Philadelphia Independence Runs Training Camp For Its 2010 Women's Pro Soccer Team

Philadelphia Independence Runs Training Camp For Its 2010 Women's Pro Soccer
Team

Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill College Hosts June 23-25Independence Tryouts In
Advance of August WPS Player Drafts

PHILADELPHIA, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philadelphia Independence
(Philadelphia Women's Pro Soccer LLC) is pleased to announce a unique
opportunity for 32 local female soccer players hoping to play for the
Independence in next year's Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league. In a
show of its commitment to the fans to build a team that represents the
tradition and work ethic of Philadelphia and its surrounding communities, the
Independence will run a mini-camp in hopes of finding its first player to be
signed. This event will complement the WPS expansion draft and international
draft in August, and the WPS college draft in January -- at which the
Independence has first pick. From this series of player selections, the
Independence will build its roster.

"The WPS has the absolute best female soccer players in the world," says Coach
Matt Driver, "and I know that this talent-rich Delaware Valley region has
quality, world-class players right here amongst us who deserve a shot at the
big leagues.... I see them in the Independence minor league programs. If we
sign our first player from this mini-camp, that's a super story of a local kid
making good; if we don't see the play we are hoping for, it will be a fun
event for the players and coaches nonetheless." Newly-selected team General
Manager Terry Foley added, "Since launching this franchise, we have focused
the organization on bringing the best female athletes in the world to the
Independence, and on serving this city's communities through a grass-roots
partnership. What better demonstration of that grass-roots commitment than to
open our roster to local players that have a history in these schools,
neighborhoods, and soccer clubs."

The Independence is proud to have this training camp hosted by Philadelphia's
own Chestnut Hill College. The College's impressive academic, sports, and
student facilities will be home to the players from June 23-25, as they
attempt to impress the Independence coaches enough to get a developmental
player contract for the 2010 WPS season. The mini-camp will begin with
check-in on Tuesday, June 23rd, 8:30-9:00AM at the College's Fitzsimmons Hall.
Training sessions and scrimmages will go until Thursday, culminating in
evening games to showcase the talents of the 32 player participants.

A unique feature of the mini-camp is the fact that the Independence
organization, in partnership with Chestnut Hill College, is covering all costs
for the participants. The 32 players will need only to provide their own
travel to and from the area. Unlike most other combines and team tryouts,
this arrangement is intended to make certain training camp costs do not
prevent a talented player from pursuing the dream of playing women's
professional soccer.

As an expansion franchise starting play in the spring of 2010, the
Philadelphia Independence is permitted under WPS league rules to hold this
camp in order to exercise its option to obtain pre-draft rights for up to two
domestic players. Within the mini-camp rules, participants must have played
youth, high school, college, or adult soccer in this Delaware Valley region.
Players must also have been on the previous draft board and must not have
their rights held by any other WPS team. If selected, the player(s) are
guaranteed a development contract on the Independence 2010 roster. Top talent
already signed up to attend the mini-camp are several Philadelphia
Independence youth development/WPSL minor league players, such as: Tara
Davies, Penn State; Mandy Moraca, UNC; Kelly Rowland, Florida State
University; and Dani Collins, College of William and Mary.

"I love the idea of this training camp!" said Independence Assistant Coach and
Olympian Staci Wilson. "It will allow the determination and persistence of a
local female to elevate herself in pursuit of her dream to play professional
soccer. There will be no agents, no international players, and no politics in
a setting like this. Everyone gets a fair look. Skill and work ethic will be
thoroughly evaluated, allowing us to pick players who have the tenacious
attitude and confidence that will be the stamp of the Philadelphia
Independence."

Team President/CEO David Halstead added, "The Independence has an exciting few
months ahead. The mini-camp may provide this team's first player, then we
will be unveiling our team logo right around Independence Day and our club
affiliation program shortly thereafter. Then in August, we begin the
much-anticipated player draft and selection process. Finally, on the heels of
all that action, we launch our ticketing program and kid's membership program
in early-September. Luckily, we've got a great staff that will ensure we
deliver the best players and the best fan experiences possible."

The Independence has gotten off to a terrific start with tremendous support
from those buying season tickets as well as community and fan groups such as
Daughters of Betsy. If you have not yet reserved your Independence season
tickets, or signed up for our monthly newsletter -- The Independence Insider
-- visit our website to sign up and to see what else is going on:
www.wpsphillyindependence.com.

Independence Mini-Camp Event Information
-- June 23-24-25, 2009
-- Event registration June 23rd at 8:30-9:00AM, Fitzsimmons Hall,
Chestnut
Hill College
-- Key Event: June 25th Scrimmage 5-8PM, Chestnut Hill College Athletic
Field
-- Press/Spectators: Parking at lower lot near tennis courts (Brennen
Drive)
-- Chestnut Hill College, 9601 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA. 19118
-- Media inquiries to Sherry Amos, sherry@sherryamos.com 856-415-2029

-- Non-media requests, general information, and sign-up, contact General
Manager Terry Foley at terry.foley@wpsphillyindependence.com

About Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
The mission of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women's
soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women's
professional sports are measured. Play kicked off on March 29, 2009, with WPS
teams based in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New
York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The league's eighth franchise,
Philadelphia, will begin play next season with Atlanta expected to join as the
ninth team in 2010, as well. For more information, visit
www.womensprosoccer.com.

SOURCE Philadelphia Women's Pro Soccer LLC

Sherry Amos of Sherry Amos and Associates, LLC, +1-856-415-2029,
sherry@sherryamos.com