The California Youth Soccer Association does it again! Cal North achieved another great accomplishment with hosting the successful 2014 Cal North Soccer Expo at the Oakland Marriott Center. The Expo offered a broad arrangement of events with a little something for everyone. Visitors were able to browse through the numerous vendors, listen to informational presentations, watch live coaching sessions, and attend workshops.
The day kicked off with guests flooding through the doors as soon as they were opened. People swarmed the vendors for a chance to win prizes, gather free promotions, and inquire for further information. The vendors enjoyed interacting with potential customers and Expo guests. It was a great opportunity for companies to network and gain exposure for their products and services. A substantial amount of the vendors attending the Expo had the common goal of increasing awareness and gaining exposure. The Expo provided the perfect environment for these companies to do just that.
Alongside the vendor show were the coaching sessions being conducted on the nearby fields. People filled in the seats to get a chance to view these informative sessions leaving standing room only! The audience watched intently as the experienced coaches shared their knowledge of the art of coaching. The crowd was intrigued and eager to learn from each of the individual coach’s unique style and craft. The participants in the sessions were exciting to watch and executed the drills brilliantly. A special thanks to all the coaches and the ODP Cal North teams who took the time out of their busy schedules to come share their special techniques and skills.
If people were not in the convention center at the vendor show or learning from the coaching sessions, then they were upstairs attending one of the instructional workshops or educational presentations. The presentations available included: Health and Safety Issues, Referee Workshops, Concussion Updates, and Sports Nutrition. Individuals were educated on necessary precautions when dealing with injuries. Others learned how to use food and fluids to improve their performance on and off the field. Some honed their craft in the referee workshop. There truly was a little bit of something for everyone at the Expo. The attendees were inquisitive and interactive. They asked the presenters intelligent and meaningful questions about important information that they could pass on to their fellow coaches and leagues.
To wrap up the 2014 Cal North Soccer Expo, there was a Hall of Fame Awards Banquet dinner on Saturday night. Awards were given to coaches of the year, referees of the year, and to Cal North/CYSA team members. Also, congratulation goes out to Karl Dewazien and Bob Asklof for being inducted into the CYSA Hall of Fame. Click here for a complete list of award winners
Overall, Cal North/CYSA had another huge success with the completion of the 2014 Cal North Soccer Expo. It was a well-organized, informative, and captivating networking event. It is always great to see the passion that fans of all levels illuminate for the game. A special thanks to everyone that attended the event and the Oakland Marriott Center for providing a magnificent venue.
Story by Blake Zopfi