We can’t begin Soccer Sunday without recognizing the amazing achievements of the Baltimore Bays and their recent wins in national regional tournament play.
For the past two years, the Bays were rated the top youth soccer organization in the country by Soccer America. Based on their 2010 accomplishments, they are likely to earn the top spot again.
The Bays are actually now known as the Baltimore Bays Chelsea, for their affiliation with the Premier league team who visited here last summer. Many of the elite programs have such a partnership with professional teams, who support their training and growth. It’s something like the MLB’s farm system, where you grow your own players. In soccer, the process starts much earlier, and the reach is far greater. Developing top prospects on the other side of the globe is part of the international appeal of the Beautiful Game.
But back to the Bays and what they’ve done – and are now doing in national competition.
Winners of the 2008 and 2009 under-15 title at the U.S. Youth Soccer Championships, the Bays are going for a three-peat in 2010 after winning the Region I Championships in West Virginia this week. Starting July 20, the Bays' U-15s, will compete in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Overland Park, Kansas.
The Bays, who also won the U-13 boys title, took away top honors in two categories in this major soccer regional classic that will be coming to Maryland in 2012.
The Bays were formed in 2002 with two other local soccer organizations. The club consists of 48 boys and girls teams starting at under-8 through under-23. From the beginning, their goal was to establish the best program in the state, with top leadership, quality coaching and intense training of technical skills, fundamentals, and teamwork.
On the boys side, the Bays have dominated -- winning six national championships in five years in age groups ranging from under-14 to under-19.
Our good friend (and very loyal OSM supporter) Kevin Healey is an integral part of the Bays program.
We’re hoping some of the younger Bays and their families will be with us at the Harbor today. They deserve recognition for their excellence, commitment to sportsmanship, and role as the future of US soccer. If you see one in their distinctive uniforms, be sure to tell them how proud you are to have them represent Maryland.
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