MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (March 21, 2005) – Skip Grossman, Steve Freeman and Derek Armstrong have been elected to the US Club Soccer Executive Committee and will serve two-year terms US Club Soccer announced today.  They join US Club Soccer Board of Directors Chairman Phil Wright on the Executive Committee.

Grossman, a staff coach and Board member of Scott Gallagher Soccer Club (MO), received the most votes in the Executive Committee election and will also fill the Vice-Chairman position.  Freeman, the Director and Founder of Black Watch Premier SC (NY), and Armstrong, the Director of Coaching for the Nomads Soccer Club (CA), are both returning members of the US Club Soccer Board of Directors.

“Skip, Steve and Derek have a wealth of experience not only in coaching, but also in providing direction for the game as a whole,” said US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage.  “Their expertise will help US Club Soccer continue to be a successful organization.”

The US Club Soccer Executive Committee directs US Club Soccer policy and provides guidance on all matters that come before the Board of Directors.

In recent US Club Soccer Board of Directors elections, Freeman (Region I), Mike Sweeny (Region II from Cleveland Whitecaps SC – Independence, Ohio), Vicki Sanford (Region III from Brentwood SC – Brentwood, Tenn.) and Armstrong (Region IV) were all re-elected for another two-year term.

Current members of the Board of Directors, who have one year remaining on their terms, are Region I’s Peter Bradley (Mass Premier Soccer – Waltham, Mass.), Region II’s Grossman, Region III’s John Rennie (Triangle FC – Hillsborough, N.C.) and Region IV’s Jim Rilatt (FC Portland – Portland, Ore.).

Unique to soccer organizations is the fact that US Club Soccer Bylaws require that only individuals with soccer experience can qualify to serve on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.  Members must have a current relationship with a member club consisting of at least eight teams, at least five years coaching experience at a competitive level, and at least a USSF "B" coaching license or its NSCAA or international equivalent.

About US Club Soccer
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. It has been a member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, and has grown to over 1,200 member clubs and league teams in 47 states. In addition to sanctioning tournaments, leagues, and other competitions and conducting a range of programs for its members, it annually conducts the US Club Soccer National Cup, for member teams for boys and girls’ U12 to U17.  The 2005 National Cup IV kicks off Memorial Day weekend.  US Club Soccer also launched its own player identification and development program in the summer of 2004, termed id2. In 2006, US Club Soccer, in conjunction with Disney’s Wide World of Sports, will launch the inaugural Champions League Cup to determine the nation’s top boy and girl’s clubs.  US Club Soccer’s growing list of National Corporate Partners include: Nike, 24 Hour Fitness, Budget Rent A Car, Cendant Hotel Group, Delta Airlines, Major League Soccer and TEKK Athletic; as well as a supplier group of six additional corporations. For more information, visit www.usclubsoccer.org.