A not-for-profit soccer club has entered the playing fields of Lumpkin County. Dahlonega United Soccer Association, known as DUSA, has been created by a group of likeminded parents, coaches, and soccer enthusiasts desiring a more competitive player driven program for talented youth players. DUSA is a member of the leading soccer entity in Georgia, Youth Council of Georgia Soccer (formally GYSA, Georgia Youth Soccer Association) and locally works in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Soccer Coordinator. The club is an affordable, high quality, alternative for young players and parents in the Lumpkin and surrounding counties, players must be within a 100 mile radius. The soccer “club” concept is not new to north Georgia and with quick growing interest in the area DUSA is a great fit. Academy and Select soccer follows the intention of offering opportunity, training, and quality to the top tier players through a program philosophy geared at intense player development and technical skills. At the Academy level teams schedule and play against other academy teams. The focus is placed on growing the player technically in preparation for Select soccer at older age divisions. Select soccer teams, ages U13 and above, are designed to foster the growth of talented players started at the academy level. The Select teams emphasize harvesting the competitive spirit while creating a more technically sufficient and tactically aware soccer player.  DUSA has adopted the Knights as the club and team mascot. Currently there are two U10 academy teams, two U12 academy teams, a U14 select, and a U15 team. DUSA plans to expand age brackets and teams and will be looking to fill U10 through U19 teams in upcoming tryouts.

In the Academy and Select teams players have 90 minute practice sessions twice a week with professional certified trainers. Currently the club has the privilege of working with trainers who are nationally certified to include “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” levels along with National Youth Licenses. The goal of training is to provide an intense player driven practice focusing on mastering techniques and adopting good soccer habits that will have long term benefits. Games are played locally at Yahoola Sports Complex, Legion Soccer Field, as well as traveling to other clubs in surrounding counties including Forsyth Fusion and Cherokee Impact. Playing against a diverse pool of players aids in the competitive drive and introduces teams to different levels of play and skills. Teams will also be competing in tournaments held within the state.

Tryouts for the Academy and Select DUSA teams for the Fall 2008 / Spring 2009 seasons will be held the end of May into the beginning of June depending on the age bracket. Presently the club is looking to hold tryouts for U10 academy through U19 select age groups for both boys and girls teams. Tryouts are open to any youth players interested and living in a 100 mile radius of Dahlonega. U10 thru U13 age brackets will be holding tryouts May 27th, 28th, and 29th. Players must attend a minimum of two of the three tryout days but are welcome to attend all three. Players falling into U14 thru U19 teams’ tryouts will be held June 12^th and 13th. Players must attend both days of tryouts. Tryouts will be held at Yahoola Sports Complex in Dahlonega. Each tryout day will hold activities from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. After tryouts players chosen for teams will be contacted by the team coach and players will be registered with DUSA and the Youth Council of Georgia Soccer. Previous academy and select players are not guaranteed a position and must tryout each spring for the following fall and spring season. Registration will be allowed at tryouts but is also available now online at www.DUSAsoccer.com.

DUSA can be contacted at a new club website and there is also information available to learn more about the club, tryouts, trainers, and general information. DUSA’s website can be found at www.DUSAsoccer.com or you can email DUSAinfo@windstream.net. You can also go to www.gasoccer.com to get more information regarding the larger organization.

DUSA is always looking for sponsors and has many different ways to help the players while promoting the club and your business! Promotional options include but are not limited to banners, website and t-shirt advertising, and award sponsorships. Please contact Amy Booker or Julie Graff at DUSAsponsors@windstream.net for more information!

Thank you for your support and we hope to see you at tryouts!