(Press Release appeared in the May 23rd and 24th edition of The Citizen)

Peachtree City Youth Soccer Association has gone through several changes over the last three years. However as the 2007-08 season ends, and the 2008-09 season begins, things will not only stay consistent, but programs and staffing will continue to be enhanced.

Peachtree City Youth Soccer Association’s select and recreation programs will now be operated under Peachtree City Lazers Soccer Club. The programs will be separated by the titles Lazers Select, Lazers Recreation, and Little Lazers. The new, classic black and white club logo will replace the two separate existing logos of the club.

Staff and Lazers Select
Dale Davis, who was in charge of the Boys’ side of the club in 2007-08, has been named the Director of Coaching and will oversee the coaches for Lazers Select, Lazers Recreation, and Little Lazers. Davis holds a current USSF National “A” License and National Youth License. Errol Lovell will continue in his role as the Girls’ Select Director. Lovell currently holds a current USSF National “A” License and National Youth License.

Chris Sewell, Edd Ciccone, Walter Espinoza, and LaVerne Jones will continue in their role as staff coaches. Director of Operations, Dan Esmond, will continue in his role in overseeing the operations of the club and working as a staff coach.

Peachtree City Lazers has also hired Laszlo Halmi on a full-time basis. Halmi, formerly the Director of Coaching at Manatee Magic in Bradenton, FL, holds the USSF National “A” License, has an extensive playing background, and worked with John Hackworth, the former U-17 United States Men’s National Team coach and other members of the U-17 Men’s National Staff during his time at Manatee Magic.

The Lazers Select team coaches have also been named for 2008-09. Chris Sewell will lead the Lazers ’95, ’99, and ’00 Girls. Laszlo Halmi will be responsible for the Lazers ’96 Girls, along with the Lazers ’99 and ’00 Boys. Walter Espinoza will be the head coach of the Lazers ’97 and ’98 Boys, LaVerne Jones will lead the Lazers ’92 Boys, and Dan Esmond will continue with the Lazers ’97 and ’98 Girls. Errol Lovell will take lead with the Lazers ’95 Boys, Lazers ’93 and ’94 Girls, and will lead all goalkeeping training.

Dale Davis, along with his Director of Coaching responsibilities, will have the head coaching responsibilities of the Lazers ’91 Girls and the Lazers ’94 and ’96 Boys.

The Lazers Select program has seen many successes over the past year. Accomplishments include, two select team promotions, a President’s Cup State Championship, a U12 Boys Academy Cup title, nine academy age tournament championships and eight more runners-up.

Lazers Select tryouts for the U9-U13 age groups will begin on May 27th. The U14-U19 tryouts will begin on Monday, June 9th. Please go to www.ptclazers.org/select for a complete list of dates.

Lazers Recreation, Little Lazers, and Lazers’ Little Kickers
Peachtree City Lazers Staff will be working more extensively with the club U5-U8 Recreation program. The U5-U8s will now be called, “Little Lazers”. “Little Lazers” will still work with volunteer coaches on Saturdays, but the volunteer coaches and their players will be training with the staff on a weekly basis to help develop player’s technical skills, as well as, further educate the program’s large volunteer coaching staff. The Little Lazers Program will be led by Chris Sewell and Laszlo Halmi.

The staff will also be offering different training options to the U9-U19 Lazers Recreation Program, including individual training and opportunities for team training as well. These sessions will be led by Dale Davis, Halmi, Sewell, Lovell, Ciccone, and the rest of the staff. For registration information on Lazers Recreation and Little Lazers, please go to the www.ptclazers.org front page for details. 

For the summer of 2008, the Lazers’ Recreation program will host “Monday Night Soccer” for U10 – U19 players at Glenloch. This no cost activity will start June 2nd from 6:00 – 7:30 pm and the format will be small sided games organized for player fun. Please go to www.ptclazers.org front page for details.

The Lazers’ Little Kickers program for 3 and 4 year olds will also continue in the fall. Dates will now be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the program runs in six-week cycles. To register, please go to www.ptclazers.org/Kickers.  

Lazers Summer Camps
Lazers will be offering several camps for the Recreation and Select programs in Summer 2008.

The Lazers’ Little Kickers camp for 5 and 6 year olds will take place from July 21-24 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM each day at the Kedron Gymnasium in Peachtree City.

Lazers Recreation Camps will be offered for 7-12 year olds from June 16-19, July 7-10, and July 21-24 at the Baseball Soccer Complex on GA-74 in Peachtree City.

Pro Player Camps are also being offered for Ages 13-16. For dates and information on all of our camps, please go to www.ptclazers.org/LDP.