Norfolk SharX News Release -- www.norfolksharx.com
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Norfolk SharX, a Major Indoor Soccer (MISL) League team, will kick off its inaugural season in the Norfolk Scope this coming November, playing high profile teams such as the Baltimore Blast and Milwaukee Wave. On Tuesday, July 19th, during a press conference at Norfolk Scope the team announced its new head coach and upcoming tryout schedule. 
Northern Ireland native, Jon Hall, will lead the team. Hall made his debut coaching in the USL in 2006 with the Virginia Beach Submariners, leading them to a Mid-Atlantic Divisional regular season title his first year at the helm with a 10-5-1 record. Named 2007’s Premier Development League Coach of the Year while coaching the Hampton Road’s Piranhas, Hall led his 2007 team to a regular season 14-0-2 record, finishing as the PDL’s only undefeated team, also setting a PDL record with 10 consecutive shutouts along the way.
As a youth player in England, Hall played with Watford FC, making appearances for the Full Academy and Reserve teams while a full-time high school student. He made his U.S. debut playing college soccer at American University, where he was an All-Conference pick all four years. As an attacking midfielder, he scored 30 goals in his career. He was named All-South Atlantic Region in 1990. After graduation, Hall signed as a professional with Millwall FC in England.
Hall’s professional playing career in the United States included time with the Hampton Roads Hurricanes and the Richmond Kickers, where he played every minute of every game for two years during their U.S. Open Cup and USISL Championship seasons. In 1998, he was team captain of the Virginia Beach Mariners. Hall holds a USSF A license and a UEFA B license, and is on the Virginia Youth Soccer Association State Education Staff. He has been a Virginia State ODP Head Coach and is the Southeast District ODP Director of Coaching. He currently coaches for Beach FC. He has been the Athletic Director of Baylake Pines School in Virginia Beach since 1995.
Hall also announced upcoming tryout dates. Tryouts will be held at Norfolk Scope on September 9th & 10th and October 1st & 2nd.. Interested players can register and find out more details at www.NorfolkSharX.com.
MISL-style indoor soccer was introduced to the American public in 1978 as a high-powered, fast-paced game. The MISL began as a six-team league with charter franchises in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and began play on December 22, 1978 when the New York Arrows defeated the Cincinnati Kids, 7-2, in front of 10,386 fans at the Nassau Coliseum. During the next few years expansion franchises were granted, sellouts were the norm and by the start of the 1982-83 season, the MISL was operating as a coast-to-coast league with 14 teams that stretched from Baltimore to Los Angeles.
Now, 33 years later, indoor soccer remains one of the fastest, most action-packed fan-friendly professional sports in the country. The 2011 MISL Championship Game between the Milwaukee Wave and Baltimore Blast was played in front of a near sellout crowd of more than 10,000 fans. The Major Indoor Soccer League has always, and will always, strive to provide family-friendly affordable entertainment throughout North America. Every MISL team works hard to become a stronghold in the community, with school programs, summer soccer camps and player appearances and the league, the teams and the players are dedicated to the growth of soccer, from the youth leagues to the professional game. The Norfolk SharX will be a welcomed asset to both the Hampton Roads sports scene and the overall community.
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For any additional information on the Norfolk SharX, including sponsorships to promote your business to the affluent Indoor Soccer fan, please call the Norfolk Sharx office at 757-419-3317 or email info@NorfolkSharX.com.