West Florida Flames send ECNL coaches to Military World Games

TAMPA, FL (Via ECNL) – Two West Florida Flames ECNL coaches were recently selected to the coaching staff of the 2015 U.S. Armed Forces Women’s Soccer team – West Florida Flames ECNL U18 Head Coach, Dale Buterbaugh and ECNL Director Jorge “Yoyo” Zavala. Buterbaugh was named the Head Coach of the U.S. Armed Forces Soccer Team and Zavala will serve as his assistant.

The U.S. Armed Forces Women’s Soccer Team qualified for the 6th Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) Military World Games, the largest military event in the world, taking place October 2-11 in Mungyeong, Korea. The Military World Games has some of the greatest military athletes from around the world representing their countries and their militaries. Rosters can often mirror a country’s National Team/FIFA Women’s World Cup rosters.

Buterbaugh, who was previously the assistant for the U.S. Armed Forces team, was on active duty for 21 years and served as an Air Force sergeant before retiring in 2011.

In addition, the West Florida Flames are hosting training at their facilities, the J.C. Handly Sports Complex in Brandon, FL. The J.C. Handly Sports Complex is close to the MacDill Airforce Base, providing the team with regulation-size fields to train on, as well as access to the West Florida Flames Performance Facility.

The location and amenities are ideal. “The area offers a variety of options to compete against high-caliber teams, both collegiate and youth clubs, to ready the team for play.” said Buterbaugh. “It brings together my home, the military, my soccer club, women’s soccer, and the local soccer community.”

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The players arrived on September 13, and come from all branches of the armed forces and different soccer backgrounds. To be eligible to be selected for the player pool, players must be on active duty or in the reserves within a U.S. Military branch, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard. Since the players arrived September 13, each woman is competing for one of 20 roster spots with one additional match delegate spot. On September 21, the US named Team USA’s roster, a similar process to the U.S. Women’s National Team preparation for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The coaches and players will leave on September 30 for Korea.

“At West Florida Flames, we have had several girls continue their soccer careers through playing collegiately at one of the military academies,” said Zavala. “It is an honor to represent our alums in the Military Games, and provides an opportunity for our current youth players that may follow a similar path.”

The West Florida Flames ECNL U17 and U18 teams scrimmaged the U.S. Armed Forces team, helping to prepare them for the World Games. Wednesday, September 23, the Orlando City ECNL U18 team, a Southeast Conference rival, will travel to play them as well.

Final Roster for the 2015 Military Games: