Project 208 FC, formerly recognized as Albion SC Sun Valley, is a new local organization focusing on the enhancement of girls’ youth soccer in the Wood River Valley. This is a club dedicated to girl players with the birth year of 2016 through 2006 interested in a positive experience developing the love of soccer.
“When I was my daughter’s age, I played soccer with the boys at Wood River Junior High School. There wasn’t a team opportunity for girls,” says soccer mom Andrea Gallegos. “Now my daughter is enjoying the current SV Albion 2010 girls’ team, and we are excited for the future of the girls exclusive Project 208 FC. It is fun to watch her thrive in the sport that we both love and to have these opportunities for young women.”
Kevin Hansmeyer, executive director of Project 208 FC, has been a coach for 15 years in California and in the Wood River Valley. He is the current director of soccer for the middle school at Sun Valley Community School and the director of soccer for Albion SC Sun Valley. In his current role, he coaches girls’ teams years 2011 through 2005. They have enjoyed the options to participate in local and national tournaments and games. These teams create an opportunity for the girls to play with others that attend different local schools, fostering a deeper connection between players within the greater community.
“Playing a sport is about connections. The connections we make on the field, as a team, and with ourselves,” says Kevin Hansmeyer. “My job is to help individual players navigate this process with the goal of developing a love for the game and themselves.”
One of the benefits of forming Project 208 is to cut the costs of being associated with a large national club. Project 208 FC can provide an affordable but also a world-class experience with player scholarships available.
“We will be the highest paying club in the Valley for coaching staff, maybe in Idaho. By forming Project 208 FC we can offer many additional resources for our players,” says Hansmeyer. “We currently offer private training, professional mental health coaching, and fitness programs. With these additional resources we will develop the whole self with an understanding of the psychological, physiological, tactical, and technical development levels of the young player. This is what drives the mission of Project 208 FC.”
In support of the mission, Project 208 FC formed a board with leadership positions all held by local women with children that participate in youth soccer in the Valley.
Project 208 FC is multi-sport friendly, and all coaches are USSA licensed. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and any level of player experience is welcome.
To learn more about Project 208 FC and the soccer programs for girls, please visit project208fc.org.
