Welcome to Vitesse Soccer Club in Johnson City!
The core value at Vitesse Soccer Club is COMMUNITY — A safe place for each individual to be challenged in exploring their interests and talents through the game of soccer.
Truly identifying and being embraced for his/hers strengths.
Our Values
• Desiring to achieve dreams.
• Respecting self and others.
• Find enjoyment and meaning.
• Demonstrate commitment and connection.
SPRING ASSESSMENTS 2025
At Vitesse, we have 3 levels of play,
(1) The Academy focuses on play and learning. Games will be played in Kingsport.
(2) At the Select level, players will be exposed to competition. Their games will be in Knoxville and Kingsport. Select will not participate in tournaments.
(3) At the Elite program, teams are committed in participating in 2 tournaments in the season.
Spring Assessment are only for players who are new to the club.
Birth years 2015, 2016 and 2017 Nov. 18 and 21, 5-6:15PM
Birth years 2012, 2013 and 2014 Nov. 19 and 22, 5-6:15PM
Birth years 2009, 2010 and 2011 Nov. 18 and 21, 6:45-8PM.
Birth years 2006, 2007 and 2008 Nov. 19 and 22, 6:45-8PM.
All assessments are on the artificial field at Vitesse (308 Delmer Salts Rd., Gray)
➤ The format of assessment is playing games.
➤ It is expected that players come to both assessments dates.
➤ Selection will be announced weekend of Nov. 23-24, 2024.
• • •
For support, TEXT Michael Louter at 423-737-7251
WINTER CAMP
Dec. 1, 2024 - Feb. 15, 2025, AGES 7-18
Registration OPEN, $185
Ages 7-8: SUN, 2-2:50PM
Ages 9-10: SUN, 3:30-4:20PM
Ages 11-13: SUN, 5-5:50PM
HS: THU, 6:30-7:20PM
This course is for beginners and intermediate level. The absolute basics will be covered to establish an appreciation for soccer techniques or, with a committed attitude, a foundation for advancement to higher-level soccer. Maximum capacity per group is 12 players with a player-coach ratio of 6:1. The purpose of the course is three-fold: One, to inspire players; Two, to teach the build-up of each technique; and Three, how to train yourself for acquiring these skills.
SUMMER CAMP 2025
Soccer Decathlon
May 27 (TUE) - May 31 (SAT), 9AM - NOON
AGES 6-12, $185
Competitive activities include: Soccer Golf, Soccer Tennis, Wall-ball, 1-v-1 Tournaments, World Cup, Living Stratego, Capture the ball, Slip-n-slide soccer and 5-v-5 Round-robin.
Invitational Camp
June 2 - 6
AGES 10 - 18,
- $210 (9AM - 11:30AM)
- $325 (9AM - 8PM)
For players who aspire to play at College. Training is intense!
Coaches:
Bridget Frei - Current assistant coach at King University.
Halloway Wilsey - Current player at Copiah-Lincoln Community College located in Mississippi.
Michael Louter - Former professional player at AZ in Holland. Founder of Vitesse Soccer.
Soccer Skills Camp
June 9 - 13, 9AM - NOON
AGES 11- 15, $185
In a relaxed setting, we teach and expose players to soccer skills including dribbling, shooting, passing, controlling and throw-ins. Players will include the last 30 minutes playing short-sided games.
Soccer Decathlon
June 16 - 20, 9AM - NOON
AGES 8-13, $185
Competitive activities include: Soccer Golf, Soccer Tennis, Wall-ball, 1-v-1 tournament, World Cup, Living Stratego, Capture the Ball, Slip-n-slide soccer, and 5-v-5 Round-robin.
About Vitesse Soccer Club
At Vitesse, we pride ourselves on being a mission-driven youth soccer club. With an educated approach, we want to be fun, impactful and meaningful. We help competitive soccer players to reach the next level through developing the team.
The coaching style is tailored first to players being grounded in their character “truth, respect, and gratitude,” before they can become increasingly aware of the details of performance.
We pride ourselves on being a family-oriented soccer club. That means we strive to have a place for everyone along their soccer journey. We built a progressive program, tailored to meet our players & their families where they are in life & development. There is a loop to run, a clubhouse, picnic tables, and a playground at walking distance for siblings who are not playing soccer.
Vitesse has been voted the best place to play soccer in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, Tennessee.
Our hearts and soul are about feeling respected and feeling supported. We want to be continuous in dialogue to perfect these standards. This includes maintaining integrity and uplifting each other and training with commitment.
During the Fall & Spring season, we offer team play. During the Winter & Summer, we offer camps that are fun, yet driven.
The method of training is player-centric, as applicable to team performance. Our role as coaches is to make each player feel valued for their strengths while also systematically challenging them in their development. We will go at a tempo that honors the experience of each player.
The Vitesse Soccer Club program is unique. We emphasize weekly small-sided competitive games for training. Giving the players autonomy & freedom to further develop their leadership skills, encouraging them to be creative, decisive, and play with maximum expression. Among soccer players, it is reported that small-sided games are their FAVORITE activity (as long it is competitive, supportive, and respectful).
We are registered through US Club Soccer allowing players to dual-roster when they are members with TYSA (Tennessee Youth Soccer Association) at another club. We believe players develop the best when exposed to different perspectives.
Difference between Learning through Education -v- Conditioning
At Vitesse, we focus on educating players to maintain the ability to ‘think’ and ‘look deeper.’ The objective is to learn responsibility and accountability for their choices. Through this focus, we always respect the freedom of each person, allowing them to grow into the player and person they aspire to be.
Our focus is on asking questions rather than on telling the player what to do for every minute detail. This develops critical thinking. For example, ‘what would you have done differently, if you could do it again?’ rather than ‘with more effort you would have succeeded!’
This is different from conditioning players. Conditioning is creating short-circuits that result in players being triggered by short stimuli. The current soccer culture expects coaching through conditioning, but this creates a major dilemma for developing creative players. Conditioning is immediate and very impressive! But, five years into it, these players, in 90% of cases, are incapable of being supportive, considerate and enjoyable. This leads to burnout. Indirectly, they have been conditioned to look out for themselves only. They are not team players on or off the field. This does not produce exceptional players.
Anyone can be conditioned, but what makes great players is the intuitiveness that can only be brought about by critical thinking and decision making. Coaching through educating in this way can seem discouraging initially. In the first year it is felt the team is often getting weaker rather than stronger. When the players truly learn to self-reflect with simple guided questions, they will discover principles that drive their enjoyment and success! At that point, it is impossible to stop an upward trajectory!
Parents, we need you! We at Vitesse want these values to be duplicated at home. For families to work, they must continuously reflect on being supportive to each other, honest, considerate, grateful and also enjoyable. Vitesse is an extension of our families. We educate them on the same values as they receive at home. In this way, we partner with parents to create a positive soccer environment. Parents have the responsibility to take these principles learned on the field to their home. Through this interaction, we can set the players on the path to character refinement as they grow into young adults.
2024
Parents --
The objective of Vitesse is developing players a love for playing soccer, a confidence to be assertive and a fire to keep improving as long as they feel it is attainable.
In particular with teams ages 8 thru 12, the games can be very lob-sided in game results due to players' variance of speed, power, length and drive. When we are on a team that is losing, our technique and playing experience have not caught up to off-set their physical advantages. We rely on the coach and parent to remain positive.
As we nurse an infant, todler and pre-schooler through the stages of feeding, walking and reading, we need to nurse the self-esteem of the soccer player between 7 and 17 years old.
The main challenge is that soccer has so many abstract concepts. The player has to learn to read angles, spacing, timing while communicating with teammates at a time that two opposing teams are always fighting for the ball. Abstract thinking comes from the right side of the brain that helps to detect the invisible such as energy, mood and perspectives. The distinction is important because if we only evaluate from the left side of the brain, which is detailed, linear and logical thinking, we lack the understanding the need for compassion and emotional validation.
Certainly, players need to be coached on the skills they can own, but the bulk of learning is attained through unrestricted play and communication between team mates. Only they can straight shoot each other. In my opinion, the best coach defines a few rules to provide safety boundaries and furthermore ask open-ended questions for players to gain kinestatic awareness, while staging them to take on more responsibility.
I always encourage parents to play soccer with their child so they can appreciate the difficulty of the skill. They will discover that skill is interrelated to other skills that contribute to proficient performance. Parents need to break down the skill and able to point out what the player did well, despite an unsuccessful attempt. If a parent is unable to find something positive, just frame it in a question "as you were trying, what do you think did go well for you?"
US Soccer mandates that parents should ONLY provide positive reinforcement. That is, recognizing positive preformance and reinforcing it!. The more specific, the better. Ultimately, positive reinforcement will encourage your child to repeat the behavior you desire. Children crave reinforcement and aim to please their parents and coaches.
We insist on ONLY positive reinforcement; otherwise the undertone of judgment comes through the back door.
No feedback, that is, being quiet, creates negative feelings. The avoidance approach is most obvious when players have the opportunity to take a penalty-kick, which is regarded as the most exciting moment in the game, but they don't want to. This is a great opportunity for a parent to connect and say something like "Know that I see you for your courage. I won't remember if you scored or not, but I will remember you for daring to risk."
When you aid with positivity, the energy surpasses 100%. It is so palable. The positivity becomes the focus. There is a positive vortext that uplifts. To the contrary, quietness scatters the energy to 40%. Players perceive quiteness as if you are dissappointed in them. It is important for coaches and parents to be clear about intent, always speak out your intent.
Research shows the greatest impact on a player is the role of the parent. The role of the parent is to give energy. It has to be consistent. It has to be hearthfelt.
This is what I learnt from other parents. (1) Prior to game, "HAVE FUN;" (2) First thing you say after the game, "I LOVE seeing you being engaged...;" (3) Always bring closure, THANK the referee and coach after every game; and (4) ACKNOWLEDGE other people for their intent, time and effort with an emoji of thumbs up or heart.
The potential of players is first and foremost felt through the mindset of thrive. On thrive mode, players seek for opportunities, joy, appreciation, curiosity, wonder and exploring. It is fascinating to see the experience thorugh the players' eyes.
Thank you parents for trusting Vitesse to influence your child's journey.
Michael Louter
Club Programs at Vitesse Soccer
Jong Academy
In a structured - unstructured playing environment, players are getting introduced to the rules and ethics of soccer. We see engagement as the success of having fun. Ages 5-9.
Academy
Our Academy players are seeking for enjoyment and team structure. The focus is on playing and gaining awareness. The skills development is proportional to the speed and pressure. The Academy approach receives a very encouraging coaching style. Ages 9-15.
Elite Team
Elite players have been recognized for an outstanding talent, skill, fitness, drive and / or mentality. These teams typically do some travel soccer.
Vroeg Elite - Ages 8 - 10.
Elite Teams - Ages 11 - 14.
Become a Volunteer or Donate Today
Vitesse believes that we have the ability to make a great difference in our community. We are dedicated to building great individuals first, through the game of soccer.
With your help we can continue to do great things. Be a part of the difference!