FAIRHOPE SOCCER CLUB, FORMED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN Mobile Bay FC and Gulf Coast Rangers FC, represents a new direction for soccer in southern Alabama. Although the name of the club has changed, the goal of Fairhope Soccer Club remains the same: to provide an environment for youth to develop & grow through soccer. Led by Director of Coaching Nick Cooper, a native of Guildford, England, Fairhope Soccer Club aims to provide a fun and rewarding soccer experience for young players, NICK COOPER while educating them on how to play the game properly. “Our aim is to coach players Director of Coaching to have the ability to possess the ball with either foot, play any pass, score goals, USSF ‘F’ ‘E’ ‘D’ Licenses FA Youth license read the game to create space and receive the ball under pressure,” says Cooper via NSCAA National Diploma the club’s website. “We look for ‘wow,’ moments, but not the ones you might think; an Upper 90 strike, sure, but it’s the line breaking pass, the critical tackle, making TYPES OF PROGRAMS OFFERED correct decisions under pressure. That really impress me — moments that require an Recreational | Competitive understanding of the game, vision, and precision.” ADDRESS: The club, through its Fairhope Academy Program, also seeks to educate parents PO Box 363, Montrose, AL 36559 and help them understand how to cheer and encourage their children in ways that WEBSITE: fairhopesoccerclub.com are helpful and allow them to learn the game on their own. Often, Cooper says, parents shout information such as “be aggressive” and “boot it!” from the sideline which causes confusion and stunts soccer growth. “Soccer is a player-centered sport. Soccer players have to make their own decisions in the moment; whether it be wrong or right, they have to make it and learn from it,” says Cooper. “They have to rely on imagination, spontaneity, and creativity to create chances for themselves. So, how do we expect to create a team that can possess the ball and complete good passes if we don’t cheer for complete passes?” Learn more at fairhopesoccerclub.org