WOODSTOCK

UNITED SOCCER

ASSOCIATION

Parents Meeting 2012

Agenda Welcome Who Is Woodstock United (video) Board Member Introductions Volunteer & Sponsor Involvement Programs- Recreational & Travel

Mission Statement and Philosophies How the program works

Player and Parent Expectations Web Sites Questions Closing

Welcome, Thank You for coming

We truly value yours and your Childs participation in the Woodstock United

Soccer Association

and look forward to working with you both for years to come.

Who Is Woodstock United Soccer Association (WUSA) WUSA is the premiere youth soccer association

providing both recreational and travel level of play to the children of Woodstock and it’s surrounding areas.

Formerly WAYSO and Crossfire SC, WUSA combines the best aspects of those programs to bring you one comprehensive program supporting all levels of play and interest in the sport of soccer.

WUSA is affiliated with Illinois Youth Soccer Association.

Board Members Club is made up of all volunteers! It’s Fun! Varied Roles!

President (Oversee Board): Jayson Thill

Vice President (Next President Candidate): Steve Schreiner

Treasurer (Watch the $): Anne Maidment

Registrar (Oversee registration and teams/players): Beth Misulonas

Secretary (Circulate/maintain BOD minutes): Paul Furlano

Director of Travel: Bryan Foster

Director of Recreation: Gin Bishop

Director of Coaching: Matt Warmbier

Director of Fields: Mike DiCanio

Director of Referees: Patrick Legge

Website: Brandon Cook

Equipment: Chris Azzaline/Mike Ordenhal Latin Community

Coordinator: Jose Rico

Marketing & Sponsorship: Multi coverage

Concessions: Monica Sargent/Kyle Shultz

Many positions Still available!!!! Emails for the board can be found on the Woodstockunitedsoccer.org website

Volunteer & Sponsor Involvement

WUSA is highly run by volunteers including the Board of Directors and coaches.

This year on the rec side went with a volunteer buy out to help enforce volunteer coverage for concession hut, field maintenance, and field striping team when no volunteers can be found.

Monica Sargent and Kyle Shultz will be maintaining the volunteer log in order to make sure all shifts are covered and logged .

If no one volunteers these tasks will go undone, ultimately affecting the children of the organization.

Volunteer & Sponsor Involvement

For the travel side we would like to encourage parents to step up:

if the coaches need a team parent

Picking up refuge and lost and found after all practices and games.

Assisting in team car pooling if needed

Volunteer & Sponsor Involvement

Sponsorship information can be found on the woodstockunited.org website.

Also by contacting info@woodstockunitedsoccer.org or

volunteer@woodstyockunitedsoccer.org

The Programs

Recreational And Travel While housing both Recreational and

Travel levels of soccer, Woodstock United will provide a safe, experienced and educational atmosphere in which you will watch your child(ren) flourish athletically and socially, enhancing their sense of self esteem, accomplishment, and team work.

What is the difference between recreational and travel soccer? WUSA Recreational soccer will provide an affordable, structured, non-

competitive and fun learning environment that allows the youth to discover a passion for the game of soccer. Coaches will be equipped with the information and resources to allow them to teach the young soccer players in a positive atmosphere.

WUSA Coaches will consistently display good sportsmanship and fair play.

WUSA Recreational soccer pledges to consider every player as an equal and integral part of a team allowing equal playing time in a variety of positions to optimize the learning experience.

WUSA Recreational soccer aims to teach the youth the basic skills and love for the game so that they can enjoy the game of soccer well into adolescence and adulthood and share their knowledge with future generations. We use soccer as a child development tool to build self esteem, team work, problem solving, and much more!

What is the difference between recreational and travel soccer? Travel soccer (Crossfire Soccer Club) is committed to

teaching the youth not only the complete game of soccer, but the value of personal commitment, fair play, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Travel soccer will promote a positive and safe training environment for the players to learn and improve their skills and knowledge of the game. We will encourage each team member to play in an enthusiastic manner, with the knowledge that good sportsmanship creates a positive competitive environment. We stress this during all training sessions and games and encourage all coaches, parents and volunteers to support this approach.

Travel Soccer Players are selected through a tryout process based on need of the team and players skill set.

WUSA Recreation DivisionMission Statement & Values

WUSA recreational soccer league is for children age 4 to under 19,

which provides an open, non-competitive opportunity for children to

play soccer, develop their skills, have fun, and become part of a team.

Player Development: Emphasis is on the development of players at all

levels:

Good Sportsmanship: Create good sportsmanship through a positive

learning environment.

Positive Coaching: Encourage kids to have fun.

Everyone Plays: Our goal is for all kids to play soccer.

Open Registration: Our programs are open to all children.

Opportunities: Allow kids to play to their potential.

Team Make-up Philosophies: Teambuilding, Fun, and Friends Each team has at least 1 coach (starting point)

Honor all practice night requests

Honor mutual friend requests (1 max)

Each team has at least 2 schools represented

Try to have at least 1 player from their school

Except private schools & late registrations

Balance teams for abilities based upon ratings

Try to group elementary schools by area

No swapping teams/players except: Truly Extenuating

circumstances (e.g., cannot make practice)

ONLY by: Director of Recreation Program or Club President

Uniforms This year we returned to a mass order system that

had been used in years past.

This makes it easier for administration to move players around the age divisions while allowing us to order the uniforms early enough to have them in time for the season.

This minimized many issues we had last year with size specific ordering and allowed us to have uniforms for all teams at the start of the season.

All players must provide their own shin guards and cleats or gym shoes

Coaching Roles: All volunteers

Parents

High School & College Students / Community Members

Two adults on the field at all times!!Preferably one of each sex

Head Coach (HC)

Present for 75% or more games/practices

Practice plans

Lineups / Subbing

Assistant Coach (AC) – Required for practices

Works with the HC on and off the field

Team Manager (TM)

If you have one they are to help with contacting and keeping players

updated

Youth Coaching Program

Over the last 3 years WUSA has begun to integrate a youth coaching program at the younger levels.

We found great success with these coaches, every year all the players from those teams have returned to play and even requested these coaches again.

This year we have 3-U5 teams, 1-U6 team, and 2-U8 teams that have youth coaches. 1-U12 team with a youth assistant coach, and we also have 3-4 youth coaches that work at practices on a drop in basis.

All youth coached teams have an Adult assistant

At Practices Coaches will: Demonstrate, No Lectures and No Lines 5 minutes warm-up; player lead stretches 10 minutes of dribbling, group warm-up

• Handle the Ball Include both Right and Left Proper dribbling technique, protect ball (shielding) Proper striking the ball Games like Sharks and minnows, freeze tag, and red light green light

Break into 2 groups when possible (15min each) Attacking Passing/Diagonal ball Defending Throw-ins Shooting/Finishing technique Corner/Goal/Penalty Kicks Foot Work Traps/Feints Breakaways 2 v 2, 3 v 3, 1 v 2, 2 v 3 etc...

Practices Always finish with a Scrimmage

The scrimmage lets the players use the skills they just learned in a game like situation

The scrimmage allows the coach to evaluate the players growth and areas of opportunity

Games and Practices We: Focus on fun / teambuilding / learning: Not training college

prospects

Always have ICE, Basic First Aid Kit, cell phone

ABSOLUTELY ENFORCE --- Players’ Safety

No Jewelry including earrings, hair beads, necklaces, rings, watches,

consider mouth guards

Wear proper size shin guards, cleats, socks, and uniform ,using proper size

ball.

Maintain structure, discipline, set consistent rules

Say something positive to each player

‘Complement Sandwich’ positive---opportunity---

positive

An Open Letter toParents Everywhere…Yelling “Shoot, Jenny, shoot” to a player who isapproaching the goal with the ball does anumber of destructive things. First, it tells everyplayer on the opposing team that Jenny is aboutto shoot, therefore lessening considerably herchances of success. Secondly, it makes Jenny feelshe has no choice but to shoot, and that if shedoesn’t shoot, she is somehow letting the teamdown. Worst of all, it let’s Jenny off the hook.Now she doesn’t have to actually think and makea decision herself about what to do. All she has todo is obey the instruction.

Letter Continued…For kids of this age, obeying instructionsfrom an adult comes far more naturally tothem than making decisions of their own.But soccer is a sport where theplayers have to make the decisionsthemselves, literally thousands of smallsplit-second decisions every game. Theyounger they start, the better.

So please don’t yell specific instructions toplayers during games…

Game Situations EQUAL PLAYING TIME FOR ALL PLAYERS,

ALWAYS!Referees have the game cards to keep track

Each Age Division Has Different Game Lengths U5: 2- 10 minute halvesU6: 2- 15 minute halvesU8: 2- 20 minute halves

U10: 2- 25 minute halves U12: 2- 30 minute halves U14: 2- 35 minute halves U19: 2- 45 minute halves

Playing Time Every Player should play at least half of the

game.At the discretion of the coaches the referee shall

permit substitution. This normally occurs as a substitution during play, the player coming out will be asked to slap the hand of the player going into the game at the touchline. It is the coach’s responsibility to ensure the correct amount of players is on the field. On occasion the referee may need to stop play for substitution while the ball is in play, in which case the game is resumed with a dropped ball.

Exception: If player shows up late or leaves early.

Then player will play at least half the time they were there

Fields

Rules of the Game We play under the Rules of the Game; small sided

games governed by US Youth Soccer. (with the exception of keepers at U8)

For the rules go to: www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/rulessmallgames.asp

Any for additional questions you may ask a coach, an official, or a board member for clarification.

Parents and family must sit on opposite sides of team.No parents allowed on team sideline. This helps the coaches maintain player focus.

Referees Both Youth & Adult Refs

Some are• Volunteers• Just learning this season!

Please be courteous and thank the refs

Zero to lerance!

• 2nd Infraction – Red Card (coach/spectator/player ejection)

Both coaches and referee should speak before game to establish common knowledge on what to expect.

Contact Director of Referees or Age Group Coordinator if

there are issues.

What We’ve Told the Refs Teach /demonstrate/ explain to the players

(especially U8/U10)

Control the game• Blow the whistle loudly!!• Make calls loudly so all can hear• Call early fouls on overly aggressive players• Do restarts quickly/immediately

Run with the game

Use your judgment on all calls

Keep the game moving

No jewelry – PERIOD

Clear the fields in the presence of lightning.

Season Schedule Practices begin week of 8/13 for some

First games on Saturday 8/25 for In House and 9/8 Fox

Val ley Conference

Schedules- http: / /www.gotsport.com/home.aspx or at

http: / /www.woodstockunitedsoccer.org

Sheppard Schleisman Tournament – U12&14 Late September in Cary,

IL

Season Ends 10/27

Indoor Season Starts 12/1 (optional for additional charge, 5 weeks)

Spring Season Starts 4/13

Spring Season Ends 5/18

Cancelations & Schedule Changes

Field conditions and weather are checked game day by 7:30AM, you will receive an email by 8:00AM if games are to be cancelled for that day in case of inclement weather.

Stay posted though just because some games are cancelled it doesn’t always mean all will be.

On occasion there may be a schedule change do to a coach or field issue. We will try to have a 7 day notice for all those changes.

Soccer Community Woodstock United Soccer Association

Rec & Crossfire Travel Soccer Club

Harvard AYSO Wonder Lake Soccer McHenry Area Soccer Federation Rec & Vipers Travel

Crystal Lake Soccer Federation Rec & Force Travel

Huntley SoccerRec & Heat United Travel

Cary Soccer AssociationRec & Cary Defender Travel

Travel Soccer Philosophies

WUSA takes pride in educating and training the players and coaches to a competitive level yet in a positive fun environment. The club promotes sportsmanship, integrity, leadership, self-discipline, and character development by stressing the technical, tactical, physical and mental components of the game.

Sportsmanship and team spirit are as important to us as being a highly skilled competitive player. In order to accomplish our philosophy, the club has placed great emphasis on the following:

Long term development of all players

Conducting age appropriate training sessions during the course of the year directed by certified & licensed coaches

Offering a year round program for both fall and spring players

Conducting winter training sessions for all players under the direction of licensed coaches as well as our Director of Coaching

Encouraging our coaching staff to further their soccer education

Divisions and Teams Crossfire Boys teams play in the YSSL,

YOUNG SPORTSMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE

Crossfire Girls teams play for IWSL, Illinois Woman's Soccer League

Teams are formed after try outs in the spring when coaches draft their teams based on a teams need and players skill set.

Uniforms and Coaches Uniform Kits come with a Home and an

Away Jersey, socks and shorts.

All coaches for Crossfire soccer must be E class certified with the state in order to be a passed coach.

Most coaches also have many years of playing and coaching experience as well.

Practices

At least twice a week for 1.5 hours

Working on many of the same items as recreational players as well as additional conditioning, advanced ball skills and game situation development.

Continuing through the winter months indoor at RSC.

Game Rules Games are governed by the current Laws of FIFA except as

noted below. The only person empowered to interpret and administer those laws during the game is the Center Referee!

Game Length and Ball size U8-10 2 X 30 minutes Size 4 Ball U11-12 2 X 35 minutes Size 4 Ball U13-14 2 X 40 minutes Size 5 Ball U15-16 2 X 45 minutes Size 5 Ball U17-19 2 X 45 minutes Size 5 Ball

Halftime and rest periods All teams should be given a minimum of 5 minutes at halftime. In conditions of high temperatures and humidity, halftime can be

extended 2 to 3 minutes and rest periods at midpoint of each half for 2 to 3 minutes should be taken.

Playing time A players time on the field during a game is

based on the coach.

Coaches make the decision to put a player in a game based on attendance and participation at practice and games, need of their skills on the field, players attitude, and other variables.

It is at the sole discretion of the team coach how much time every player gets on the field.

Fields

For U9 & U10 Northwood is home field

For U11, U12 & U13 South Street is home field

For U14 Biglow is Home field

Referees Referees are provided by YSSL and IWSL,

with exception to the home game AR’s

Thank the Referee for being at the game

Referees are the end all, be all of what happens on the field. Do not: Argue with them Challenge them Disrespect them

Season and Cancelations

Season begins 9/10 and runs through 11/12

For some teams there is the Lighthouse tournament in Racine October 8 & 9

For any game cancelations or changes your coaches will let you know and the league website will be updated.

All Player/Parent Expectations

Players are expected to be at all practices and games “on time”.

“On time” means on the field and ready to go at the practice start time.

“On time” for games is determined by the coaches usually 15-30 minutes prior to game start time.

If you are unable to be at them for any reason, or you are going to be late, please notify your coach prior to the absence.

All Player/Parent Expectations

There is a basic Code of Conduct on the WUSA website that all families agree to by allowing their children to participate in the program. This includes but is not limited to:

Respect for yourself and others including coaches, players, spectators, and officials

Sportsmanship

Not attending games or practices while intoxicated

All Player/Parent Expectations

We encourage: Parents to support and cheer on their team Come to every game Help when possible Practice with player at home Pick up your player on time after games and

practices. Talk to coaches and/or appropriate board

member when problems arise. Have fun!!!

All Player/Parent Expectations

We discourage: parents coaching from the sidelines Never attending your players games Not encouraging practice at home Forgetting to pick up your child on time Ignoring a problem or gossiping about it on

the sidelines. Never offering to help

Even if it is just picking up at the field after a game

Websites

Woodstockunitedsoccer.org

Gotsoccer.com

YSSL.org

IWSL.org

Any Questions?

Thank You And Good Night!