OVERVIEW:  Lightning Strike FC

How We Began:

The Hispanic All-Stars was our original name during February 2008 - June 2008.

CRUSHN! Sports was approached by the Northshore Youth Soccer Association (NYSA) in Washington on February 1, 2008, requesting our help to promote an event set for 3/30/08.  The NYSA had hired the 2007 USL-1 National Champion Seattle Sounders to play a team that was not very competitive.  We accepted the promotion challenge, put together a new all-star soccer team specifically for this event. The players were made up from the top 5 Hispanic Leagues in the Pacific NW.  We then incorporated the family experience of kids soccer clinics, mariachi band, rock band, 5 ethnic food vendors and TV coverage.  It became clear as we got closer to game day that we wanted to keep the players dreams alive for much longer than 1 day.

On March 30^th the Hispanic All-Stars of 1-month took the National Champ Seattle Sounders to the wire in a showcase of scoring power in front of 700,000+ Comcast On Demand viewers in the PNW.   The day after, the Hispanic All-Stars made the sports cover on three newspapers for their quality of play.  This was accomplished with their heart, skills, endurance and team spirit.

Transition to Lightning Strike FC:

Since March 30^th, the Hispanic All-Stars have been transitioning into their new role as the "LIGHTNING STRIKE" MLS Development Team. "LIGHTNING STRIKE" will take the best from the Hispanic All-Stars and move them up into the next level of play.  There will be 3 MLS Teams surrounding our region with in 200 miles of us; Seattle Sounders FC in 2009, and in 2011.   

Our "OPEN Tryouts" are truly that, open to all talented players from any nationality.  We only seek the best of the best. 

The Lightning Strike Soccer franchise focuses on recruiting, training and exposing talented players that are international, national and local.  Our club in turn provides a centralized forum for talented players and MLS franchises to meet.  This forum is also valuable to professional teams that are international or reside in the USL-1 Division. 

“The Market Demands Non-Traditional “Rocky” Style Sporting Events”, and this is what Lightning Strike FC delivers.

Matches Played:

We held 3 other matches outside of the Sounders, and our only defeat has been to the Sounders.

June 21, 2008
Hispanic All-Stars vs. BU-18 Premier Soccer Club: 8-1 W (First Reserves)

March 30, 2008
Hispanic All-Stars 2 (L) vs. Pro: Sounders: 4 (W) (Starters)

March 11, 2008
Hispanic All-Stars 3 (W) vs. Semi-Pro: (First Reserves)

February 28, 2008
Hispanic All-Stars 3 (W) vs. Semi-Pro: 4-Time (First Reserves)

Event Focus:

The CRUSHN! Sports “LIGHTNING STRIKE FC” soccer franchise will be inviting and be invited to play exhibition soccer matches in stadiums internationally, nationally and locally.  The stadium capacities of fans may range from 4,000 – 68,000. Local stadiums such as Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila hosts 4,000 seats for 2008, and Qwest Field hosts 68,000.  Soccer is the most popular sport with over half of the world's population watching it (3.3 Billion).  Experience the Lightning Strike FC “Rocky” style Competition, as each match presents family fun by incorporating exciting soccer, Ethnic Foods, 

Key Points of Our Direction;

• Hispanic All-Stars transition to Lightning Strike FC – MLS Development Team

• Reason: This invites all talented players from all nationalities, not just Hispanics, to tryout and get exposure with top teams; MLS, International Premier, and USL-1

• Our focus is to maintain approx 50% of the team to be Hispanic players. This brings out the “Rocky” style of soccer and heart to our play

• Lightning Strike FC will find, provide, grow, MLS quality talent and showcase them nationally
• Drop by Tryouts; are open to scheduled and unscheduled player tryouts at any of our practices 
  
• If we feel a player who is trying out is worth looking at further, we will provide that player a printed card called the “golden pass”.  The “” provides an invitation for that player to practice with our team until he is cut, or signed

• Lightning Strike FC has a match scheduled with the USL’s PDL San Francisco Seals for November 9, 2008 ( – Kezar Stadium: 10,000 seats)
• The Seals are the most successful team in PDL history for placing players in the MLS

• Other Matches:  We are scheduling 8 matches in 2008 against local Champs from WA, OR, CA, TX and NM (More Team matches will be announced soon)

• Weekly Scrimmages
• We hold weekly scrimmages on Saturdays in back of the Van Asselt Elementary schoolon their Field Turf - soccer field

• Tournaments
• We have plans to play in top tournaments of choice – currently looking

• Leagues – We have no plans or intention to join a leagu
• We feel our exhibition approach provides us the necessary time and operational flexibility to scout top talent and keep them healthy to viewing

• Head Coach – Jose Martinez, has 30 years of coaching experience and is looking for
• The “Complete Player”
• Players that have (Not looking just for bodies)
•  Heart
• Skills
• Endurance
• Team minded

• Academy Director – Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar
• Hugo and Jose are our Lightning Strike FC talent scouts and trainers
• Hugo played 5 years as a starter with the Portland Timbers, and going on his2^nd year with the Seattle Sounders including last years Championship win.

• Endurance Coach – Paul Aur
• Is our Lightning Strike FC

• Nutrition Coach / Endurance – Oscar Santana
• Oscar is also the head nutrition / endurance coach for the Seattle Sounders

• Our two captains have been with us since the beginning as Hispanic All-Stars
• Jose Chavez, Defense:  Captain (Lightning Strike FC)
• Carlos Enriquez, Midfielder: Captain (Lightning Strike FC)