He added that he believes it important that
the university help the youth leagues develop
future players, as well. That’s why he and his
team will conduct free clinics and camps during
the summer for kids ages 5 to 18 through the
Central Illinois Soccer Academy. “That helps us
give back to our community while boosting our
brand,” he said.
Another big reason for the continuing growth
in soccer popularity is generational, said Dan
Daly, president of FC Peoria, the largest youth
soccer organization in the region. By that he
means kids who grew up playing soccer in the
1980
s and 1990s are now the parents of youth
soccer players.
“
Parents of the kids playing today understand
the game better because they grew up playing it,
even before it gained any real popularity. They
now are getting their kids involved and mak-
ing them realize how fun and competitive it is,”
Daly said.
He first became involved in soccer in 1980
when a co-worker at that time became coach of
a grade school soccer team and asked Daly to
assist him. “My first question to him was, ‘how
many kids are on the field at once?’ That tells
you right there how much I knew about soccer,
or didn’t know rather. But I learned the game
and really enjoy it,” he said.
Daly eventually began coaching himself, but
quit doing that so he could lead the FC Peoria
organization and increase awareness of the pro-
gram and get even more involvement in youth
soccer. The organization hosts tournaments
during the year, including the Mid America
Shootout scheduled for the last weekend of Sep-
tember at FC Peoria’s home complex, the Green
Chevrolet Complex in Mossville.
“
We push the fact that boys and girls both can
play, that soccer is pretty easy to organize and
isn’t very costly. I think we probably have more
girls playing in our league now than boys,” he
said.
Many do eventually play for their junior high
teams and want to play for their high schools.
“
The success of a lot of the high schools around
here, both for boys and girls, has raised aware-
ness of soccer, as well. We’ve seen growth in
summer camps, in the parochial leagues. It is be-
coming the sport of choice for a lot of athletes,”
Daly said.
FC Peoria is now forming a new program that
will get underway this fall, he added. It’s called
TOPSoccer and it is specifically for children with
disabilities or special needs. Registration started
in August.
THE PRESENT
PHOTO BY MITCH INSKEEP
SARAH ZOZ, #15, AND MADDIE MILLS, #3, SENIORS ON
THE PEORIA NOTRE DAME GIRLS SOCCER TEAM IN 2012,
PREPARE TO ADVANCE THE BALL IN A GAME LAST SPRING.
26
THEPEORIAN.COM
