[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E327]]



       PHILADELPHIA OLDTIMERS SOCCER ASSOCIATION 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 1997

  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th 
anniversary of the Philadelphia Oldtimers Soccer Association. I would 
like to speak in honor of this group because of their commitment to the 
community. They have focused their love of a sport into an organization 
that makes a positive contribution to the youth of Philadelphia.
  Founded in 1947, the Philadelphia Oldtimers Soccer Association [POSA] 
was a synthesis of managers, benefactors, and players. The founders 
original intent to give something back to young people participating in 
the sport has been upheld through POSA programs for 50 years. POSA 
makes this contribution through many different means.
  The National Soccer Hall of Fame included the Philadelphia Oldtimers 
Hall of Fame original inductees as founding members in 1953. There are 
now 16 members of POSA in the National Hall of Fame. At an annual 
banquet, POSA honors a male and female coach of the year, a referee of 
the year, a manager of the year, male and female player of the year, 
and a club of the year.
  POSA annually selects an all-scholastic team. The Philadelphia 
Catholic, Philadelphia Public, Inter-Academic, and Suburban One Leagues 
individually submit candidates for the POSA team. The final 22 players 
and 4 alternates are selected through a tryout process from a pool of 
about 90 players. This final team goes on to play teams from Lehigh 
Valley, western suburban Philadelphia, Staten Island, Cape May, and 
other prominent local clubs.
  Helping the players receive college scholarship funding is one of the 
oldtimers fundamental goals, and the all-scholastic team provides a 
medium through which college coaches can assess and recruit POSA 
players. Many members of the team have received scholarships, with some 
continuing on to play professional soccer.
  POSA has recently added a new focus to its efforts--the development 
of a girls program. They are committed to offering the same opportunity 
to girls that the boys all-scholastic team has provided to its players 
in the past. POSA's move to provide female soccer players with the same 
springboard to college soccer is a step in a positive direction for 
female athletes in the Philadelphia area.
  When the POSA teams put their best foot forward, they are also 
representing the best of Philadelphia. Not only are they building a 
reputation of great soccer and teamwork for themselves, they are 
contributing to the reputation and success of Philadelphia's student 
athletes. On their 50th anniversary I would like to congratulate the 
Philadelphia Oldtimers Soccer Association and its players on their 
achievements, and wish them future success in the sport of soccer and 
beyond.

                          ____________________