Hillsborough Township Parks & Recreation Department Partners with Iron Peak Sports & Events and FC Copa Academy

Partnership will offer training and education for coaches, athletes, and parents

Hillsborough Parks & Recreation is excited to announce a partnership with Iron Peak Sports & Events and FC Copa Academy. This partnership will offer training for coaches, education for athletes and their families, and a dedicated pathway for players looking to advance their soccer development while augmenting the offerings for recreational soccer athletes in Hillsborough.

"Hillsborough Parks & Recreation have partnered with Iron Peak for over 5 years for the use of their turf fields for our spring and fall soccer programs. Adding FC COPA to the mix will only add to and enhance these programs for the children and coaches, " stated Hillsborough’s Director of Parks, Recreation, and Social Services, Bob Wagner.

Through this new partnership, Hillsborough Parks & Recreation will now be able to take advantage of the resources provided by the new joint venture between Iron Peak and FC Copa Academy, a leader in youth soccer. Coaches who volunteer their time to coach the athletes participating in the recreation program will now be provided with a comprehensive curriculum and training sessions designed to make their involvement as seamless as possible.

Roberta Aguas, President and Founder of FC Copa, cited continued participation as one of the main challenges among parents and players. “Our curriculum will be designed to provide all of the resources needed to encourage more participation all around,” he stated.

Also beneficial will be the educational series provided to athletes and their families. Sessions hosted by Iron Peak & FC Copa will include training tips, injury prevention, and nutrition. The different sessions are designed to develop the overall athlete and provide them with all of the necessary tools to excel as they continue their soccer journey. In addition, Iron Peak and Copa will donate all jerseys to be worn by players during the season.

“Our venue contains multiple areas for seminars and instructional clinics, as well as our first-class turf fields,” explained Gregg Wilke, Iron Peak Sports & Events’ Managing Partner. “Our facility, combined with the expertise of our staff and partners, will provide the perfect setting to provide knowledge to players and their parents as they look to grow their child as an athlete.”

In addition to the donated jerseys, the partnership is designed to provide a pathway for soccer athletes as they continue to grow their skills. FC Copa Academy has over 20 years of experience developing soccer players and helping them progress as athletes. The partnership with Parks & Recreation will provide opportunities for recreational players who are looking to take the next step in their soccer career.

About Hillsborough Parks & Recreation Hillsborough Township Parks & Recreation has been a long-standing government agency offering various youth and adult sports, clinics, classes and community events to the residents of Hillsborough. Recreation soccer, being one of the larger populated programs, will see over 1,000 athletes come through the program during a calendar year. From Peewee soccer starting at age 3 all the way up to High School leagues, there is no shortage of recreational soccer opportunities for the Hillsborough athlete.

About Iron Peak Sports & Events  Opening in 2020, Iron Peak Sports & Events is a state-of-the-art sports and events destination in New Jersey. From sports competitions and programming to corporate meetings and social events, this unique facility provides an atmosphere of fun and purpose, while facilitating incredible guest experiences for the local and regional communities. Iron Peak is a bold space for every champion. It features three full-size multi-purpose outdoor turf fields, one full-size multi-purpose indoor turf field, four basketball/futsal courts, eight volleyball courts, four pickleball courts, a concession area, and a thrilling family entertainment center with climbing walls, a ropes course, and arcade. Iron Peak is operated by the industry leader in outsourced operations, Sports Facilities Management.

About FC Copa Academy  FC Copa Academy is a professional soccer organization founded in 2004 that has appeared in 26 state, 19 regional, and 8 national finals & championships while having one of the highest college placement rates in the country, both soccer and academic, having placed over 400 students into over 181 collegiate programs and developed over 30 professional and national/international team players. We are a soccer family consisting of over 1000 members from the ages of 5 to 19 that come from all areas of NJ, NY, and PA. We are a year-round soccer development program assisting players in reaching their greatest potential. The focus is on educating the complete player with a knowledgeable and caring staff. FC Copa Academy teams compete in premier-level leagues, tournaments, showcases, and competitions locally, regionally, and nationally. FC Copa Academy fields both boys and girls teams in each age group from U7 through U19 and beyond. In addition to the youth academy, FC Copa Academy provides a pathway into the college, semi-pro, and professional levels via its New Jersey Copa FC collegiate programs (U20 and U23) all the way to the UWS (women) and USL2 (men’s) teams.

###