In order to foster stronger relationships between professional and youth players, the NSC Minnesota Stars announced the Adopt-A-Star program Wednesday. Twin Cities youth clubs can “adopt” their favorite Stars player for the 2011 North American Soccer League season.
The benefits of the program include a meet and greet, instructional video, email correspondence and a link on the adopted Stars’ profile page. Another highlight of the program is the opportunity for one player from the youth soccer club to custom design the boots of their adopted Star.
For information about the Adopt-A-Star Program please contact Stars director of business development Kevin Friedland by email at kevin@nscminnesota.com or by phone at (763) 792-7348.
“We’ve created this program to help connect our Stars players with the kids of Minnesota youth soccer clubs. It’s great for young players in Minnesota to be able to connect to professional players that they can see play live,” Friedland said.
Goalkeeper Joe Warren is the first Stars player adopted by the youth club CC United from the Chaska and Chanhassen Area.
“I believe that it will be a tremendous way to help our youth players form a connection with Minnesota’s best soccer players. While a lot can be done though attending Stars games, this program takes this connection to a higher level by giving the young athletes a more personal tie to their club’s adopted player,” said Niels Wartenburng, president of CC United. “I am a firm believer that emulation is a significant component in developing skill and an even bigger component in creating the all-important, non-coach-driven motivation that we all enjoy seeing in our youth players. As a coach it is always great when the youth players show up hungry for improvement and excited to participate.”
The Adopt-A-Star program consists of six rewards for the youth soccer club:
- Letter/Email Correspondence – The adopted Star will write an email to the players, coaches and parents of the club introducing himself and giving a brief biography of his playing career. The members of the youth club can respond to the player via email.
- Youth Club Link on Profile Page – The youth soccer club’s logo will be featured on their Stars profile with a link to the adopting club’s website.
- Gameday Program Profile – The youth soccer club’s logo will be featured in one gameday program profiling their Star.
- Instructional Video – The adopted Star will film a short technical instructional video designed specifically for their youth soccer club.
- Meet and Greet – The adopted Star will make an appearance at a club event to sign autographs or host a question and answer session with players, coaches and parents.
- Design Their Boots – One youth player from the club will have the opportunity to custom design the boots of their adopted Star.
