Dr. Kevin Mercado, D.C, CSCS, NSCA-CPT
President: Launch Sports Inc.
Co-Founder: Launch Pro Soccer Academy
The first step toward realizing Dr. Mercado’s dream of providing a multidisciplinary sport-fitness-health care service to people of all ages with any health status was taken when he founded Launch Sports Inc. in August 2006. This is a company that strives to assist kids and adults in injury prevention and rehabilitation through corrective exercise strategy and physiotherapy. An additional component to the company was added in 2007 when he co-founded Launch Pro Soccer Academy, a soccer based program that utilizes soccer technique training, injury prevention techniques, fitness games, and speed and agility instruction in order to keep kids healthy and active.
Launch Pro Soccer Academy has gradually progressed over the past 4 years drawing an increase number of campers each year since its inception. In 2010 Launch Sports became the sole provider of all camps and clinics for AYSO Region 13 which serves the Pasadena, Altadena, and La Canada communities. The company continues to offer soccer camps to elite level athletes outside of the AYSO Region 13.
Dr. Mercado earned his bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology (emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy and Athletic Training) from California State University, Sacramento in 1999, where he also played Division 1 college soccer, and was drafted from, to play 1 year of Professional A-League soccer. He currently holds the nationally accredited Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) badges and is CPR and First Aid Certified.
BARRY RITSON (UEFA “B” / USSF “C” / ENGLISH FA LEVEL 1 & 2)
Academy Director
PERSONAL – A native of Jarrow, a small town in the North East of England. Barry became involved in the game of soccer from a very early age and was successful in school trials in some of the toughest academies in England. He earned a place in the academy of English Premier League (EPL) team Sunderland AFC, and also represented Burnley FC and Waterford United. After representing British Universities he was recruited to come to the USA on a full scholarship. Attending college at the University of North Carolina (UNC) he experienced American Soccer for the first time. It was here that Barry wanted to get involved in youth soccer.
After spending 2.5 years conducting camps and clinics in Connecticut he came to enhance his coaching career in California. He worked closely with local regions as part of the UK International Soccer Organization as a camp director for 3 years. He is now heavily involved in club youth soccer in the Pasadena area of California. Barry is married to Viviana Silva and has twin daughters, Chloe Lavoe and Olivia Jolie, they currently reside in Monrovia.
PROFESSIONAL – Barry is a well-established club level soccer coach in Southern California. Through the last few years he has gradually become one of the most decorated club soccer coaches for the younger levels in Southern California. He has served as the Technical Director and Assistant Director of Coaching for the LAFC Club Boys Program, and currently is the Director of Coaching at Los Angeles Premier FC.
After heading the Girls Soccer Program at Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena for 4 years, Barry moved on the past 2 seasons to coach at La Canada High School as Head Coach for the Boys varsity team.
In 2007 he co-founded Launch Pro Soccer Academy, a soccer based program that utilizes soccer technique training, injury prevention techniques, fitness games, and speed and agility instruction in order to keep kids healthy and active.
Launch Pro Soccer Academy has gradually progressed over the past 4 years drawing an increase number of campers each year since its inception. In 2010 Launch Sports became the sole provider of all camps and clinics for AYSO Region 13 which serves the Pasadena, Altadena, and La Canada communities. The company continues to offer soccer camps to elite level athletes outside of the AYSO Region 13.
CONTACT: BARRYRITSON@LAUNCHSPORTS.COM