Call Me What You Will
Even in retrospect, I’m confident the comment was an insult. Maybe that’s a strong word for it. Let me be less dramatic. Perhaps it was more of a small barb. “Oh. So you’re a soccer mom.”
I can’t put a name to the intent, but rest assured, it wasn’t a compliment, which I found so strange at the time. What a lovely way to be described – as a soccer mom. Claim your name, mamas! All of you! The swim moms, cheer moms, baseball moms, dance moms, theater moms, hockey moms, and choir moms. And yes, the soccer moms! And dads too, of course!
All the hats we wear when supporting our kids’ adventures and passions are crafted with love and, let’s be honest, endurance. Right now, I’m ROTC rifle team mom, sail mom, and teen mom – a role not nearly as much fun as soccer mom.
When my kids were in soccer (more years in the past than I care to remember), they were so cute in their uniforms. Typically, this meant long and heavy tee shirts that fit more like dresses. I loved to watch them running to practice in their little overpriced cleats, pigtails bobbing, water bottles nearly as long as their legs. I was less concerned about their budding skill and more interested in how much they would learn about life through sports. Whenever it was time to register for the season, we asked our rec team coaches about teamwork, perseverance, anticipating solutions, and reaching for goals. It’s challenging to find coaches as concerned about scoring life lessons as they are about goals and points.
That’s why I am particularly excited to introduce Adam Kartzman and Vincenzo Bernardo, owners of Annapolis Select Futbol Club. Tryouts for the club start at the end of the month, so it’s a great time to think about this all-new experience and the team bringing it to Annapolis.
The duo has soccer in their blood. Adam is a local resident, dad, and former soccer player. He grew up playing on travel soccer teams. He says what he hopes Annapolis Select will bring to families is an opportunity for kids who love soccer to learn more than just kicking the ball and playing the game. “I have friends whose fathers coached and taught me, at an impressionable age, how to be a leader and how to think about life off the pitch. I’m looking forward to teaching our athletes the way my coaches did.”
“Through Annapolis Select, Vincenzo, myself, and our coaches have an incredible opportunity to encourage kids to exercise and be competitive, but also to show them how to be successful off the field.”
Adam’s goal with Annapolis Select Futbol Club is to create an experience that encourages community. “My idea and vision is to host a club that provides a high level, quality soccer education for kids while also being a place where we can create a space for relationship-building between parents and families in the community.”
Vincenzo was born and raised in Madison, New Jersey. He left to play soccer in Europe at age sixteen and stayed to play professionally for ten years. After retirement, he founded Morris Elite, a soccer club near Madison. It’s the fastest-growing club on the East Coast and the model for a similar club in Florida. Vincenzo aims to bring his experience as a professional-level player with a touch of European flair to Annapolis Select. “Annapolis is a great market for our club and the perfect place to provide an elite soccer program. Maryland is a soccer state, and we’re excited to share our experience and talent with the local community,” he said.
Family, Passion. Gratitude. Leadership. Excellence. Learning.
Ultimately, Adam and Vincenzo want to make an impact in the community for their own families and the families of other kids who love soccer. “We manage the club personally and bring a spirit of true professionalism to everything we do,” Vincenzo said.
An essential difference between Annapolis Select and other teams are the core values and keywords that guide the soccer experience: family, passion, gratitude, leadership, excellence, and learning. “We’re a player-first organization, a proven concept that puts kids who want to play soccer at the forefront of every decision we make and teams we form,” Adam said.
What does player-first mean? Proud soccer moms and dads can pull up their chairs on those chilly fall and spring mornings, confident their children are cared for and coached by elite-level professionals. “We want parents to have fun on the sidelines and enjoy the experience of watching their kids play.” Trust us with your children on the pitch, and we will deliver the best soccer experience possible,” Vincenzo said.
Teams are coached by salaried, U.S. Soccer Federation-certified coaches. Management of each team includes taking notes, understanding where each player is and where they can go, and knowing how coaches can help children realize their potential as teammates and individuals. Unlike other programs, Annapolis Select Futbol uses a VEO camera to record each game, a valuable tool for individual development. Vincenzo says that recording players helps coaches, parents, and kids learn more about working hard, improving, and progressing. Regular report cards are another way to help maintain focus on player development.
Is Annapolis Select Right for You?
Annapolis Select Futbol Club is open to all levels of play. After tryouts later this month, Adam, Vincenzo, and coaches will form teams for players aged elementary to high school based on skill level. “We’re not focused on cutting people from teams. We’re looking for kids and families who love soccer and who are committed to the sport. It’s not about how good you are or where you are today; it’s more about how committed you are to progressing in soccer”, Vincenzo said. Free tryouts for Annapolis Select Futbol will be held March 27th and April 13th for all skill levels. Both dates apply to kids born from 2009 to 2017. Although there are two tryout dates, Coach Vincenzo and Coach Adam recommend attending both sessions. You can register on the club’s website at https://selectsoccermd.com/join-our-club/. If you have any questions for the coaches, you can email info@selectsoccermd.com or call the club at (973) 452-8720.
Play N’ Learn