Brandon FC Named Best Rec Soccer Club In State By FYSA

They have plenty of triumphs on the field, but Brandon FC took home a significant honor off it earlier this month when the club was named the Florida Youth Soccer Association’s (FYSA) Recreational Club of the Year.

The Brandon club, with 3,000 members in the Greater Brandon area, picked up the honor at the FYSA’s annual general meeting at the Walt Disney Coronado Resort on Aug. 3-5 in Orlando.

The three-day meeting kicks off the new FYSA season with educational workshops, proposed rule changes and recognition and draws all the state’s major youth soccer clubs.

The award was presented to the BAYSL staff for the “exceptional commitment displayed towards classic programs.”

"It's quite an honor for us," said Rocco Pecora, Brandon FC's director of classic soccer, or recreational soccer as it is better known. "It's recognition for the kids and the club that we are doing things right. It’s about the foundation of our club.”

Part of that strong foundation are the different levels of instruction offered by Brandon FC, Pecora said.

The club offers recreational soccer leagues in the fall, winter and spring catering to all levels and ages of players.

“We also have introductory programs for kids who are just learning the game and programs that identify kids who want to improve," Pecora said. "We are grooming kids to advance in the sport. We even have Europeans come here who see our setup and think we are a professional club.”

Pecora has been involved with youth soccer development for nearly three decades. He coaching experience ranges from the high school to international level. He has also worked with the Dutch Federation as well as Manchester United Football Club Youth Director Rene Muelensteen.

Brandon FC offers six major “classic” events designed to be fun for the players while teaching character and values:

• The Fall Classic Season is a mini season designed to provide an opportunity for recreational players to play an early season after a long summer break.
• The Winter Classic Season is the main attraction within the recreational calendar and features an opportunity for each player to meet new friends and learn the game from recreational coaches.
• The Senior Classic Season allows older BAYSL players a chance to play other area clubs in a recreational environment.
• The Spring Classic Season offers small-sided games in an informal atmosphere designed for player development. 
• The Brandon Cup is the largest and oldest recreational tournament in Florida. Last year, more than 100 teams participated in this event.
• The Fall and Spring Bridge Academies offer developing recreational players an enhanced learning environment as an introduction to competitive soccer.

In other Brandon FC news:

• Following a third place finish in their inaugural campaign, the U17 girls from Brandon were selected for their second US Youth Soccer National League season. Competition begins Dec. 1 in Atlanta. The winner of the National League receives a berth in the US Youth Soccer National Championship.
• Three Brandon FC U14 players — Raheem Taylor Parkes, Julian Hall and Chase Hovious — were selected to attend the U.S. Soccer National training camp in California at the Home Depot Center.

For more information on the club, call 813-684-5948 or visit the Brandon FC website.