Dear Parents:
Welcome To Fall Intramural U8 Soccer. My name is Patrick Larkin and Peter DeChaves and I will be the coaches for the upcoming season. Your child has been assigned to our Team and we will be meeting twice a week: once a week for practices and once on Saturdays for games. The Team t-shirts are maroon and will be passed out the first day of practice.
Soccer Practices will be once a week, on Mondays at 6pm – 700pm, beginning on Monday, September 8, 2014 at the Murphy Field, located at Mill Rd. Chelmsford. We will be on that field for all practices and games. There are directions to the field on the CYSA website under “Fields.” Here is a link with a picture of which field we practice/play on:
http://clubs.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=270539
The games will be once a week, on Saturdays. The times for the games will vary depending on the posted schedules. Our first game will be on September 6, 2014. The schedules are not out yet to confirm the times of the games as of yet, but as soon as I receive them I will forward that information to you.
Soccer is not a drop off event, so a guardian is expected for the duration. Schedules and cancellations due to rain will be posted on the Chelmsford Youth Soccer Association website: www.chelmsfordyouthsoccer.com. Typically, CYSA will announce field closings by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday based on the current and forecasted conditions. Oftentimes CYSA will send out a mass email as well.
A few points about the practices and games:
- Bring a size 3 ball and 1-2 bottles of water to all practices. All you need to bring to games is a full bottle or two of water.
- Your child should be dressed in comfortable, weather appropriate clothes such as shorts and/or sweatpants. In colder or wet weather, extra layers, hats, and gloves are fine too but for games please make sure their outermost layer is the Team t-shirt.
- They need to wear shin guards covered by soccer socks. (Shin guards need to be next to the skin and covered by socks. They can’t put the shin guards on top of the socks and then fold socks down over them.) Also, cleats are recommended but need to be soccer cleats and not baseball or football cleats. Sneakers are allowed but not recommended.
- No jewelry. Please take items off prior to practice/games.
As a reminder the Soccer Program would like to reinforce the following:
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Be Positive At All Times! Be positive to all players, parents of both teams as well as referees.
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Please keep very young children in control, do not let them wander onto a soccer field that is in use.
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Remain three feet minimum away from touchlines.
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The goal of the U8 league is simply to "Have FUN, get some exercise and learn the game of soccer!" We aim for each player to have so much fun that they continue to come back and play each season!
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Please keep in mind that all referees at this level are very young and just starting to learn. There is an absolute "No Tolerance Policy" - Parents, spectators and coaches should never talk to a referee from the sidelines.
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Please leave the coaching to the Coaches. We ask that parents and spectators do not coach from the sidelines. When cheering, use only positive words such as "nice play", "good hustle", "great try", "excellent job", etc. Also be sure to cheer for all the kids on both teams.
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Just reminder that parents and spectators are not allowed on the team side of the field.
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The soccer field is a “carry-on, carry-off” field. Please be sure to take any trash with you when you leave as there are no trash barrels located at the field.
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Parking at Murphy field can be difficult at times as the fields can get busy. If the first two lots are full, there is an additional parking lot out the back, just drive past the first lot and the second lot to the back driveway. Please do not park alongside the main road in or out or block access to the field or entrance/exit.
As your coaches in U8, we will be facilitating exercise, sportsmanship and soccer skills. Most important is that our team has fun playing soccer together. In order to ensure that we enjoy soccer to the fullest, please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Thanks,
Patrick Larkin and Peter DeChaves
[email protected]