FASA’s Pete Cinalli to step down as GM after 12 years of service to Virginia club
Pete Cinalli will be stepping down as the Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association’s General Manager at the end of October, capping more than a decade of leadership at a rapidly-growing Virginia youth club.
“It has certainly been an amazing journey,” Cinalli said in a Saturday press release, “to help with the explosive growth and success of this outstanding organization. I consider it a privilege to be part of the FASA family and look forward to the club continuing on to being one of the largest and best in the region and beyond. There are a lot of very special people in this organization.”
In addition to the number of travel teams growing from seven to 44, Cinalli – who became FASA’s first-ever General Manager when the position was created in 2010 – also started the ASDL Classic League, which grew from 18 players in the inaugural season to well over 600 players currently playing in the FASA Academy & Classic League.
Other programs started during his tenure include the Advanced Skills Soccer Camp, which has donated over $12,000 to local schools; the Girls College Soccer Camp the College Preparation Program, Super Y and Super 20s, TOPSoccer, entry into the Club Champions League (CCL) as well as WAGS, NCSL and ODSL, the hosting of the Washington Invitational Tournament (formerly the Fredericksburg Cup); the FASA 5k & 1M “Run For the Dream,” and the FASA College Scholarship and Kerry Keilty Memorial Award, which Cinalli will continue to manage for the club.
“For many years the name Pete Cinalli has been synonymous with FASA, so his decision to step down is certainly a significant event in the life of the club,” said FASA’ s Board of Directors in a joint statement. “We fully understand, and support, Pete’s decision and we are appreciative of all that he has done for the club. We are also excited that he wants to continue coaching his girls team. He has had tremendous success with them so we are glad he will be there to see them through their last year.
“We are confident that the club will continue to grow and move in an extremely positive direction. We will build on the strong foundation of success that is Pete’s legacy here.”
The other major accomplishment – nearly eight years in the making – was the opening of FASA Park, referred to for many years as the “Field of Dreams Project.” Cinalli led the effort that resulted in FASA receiving over 220 acres of property via donation, followed by the financing and development of a soccer complex which includes 10 lush Bermudagrass fields and a fully functional bathroom and pavilion.
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“FASA Park is amazing. It’s really exciting to see the fields full of teams each weekend enjoying top-quality fields,” Cinalli said. “With the addition of the pavilion & restroom facility this year, it is truly one of the nicest parks in the region. Teams that travel here have been extremely complimentary about every aspect of the park. The design is unique, where 20 teams can be playing and 20 teams have enough space on Bermudagrass to warm up comfortably.
“For FASA to own a facility of this size and quality, something that players from the club will have use of forever, makes all the years of getting it done more than worth it,” he added.
Cinalli will continue to coach the U18 Impact Elite, the girls team which reached the Finals Weekend of the Virginia State Cup for four consecutive years, won back-to-back CCL league championships and high honors at many major college showcase events including the Jefferson Cup, Disney Showcase, CASL, WAGS, Bethesda and other tournaments.
“Reducing my responsibilities as GM will allow me to focus more on what I love the most: coaching and helping players prepare to be successful at the college level,” said Cinalli.
