SECAUCUS, N.J. - The New York Red Bulls proudly announced that Stamford has become a "Student of the Game" partner for the 2007 season.
"We are happy to announce that Stamford has signed on again this season as our first Connecticut Student of the Game Partner for 2007. We look forward to working with Bob Pepi and the club with great soccer events to be held at their fields as well as at Giants Stadium." said Red Bulls Director of Sales and Fan Services Richard Searls. "We are also planning on announcing new partners in the coming weeks; however, due to the high volume of deliverables included in this program, we are limiting the number of Student of the Game Partners to just twenty."
Bob Pepi, the President of Stamford added, "As the first Connecticut club to become a "partner," we experienced the growing problems associated with any new program during our first year, but I am happy to say that the Red Bulls staff has responded in such a positive way that I'm confident that this year will be even more successful. They have reacted in a creative and flexible way to address our concerns and we expect to send many more of our folks than the 600 who saw games last year. The people with whom we have been in contact could not be more helpful and willing to please."
The Student of the Game program is designed to provide youth soccer clubs in the tri-state area with a series of educational, motivational and inspirational benefits to assist players and also coaches and parents. The recruitment and retention of parent volunteers remains a challenge for most youth soccer organizations.
The "Student of the Game" program provides clubs with various tools aimed at assisting in this area. One aspect of the program is a special Club Outing at Giants Stadium for a Red Bulls home game. The purpose of this outing is to give youth players the opportunity to watch a game live, learn from professionals and provide parents an opportunity to meet each other in a social setting. The "Club Night Out" is the ultimate team-building event.
"The most significant missing link in the game understanding of most American youth soccer players is the lack of regular viewing of adult games in person. It leaves important gaps in their game awareness," said Pepi. "Games on TV are great, but the camera leaves out so much that occurs away from the ball. The best remedy in my mind is to go to high level professional games and national team games. I can't tell you how the light went on in my head while I watched my first professional match in person at Giants Stadium. So many things suddenly came into focus for me."
Through this partnership, a member of the Red Bulls coaching staff will travel to Stamford to lead the club's coaches through a clinic and give them tips on game strategy and team tactics. The Red Bulls will assist soccer clubs with their fundraising efforts throughout the season and organize sportsmanship clinics designed by specialists to help create players who are successful both on and off the field.
Additionally, players, coaches and parents from the Stamford Soccer Club will be able to develop personal relationships with Red Bulls players through player appearances at their respective home fields.
"We are very much looking forward to bringing several high level coaching clinics to Stamford, as well as some players of stature. As a window into southern Connecticut we hope to act as a test club for the surrounding towns and want to be a spokesman for the Red Bulls in our end of the state," said Pepi.
For more information on the Student of the Game program, please contact the New York Red Bulls at 1-877-RBSOCCER.
