Score for the Saints: Why our students are thrilled to kick off the fall soccer season
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School student-athletes are gearing up for another exhilarating soccer season this fall.
St. Francis Xavier’s eight soccer teams will begin playing on Saturday, September 7th. Practices began in mid-August.
Our soccer teams are open to both students and parishioners. Players compete with other Catholic parishes in the Birmingham area through the Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA).
This year, we have teams in leagues U6 to U16 with a total of 103 players headed by a crew of volunteer coaches.
Marina, a left midfielder in the 5th grade, is on the U11 Coed team. She said she loves playing soccer for her school because it teaches her sportsmanship and leadership skills and, at the end of the day, it’s very fun!
“It’s an amazing super fun experience,” she said.
John Collins, a 4th grader on the U10 Boys team, said his favorite thing about being on the soccer team is getting to play with his friends. His classmate Genna is on the U10 Girls team and said her favorite thing about soccer is scoring goals.
Pascual, a 6th grader, plays on the U13 Coed team. He prefers playing striker and midfielder.
“My favorite thing about playing soccer is getting to meet new people and make new friends,” Pascual said. “To a student thinking about playing soccer next year, I would say to go ahead and play.”
Isis Ramirez manages the soccer program for St. Francis Xavier. She stressed the benefits of playing soccer for children of all skill levels.
“Soccer at St. Francis is for any skill level: beginners, intermediate, or advanced,” she explained. “Players learn good sportsmanship, teamwork, communication skills, and discipline. On the other hand, intermediate and advanced players can benefit from the strong relationships they develop with other organizations which can take them to the next level.”
Other athletic opportunities at St. Francis Xavier
Fall soccer through BUSA is not the only opportunity St. Francis Xavier Catholic School students have to participate in athletic programs.
St. Francis Xavier students and parishioners can also play spring soccer through BUSA.
Other team sports include boys and girls volleyball and basketball, which are both through Toy Bowl, an organization associated with the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham. For more information about Toy Bowl sports, please contact Coach Jeff Berry at jberry@sfxcatholic.com.
St. Francis Xavier PreK and Kindergarten students have the opportunity to participate in Kids Tigerz, a martial arts program created to teach young children respect, discipline, and self-control.
Students in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade can attend dance classes through Tippi Toes. Classes take place at the school after pickup on Wednesdays and participants can perform in winter and spring recitals.
Finally, students in the 7th and 8th grades can try out for John Carroll Catholic High School (JCCHS) sports including football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, cross country, track and field, tennis, golf, dance, and cheerleading. This prepares them to play on the high school level when they enter JCCHS in the 9th Grade.
Click the link below to learn about all the athletic and extracurricular opportunities at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School!
Learn more!
If you live in or are moving to the Birmingham area and are looking for a Christ-centered education for your child, I would be delighted to tell you more about not only our soccer program and other athletic opportunities but our thriving faith life and academic experience as well!
We would also love to take you on a tour of the school so you can see for yourself! To find a time that works for you, please click the link below and fill out the form. Someone from our office will get back to you as soon as possible!
For questions about applications and enrollment, you can reach me by calling our front office during school hours at 205-871-1687 or by emailing me at wblakely@sfxcatholic.com!
For current families wanting to learn about the soccer program, please contact Isis Ramirez at isis.ramirez2508@gmail.com.
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School is an accredited classical Catholic PreK-8 school in Birmingham’s Crestline neighborhood that uses the time-tested Catholic Intellectual Tradition to form students in virtue through the pursuit of academic excellence and service toward God and neighbor.
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