It is pretty hard to argue that, from humble beginnings with a brand-new team, the Terremoto Black players born in 2013 or playing in that age group haven’t accomplished much in youth soccer.  Starting with a single team with players who had not played competitively before, the West Coast Soccer Club 2013 group began to grow after the initial team won the State Cup Bronze (B2) division, and in the Spring league moved up to win the Silver league championship.  As if that weren’t enough, the team moved up into the Gold division, and lo and behold, actually won the State Cup (G2) Championship, again.  With so many teams competing, this made the team accomplishment as back-to-back State Cup Champions something quite rare.

“We have been helped by great people in the club, and our positive approach to coaching the basic skills,” confided Coach Jim Langford, who returns again this year with his assistant Coach Curtis Aycock.  Langford has a national coaching license and a lot of success in previous coaching, and Aycock is a long-time coach and player who recently added a “D” coaching license to his extensive resume.  “We work really well together,” says Aycock, who will also take on another team this year, in the 2014 age group.  “With all we have gone through with our Terremoto teams, we have learned a lot and expect this new team in the 2014 age group to also do really well,” he says.

There would seem no reason to doubt that the Terremoto Black team can make another run at the State Cup championship, no easy task because it requires performing well in approximately nine games as the competition thins out, in a possible “three-peat”.  “We have fun in the league play,” says Langford, “and try to peak at the right time with all of what we teach to help the kids grow as players with good character who respect each other, the refs, the other team, and the game, regardless of the outcome.”  Said Aycock, “We believe that the self-image of the kids must be our major concern, so we don’t allow any negative at all.”  

The coaches credit the team success to the players, and also all the other teams they share under the Terremoto umbrella, because they try to share and expand the environment of goodwill, and soccer fun.  The two West Coast teams try to attend the same play dates or tournaments as possible, even if playing in different divisions.  Currently they are projected to provide any player a team for every skill or experience level, with teams in the premier Pre-NPL, Silver, and Bronze division levels.

But can the Terremoto Black Gold Pre-NPL repeat as State Cup Champs for a third time, in a row?  Coach Langford smiled, “Well, if you play smart, you can win, and we intend to play smart again this year, at least!”  As with most competitive teams, some players change and new players are added.  “We like to offer our kids the opportunity to play in different divisions over the year, so really like the flexibility that gives us to adjust players for their appropriate levels, maybe even on a game-by-game basis", Aycock added.  Both coaches are optimistic that all teams this year in the 2013 and 2014 age groups will be successful.  They noted it may not be possible to win every game of course, but they know that with changes they and the club have made to improve every year, as they have for the coming season, it certainly promises to be a great year and fun for all who participate!