Vestavia Hills Soccer Club gearing up for 35th season

From a humble beginning in 1979 when Dennis and Libby Pantazis founded the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club to today, with a robust player roster exceeding 1,200, the club expects its 35th season to be its strongest yet.

“Both the girls’ and boys’ programs have grown so much in the past several years, turning out state champions every year,” said VHSC General Manager Jason Woodall, who grew up playing the sport in nearby Mountain Brook. “This does not happen without a great community supporting you. The city’s Parks and Rec has been especially wonderful, helping support our mission and foster interest in the development of a city supported soccer program.”

He added that low turnover within VHSC leadership has helped sustain the program’s caliber.

“As far as player development, personal development for the kids, trying to teach them to be good people — these are principles that have defined VHSC since its inception, and the fact that we’ve honored that theme has a lot to do with why we’ve been the same strong club since we started.”

Apart from that leadership, for which Woodall gives longtime Vestavia resident and soccer devotee Joan Rein ample credit, as well as other key administrators including Beth Winston and Gala Camp, he said VHSC differentiates itself through their balance of recreational versus competitive play.

He cites the club’s bridge program as a popular example of that balance.

“It’s evident throughout our program, starting with Mini-Kickers, which we offer to U4 and U5 age categories, and it runs all the way up to the teen years, with our bridge program. That program, while not fully competitive, helps give players an idea of what competitive league play is all about. When you bridge, you are training three times a week, and you can really focus on the skill development required at the next level.”

With a player roster that is a near 50/50 split of competitive to recreational play (there are currently 650 competitive league players), VHSC supporters appear to be in step with what the program offers.

And while the club has enjoyed a storied past of championship wins, Woodall said the spoils are secondary to their mission.

“We’re not just trying to win everything,” Woodall said. “We are interested in teaching kids how to be good people and good soccer players all at the same time.”

VHSC boasts a 90 percent player retention rate, which Woodall views as a positive report card on the club’s approachability and its fun factor.

“When we lose them, it’s typically to other sports,” he said, adding that competition hits its peak in middle school. “All the better athletes are doing multiple competitive sports. But beyond player retention in our sport, there are much bigger issues in the broader realm of youth development and athletics in general. Everything is more competitive. Coaches are demanding more from their students. You see a lot of injuries from overuse. In some cases, you see kids who are treated like professional athletes — they are doing more in training than a pro. That’s not what we’re about.”

By contrast, Woodall said VHSC focuses on personal development of the individual as a player.

“It’s a great opportunity, and there is really no right or wrong age to begin,” he said. “Soccer is a great sport in that regard. It teaches so many different principles — working with others, teamwork, commitment, dedication and, most importantly, fun.”

VHSC is currently in its 2014 spring enrollment process. To learn more about the Vestavia Hills Steamers (boys’ teams) and the Vestavia Hills Attack (girls’ teams), visit vestaviasoccer.com.