Welcome to Our Web Site
Updated 6/15/08 01:30PM
Fall Season 2008: This year we need BIRTH CERTIFICATE copies even for returning players. The Fall Soccer 2008 registration forms are shown to the left. Register now and get the early registration fee. You can register by mail or during our registration dates at the Challenger Camp or at Hillcrest. You are not registered until birth certificates and forms are received. See flyer for the dates. Coaches please complete the Coaches registration form. We will be playing on the Lake Wales New Soccer part starting in September.
Competitive Tryouts: For those soccer children that desire a more competitive atmosphere, our league now has several competitive teams for both girls and boys. Click on the Competitive tryout link on the left for the current flyer. Tryouts have ended but if still interested in a team call Francisco Rodrigues listed below. The cost is approximately $300 or more but the player receives 2 uniforms, soccer bag and is able to participate in tournaments. There is more travel involved for the competitve teams but those players with advanced skills will develope even greater than in the recreational setting. Competitive teams will hold additional fundraising efforts to be able to participate in other tournaments not covered by the registration fee.. Contact Francisco Rodrigues at frodrigues16@hotmail.com or call 863-528-4707 who is our league representative for competitive teams. See flyer to the left. Competitive coaches will be approved by the Board of Directors.
Challenger Soccer Camp Soon: Our club is hosting a British soccer camp from 6/23/08 to 6/27/08 at Dundee East Central Park. The coaches are specially trained to provide a camp the kids can enjoy while learning new soccer skills and strategies. Ages are from 8 to 16 for the 5:30PM to 8:30PM camp at a very reasonable cost of $107 and ages 4-6 for the 9AM -11AM for $92. There is a $10 late fee if registered after Friday June 13th. Each year we have had many complements about the camp. Go to www.challengersports.com to register. Contact League Host Robbie Shields if any questions. 863-676-3304
Spring Season: Spring registration for 3 vs 3 season had about 170 kids signed. The season was done in joint cooperation with the Bartow Soccer league. The rules for the 3 vs 3 season are to the left. Think about playing for next year. If information is needed give Robbie a call or send a message to questions@ridgesoccer.com to give him a corrected email. Remember we have the spring season as a no practice season although some teams may choose to get together a couple of times. We always need some parents to volunteer as team leader for calling, substituting and organizing. Registration forms and information are on the tabs to the left.
Spring Sponsors 2008: Thanks to Citizens Bank and Trust, Lake Wales Family Restaurant, Lilly O'Toole and Brown, and Tire Barn for their sponsorship during the spring season. When you make a purchase/money decision involving businesses locally, please consider our sponsors first.
Protocol on who to contact: As you can imagine we get plenty of calls. First please check the website, if not there contact your coach or other team members and if not available there then feel free to contact us.
Referee Class: We hosted a grade 9 Recreational referee class on 3/1/08 at Dundee East Central Park. There were 17 local kids who got certified. For available future referee classes in the state go to http://www.fsr-inc.com
This is a great way to learn the rules of the game while becoming certified. Your child can earn some money while helping us provide referees.
Concession Stand. The U12 boys competitive team will be doing the spring concession to raise money for their team. Please support the concession. Along with the normal things they will also be providing Barbecue sandwiches.
Game Schedules: Game schedules will be posted once the season begins. Click on the age your child is playing in and schedule can be viewed.. In order to open the file, you may need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader found at http://www.adobe.com
Games against other league teams: This applies mainly during the fall season when there is much more travel. Coaches I suggest you call the team coach on games you play against other league teams. This makes sure all is set as we were told.
Judges Cup Tournament: The fall season concludes with a tournament for all the recreation teams in the county in the first part of December. Teams with similar records during the season are put in a tournament setting. You do not want to miss this.
Uniforms: In the Fall Season each player receives a soccer jersey, shorts and socks from the league. Every player has to purchase shin guards which are required in order to play. Most decide to buy soccer cleats but cleats are not required. League ages U10 and above we would highly recommend them..
Other club websites for games: AYSC Auburndale www.auburndaleyouthsoccer.com RYSA Ridge Youth Soccer(4 corners) www.ridgeyouthsoccerclub.com PRYS Peace River Youth Soccer Bartow www.bartowsoccer1.com WHYSA Winter Haven Yuth Soccer www.whysa.com LSC Lakeland Soccer Club Lake Parker www.lakelandsoccerclub/org LHYS Lakeland Highlands Youth Soccer on Carter Road www.lhysasoccer.com NLYS North Lakeland Youth Soccer on Duff Road www.northlakelandyouthsoccer.com
You can use these links to find directions to the fields or other info about their league.
Open spots still available: After the league starts many times we still have a few slots open for teams. Call 676-3304 and leave a message..
SPONSORS: Support our sponsors please. The league would not be possible without them.
Fall sponsors were American Fence Services, Badcock & More Lake Wales, Bio-Tech Termite and Pest Control, Bradley Johnson, Breakfast Rotary, Brighthouse, Buddy Poppell Insurance Services, Bunting Tripp & Ingley, Center State Bank, Citrosuco, Coldwell Banker, Florida's Natural, Kiwanis, Guardian K-9 Companions, Lake Wales Family Restaurant, Lake Wales Medical Center, Lilly O'Toole & Brown, Lost Classic Books, McKenna Brothers Inc, Marbutt Investigations, Peterson & Myers, PA, Premier Field Services (2 times), Prudential Todd Pooley, Rinker Materials, SouthEastern Nurseries, Tirebarn, T's Tractor Service, Tropical Travels.
Fall 2008 Soccer games begin September. Fall registration will begin in the summer. Cost is $60 per child. High school U18 season this year will begin in August to allow more games. On a few Saturdays we will have a double header. This is to get more games in for the U18's. Registration form and flyers will be available in the summer.
Birth Certificates: For 2008 season we need all players to provide a copy of the Birth Certifcate.
Background checks: Parents we do back ground checks on our coaches through FYSA.
Coaches needed. Probably the toughest part of our volunteer work is getting enough parents to volunteer as coaches. As a parent who has certainly been my child's coach, it is well worth it. Would I like to sit on the sidelines and just yell, my answer would be yes at times. Please consider stepping up and helping us with this task. Remember it is your and my job to get a coach for your child's teams.
Uniroyal/Tire Barn Free Soccer Ball Program:
We have been able to provide free soccer balls for those registering in the past through Uniroyal and Tirebarn. We will check into this for the 2008 season also. Go to www.uniroyal.com/sweeps
Competitive Teams: Ridge Soccer is proud to announce creation of our First Compeitive teams. U18, U16 and U12 Boys teams were created in the fall 2007 season and had great success. Francisco Rodrigues will be heading up our competitive division in the future. Tryouts for the various teams start the first of June. Contact Erik Maldonado Concerning the U12 team at 438-8080. Coaches wishing to start a competitive team for an age or gender group should contact Francisco Rodrigues or Robbie Shields. Competitive team coaches are approved through the Board of Directors. Competitive teams are for those children wishing to increase the competition they are against plus are willing to committ to additional travel and practice. The fees are approximately $300 due to the needs for additional uniforms and tournament fees.
Soccer Camp 6/23/08- 6/27/08 The camp for the past several years has been a great success. Challenger British Soccer is the largest soccer camp in the US and Canada. The camp is for ages 4 to 16. The kids learn to improve their skills, have fun, and grow in their love of the game during camp. Look under registration to get direct links for the camp. Also other soccer gear is available/ Go to http://www.challengersports.com For the camp register early and you get a free soccer jersey. All coaches are invited to help and participate in this camp. Campers will be able to go to the Registration tab to register on line or contact Ridge Soccer President Robbie Shields.
Thanks: Thanks to all those who helped in various aspects of the league. Coaches, team moms, referees, league administrators, liners of fields, concession coordinators. Please show appreciation for their efforts. If you are asked to help in some manner please be willing to do some part. Our league can not function without volunteers. Please feel free to volunteer.
Remember: This is a volunteer organization and those running it spend many hours of their free time to make it a success. Although the goal is to be perfect we all know that is impossible. If something happens that you do not agree with, please handle in a professional manner. First talk to the individual yourself after you have cooled off. If you can't resolve then diplomatically contact a league official with the problem. Ultimately the individual situation will be addressed realizing the overall league goals. We do care. To coaches: Having fun, increasing skills of players, equitable playing time should come first and then winning.
Sponsorships Team sponsorships are always needed. See the flyer to the left. Sponsorship amount is $275 for the fall season and $250 for the spring season. We are a 501c3 tax deductible entity. The names of your company/organization goes on the team shirts.
Volunteers in various areas are always needed for the league. Concession, field preparation, coaching, assistant coaching, writing articles for newspapers are just a few. This year each team will be assigned a day to run the concession.
Soccer Multi-purpose fields. 4 full size fields are being built on Hunt Brothers Road. The Ridge Soccer Board is working with the City of Lake Wales. Construction is almost complete. Keep an eye on the progress. Projections are for play to begin in the Fall 2008 season although the fields may be completed prior to that time. The sprigging of grass was done in early February 2008. It will take several months to grow in and then a few more months until play can begin on them. The goal is to have the field grass grown in well. Irrigation, lights for 2 fields and the concession are complete. Fencing on the parimeter of complex is complete and the city is in the process of acquiring playground equipment. Sign-off is scheduled for June 2008. The soccer complex received some additional funding amount of $100,000 via the MSTU(Municipal Service Taxing Unit) which were the new recreational county taxes. Concession needs, soccer goals, playground equipment, trees, schrubs, etc are just a few of the contributions you can make to help. This can be the nicest facility in all of Lake Wales. If you are looking to contribute in some manner please contact Robbie Shields at 676-3304.
The Ridge Soccer Association was formed in 2004 to meet the needs of those interested in the Growth of Youth Soccer on the East side of Polk County. To see details about Ridge Soccer go to the About Ridge tab.
Board of Directors: Robbie Shields, Tony Mathewson, Jack Dykxhoorn, Terri Turnbull, Butch Nichols, Andy Hunt, Erik Maldonado and Francisco Rodrigues. See tab for additional information. The Board meets once every 3 months on the 2nd Wednesday in May, August, November, February or when special needs arise. Note Francisco Rodrigues was voted as a new Board member in February 2008 replacing Jerry Miller. We thank Jerry for his serving on the Board.
