OGRCC Announces Plans to Enhance the Travel Soccer Program

OGRCC (Old Greenwich – Riverside Community Center) is excited to announce the addition of Alistair Lonsdale and Coerver CT to head up the OGRCC Girls’ U9-12 Thunder Travel Soccer program beginning with the Fall 2019 season. He brings 19 years of expertise in developing youth soccer players with the main focus on the development of female players. He will join two coaching directors (Mickey Kydes and Kurt Putnam) to complete and strengthen the OGRCC travel soccer program.

Alistair Lonsdale has been involved in the Greenwich community for the past ten years primarily as the Greenwich Academy varsity head coach. He has led GA’s soccer teams to impressive records over the past ten years. Under his leadership, they have won over 100 games, won the Fairchester Athletic Association League and Tournament multiple times and also made the New England Tournament five times. “Since I started at Greenwich Academy I have been waiting for an opportunity to run a Greenwich program. I’m thrilled to be able to put my heart and soul into making the OGRCC Girls Thunder Soccer program the best program around,” said Lonsdale.

Lonsdale develops his soccer program under the Coerver Coaching method – a world leader in skills coaching around the globe. The Coerver way focuses on skill, speed, sense, strength, and spirit to train young players. It has proven very successful around the globe and especially in developing young female soccer players.

Soccer often plays an important part in the social dynamic of girls. It provides identity, new friendships and makes girls confident in life. This demand for girls soccer has been growing by leaps and bounds at the OGRCC.

OGRCC Executive Director Tom Casazzone said, “Alistair Lonsdale brings a wealth of soccer knowledge and experience to our travel soccer program, especially in developing girls. His passion and enthusiasm for the game of soccer are contagious. Our organization is fortunate to have him help us lead and develop this growing segment.”

“Solidifying a partnership with a dedicated girls coaching director enables us to offer a complete soccer offering to the community. We can now develop players from recreational soccer to competitive soccer using different methods that work best by gender and age group. Our highly qualified coaching directors each bring something unique to our program. Together they enable us to offer the community one of the most complete soccer programs from ages 3 through high school,” said Kirk Schubert, President of the Old Greenwich-Riverside Community Center.

For fall 2019/2020, the OGRCC’s complete soccer offering will include:

Recreational Soccer (Ages 3-12) – Under the direction and leadership of Mickey Kydes Soccer.

Boys Thunder Soccer (U9 – U12) – Under the direction and leadership of Mickey Kydes Soccer.

Girls Thunder Soccer (U9 – U12) NEW! – Under the direction and leadership of Alistair Lonsdale and Coerver CT.

Boys & Girls Greenwich United Soccer (U12 – U17) – Under the direction and leadership of Kurt Putnam.

Tryouts for the 2019/2020 season will take place in May 2019. A schedule and registration can be found online at myogrcc.org. Players need to pre-register prior to attending tryouts. To learn more about the OGRCC programs, visit their website at myogrcc.org or call the office at 203-637-3659.