LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The Langley varsity soccer team is preparing for another Labor Day weekend trip to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, for the annual Defender's Cup tournament.
The 22-man team, nicknamed the "Langley Raptors," is competing in a local, summer soccer league and hosting frequent practices to hone player skills and increase team cohesion in the weeks leading up to the military invitational tournament. Players come from a variety of backgrounds, including officers, NCOs, Airmen and civilian employees.
In 2010, the club's performance fell short of expectations. This year, however, head coach J.R. Richardson feels the Raptors have the skills to win in Texas.
"We have a good mix of personnel that we're trying to get to play one way. Every player has their own style, so we're taking those styles and building one cohesive style of play," said Coach Richardson, a retired Air Force master sergeant with more than 30 years experience in the sport.
"Putting players in the right positions to succeed is important to overall team success. Right now we're finding the best places for each player to contribute," he continued. "It all comes back to playing one way, the right way. If you go down to Texas and start playing as individuals, the team falls apart and you lose."
Team member Dennison Frasier acknowledged the improved performance and attitude from the squad this year.
"This year's team has more essential components across the field than last year," Frasier said. "We had good players in certain positions last year, but now our talent is more spread out and much more cohesive with the ball."
Outside of identifying positional skill sets and rigorous practicing, Coach Richardson explained the key to the team's success this season is the camaraderie players have developed throughout the summer.
"We're coming together much better than expected," he said. "Everyone is held equally accountable. Soccer is about more than conditioning, more than training. There are intangibles that make good teams great."
More than anything, the Langley Raptors need the support of Langley AFB to truly shine, whether playing in Hampton Roads or across the country.
"We need support, and not just monetary support. We need moral support, too," Coach Richardson explained. "We need supervisors to allow the players the time off to practice and play. We understand the Air Force is working with minimum manning, but this means a lot to the team, and gives us a better chance to represent Langley and win."