Letter From the Executive Director.

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2 Letter From the Executive Director. Welcome to the first edition of the Delaware Union monthly newsletter First Touch. It is designed as a recap of the past months in quick hit news snippets for your busy life. I hope you are enjoying the excitement as another soccer season is upon us. As the pending merger finalizes this summer, the new Delaware Union and its affiliate's growth continues with the spring Recreational season seeing over 1,600 registrations in our 3 town based programs in Middletown, Smyrna & Dover. On the Representative front, teams continue to participate in league and tournament play with impressive performance in both the legacy Delaware Union and CDSA programs. As the tryout season approaches, over 250 players have already registered for the U8 - U12 age groups for tryouts beginning the end of this month. The new Delaware Union is on track to field at least two solid teams in each age group, with a 3 tier team system on the horizon. As we continue an all out effort to transform Delaware soccer and its youth system, we recognize this is not possible without the dedication of our parents, players and coaches. Vision. Message. Leadership. Join the Movement! Mike Womer DELAWARE UNION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

3 More Merger/Affiliation News Several years ago, a number of dedicated soccer minds got together to work towards consolidating the number of soccer clubs in Delaware. Our goal was very simple - deliver a better player development model and better promote the value Delaware soccer. Fast forward to 2014 and the new Delaware Union now begins its reign as Delaware s largest soccer club. A leadership team has been formed to manage the new Delaware Union and its premier Representative program, while town level Regional Operational Boards in Middletown & Dover and an affiliate Board in Smyrna has been retained to manage the grass roots growth in our independent Recreational programs. The new organization s focus and philosophy (The Delaware Union Way!) is deeply rooted in the latest player development methods and ready to take the state by storm. This year under our current model, the Delaware Union and its affiliates are expected to produce over 3,000 annual Recreational program registrations and field 40+ girls and boys Representative teams serving nearly 550 travel players. Over time, the new Delaware Union will implement its strategic goal to partner with more likeminded quality club affiliates on the Rte 1 corridor to build the organization with additional Regional Operational Boards to promote the best possible soccer in Delaware. At its end state, the Delaware Union footprint will encompass a 3 tier team Representative program in each age group, fed by 6+ independently managed Recreational town pools in New Castle County, Central Delaware, Northern Sussex County and everywhere in between.

4 Major Sponsorship Premier Physical Therapy and Sports Performance of Middletown, Smyrna, and Dover announce their partnership with Delaware Union to support the growth of healthy soccer throughout the state of Delaware. Premier Physical Therapy and Sports Performance this week announced it will enter into a title sponsorship and partnership with Delaware Union. Premier will provide funding for co-branded apparel, will institute a Premier Healthy Soccer Educational Series for players, parents, and coaches, and will become the provider of Physical Therapy services, Athletic Training outreach and Sports Performance Enhancement programs for Delaware Union players. See the full press release at:

5 Spring 2014 REC Thank you! With your support, the new Delaware Union and its affiliates have officially tipped the scales at 1,600 Recreational players for the Spring 2014 REC season in 3 town based programs Middletown, Smyrna & Dover. We are well on our way to our goal of creating 6 town Recreational pools throughout the state to feed what will be the premier Representative/Travel program in Delaware. We have ordered up the best possible weather and look forward to the remaining REC games and 3v3 tournament this season. Good luck this season! Spring Recreational Season

6 Soccer Camps Summer Camp Series: No gimmicks, just top quality local trainers from Delaware Union & USFT Sports working in concert together. Our intention is not to be the cheapest provider of camps, it is to offer THE best experience in the state for your camp dollars. Check out our Recreational and Advanced camps, as well as our Representative Team Training Camp approach. See details and registration information at

7 Representative Tryouts U8 - U12 age groups for tryouts beginning the end of this month. Don't be left out, sign up today for tryouts at U13 U18 Tryouts begin in May/June.

8 Representative Tryouts: U8 U12

9 Representative Tryouts: U13 U18

10 Community Events Premier Physical Therapy, CDSA & Delaware Union are teaming up to top Autism! Please join us to support the 1st Annual Race to Top Autism 5k in Dover on Saturday April 26th, 2014 at 8:30AM. Benefits the CDSA/Delaware Union TOPS Soccer Program and Autism Delaware. Register at

11 Under Construction Look for this sign to be placed at Delaware Union Park (formerly CDSA Park) in Dover in the coming weeks. We are a proud partner of the Philadelphia Union and the host of Union Summer Select South program. We look forward as the south relationship grows to make Delaware soccer even better. Support the Union at philadelphiaunion.com

12 Delaware Union Day at PPL Park! Delaware Union Day at the Philadelphia Union PPL Park is May 17th Join the Orange and Blue outside in a special location for tailgating before the game, then watch as 22 Delaware Union/CDSA players escort BOTH the Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution teams onto the field in the beginning of the game! Based on our youth partnership with the Philadelphia Union over 150 Delaware Union members have purchased a game package for the May 17 th event.

13 International Activities Delaware Union tagged along (in spirit) donating 20+ uniforms and soccer equipment to the La Fond Boys School in Haiti as part of Pastor Jay Hutchinson s (St. Andrews) good will mission for the continued aid of children still impacted by the earthquake devastation in While working to flatten out rocky, dirt filled schoolyard soccer fields, one of the team s primary missions was to install solar panels on the school s roof. Not only did this give the school electricity for the first time ever, 8 local homes were wired in the village for evening light - something they had never enjoyed before. The Delaware Union was very grateful to be given the small opportunity to donate the items and help heal through the love of the game.