a positive attitude. If you're up for it, please register as a volunteer on the BAC website and I can assign you to your child's team.  Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about coaching with BAC. 

Spring Break & Summer Soccer Camp Dates Available

BAC has released its spring and summer camp schedule. Additional information and the link to register can be found here. The highlights are as follows:

BAC will host a spring break soccer camp for players 6 and older.  The camp will be run by the Burke AC professional coaching staff and give players an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming spring season.    

• Spring Break Camp Dates:  March 25-29, 9am-12pm
• Location: Patriot Park, 12111 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA
• Cost: $210 ($25 discount for registering more than one player or registering for both Spring Break and Summer camps)
• Each registered player will receive a t-shirt

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The Summer Camp will be run by the Burke AC professional coaching staff and give players an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming spring season.

We will work on numerous aspects of the game including:

• Technical Skills
• Dribbling and Passing
• Power-Finesse Finishing
• 1v1, 2v2 Defending and Attacking
• Speed, Agility and Balance
• Small Sided Games
• Mini World Cup

Summer Camp Dates:  July 22-26, 9am-12pm

Location: Patriot Park, 12111 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA

Cost: $210 ($25 discount for registering more than one player or registering for both Spring Break and Summer camps)

Each registered player will receive a t-shirt

Spring Soccer Registration Hits 600 Players and Counting

With just under four weeks left before on-time registration ends, spring soccer registration has now eclipsed 600 players. For the boys, this includes 72 U7/8s, 83 U9/10s and 83 U11/12s. By comparison in the Spring of 2022, we played the season with only 76 U9/10 players and in the Fall of 2022, we were barely able to form six teams with 66 U11/12 players. The highest registration number we've ever hit is 871 which we reached last spring. Is this the season we eclipse 900? 

On time registration will end February 29th, so if you have friends looking to play, there's still time to sign up: https://burkeathletic.demosphere-secure.com/registration-center

And we're still in need of volunteers across every age group, so if you'd like to get more involved with BAC, you can register as a volunteer at that same link. 

Celtic Trio Sweeps Fiesta League Matchday Four

It was a great weekend for BAC Celtic (2013) as the trio of Blue, White and Navy teams all came away with wins in Fiesta League play. First up, Celtic Blue stayed unbeaten with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Valor 2013 Girls. Celtic White followed that up with an impressive 4-1 defeat of previously unbeaten SYC 2014 Boys. Griffin Fox scored all four goals for Celtic White while Wes Bridley had a sensational outing in goal and effectively shut down the SYC attack all game long. Celtic Navy capped off the day with a 7-2 win over SYA Warriors. Teddy Delafield netted four goals, Tristan Smith two including the game winner, and Evan Moh one. With just two match days remaining in the Winter Fiesta League season, Celtic's trio of teams currently sit in second, third and sixth place overall with a combined record of 8 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie.

Here's the schedule for Match Day 5 (2/11):

BAC 2013 Celtic Blue vs SYC 2014B Blue

SYC 2014 Boys vs SYC 2013B Orange

BAC 2013 Celtic Navy vs SYC 2014B Orange

BAC 2013 Celtic White vs SYC 2013 Blue

Valor 2013G vs SYA Warriors

Additional information on the Fiesta League can be found here. 

FAQ: What size soccer ball should I buy my child?

Soccer balls come in three different sizes: 3, 4 and 5. So how do you know what size to buy your child? The answer, fortunately, is simple. Soccer ball sizes are determined by age group. For the U8s and below (2016 birth years and younger), you need a size three. Both the U9/10s and U11/12s (2012-2015 birth years) will use size fours, and U13s and above (2011 birth year or older) will use size fives. Having the correctly sized ball is important for your child's development as you don't want them playing with a ball that is too big, or too small. Last note on soccer balls, definitely put your child's name on it. Soccer balls have a tendency to wander off and it's helpful if we know whose they are so we're able to return them if found.