 |
 |
 |
 |
| Soccer Club |
 |
|
 |
 |
| Club Info |
 |
 |
| Club Information |
| T Team History Tri-City Express, a member of the Exodus Futbal Club from Buda, is so named because it was formed initially with players from three cities in Central Texas: Copperas Cove, Lampasas, and Killeen. Currently, most of our players attend either CCISD or LISD schools; however, we do have players from Evant and Killeen ISDs. The organization was founded and coached by Felix Volk and Marty Martinez, both of Copperas Cove, in the spring of 1996. Initially, we started with two teams: under-16 and under-18 girls. The Girls Under-16 team, by the end of the Fall 1996 season, showed their stuff with a second place finish, despite their inexperience. The Girls Under-18 team finished the Spring 1996 season second in the district and third place in the more competitive Fall 1996 season. In the Fall 97 campaign, the U-16 girls won the STYSA Western District championship. The Fall 1998 season saw the inauguration of the Girls Under-12 team, who made a lasting impression by reaching the STYSA Western District tournament in just their first season; the next year, the U-12 girls captured the Western District championship. The teams, however, could not have come into being without the help of the cities of Copperas Cove and Lampasas. Copperas Cove Independent School District provided the practice facility and the game field for the first season. Since the second season, the City of Lampasas has provided both practice and game fields. In the fall of 2000, we added a fourth girls team (under-12). In the fall 2002 season, the Express will field four girls teams: U-18 DII, U-16 DII, U-14 DII, and U-12 DIII. Team Philosophy Tri-City Express was based on a simple philosophy: family, school, and church come before soccer, not necessarily in that order. Every parent and player is told that we are not an organization that “wins at all cost.” The coaching staff, along with the parents, strives to put development of the players before outcome of the game. The coaching staff attempts to teach the players the game, improve their skills, and ensure a positive attitude in what they do. Sportsmanship is a high priority for Express players, coaches, and parents at all times. Players are expected to play the sport within the rules and to show good sportsmanship to the opposing players and to the officials, no matter what the outcome of the match. Through the years, we like to think we have established a reputation throughout Central Texas of an organization which fields team which compete hard, but fairly in all respects. Playing Seasons The Express plays two seasons in calendar year runnning from August 1 through July 31 of the following year. The “Fall” season normally begins with a tournament in the middle of August, with "regular season" play beginning the weekend after Labor Day and continuing until the Western District Playoffs and/or the State finals in early December. The teams start normally practicing the third week in July to prepare for the tournament and the Fall season. The teams take a break from the middle of December through the middle of March for the local high school season. We play a shorter "Spring" season, which begins in early March for U-14 and below and late March for U-15 and above and runs until the middle of May. Practicesfor U-14 abd U-12 begin in February, while the older girls begin practicing as soon as the high School season is completed. Expenses When a new player joins the team, the initial cost is $45. The teams also have monthly dues of $15. The annual cost for a new player would be $210 and $180 for returning players. These fees cover registration costs with local, state, and national youth soccer organizations, referee fees, field useage fees, uniforms (team provides and wons teh uniforms) team equipment expenses, tournament entry fees (we try to play in at least one tournament per season) and player lodging fees to out-of-town tournaments when commuting is not an acceptable option (generally when the site is more than a two hour drive away) Tryouts In the short history of the teams, we have held tryouts only once in 7 years (14 seasons); in that case, we had more girls apply than we had roster spots. The Express accepts players, no matter what skill level, as long as the players try to learn this great sport assuming we have open roster spaces. Current Teams Girls Under 12---Under 14---Under 16---Under 18 |