RECAP: Gulf States College Showcase 2019
In a partnership between the Gulf States Premier League, Snap Soccer, and the Alabama Soccer Referee Committee, the conclusion of the 2019 season ended with an inaugural college soccer showcase in Foley, AL.
Travel soccer teams from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida participated in the Gulf States College Showcase in Foley, AL, for players looking to play soccer in college. Hosted on the pristine fields of the Foley Sports Tourism Complex, collegiate coaches observed players for future recruitment. U14 and U15 teams played in a tournament format with a final, and U16+ teams played in a showcase format. As opposed to the level of competitive play that these teams would normally compete, teams focused on showcasing individual player skills and their ability to make strategic, clean plays. Some of the best private and public colleges sent their soccer program representatives to the showcase to observe player talent. Snap Soccer would like to recognize and thank the following colleges for attending the Gulf States College Showcase:
- Alabama State University
- Belhaven University
- Faulkner University
- Huntingdon College
- Itawamba Community College
- Mississippi College
- Mississippi Valley State University
- Paris Junior College
- Piedmont College
- Spring Hill College
- Talladega College
- Thomas University
- University of Louisiana-Lafayette
- University of North Alabama
- University of SC Beaufort
- University of West Alabama
- University of West Florida
Regional Referee Academy at the College Showcase
In a partnership with Snap Soccer and the Alabama Soccer Referee Committee, the Gulf States Showcase also hosted a Regional Referee Academy to help educate and instruct the top referees in the region. Hand-picked officials, selected by the Alabama Soccer Referee Committee (ASRC) coordinators, Ryan Campbell, Michael Montgomery, and Kris Bailey officiated the matches. The 2019 event hosted referees from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Over the course of the weekend, officials were mentored by six instructors with high-level national qualifications. On the matches, the Referee Academy instructors observed and refined the referees by providing prompt feedback. The Regional Referee Academy provided a great networking opportunity for these officials’ long-term careers. Snap Soccer would like to thank the following instructors who mentored this event’s officials:
- Guido Gonzales – U.S. Soccer National Referee / Professional Referee Organization (PRO) Referee
- Nick Uranga – FIFA AR / PRO AR
- Matt Thompson – National Referee / Working professional matches
- Olivia Urig – Regional Referee / PRO career track / Working professional matches
- Michael Smith – Regional Referee / PRO tier / Working professional matches
- Austin Holt – Regional Referee / PRO tier / Working professional matches
Ryan Campbell expressed the following, “This event provided an excellent educational and mentoring opportunities for our referees, which promotes their overall development. A HUGE thank you to Snap Soccer for helping make this Referee Academy happen and for having the willingness to invest in referee education.”
Looking Ahead
The Gulf States College Showcase provides players, collegiate soccer programs, and soccer officials a unique opportunity to network and display their talents and abilities. The 2020 showcase will be held December 6-7, 2020, at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex in Foley, AL. Please visit this link to register for this year’s event. If you or your team participated in the 2019 Gulf States College Showcase, we would love to hear your experiences in the comments below.
