Interview with Tim Santoro, U-16/U-17 director of coaching
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
History: Formed in 1994 as Charlotte Park Sharon United Soccer Club for boys and girls teams; name simplified in 1998. In the last three to four years, have earned renown at USYSA Region III level.
Championships: 2000: 10 state champions, six advanced to Region III championship; U-16 and U-18 boys advanced to USYSA national championship. 2001: U-19 boys, U-15, U-17 and U-19 girls have already won state championships and qualified for Region III tournament; several state cup winners still to be determined.
Most famous players: Alyssa Ramsey, a U.S. women’s national team and North Carolina forward; Gray Griffin and Josh Villalobos, members of U-17 national residency program in Bradenton, Fla.
Number of players: 500 Classic, drawn from a three-hour radius (as far as Raleigh, N.C., Fayetteville, N.C., and South Carolina); 50 Challenge.
Number of teams: 33.
Number of coaches: four full-time directors of coaching; 30 game coaches.
Coaching salaries: Full-time, $30,000-$45,000 per year; game coaches, $250-$450 per month.
Cost to play: $400-$500 per season, not including miscellaneous fees.
Facilities: Ramblewood Soccer Complex, seven-field game facility rented from city; five-acre lit practice facility.
Club philosophy: “To develop high-level players to play at the next level.”
Recruiting philosophy: “We don’t have to recruit. We’re established enough so that kids come to us.”
Club’s greatest strength: “Our professional, very intense coaching staff. We have no parent coaches. Right now our boys side is very strong, and our girls side is getting there.”
Club’s biggest challenges: “There are six other clubs in Charlotte. They’re not all strong, but they take players from us. Also, our facilities are not what we need if we want to catch the FC Delcos and Colorado Rushes.”
Club’s most recent controversy: “At the nationals last summer we played two games short-handed, because we had to suspend six players. It was nothing major, but our club policy was broken and we had to take action. It was tough to do, but I think we did the right thing.”
Club’s goal: “Win a national championship.”
Sponsors: adidas, internetsoccer.com, Hilton Hotels, Gatorade, Miller Orthopedic Clinic.
Fundraising: Easter and Labor Day tournaments; other events.
Contact: Jane Llewellyn, business manager, Charlotte SC,; e-mail: csc@charlottesoccerclub.com; Web site: www.charlottesoccerclub.com.
by Soccer America Youth Soccer Letter executive editor Dan Woog