Archive for the ‘Recreation’ Category

As an “official” soccer widow and soccer mom, I feel well qualified to expound on the many opportunities the Bennington, Vermont area offers for anyone of any age who is interested in participating in or simply watching the Beautiful Game!

Both of my sons (now 13 and 16) began their soccer careers while in kindergarten by participating in the Norshaft Youth Soccer program, a member of the Southwestern Vermont Youth Soccer League.  The Norshaft team is for students from North Bennington and Shaftsbury.  Other towns participating in the league include Arlington, Bennington, Londonderry, Manchester, Cambridge NY, Greenwich NY and  Hoosick Falls, NY.  In addition to allowing elementary school children the opportunity to learn the game of soccer, the league provides adults the chance to volunteer by coaching, lending administrative support or sometimes just running the snack bar!

Once out of elementary school, the Mount Anthony Union Middle School provides fall soccer for both boys and girls in grades 7 and 8 for students attending from the towns of Pownal, Bennington, North Bennington and Shaftsbury.  Mount Anthony Union High School fields Freshmen, JV and Varsity boys and girls teams.  One of the highlights of the soccer year at MAUHS is the John James Tournament.  It is the longest running two-day soccer tournament in the country.  The 2010 tournament, scheduled for September 16 and 18, will be the 42nd annual.  The tournament is named in memory of John James who was the school’s first soccer coach and was a technical education teacher at MAU.

In spite of winter weather, the Bennington area does provide the determined soccer player with a means to play virtually year round.  For the “die hard” soccer player there are several indoor soccer facilities just over the border in the Half Moon and Latham NY areas and beginning in March, indoor soccer is available at the Riley Rink in Manchester.  These facilities offer soccer programs not only for students but for adults as well.  In fact, my husband is a member of an over 40 men’s soccer team in Half Moon and makes the weekly trek almost without fail!

If you are looking for spring soccer, the Monument Soccer Club of Bennington fields teams for boys and girls for ages from U-8 up to U-19.  The Monument Soccer Club is a member of the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), a group with 62 member teams, which offers players the opportunity to participate in highly competitive leagues and tournaments.  Also a member of the CDYSL, the Bershire Ajax Soccer Club makes its home on the soccer fields at Williams College in nearby Williamstown, MA.  Helmed by Coach Mike Russo, coach to the Williams College Men’s Soccer team, this is a Premier soccer club for the serious soccer student player with participation in several regional soccer tournaments including the Nordic Cup Soccer Tournament hosted by the Nordic Soccer Club of Burlington, Vermont.  This tournament is open to highly qualified teams in the Premier girls and boys categories of U-11 to U-19.

The Vermont Soccer League’s Olympic Development Program is now offering training in Manchester and Rutland.  The ODP affords players the privilege to pursue Regional and National recognition as youth soccer players.

So you can see, if you are a fan of the Beautiful Game, opportunities abound to play or watch in the Bennington area! And if you do decide to take in a match, you’ll probably see me there!

One of the great things about living here in Southern Vermont and specifically in the Bennington area is the number of opportunities we have to stay active and healthy, just by getting up and going outside!  The Green Mountains offer us the opportunity for some challenging mountain biking as well as its portion of the Long Trail for some great hiking.  For those who prefer a “kinder, gentler” type of walk there is the walk at the Mile Around Woods at the Park McCullough Mansion in North Bennington as well as Hadwen’s Walk at the Bennington Museum.  There are walking tours of both Old Bennington and Downtown Bennington and there is the lovely Bennington Pathway which winds along the Walloomsac River from School Street over to the Bennington Station on Depot Street.  Of course, all throughout Bennington County there are scenic country roads that provide a wonderful place for walking and jogging. 

We are so health conscious here in our little corner of Vermont that our local hospital, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, sponsors the Trek for Health each year.  Thousands of participants from Bennington and its surrounding communities take part in an eight week event tracking their steps and activities in an attempt to get folks up and moving!  I’m proud to say that Hoisington Realty has had a team participate in the Trek for Health every year!

So get up, get outside and go stretch your legs – you’ll be glad you did!