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Inter Connecticut FC News

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Stay up-to-date on the latest news involving Inter Connecticut FC, and more around the Connecticut premier soccer scene. View our most recent articles on top, or browse through the news archive! 

Inter CT FC Welcomes Emily Belval as New Sport Psychology Director, Launching “TRAIN YOUR MIND” Initiative This Fall

By Inter CT FC 08/01/2025, 12:00pm EDT

Inter CT FC is proud to announce the addition of Emily Belval as the club’s new Sport Psychology Director, beginning September 2025. With a passion for athlete development and a sharp focus on performance psychology, Emily will be leading a transformative initiative designed to elevate mental skills training across all levels of sport within our club.

Working under the guidance of Marty Walker, a seasoned sport psychology consultant with years of experience in youth and elite athlete development, Emily brings a fresh, expert perspective to this innovative role.

Free Mental Skills Training Through Sport Psychology Intern Project

One of Emily’s first major initiatives will be to spearhead the Sport Psychology Intern Project, which connects Inter CT FC athletes with sport psychology interns for free introductory mental skills training. This unique opportunity offers players a hands-on experience with fundamental techniques to enhance focus, confidence, and mental resilience— key tools for any competitive athlete.

Launch of "TRAIN YOUR MIND": A Club-Wide Mental Performance Program

Emily and Marty Walker will also co-lead the launch of a brand-new professional sport psychology consultancy within Inter CT FC, titled “TRAIN YOUR MIND.” This program will be open to all athletes and families in the club, as well as the broader sporting community—including those who compete in other sports outside of soccer who need assistance with their mental skills performances.

Parents and players will have access to in-depth, personalized mental performance programming, with options to book ongoing consultations, group sessions, and tailored guidance for both competitive and recreational athletes.

Monthly Webinars for All Roles in Sport

Recognizing that every stakeholder in sport has unique mental performance needs, TRAIN YOUR MIND will offer monthly live webinars, designed specifically for:

  • Athletes – Learn mental skills to perform under pressure, set goals, and build lasting confidence.
  • Coaches – Explore techniques for fostering resilience and communication in young athletes.
  • Parents – Understand how to support your child’s mental game and emotional development.
  • Referees – Learn focus and stress management skills for effective decision-making on the field.

Each session will be tailored to its audience, delivering actionable insights and real-world strategies to support development both on and off the field.

A Groundbreaking Step in Youth Sports Development

Inter CT FC is proud to be one of the first youth soccer clubs in the country to formally integrate sport psychology into its core development philosophy. By offering this fourth pillar of player growth—alongside technical, tactical, and physical training—we aim to provide our athletes with the most complete toolkit for success in sport and life.

We are thrilled to welcome Emily Belval to the Inter CT family and look forward to seeing our athletes, coaches, and families benefit from her leadership and expertise.

TRAIN YOUR MIND is more than a program—it’s a mindset. And we’re just getting started.

Www.TRAIN-YOUR-MIND.com 

INTER-National Ireland Tour Part 1, 2025

By Inter CT FC 07/24/2025, 12:15pm EDT

Take a look at the first four incredible days of our 2010 boys representing Inter CT at the Foyle Cup in Derry, Ireland. From scenic drives along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way to exploring historic landmarks and engaging in friendly matches, the team has already experienced a mix of adventure, culture, and competition. 

 

Join us as we recount their journey from arrival to the exciting start of the tournament, highlighting their camaraderie, resilience, and impressive performances along the way.

 

Day 1 

We arrived at Shannon airport and made our way to Galway City center for a walk and some lunch. Followed by a drive through beautiful Connemara along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic way route, stopping in the beautiful town of Westport, where we were to spend the first two nights of the trip. 

Westport, one of Irelands most popular towns to visit is the home of many Irish musicians and beautiful scenery. 

The boys were invited by Castlebar Celtic to use their training facilities to shake off the jet lag so we had a light training session, a beautiful meal and closed out the day with a walk around Westport. 

Day 2 

We departed from the hotel and headed out to Achill Island, an area of immense natural beauty, rolling hills, rugged coast line and wonderful people. Stopping at many beautiful locations for group photos and visiting the deserted village; a collection of centuries old homes that were deserted during the famine in Ireland, whose walls are still standing today. A stark reminder of the challenges faced by Irish men, women and children throughout the times of occupation and famine. 

In the evening we saw our friends at Castlebar Celtic again, this time in a friendly game that proved to be an excellent test for our team as we prepared to go to Derry and begin our foyle cup preparations. 

Day 3 

En route to Derry along Irelands west coast we passed many more landmarks, Croagh Patrick Mountain, W.B Yeats’ grave and more as we traveled north to Derry. Upon arrival and check in there was free time to explore the city or watch the All Ireland Hurling Final. Afterwards, team dinner and more free time to take in the city of Derry. 

Day 4 - Tournament starts !!!

The opening day of the Foyle Cup is a special one for all teams attending. The tournament kicks off with a HUGE parade, attended by tens of thousands of people and arrives for opening speeches in the Guldhall Square of Derry. Inter CT was so well represented we ended up all over the news. As always, the Irish welcome the American travelers with warmth and gratitude. 

We also played our first game and a a local team called Top of the Hill Celtic, a team who on the previous occasions we played them, have always had the upper hand, slightly edging the games in previous years. 

We were very dominant and did everything but score a goal as we played out a 0-0 tie. The coaches were very pleased with the level of play and acclimatization of the players who, whilst outmatched physically, showed great spirit, tenacity and skill to dominate a tough opponent. 

Onto Game 2!!!!

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