Sports
DP United Soccer Team To Be Restarted
Des Plaines Park District to restart its travel soccer program.
The Des Plaines Park District is resurrecting the DP United travel soccer program after more than two years on the shelf.
Josh Cantres, athletic supervisor for the park district, said the program dissolved in the winter of 2008, but two coaches have been hired to reorganize the teams for youth ages 9-13.
Tryouts will be held in late September at Prairie Lakes Community Center. On Sept. 25, boys will try out from 4-5:30 p.m. and girls from 5:30-7 p.m. The following day, tryouts will be from 12-1:30 p.m. for boys and 1:30-3 p.m. for girls.
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Travel soccer is a level above house league soccer, and is designed to develop talents of athletes who are a step above the players in the house league. Travel soccer teams represent their community and play team from other communities of approximately equal ability. They usually practice more frequently than house league teams, and the games are usually played at a faster pace with a greater skill level.
Manuel Medina, who coached the former DP United clubs and has been with Des Plaines House League soccer for 10 years, is celebrating the return of the travel soccer program.
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"It is very important, right now we have a lot of kids who want the chance to play at that level,'' Medina said. "Soccer is getting very popular, the Park District is very involved, and we want to get some of these kids ready for high school and maybe even college."
Medina said he saw several players over the last two years who went elsewhere to play travel or club soccer because Des Plaines did not have a program.
After the travel team is selected, they will take part in an indoor season at Soccer City in Palatine through the winter, Medina said. The team will play in the Young Sportsman's Soccer League in the spring.
House league soccer registrations have reached the 300-mark, but Cantres said he was still taking sign ups for middle school students and first-grade boys. House league games begin Sept. 11.
Other Des Plaines Park District Programs:
- High School Basketball League (Grades 9-12)
- Archery (Ages 7- 13)
- Floor Hockey (Ages 7-13)
Call the park district at 847-391-5700 or go to www.desplainesparks.org for more information on these and other activities.
