From Labor Day Tournament Champions to National Team Championships

Taylor Otto Called Back to U17 Women's National Team Camp

Taylor Otto ('96 CASL ECNL) is one of 26 players called up for the second-to-last U17 Women's National Team training camp before the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament. She is in Florida with the rest of the National Team preparing for the October 30- Nov. 9 Championships. The camp started on September 15 and will run through September 22.

Taylor Otto

The U17 Women's National Team is the defending champion of the competition, having defeated Canada 1-0 in the final in Guatemala during the last cycle. This year's tournament will feature the USA, Canada, Mexcio, host Jamaica, Central American qualifiers El Salvador and Guatemala, and two more Carribean nations to be determined. 

Taylor will be participating in an inner-squad scrimmage tomorrow night (September 20) as she continues to fight for a final roster slot on the tournament team.

CASL Representing in Tournaments Early in Season

Many CASL teams have already hit the tournament scene early on this season, and they are already leaving their mark. The U12 Nitro Boys participated in the DSC Rock Hill Classic last weekend and they came away with the championship. Head Coach Chris Dunn said "the team performed very well...the boys worked very hard to accomplish this...the greatest accomplishment of the boys was not giving up one goal during the tournament. This is a difficult task. The boys put 100% of their effort and functioned well as a team." 

Nitro Boys run across field to thank their parents

We are always happy to hear of teams who know what it means to work together as a team. CASL promotes teamwork among other positive traits, and we are fortunate to have dedicated volunteer coaches at the Recreation and Challenge level, like Chris Dunn, who are willing to promote positive youth sport participation and teach life lessons beyond what happens between the sidelines. Show your support for promoting positive youth soccer experiences by taking the Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports quiz and crediting your quiz point to CASL. Your participation can help CASL earn a $2500 community grant. The quiz is really easy (I've taken it!), and every vote counts. Don't forget to credit your quiz point to the Capital Area Soccer League and to verify your email address.

Nitro Boys with Gold Medal

Nitro player, Riley Shields

The weekend before, the U11 Elite Black North girls won 1st place in the Adidas Labor Day Shootout. The girls competed in the Platinum division for 4 games and finished with 17 goals. 

U11 Elite Black North

We're #1!

Vote and Volunteer for CASL!

I've only been employed with CASL since early June, buy since then I've seen and heard a lot that has made me proud to be a part of this organization. Whether it's club accomplishments from being a top 10 ECNL Club, team accomplishments for early-season tournament championships, stories of good sportsmanship (note: the Hamilton Sportsmanship Award night is THIS SATURDAY at the RailHawks Game!), or individual achievements - It's always nice to hear the stories that demonstrate what it means to be a part of the CASL family. 

Today was another one of those instances. I logged on to see where we stood in the Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Community Grant national competition. Yesterday, we were in 4th place with 17 votes. Today, we are at 71 credited votes as of 2:30pm, and we jumped up to 1st place in the large division! It's amazing to see the quick rally of the CASL family jump on an opportunity to help our entire organization. The top 5 organizations with the most votes at the end of November each win $2500. CASL is starting off on the right foot taking an early lead, but voting stays open for another 2.5 months so we have a ways to go! 

I encourage you all to Take the Quiz today, whether you are a coach, parent, or future parent. I took the quiz and I don't have kids, but it was a great reminder  about promoting responsible and positive youth sport experiences. Also, please share the link with friends and family. We can take it viral! I've just posted it to my personal Facebook page, and I hope that you all will reach out to your social networks. CLICK HERE to take the quiz. You may have to search for Capital Area Soccer League at the end of your quiz (which is really easy, by the way, and fail-proof). For the point to count for CASL, you'll have to verify your email address.

CASL has jumped up to #1 in the large division for the Community Grants. Quiz/Voting remains open through November - Take the Quiz Today!

Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet

CASL has launched a public sign up sheet for volunteer organization. If you are interesting in helping out with CASL's community outreach program, please visit our sign-up sheet to see available slots, time frames, locations, etc. We've had a few teams sign up as a group for Saturday morning time slots. This is a great way to earn community service hours or just give back to the game that we are all so fortunate to be a part of.

Help CASL win a $2500 Community Grant!

CASL Needs Your Help to win a $2500 Community Grant!

From now until November 30, YOU can help CASL win a $2500 Responsible Sports Community Grant from Liberty Mutual Insurance. This program is all about rewarding sport clubs who demonstrate a commitment to a Responsible Sports environment. This is a competition grant and is all about engaging YOU as a parent and/or coach. 

All you have to do is

1. CLICK HERE (for parents) or HERE (for coaches)
2. Read through some tips on how to maintain a responsible sports environment as a parent or coach
3. Take a short 10 question multiple choice quiz (I took it - it's really easy. It only takes one attempt and you get to change your answers until they are right)
4. Credit your quiz to Capital Area Soccer League - you may have to search for us!
5. Verify your email - this is key as we won't get the point until you verify your email address.

If you are a Parent AND a Coach - just pick one! You should then get an email that allows you to send it out to friends and family. It's simple - the club with the most votes wins. The only key rules are you have to be 18 years or older and only one submission per person/email address. These grant funds will allow CASL to serve you better and to help us fulfill our mission. 

I don't know if any of you have noticed, but CASL's mission statement recently changed. It now reads, The mission of CASL is to provide positive and high-quality instructional and competitive youth soccer opportunities at all levels of play that enhance character, community and the love of the game for a diverse membership of children ages 4-18 and their families across Wake County and to serve as a community partner to improving the quality of life in Wake County. 

A mission statement is the purpose of a company and outlines an organization's values. It is a reason for existence. Without it, CASL would not have a clear direction. The purposeful mission realignment of CASL is a way to get all of us on the same page. There are roughly 9,000 youth players in our club who we need to take care of across all divisions and ages of play. Additionally, parents and coaches deserve our attention as they are instrumental in allowing CASL to work toward achieving its mission. They help us fulfill our mission because they are on the front lines (or sidelines) of our players' experiences and are the foundation for a positive club experience and the associated positive youth development traits that we hope our players will take with them throughout their lives. 

Two U14  CASL teams (CASL WF United and CASL Pride) faced off against each
other in the Furniture City Classic Finals - players, parents, and coaches
supported a Responsible Sports environment by engaging in and supporting a
pre-game handshake between teams!

Parents and coaches are an extension of the CASL brand as we all represent this club on a day-to-day basis in conversation, carpool lines, on business trips, or travelling for soccer games on the weekend. Parents and Coaches are often the first sources of feedback and conversation with our players, whether it's at the pre-game breakfast meal at home, on the car ride to the game, during warm-up or half-time, a post-game chat, cheering from the sidelines, or the car ride home. These are just a few instances where parents and coaches play a pivotal role in the experience of young athletes.

It's still the beginning of the season, and this is a great time for a simple reminders about the small things we can do to promote a positive environment at CASL. Please join us as we compete for this nationwide competitive grant - we are competing for 1 of 5 $2500 grants for large sport clubs! 

College Captains from CASL

CASL is always excited to hear news that our former players earn leadership roles on their respective college teams. More often than not, players are voted on by their teammates and/or coaches to earn the spot of Captain. It's not an easy job as you have to earn the respect on and off the field from your peers. As a leader, you have to understand how to motivate a group of people toward a common goal, how to keep them motivated during a game, act on their behalf when a call is made, and be their advocate behind closed doors. You have to be an example on and off the field and inside the classroom. In some instances, a Captain may take the reigns of the team at a younger age, not just as a Senior, which means he/she has to lead people who are older than he/she is. Regardless, being named a Captain at the college level is truly an honor. I once had a professional who was reviewing my resume tell me never to downplay this role I had in college. 

People have shared with us that some former CASL ladies players are now Captains of their teams. We know that there are host of other CASL players in leadership roles, so please, share them with us. Or, tell us about involvement that you or your child has in college - perhaps he/she is collaborating in research with a professor or maybe he/she is dedicated to community service and travelling to another country for service. We want to know about it all: soccer and non-soccer stories. 

CASL Captains in College

Caitlin Shelton

I'm a little biased here as a former Furman Women's Soccer Paladin myself, but Caitlin Shelton ('91 CASL Elite Ladies) is captain of the Furman University Women's Soccer Team. Caitlin is a Senior this year at Furman, which is in Greenville, SC. The Paladins were recently tabbed as the preseason favorite in the Southern Conference in voting by the league's 11 head coaches. Caitlin along with four of her teammates were also named to the preseason All-SoCon team. It might just be coincidence, but Caitlin and I were the same number (#3) and played in same position... interesting! 

Katelyn Reeves

Katelyn Reeves ('92 CASL Elite) was recently named as co-captain by her Clemson University Tigers soccer teammates. Katelyn, who earned a starting role midway through her freshman year clearly earned the respect of her teammates and coaches as she started all 17 games as a sophomore in 2012. In a recent press release, Katelyn said, "It means the world to me to be voted by my teammates. To know that they look up to me as a leader just really means a lot. My most important role as captain will be to help keep the team together through the ups and downs of the season, and to be a leader, both vocally and by example, on and off the field." 

Haley Patsey

Lexi Miller

Haley Patsey ('93 CASL Elite Ladies) is the youngest of our Captain highlights. She is a sophomore at East Carolina University and was recently named as the ECU Pirates women's soccer team. She will join former CASL '91 Elite Girls player, Lexi Miller, who is the other team captain. Lexi is a rising Redshirt Junior at ECU who is coming off an injury from her sophomore season. ECU competes in Conference USA. They will open their 20th season as they travel to take on SoCon teams Davidson and Elon.

Meagan Proper

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has two former CASL standouts as Captains of the Spartans squad. Katie Durst and Ashley Stokes are two of the four captains for this years UNCG team. Last season, Durst helped anchor a back line that only allowed four goals in its last 10 games. She will be entering her final season with the Spartans. Stokes is entering her Junior year at UNCG. In her freshman season, she was selected to the Southern Conference All-Freshmen team. Last season, she appeared in 15 games making 12 starts for a squad that eventually brought home the SoCon regular season title. 

Meagan Proper ('90 CASL Elite) will return as Captain for the Wolfpack and lead the team in her final season. Last season, Meagan was the only player to start all 19 games. Meagan fought her way back from an injury plagued freshman year where she eventually earned a medical red shirt. Meagan, as with many of the other Captains highlighted here, is a role model on and off the field. Meagan was named to the ACC All-Academic team in Spring 2012.















Nicole Jewell ('91 CASL Elite Ladies) is

Nicole Jewell

entering her final season with the Northwestern Wildcats. She is coming off a Junior season where she played in all 19 games (starting 18) logging 1,225 minutes of game play. Northwestern's Coach Moynihan described Nicole and the other Captains by saying "all of them have good experience on the field and I think they are all players that the others look up to and respect. They walk the walk, they come prepared, they work hard and they've got the grit and determination that we're looking for....they are excellent role models across the board."

Scooter Oliver

The girls are not the only CASL players who are taking on leadership roles with their college teams. Scooter Oliver ('92 CASL Academy) is a team captain for the Campbell University Camels. Scooter was two year captain with his Academy team, and the skills he learned in that role have clearly carried over to the next level. Scooter is coming off a summer season with the U23 Carolina RailHawks team. You can catch Scooter and the Camels this week as they travel to NC State to take on the Wolfpack on Friday, August 30th. 

AJ Iames

AJ Iames ('93 CASL Elite Boys) is coming off a red-shirt sophomore season. Even with an injury, AJ has earned the respect of his teammates and will be leading the UNC Asheville Bulldogs as one of the captains this season. AJ will be a leader on the back line this year for the Bulldogs as they battle for the Big South Conference title.

Bo Burns

Bo Burns ('91 CASL Elite, '90 CASL Elite, U-16 Academy) will be taking the reigns of the Hampden-Sydney Men's Soccer team this season. Bo has been a starter for the last three seasons with the Tigers. He will anchor the back line and where he will be directing a young team - over half the team are incoming freshman. The Tigers will be hoping to make a return tot he ODAC Championship game this season as they did in 2010. 

JP Rafferty

Another addition the CASL Captains in College list is JP Rafferty ('91 CASL Elite; Academy) who is a Captain for the South Carolina Gamecocks.  JP is a Senior who has also excelled in the classroom. He has been consistently named to the SEC Fall Academic honor roll. JP, coming off a season where he started in 14 games and saw action in 16, will be turned to as a leader this year.   

Rain or Shine: Weekend Festivities Continue On

Saturday: RailHawks vs. NY Cosmos - FREE Nest Thermostat and installation giveaway courtesy of ARS / Rescue Rooter

The RailHawks will be taking on NY Cosmos on Saturday night at 7pm. It's also CASL Challenge night in the CASL Tower - click HERE to purchase your discounted CASL Tower tickets. Parents, put some trash bags and towels in your car in case of rainy weather at the game, but let's have fun cheering on the RailHawks as they try to hold on to their unbeaten record in league play at WakeMed Soccer Park ! I know I'll be there. 

Plus, any person that purchases a ticket in the CASL Tower and comes to the game is eligible to win a FREE Nest programmable WiFi thermostat and installation from new turf field and challenge division sponsor, ARS / Rescue Rooter. ARS / Rescue Rooter is the go to place for all your home comfort needs. The drawing will be held at the beginning of half-time! I will have the Nest thermostat and a certificate for free installation ready for you to take home after the game.

Have you ever seen one of these trucks around Wake County?
I know that I have - keep your eyes peeled for Dandy who is
always to the rescue of any heating, cooling, and plumbing needs!

Sunday: CASL Kick-Off & Ribbon Cutting to go on as Scheduled

A little rain never hurt anybody. We've all faced the rain in soccer whether as a player, parent, or coach, so a little threat of inclement weather on Sunday won't stop us! Plus, the chances of rain keep going down. We are right around a 30% chance of rain, and most of that will be scattered. 

CASL Recreation and Challenge coaches can pick up their team packets, and others can join us for the scheduled Ribbon Cutting at 3pm (Mayor McFarlane, Councilmember Odom, and our very own Charlie Slagle will be speaking) and the CASL Connection town-hall meeting at 4:30pm. CASL sponsor vendors will be stationed around the Eurosport Field, and small fields will also be set up for kids to enjoy. While this a time for coaches to pick up their team packets, all CASL players and families are welcome! 

Sunrise: 6:36 a.m.

Chance of precip: 30%

Wind: W at 5 mph

SUNDAY 82°

Mostly cloudy with a slight chance for some showers. Highs in the lower-mid 80s. Today is a much better day for outdoor plans as we expect a drier scenario with fewer showers around. With some brighter skies expected, we should see afternoon temperatures rise into the 80s.

Monday Morning Updates

WRAL Soccer Center Fields have CHANGED

Please be aware that the WRAL Soccer Center fields have changed. CASL has rotated Harris Teeter and Newcomb and Company Fields so there are two new additional grass fields as you exit the park on the right. As a result, field numbers have changed. New sponsors have come on board with CASL, so field names may also be different than you are used to. For example, ARS / Rescue Rooter Field is now the first turf field on your right (formerly Peace Camera & Nikon - which has been moved around the corner to a grass field). So, please, get familiar with the latest WRAL Soccer Center field game map and practice map. Both links are provided here. 

WRAL Soccer Center Practice Field Map

WRAL Soccer Center Game Map 

Turf Field Construction & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Of course, many of you are aware of the turf field changes already under way. The turf fields (soon to be new sponsors Powerade and Daly Seven Hotels fields) will be open in September. However, we will be holding a Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Sunday at 3pm. This will be in conjunction with the CASL Kick-Off which runs from 3pm - 6pm. The Ribbon Cutting will be on Eurosport field with the new construction as the backdrop. Mayor Nancy MacFarlane, City Councilor John Odom, and many others will be on hand to help with the soft opening of the fields. Our very own Charlie Slagle will be speaking on behalf of CASL. Following the Ribbon Cutting will be the first in a series of CASL Connection (town-hall) meetings where we will discuss the latest updates from CASL and provide opportunities for you to provide input and ask questions.

Timeline for Sunday, August 18 - CASL Kick-Off and Ribbon Cutting

3:00pm CASL Kick-Off Begins

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 

4:30pm: CASL Connection Town-Hall meeting (same location as ribbon cutting)

6:00pm CASL Kick-Off Ends

*Coaches will be able to pick up their Recreation and Challenge team packets from 3-6pm. All are welcome to attend and enjoy sponsor exhibits, watch the ribbon cutting, be part of the CASL Connection Meeting, and play small-sided games on fields set-up for soccer fun!*

Haven House and HEART Hold First Practice

I experienced my first CASL Community Outreach volunteer experience this Saturday, and it was a great way to start off my weekend. The first hour (8:30-9:30am) was a practice session run for youth who are part of Haven House Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. Haven House has been providing comprehensive services to youth and their families since the 1970s. They are a well-established non-profit who are always looking for positive outlets for youth in their programs. This particular programs is open for those youth who have an interest in learning more about the game of soccer - kids ranged in age from 6 to 15. I helped with the younger kids, where we started doing dribbling relays. Lindsay Vera, Marketing and Special Projects Manager at CASL, took all the kids through skills relay races - normal dribbling and sole roles. The kids, although already hot by 8:45am, were eager and excited to play. 

Haven House

The second session was reserved for CASL's HEART team. HEART serves youth with an interest in

learning the game of soccer who have an intellectual disability. There were close to 30 youth and young adults who came to kick off the season. I met some wonderful people and their families. You could tell that the players were excited to be reunited as well. Grace and Michael, two HEART athletes, were hugging and screaming because they were so excited to be back together on the soccer field. Laney and Mia, both dressed in their pink soccer socks, were both a little timid as they were waiting in line for their chance to go 1 v 1. But, as I engaged them in a few side passing drills, they both opened up and were giving high-fives all-around. During the scrimmage, I buddied up with a young girl named Bella - probably the happiest person I've met in a long time. She held my hand as we learned how to spread the field, call for the ball, and run up and down the field. Now at the beginning of the session, Bella, too, was a little shy about stepping out on the field with so many HEART players. However, about half way through, she was ready to "gallop" out of her shell and around the field. Every goal scored during the day received cheers from both teams and parents who were there supporting their kids. 

I really encourage each of you to take 2 hours out of your Saturday morning and volunteer for this session. The next combination of Haven House/HEART clinics will be on August 24th from 8:30-10:30am at Davis Drive Park in Cary. It is truly rewarding and fun. If you are a high school student who needs community service hours, this is a great way to get your required hours but making it not feel like a requirement. A lot of credit goes to Martin Rodriguez-Arispe who has grown CASL's community outreach program in a short time to have an impact on many different underserved populations. For more information or to volunteer, contact Martin Rodriguez-Arispe. 

CASL HEART

HEART

When I say "heart", what do you think of?

You might think of a the band Heart, and belting out "What about love" in your car. Or, you might think of the Start! Heart Walk that happens in the fall to raise awareness for cardiovascular disease. You might simply think about Valentine's Day or a simple heart illustration. Just now, having "heart" on my brain as I write, I'm even thinking about the Grinch and how his heart grew three sizes. 

There are plenty of associations with the word "heart," and I want to add one more association into the mix. If you have not heard already, CASL also has a HEART. It comes in the form of an outreach effort that targets youth (ages 7-18) with intellectual disabilities. Participants get to play soccer in a safe, structured environment at no cost to their families.

The HEART season is just around the corner, with the first clinic on Saturday, August 10 at Davis Drive Park in Cary (9:30-10:30am). The season will consist of 6 weekend sessions each consisting of accommodating soccer skill drills and small-sided games. Participating in HEART gets youth physically active, engages them socially engaged, and promotes other social and psychological benefits including teamwork, confidence, and persistence. 

Former HEART participants have documented their love of the program. The Montanye family said, "our son Logan who has autism wanted to play soccer so badly...it was so hard for my husband and I to watch him want something so badly but could not be a part of it. You have made Logan happy. He calls HEART "MY" soccer." 

If you know someone who should join HEART, please pass on the accompanying flyer (click here for HEART flyer) or have them contact CASL's Community Outreach Coordiantor (Martin Rodriguez-Arispe). 

Click HERE to learn more about CASL's Community Outreach program. If you or your child is interested in VOLUNTEERING with HEART or any other Community Outreach initiative, please also reach out to Martin. We can provide documentation for community service hours, and we know that you will have a great time volunteering and teaching the game of soccer. 

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