User:Hodgeanj/Oakwood Soccer Club

=Oakwood Soccer Club=

The Oakwood Soccer Club is a co-ed premier soccer club based out of Glastonbury, Connecticut. Founded in 1989 by Rick Derella and Dave Farrell, Oakwood SC has now become a statewide powerhouse and competes at the Regional and National levels. Oakwood has produced several professional players like Pat Phelan and Johann Smith for teams such as the Western Mass Pioneers, Connecticut Wolves, and the New England Revolution.

Overview
Oakwood Soccer club is based out of Glastonbury, Connecticut. There are currently 24 teams at Oakwood. They have use of 12 soccer fields, including the use of fields in Berlin, CT, Simsbury, CT, New Britain, CT, and Manchester, CT. They host an annual tournament, they compete in the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy Program, as well as host an annual summer camp held at Wesleyan University in Middletown. At the Oakwood Soccer complex in Glastonbury, they have four indoor soccer fields used for indoor soccer leagues. They also provide a soccer shop and bar.

Oakwood Teams
Oakwood currently has 24 teams as of the latest tryouts. The age groups range from U8 through U18. The U14-U18 boys teams compete in the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy. Legally, teams under U16 are not part of the actual Academy, however, they are considered part of the Pre-Academy.

U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy Program
Created in 2007, this program is designed for the elite youth soccer players in the United States. In order for extremely dedicated and successful young players to be ready to compete at the next level, it is necessary for there to be a program that can supply this to these players. The Developmental Academy offers more competitive play, with games being played out of state as well as in state. The Program uses only U.S. Soccer certified referees, and each Academy team is evaluated at least ten times a year by a National Soccer coach. For the 2009-2010 season, 77 teams from all over the country will play in the Developmental Academy program.

Oakwood History
Oakwood has compiled a very impressive history since being formed in 1989. They had teams win the National Championships in 1989, 1991, and 2002. Since 1989, they had teams reach the Region 1 championships 13 times. Finally, since 1989 they have produced teams that have won the State Championship each year. From 2000-2003, each year Oakwood had 6 teams win the State Championship.

Oakwood Premier Invitational
Oakwood SC hosts an annual soccer tournament in the early spring called the Oakwood Premier Invitational. This tournament attracts the best premier soccer teams in the Northeast United States. Last year, the tournament included teams from New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Connecticut.