Tryouts begin for Wheaton travel soccer club

The Wheaton Wings Competitive Travel Soccer Club will be holding tryouts for the boys’ and girls’ team starting May 7 and running through May 24 at Seven Gables Park in Wheaton.

The Wheaton Wings first formed in 1978 and spent 25 years as the community’s premier soccer program before disbanding in 2003. The Wheaton Park District brought it back in 2008 after receiving an overwhelming interest from residents.

During the 2017-2018 season, the older teams set the highest standard by qualifying for and participating in top leagues and tournaments for the first time in the history of the program.

“The Wings are amazing because of our international coaching staff, the diversity of our players, top of the line facilities and fields and highly dedicated parent managers and parent assistant coaches,” Club President Toni Giovenco said. “Our players have a very strong work ethic, have a great sense of pride and play with passion.”

Giovenco has playing experience from the University of St. Francis, Team Elmhurst, Olympic Development Program and more in addition to being certified as a Park and Recreation Professional, Youth Sports Administrator and a USSF certified coach. Her professional training staff comes from one of the top training organizations in Northern Illinois, the Future Pros Inc. They take a holistic approach to developing players on and off the field, striving to reach higher levels of play.

In addition to the professional training staff, all of the parent assistant coaches are USSF certified. They volunteer at every game and attend one training session a week. Parent managers are the communication components as they are responsible for getting the word out when a practice is cancelled or moved, a rescheduled game, and changes to the league or referee assigner.

All new and returning players must tryout each year. Tryouts are a two day process and all players must attend both days in order to be eligible for placement. Future Pros conducts the tryouts and establishes the final determination on team placement. Player selection and team placement will be based on the trainer’s evaluations for returning players and tryout evaluations for all players.

For more information on tryouts and the Wheaton Wings, visit wheatonwings.com.