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Dear Parents and Players ,

For the past 2 or 3 seasons, your little soccer player has played in a recreational league within the Westlake Soccer Association.   When the soccer players start 2nd grade, the Westlake Soccer Association sponsors the U8 Soccer Development Program (U8 means “Under 8 years old” as of 8/1/2009 ).   This is the genesis/segue to travel soccer teams.   The difference between recreational “in house” league play and “travel” league play is just what you think it is:

• more competitive (teams will be selected based upon player skill/level of development)
  

• larger time commitment (generally 2 practices per week, one match per week, plus tournaments)

• intercommunity play (travelling to other communities for matches and tournaments)

• Trained professionals coaching the kids…and the  coaching the volunteer coaches.
  

 

The U8 Soccer Development Program consists of:

• Practices, November thru March, on Tuesday evenings at Bassett Elementary, beginning 11/10/2009.
  

• Practices will be heavy on individual foot skill development (getting comfortable with the ball), light on game tactics.

• Practices will be planned and run by a professional coach.

• Based on feed back from our first Parent meeting (10/26, 5pm , Bassett) we’ll make up teams and play in an   indoor league…now or starting in January, until the start of their outdoor spring recreational league.

• During the spring, there may be some intercommunity outdoor events (group practices/academy days/tournaments) with the U8 development programs from Avon Lake, Bay, Avon, Rocky River, North Olmsted soccer Associations…TBD.

• Through all this we’ll identify, train, and acclimate prospective coaches to handling/managing teams.   All coaches will be required to complete a U9-U12 Coaching Course (www.oysan.org for dates and locations)…WSA will cover the cost of the course.

• Late spring, we’ll (coordinator, coaches, pro-coach) create teams for fall 2010 to play in the AASL (American Amateur Soccer League, check it out at www.aasloh.net ).

• Teams will compete in the WIST (Westlake Invitational Soccer Tournament), Memorial Day Weekend.
  

FIRST MEETING AND PRACTICE:   Monday, October 26^th, 5pm til 6:30pm at Bassett Elementary School Fields.   If it rains out, we’ll try again a week later, Monday, November 2^nd, 5pm til 6:30pm .

• The kids will practice outdoors; have them ready with cleats, shin guards, #4 inflated ball, and water bottle.

• We will have a parents meeting, whilst the practice is going on.

• Please come prepared with:

• • WSA medical release form
  • WSA travel soccer application
  • Both are available online at http://www.westlakesoccer.org/downloads.php
  • Check for $100.00 (includes practices, 1 indoor session, WIST) to get started.
    

I will act as the U8 Boys Development Coordinator.   I will administrate for the teams to get them rostered, signed up for indoor league play, do the accounting, waivers, medical releases, setup practice times/locations, events and most important of all, communicate with you.

 

Regards,

Chris Brizes,

2009-10 U8 Boys Soccer Development Coordinator, WSA

us255@sbcglobal.net

440-477-2178