Daphne Strike Soccer Club
IF THERE IS ONE WORD THAT MIGHT BEST DESCRIBE DAPHNE SOCCER CLUB, it’s cooperation. Realizing that there is indeed strength in number, Daphne Strike, and the neighboring Fairhope Soccer Club forged a partnership in the fall of 2015 to help develop and retain players as they head into their teen years. The agreement resulted in the Gulf Coast Rangers Soccer Club, a competitive program for youth ages 13-19 along the eastern shoreline of Mobile Bay. GERARDO FLORES Daphne Strike Director for Coaching Gerardo said the idea behind the Gulf Director of Coaching Coat Rangers is to pool resources and to be able to provide a quality soccer USSF “B” License experience for kids who want to continue their soccer careers at an age when USSF National Youth License “NYL” many kids begin to develop interests in addition to, or instead of, soccer. “It’s NSCAA DOC Diploma no so much numbers, to be honest, but the retention of players that is the key NSCAA National Youth Diploma for us,” said Flores. “The idea is to keep our current players and to have a place TYPES OF PROGRAMS OFFERED: for those interested players to play.” Recreational | Competitive | Adult Flores says the goal of the Daphne Strike Soccer Club is to develop an interest in soccer among younger kids, making them more of a fan rather than ADDRESS a cutthroat competitor, and feed them into the Gulf Coast Rangers Program. Al Trione Sports Complex 8600 Whispering Pines Rd While the sport is growing in the region, Flores says the population isn’t large Daphne, AL 36526 enough to replace players that get burned out by the time they reach junior high, PHONE: (251) 591-5180 a problem in which he says many soccer coaches and clubs are guilty. “I think WEBSITE: daphnestrikesoccer.com we’re at fault a little bit as clubs because if we don’t provide the right message we end up losing players at those ages when there is another interest, socially, athletically, or they want to shift to academics,” Flores said. “I feel we don’t make it seem as though they can do all those things. We almost force them and we end up pushing them away.” Once kids enter the Rangers competitive club, Flores said he believes the Gulf Coast Rangers are on par with many clubs in larger communities, placing an emphasis on quality coaching and skill development. Last year, for instance, the club established a connection with the Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premiere League and has positive relationship with all the men’s and women’s college programs in the area at the University of South Alabama, University of Mobile, and Spring Hill College.