Game 3, Kick 6 January 1, 2007

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In 2000, the inaugural Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea Football Club occurred with only four divisions, crowning just two boys teams and two girls teams as champions. Of those four, only one of the clubs came back in 2001 to claim a sec-ond Disney’s Soccer Showcase title. As a matter of fact, they are the only club to have won another consecu-tive championship in 2002…then in 2003…and every year since 2000. Come to think of it, they are the win-ningest club at Disney’s Soccer Showcase. They are the Dallas Texans.

The club out of north Texas was established in 1993 and within a year, the organization expanded with the addition of girls teams and divisional teams from a larger span of communi-ties. In just 14 years, the club has won titles in nearly every major tournament in the United States, including state and regional titles and fi ve prestigious National Championships. Additionally, the club has participated and experienced great success in some of the most elite tournaments in Europe.

Over their years here at Disney’s Soccer Showcase, the Texans have accumulated quite a few records. In the boys divisions, they are tied with Solar Soccer Club, also of north Texas, for the most boys champi-onships, both with fi ve total. The Texans also hold the record for the most girls crowns, with an outstand-

ing nine titles. The next closest club is Eclipse Soc-cer Club of Illin. who has a little over half as many as Dallas’s girls with fi ve championships. What is even more remarkable however, is that combined, the Dallas Texans have 14 Disney’s Soccer Showcase

Championship trophies while no other club in the history of this tournament have more than fi ve.

“The Dallas Texans is a very professionally run youth organization, if not one of the top orga-nizations in the coun-try” commented Mark Luster, Disney’s Soccer Showcase Tourna-ment Director. “They

consistently win tournament championships here at the Showcase, and then turn around and win national championships as well. Overall, they are a very, very good club to work with.”

Good luck Texans in this year’s tournament!

Dallas Texans - A Soccer Showcase Dynasty

DALLAS TEXANS DISNEY’S SOCCER SHOWCASE CHAMPIONSHIPS

IS THIS YOU?If so, go to the results area to redeem

your prize! Keep an eye out for more

photos. Next time it could be you...

Game 3, Kick 6 January 1, 2007

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Referee of the DaySome may think that Paul Winders, a referee from Chugiak, Alaska, lives in an igloo with a dog sled that takes him to his soccer matches. However, Winders lives very much a typical life; that is aside from the occasional moose or two that wonder onto the pitch during his matches.

This year will be Winder’s eighth Dis-ney’s Soccer Showcase, dating back to the

inaugural event in 2000. Also highlighting his resume are mem-berships to ten associations, mostly out of Alaska, California, and Texas. Key matches he’s refereed include the Alaska Adult and Youth State Cups, Artic Winter Games (Canada & Greenland), High School Finals, as well as NCAA matches and professional level matches.

1. Why did you decide to become a referee? I thought I could make a difference from those who were already refereeing plus I wanted to make sure that the players had a fair chance, A good time and they wanted to come back to the next match.

2. What moment in you refereeing career stands out the most?I was honored to referee in the Los Angeles and Atlanta Olympics, however I was a water polo referee then. For soccer, it is when both teams (players, trainers, parents, etc.) no matter what level, come up to me after a match and tell me that my referee team did a good/fair job.

3. Do you only referee youth games or do you referee high school,

colleges, etc.?I referee youth and adult USSF matches, high school and college, plus I help develop referees for the YMCA and Boy’s & Girl’s club.

4. Did you participate in sports growing up? Yes. Swimming, Water Polo, Diving, Baseball, Basketball and Volleyball.

5. What was your view on referees while participating in sports? Did that help you in the way that you ref games today? They , [the refs] were part of the game, someone you thought did not care who won or lost. The only thing they cared about was a fair outcome. Yes, [that helped me], I try to referee the same way and feel very lucky when I show up to a match and everyone is glad to see me, knowing the match will be determined on how they play and not the referee’s.

6. What is it like traveling from Alaska to mainland USA to referee? It is a very long day. I started at 1:00am and fl ew for 12 hours with a one hour stop in Seattle and then an one hour stop in Hous-ton to get here. Going home it will take 15 hours with a one hour stop in Houston and a three hour stop in Minneapolis.

8. What is the best part about traveling?I get to leave -11° weather for 75°+ weather and 5+ hours of day-light for 10+ hours of daylight and I’m going to Disney World…it will be GREAT! Also, I just love traveling to new places and getting to meet all of the different people, players, coaches, fans and referees. It helps you understand that people are pretty much the same around the world.

Games of the Day

Colorado Rush Nike (CO)vs.

FC Greater Boston Bolts - Kerr (MA)

U18 8:00 PM DWWS #01 Who wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to watch two clubs that have competed in this tournament every year

since the inaugural event in 2000 battle it out on the pitch.

Sereno 91 White (AZ)vs.

Loudoun SC Hotshots (VA)

U17 10:00 AM DWWS #04At today’s event, a classy club from Arizona will take on a Region 1 powerhouse during this mid-morning match-up.

The competition heats up today as the last spots for the girl’s semi-fi nals and fi nals are up for grabs.

Today at the Showcase

The competition heats up today as the last spots for the girl’s semi-fi nals and fi nals are up for grabs.The competition heats up today as the last spots for the girl’s semi-fi nals and fi nals are up for grabs.

Happy New Year!

Game 3, Kick 6 January 1, 2007

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Kicks Against Breast Cancer is the American soc-cer initiative to raise money to help fi nd a cure for breast cancer and to help women living with cancer survive and thrive. Kicks is selling an elegant gold on gold soccer ball lapel pin with an enameledpink ribbon on it. The theme of the campaign is “Help Save The Women You Love.” U.S. and Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan, along with the wom-en in his life, serve as the offi cial spokesmen for the initiative. We encourage everyone to buy pins for their friends, family, teammates, colleagues and neighbors and ask them to wear them.

This initiative can only be successful with your help!

All of the profi ts go to the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource & Image Center, Howard County General Hospital, a division of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

EXPERIENCE Community Outreach is about char-acter development, connecting athletes with commu-nity, constructive use of free time, and compassion.

Providing our athletes with the opportunity to show compassion by participating in Passback and donat-ing gently used soccer equipment, will make their Experience at Disney’s Soccer Showcase a memo-rable one! Be sure to drop your donations off at the Passback bin in the results area.

Children in Central Florida and beyond will be able to play the game of soccer because of Passback and this Experience at Disney’s Soccer Showcase. Thanks!

Chelsea FC Passback

In 2007, English Premiership side Chelsea Football Club became presenting sponsor of Disney’s Soc-cer Showcase Series. One of the biggest and most successful clubs in Europe, the team they call “the Blues” boast some of the best players in the world, including England captain John Terry, and their famous stadium Stamford Bridge sits in the heart of a fashionable part of London. Their ambitions to grow their fan base in the United States are refl ected in the launch of a website and membership program designed specifi cally for American soccer fans. For

Blues news go to www.chelseafc.com/America.

Be sure to visit the Chelsea Football Club table at the Showcase, located in the results area.

Fair Game Magazine

Fair Game, the 100% women’s soccer magazine, is proud to announce it’s sponsorship of the Fair Play Award at the 2007 Disney’s Soccer Showcase. Fair Game will present the Fair Play Award to the team in each girl’s fl ight that exhibits the best sportsmanship and will take into consideration positive play as well as respect for teammates, opponents and offi cials. Coaches and offi cials in each fl ight will rate the sportsmanship of each team they meet in pool play games.

Question or com-ments can be directed to Gayle Bryan at Fair Game Magazine (706) 373-4846 or gayle.bryan@kickin-gitaround.com.

Kicks Against Breast Cancer

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Happy Birthday!!

Sarah Barger U15 Predator Bangu Tsunami FC 93 BlueGrace Best U17 Predator Blue FC DELCO 90sAmy Carhart U17 Predator White PDA PrideAnna Del Medico U16 Copa Sockers FC ChicagoMara Hale U16 Showcase FC Milwaukee Blue 2007-08Sabirna Hupp U18 Showcase White Pensacola Futbol Club Lady WolvesLauren McMahon U17 Predator Blue Cincinnati United Premier RedTaryn O’Shea U17 Predator White Chantilly Soccer Club FCV NetforceSara Sheets U17 Predator White Colorado Rush NikeStephanie Stubbs U18 Showcase White Beach FC Piranhas

Photos of the Day

Members of the U16 PDA Fire (NJ) TSC Challenge warming up before their game

FC Greater Boston Bolts watching the Penalty Kicks of the U17 Predator fi nal

FC Westchester watch as their team wins the U17 Predator Championship in penalty kicks

Action heating up on Field 7 CASL 90 Spartan Elite beat San Juan Spirits 2-1