- November 21, 2024
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The Flagler Soccer High School 7v7 summer league continues to grow each year. In its 2018 debut, the league had four teams with a total of 33 players.
This year, there are a total of 270 players participating on 20 teams — eight girls teams, eight varsity boys teams and four JV boys teams. The teams represent Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns counties.
The summer league opened its seven-week regular season on Saturday, June 3, at Indian Trails Sports Complex in Palm Coast. High school teammates play together, but their teams are not affiliated with their schools.
Flagler Palm Coast’s girls team has two entries in the summer league — the Hat Trick Girls and the Clean Sheet Crew. The FPC boys also have two teams entered, with the Royal Palms Soccer Club providing team shirts.
Matanzas also has two boys teams entered. The Seabreeze girls and Matanzas girls each have one team entered.
Gavin Ginnane, who operates both the Flagler Soccer adult 7v7 league and the high school league, said with a smaller field and fewer players, everyone has the opportunity for more touches on the ball.
“It’s fast-paced. Counter attacks can happen pretty quickly because it’s a small field,” Ginnane said.
Playoffs follow the regular season with every team guaranteed to play at least eight games during the summer, said FPC boys coach Ramtin Amiri, who runs the high school league.
It’s fast-paced. Counter attacks can happen pretty quickly because it’s a small field.” GAVIN GINNANE
Seabreeze girls soccer coach Eli Freidus said the league appears to be more competitive this year. Last year, there were just four girls teams.
“This is really good for foot skills and movement off the ball,” Freidus said. “It’s also good for fitness. You play full blast for five minutes, and then you’re off the field for five minutes. It’s fun.”
FPC JV girls coach Cat Bradley, who coached both of the Bulldogs’ girls teams, agreed that the league is a fun way to develop skills and give some incoming freshmen a chance to play with the older players.
“We do a lot in the summer. We condition three times a week and we lift weights,” Bradley said. “So, this is fun, but the girls are also super competitive. They were ready to go the day after we lost in districts.”