The Atlanta Vibe have yet to officially become a team in the National Women’s Soccer League, but they already have a new home.

After initially planning to play at Grady Stadium in Midtown, the team has reached an agreement to play its home games at Silverbacks Park to alleviate concerns over parking.

The team, which hopes to begin play in 2016, would play 11 home games during the regular season.

“We are very excited about the possibility of bringing professional women’s soccer to Atlanta and playing in Silverback Park” Trey Brantley said in a statement. Brantley is part of a group that includes investment firm Southfund Partners that is working to bringing a team to Atlanta. “Silverback Park is a pure soccer field and would be an ideal location for an NWSL team.”

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/pro-sports/vibe-moving-to-silverbacks-park/nkKrK/

1:45 PM

US Adult Soccer will stage the National Championships Series from July 14 through July 19, 2015 at Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach, VA.  Registration for the Men's U23 Championships is now open! Any affiliated team of a US Adult Soccer member state association, national league or regional league may apply for the Cup. Registration is limited to the first 16 teams that complete registration and payment of the fee. The US Men Under-23 Cup was first established in 1997. This is an open competition, which means that both amateur and professional registered players may participate. To be eligible, all players must be duly registered through their state association or national/regional league. Players born on or after August 1, 1991 are eligible for U23 registration. Click here to register. Early bird registration pricing runs until March 15. Registration deadline is June 15. More information on the National Championships Series can be found here. USASA Communications

8:34 AM

The Spring Season of the W2W Wednesday 5v5 League will begin on February 25th. The league is open to competitive recreational players looking to get a fast and active game in our unique W2W 5v5 Courts.

Games will kick off at 7:30pm and 8:30pm and we expect to build on previous leagues where we have had 6 competitive teams. Play is fast-paced and continuous with the ball live off the walls and the nest for constant, fast-paced action. One 60 minute 5v5 soccer game is reported to burn up to 900 calories per player.

Register as an individual or as a team. Matching and numbered team uniforms are required and are available through the W2W Soccer Store.

The Spring season will kick-off on Wednesday February 18th and run through Wednesday April 22nd. An early registration discount of $25 per player is available up to 7 days before the start of the league.

Teams and Individuals are welcome to register and play.

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When	Feb 18, 2015 7:30 PM - Apr 22, 2015 9:30 PM
Deadline	Apr 1, 2015 12:00 PM -- last date to register
Where	5v5 Court 1
	170 Cox Road, Roswell, GA 30075
	click here for more information

10:09 AM

The Spring Season of our popular 7v7 Thursday Adult Soccer League will begin on Thursday March 26th

Games will be played at 7:00pm & 8:15pm each Thursday starting March 26th and ending on June 4th for a 10 Game season including play-offs.

Registration Fee is $130 with an early registration discount of $25 available up to one week before the start of the league.

Please be aware of our Uniform Policy

1. Each team/player must wear a uniform shirt which is 'identical' and with a number that corresponds to their name on the official game roster.
2. Players can not play unless they wear an official 'identical/matching team uniform.
3. Teams can supply their own uniforms and produce a roster of names and corresponding jersey numbers to the league 5 days prior to game one.
4. Teams/individual players can request the W2W Pro-Shop to produce dry-fit numbered uniform jersey's ($15 ea.)

We are anticipating a strong 6-team league for the Spring 2015 season.

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When	Mar 26, 2015 7:00 PM - Jun 4, 2015 9:30 PM
Late	Feb 26, 2015 11:59 PM -- fees go up after this date
Deadline	Apr 30, 2015 11:59 PM -- last date to register
Where	Wall to Wall Sports Center Lower Field
	170 Cox Road, Roswell, GA 30075
	click here for more information

10:07 AM

It was an eventful offseason for several MLS players with ties to metro Atlanta and Georgia.

The headlining move may have been Chris Klute moving from Colorado, where he was a mainstay in defense the past two years, to Columbus.

Klute, a former player for the Silverbacks and Clayton State, amassed more than 2,100 minutes with the Rapids last year, using his speed to lead them in crosses from open play (51) and tackles won (67).

But the Rapids traded him to move up in the draft and to acquire a “significant amount” of allocation money.

The next biggest move may have been NYCFC signing Kwadwo Poku from the Silverbacks. The move itself wasn’t the big news – there have been lots of Silverbacks who have moved to MLS – it’s NYCFC’s statement that Poku has the potential to one day play for Manchester City. Manchester and NYCFC share the same ownership group, with City seen as the parent club by some soccer pundits.

Two other players also moved to MLS through the SuperDraft: Forward Andy Craven to Seattle and goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton to Los Angeles.

Craven, a St. Simon’s native, was expected to be a first-round pick, but instead lasted until the third round. He scored 15 goals for the Tar Heels last year. Playing time may be hard to come by for Craven because Seattle already has Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, among others.

Wolverton, a St. Pius grad, was picked by the Galaxy in the fourth round after starting 19 matches for Penn State last year.

While several players were joining, or moving around, the league, others were leaving.

Michael Nwiloh became the first Georgia State men’s soccer player to be drafted when Chivas USA picked him in the fourth round of last year’s SuperDraft. Nwiloh, a defender, barely played with the first team and Chivas USA’s dissolution following the 2014 season left him without a team. He has yet to sign with another club.

Goalkeeper Joe Nasco was traded from Colorado to New England. However, the former Silverback is now with Fort Lauderdale in the NASL.

Midfielder Alex Caskey left D.C. United after the club didn’t pick up the option on his contract. Caskey made six appearances last year.

Defender Steven Kinney left Chicago, which didn’t pick up the option on his contract. He played in two games for the Fire last year as part of 17 appearances in five years. After sustaining several injuries during his career, Kinney is pursuing other opportunities in Chicago. Goalkeepers Sean Johnson and Alec Kann, metro Atlanta natives, remained with Chicago.

Here’s a list of players (and twitter handles) with ties to the state who are in MLS. The 2015 season is scheduled to begin March 6:

Joe Bendik (@jtbendik), Toronto, GK, Kennesaw

Mark Bloom (@markbloom21), Toronto, D, Marietta

Ricardo Clark (@RicoC13), Houston, M, Jonesboro

Andy Craven (@andymcraven), Seattle, F, St. Simons

Warren Creavalle (@warrenspeak), Toronto, D, Acworth

Sean Johnson (@sjohn25), Chicago, GK, Snellville

Alec Kann (@akann90), Chicago, GK, Decatur

Chris Klute (@chrisklute), Columbus, D, Silverbacks, Clayton State

Jack McInerney (@jackmcinerney9), Montreal, F, Alpharetta

Kwadwo Poku, NYCFC, M/F, Silverbacks

Andrew Wolverton (@a_wolvie), Los Angeles, G, Atlanta

Walker Zimmerman (@thewalkerzim), Dallas, D, Lawrenceville

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/pro-sports/klute-headlines-mls-moves-for-players-with-ties-to/nkHBG/

8:22 AM

Georgia Fitness Pro to Host Silverbacks Trainings as Official Partner
Atlanta announces deal to train at state-of-the-art facilities 

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Silverbacks announced a 2015 partnership with Georgia Fitness Pro as the 40,000-square-foot facility will serve as the fitness home of the Silverbacks. The state-of-the-art facility focuses on speed, strength and flexibility training while offering the Silverbacks indoor turf and a 10,000-square-foot Olympic-grade weight room.

“From the outset of seeing Georgia Fitness Pro, the sheer quality was obvious,” Atlanta Silverbacks head coach Gary Smith said. “The plan is to obviously utilize that facility throughout the preseason and into the regular season to maintain the practical power and strength needed to compete, but also in injury prevention.

“Having an advantage like Georgia Fitness Pro, our boys should be kept in tip-top shape – both mentally and physically.”

“Gary’s vision around speed and strength for his players will be a key difference for the Silverbacks this season,” Georgia Fitness Pro owner Henry Hardin said. “Now supporters of the Silverbacks will have the opportunity to gain the same edge as their favorite players. The next generation of Silverbacks has the opportunity to grow from Georgia Fitness Pro.”

Georgia Fitness Pro’s programs are designed for players who are seeking high-level technical, tactical and physical training through close interaction with professional trainers, instructional demonstrations, skill contests, drills and footwork curriculum that’s tailored to fit individual needs. Georgia Fitness Pro prepares athletes of all ages for the highest levels of competition.

Franklin McIntosh leads Georgia Fitness Pro’s soccer training experience. Franklin has experience playing at the professional level in the APSL, MISL, CISL and on the United States National Futsal Team. As a coach and educator, he is the owner and operator of Elite Indoor Soccer Academy. He’s served as assistant coach for the Silverbacks and the Harrisburg Heat (MISL). He’s served as the Program Staff Coach for the Georgia Olympic Development and as Director of Youth Super Y Program for Norcross Soccer Academy.

The Club and Georgia Fitness Pro have also teamed up to offer a limited-time promotion to Silverbacks supporters. Any supporter that shows their loyalty to the Silverbacks with a season ticket receipt, ticket stub or team apparel will automatically earn a 10 percent discount for any speed and strength class at Georgia Fitness Pro.

The Silverbacks open the NASL Spring Season on April 4 against the Indy Eleven at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. The club is offering a special Home Opener Gift Pack, which includes four general admission tickets for only $48 (savings of $32 from box office price) or four reserved tickets for only $68 (savings of $52 from the box office price). To purchase tickets, call the Silverbacks Ticket Office at 404-969-4900.

11:47 AM

U.S. Soccer

Calling all coaches, experience the Digital Coaching Center.

For the first time, coaches can earn a U.S. Soccer coaching license completely online.

Get yours now! dcc.ussoccer.com

11:46 AM

US Adult Soccer will stage the National Championships Series from July 14 through July 19, 2015 at Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach, VA.

We are happy to announce that the Veterans Cup registration is open. In the past few months we have been working on upgrading the tournament platform to register teams and communicate with players throughout the tournament via a mobile app.

We have also arranged for a back-up facility in Williamsburg in case of inclement weather. We hope these enhancements will further improve everyone's experience with this tournament.

Just like last year, we'll be managing the division sizes. Teams registering after a division is full will be placed on hold until there's a sufficient number of teams to form an additional group or an even division. This is done to optimize schedules and avoid uneven team brackets.

Click here to register.
Early bird registration pricing runs until March 15.

More information on the National Championships Series can be found here.

1:39 PM

NEW FOR YOUTH ALL-STARS! LOOKING FOR MORE AFTER THE SEASON IS OVER? Georgia Soccer is hosting a Recreational All-Star tournament in May.  There are players that work especially hard and deserve recognition, there are teams with a core group that want to go to tournaments but don't have enough to field a team - these, and others, are the All-Stars. This new tournament will provide the All-Stars a truly unique playing opportunity.  THE DETAILS: Leagues will choose how teams are formed - Leagues can form teams, can designate All-Star coaches to form teams or can let coaches form teams and enter on their own. Teams will be formed from registered players in your league. (*Affiliates with less than 500 members may combine with another Affiliate of less than 500 members to form teams.) Games will be played in the Metro Atlanta area. All-Star jerseys will be offered for sale to teams at low cost. Check out the All-Star website and talk with your League for information and details. Georgia Soccer All-Star Cup U10-U19 | Boys & Girls Rec Players ONLY Deadline: April 7  REGISTER NOW

8:23 AM

LAWRENCEVILLE — While he was being introduced to his new team, even before the official press conference, Chris Kouns had his name on the plaque outside his office.

Chris Kouns (left) was named head coach of the Georgia Gwinnett College women’s soccer team on Wednesday by Athletic Director Dr. Darin S. Wilson (right). (Special Photo)

#The Georgia Gwinnett College athletic department was definitely ready to announce its new women’s soccer coach.

#Kouns made his first official appearance with the media at the Grizzlies plush athletic complex Wednesday afternoon. Many of the school’s other head coaches were in attendance, including men’s coach Steve DeCou, as well as a few of Kouns’ new players.

#“We’ve been through an extensive national search,” athletic director Darin Wilson said. “We had, really, a quality field of applicants for this position. My feeling is that we have already assembled the best coaching staff in the country, bar none. So it was important for me, in our women’s soccer hire, that we did a great job with that as well.”

#GGC hired Kouns, an Atlanta native, with 22 years of coaching experience, including nine as a head coach.

#Kouns spent the last four seasons as the head coach at Division III Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and won three conference championships.

#In 2013, Capital University was a national semifinalist and Kouns was selected as the state’s coach of the year. He was also a finalist for the national coach of the year honors that season.

#“The (hiring) committee did extensive research on all of our applicants with phone interviews, as well as on-campus interviews,” Wilson said. “Today is the culmination of a lot of hard work over the last several weeks. It’s with great privilege and pleasure that I introduce Chis Kouns.

#“He’s been at virtually every level of college soccer, which is important to me. He’s been at the NAIA level and won. He’s been at the Division I level and won.”

#Kouns replaces Domenic Martelli, who guided the Grizzlies to a 34-17-4 record over the program’s first three seasons.

#“It was an opportunity to not only come home, but an opportunity be at a place where I really felt like my philosophy belonged and where I could really make an impact,” Kouns said. “This program is very young and it has a world of potential ahead of it. That’s something that’s extremely attractive — to help them get to the level that we’re already seeing with the (other) programs.”

#This is the first coaching change for the GGC athletic program and first on Kouns’ agenda is getting to know the team.

#“That team deserves the opportunity to expand and grow from where they’ve been,” he said. “At the same time, of course, we’re recruiting. You look at the needs of any program and we probably need to beef up a little bit in our goal scoring. But that’s also going to be a philosophy — and that’s going to be how we play.”

#Kouns admitted there’s always a certain amount of trepidation when a new coach is introduced to the players. His first chance to talk to the team came about an hour before the press conference.

#“I think, or I hope, the meeting went well,” Kouns said with a smile, looking at the players in attendance and getting nods of affirmation. “They’re worried about what the changes might bring.

#“But the message really was, ‘Here’s who I am. Here’s who this program is going to be. And I hope you will want to be a part of it and I hope you will see yourself within the core values of this program.’ Because if you do, we’re going to win.”

#Kouns, a graduate of Mars Hill, served as head coach for Division I Jacksonville University from 2004-08 and won the 2006 Atlantic Sun championship to advance to the NCAA tournament.

#He also has worked as an assistant at the University of Cincinnati, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgia State University and Samford University.

http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2015/feb/18/ggc-hires-kouns-as-new-women8217s-soccer-coach/

8:06 AM

Silverbacks Announce Partnership with Elite Futsal Georgia Atlanta kicks off Futsal frenzy for Georgia ATLANTA – The Atlanta Silverbacks announced the Club’s partnership with Elite Futsal Georgia – a member of U.S. Youth Futsal. The historic announcement teams Atlanta’s only professional soccer club with the state’s only Futsal League affiliated with U.S. Soccer and U.S. Futsal. Elite Futsal League strives to achieve the highest level of professionalism, the highest quality programing and the best overall experience for all participants in Georgia. Elite Futsal Georgia offers strategic plans to implement winter, spring and summer leagues to develop teams and participants in one of the nation’s fastest growing activities. Futsal is played in more than 100 countries with 12 million registered players. U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Development Academy have mandated futsal as a component of their player development initiative. Futsal offers more touches on the ball, more movement without the ball, a faster technical speed of play, better foot skills and high-scoring games. Elite Futsal Georgia aims to bring youth Futsal leagues, youth futsal tournaments, futsal development programs for youth players and camps and clinics while all players, coaches and referees are insured. The Silverbacks open the NASL Spring Season on April 4 against the Indy Eleven at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. The club is offering a special Home Opener Gift Pack, which includes four general admission tickets for only $48 (savings of $32 from box office price) or four reserved tickets for only $68 (savings of $52 from the box office price). To purchase tickets, call the Silverbacks Ticket Office at 404-969-4900. Elite Futsal Georgia offers the following: Georgia’s only affiliated league with U.S. Youth Futsal and U.S. Soccer Youth futsal leagues and youth futsal tournaments Futsal Development Programs for youth players Winter, Spring and Summer futsal camps and clinics All players, coaches and referees are insured USYF Futsal Coaching Courses – Level 3 and 4 Elite Futsal League strives to achieve the highest level of professionalism and programing while providing the best overall experience for all participants. Why Futsal? Futsal is the only indoor game sanctioned by FIFA. Futsal is recognized as a form of indoor soccer that offers: Better Skills Development - Futsal promotes quality touches Safer - Futsal eliminates the injuries associated with wall collisions and turf toe Less Expensive - Futsal makes quality soccer more affordable More fun – Its high-scoring, constant excitement Futsal Has it All! Brazil is among the many nations that swear by it. Think Ronaldinho! Think Marta! Two of the greatest players in recent years attribute their development and success to their formative years spent playing futsal. History’s greatest players like Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Xavi and Neymar all credit futsal for much of their skill and technique development. U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Development Academy mandate futsal as a component of their player development initiative. It forces players to develop skills, including: More touches on the ball Better foot skills More movement without the ball Quick decision making Technical speed of play High-scoring games Constant excitement Futsal I.D. Programs The U.S. Youth Futsal I.D. program is designed to identify and develop elite players in the most challenging and competitive environments possible. Selected players are invited to attend the futsal camp in their region. Participants receive multiple training sessions and training matches under the leadership of U.S. Men’s National Futsal Team head coach Keith Tozer and U.S. Youth Futsal regional staff coaches. Top players from each Futsal I.D. camp are invited to participate in the U.S. Youth Futsal National I.D. Camp, where teams in each age group represent their region during multiple days of training while competing in matches against the other regions. The best of the best are selected for the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team. Assembling the best futsal players to train and compete under the guidance of Tozer and staff assures the absolute highest level of futsal development possible.   Futsal I.D. is available to boys and girls born 1997-2004.   Coaches recommend qualified players – players may not sign themselves up.   Players may only attend the Futsal I.D. camp in their region. Elite Futsal Georgia – Franklin McIntosh USA Futsal CONCACAF gold medalist Franklin McIntosh boasts years of experience as a player and a coach. He brings a United States Youth Futsal Coaching License, USSF National A License and a USSF National Youth License to Elite Futsal Georgia. As a player, McIntosh won the 1996 CONCACAF gold medal in Guatemala City with the United States. The team qualified for the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Segovia, Spain. McIntosh also competed for the U.S. in the 1998 Futsal World Championships in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. For more information about Elite Futsal Georgia please emailelitefutsalgeorgia@gmail.com or visit our website atwww.elitefutsalgeorgia.com.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EliteFutsalGeorgia.

7:52 AM

Sick of the playing in the cold? Indoor 5v5 Pickup Futsal Soccerfest is organizing Wednesday night pickup 5v5 Futsal for adults inside the rec. center at Briarwood Park in Brookhaven, Cost is $2 to play from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. First pick up game is Wednesday 2/11 Come join us for some Futsal and Fun!

Briarwood Park Rec. Center 2235 Briarwood Way NE Brookhaven, GA 30319 More info contact: info@atlantasoccerfest.com

8:58 AM