BUSA and Alabama FC 2020 All-Metro, All-State, All-Area Players.

Birmingham United and Alabama FC would like to say Thank you and Congratulations to everyone selected on the Birmingham Boys All-Metro High School Soccer Team, The Clarion-Ledger All-State Team, and PNJ All-Area Team. 

It’s a testament to your hard work, desire, and passion for the sport! We’re proud of your achievements!

• All-Senior First Team

  Name, School, Position

  Sam Bauder, Hoover, Forward

  Santiago Herrera, McAdory, Forward

  Carter Mock, Hoover, Defender

  Justin Fisher, Spain Park, Goalkeeper

  Mikhail Ramirez, Bob Jones

  Ian Krajna, Randolph

• All-Senior Second Team

  Name, School, Position

  Zach Martin, Oak Mountain, Forward

  Landon Surratt, Hewitt-Trussville, Midfield

  Anthony Alacantara, Helena, Midfield

  Topher LaRussa, John Carroll, Midfield

  Hardy Smith, Homewood, Midfield

  Chris Soto, Pinson Valley, Forward

  Dylan Steely, Hoover, Midfield

  Will Tidwell, Spain Park, Midfield

  Richard Ujueta, Hoover, Defender

  Alexei Royar, Grissom

• Honorable Mention

  Name, School, Year, Position

  Braxton Buckner, John Carroll, Forward

  Francisco Herrera, McAdory, Forward

  Kaleb Jowers, Spain Park, Forward

  James Becker, Oak Mountain, Midfield

  JT Carson, Helena, Midfield

  Jack Heaps, Mountain Brook, Midfield

  Daniel Kutsch, Altamont, Forward

  Michael Rowland, John Carroll, Midfield

  Andrew Thomason, Mountain Brook, Midfield

  Conner Warren, Spain Park, Midfield

  Hampton Pak, Altamont, Defender

  Whatley Thompson, Mountain Brook, Defender

  Chris Nettuno, Chelsea, Forward

  Matt Reinsch, Chelsea, Midfield

All-State Clarion Ledger Players

• All-State First Team

  Name, School, Position

  Luke Bryant, Clinton

  Santiago Diosa, Northwest Rankin,

  Heath Flathau, Sacred Heart,

   

• All-State Second Team

  Name, School, Position

  Cole Farrior, Madison Ridgeland

PNJ All-Area

• All-Area First Team

  Name, School, Position

  John Michael Guidroz, Washington,

*If you are missing off this list please email [email protected] thank you

Executive Director Andrew Brower was quoted:

“In the midst of bad news, I have made a point to always find and seek out the good news going on in our world the past weeks.  We know that the past month has been a challenge for everyone, but it is with great excitement that today I get to share some great news!

We are pleased to announce the 2020 Commitment Video for the class of 2020!  We have 50 players in the 2020 graduation class going to 30 different colleges and universities to play soccer at the collegiate level.  We are so proud of these athletes for their accomplishments and also recognize that more than half of these players spent their entire youth career at BUSA/Alabama FC.  Please take a moment to watch the video and be encouraged by this class, who has battled, clawed and fought to achieve and accomplish their goals.  Many of these players had their senior high school seasons ended by the COVID-19 outbreak, and they deserve a special round of congratulations and kudos.  We encourage you to like, share, comment so that our class of 2020 in this video and all of our other 2020 graduates from BUSA/Alabama FC know that they are loved and appreciated!”

Staying in the Game: Soccer Community Discussion Webinar

Youth soccer leaders are facing unprecedented obstacles and are rising to the challenge with innovative thinking, teamwork and new technology.

That was the message during Staying In the Game; Soccer Community Discussion on Wednesday April 8, where about 175 club administrators and coaches participated in a wide-ranging webinar on the future of the game in the face of Covid-19.

With the whole of the SOCCER.COM family experiencing the same challenges, we brought together the community to share experiences, guidance and understanding.

Panelists included Birmingham United Executive Director Andrew Brower, ECNL President Christian Lavers, Madison SC Director of Operations Tucker McKeever and Global Image Sports Development Manager and In-House Counsel Joe Davis.

“What (the pandemic) is forcing everyone to do is innovate as opposed to rely on the natural evolution of things,” said Davis, who works with Atletico Madrid, Wolverhampton Wonderers, West Ham United and other professional clubs across Europe to offer opportunities to US youth clubs.

“Thinking of this as an opportunity to find new ways to innovate is something we’ve been focusing on.”

For instance, GIS is putting on virtual Yoga Master Class sessions

The webinar covered both short- and long-term ramifications for clubs, ways to stay connected to players and coaching staffs during this time and the path forward once play resumes.

While much remains uncertain, the panelists looked for silver linings. For instance, using technologies like Zoom and soccer training apps to put in work now could build healthy habits for the future.

Lavers challenged ECNL coaches and players to keep improving with help from of web tutorials and other teaching content.

“You have more opportunity to consume more and learn more,” he said. “There’s tons of material out there, there are no secrets.

Hopefully what this will do is it will inspire people, whether it’s coaches or players, to do some of this stuff moving forward as life gets back to normal.”

McKeever highlighted the approach that Madison SC is using to keep players engaged, which he said is vital to avoiding a drop in participation when matches return.

Brower said Birmingham United is staying in touch with video training sets, game analysis and more, all while keeping a community feel in place.

The club is also focused beyond the field with programs to raise funds for nonprofits (Giving Tuesday), to write letters to medical professionals or to do another good deed (Serving Day Wednesday) and to buy gift cards and support local sponsors and vendors (Supporting Thursdays).

“I honestly think the team you have assembled are checking all of the boxes,” MA Youth Soccer TSL Program Manager Maureen LaRoche said of the webinar.

“The advice you are giving is being done with the utmost thought and empathy at every level.”

BUSA Members,

We hope each of you are navigating through these difficult circumstances with the affects of the Covid-19 virus.  As we trek through the next few weeks we wanted to create some initiatives for our membership that create positive impacts in our community.  When we deal with difficult situations, I have always felt led and called to serve others; to somewhat flip the script on doom and gloom to create an atmosphere of hope and love.  To that end, we are launching a 3 week initiative to help empower and enrich our communities!

Giving Tuesdays-

BUSA is a 501-C-3 non-profit as are two groups we work with and support during the calendar year in Restoration Academy and the King’s Home.  All three of these organizations provide great hope for those that are in need.  With your donation to BUSA we will give a split percentage of those donations to empower students at Restoration Academy in Fairfield and a percentage of donations to King’s Home to help provide daily services to the ranch that supports adolescents who have been abandoned by their parents.  During this economic crunch, non-profits are hit hard as they rely on donations to keep the doors open, and the light on, help us, help them by making any small donation to the Paypal link:   Click Here

Serving Wednesdays-

Each Wednesday we want to see your impact in your neighborhood and in your community. Even with the social distancing, there are a myriad of ways we can help make the world a better place.  Below are some examples of how we want to see you serve: Yard work for a neighbor or elderly person, picking up trash (with gloves), writing letters to nursing homes, calling nursing homes to speak with patients, washing your neighbor’s car.  These are are just a few ways we want to see you in your BUSA or Alabama FC Shirt on the next 3 Wednesdays serving others.

Supporting Thursdays-

Our Community businesses, restaurants, and shops need our support during the downturn.  We encourage and urge you to order take-out, pick-up, buy a gift card, make an online order to the businesses, shops and restaurants you would usually support with your business.  We encourage you to think of local businesses but also support our sponsors: Taziki’s, Martin’s BBQ, Soccer.com,  Soccer Post, Soccer Locker, Red Diamond, Pepsi/Buffalo Rock, Servis1st Bank, Dick’s Sporting Goods.

We want to see your pictures in your BUSA or Alabama FC Gear on each iniative.   It could be a player donating $5.00, a player cutting their neighbors grass or you and your family in your BUSA shirts supporting local businesses.  Send pictures to [email protected] and tag social hashtage #BUSAserves

We will select weekly winners for each week and be sending them gift cards.

In closing, we hope that you use this time to define who you are and what your family stands for, and it is our hope that as BUSA members we dominate GIVING, SERVING, and SUPPORTING like we dominate the opposition on the soccer field.  Defeat COVID-19!

Stay Strong,

Andrew Brower

Executive Director

Birmingham United Soccer Association

“Empower, Enrich and Excel”

Parents,

As a Players First licensed club, and in light of current events, we have a valuable opportunity to participate in a FREE, exclusive @home Virtual Skills Contest powered by TopYa!. This program enables us to keep both player health & safety AND player development as the top priorities they are, even in these challenging times.

Here’s how it works:

• Players watch exclusive P1 soccer skill videos in the TopYa! Soccer app, then they practice the skills and upload videos of them completing each skill.
• Each player receives personalized feedback on every video they submit from TopYa!’s expert team of Virtual Coaches.
• Players will get points for each approved skill video to climb the contest leaderboard for weekly prizes!

Step 1: Get the App

1. Go to https://app.topya.com/contests/p1-topya-spring-2020-skills-contest

2. Select the button labeled “Join the Contest,” and select our club

3. On the next screen, enter your phone number to receive a text message containing a link to download or open the TopYa! Soccer app (iOS or Android)
   

Step 2: Set Up Your Account

If you already have the TopYa! Soccer app and a Player account:

1. Following the text link will open the TopYa! Soccer app where you can log into your account
2. From the Invite Code screen, select the blue “Save” button at the bottom, then select your club
3. Go to the Skills Academy and get started!

If you do not have the TopYa! Soccer app and a Player account:

1. Following the link in the text message will direct you to download the app (App Store or Google Play)
2. Once you have the app, create a Player account*
3. Head to the Skills Academy and get started!

*NOTE: Any player under the age of 13 is required to be associated with a TopYa! Parent account, for COPPA compliance (safety and privacy). When a U13 or younger player downloads the app and creates an account, the parent will also be prompted to make an account. Once the Parent and Player accounts have been created, your child can participate in the contest! 

Step 3: Develop Your Skills

Once you’re in the Skills Academy, you’ll find exclusive P1 skills and other soccer skill videos. We’re excited to be able to offer this program, and to see each of you have fun spending time with the ball!

The fine print and important info:

• The contest runs March 16 through April 15
• While this is a free contest, there are in-app purchase options where players can purchase additional skills content to work on. Again, this is by no means required and most players will not even see the purchasable content options.
• Any player under the age of 13 is required to have an associated parent account in the TopYa! Soccer app. This is for safety and privacy compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

March 12th, 2020,

On behalf of Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA) we have released the following update on the CoronaVirus (COVID-19) based on consultation with local, state and regional officials to best serve the members of BUSA.

Based on the most recent developments that have occurred within the past 24-48 hours BUSA has made the following decisions effective Thursday, March 12th at 3:30 P.M., with the utmost respect to the health of our membership in hopes of limiting the potential exposure to the virus.

-All Games, Practices, Individual Sessions and other BUSA related activities have been canceled until March 30th, the Monday after our Spring Break Week in Birmingham.  This includes any activities tonight ( and this weekend with tournaments, LDL Academy, Competitive ASA League Games, SCCL Games, ECNL and all other practices at the Recreational and Intramural levels.    Each league is issuing statements practical towards your competition level and we intend all games will be played in a reasonable time table later this spring.

-We will continue to evaluate and monitor future developments with the COVID-19 Virus,  and post updated information as needed, but it is our hope and goal is to resume full operations for all activities on Monday, March 30th.  We will monitor and communicate with the membership during the next few weeks with updates.

-If you are receiving this as a Recreational player or parent, we plan to resume all operations after spring break and play the season in its entirety.

We will continue to follow the guidance from the CDC, local and state agencies as we monitor this situation.

Thanks for your patience and we hope everyone stays safe during the next few weeks.

BUSA Director Staff

Below you will find the great offers to our paricipants and members.

RED DIAMOND CLASSIC 2020

Red Diamond has been a big part of the growth of youth soccer in Alabama. We welcome them back for the 22nd Red Diamond Classic.

We want to take a moment and thank our 2020 RDC sponsors.

Martins BBQ, Tazikis, Greater Birmingham & Visistors Bureau and Dicks Sporting Goods.

Thank you for your support.

Below you will find the great offers to our paricipants and members.

SoccerWire has revealed the first-ever girls edition of a new series highlighting the top youth soccer clubs in the United States. Today’s installment features the SoccerWire Top 100 Girls Soccer Clubs BUSA/ Alabama FC came in at #60.

Here is what Executive Director Andrew Brower said ”BUSA is thrilled to receive such positive praise as one of the top 100 female soccer clubs in the country.  This list reads as a who’s who amongst soccer giants in our country and we are honored and humbled to be recognized, and listed alongside some of the best clubs in our country.  Our success is no accident, as evidenced by over 30 female players from the 2020 class continuing to play soccer at the collegiate level in addition to the more than 300 players who have played at the college level the past decade.  We see success through these players accomplishments but also through the thousands of female players who power their high school programs to new altitudes, and help to leave a permanent mark in the framework of soccer in Alabama and in our region.  Success is a byproduct of so many positive and dedicated coaches/directors providing consistent, excellent service coupled with so many wonderful players and families who have loyally dedicated themselves to BUSA.”

With a primary focus on the American soccer player development landscape, SoccerWire’s club ranking process emphasizes the importance of regularly placing players in the U.S. National Team talent pool, combined with on-field success in the most elite levels of the youth game. Clubs that produce high volumes of professional players and blue chip college soccer prospects are also rewarded in the selection process.

For all clubs wishing to provide additional information on the best aspects of their organization, SoccerWire is currently accepting feedback from clubs on a new Top 100 Youth Soccer Clubs Survey Form.

To be among the first to be notified of each monthly Top 100 list, follow SoccerWire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Continue reading to see clubs No. 1-20, and follow the links below to view the full SoccerWire Top 100 Girls Soccer Clubs for February 2020.

Click Here to read an analysis of the Top 100 Clubs.

RED DIAMOND CLASSIC.

Red Diamond Classic Soccer Tournament Returns for 22nd year!

BUSA

Advanced Training Program.

Advanced Training Program  click here

The Advanced Training Program is a program designed for Recreational Players ages 6-8 in the North and South. Open to 6 to 10 in Alabaster.  ATP is a program for the player who wants a soccer practice in addition to those already scheduled with their Recreational Teams.  These extra training sessions will be conducted by BUSA Academy Program coaches who are licensed and trained to work with children these ages.

NOW IN THREE LOCATIONS!

• North – Rathmell Sports Park 3577 East St, Birmingham, AL 35243

• South – Sports Blast, 19220 Hwy 280 Birmingham, AL 35242

• Alabaster – Larry Simmons Stadium, 100 Warrior Drive, Alabaster, Alabama, 35007

North and South Spring Dates:

Wednesday’s

North – 6:30 -7:30 PM

South – 5:30 – 6:30 PM

March, 11 & 18

April 1, 8, 15 & 22

COST: $60

Alabaster Spring Dates:

*Alabaster ATP will be open to 6 to 10 year olds (All players welcome regardless of club affiliation)

6:00 – 7:15 PM

Wednesday’s

April 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd

COST: $50

Want to join? Register through our system by clicking here!

All Recreational Coaches are invited to attend these sessions as a coaching education opportunity!