Super Y-League Feature
Monday, August 27, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. - Detroit-based Force Football Club is in its first year in the Super Y-League and will send four of its 10 teams to the 2012 North American Finals this December in Bradenton, Florida at IMG Academy. And while this may be the club's first year in the league, Force FC is no stranger to success. The club has placed more than 100 players into collegiate programs and develops players from both a soccer and life skills perspective.
Force FC's U16 and U17 boys placed first in their divisions and the U17 girls finished second only on goal difference after the 2012 Midwest Division season came to an end earlier this month. The U14 girls also qualified and the four teams have one goal in mind: win.
With his club preparing for this December's national championships, Force FC Director of Coaching Danny Price shared his thoughts about the tourney and what we can expect from his teams.
It's the first year Force FC has competed in the Super Y-League. What has the season been like for your club?
The summer season has been a great reward to our players. The additional Midwest competition has provided a great platform for us to play on and continue to develop and use this experience as a measuring stick of where we need to go to make our club stronger on all levels.
What has the Super Y-League been able to provide the club and players in terms of development?
Super Y has been able to offer a great level of competition for us as a whole. We have brought in players from outside the club to compete with us and I believe they have improved as players this season as well. Ultimately, the summer season has allowed our fall soccer teams to start strong within their respective leagues and state cup in Michigan. This didn't surprise us at all and fully illustrates our point that Super Y is a great platform on which to develop.
Force FC is sending multiple teams to Bradenton in December. What are some of the things you're looking forward to while at the Super Y-League North American Finals?
Obviously being at IMG is a major draw for us as a club. The experience of coming to this type of an event is a major stepping stone for a lot of our players. The daily preparation, meetings, training sessions all heighten the excitement of being part of a major event. The Sarasota area is also a very beautiful place that provides a great family feel which we are hoping our families enjoy.
Having been to Bradenton in July for the Super-20 Finals, what have you told your players about getting to play at the world-class facilities of IMG Academy?
Having attended Super-20 nationals this past July, I myself am excited for the rest of our club to see what a first-class facility they are going to be playing at. Super-20 nationals was run with a great sense of organization and professionalism that we appreciated to the full extent. The fields are immaculate and give a very professional atmosphere to the event. We have told the players to enjoy it, not fear it, and soak up the environment as it’s a memory that lasts a lifetime.
With such a change in climate traveling from Michigan to Florida in December, how do you plan on keeping the players and teams in top shape before the Super Y-League Finals?
Our teams are currently preparing for and in some cases have already started their fall season. With the great summer of hot weather we have had it hasn't been too dissimilar from Florida. Our teams are playing good soccer right now and we have three months to prepare them for the finals of which we are very much looking forward to.
The SYL Finals are the reward of such a difficult season. How do you balance competition vs. vacation?
If you talk to our teams ‘vacation’ isn't a word they entertain. We are a competitive club with players who have great desire to win games and be recognized on a national level. They are fully focused on coming to nationals to WIN with the understanding that we will take one game at a time and play to our own expectations and beliefs, hopefully the results will take care of themselves.
The Force Football Club offers a youth soccer program designed to develop Metro Detroit soccer players to compete at the most competitive levels in the country.