Fiesta Georgia Features Youth Soccer Tourney

For those Atlanta area soccer clubs that want to take on some new competition without traveling too far, the 4th Annual Fiesta Georgia may be just the event for you!

This one day celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month will feature a youth soccer tournament that will include Rockdale area soccer clubs. Hosted by the Lanza Group, LLC, all festivities will take place at the Georgia International Horse Park on Sunday, September 25th, 2011. For additional information visit Facebook: facebook.com/FiestaGeorgia or FiestaGeorgia.com.

GoGo squeeZ + Kick It Tour Bring Soccer, Fun & Healthy Snacks

To encourage active play, GoGo squeeZ is partnering with Kick It, the nation's largest 3v3 soccer competition, to provide a healthier snack option to soccer fields at over 60 locations.

GoGo squeeZ is the first squeezable, re-sealable, 100 percent fruit applesauce snack. The packaging has a built-in straw, and requires no refrigeration, which means no cooler, spoons or mess, whether on the field or off.

In addition to serving as a sponsor for the Kick It tournaments and providing samples to thousands of people, GoGo squeeZ is encouraging families to join its GoGo Gang. Once membership levels reach 100,000, the company pledges to build a playground in an underserved community. More playgrounds have been pledged for construction when additional membership levels are reached.

So get your players ready for competition. To find out more information about location and registration for Kick It in your area, click here.

Here is a sample list of Kick It tournament cities below.

Charlotte, N.C. (June 25)
St. Louis, Mo. (July 9)
Indianapolis, Ind. (July 16)
Chicago, Ill. (July 16)
Atlantic City, N.J. (July 30)
The Colony, Texas (July 30)

Farmers Insurance & Mexican Legend Team Up For Free Soccer Clinics

Want a chance to meet a soccer legend who is known for blocking shots as well as scoring them? Well, look no further because Mexican soccer legend Jorge Campos is teaming up with Farmers Insurance in the youth initiative "Juega y Aprende con Jorge Campos." (Play and Learn with Jorge Campos)

These free soccer clinics are open to 100 youth in each host city, and will allow each participant to develop their skills with the assistance of Jorge Campos and a number of MLS staff. Additionally, each child will leave with a gift pack that includes a ball, water bottle, autograph and more.

To participate in the drawing parents can go to the Play and Learn event page on the Farmer's Insurance web site. To translate the information to English, simply click the Ingles link at the top of the page!

Here are the event dates in your city:

San Antonio - June 4 (10 am - 12 pm)
Dallas - June 5 (11 am - 1 pm)
San Jose, June 11 (2 pm - 4 pm)

Get Fit 3v3 Soccer Challenge: Las Vegas-2.13.2011

In an effort to combat against the increasing rate of youth obesity in the state of Nevada, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is partnering with Las Vegas’ Neusport Football club for the Get Fit 3v3 Soccer Challenge on February 13, 2011. The event organizers are hoping to encourage kids ages 7 to 14 to become physically active and empower them to make healthy lifestyle choices now and in the future.

The Get Fit 3v3 Soccer Challenge will feature up to 160 teams with a maximum of six players on the roster. Each team is guaranteed three games, which last 24 minutes (with 12-minute halves).

If you know of a player or team in the area that may still be interested in participating, go to https://www.gotsport.com/forms/app/?EventID=14869.

Scoring In the Inner City: Paul Kitson & Varsity Soccer 365

Eat Soccer strives to bring awareness to players, clubs and programs within the global soccer community who are making a mark for the beautiful game.

Today, I am proud to introduce you to my friend, Paul Kitson, Jr. We met during a coaching stint at the 2009 Bank of Bermuda Pro Soccer Clinic in Hamilton, Bermuda. Paul will tell you in his own words about his journey to soccer, and how he is doing his part to develop the next generation of players with his company, Varsity Soccer 365.

My soccer journey began just barely after I could walk. According to my family, I was dribbling a soccer ball before my second birthday.

I had the honor and privilege of learning the beautiful game from, a professional soccer star, my friend, mentor and father, the late Paul Kitson, Sr. He set the foundation for everything I know about soccer.

I can clearly remember that my father never pressured me to play, or pushed me to be the best or to even be like him. I was given the freedom to build my own relationship with the game, something I’m truly grateful for. More importantly, I was allowed to figure out which parts of the game I enjoyed the most, which kept my experiences and passion for the game pure.

For me, what separates soccer from other major sports is the freedom for creative expression on the field. This has always been my favorite element of the game. Many soccer fans and young players, learning the sport, want to see goals and hold goal scorers in the highest regard (which is great!). However, I was always more intrigued by plays, a player who set up the goal, what happened ten seconds before the goal was scored and who broke down the other team by outsmarting them with an incredible pass.

I always asked my dad for a copy of the game tape right after we left his games, and I would study it as if I had to take a test afterward on what I had seen. My affinity for the creative aspect of the game motivated me to work diligently on my skills so that I would have the physical tools to pair with my vision and awareness. Coupling that with the fact that I always had fun on the soccer field, you could always find me with a smile on my face even during the most difficult training sessions.

The lessons I learned as a young student-athlete led me to a successful high school career at Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) during which my team won the NJ State Championship in 1999 and three years later to an NCAA Div 1 Patriot League Conference Championship at Holy Cross in 2002. Through hard work on the practice field, focus in the classroom and the grace of God, I’ve traveled to play soccer throughout most of the United States, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, England, Canada and Bermuda. I’ve been fortunate enough to have trained with professional players and gained lifelong friends through this beautiful game. I didn’t realize it when I was young, but now I know soccer is the greatest gift I could have ever received from my father. I will always be eternally grateful to him for it.

“When individuals take on the responsibility of pursuing excellence both on the field and in the classroom the possibilities are endless.”-Paul Kitson, Jr.

Paul Kitson, Jr. is the owner of Varsity Soccer 365, a company that promotes physical fitness and overall well-being by teaching players of all ages the game of soccer. With a heavy emphasis on creative, technical development, Varsity Soccer 365 aims to provide students of after school programs, in the Connecticut, New Jersey and New York areas, with a safe, healthy, effective and fun way to exercise.

To learn more about Varsity Soccer 365 and how you can bring their programming to your district, contact Paul Kitson at Varsitysoccer365@gmail.com or visit www.varsitysoccer 365.net. To receive timely soccer advice for players in your area, checkout Paul’s blog Side Street Soccer.