Summer 2009 League Schedule:

Tue, June 2	Coaches Pre-Season meeting	6:30p to 8:00p	Cashman Elementary
Thur, June 4	Summer Coaches Clinic/Cookout	6:00p to 7:30p	Woodsom Fields
Fri, June 5	Final Rosters and Practice Schedule issued via email
Sun, June 7	Deadline for all coaches to have KidSafe/ CORIs completed
Mon, June 8	First week of practices begins		Woodsom Fields
Wed, June 10	Challenger Sports Soccer Event	6:00p to 8:00p	Woodsom Fields
Sat, June 20	First Games	8:00a to 1:00p	Woodsom Fields -- JAMBOREE
Sat, June 27	Second Week of games, Photos (Round 1)	8:00a to 1:00p	Woodsom Fields
Thur, July 9	MYSA Goalkeeper’s Clinic (more info to follow)		Woodsom Fields
Sat, July 11 thru Sat, Aug 15	Games 3 thru 8		Woodsom Fields

League Contacts:

Bob Hazelwood	Summer Program Director	bobhaze@verizon.net	978.930.1351
Ed Campbell	Coach Coordinator	Campbellboys3@gmail.com	617.834.5199
Jon Younger	Fields and Equipment Coordinator	j.younger@verizon.net	978.388.2327
Chris Holmes	Volunteer Coordinator	christopher.holmes@babson.edu	978.388.4412
Jim Fitzgerald	Referee Coordinator	jfitzger@verizon.net
Natalie Willwerth	Referee Coordinator	nwillwerth@gmail.com

We also share a group e-mail address at: summer@amesburyyouthsoccer.org

Age Group Coordinators:

U6B	Chris Holmes	christopher.holmes@babson.edu
U6G	Melissa Milem	melissamilem@gmail.com
U6B	Chris Holmes	christopher.holmes@babson.edu
U8B	Ed Campbell	campbellboys3@gmail.com
U8B	Ed Campbell	campbellboys3@gmail.com
U8G	Tina Leary	tbleary@verizon.net
U8G	Tina Leary	tbleary@verizon.net
U10B	Cary Short	crcmgshort@verizon.net
U10G	Tricia Hussey	triciahussey1724@yahoo.com
U12	Laura Buckley	laurabuckley@verizon.net
U14/16	Tony Stuart	tonystuart__@hotmail.com

Call Tree:

Bob Hazelwood ---------------􀃆 Jim Fitzgerald ---􀃆 Referees
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| |---􀃆 Jon Younger -----􀃆 Field Volunteers
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Ed Campbell ----􀃆 AGCs: U6B, U6G, and U14/16 --􀃆 Coaches
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| -􀃆 Asst Coaches and Players
|
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-------------------------􀃆-AGCs: U8B, U8G, U10B, U12
| and U10G -----------􀃆 Coaches
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| |
| -􀃆 Asst Coaches and Players
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Trailer Coordinator ---------􀃆 Trailer Volunteers

Summer League Guidelines and Resources

Summer League Basics:

1. League Philosophy: This is a recreational league. We try and emphasize fun and learning basic skills over winning and scoring.
2. Safety, First Aid and Emergencies
1. Heat and Fluids – Take frequent water breaks during practices and INSIST that your players drink fluids. Each player is responsible for bringing their own water. See the hyperlink to article on heat and hydration under “Web Resources”.
2. First Aid / Injuries :
1. First Aid should be administered by parent responsible for player. Remember, this is NOT a “drop-off” league. Each player needs to have their parent present at games and practices, unless the player’s parent has made an arrangement with another parent to take responsibility.
2. Complete medical supplies are not provided, since most coaches are not doctors. Nevertheless, each coach should have clean fresh water to wash cuts and scrapes. There are ice packs and simple first-aid kits (including gauze, band-aids, etc.) available for the parent’s use in the equipment shed.
3. DO NOT attempt to move the player until he/she is ready to move himself/herself. In some cases such a concussion or other head or neck injury, the player should not be allowed to move until EMS arrives.
4. If the injury requires serious medical attention and the player’s parent is not available (!), call 911 and accompany the player to the emergency room, bringing the Medical Release Form with you (this is part of the registration forms in your packet). The injured player is the head coach’s primary responsibility. Appoint a responsible adult to remain with the other players. If none of the parents are CORI certified, then you will need to get another coach present on the fields to take charge of your team until their parents arrive to pick them up.
3. Incident Reporting: Any injuries or medical emergencies should be reported to the League as soon as possible! League contacts are provided at the end of this handout.
4. Thunderstorms and Rain: We will play in rain, but if thunderstorms are threatening games or practices will be cancelled. On game days, the league coordinators will have access to air horns that may be used to signal a warning. If you hear the signal – clear your teams off the field immediately and instruct them to find their parents and head for their cars. Make sure all players are off the field before you leave!
5. CORI/KIDSAFE forms need to be filled out by ALL coaches and volunteers age 21 or older. This can be done online at: https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/pages/1266_cori_kidsafe_form.cfm .
3. Equipment for Games and Practices
1. All players must wear shin guards to every practice and every game. Hard surfaces of shin guards must be covered with socks. Encourage parents to buy properly sized shin guards that have a hard surface (plastic or fiberglass).
2. Each player is responsible for bringing their own ball to practice. Ball sizes are determined by age group: U6 and U8 use Size 3, U10 and U12 use Size 4, U14 and U16 use Size 5.
3. No shoes with front cleats may be worn (i.e., no baseball or football shoes if they have a front cleat, unless you cut it off). Only rubber cleats are allowed; metal cleats are not allowed.
4. No jewelry, metal devices, or otherwise hazardous equipment may be worn. Also, casts are not allowed.
5. PUGG nets are used for U6 and U8 games, as well as practices. If you are coaching a team in these divisions, or plan on using one at your practices, please learn how to fold one so it can be properly put away!
4. Referees, Coaches and Parent Behavior – Please read the “Zero Tolerance Policy” at http://www.ecysa2.org/zerotol.htm for more information.
5. Complaints and Incidents (conflicts, injuries, etc) of any sort should be brought to the league’s attention as soon as possible. League contacts are provided at the end of this handout.
6. Practices
1. Team Practices are scheduled to be held once a week at the Woodsom Farm fields.
2. Notify parents if practice or games are cancelled. Refer to the attached “Call Tree”.
7. Game Format and Rules
1. U6 and U8: 4 v 4, no throw ins (kick re-starts for out-of-bounds), no players or ball touches inside goal arc. No goalies.
2. U10: 7 v 7 with goalies. 6 v 6 if fewer than 10 players on either team.
   
3. U12: 8 v 8 with goalies.
4. U16: 8 v 8 with goalies
5. Games and playing time: Provide equal playing time for all players. This is league policy. Also, emphasize sportsmanship and skills development over winning and scoring.

IMPORTANT!!

Parking Policy at Woodsom Farm: On game days ALL coaches, parents, and volunteers MUST park across the street in the grassy field. If anyone needs a one-time exception to this policy for any reason they must contact the Summer Team at summer@amesburyyouthsoccer.org at least 24 hours in advance. We need to leave the lot clear for park users, etc. This is an integral part of our usage agreement with the Town! Also, with all the kids around, it’s just safer.

Suggestions for a Successful Practice:

1. Have the players warm up and stretch before starting games or drills.
2. Kids love playing games and keeping score. In practice, especially for younger players, try to use Practice Games instead of drills.
   
3. Everyone should stay active and participate. Minimize games or drills requiring players to wait in line.
4. Maximize "touches" on the ball. At least 100 touches per practice for each player.
5. Try and teach proper technique and use games that practice skills or simulate play or "match conditions". Players improve more quickly and become better players when they practice at game speed in match-related conditions.
6. Run games by keeping time (e.g., so they last 1, 3, or 5 minutes) or by keeping score (e.g., first to 3, 12, etc.).
7. Praise hustle, improvement and a good attitude. Measure each player's performance by his or her personal improvement and effort, and not by comparing them to someone else. Try to motivate in a positive way that builds self-esteem.
8. A good Practice Game should be easy and quick to set up by one coach and should be simple to explain and manage. If you are spending too much time on set up or instruction, simplify it. You should be able to play the game in a small area and without special equipment, except for cones or “disk cones”. This is important so you can achieve more in your practices and not waste time
9. Try not to use practice games that eliminate or "knock-out" players. For Recreational players, emphasize positive reinforcement. Knock-out or elimination games tend to leave the players who need the most practice on the sideline. From a practical perspective, punishing players slows down practice and elimination games don't produce as many touches on the ball.
10. Avoid general scrimmaging for more than 10 to 15 minutes per hour. In general scrimmages players don't get enough touches on the ball, the weaker players tend to get the fewest touches and bad habits can be reinforced because players tend to do the same things they have always done. If you scrimmage, do so without a goalkeeper (if applicable) and encourage players to work the ball close to the goal before shooting.
11. Get the parents involved! Let them know what your goal is for each practice. If you break down into smaller groups, let some of the interested parents help out and direct the kids in their efforts. Please keep in mind that any parents who want to help on the field, or even think they might want to help at a later date, will need to fill out a CORI form. This can easily be done online at : https://idevforms.americaneagle.com/youthsoccer/form173736901/secure_index.html .

Summary:

Keep it simple, keep them active, keep it fun & try to get each player at least 100 touches per practice.