SOUTHSIDE HEAT SOCCER
Package Presentation Continued
Members of the Southwest Atlanta’s Tiger Soccer Club, the Heat has risen to athletic prominence over the better part of a decade. Ranked in the state of Georgia and among the leaders in Athena U15 Competitive Soccer, it marches into fall season play after registering an undefeated 2014 fall campaign.
While competitive clubs they routinely play against, and defeat, are oft times financially driven, the Heat’s focus is motivated by true passion. That, along with a longing desire to improve each and every time their cleats settle into the soil to engage another squad.
Prior to the sudden popularity and interest in soccer, perhaps initiated by the 2015 US Women’s World Cup victory this summer, The Heat established itself as a tough, nose to the grind bunch with an undying passion for the game.
While the Heat has gained notoriety and acclaim for its on the field performance, its chemistry is something that was established before many of the girls were presented with their first homework assignment(s). Since joining the Tiger Soccer Club as a complete group after bolting from another less competitive organization, the Heat has essentially grown up together, as sisters.
“What makes them special is their cohesiveness,” said Ronald Freeman, President of the Tiger Soccer Club. “They’re friends. They do well in school. They come from very [supportive families] and they love to play soccer. I think that they have been a great representation of girls’ soccer in South Fulton and they’ve encouraged a lot of other young ladies to consider soccer.”
For Press and Media Inquiries Please Contact
Juanita Stephens – JS Media Relations
For Additional Information On the Southside Heat Please Contact
Reginald Askew – Southside Heat Head Coach
CANNED FEATURE EXCUSIVE
The World Can’t Wait
Words: N. Ali Early
The ride into Georgia Soccer Park is an isolated and serene one. A single lane highway dressed with road forks that lead to ubiquitous open fields and new developments, either of which sit on historic land – an ambling driver might miss his turn. The focused motorist on the other hand, catches the quick turn into the hallowed area, decelerating for what comes next. As far as the eye can see, a well-manicured field is beset by construction complete with a graveled path for all comers. The irony of the environment is telling.
Off in the distance of the massive parking lot that is currently being resurfaced, the Southside Heat – a happy go lucky and very determined team of secondary students – is absorbing Hotlanta’s relentless rays. Sure, it’s their offseason, but this is a testament to their love of their favorite game. Moreover, it represents a rare opportunity to learn from an Olympic Developmental coach who’s shared his professional insight with some of the most accomplished athletes in the world.
While football, baseball, basketball and track routinely capture the minds and bodies of African American kids in most urban communities across the country, this bunch prefers to kick around a white ball with black hexagons. Since the 1st or 2nd grade, when most were players of another local soccer club – their bond began to form. Over the years and especially since opting to free themselves of recreational play for favor of travel leagues and competitive Classic level soccer, the Heat have emerged as one of the more spectacular teams in South Fulton’s Tiger Soccer Club. (http://www.tigersoccerclub.com/).
So it only makes sense that they are here – training, committing and dedicating themselves to another season – something they’ve done together, for the past seven years. It’s a weeklong camp meant to introduce new skills, schemes and tactics, while reinforcing many good habits that they have already perfected. Led by former Georgia State Women’s Head Coach Dominic Martelli and Norcross High School’s Frank Pitts, it’s a frenetic pace that even wears on its spectators.
“All we wanna do is put the ball in the back of the net and keep it out of ours,” says Coach Frank, who was recently named the Boys Varsity Coach at Norcross High. “To do that you need to be able to control the ball. A lot of people say ‘trap,’ but it’s really ‘control the ball’ or ‘receive the ball’ and then pass. You need to be able to dribble under control and do that quicker at the higher level.”
The schemes taught by the camp coaches this week are ones that are typically carried out at National Training Centers, which welcome All American Collegiate athletes and professionals, for that matter.
Unsurprisingly, The Heat, who went undefeated last season under its head coach, Reggie Askew, embraced the drills wholeheartedly and were a pleasant surprise to either guest. While some would point to the U.S. Women’s recent championship run at the World Cup as the source of their motivation, the Heat has a camaraderie on and off the field that was intact long before the summer of 2015.
“We’ve all been together for a really long time, so we know each other and we’re like a big family,” says fourteen-year-old defensive ace Trinity Kelly, who’s been a team member since the 3rd grade. “We all know how to play together because we’ve been together for [so long]. We’re all like sisters. We’re all really close friends and we just love playing with each other.”
The rarity of what they have done is easily the most adorable part of their story. Built from the grass up, player by player, with as little as a pool of fourteen to choose from, their recognition of each other is second nature. If nothing else, the Southside Heat has built an inseparable bond that will carry them through their formative years and beyond. Chances are, they’ve done much more and it’s only a matter of time before the world discovers just how rare this group of girls is.
“The real story is what those girls have been able to do with themselves,” Coach Askew affirms. “The way they represent themselves. They’re strong and competitive, have high self-esteem.
“To me they’re just a terrific group of young ladies and something we should all be proud of. It’s fascinating.”
The world can’t wait.
PRESS COVERAGE
Hometown feature in top 10 daily newspaper, 2 exclusive canned feature story placements in leading weekly African-American hometown newspaper, (syndicated in 15 markets), global wire pick-up, top syndicated radio interview (reaching 37 markets), premiere spiritual-based community news and video coverage, Facebook/twitter postings, and local blog coverage in both print and digital media outlets. Story placements were secured in the following sections of the media outlets: lifestyle and sports features.
Atlanta Journal Constitution Daily News
http://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-atlanta-journal-constitution/20150918/281977491413386/TextView
Rolling Out Weekly Newspaper
Atlanta's all-girl soccer team: The world can't wait - Rolling Out
rollingout.com/2015/08/18/atlantas-girl-soccer-team-world-cant-wait/
Aug 18, 2015 11:50 AM by Rolling Out. Photo courtesy: Southside Heat. The ride into Georgia Soccer Park is an isolated and serene one. A single lane highway ...
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Rolling Out Weekly Newspaper
This all-girl soccer team in Atlanta slays - Rolling Out
rollingout.com/2015/08/19/girl-soccer-team-atlanta-slays/
Photo courtesy: Southside Heat. THE SOUTHSIDE HEAT Atlanta's Teen Female Soccer Team. The urban community
Sporty Girls, Inc. - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/sportygirlsinc
[Atlanta] Level The Coding Field Youth Hackathon | Sept 26-27 | NEEDED: Minority 8th - 10th Graders +.... This all-girl soccer team in Atlanta slays - Rolling Out.
The Burton Wire Global News
Black Girls Play Soccer: Atlanta's Southside Heat | The...
theburtonwire.com/2015/.../black-girls-play-soccer-atlantas-southside-he...
Sep 17, 2015 - In July 2015, the U.S. women's soccer team won the World Cup in front of a record-breaking television ... Members of the 2015 Southside Heat girls soccer team. ....
Damzel In Distress Blog
damzelindistress.blogspot.com/2015_08_01_archive.html
Aug 1, 2015 - THE SOUTHSIDE HEAT Atlanta's Teen Female Soccer Players. On a national platform, the US Women's' Soccer team has dominated and we can't get enough of the girl ... Damzel In Distress: Atlanta, Georgia
C Magazine/Sports Blog
The Southside Heat Atlanta’s Teen Female Soccer Players
Melissa Stewart August 31, 2015 Sports
http://www.thecmagazine.com/?p=2045
Black Men In America-Washington DC Blog
http://blackmeninamerica.com/african-american-teenage-girls-opt-for-soccer/
All About Youth (AAU) Magazine/Whitney Johnson Foundation
SYNDICATED RADIO INTERVIEW
SiriusXM Sports Syndicated Radio Interview Broadcast in 37 Markets
Southside Heat appearance on BOXTOROW Lunch w/ Donal Ware on SiriusXM Channel 141
SPIRITUAL BASED – COMMUNITY NEWS
Gospel Tribune
Atlanta’s Premiere spiritual-based community news is scheduled to post a feature story on Friday, October 9, 2015. The video portion of the live interview taped Georgia Soccer Park is scheduled to post in their fourth quarter issue.