CHICAGO - Much like the Fire's senior team, the Chicago Fire Youth Development Program, leading the way in youth development within Major League Soccer, played into the month of November and shows no signs of slowing heading into the winter months. Fire Juniors youth teams from Chicagoland to Michigan brought home awards and top-place finishes in a number of leagues and tournaments during the fall season, and the Fire Youth Development Program will continue to keep busy through its Fire Academy Winter supplemental training program, which begins at two sites in Chicagoland in January.
Fire Academy Winter Training to Kick Off in January at Up to Four Chicagoland Sites
The Chicago Fire Youth Development Program is excited to announce that it will once again be offering its Fire Academy Supplemental Training Program for U10 through U16 aged players in several Chicagoland city and suburban neighborhoods for the 2006 Winter season. Locations for the winter phase of training for the "City" and "North" groups have been set, while locations for the Fire Academy's "West" group and the first-ever "South" program are still being finalized and will be made available in the upcoming weeks.
The Chicago Fire Academy aims to provide developing players from Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana a professionally directed and managed year-round program that is designed to assist in the advancement of soccer excellence. The Fire Academy develops players based on the values and principles of the Chicago Fire through the fostering of good citizenship, interaction with players and coaches and the setting of high standards of behavior. Founded in the summer of 2001, the Academy works in conjunction with the area's top youth soccer clubs to supplement the training that the area's best players are currently receiving throughout the year.
"Connecting professional soccer to player development in a meaningful way is essential to accelerate the level of play in the United States," said Roland Hahn, Director of Youth Development for the Chicago Fire. "The vision and commitment of the Chicago Fire is to launch comprehensive programs to assist in the process of player development."
Locations, dates and times for all four age groups at the "City" and "North" Fire Academy sites are listed below. For more information on the Fire Youth Academy - including registration forms, program fees, scholarship availability, up-to-date training schedules and practice cancellation updates - or the Fire Youth Development Program, please visit click on the "Fire Academy" link in the Youth Development section of www.Chicago-Fire.com or contact Roland Hahn at 312-705-7212 or
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Fire Youth Academy Winter 2006 Schedule
(Subject to change)
"North" Training Site - Prairie Lakes Community Center in Des Plaines, IL (515. E. Thacker St.)
U-10 & U-11/12: Sundays from 6:00-7:30 p.m. - January 8, 15, 22 & 29; February 12, 19 & 26; March 5
U-13/14 & U-15/16: Sundays from 7:30-9:00 p.m. - January 8, 15, 22 & 29; February 12, 19 & 26; March 5
"City" Training Site - Mercy Home in Chicago, IL (1101 W. Adams St.)
U-10 & U-11/12: Fridays from 7:00-8:30 p.m. - January 13, 20 & 27; February 3, 10 & 24; March 3 & 10
U-13/14 & U-15/16: Fridays from 8:30-10:00 p.m. - January 13, 20 & 27; February 3, 10 & 24; March 3 & 10
"West" and "South" Training Sites - TBA
Three Fire Juniors Players Named to All-State All-Academic Team
The Chicago Fire Juniors would like to congratulate three of its members for being named among the 133 players from 70 schools on the 2005 Boys All-State All-Academic teams - Bradley Clark (All-Academic Team), Will Poczekaj (Special Mention) and Jason Vanderveen (Honorable Mention). This year's All-Academic Team of 23 student-athletes was honored at the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State Banquet on Nov. 17 at the Diplomat West in Elmhurst, IL and will also be recognized during a halftime ceremony at a future Chicago Fire home contest in the team's new stadium in Bridgeview next summer.
CFJ Teams Show Well in Tournament and League Play
Several Chicago Fire Juniors squads made successful runs in tournaments across the country during the month of November. In the BFC Metro Fall Classic from Nov. 4-6 in Belleville, IL, the CFJ's U16 Girls Red squad took home the first place trophy after going a perfect 4-0-0 in the competition. Two CFJ teams also took home top honors at the MC United College Showcase Shootout in St. Louis, MO from Nov. 11-13, with the U17 Girls Red taking first place with a 4-0-0 record and the U12 Girls Red earning the top spot after going 2-1-1. The Chicago Fire Juniors and West Michigan Fire Juniors teamed up to field a strong side for the CASL Showcase and Shootout in Raleigh, NC from Nov. 18-20, with the squad going an impressive 2-1-0 despite never playing together as a team prior to the competition, which featured over 80 teams from across the country in the U18 division.
During the fall portion of the Northern Illinois Soccer League, regarded as the top youth league in the state of Illinois, the CFJ U13 Girls Red placed first in the Girls Gold Division, while the U9 Girls Red (Girls Gold Division) and U9 Boys Red (Boys Gold North Division) finished their campaigns in second place. In Illinois Women's Soccer League play this fall, the CFJ U14 Girls Blue side finished atop the Girls DW Division, while the U13 Girls White (Girls CW Division) and U14 Girls (Girls CW Division) both finished in second place in their groups.
Chicago Fire Juniors Fall Team Recaps
Girls U11 Red - After overcoming two injuries and playing half of the season with only two subs, the Girls U11 Red team managed an overall NISL record of 14-4-4, while placing in 3rd place in the Girls Club Gold Division, netting 56 goals. The U11 Reds also placed first in two tournaments and second in another, while being ranked fourth overall in their age group in Illinois and 44th nationally.
Girls U13 White - Going 12-1-1 overall and 8-1-1 in league play, the Girls U13 White team tied for the title, just losing the tiebreaker on goals against. In tournament play, the U13 Whites didn't give up a goal in four games (6 goals for and 0 against), while scoring 25 goals for and 5 against for the season.
Girls U16 Red - The Girls U16 Red team posted an 18-4-2 overall record and 3-3-2 in league play, while scoring 23 goals and finishing in fifth place. The U16 Reds won an outstanding four tournament championships, recording a 15-1-0 record while outscoring its opponents 55-8. Averaging 3.4 goals a game, the U16 Reds scored 78 goals across tournament and league play for the season.
Boys U14 White - The Boys U14 White team finished with a 12-8-2 overall record and 49 goals scored, going 6-3-1 to finish third in league play. The U14 Whites made it to two tournament finals, winning one championship and losing the other in penalty kicks.
West Michigan Fire Juniors Loses One Of Its Own
It is with great sadness that the West Michigan Fire Juniors (WMFJ) announces the death of one of its players, Mike Herman. Mike tragically lost his life in a car accident in the Grand Haven, MI area on Nov. 16. Mike was 15 years old.
"Mike was a very special young man, and a very talented soccer player," said WMFJ President Brock West. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Herman family at this time."
Ten WMFJ Teams Take Home Top Prize in League Play
The West Michigan Fire Juniors are proud to announce that ten of its teams were division winners in the Grand Valley Soccer Association's (GVSA) 42 leagues during the recently completed Fall 2005 season. The winners are: U9 Girls (Yellow Division), U9 Girls (White Division), U10 Boys (White Division), U10 Girls (Yellow Division), U12 Boys (Yellow Division), U13 Girls (Elite Division), U12 Boys (U13 Yellow Division), U14 Boys (Elite Division), U16 Girls (Blue Division) and U17 Girls (Blue Division). In all, the WMFJ had 47 teams competing in 31 different leagues, making it the most represented - and successful - club in the GVSA.
Chicago Fire Juniors - Elm Grove Earns Accolades
Things are looking up for the Chicago Fire Juniors newest affiliate, Elm Grove Soccer Club of Elm Grove, WI, whose teams garnered several tournament accolades and boasted successful league seasons in its first year of association with the Fire Youth Development Program. The Elm Grove U12 Boys Academy went undefeated in the Wisconsin Premier League this season, while the U13 Boys Academy team won the Mequon (WI) Dhaliwal Cup. The U12 Girls Academy side won the Neenah (WI) Flatgrass Tournament while the U13 Girls Academy squad placed second in the Wisconsin First Division League, helping the team earn promotion to Premier League next season. The U13 Girls Select squad won first place in the Wisconsin A League and will be promoted to the First Division League, while the U14 Girls Academy team came in first in the Midwest Regional League First Division. In Waukesha, WI, the U14 Girls Select squad was crowned the Augustfest tournament champions, while the U17 Girls Select took second place in the Wisconsin First Division League and will also be promoted to the Premier League for the 2006 season.
