Posted 6-11-8
THANK YOU very much for volunteering this season! You have all been fabulous and I hope you have had a great time. It was a pleasure working with you and I look forward to seeing you all on the fields again soon. Please email me (msp@loudounsoccer.com) any recommendations, comments, complaints or compliment concerning any aspect of our program from registration to trainers.
Please make sure to contact any player that has not received medals or pictures and arrange for them to get it from you then return any left over medals to the Loudoun Soccer office. There were a couple of kids that received them from coaches other than their own so we had to borrow from Peter to pay Paul so to speak and now Peter's kids needs their medals.
Have a great summer!
Posted 6-3-8
Thank you for all of your help, for reading my emails and postings (well, most of you anyway) and for your wonderful sense of whimsy, fun and pitch in because we’re all in it for the kids attitude. This coming Saturday you’re going to need it. There will be people roaming the fields searching for their team. Please take a moment to invite the wondering souls to play with your team. It isn’t important who they play with as much as they get to play. The schedule will also probably be thrown out the window so just make sure every team and every child gets to play. Combine teams, even 2 or 3 so that nobody if left out.
Please contact opphoto@aol.com if you are missing pictures or have the parent contact them. Olson is great about sending pictures.
Please return leftover medals to the trainer on field 1 or to the Loudoun Soccer office.
I would really like to hear your comments about the sessions, trainers, the season. As many of you have been with our program for several years, you know I have a serious commitment to improving where we can. Most of the changes that take place begin with a suggestion from you.
I am so proud of our coaches, assistant coaches, parents, players and trainers. There have been personal emergencies, injuries on the field and time conflicts that could have driven some stressed out individuals to unmentionable actions such as popping a moon bounce with spurs or shredding the pinnies. I’m happy to say that everyone has been great about stepping up and understanding that we all need to help each other and maybe just chill every once in a while. I do my best chilling just sitting and watching the kids play. As the world gets more stressful, we need to do our best to not bring it to the field. Let this be a place to remember as a happy and fun sanctuary from the rest of the world.
Please feel free to call Sharon with any questions at 540-338-3205.
Posted 5-16-8
The medals and leftover pictures will be with the trainer on field 1 on Saturday May 17 - coaches or assistant coaches only may pick them up. Please distribute them as you like: Saturday, at a team party, the last day of the season. Contact anybody who does not show up and make sure they receive their items.
The South Riding session for May 31 will move and the location will be posted on the MSP page when it is confirmed.
The makeup date will be June 7 - same time but probably a different location (they will be posted when confirmed). Please contact the families when posted.
Makeup sessions are a bit of fun because we rarely have full teams and many players show up and wonder around looking for their teams. Please tuck these under your wing and add them to your team for the day so they can play. (Do not give them medals. Only distribute medals to players on your roster.)
Don’t forget, if there are problems with pictures, have families contact Olson Photography directly at opphoto@aol.com.
Posted 4-24-8
We play 3 versus 3 in the U5 games. Less players on the field = more touches per child. What to do if there are tons of kids, you feel sorry for the ones waiting on the sideline because you think they aren’t getting enough time on the field or have someone who is constantly running away with the ball? Try using 2 balls on the field ..... and you can even add more players. Start with one ball and then roll another out to someone who rarely touches the ball while saying "New Ball - two balls on the field". This alerts them to look for another ball while allowing you to control the flow of play. You can also use this to your advantage by throwing the ball of into a far corner so the scoring machine chases it while allowing the other players to attack a second or even a third ball on the field. This practice allows more balls on the field, more touches on the ball, develops field sight (looking around continuously for the ball and other players) and even helps coaches (remember that the point of recreational soccer is to tire them out so you can have date night). It doesn’t matter what the score is, because we’re making sure they in end ties (right?), but it does matter that everyone gets to touch the ball.
Pictures are already returning from the photographer. Coaches only may check with the site coordinator to pick them up.
Site coordinators will have extra coaches t-shirts and player jerseys. Please email msp@loudounsoccer.com if you still need a jersey. Coaches only may pick them up from the Site Coordinator.
Email Sharon if there is an error with the schedule, to share suggestions, to vent.
Please remind all parents and players to clean up after each session (even if it was the team before you that left the trash) and that there are no pets or drinking of alcohol beverages allowed. These are serious issues and will result in our losing fields (or arrest) if caught on school grounds. These rules are not our rules but in order to use the fields we must abide by them.
There were a few roster changes this week but that should be it. Please give the Site Coordinator any left over shirts.
Posted 4-16-8 The updated schedules are now posted.
Posted 4-15-8
Thank you very much for doing what you do with enthusiasm, creativity, energy and a smile. I’ve heard from so many people that they had a great time Saturday even with the mud. It will be etched in their minds forever.
The Picture Day schedule is now posted. We have a link in the MSP area and there is one from the Homepage. They start this weekend so please check the schedule. Contact Olson Photography directly at opphoto@aol.com to change your time/date. Picture Day is optional so kindly email Olson if you will not be there so they can remove you from the schedule. Please note that the original schedule posting may not be updated on the website if you change your date/time.
Please contact the Field/Site Coordinator if you need a coach shirt or an extra jersey for added players. Also, please give them back your extra jerseys. We need to make sure to get them to the players without jerseys.
Please contact the office if you are not receiving a weekly newsletter from Loudoun Soccer. Not that I care if you read it all, but if you do not get it, it means you can not receive our emails for some reason and we your help to figure out why. This week we heard from a coach who had not been receiving emails and it turns out there was flag set for him that didn’t allow him to receive email - so the office fixed it and he now receives mail.
Posted 4-10-8
Some U5 coaches received all medium sized shirts so please be kind and trade some of the "smalls" you have to help the tiny ones a bit.
Site Coordinators (Sharon in Ashburn, Morgan in Leesburg, Andrew (field 1) in South Riding, Travis (field 1) in Purcellville) will have the jerseys not picked up at the meeting and some coach shirts.
There are many spaces left in Leesburg on teams, please have people contact the office.
If you didn’t receive an email from msp@loudounsoccer.com today, please check your Registration Center contact information and make sure to check the website for postings.
The fields are listed next to each team. Schedules will be posted next week.
If you find yourself on a field without another team to play or with 3 teams, something is amiss. Please check with the SC.
Please take teams under your wing with a coach that is MIA. Unavoidable stuff happens.
Ask the parents to fill out the emergency medical information sheet and remind them it is not a drop off program.
Enjoy the trainers and feel free to ask them questions - they are here for you & the kids.
Please email Sharon with concerns, notice of missing information, suggestions.
Posted 3-26-8 Coaches & Assistant Coaches
1 - Our MSP meeting is now confirmed for April 8 at 7pm in the gym/cafeteria of Evergreen Elem. School in Leesburg. Please check Google or the Loudoun Soccer website for directions. Those of you who have done this before, feel free to arrive up to 30 minutes early to pick up your items. You must however, come by and say "Hello" to me, remind me who you are and tell me how your family is doing.
2- Please read the rest of the MSP pages and then call your parents to let them know that you exist, your phone number, the website and that things may change so they need to check the website and their Registration information for their team. Please feel free to add other valuable information you would like to share.
3 - ALL coaches and assistant coaches MUST complete the KIDSAFE application by April 1. Contact central@loudounsoccer.com with questions.
4 - There are only 250 SPA gift certificates available for our sponsorship fundraiser (for those kids who can’t afford to play) Check out the link on the Home page of this website and order as many as you want but when they are gone, they are gone. Hint - Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Lisa has 5 or 6 locations, not just the two on the flyer - just ask.
5 - Picture schedules will be posted on the website when they are ready. This is a great feature we added several seasons ago and works great IF everyone remembers their team number sssoooooo please make sure to impress upon your team the importance of knowing it. Coaches receive a complementary picture of the team.
Coaches, please make sure to contact all of the player’s parents on your roster and let them know:
1) All players need to have shin guards, a size 3 ball, water and to dress for the weather.
2) The weather line information is on the main page of the website
3) Where and when the team will be playing (when the schedule is posted)
4) How to access the website information
5) There are no pets or smoking permitted on any fields or complexes
6) This is not a drop-off program; a responsible adult must be there for each player
7) There should not be any snacks with nuts, nut pieces or nut oils. This is for the safety of not only the players but any tiny siblings that wander around looking into unaccompanied containers
8) There are no refunds for this program
9)
Jerseys will be handed out on the first day
10) Do not email player information (name, dob, phone number, address, etc...) - it’s illegal.
11) All sessions are sequential. If we are rained out, then we just pick up where we left off. Make-ups will be posted
12) There may be some movement of players while we try and work out conflicts, our mantra is "flexibility"
13) There are no outside practices
14) Parents are expected to volunteer and clean field sidelines
15) This program is designed to provide the youngest player a fun soccer experience while learning the basics of soccer. We cheer for all of the players and do not keep score. Hooligans will receive a gentle reminder that this is All In Fun.
Posted 2-29-8 A coach list is posted in each separate area. Team numbers, assistant coaches, times, fields and schedules will be added later.
Don’t read the Coaches Corner for information about our coach meetings (unless it says MSP or Mini Soccer Program). I will post everything here.
Old Postings -
We play 3 v 3 to increase the amount of "touches on the ball" for each child. Easy to do when it’s hot outside and few players want to be on the field or if you have minimal players. What happens when it’s freezing, both teams show up with 9 player or there are one or two who wake up in the morning and declare they aren’t going to move that day?
There are no soccer police so you just have to try and do the best you can for your team. Talk with the other coach and work things out. Try playing 4 v 4*(see below), 3 v 4, make the field larger (goals are movable, ignore the lines just like the kids do), or use 2 or 3 balls on the field at a time. This last one is great believe it or not. Make sure to have 2 balls in your hands at all time to quickly replace those that leave the field. Notice that I didn’t say "have the parents throw the balls in"?
Think about where you throw the ball in when it goes out. Sometimes it’s necessary to almost stand in front of the goal and feed the slowest player the ball in order for them to touch the ball or have the thrill of scoring. Watch the game as a whole and make sure the scoring is about even and take action accordingly. If you have any questions, ask a trainer/director that are close at hand or give us a call - we’re here to help you.
*4 v 4 is not recommended for regular play because the field is too crowded for this age group. Injuries are more likely to occur and the slower players become very frustrated. 4 v 4 is a tool to use when needed in evening out the game. Use 4 v 4, for instance, when you have a player or two who are basically there in name only, when it’s very cold and players need to stay warm, it’s the last session and you’ve really gotten good at controlling movement on the field using more than one ball so everyone can enjoy the game.
****Coaches, once you can retrieve your rosters from your family information in the Registration Center, please make sure to contact all of the player’s parents on your roster and let them know:
1) All players need to have shin guards, a size 3 ball, water and to dress for the weather
2) The weather line information is on the main page of the website
3) Where and when the team will be playing (when the schedule is posted)
4) How to access the website information
5) There are no pets or smoking permitted on any fields or complexes
6) This is not a drop-off program; a responsible adult must be there for each player
7) There should not be any snacks with nuts, nut pieces or nut oils. This is for the safety of not only the players but any tiny siblings that wander around looking into unaccompanied containers
8) There are no refunds for this program
9) Coaches/Assistant coaches will hand out jerseys on the first day
10) All sessions are sequential. If we are rained out, then we just pick up where we left off. Make-ups will be posted when known 11) There may be some movement of players while we try and work out conflicts, our mantra is "flexibility" 12) There are no outside practices 13) Parents are expected to volunteer. A "Trash Czar" is needed to make sure all teams clean everything around their field before leaving (please bring a trash bag if necessary)
14) This program is designed to provide the youngest player a fun soccer experience while learning the basics of soccer. We cheer for all of the players and do not keep score. Hooligans will receive a gentle reminder that this is All In Fun.
