“Gray needed more competition, more time on the field, not playing the same people and same teams every week,” says Meghan Freer, Gray’s mother. “And he does aspire to play in high school. So he tried out and made the premier team.” The premier is the top competitive team, made up of the most successful students who tried out for the season. Others who make it into the league but didn’t perform as well are placed on a second team where they can play and improve their skills for the next tryout.
SASA seeks premier competition that the boys could not get playing rec ball, says Meghan Freer. Now, life in the Freer household revolves around frequent state and regional tournaments.
SASA director of soccer Patrick Phillips describes the program.” We try to take as many 8- to 11-year-olds who try out as possible. From ages 12 to 18, it’s more selective.
Those teams focus on players who are trying to develop into high school and college players.” Of the 300 boys and girls currently in the SASA program, says Phillips, several will go on to play for their schools and a few may play professionally.
In fact, developing talent, providing training, and showcasing the players for recruiters are all SASA priorities. “We are producing a lot of kids in the high school and college ranks who are playing,” the result in recent years of paying more attention to developing talent, says Phillips.
“We’re starting to figure out our niche and do it even better now. We have scaled back the travel and increased the practice to three nights per week. The teams now practice twice as much as they play in games.”
Still, says Meghan Freer, “It’s... a... commit-ment. When they go to a tournament, they travel Friday night, play all day Saturday and Sunday, five games per tourney, and then they go to school on Monday.” They also play indoor soccer from November through March. Meghan and her husband, Harlan, say they “divide and conquer” to get their three boys where they need to be.
Especially on weekends. “Our weekends during the season are organized chaos,” Meghan says. When Harlan has a military commitment for the weekend, and there’s an away SASA tournament, and the other Freer boys also have a football game or YMCA soccer game, everyone else on the team pulls together to provide transportation and share hotels. Everyone works together, parents, siblings, coaches and the team, says Meghan.
“We say ‘teamwork makes the dream work.’” This soccer mom is proud to make the effort, though, from both a time and money standpoint. “I tell people, ‘I went to Iowa and stayed in the Bates Motel, I went to Indy ... I follow Gray’s passion. I support him completely.”
Making the cut
Eighteen-year-old college freshman Mike Severino started playing YMCA recreational soccer at age four, moved into SASA competitive soccer, led his varsity team for Springfield High School, and has accumulated a long list of accolades and awards for participation in state, regional and national soccer programs. Now Mike is majoring in criminal justice and playing soccer for Parkland College in Champaign. “Soccer’s my life,” he says, and reflects on what he gained from each team experience.
“The YMCA was very helpful. Very kid friendly. They taught me a lot of things. The YMCA is a very good learning experience for new players. It provides a good foundation to learn the game fundamentals and advance, and they provide a good, respectful playing experience.” Mike’s mother,
Jami Severino, agrees, adding, “YMCA team sports build character. You
learn to take responsibility for your position and positive team
interaction. There’s no blaming one person or crediting one person. You
win and you lose as a team.”
