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HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2025!
2024 YEAR IN REVIEW:
OUR STARTING XI
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Hello {First Name}
Happy new year!
As the founder and owner of our storied Real Soccer Club, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all past and present players, dedicated coaches, supportive families, and invaluable sponsors and friends.
Your unwavering commitment has been instrumental in fortifying our club's presence in the community and ensuring that we provide exceptional soccer services to our youth. It fills me with immense pride to witness our club flourish year after year, maintaining its status as a leader in affordability, innovation, and resources across all levels of play.
With the challenges posed by the current economic climate, we remain steadfast in our mission to deliver high-quality programs at competitive prices, ensuring accessibility for every aspiring athlete. As we look ahead to 2025, we eagerly anticipate celebrating our 24th year of operation—a remarkable achievement that no competitive clubs in our area, and probably in Idaho, can claim. I invite each of you to reflect on our collective growth and success, and to join us on this exciting journey into the future.
Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2025, filled with joy, achievement, collaboration and the spirit of community that defines our club!
Vamos Real!
Here below is a recap for 2024!
PS: if you have a story that you would want us to share with our families and alumni, please contact sara.gastaldelli@gmail.com
Juanjo Carmona
Founder/Owner
help@realsoccerclub.org
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- 1. REAL MADRID FOUNDATION
The commencement of 2024 marked a significant milestone for REAL Soccer Club as we proudly became a sponsoree of the esteemed Real Madrid Foundation, collaborating with Avanza Sports to launch the inaugural Real Madrid Foundation summer camp in Idaho.
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This remarkable partnership has provided exceptional opportunities for our players, with several being invited for a unique experience in Madrid, further enhancing their soccer journey.
Additionally, our coaching department reaped invaluable benefits, as four of our dedicated coaches had the privilege to work alongside Real Madrid Foundation coaches, including a Technical Director, fostering a rich environment of professional mentorship and collaboration. This initiative not only highlights our unwavering commitment to player development but also underscores our dedication to community engagement, instilling a sense of pride among players, families, and supporters as we align with a globally recognized brand in soccer.
Picture of our coaches in the 1st ever Real Madrid Foundation camp in Idaho, above from left to right:
Coach Ross Carvalho (Real Caldwell CF ManU 2016 Boys), Coach Jorge Vega (Real Middleton CF Roma 2013 Boys),
Coach Helder Vieira (Real Middleton CF Hellas Verona 2012 Boys) and Coach Ben Bayona (Real Boise CF Getafe 2014 Boys).
-See last year's Real Madrid Program announcement here!
-More about this program here including camps.
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Competitive Coaches are not just the backbone of our club; they are the passionate architects of our soccer community, diligently instilling our core values and playing style within each team. Their unwavering dedication to planning, training, and nurturing our players goes beyond the field, as they invest countless hours into shaping not only skilled athletes but also well-rounded individuals. Since the inception of Real Soccer Club in 2002, our former and current coaches have been the driving force behind our collective soccer dream, creating an inspiring environment where passion for the game flourishes and young talents are empowered to reach their fullest potential.
See competitive coaches chart here.
Special congratulations to new USSF "D" License holders:
Coach Joshua Montgomery (Real Middleton CF U11 boys AC Milan):
| Coach Helder Vieira (Real Middleton CF U13 Hellas Verona): | |
The USSF D License is quite intensive. It involves multiple phases, including online coursework, in-person training, and practical assessments. Coaches learn about team management, player development, and designing training sessions. It's a big commitment, usually taking several months, and requires dedication and passion for coaching.
Great job coaches!
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- 3. ACADEMY (U4-U9) & REC (U10-U15) PROGRAMS
Our Academy (U4-U9) and Rec (U10-U15) programs had hundreds of kids playing in 4 cities (Boise, Caldwell, Meridian and Middleton), participating in Spring and Fall and always concluding the seasons with our traditional and very fun jamboree events.
Below, coach Nicole Geile's academy team players lift their trophies last October 2024 during the bi-annual Jamboree at Joplin Elementary.
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Our academy uniform loaner program is still one of our jewels which makes us proud, allowing families to optionally borrow some of the uniforms to make their involvement even more economical.
Our academy program U4-U9 is key to ensure every year we are able to continue to supply players to our competitive program (U9-U19). Our academy coaches are volunteers but they are under the guidance of a Director of Coaching and at times some pro coaches. Volunteer coaches are provided with biweekly training plans. I am proud of all the academy and rec volunteer coaches, who diligently execute the pro training plans and make our kids enjoy the game at the fullest as they develop critical technical, tactical, physical and psychosocial skills specific to their age.
Check the Academy & Rec coaching line up for last Spring 2024
Check the Academy & Rec coaching lineup for last Fall 2024.
Also our REC U10-U15 program allows us to offer soccer to those players who do not want to play competitive after playing in the academy. Having these kids play in a 5v5 format, allows them to get more touches on the ball and develop faster. See why here.
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- PARTNERSHIP WITH WESTADA SCHOOL DISTRICT
We were moved that in 2024 WestAda school district reached us with the purpose of exploring partnering with them!
Juanjo Carmona emphasized the club’s commitment to youth development, saying:
“We at Real Soccer Club strongly advocate for soccer’s ability to change lives and bring communities together. Collaborating with the West Ada School District to introduce the Real Soccer Recreational League to some of their students perfectly embodies our commitment to ensuring soccer is available to everyone.”
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A lot of these players bring a great wealth of soccer experiences and soccer culture from their countries of origin to our club. Initially these players start in our REC program but due to their talent, some of them transition to our competitive program.
See one of the teams at Lewis and Clark in the picture above.
Full story.
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Most of our competitive program (U9-U19) teams had a sensational season in Spring 2024. Congratulations to all these teams! See Notable season results and click on the poster for more details:
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This last Fall 2024, the IYSA league results were more modest, but we still saw a few teams excelled! Shouts out to:
- Real Meridian CF Celta U11B (second on D3 Silver West Bracket, (coach Derek Trombley)
- Real Boise CF Getafe U11B (third on D3 Silver East Bracket, coach Ben Bayona)
- Real Boise CF Real Madrid (first on League America, coach Manuel Prado)
With the work most of our competitive teams put every year in the months of November through February in the Futsal league or indoor soccer and training, we will improve these results in Spring 2025!
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Tournaments - In Fall 2024 our team Real Middleton CF Napoli U14 was finalist in the Gem State Tournament, which was an amazing achievement for this team, being the first time getting into a final!! | |
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Special mention for Dawson Vidrio (2007), a Real Middleton kid who started in our academy program very young, he was 6 or 7 years old. After 10 years with Real, he played his last game with us last Spring 2024 and just this Fall signed for the Barcelona Academy in Arizona, Casagrande, a little soccer paradise for top players.
You know we would not say anything good about FC Barcelona (hahahah!) but this is something amazing that must not go unnoticed for both Dawson and our club! His dad Raul is still a coach for our club and coached him all these past years! His sister Analilia plays for our club in our Real Middleton U13 boys team and his older brother also spend many years at Real and now is in college! Congrats to the Vidrio family and Dawson!
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- 6. REAL EAGLE PROGRAM DEBUT!
Finally on the competitive program area, we do not want to forget about the birth our first Real Eagle CF team!
We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on our inaugural Real Eagle competitive program team, the remarkable U13 girls who have joined us from Eagle Rec last Fall. Their dedication and relentless pursuit of improvement exemplify the spirit of our club's commitment to player development. We take immense pride in their achievements, as they not only showcase their individual talents but also embody the values of teamwork and camaraderie that define the REAL Soccer Club.
The coaching team is also amazing with Corey Furin leading it!
Here is a fun picture of a few girls in the team and coaches after a league game:
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Together, we are on a mission to make a lasting impact in the city of Eagle, inspiring all participants to strive for excellence both on and off the field. | |
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As you all know, our club puts a lot of emphasis in playing futsal on the late Autumn and Winter months. Soccer played in basketball sized courts is called FUTSAL. Originally called Fútbol de Salón and Fútbol Sala, Futsal is a five-a-side version of soccer (1 goalie and 4 field players) played in basketball-sized courts, with fast surfaces, indoors and outdoors.
The origin of Futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930 when Professor Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer utilizing rules from water polo, basketball, handball and soccer.
Below, Coach Stanley far left and Coach Manuel far right pose with Idaho Futsal, Real Boise CF U15/U16 champions
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Futsal is an incredible way to rapidly enhance the essential skills needed for soccer success! Picture your child mastering balance, motor ability, vision, awareness, speed of execution, technic, tactical insight, agility, and coordination while having a blast on the court.
With the smaller playing area and fast-paced nature of futsal, players develop ball mastery, learn to execute accurate and quick passing and receiving, and sharpen their perception, insight, and awareness. It’s not just a game; it’s a dynamic training tool that transforms young athletes into well-rounded soccer players. At Real Soccer Club, we’re excited to watch your child thrive in this vibrant environment, where every kick and pass is a step towards greatness!
In the 2024 Jan-Feb season, we saw our Real Meridian CF Celta U10, Real Meridian CF Betis U11 and Real Boise CF Real Madrid U14 winning their divisions and in the recent Nov-Dec 2024 season Real Boise Real Madrid U15/U16 also won it (picture above).
Congrats to all these teams and all Real kids who participated in this amazing sport!
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STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, PARENTS & SPONSORS
We continue to be so lucky of the quality of individuals and entities involved with our club. Here are some words of appreciation for these groups.
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Above, Jamboree Spring 2024 staff, from left to right: Heather, Juanjo, Zack and Brianna | |
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We want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to our operations team, whose unwavering support has been absolutely crucial in ensuring that Real Soccer Club sails smoothly through the sometimes choppy waters of the soccer world.
This past year, I have been fortunate to have three incredible part-time members—Anne-Maria, Heather, and Sara—whose unique contributions and dedication have been pivotal to our growth and success. Uniforms, registration, marketing, advertising, social media, web, social events, special projects, volunteers, you name it. It's amazing to reflect on how far we've come; what once felt like a solo expedition is now a vibrant collaboration that has truly allowed our club to flourish.
A special shout-out also goes to Zach and Brianna for their consistent support during our two annual Jamborees—your efforts do not go unnoticed! Together, we are creating an environment that not only nurtures talent but also fosters a strong sense of collaboration. Let’s continue to inspire each other as we strive for even greater heights in the future!
The volunteers at REAL Soccer Club are nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing a genuine commitment to nurturing the young talent needs and enhancing our community experience. While they could easily choose to sit back and enjoy a leisurely week practice or weekend game, their decision to roll up their sleeves and dive into the heart of the action speaks volumes about their love for the sport and the club's mission.
These dedicated individuals play critical roles in coaching our recreational programs or ensuring our fields are in tip-top shape, reminding us all of the power of teamwork and community engagement.
Not only do their contributions benefit the players, but they also foster personal growth and deepen their own connection to the beautiful game. In the grand tapestry of Real Soccer Club, it's the collective effort of our volunteers that weaves together a supportive and engaging environment for all participants, making every kick, pass, and cheer that much more meaningful.
At Real Soccer Club, we are deeply committed to keeping our parents well-informed about all club news and progress while prioritizing the safety of our young athletes. This includes ensuring that all of our coaches undergo thorough background checks and complete necessary SafeSport and concussion courses in accordance with national regulations. Transparency is a cornerstone of our mission and we invite you to contact us with any concern.
We appreciate the level of respect our parents have consistently demonstrated since our club's inception. However, we faced a challenging moment this past Fall when a parent was ejected from a game and subsequently suspended for two matches. This incident serves as a poignant reminder for all of us to uphold our core values of respect and sportsmanship towards officials and all participants in this beautiful game we love.
Wow, but what a remarkable display of strength and unity from our REAL Soccer Club Real Boise U13 boys parents on that very game! When faced with injustice, our dedicated team rallied together and sent witness letters to the IYSA that truly made a difference. Thanks to their heroic efforts, we can proudly say that our beloved soccer mom, just capturing those priceless moments of her son, and the two dads who rushed to assist an injured player were vindicated! Initially, the IYSA had mistakenly pointed fingers at them for inappropriate behavior, but our parents stood tall like true champions of fairness, advocating for what is right. After all, teamwork doesn’t just happen on the field; it thrives in the stands too! Let’s keep this momentum going, REAL family! So lace up those cleats, stay engaged, and let’s make every game a fair play for our kids!
In short, let’s continue to embrace open communication and transparency as key pillars of our club, nurturing young talent and promoting a vibrant soccer culture.
Our sponsors truly put the cherry on top of the cake, playing an essential role in enhancing the overall experience for players and families at REAL Soccer Club. Their generous support not only helps us stretch our budget but also offsets many of the expenses that come with running a vibrant soccer program. We are incredibly grateful for our tremendous lineup of sponsors, whose contributions resonate deeply within our community spirit and collaborative mission.
We invite you to click on the banner below featuring these fine enterprises and encourage you to support them whenever possible, as they significantly impact our local community and youth sports initiatives.
If you’re inspired to join our family of sponsors, we warmly invite you to click the banner and invest in the future of our young athletes and the community we cherish.
Together, we can continue to foster a sense of belonging and excitement that makes REAL Soccer Club a special place for all!
The Real SC Staff and I wish you a happy and prosperous 2025!
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Juanjo Carmona-Serradilla
Club Founder & Owner
Real Soccer Club
www.realsoccerclub.org
help@realsoccerclub.org
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