SOCCERNATION.COM ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SPORTSPLEX

April 5, 2011 (San Diego's East County) – SoccerNation.com, which provides Southern California’s most in-depth coverage of recreational, competitive and professional soccer, will soon add indoor soccer  reporting through a partnership with Sportsplex, which has indoor soccer facilities in Santee and Poway.  

The sport, often referred to as arena soccer, is played either indoors or outdoors on a hockey-style rink with natural or synthetic turf flooring. Indoor soccer, in one form or another, has been played in San Diego County for over 40 years. Popularity of the San Diego Sockers throughout the 80’s sparked a significant growth of indoor soccer recreational participation. The resurgence and recent success of our current San Diego Sockers has continued to add to the increase in participation.

There are currently ten facilities in San Diego County which offer indoor soccer leagues. Nearly 100,000 players are actively playing in weekend and weeknight leagues. Players are never too young or too old to play; players ages 3 to 75 enjoy the sport on a weekly basis.

Indoor soccer continues to be popular for a number of reasons. It’s played in a “hockey style” arena which allows for much more action, quicker pace to the game, more touches on the ball, and an easier understanding of offensive and defensive strategy. Additionally, the sport is less intimidating for older, beginner players to make the effort to learn a new sport. The rules are simple, the equipment required is inexpensive and there are leagues for players of all skills and abilities. Indoor Soccer really is a sport for everyone!

Sportsplex USA, with locations in Poway and Santee, offer the largest recreational indoor soccer leagues in San Diego County. Both facilities have two state-of-the-art indoor soccer arenas and offer leagues seven days a week. Sportsplex USA currently has over 200 adult league teams and 2500 youth and adult players playing at both locations. When SoccerNation.com made the decision to begin covering indoor soccer, it was only logical to begin working with Sportsplex USA.

Diane Scavuzzo, President and CEO of SoccerNation.com said “SoccerNation.com is dedicated to promoting and advancing the sport of Soccer in Southern California. Soccer is a way of life and with the increasing popularity of Indoor Soccer, and the success of our local professional team the San Diego Sockers winning national championship, we want to expand our current coverage.” Scavuzzo said, “We are very excited to form a collaborate partnership with Sportsplex USA. Their facilities are beautiful and they have the largest indoor soccer leagues in the county.”

Chris Vertrees, Marketing Director for Sportsplex USA said, “SoccerNation.com is a great forum for soccer lovers in San Diego County. We see a tremendous opportunity to continue to grow our leagues and allow current outdoor soccer players an opportunity to try indoor soccer. SoccerNation’s news coverage on adult teams will be widely read by our players.” Vertrees continued to add, “With the help of SoccerNation.com, we would like to show that you’re never too old or too inexperienced to try the sport of indoor soccer. There has never been a better time to get off the treadmill and get on a team playing in one of our fun men’s, women’s or coed leagues.” Bill Berghoff, President of Sportsplex USA said, “Indoor Soccer has shown very exciting growth in San Diego. We are excited to work with SoccerNation.com.”

SoccerNation.com and Sportsplex USA will begin their partnership by marketing their new programs for youth and adult players. These new programs will be designers for beginner players, current outdoor players and current military to the sport of indoor soccer. They will promote and offer beginner level programs for parents whose children currently play Mighty Mite soccer at Sportsplex USA. Additionally, they will work with the military to facility a Memorial Weekend Indoor Soccer tournament at both Sportsplex USA Poway and Santee.

These are just a few of the many programs and events that SoccerNation.com and Sportsplex USA plan to promote and facilitate during their partnership. SoccerNation also will hold a contest for the best indoor player action shots. For more information on how to submit your picture and win a free team fees for a season at Sportsplex USA email indoorsoccer@SoccerNation.com

The first major event that will occur as a result of this partnership will be an Armed Services Appreciation Indoor Soccer Tournament happening on Saturday, May 21. Sportsplex USA will facilitate a men’s and coed open indoor soccer tournament with live entertainment, celebrity appearances, and a commencement address from one of our military representatives. This event will be open to all active and non-active duty military and civilians. For more information on this event, please contact Chris Vertrees at chris.vertrees@sportsplexusa.com

Said Scavuzzo, “With the San Diego Sockers having won two championships, we are very excited to add indoor soccer to SoccerNation.com. We took a very large step towards our ultimate goal of advancing the sport of soccer in Southern California.”