Jackson Area Wide Soccer

MISSION
To increase the popularity of soccer by building a program that will provide a rewarding and growthful experience for all players.

Five-year-old Joseph Westphal, front right, participates in the Sunday afternoon soccer clinic held by Lambuth men's soccer coach Paul Conway through the Jackson Parks and Recreation.

PLEASE NOTE: The applications for fall soccer registration are now available There is also information posted regarding player development, coaches clinics and referees clinics. Information is also posted about soccer camps during the summer.

When the schedules for the fall 2009 season of recreational soccer are available they will be posted here.

Thanks to all of the volunteers, city employees, JAWS board and many others .... and also some co-operation from the weather, the Jackson Area Wide Soccer Shootout In The West was a success. Thanks to everyone that helped with this years event. Without your involvement, JAWS could not stage an event with this many teams. THANKS !!!!

Thanks Wendy Isom and The Jackson Sun for this article about recreational soccer in Jackson.

Kids Kick It At Clinic

By WENDY ISOM
wisom@jacksonsun.com

Jackson Sun Article Published March 3, 2008

Sunday afternoon in North Park kids participated in a soccer clinic held by Lambuth mens soccer coach Paul Conway through the Jackson Parks and Recreation while their parents enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in the warm weather.

Young soccer players made the most of Sunday's spring-like weather.

About 80 children participated in a free soccer player development clinic at North Park sponsored by the Jackson Recreation and Parks Department.

"Its gorgeous, beautiful, ideal," mom Andrea Drummond said as she enjoyed temperatures in the upper 70s.

Drummond was watching from the sidelines as her 8-year-old daughter, Kayley, performed drills in one of the soccer clinics taught by Paul Conway, Lambuth's head men's soccer coach.

"Just touch it with the sole of your feet," Conway said while demonstrating soccer's proper foot handling techniques.

"Run the dribble nice and easy," he said from the field.

Laura Kinzer brought her 7-year-old son, Samuel, to join the fun. But it wasn't that easy to convince Samuel to kick the ball around with the group.

"Sam went to the free clinic last year. I'm not sure why he's not wanting to play today," Kinzer said.

Samuel opted to stand on the sidelines Sunday and watch instead.

Drummond, a mother of three, said this is the third year she's had a child in the soccer clinic.

In addition to giving kids the opportunity to improve their skills on the soccer field, coaches have the chance to watch players and kick their coaching up a notch, Drummond said.

"I've seen improvement in coaching and learning drills and learning how to have fun as well," Drummond said.

"It seems as though they do a lot of drills that would be helpful for a beginner," said Mirasol Fitzgerald, who had a son and a daughter in the clinic on Sunday.

Drummond said she likes how Conway teaches the children to stay in control while they are on the field.

"Control the ball. Control yourself, that's what Conway tells the kids a lot," she said. "He's just got a gift with the kids. Look how obedient they are."

Visit jacksonsun.com and share your thoughts.

- Wendy Isom, 425-9782

JACKSON HURRICANES WIN KOHL’S CUP

The Hurricanes Under 10 (U10) boys soccer team, a member of JAWS (Jackson Area Wide Soccer) won their division at the Columbia TN Kohl’s America Cup Soccer Tournament November 3 & 4. The Hurricanes finished the tournament a perfect 5-0, defeating other teams from across Tennessee on the way to the championship.

Kohl’s sponsored the Columbia, TN soccer tournament held at Cook Soccer Park. Teams from all recreational divisions were invited to send teams. Teams from Jackson included the Hurricanes, TN Rush U10, and JSC Wolves U8.

The SHOOTOUT IN THE WEST 2009 will be April 17th, 18th, & 19th, 2009. Hope everyone will make their plans to attend this event.

The tournament will be open to girls U-9 through U-19 and boys U-9 through U-14. The tournament fee for U-9 and U-10 will be $, U-11 and U-12 will be $, and U-13 through U-19 will be $. The entry deadline will be March 28, 2009.

Starting in the fall of 2007, there will be a select Lady Flyers U-11 team. The team will be coached by Joel Maners and Mark Schwatz. Try outs will be May 20th at 2 P.M. at North Park. For more information regarding the U11 Select Lady Flyers' team please contact Joel at joelm@gcgraphics.com or Mark at mark.schatz@ge.com . The '97 Lady Flyers new web site is www.ladyflyers.com .

OPENING DAY MARCH 10TH ..JAWS could not have ordered a more perfect day for the opening of spring soccer. It was fantastic. Thanks to everyone, especially Susan and her staff, that worked so hard to have everything ready for this day. Also a special thanks needs to go out to Tony Black and Jim Jacobs, the fields have never looked this good before on opening weekend. They looked absolutely GREAT !!! Thanks to everyone for a great opening Saturday.

$10,000 DONATION TO THE CITY OF JACKSON Jackson Area Wide Soccer presented a $10,000 donation to the City of Jackson on Saturday September 9, 2006 at the opening day ceremony of fall recreational soccer. This donation will go toward the purchase of new goals for refurbishing Murray Field to put back into service 6 full size practice fields. The remainder of the donation will be utilized to sod the baseball fields at North Park where the clay is on the fields, so as to provide more playable surfaces as well as safer playing fields. This $10,000 donation brings the total to $50,000 that the Jackson Area Wide Soccer has been able to give to the City of Jackson to assist in the development of facilities, programs and anything else required that is not budgeted.

JACKSON AREA WIDE SOCCER
JAWS is in the process of setting up a "Parent/Coaches Focus Group". This group would meet on a regular basis and at least quarterly report to the JAWS board of directors their concerns, suggestions, proposals, and ideas. It is JAWS goal to promote and establish the best possible lines of communications so as to continue to grow soccer. If you would be interested in serving on this new focus group, please e-mail me at pope@jacksonareawidesoccer.com.