Rising U9 Boys teams: Ashburn Magic Gold and Black 

Coaches Dave Lazorchak and Jim Mensah are excited to be forming the Ashburn Magic Boys U9 travel soccer teams.  These new teams will emphasize player development and passion for soccer.   The program is designed to produce creative and dynamic players that possess a sound technical base.  

Coach Jim is a rising talent among the fraternity of coaches and trainers in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC metropolitan area.  Coach Jim has learned from the legendary and Hall of fame Coach Gordon Bradley formerly of the New York Cosmos and George Mason University ’s Men’s Soccer team. Jim has also worked with local coaches like Bill Moravek, and is part of the Sampson Soccer trainers.  Professionally, Jim has trained teams and individuals in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC area.  His coaching resume includes: coach of the Loudon County High school Boys Junior Varsity and Varsity teams, coach of Ashburn Lightning ( Boys U-17), and coach of 2000-2002 edition of the Loudon Blackhawk’s. Coach Jim has also trained individuals in preparation for play in Division I & Division III NCAA soccer.

Coach Jim is now the head coach of the Ashburn Magic a dynamic new U-9 boys team from Ashburn Soccer Club. Coach Jim creates functional drills that make training fun as well as educational.  He focuses on existing player strengths and works hard with students each session to improve known technical weaknesses.  Aside from his coaching experience, Jim is also a 5^th grade teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools. Clearly, Jim enjoys working with young players and they enjoy working with him. Every team coach has coached has seen improvements in skill level, win total, and or a promotion to a higher level in their league. Please allow your child the opportunity to work with this young and energetic coach and his staff by allowing your child to try out for the Magic.

Coach Dave has been a part of Loudoun County youth soccer coaching for over 6 years.  He has coached at the House, Challenge and Travel levels.  He holds a USSF National D coaching license.   He has played soccer at the youth, high school, college and adult levels and was also a soccer referee.  He continues to enjoy the game by playing on two adult league indoor soccer teams.    He believes that a U9 travel level team should be one with players who wish to place a greater emphasis on soccer in order to further develop skills in a more competitive environment, yet still stresses sportsmanship and fun.  U9 travel level coaches should have a commitment to teaching their players the skills and tactics of soccer while providing them with the best opportunities to learn the sport in competition.  Dave teaches that the game of soccer is about teamwork and fosters the bonds that grow between players with team building activities. Winning and losing is de-emphasized, with the emphasis instead placed on skill building, sportsmanship and enjoyment.

The Ashburn Magic will bring together players of different abilities and skills and will develop like-minded players with similar approach to the game.  The team trains 2 or 3 times weekly from mid-August through the end of the following July (with short breaks in between seasons). This academy program will teach its players the skills and attitude necessary to grow individually as players and compete weekly as a team.  

The coaches will teach and develop players to have the confidence, and the technical ability to enjoy the game.   At least one weekly session will include the entire combined U9 boys group.  A professional trainer may also be a part of the weekly sessions. 

Tryouts will be held for the Fall 2008-Spring 2009 seasons. (Players born after 08/01/99-07/31/00 are eligible to tryout, although slightly younger may be considered.) 

Contact AshburnMagic@aol.com for additional tryout dates.