Team Chicago is pleased to announce two additions to the Coaching Staff for the 2019-20 season!

Alan Cross joins Team Chicago as Youth Director. Alan comes to Team Chicago from Lombard Firebirds where he coached multiple teams and age groups from U7-U23 over the past five seasons. Alan will be coaching the following teams in the 2019-20 season:

- Team Chicago Academy-2006 Elite
- Team Chicago 2008 Elite
- Team Chicago 2009 Elite
- Team Chicago 2010 Elite

Alan will have administrative duties including helping set program standards and guidelines and assisting the younger Team Chicago teams. Alan is working towards his UEFA ‘B’ license and also is working his way up the US Soccer Coaching License pathway. He has a Sports Coaching and Administrative degree from South Wales University. A native of Scotland, Alan and his wife live in Plainfield.

Zoe Swift will be coaching the 2011 Elite girls. Zoe is a former Team Chicago player who went on to an outstanding college career at the University of Kentucky before playing with the Chicago Red Stars, West Ham United in London, England and the Puerto Rico Sol. We are happy to have Zoe back with Team Chicago to pass on her experience and love of the game to our youngest players.

Please join us in welcoming these new staff members to Team Chicago!

Team Chicago is pleased to announce that Phil Nielsen will be taking over the role of Girls Director (Chris Brown has left the club for a role at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee). Phil will be responsible for overseeing the girls program in addition to his role as Director of College Recruitment where he assists Team Chicago players in the college recruitment process. Phil is currently the head coach of three Team Chicago Academy Elite girls teams for the 2019-20 season: 2001 Elite, 2002 Elite and 2003 Elite.

Prior to returning to Team Chicago earlier this spring, Phil was the Academy Director at the Cincinnati Development Academy. Phil recently completed his US Soccer Federation ‘A’ license and holds a UEFA ‘A’ license as well as multiple United Soccer Coaches diploma’s. He is a longtime Regional ODP Head Coach and is an Assistant Coach with the US U23 Women’s National Team and a US Women’s National Team Scout.

Team Chicago 2007 Elite Boys traveled to Blaine, MN to compete in the USA CUP.
An international event that has been running since 1985.

After last years disappointment in the final game against Brazilians, Esporte Clube Pinheiros, Team Chicago bounced back this year to go one better and overcome Rockford Raptors 2-0 in the Championship game which also marked the teams last time playing on the 9v9 field.

The 2008 Elite Boys also traveled to the tournament for the first time to experience the vast event played at the National Sports Center boasting 54 fields, that over their weekend & week long events, hosted 1152 teams from 22 States and 19 countries.

Team Chicago is offering various camp opportunities for players to continue learning throughout the Summer and preparing for the Fall season.

Keeper Striker Camp:
This camp is open to travel soccer 2000-2007 aged boys and girls of all skill levels. Our striker/goalkeeper camp will allow players to improve their technical skills and tactical awareness in front of the goal. Players will engage in a competitive yet fun training environment with a high level of coaching led by Team Chicago Director, Chris Brown.

Striker Focuses – Shooting technique, placement shooting, 1v1s, finishing off a cross, heading, volleys, playing with your back to goal, near and far post runs and much more…

Goalkeeper Focuses – Game situation footwork and handling, positioning for different shots and situations, reading cues of shooters, balls above the head, reaction saves, breakaways, distribution, dealing with crosses, overall decision making and more…
Dates: June 24-26 (Monday to Wednesday)
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Gentile Field, outside the WAA SportsCenter, 2323 Liberty, St. Aurora, IL.
Cost: $125
Registration Link ( will take you to waasports.org)

Team Chicago Summer Camps
This camp is open to all travel soccer players and will be run by Team Chicago Directors Dave Lovercheck, Chris Brown and Kevin Gowrie. Technical and tactical themes will be emphasized in a fun and challenging environment. Players will be grouped according to age and ability.
Equipment Needed: Soccer Ball and dressed to play soccer.
Dates: July 8-11, or July 29-Aug 1 (Monday to Thursday)
Time: 9am-noon
Location: Gentile Field, outside the WAA SportsCenter, 2323 Liberty, St. Aurora, IL.
Cost: $125
Registration Link ( will take you to waasports.org)

Team Chicago Elite Camp
The Team Chicago Junior Elite Development Camp is an intensive four-day camp designed to help prepare players for the season. Boys Director Kevin Gowrie and Girls Director Chris Brown will utilize on-field, classroom, and video-analysis sessions to challenge players tactically, technically, physically, and mentally.

Space in this camp is limited. Interested players must go through an application process and qualified players will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. This camp is for players looking for serious instruction in a serious environment. Open to players from any club.

This camp Features:
- Tactical training, and technical application (the difference between technique and skill)
- Functional/positional training
- Video Analysis –(individual and team
- Advanced Skills, Techniques, and Moves
- Improve Soccer Specific Strength, Speed and Agility using brand new innovative training equipment

Dates: July 29-Aug 1 (Monday to Thursday)
Time: 4-7pm
Location: Gentile Field, outside the WAA SportsCenter, 2323 Liberty, St. Aurora, IL.
Cost: $225
Registration Link ( will take you to waasports.org)

Team Chicago is offering various camp opportunities for players to continue learning throughout the Summer and preparing for the Fall season.

2019 Summer Soccer Technical Training Camp:
Specifically Designed for the Serious Soccer Player birth years 2001-2009. Learn Advanced Soccer Techniques and Moves. Improve Soccer Strength, Speed and Agility. Individual Skill Challenges Every Day. Brand New, Innovative Training Equipment. Technical Instruction and Individual Feedback led by Team Chicago Director, Kevin Gowrie.

Tentative Daily Schedule
9am- Technical warm up
9.15am- Speed & Agility stations (evasion belts, ladders, hurdles, parachutes, resistance chord, balance boards etc)
9.45am- Unopposed Technical work (Themes – Attacking moves, Protecting the ball to spin out of pressure, Attacking first touch, Aerial first touch)
10.30am- Opposed exercise to challenge individual (Related to theme of the day)
11am- Skills stations (goal shot finishing, re-bounder volleys, soccer tennis, juggling challenges etc)
11.30am- 3v3/4v4 games

Dates: June 17-20 (Monday to Thursday)
Time: 9am-noon
Location: Gentile Field, outside the WAA SportsCenter, 2323 Liberty, St. Aurora, IL.
Cost: $150
Registration Link ( will take you to waasports.org)

Keeper Striker Camp:
This camp is open to travel soccer 2000-2007 aged boys and girls of all skill levels. Our striker / goalkeeper camp will allow players to improve their technical skills and tactical awareness in front of goal. Players will engage in a competitive yet fun training environment with a high level of coaching led by Team Chicago Director, Chris Brown.

Striker Focuses – Shooting technique, placement shooting, 1v1s, finishing off a cross, heading, volleys, playing with your back to goal, near and far post runs and much more..

Goalkeeper Focuses – Game situation footwork and handling, positioning for different shots and situations, reading cues of shooters, balls above the head, reaction saves, breakaways, distribution, dealing with crosses, overall decision making and more…
Dates: June 24-26 (Monday to Wednesday)
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Gentile Field, outside the WAA SportsCenter, 2323 Liberty, St. Aurora, IL.
Cost: $125
Registration Link ( will take you to waasports.org)

World Cup Watch and Play Camp
The Women’s World Cup is this summer, come and watch games then go right out onto the field and play! This camp will be run by Team Chicago Director, Kevin Gowrie. Players will watch games in the WAA Sports Center before going out to play games of their own.

Dates: July 2-3 (Tuesday & Wednesday)
Time: noon-5pm
Location: Gentile Field, outside and inside the WAA SportsCenter, 2323 Liberty, St. Aurora, IL.
Cost: $125
Registration Link ( will take you to waasports.org)

Team Chicago Summer Camps
This camp is open to all travel soccer players and will be run by Team Chicago Directors Dave Lovercheck, Chris Brown and Kevin Gowrie. Technical and tactical themes will be emphasized in a fun and challenging environment. Players will be grouped according to age and ability.
Equipment Needed: Soccer Ball and dressed to play soccer.
Dates: July 8-11, or July 29-Aug 1 (Monday to Thursday)
Time: 9am-noon
Location: Gentile Field, outside the WAA SportsCenter, 2323 Liberty, St. Aurora, IL.
Cost: $125
Registration Link ( will take you to waasports.org)

Team Chicago Elite Camp
The Team Chicago Junior Elite Development Camp is an intensive four-day camp designed to help prepare players for the season. Team Chicago Technical Director Dave Lovercheck and Boys Director Kevin Gowrie will utilize on-field, classroom, and video-analysis sessions to challenge players tactically, technically, physically, and mentally.

Space in this camp is limited. Interested players must go through an application process and qualified players will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. This camp is for players looking for serious instruction in a serious environment. Open to players from any club.

This camp Features:
- Tactical training, and technical application (the difference between technique and skill)
- Functional/positional training
- Video Analysis –(individual and team
- Advanced Skills, Techniques and Moves
- Improve Soccer Specific Strength, Speed and Agility using brand new innovative training equipment

Dates: July 29-Aug 1 (Monday to Thursday)
Time: 4-7pm
Location: Gentile Field, outside the WAA SportsCenter, 2323 Liberty, St. Aurora, IL.
Cost: $225
Registration Link ( will take you to waasports.org)