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South Coast Soccer City Press Releases
September 30th, 2011
U.S. Futsal National Team sets up training HQ at Torrance facility
By Nick Green Staff Writer The Daily Breeze
Posted: 9/30/2011 10:15:22 AM PST
Soccer City just became a futsal town.
Known by that nickname for years by Torrance boosters, South Coast Soccer City borrowed it when the indoor facility opened in a converted warehouse on Maple Avenue two years ago.
Now the U.S. Futsal National Team has adopted the community where the American Youth Soccer Organization was founded almost 40 years ago, deciding to open its training headquarters here.
This week the team opened its first training camp at 73,000-square-foot Soccer City, which boasts seven futsal courts, including a large one that meets international requirements. The team had previously used makeshift practice facilities playing on everything from concrete to tiles.
"This is a great facility," said Coach Keith Tozer, a former Redondo Beach resident who coached the Inglewood-based Los Angeles Lazers indoor soccer team back in the 1980s.
"It's probably the finest futsal facility I know of in North America," he added. "It's appropriate that the writing on that wall reads `Write the future.' This is the cusp of what can happen in this country."
Moreover, four of the 20 players on the national team have played futsal at Soccer City, including two from Torrance - starting goalkeeper Ryan Oster, 21, a 2008 graduate of West High School, and his roommate, 22-year-old Caio Gesualdi, a Brazilian transplant who attended North High School.
The players were selected from an identification camp held shortly before the national team opened its weeklong camp, which is the first time the team has gotten together in two years.
That puts the United States, which is preparing for next year's Futsal World Cup in Thailand, well behind many other countries that have professional futsal leagues and ongoing national team programs.
So the team is rebuilding, but Tozer was provided with another pleasant surprise when he began to look at players for a World Cup qualifying tuneup tournament later this month in Brazil.
Instead of taking more mature professional indoor or outdoor players and introducing them to lesser-known futsal - a massive handicap - he saw young players who had grown up with the game.
In the case of the four who have played at Soccer City, it's in large measure because the facility exists that they are now on the U.S. national team.
"It's an amazing story," Tozer said. "They're living a dream. They are so enthusiastic and vibrant and coachable."
"To see these guys it was like `Wow, we've got a chance (at the World Cup),"' he added. "There's going to be a lot of futsal stars coming out of this building."
For those who don't know, futsal is essentially a slimmed down version of the outdoor game.
Instead of 11 players, there are five; instead of a large, outdoor grass field, a padded smaller, indoor court is standard.
But unlike uniquely American versions of professional indoor soccer that use boards like hockey, the ball can go out of play in futsal, which is played around the world.
Indeed, when co-owner Paul Higgins opened Soccer City two years ago, he did it in part so to improve the level of soccer skills among children, including his own son.
Because there are fewer players and the playing surface is smaller than in outdoor soccer, participants get more touches on the ball and have to learn to react quickly on the small court in a sport that is far faster and more high-scoring than the outdoor version.
"It's so compact it forces you to think quicker," said Lucas Stauffer , who at 16 is the youngest player on the national team. "You've got to have awareness and vision."
In fact, many outdoor players also play futsal to sharpen their skills.
If you can learn to adeptly pass and control the smaller ball used in the tight confines of a futsal court, the slower, more spacious outdoor game becomes even easier, conventional reasoning holds.
Higgins believes that's already becoming reality.
"We get a lot of Orange County kids who come to play in our leagues because they can see players from up here are getting better than them," Higgins said. "We're making them better outdoor soccer players because they play futsal."
And there are not many sports where amateurs use pretty much the same facility an elite national team does.
But that's the case at Soccer City, where about 2,000 players play on some 200 teams in men's, women's and coed leagues. The leagues are just beginning their fall seasons.
But for some recreational players like Torrance's Oster, who also coaches and referees at Soccer City, their pastime is about to turn serious.
If he makes the U.S. roster as expected, he'll be on a flight on his 22nd birthday en route to Miami, where the team will congregate before heading to Brazil.
"It was honestly a shock," he said of making the national team. "I haven't seen this level of play at Soccer City before."
September 12, 2011
South Coast Soccer City welcomes our newest sponsor, ‘Buffalo Wild Wings’
‘Buffalo Wild Wings’ kick off their sponsorship at Soccer City with a Mini World Cup, September 17
TORRANCE, Calif. (Sep. 12, 2011) – Soccer City is proud to announce a sponsorship with ‘Buffalo Wild Wings’ in Torrance.
“Our concept is to serve Buffalo-style wings in one of our 14 signature sauces. We are a sports bar with a full menu served in a relaxed atmosphere. Here EVERY seat is the best seat for the big game. How could it not? Catch all of the games on one of our 60 big screen TVs. Come in, relax, and stay as long as you like”.
We are kicking off our partnership on September 17th with a Mini World Cup Tournament, sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings. It is a Men’s and Co-Ed tournament, with the winner of each division receiving $150 credit toward Fall Season fees at Soccer City, t-shirts and a trophy.
Buffalo Wild Wings will be hosting a post tournament party at their Torrance sports bar where participants can sit and enjoy food and drink specials on a reserved private patio.
Buffalo Wild Wings is located at the Del Amo Fashion Center, 3525 West Carson Street, Suite 163, Torrance, CA 90503 (p) 310-542-3400
August 4, 2011
South Coast Soccer City to Host U.S. Futsal National Team in September
By Nick Green Staff Writer The Daily Breeze
Posted: 8/23/2011 10:35:18 PM PST
First-Class Indoor Soccer & Futsal Facility to Host Identification Camp Sept. 12-15, followed by Official Training Camp Sept. 24-Oct. 1
TORRANCE, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2011) – U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Futsal National Team will stage an elite player identification camp from Sept. 12-15 at South Coast Soccer City in Torrance, Calif.
South Coast Soccer City is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the sport of Futsal. The facility is housed in a 73,000 square-foot building in Torrance with five Futsal fields, including an international size field, and will also host the U.S. Futsal National Team from Sept. 24 to Oct. 1 in their first official training camp of 2011.
The ID camp from Sept. 12-15 has been designed to identify the top Futsal players in the country, with an eye toward strengthening the U.S. team that will attempt to qualify for the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand.
The camp will serve as an introduction to the highest standard of Futsal within the U.S. and therefore space is extremely limited and will be by invitation only. Players selected to attend the ID camp will have a chance to become part of the team's player pool and to compete at the highest level of the sport in the United States and potentially against the world's best national teams.
“We are very excited about our first ever National ID Camp for our U.S. Futsal National Team," said longtime U.S. head coach Keith Tozer. "This ID camp is extremely important in identifying the upcoming Futsal talent in the United States as we prepare for our CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup. We are also very proud to be able to utilize such an amazing facility for Futsal in Soccer City in Torrance. It's a great place to call home not only for the ID camp, but for our upcoming full national team training camp as well.”
Following the U.S. Futsal Team's two camps at South Coast Soccer City, Tozer will select a roster that will represent the United States at the 2011 Grand Prix of Futsal, an elite annual international tournament taking place in Brazil from Oct. 14 to 24.
December 22, 2009
Soccer players getting kick out of Torrance's new indoor facility
By Nick Green Staff Writer The Daily Breeze
Posted: 12/17/2009 06:15:18 PM PST
The pulsating bass line of the Silversun Pickups' hit "Lazy Eye" seemed to mark the rhythm of dribbling soccer players as they shimmied across the blue fields of Torrance's South Coast Soccer City.
This is soccer with a rock 'n' roll kick.
Touted as Southern California's first state-of-the-art facility for futsal, as indoor soccer is known, the Maple Avenue venue has just opened its doors to the delight of South Bay soccer players.
"I was in awe," said Redondo Beach resident Shelly Marsden, who coaches an under-14 girls team for the South Bay Force soccer club. "This is going to have an amazing impact on the youth of this area."
As Marsden spoke, dozens of soccer players in a variety of age groups scrambled across some of the seven fields at the former shipping facility against the booming backbeat of rock music from the sound system.
Built at a cost of more than $800,000, South Coast Soccer City is the brainchild of long-time soccer fans Paul Higgins, a Palos Verdes Estates resident and construction company owner, and Kevin Gilmore, who lives in Manhattan Beach.
"Everyone says it's about time somebody did this," Higgins said. "It's every soccer guy's dream to do this - we've pulled it off, that's the difference."
The men hope the Torrance facility is the first of a series they intend to open across the state.
The soccer venue was made possible in part by the downturn in the commercial real estate market, which made the landlords of the former 73,000-square-foot warehouse more amenable to alternative uses.
It also didn't hurt that Gilmore is a former executive with Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns Carson's Home Depot Center and one of the two Major League Soccer teams that plays there, the Los Angeles Galaxy.
It was Gilmore who was instrumental in bringing in Cobi Jones, the long-time former star of the team, as a hands-on investor. Jones will also conduct clinics.
But most importantly, Higgins and Gilmore saw a need in a traditional soccer hotbed for a facility that will take the strain off overused outdoor fields.
The tight confines of the relatively small indoor fields also are conducive to teaching ball-control skills that will benefit young players when they play outdoors.
Futsal is a five-a-side game played on a shock-absorbing surface with a softer ball than outdoor soccer. It's a faster, shorter game than the outdoor version with more scoring that demands players develop their ball-control skills.
"It's really quick and it's helping our players to quicken their touches and be more effective in their moves," said 13-year-old Shannon Simon of Torrance, the captain of Marsden's team.
All AYSO teams in the South Bay are being offered free use of a field for one hour this month as the facility gradually cranks up operations.
A variety of different-size fields means South Coast Soccer City will offer programs aimed at age groups from toddlers and their moms to adults seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The first eight-week-long leagues are scheduled to begin in January.
Prices per person on 10- to 12-player squads range from $50 to $75 for the season.
nick.green@dailybreeze.com
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November 18, 2009
American Soccer Icon Cobi Jones Joins Soccer City as an Owner and Advisor
Torrance Facility Set to Open in December
Torrance, California (November 18, 2009). US Soccer Icon and Los Angeles sports legend Cobi Jones has joined South Coast Soccer City as an owner, active advisor and promoter of Soccer City and its facilities, it was announced today by Kevin Gilmore, Socal Soccer City Holdings LLC’s President, and Paul Higgins, President of South Coast Soccer City, LLC (SCSC).
“Cobi brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion, not only to the game itself, but also how it relates to the Southern California youth players as they develop into future generations of professional players.” Higgins went on to say, “His passion for the game is unparalleled and his excitement for our concept was evident the first time we walked him through the building and described our plans. Cobi made it clear from the start that he had no interest in being a passive investor – he wanted to be actively involved in not only this first location, but also the growth of Soccer City in California and beyond.”
Jones, a veteran of Major League Soccer who played 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Galaxy (1996-2007) and is a three-time World Cup player for the US Men’s National Soccer Team with 164 appearances, will be involved in developing the programming and curriculum for youth programs. In addition, Jones, arguably one of the best American soccer players of all time, will host camps and clinics at the South Coast Soccer City facility, which is dedicated to the five-aside, skill infused soccer game known as Futsal.
“Small-sided soccer, or Futsal, is at the very core of the high skill level demonstrated by South American players and is critical in the development of young players from that continent, especially in Brazil,” said Higgins. “Soccer City will not only help address the lack of fields and playing opportunities for players of all ages in the region, but will help redefine the way young players develop their soccer skills by introducing them to a version of the game that emphasizes creativity, skills and ball control.”
“Futsal allows young players to learn soccer skills that include finesse, creativity, ball control, and so much more; all elements of the game that would greatly impact their success in the outdoor game,” said Jones, who currently serves as an assistant coach with the Galaxy. “I strongly believe that developing a network of facilities that promote small five-a-side soccer will revolutionize the way young soccer players develop in the US.”
Soccer City will open at a time when youth teams, and players of all ages in Southern California are seeing diminishing field availability and are faced with fewer playing and training opportunities. At the same time, youth soccer participation numbers keep growing.
About South Coast Soccer City:
South Coast Soccer City will be a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to indoor five-a-side soccer, a small-sided version of the game officially known as Futsal, and will be the first of its kind in Southern California. South Coast Soccer City recently signed a lease for a 73,000 square-foot building located at 540 Maple Avenue in the heart of Torrance and this will be the home of its facility. The newly refurbished space will accommodate five Futsal fields with modular flooring and two artificial turf fields. In addition, South Coast Soccer City will have a 4,000 square-foot performance training center focused on soccer-specific training, four rooms specifically designed and built for birthday parties and corporate events, a homework room for those on site, a café, and a 1,400 square-foot merchandise location.
Soccer City expects to open its doors to the public in December and the opening month will be dedicated to introducing soccer players to its facility and programming. Plans call for condensed adult leagues in December with full 8-week leagues commencing on January 3, 2010. Please visit us at www.scsoccercity.com
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November 3, 2009
SOUTH COAST SOCCER CITY
TO OPEN IN TORRANCE, CA
State-of-the-Art Facility to Open this December in Torrance, California
Torrance, California (November 3, 2009) – Socal Soccer City Holdings, LLC (SSCH) will open its first Soccer City™ location in Torrance, California, it was announced today by Kevin Gilmore, SSCH’s President, and Paul Higgins, President of South Coast Soccer City, LLC (SCSC).
South Coast Soccer City will be a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to indoor five-a-side soccer, a small-sided version of the game officially known as Futsal, and will be the first of its kind in Southern California. South Coast Soccer City recently signed a lease for a 73,000 square-foot building located at 540 Maple Avenue in the heart of Torrance, California, and this will be the home of Socal Soccer City Holding’s first facility. The newly refurbished space will accommodate five Futsal fields with modular flooring and two artificial turf fields. In addition, South Coast Soccer City will have a 4,000 square-foot performance training center focused on soccer-specific training, four rooms specifically designed and built for birthday parties and corporate events, a homework room for those on site, a café, and a 1,400 square-foot merchandise location. South Coast Soccer City will be the largest facility in the United States dedicated to indoor small-sided soccer.
“Small-sided soccer, or Futsal, is at the very core of the high skill level demonstrated by South American players and is critical in the development of young players from that continent, especially in Brazil,” said Higgins. “Soccer City will not only help address the lack of fields and playing opportunities for players of all ages in the region, but will help redefine the way young players develop their soccer skills by introducing them to a version of the game that emphasizes creativity, skills and ball control.”
Soccer City will open at a time when youth teams, young players and adult soccer players in Southern California are seeing diminishing field availability and are faced with fewer playing and training opportunities. At the same time, youth soccer participation numbers keep growing.
“Our goal from the outset was to find a location that was central and had the amount of space that would allow us to build a sufficient number of fields to meet the market needs. This location allows us to build seven fields so we can provide playing and training time for not only young players and adults, but also to create innovative toddler programs, Mommy and me programs, and other programs that enhance the soccer experience. The fact that we found a location in Torrance is an added bonus given the city’s strong soccer tradition and high youth participation levels,” said Gilmore.
Soccer City expects to open its doors to the public in early to mid December and the opening month will be dedicated to introducing soccer players to its facility and its programming. Plans call for condensed youth and adult leagues in December with full 8-week leagues commencing on January 3, 2010.
About Socal Soccer City Holdings:
Socal Soccer City Holdings, LLC, is a privately held company created to own and operate indoor soccer and Futsal facilities. South Coast Soccer City will be SSCH’s first facility and will set the benchmark for future Soccer City facilities. SSCH expects to begin exploring future locations shortly after the South Coast Soccer City location is opened and hopes to open additional Soccer City locations in Southern California and eventually look at expansion beyond California.
About Futsal:
The origin of Futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competition in YMCAs. The game is played on basketball-sized courts, both indoors and out without the use of sidewalls. Futsal is the only "Official” form of indoor soccer as approved by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Futsal is FIFA's official indoor soccer game which is, essentially, a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors. It is a five-a-side game played on a smaller field, roughly the same size as a basketball court. Unlike some other forms of indoor soccer, the game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines; walls or boards are not used. It is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, and up to seven substitutes per team. Futsal is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regulation soccer ball. The rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in a small space.
This is the game that outdoor soccer players around the globe play when they are indoors to refine and maintain their control skills and touch. In Futsal, players are constantly reminded to play the same quality control game that is required for success in the outdoor game, which develops the overall fundamentals of soccer more effectively. Because the sport is a great skill developer, demanding quick reflexes, fast thinking, pinpoint passing, and a four-second limit on all play restarts, it is an exciting game for children as well as adults. Great soccer superstars such as Pele, Zico, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, and Socrates grew up playing the game and credit Futsal with developing their skills.
Contact: Kevin Gilmore (310) 480-5697 ~ kevin@scsoccercity.com
Website: www.scsoccercity.com
Twitter: @SCSoccerCity
