Chestnut Hill College to Host Training Camp for Philadelphia Independence Professional Soccer Team

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Chestnut Hill College will be the host of a training camp for the Philadelphia Independence, the new Women’s professional soccer team in late June.  

The College's impressive academic, sports, and student facilities will be home to the 32 local soccer players from June 23-25, as they attempt to impress the Independence coaches enough to get a developmental player contract for the 2010 WPS season. The mini-camp will begin with check-in on Tuesday, June 23rd, 8:30-9:00AM at the College's Fitzsimmons Hall. Training sessions and scrimmages will go until Thursday, culminating in evening games to showcase the talent.  

In a show of its commitment to the fans to build a team that represents the tradition and work ethic of Philadelphia and its surrounding communities, the Independence will run a mini-camp in hopes of finding its first player to be signed. This event will complement the WPS expansion draft and international draft in August, and the WPS college draft in January -- at which the Independence has first pick. From this series of player selections, the Independence will build its roster.

A unique feature of the mini-camp is the fact that the Independence organization, in partnership with Chestnut Hill College, is covering all costs for the participants. The 32 players will need only to provide their own travel to and from the area. Unlike most other combines and team tryouts, this arrangement is intended to make certain training camp costs do not prevent a talented player from pursuing the dream of playing women's professional soccer.

"The WPS has the absolute best female soccer players in the world," says Coach Matt Driver, "and I know that this talent-rich Delaware Valley region has quality, world-class players right here amongst us who deserve a shot at the big leagues.... I see them in the Independence minor league programs. If we sign our first player from this mini-camp, that's a super story of a local kid making good; if we don't see the play we are hoping for, it will be a fun event for the players and coaches nonetheless." Newly-selected team General Manager Terry Foley added, "Since launching this franchise, we have focused the organization on bringing the best female athletes in the world to the Independence, and on serving this city's communities through a grass-roots partnership. What better demonstration of that grass-roots commitment than to open our roster to local players that have a history in these schools, neighborhoods, and soccer clubs."

As an expansion franchise starting play in the spring of 2010, the Philadelphia Independence is permitted under WPS league rules to hold this camp in order to exercise its option to obtain pre-draft rights for up to two domestic players. Within the mini-camp rules, participants must have played youth, high school, college, or adult soccer in this Delaware Valley region. Players must also have been on the previous draft board and must not have their rights held by any other WPS team. If selected, the player(s) are guaranteed a development contract on the Independence 2010 roster. Top talent already signed up to attend the mini-camp are several Philadelphia Independence youth development/WPSL minor league players, such as: Tara Davies, Penn State; Mandy Moraca, UNC; Kelly Rowland, Florida State University; and Dani Collins, College of William and Mary.

"I love the idea of this training camp!" said Independence Assistant Coach and Olympian Staci Wilson. "It will allow the determination and persistence of a local female to elevate herself in pursuit of her dream to play professional soccer. There will be no agents, no international players, and no politics in a setting like this. Everyone gets a fair look. Skill and work ethic will be thoroughly evaluated, allowing us to pick players who have the tenacious attitude and confidence that will be the stamp of the Philadelphia Independence." “We are looking forward to hosting the women's professional soccer league (WPS) at Chestnut Hill College,” says Lynn Tubman, Chestnut Hill College’s newly appointed Director of Athletics. “The camp will bring elite women soccer players from around the country to our campus. In addition, it is exciting to be involved in bringing professional women's soccer back to Philadelphia."

Team President/CEO David Halstead added, "The Independence has an exciting few months ahead. The mini-camp may provide this team's first player, then we will be unveiling our team logo right around Independence Day and our club affiliation program shortly thereafter. Then in August, we begin the much-anticipated player draft and selection process. Finally, on the heels of all that action, we launch our ticketing program and kid's membership program in early-September. Luckily, we've got a great staff that will ensure we deliver the best players and the best fan experiences possible."

• June 23-24-25, 2009
• Event registration June 23rd at 8:30-9:00AM, Fitzsimmons Hall, Chestnut Hill College
• Key Event: June 25th Scrimmage 5-8PM, Chestnut Hill College Athletic Field
• Press/Spectators: Parking at lower lot near tennis courts (Brennen Drive)
• Chestnut Hill College, 9601 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA. 19118
• Media inquiries to Sherry Amos, sherry@sherryamos.com 856-415-2029
• Non-media requests, general information, and sign-up, contact General Manager Terry Foley at terry.foley@wpsphillyindependence.com 

About Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) The mission of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women's soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women's professional sports are measured. Play kicked off on March 29, 2009, with WPS teams based in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The league's eighth franchise, Philadelphia, will begin play next season with Atlanta expected to join as the ninth team in 2010, as well. For more information, visit www.womensprosoccer.com.