Verizon's Soccer Weekends Return With Youth Clinics and Verizon Copa Alianza

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• Latin America - español

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless continues to show its dedication to the community and to soccer fans across the United States through a series of soccer-filled weekends that feature free youth soccer clinics, Copita Alianza youth tournament, Verizon Copa Alianza adult amateur tournament and Alianza de Futbol open tryouts for aspiring professional players.

The sixth annual youth soccer clinics are scheduled to take place in 18 U.S. cities from April through October and expected to draw nearly 6,000 youth participants. Futbol legends scheduled to participate include Ramon Ramirez, Luis "El Matador" Hernandez, Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama and Jorge "El Brody" Campos.

"We're excited to get out into the soccer fields again this spring and help empower young soccer fans to be active and follow their dreams," said Marquett Smith, vice president of corporate communications and community relations, Verizon Wireless. "We want to be a part of our customers' communities – whether it's on the playing field, at home or in the office – and are committed to offering programs like our youth soccer clinics and Verizon Copa Alianza."

Registration for the youth soccer clinics is free and open to youth ages five to 17 years old and will take place at select Verizon Wireless stores in participating cities. At each clinic, participants will practice soccer drills and learn from the professional players. Clinic participants will receive a Verizon soccer jersey, soccer ball and sack pack.  Registration for each clinic is required and customers will be able to sign up at pre-designated Verizon Wireless locations in each market one week prior to the clinic.  Exact registration store locations are available at www.alianzadefutbol.com.

Verizon's Youth Soccer Clinic Registration Schedule is as follows:

• Dallas Clinic Registration – April 9-10
• Houston Clinic Registration – April 9-10
• Atlanta Clinic Registration – May 7-8
• Washington, D.C. Clinic Registration – May 21-22
• Chicago Clinic Registration – June 2-3
• New York Clinic Registration – June 4-5
• Denver Clinic Registration – June 11-12
• San Antonio Clinic Registration – June 25-26
• Los Angeles Clinic Registration – July 16-17
• Kansas City, Mo. Clinic Registration – July 16-17
• San Francisco Clinic Registration – Aug. 6-7
• Fresno, Calif. Clinic Registration – Aug. 20-21
• Miami Clinic Registration – Aug. 20-21
• Philadelphia Clinic Registration – Sept. 3-4
• El Paso, Texas Clinic Registration – Sept. 10-11
• Newburgh, N.Y., Clinic Registration – Sept. 24-25
• Yakima, Wash. Clinic Registration – Oct. 8-9
• Hawaii Clinic Registration – Oct. 22-23

In select cities, Verizon's soccer weekends also include Copita Alianza youth soccer tournaments, the Fifth Annual Verizon Copa Alianza adult amateur soccer tournament and the Alianza de Futbol open tryout events.  Since 2008, 170 players have received professional tryout invitations, with 20 of them signing professional team contracts in Mexico and seven being recruited to national youth teams in Mexico, the United States and Honduras.

"Thanks to Verizon Wireless and Alianza de Futbol, I am able to live my dream of being a professional soccer player in Mexico," said Luis Pedraza who was scouted in Houston in 2009 and is now with Club Puebla's under-20 team.  "Without their support year after year, players like me would never have been able to take their game to the next level."

Complete details on all of these soccer activities can be found at www.alianzadefutbol.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.    

SOURCE Verizon Wireless