On August 24, 2015 the US Soccer Organization handed down a ruling that would affect the soccer world, as well as the FC Teaneck teams, including the Charge.

The Charge, a U8 travel team coached by Levi Goldberg and Jonny Shore has been playing together for two years, including the fall, winter and spring seasons. There have been a core group of players that have played over 50 games together, and practiced twice weekly for the past two years. The ruling that will go into effect for the fall season of 2016 is that US Youth Soccer will implement the best practice of calendar year age grouping for player registration. Using the school calendar to divide age groups is practiced only in the United States and Canada; all other FIFA (Federal Internationale de Football) members go by the calendar year. Previously, age groups were determined based on players born between August 1 and July 31. The change to calendar year age groups will reflect the calendar year, or January 1 to December 31.

This spring 2016 season was going to be the last for this group of FC Charge teammates to play together, as there are 6, 7 and 8-year-old boys on the team.

FC Teaneck are the travel teams in the TJSL (Teaneck Junior Soccer League), a league that has over 1,000 players from Teaneck participating in their recreation league and travel teams. The FC Teaneck teams play in the NCSA (Northern Counties Soccer Association), a highly competitive league that plays against other teams from all over northern New Jersey and New York, including teams from Allendale, Essex Fells, Haworth, Livingston, Northvale, Nutley, Wyckoff and Orangeburg, New York. In the NCSA, the teams play nine games each. There are no playoffs; the team that finishes first is the champion.

Coaches Goldberg and Shore have been fortunate to have a terrific goalie, Tzvi Gold. With his terrific brick-wall-like play in net, allowing only 10 goals for the season, a division low, the team had great success. Contributing to the lowest goals allowed was a stout defense anchored by Aitan Goldberg, Amir Jeffires-El and Charlie Shore. The coaches had versatile players that could play defense, as well as contribute on offense: Noam Bieler and Noam Geva perfectly fit the bill, changing positions as needed.

The midfielders and strikers on the Charge, were electric and led the highest powered offense in their division. With 44 goals scored, Jack Abrahamson, Gilad Adler, Nathan Davidson, Sammy Greenberg and Adam Lehrer scored the majority of the team’s goals.

The Charge started the spring season energized, winning their first three games. They beat Nutley, the Torpedoes and Vikings by a combined score of 15-2.

With the Passover break behind them, they played a terrific hard-fought game against Livingston. With seven players plus the goalie on the field at one time, the team had a tough challenge. Missing three of their players they won 6-4, without any substitutes to help out on the bench.

The lone blemish on the schedule was a tight 2-1 game versus Northern Valley on Sunday, May 8 in Teaneck.

In the second half of the season, the boys reunited to continue their march to first place. Next on the schedule was World Class FC. Tzvi and the defense posted a shutout, winning 4-0. Gilad, Jack and Sammy (2) scored, leading the offensive charge.

After a 35 minute drive to Livingston, the team was amped up to play on Sunday, May 22. The field conditions were pretty poor, with very high grass. However, that did not slow the team’s offensive explosion. Their success was led by Adam, who scored 4 goals, nearly ripping the net a couple of times with his kicks. Gilad, Sammy (2) and company also scored to lead the team to an 8-2 win.

The team still had two games remaining, and were fortunate that both were scheduled to be played in Teaneck. Heavy rains caused the game versus the Americans to be postponed.

On June 6, the team closed out their season with a strong team win versus West Essex, 9-4. Led by Adam’s 3 goals and Nathan’s 2 goals the team responded to any offense that the opponent offered.

This electrified Charge team saved its best for their final season together, winning as a strong unit.