Letter: 'Thank You' for Another Successful Youth Soccer Season

To the editor:

After nine weeks, more than 50 soccer teams (500+ players) finished their final week of play last weekend. On a picture-perfect Saturday morning, soccer players and their parents celebrated with cupcakes, certificates and high-fives all around! The youth that played this year were "All In!" and learned the fundamentals of soccer, sportsmanship and teamwork. The evolution of the league throughout the course of the season is always fun to watch—from the first few weeks of uncertainty, to that last game where each team is functioning as a cohesive unit and working together.

The Youth Recreation Soccer League has evolved over the years and has grown into a true community sport. This year, through a partnership with local businesses and organizations, the Recreation Department was able to maintain its low fees for participation. Through team sponsorships, parent volunteers and collaborative community efforts, Moorestown youth were offered a full season of soccer instruction and competition. Starting in the pale light of evening, the soccer fields at Jeff Young Park were filled with soccer teams all week long in preparation for Saturday’s games. Watching more than 100 soccer players under the lights each night was a sight to behold.

A tremendous “thank you” to the sponsors of the 2013 Youth Recreation Soccer League: Archer & Greiner, Batastini Orthodontic Group, Carl's Shoes, CLC Locksmiths, Esposito DMD, Joan Delaney, Live Civilly, MJ Corp, MooreKids, Ralph's Market, Sean Fischel Connect, Wing King and Workman's Bike Center. The support of these organizations through team sponsorships were instrumental in helping the Department of Parks and Recreation maintain its low fees for participation. For sponsorship information, please contact the department at 856-914-3093.  For a listing of winter programs, visit www.moorestownrec.com.

For more than 30 years, the Department of Parks and Recreation has offered the Youth Recreation Soccer League as one of its core programs. Over the years, tens of thousands of children in Moorestown have broken in their cleats through the intramural style play of the Recreation League. What an amazing thought! Each year, the league grows and continues to offer youth who want to learn and play soccer an opportunity to do so. Again this year, the department partnered with local professional referees in order to maintain and further develop its "learning league" objectives. Many of the league's young referees are working toward their professional referee certification. This process of using professional referees who train and mentor these young people is another partnership the Recreation Youth Soccer League has developed to help prepare young people for the next step in their soccer careers.

As the last leaves fall from the trees, another soccer season comes to a close. Many thanks to the individuals and organizations that made the 2013 Youth Recreation Soccer League season a success from start to finish. A HUGE “thank you” to the players and their parents for their participation—from the soccer kickoff, which raised more than 1,000 pounds of food for the Live Civilly/Moorestown Ministerium Food Pantry, to the hours of practice and play and to the final games last weekend.

Have a wonderful winter! See you next season!

Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation

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