Column: Shorelines

Courtesy of Kim Chitwood

Members of the SML Jets listen to Coach Scott Dawson as they get ready to start the second practice of the season.

Members of the SML Jets will wear this patch on their uniforms.

As summer winds down and kids are getting ready to go back to school, so begins the start of the fall sports season. It's also the debut of the SML Jets, the lake's first travel soccer club.

"The key to success is we've got to keep it fun," said Scott Dawson, the team's head coach and club director. Dawson has six years experience coaching recreational league soccer.

According to its website, "Smith Mountain Lake Soccer Club shall operate an open/developmental travel soccer program for boys and girls in our area to eliminate the stress of long drives to other areas just for practices, which can be burdens for players and families. We believe this will open opportunities for more youth in our area to participate at a higher level of soccer."

The idea for creating a travel soccer club came from a series of events. While Dawson's players enjoyed playing rec league soccer together under his tutelage, they also wanted to play more competitive teams as they continued honing their skills.

"Our team went undefeated four out of the last five seasons," said Dawson. "We teach kids the technical skills they need and build up their self-esteem and confidence to help them succeed. So when the game starts, the kids just shine."

To see what his players could do, Dawson took them to Roanoke to compete against one of the travel teams there.

"That's when we realized, 'Hey, we can hang with these guys,'" said Dawson.

The group applied for non-profit status, created bylaws and club rules, elected a board of directors and, in a weekend, Dawson became a certified travel-soccer coach. The newly formed club is part of the larger Blue Ridge Classic League, which is affiliated with the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, a member of the U.S. Youth Soccer Association and the U.S. Soccer Federation, all of which are sanctioned by FIFA.

Dawson and two other certified coaches, Tom Hunt and Brian Alcorn, held tryouts in June and now have a total of 20 players who are divided into two teams. Players began practicing earlier this month to get ready for their first game during the weekend of Sept. 11.

One of the challenges Dawson has been faced with is finding a suitable practice location. Practices are currently held at Dudley Elementary School, but because that's where rec league soccer practices are held, the team will have to move.

"I would love to find someone who has a similar vision for kids and youth in this area that has a field that they will let us use or even donate. We might even get to the point we can lease something in the future," said Dawson, who anticipates that by having other teams come to the lake to play, it could result in an economic boost to the area.

This fall, the Jets are scheduled to play a total of eight games, four at home and four away in areas including Danville, Martinsville, Roanoke and Radford and possibly two out-of-town tournaments. After the winter break, the club will gear up for the spring season, which runs from March to May.

While the cost to play travel club soccer isn't exactly cheap, playing for the Jets costs less than playing for other area travel clubs, said Dawson. The cost per player for this current season is $350, which covers league dues, players' insurance and other associated costs.

"We do have a limited number of scholarships available for kids who really can't afford it," said Dawson. "We want to give every opportunity available to kids that want to play."

For that reason, the club recently hosted fundraising events including car washes and benefit breakfasts.

Teaching kids to love the game is important to Dawson and is the mission of the club.

"If you want to get better, you've got to make them want to do it," he said. "Sadly, 70 percent of players quit by the age of 13 because it's no longer fun."

According to the club's website, "Our focus is to teach each child fundamental soccer techniques so that they feel comfortable in a game. As they get older, their skill level and knowledge of the game will increase because of their own love for the game."

For more information about the Smith Mountain Lake Soccer Club, visit www.smlsoccer.com or e-mail Scott Dawson at jetssoccercoach@gmail.com.