Northern Virginia franchises play ‘season-long road schedule’

By Hugh Rist For the News & Messenger
Published: July 25, 2008

Have soccer ball, will travel.
That motto has become a rallying cry this season for both the Northern Virginia Royals (men’s) and the Northern Virginia Majestics (women’s) soccer clubs, which endured a nomadic journey during their regular seasons that concluded last week.
The teams are members of the United Soccer Leagues, an association of soccer club throughout the country.
The Royals are part of the Premier Development League, which provides current college players (and a few former college graduates) a chance to hone their skills between college seasons as well as gain exposure from Major League Soccer scouts as well as teams overseas.
Meanwhile, the Majestics W-League team provides an opportunity for current college players and some alumni to show their wares at the highest level of soccer in the U. S., at least until the fall of 2009, when Women’s Professional Soccer, the latest attempt to begin a women’s professional league in the United States, will begin play.
Needing a place to call home
Both teams were established in 1997 and played at several area high schools, including Forest Park, Woodbridge, and Gar-Field before this season. However, according to Tim Schweitzer, general manager of the Majestics, it was not possible for the teams to play at the Prince William high schools this season because of the minimum standards set down by the USL.
“In Northern Virginia, because of the drought conditions that normally occur during our season (May-July), the surface at (schools like) Gar-Field are not (adequate to meet) the standards of the USL, which pretty much requires (all-weather) turf surfaces,” Schweitzer said. “We went into this year thinking we would have our own turf surface at Hellwig (Memorial Park in Manassas), but as we moved closer to the season with some of the bad weather we had this winter, we realized Hellwig would not be ready, so we have had to be nomads this season.”
With no regular home field to call their own this season, the Majestics and Royals have had to play what Schweitzer called a “season-long road schedule,” arranging games at whatever local facilities were available.
The Majestics, who played their first three games outside of Northern Virginia, have played “home” games this season at Fairfax, Washington-Lee, and Wakefield high schools in Fairfax and Arlington counties, James Long Park in Haymarket, and the Howison Sports Complex in Manassas.
Meanwhile, the Royals played three “home” games each at Fairfax High School and the Howison Complex, but also played one each at Washington-Lee and Wakefield.
Royals general manager Mo Sheta said the patchwork home schedule was “difficult” for the team.
“We tried to focus on the fact that next year we will have our own stadium, but I think at times it was frustrating for players,” Sheta said. “It was difficult for them to play with so few fans to see them, and I think psychologically some opponents did not take us seriously at first. Of course, after we beat (some of) them, then they took us seriously.”
Schweitzer talked about the difficulty of piecing together a home schedule after originally thinking Hellwig would be available.
“We had to schedule games around the availability of the facilities, so essentially we have not had a home field advantage this season,” Schweitzer said. “Getting a regular home field for next season will help us in a couple ways, in terms of fan support and (cutting) game-day operations costs.”
Schweitzer said the Northern Virginia Soccer Clubs have partnered with the Majestics and Royals regarding usage times and fees for Hellwig, which is a key factor in bringing the complex to a completion.
When it is completed, which should be in time for next season according to Schweitzer, the Majestics and Royals should be able to schedule doubleheaders and have permanent facilities for seating, concessions, and restrooms, providing optimal game-viewing conditions for fans.
“Not having a permanent facility this season has definitely affected attendance,” Schweitzer said. “Before this season, we averaged around 600 fans per game, but this season our average is around 350. Some of our facilities (notably the Howison Complex) don’t have seating areas for fans, so it has made it difficult. Our goal is to provide a great night of entertainment for our fans, with affordable tickets and concessions, and get them home by 9:30 p.m. on game nights. We should be able to do that next season.”
Sheta said the permanent home will pay dividends from a public relations standpoint.
“Since this program began 11 years ago, we have been seeking a place to call our own. Now it will be much easier for us to publicize our matches for fans, but also for (Major League Soccer) teams who want to take a look at some of our players,” Sheta said. “I also think this will allow us to attract the kind of sponsorship we have wanted since the beginning. We know there is great interest in soccer in Prince William County, which is why we have remained based here. But it is difficult for fans who work to drive all the way to Fairfax or Arlington for some of our games and they shouldn’t have to.”

What is in it for the players?
The players on the Royals and Majestics rosters are unpaid, but the team does provide uniforms, meals, and transportation and lodging for road games. According to the teams’ Web site, http://www.NOVAFC.org, the players travel in “15 passenger high top vans with TV, VCR/DVD, and individual seats that recline.”
Schweitzer said that the lack of player salaries is offset by the team providing job assistance for prospective players. The team Web site mentions job opportunities for players at Soccer Scene in Manassas, Total Sports in Woodbridge, and at soccer clinics provided by the team “on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Schweitzer said the Majestics’ roster has experienced little turnover the past couple seasons. While the team conducts tryouts before each season, a majority of the players are obtained through youth programs the teams sponsor and other forms of community outreach.
“The best way for us to grow our team is to get the young kids on a first-name basis with many of our (W-League and PDL) players. To do that, we have to have clinics and get our players into the schools,” Schweitzer said.
From a player’s standpoint, the ability to play at a high level between college seasons or to gain exposure while trying to play professionally makes playing for the Royals or Majestics an attractive draw.
According to the Web site, Royals alumni include current D C United defender Bryan Namoff and United assistant coach Mark Simpson among others, while the Majestics’ alumni include several members of teams from Ghana and China.
Schweitzer said with the WPS beginning next year, the door will be more open for area women.
“The WPS will build credibility for women’s soccer. Right now, our league is pretty much the top level for women, but the league will open about 150 slots for girls who don’t have as much of a chance to play professionally now, except for overseas teams and the level of competition in our league is better than some of the overseas leagues for women,” Schweitzer said.

Season recap
The Majestics finished sixth in the nine-team Northeast Division of the W-League with 14 points and a 3-6-5 record. Their ledger included a 1-1 tie and a narrow 1-0 loss to the division’s top team, the Washington Freedom. The team’s leading scorers included Katie Watson, a former Potomac standout, who tallied seven points in 11 games at forward, and Kelly Hammond, who notched six points on 28 shots at midfield. Schweitzer said Hammond, a University of Virginia alumnus, is hoping to make a WPS team after next season.
The Royals finished fifth in the six-team Mid-Atlantic Division of the PDL with 14 points and a 3-8-5 record. Matthew Brady, a former Potomac star, led the Royals in points with eight, while splitting time at midfield and forward. He scored three goals on 11 shots and notched two assists while playing in 11 games.