BUSC Newsletter

October 15, 2024

Hello, BUSC! We are happy to be in the thick of our fall season - comp and rec teams are playing every week and our players continue to develop on the field under the guidance of our amazing coaches!

Huge shout out to all of our staff, coaches, managers and volunteers who all dedicate their time and resources to making this whole experience possible.

Newsletter Highlights

• Orange and Gold Gala
• Techne and Sports Resilience
• Futsal Program Registration
• Kevin Crow Hall of Fame Nominee
• Eric Nilius joins staff - Assistant Competitive Director
• Golf Hole-in-One Winner
• Nutrition Tips
• Stanford Medicine - Bone Health

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. See you on the field!

Tevin Jones, Director of Club Operations, tevinjones@busc.org

Kevin Crow, Executive Director, kevincrow@busc.org

We are thrilled to announce the return of the Orange and Gold Gala on Friday, November 1st, at the Alameda County Fairground Wine Garden.

Ticket sales are OPEN!

Ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities are available now! Be sure to secure your spot by visiting the following link below.

This evening promises to be filled with fun, food, auctions and more! You definitely won’t want to miss out!

Player Support Technology

At our club, we believe in providing our members with more than just training and coaching games. That's why we've invested in multiple platforms that offer a wide range of benefits, and we're proud to include them in our club fees. From enhancing your skills to boosting your performance, we will help you achieve your goals and take your game to the next level.

Soccer Resilience Offerings

Online Courses

Soccer Resilience offers a variety of online courses tailored for players, coaches, and parents. These courses typically include:

• Short, engaging video lessons
• A comprehensive playbook and manual
• Practical exercises to integrate mental fitness into daily routines
• A certificate upon completion

Professional Guidance

The program features input from:

• Clinical psychologists specializing in sports psychology
• Professional soccer players from MLS, NWSL, and USL
• Experienced coaches

Benefits of Soccer Resilience

Participants in the Soccer Resilience program can expect to:

• Develop strategies to manage stress and anxiety
• Learn to overcome setbacks and failures
• Improve focus and concentration during games
• Build self-confidence and self-belief
• Enhance overall performance on the field

Techne Curriculum:

• Techne Soccer Training Curriculum: A new platform for youth teams (U8-U12) featuring weekly, monthly, and seasonal objectives aligned with content on the Techne app.
• Monthly Testing & Prizes: Players will be tested on juggling, dribbling, and wall work, with prizes for improvement, time spent on Techne, and top scores in each testing phase.
• Weekly Content Updates: Fresh training material will be released weekly through the Techne app, keeping sessions engaging and challenging throughout the year.
• Bi-Weekly Ballistic Techne Curriculum: Curriculum updates will be sent out every two weeks and will be accessible directly from the Ballistic website.
• Age-Specific Content: Content will be available for all age groups, including U13 and older, with additional material aligned with Soccer Resilience training for U13 and up.

What is futsal? Futsal is a fast-paced game played on a hard surface with continuous end-to-end action. Each team has five players on the court at a time: one goalkeeper and four court players. Some might liken it to basketball played with a soccer ball and a larger net.

Futsal is an incredibly beneficial component in the development of a soccer player. It offers players the opportunity to enhance their technical ball skills, becoming more comfortable with dribbling and executing skills at high speed. Moreover, it sharpens their insight and accelerates their decision-making abilities in game situations.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame released the names of the semifinalists on the Veteran and Builder ballots for the Class of 2025, which will be inducted May 3 in Frisco.

The Player Ballot, which considers players who have been retired for at least three years but no more than 10 years, is in the screening process. The NSHOF released the names of all eligible candidates Aug. 7.

The Veteran Ballot is the path to the Hall of Fame for players who have been retired for more than 10 full calendar years. The Builder Ballot is the path to the Hall of Fame for individuals who contribute to the sport in a non-playing capacity. Builders are listed in three categories: referees, coaches and contributors. Beginning with the 2022 election, Builder selections have been limited each year to a rotation of the three categories — or to a selection from the full pool of candidates. The 2025 Builder election is open to candidates from all three categories.

The finalists for all three ballots will be announced at the conclusion of the screening process. Player, Veteran and Builder Voting Committees will elect a maximum of six new Hall of Fame members — as many as three Players and two Veterans can be selected, along with one Builder.

The 21 Veteran semifinalists were selected by the nine-person Veteran Screening Committee from the list of 105 eligible candidates. The next step in the Veteran election will be for the Screening Committee to narrow the field to 10 finalists. The 24-person Veteran Voting Committee will determine who will be inducted; the finalist who receives the most votes will be elected, and a second finalist also may be elected if they receive at least 75% of the votes.



2025 Veteran Ballot Semifinalists


• Chris Armas

• David Beckham

• Chico Borja

• Sean Bowers

• Kevin Crow

• Francis Farberoff

• Lorrie Fair

• Mary Harvey

• Frankie Hejduk

• Lori Henry

• Zak Ibsen

• Eddie Lewis

• Carlos Llamosa

• Clint Mathis

• Shep Messing

• Heather Mitts

• JC Russo

• Tony Sanneh

• Lindsay Tarpley

• Tatu

• Aly Wagner

The first time Eric Nilius met with Ballistic United was back in 2018 when Nilius was in California from Colorado to get his “C” coaching license.



Nilius met with Ballistic executive director Kevin Crow about possibly joining Ballistic in 2019, but Nilius decided to return to Colorado where he would be the Youth Academy Director for the Colorado Rush.

In 2021, Nilius relocated to California, first working for the San Fransisco Glens as the Director of Soccer Operations from two years. He then moved to the spot of Director of Coaching/Coach Educator for the Roseville Youth Soccer Club in March of 2023.

In the summer of 2024, Nilius met with Brady Taylor, Technical Director of Ballistic. This time Nilius made the move to join the staff as the Assistant Competitive Director for BUSC, and it was an easy decision.

“After having only one conversation with him, it was clear that Ballistic United was the place for me to be,” said Nilius of his meeting with Taylor. “I am excited to work with Brady and the Rest of the staff. Ballistic is already an incredible club, so I hope to continue building upon its vision and what it wants to accomplish while learning the Ballistic Way and assimilating myself into the community.”

Nilius brings a wealth of experience as he has helped shape numerous clubs. With Ballistic he sees something different.

“Since joining Ballistic United, the club has genuinely inspired me; it’s a unique and special place,” said Nilius. “The staff’s care, thought, and attention, as well as their philosophy on Player Development and Style of Play, have been a perfect fit for me.”

"I may have participated in the greatest Monday of all time.

I was invited by @calnorthsoccer to represent them at a charity golf tournament put on by @ballisticunitedsc

For those that know me, when it comes to golf (and most things in my life), I'm a "tryer". I will give it my best effort and see what happens.

I have gone on many golf outings in my life and hope to go on many more, but this one I will forever be grateful for.

As we got to hole #17 of @theclubatcastlewood it was a par 3 207 yards with a pretty sweet new @Dublinchevroletca 2024 truck next to it with a big sign that says Hole in One Wins the Truck!

I'm up.... one @mizunogolfnorthamerica 7 iron, one @vicegolf ball, 207 yards, someone looking down on my happy Gilmore wannabee self and one brand new truck... A shot I will never forget.

I don't know what you believe in, but I do believe good things happen to good people when they need it most. Whether that's good vibes, someone looking down on you, or flat out luck... that's for you to decide, but all I can say is swing away 😉

I'm incredibly grateful to all people and organizations above for this once in a lifetime experience that has altered my life for the better. Cheers to you all and to all... lets run it back next year! ⛳️ 🏌️‍♂️ 🍾"

Nutrition is the base of the soccer players health pyramid! Proper nutrition is essential for optimal athletic performance. The priority should be to eat enough of the right foods at the right time! Fueling for performance, muscle health and recovery with minimally processed, nutrient dense foods should be prioritized.

Exciting news! BUSC is now offering exclusive spirit wear, allowing you to showcase your support for your club with pride! Grab your gear and represent your team in style.

Make a gift to BUSC any time to support our important programs. Pick where you want your gift applied, or make a gift to the BUSC General Fund for your gift to be used where it's most needed.

Thank you for supporting BUSC!

Ballistic United Soccer Club Website