If you are a fan of soccer and looking for something to do on the weekend, you may want to check out the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL.)

The Michigan Jaguars have joined the ranks of the UPSL this season with a roster consisting of current and former college players. Many Michigan colleges are represented, and players on the Jags’ roster represent six countries, including the United States, Brazil, Canada, England, Jamaica and Gambia.

The league, founded in 2011, is the fastest growing Pro Development League in the nation. Teams in the UPSL are eligible for the U.S. Open Cup, and compete in what is considered the fifth tier of U.S. soccer.

Among the players on the Jags’ roster is 41-year-old Drew Drummond. Drummond is the head girls’ soccer coach at Walled Lake Northern, a husband and father. When asked why he decided to try-out for the Jags, Drummond said, “Paul Tinnion [Jaguars executive director] asked me if I would be interested in trying out for the team. I hadn’t played a competitive game for about 15 years, so I figured I’d give it a go again. Once I went to the tryout, the intensity hooked me again and the professionalism and organization that come with the Michigan Jaguars Club pushed me to want to do it.”

As a youth, Drummond played club soccer for the Michigan Wolves before moving on to play for the Michigan Bucks. After playing collegiately at Eastern Michigan University, he played in England with Gillingham FC, which is a member of England’s League One.

As a coach, Drummond began his career coaching the Michigan Hawks Girls’ Club and before returning home to his alma mater, Plymouth Salem, to coach the boys. He also coached at Walled Lake Central before coming to Northern in 2002 when the school opened.

Finding the time and finding creative ways to balance teaching, coaching and playing has been the biggest challenge for Drummond this spring.

“I am wearing a lot of different hats, so I find myself compartmentalizing everything in my life,” he said. “I am a husband and a dad of three one minute, then teacher the next, then a coach, and then a player. It’s a lot, but I’ve turned down a lot of opportunities to do things like this in the past because I did not think I could make it work.”

To make the opportunity of playing again possible, Drummond has a great support system in his wife, Emilie. “Emilie pushed me to say yes and go for this opportunity. She has picked up all the slack and together we’ve had to be really organized with our schedules, and our kids’ schedules, and fortunately, we also have lots of help from parents, aunts and uncles. We have a great network, so it’s worked out.”

The veteran of the squad, Drummond is 23 years older than the youngest member of the Jags. When asked how he has been able to relate to the younger players, Drummond joked, “It’s a lot different being the oldest kid by like 13 or 14 years! It’s a new experience for me, but the team has been really close-knit. We are competitive with each other but also really pulling together as a unit. I think being older than the other guys has been kind of a good thing, as well. They’re all very talented and know the game inside and out, but maybe I can add a little bit of experience.”

Drummond has been impressed with his teammates and the Jags’ organization, and he is very optimistic about the inaugural season for the club. “The team has done well so far, and we are expecting to do really well this year. We are definitely putting in the work to accomplish our season goals.”

The General Manager of the Michigan Jaguars is Tinnion, and the assistant GM is Johno Heslop. The Jags are coached by Joe Malachino, who played professionally with Drummond 20-some years ago. Dan Diac assists Malachino, Martin Clegg is the team’s performance coach, and Pete Pososki is the organization’s youth liaison. John Kopko is the organization’s marketing coordinator.

The Jags play their home games at Novi Catholic Central. Tickets are free for everyone 18 and under. For adults, tickets are $5 if purchased online at www.michiganjaguarsfc.com/upsl/tickets or $10 at the gate. Home games remaining on the schedule are: