(July 25, 2013) When a last-minute soccer play-by-play opportunity arose, Bret Leuthner was quick to respond. An STAA client, Leuthner has been hired to broadcast the United Soccer League’s W-20 Championships and the W-League semi-finals this week at the IMG Academy Complex in Bradenton, FL.
Leuthner is calling two games per day for three days, then the national final. He is being employed by the Tourbeau Sports Group, a national broadcasting and production company. Tourbeau Sports had already lined-up a broadcaster, but when that person fell ill, they immediately needed a replacement. Tourbeau Sports has contracted with STAA clients in the past so when this opportunity arose, they once again turned to STAA.
“I got a STAA job lead in my e-mail calling for this last minute opportunity and applied for it on the spot,” says Leuthner, who has been an STAA client since 2009. “Sending my link to my STAA Talent Page was very helpful in getting my foot in the door.
A resident of Vernon, NJ, Leuthner’s soccer broadcasting experience includes calling games for the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues. The team was a member of the United Soccer League’s W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada.
“The opportunity to further enhance my play-by-play profile while getting great exposure by calling games in a National Championship setting is what makes this so great. Add to it the experience of a quick turnaround to travel to an assignment, and it really seemed like a no-brainer to me.”
“This game [the final] last year was on Fox Soccer Channel, so the USL will have high expectations,” says Tourbeau Sports Group President Chase Neidig. He adds, “It’s a great opportunity to do a national spotlighted game for an individual who is looking for experience and building a resume and portfolio.”
(Visit Bret’s STAA Talent Page).