To: Prospective Team USA Staff Members

Anyone interested in applying for a volunteer staff position for the next USA National Power Soccer Team is respectfully requested to submit their applications by March 31. In addition to the staff positions already advertised, we are implementing additional positions to assist with the many details it takes to produce a national team. These new positions will strengthen the team and staff, enhance management support and assistance, and create the optimal results…the best experience for the team, the staff and the sport.

To: Power Soccer Athletes

I would like each athlete applying for the USA National Power Soccer Team to submit video footage in DVD format of your play this year.  I would like specific footage of 1) 10-20 minutes of you playing with your team preferably in a regional or local competition, and of 2) you doing the following drills listed below.  Providing this video footage will help me make a more informed selection based on your abilities especially for those applicants who I may not be familiar with.  I am sending this request out now to give you ample time to practice and videotape the drills and potentially videotape your team playing at a regional tournament.  When videotaping team play use a wide camera shot to catch all of the offensive and defensive team play, not just you as an individual. I would prefer one 10-20 minute video segment, but if for any reason you are unable to produce this please include 2-4 segments no shorter than five minutes each. Please complete the following drills 5 times.  I am looking for accuracy and controlled power on your kicks.  When videotaping please do not edit the video and complete all five repetitions of each drill in a row before moving on to the next drill.

Dear Members,

It is with great pleasure to announce Chris Finn as the new Head Coach of our next Team USA squad. He will lead a group of USPSA players and staff in a bid to defend the World Cup in 2011.

The 2007 team was dominant throughout the World Cup competition and will have a challenge to repeat that performance and bring home the cup again. We are confident  Chris and his soon to be chosen staff will lead our team with honor and distinction.

We congratulate Chris and please join us in supporting him while he leads the US Team to victory once again!

Best Wishes Team USA!

In October of 2007, the makings of unforgettable history occurred. Passion and a desire to win the title of world champions provided the motivation for teams from all over the world to gather in Tokyo, Japan. The competition was for the first World Cup for the competitive and growing sport of power soccer.

Though many competed, Team USA finished on top, taking home the World Cup as well as the title of world champions. Its victory was largely due to the commitment of the team members and staff.

Selected in September 2006, the team trained together only five times over the course of the next 13 months due to distance. While to some this may seem like an obstacle, Team USA’s heart and desire gave them the extra boost to train individually on a weekly basis.

“At first, it was hard to make myself get to the gym regularly, but it was just something that I needed to do,” Team USA member Jessica Lehman said. “I went from practicing once a week, to practicing two or three times a week, and I started to see results. At training camps, we could see how all of us on the team had improved individually, and we could of course play better as a team because of it.”

With good preparation and work ethic, Team USA went into the competition strong, focused, and determined to win. After four days of intense competition, Team USA managed to win the World Cup with an undefeated streak.

For Team USA, the first day of competition was a great success. Its only game of the day was against the strong and forceful England team. Michael Archer scored the first goal for Team USA in a quick 21 seconds from a free kick near the top of the box. “Being the first game of the tournament, we didn’t know what to expect,” Archer said. “But after scoring the first goal in 21 seconds, we were extremely happy.”

Team USA finished the day with a 3-0 victory over England, proving its capability and brining a new element to its game.

With games scheduled against Portugal, Belgium, and Japan, the second day brought much more intensity to the court. Goals were abundantly scored by Jerry Book, Danny Gorman, Elio Navarro, and Lehman. With consecutive victories, confidence among the players grew, as well as a heightened desire to take the cup back to the U.S.

Being two fundamentally sound and highly competitive teams, Team USA and Japan brought an enthusiastic and exciting game to the tournament. The outcome would decide the title of the first seed. Roaring with energy in the arena, the Japanese fans loudly supported their team. Some fans even took off their shoes, solely to make more noise. Despite the energy exherted from the Japanese, Team USA once again came out on top, defeating Japan 2-0.

A common phrase among team USA said, “Lots of goals! JC no goals!”, and at this point in the competition, the team’s goal keeper, JC Russo, had yet to let a ball by him. “It was amazing to believe that I was up against the best athletes in the world,” Russo said. “And yet none of them had the privledge of saying, ‘I scored on JC Russo.’”

The final day of pool play consisted of games against Denmark and the unstoppable France, a team who had yet to lose in international play. Though France was the expected winner of the world cup, Team USA continued on with an undefeated record and no goals scored against them. With four wins under their belt, Team USA felt confident and strong going into competition with France. “Going into each game knowing that we’re going to win was my mindset. If you go into a game thinking you might lose, then you have already lost the game,” Russo said.

Gorman scored a goal against France in the first half, putting Team USA up 1-0 at the beginning of the second half. After a fast, unstoppable rebound that barely missed Russo’s guard, France managed to put one over the goal line. Still undefeated, Team USA went on to play Denmark. Its 6-0 victory put the icing on the cake in securing the first seed position.

Matched up against Belgium for the semi-finals, the outcome was in Team USA’s favor with a 4-0 victory. These exciting results put the team into the championship game.

"Going into the final game of the World Cup, I knew we were going to win because that is what I had been visualizing and expecting from the team since day one when they were selected,” Chris Finn, Team USA’s head coach said. “I am a firm believer that if a person fully believes in what they are doing and takes action in accomplishing their goal, that their dreams can come true. The team's success leading up to the final game demonstrated that. I was extremely proud of the team, confident and excited to reach the final destination of our journey to become the first-ever Power Soccer World Cup champions.  I could not wait to go out the tunnel onto the court and watch it happen!"

Because France beat Japan in their semi-final game, Team USA was set for a tough, but winnable game. This time, France scored the first goal by squeezing it behind Russo. The game went back and forth between the two teams, constantly on Team USA’s defensive and transition zone.

During half-time, Team USA made some adjustments, thus coming into the second half strong. During a kick-in on Team USA’s offensive zone, Archer passed the ball into Navarro, who let it by to Gorman. Ready at the top of the box on the far side, Gorman kicked the ball in, tying the game. “The pass came flying across the top of the goal box. So, without any doubt in my mind, I kicked the ball and never looked back. The crowd went completely silent as I came up to ball. All of the thoughts of failing left my head as kicked the ball,” Gorman said.

After two tied overtimes, the game turned into an intense competition as it ended with sudden death penalty kicks. As the French goalkeeper took the final shot, Russo was ready and blocked the shot.

World champions—after all the hard work and dedication, sweet victory was finally in the hands of Team USA. As the fans rushed on the court to congratulate the first ever Power Soccer World Cup champions, it was an emotional rollercoaster for the players, because finally their dream was no longer just a dream—it was reality.