The Gilbert Soccer Club formed of a new recreational soccer program that began in the fall of 2011 with over 100 registered players. The Gilbert Arsenal is known throughout the nation as one of the top producers of soccer talent in the state of Arizona, with former Arsenal club members playing college soccer from coast to coast for NCAA division one, two, three, and NAIA institutions. Arsenal players have dominated the local high school scene for over a decade and helped bring multiple state championships to the east valley’s high schools. Of the 64 graduating high school seniors in our program this year, 63 will be attending college, and 41 of those have committed to playing soccer at the school they will be attending.

Now everyone will have the opportunity to participate in the Arsenal program. Due to lack of field space in the past, the Gilbert Soccer Club was unable to expand and offer the wide range of programs we have always wanted to provide to the community. We currently have over 600 competitive players in age groups from 8-18 years of age and run a small academy program totaling 100 kids aged 4-7. But now we will be offering a new recreational program priced so that everybody can afford to play. Registration fees for the first year will be kept to the low cost of $ 65 for a ten game season, and everyone is welcome, there are no residency requirements like all of the other recreational leagues in Gilbert, Mesa, and other east valley cities must adhere to. The next session will start February 4th and run through April 7th.

 The Arsenal organization will now be able to provide recreational, developmental, as well as competitive soccer programs to everyone. We are happy to announce the opening of a wonderful new youth soccer complex located on Sossaman Road between Guadalupe and Elliot in Mesa, but just across the street from the town of Gilbert in the Gilbert School District. The 23 acre site has 16 acres of well manicured soccer fields that vary in size with age appropriate fields for all, there is also ample parking on site. We have the funds for and are in the process of installing lights on the fields at this time. Thanks to a wonderful group of people in the east valley who have built the new soccer complex and are partnering with the Gilbert Soccer Club we will offer the following for in the inaugural year of our new recreational soccer program

• Soccer for ages 4 through 9
• Soccer fields that are well maintained and safe for youth players
• Age groups to be offered include U-6 through U-10
• Players insured by and members of Arizona Youth Soccer Association and US Youth Soccer
• Games played on Saturdays at the new Paloma soccer complex
• Teams formed on a neighborhood basis, but with special requests considered
• Head coaches to be parent volunteers
• Coaches will be supplied with coaching shirt and coaching package to assist with practices
• Head coaches will set practice times and places, one or two per week, depending upon age
• Player uniform package will include jersey, shorts, and socks
• Each team will also have access to the professional trainers and coaches from the Arsenal
• Player clinic to be offered before regular season begins
• Coaching education for the recreational coaches will be offered

The league will be extremely organized and run by two of the most experienced youth soccer administrators in Arizona

• Tim Barmettler – Tim is the current coaching director of the Gilbert Soccer Club overseeing 30 plus competitive coaches and 46 competitive club teams. Tim has coached both professional and college soccer teams, and won several state high school soccer championships before retiring as the boys head coach at Highland HS, his club teams have won multiple state championships and been consistently ranked as some of the top teams in the nation. Tim and his wife Barb both coach in the club and are both teachers in the Gilbert School District. They have two kids playing in the Arsenal program and reside in the Val Vista Lakes area
• Bob Lawrence – Bob is the current president of the Gilbert Soccer Club and has been on the club board for the past eight years, before that Bob was president of the Gilbert Youth (GYSA)Soccer Association in Gilbert for five years as the organization grew from 600 to over 2000 recreational players. He oversees an average yearly budget of over $ 700,000 for the club. He has coached in the club for 15 years with several of the clubs outstanding competitive younger teams. Bob has four kids that grew up playing soccer for GYSA and GSC, lives in the Towne Meadows neighborhood, and is employed by a local construction company.

The goals of the new program will be to provide recreational soccer in a safe and healthy environment where the kids can have fun and advance their skills, where adult volunteer coaches will be offered a soccer education geared toward working with youth players, and where young players will gain insight into teamwork, building a lifelong love for the game, and an opportunity to stay fit and healthy through physical education.

Arsenal Recreational Soccer League – Come And Be Part Of The Best Soccer Organization In Arizona