Dear Topsfield Youth Soccer travel team parents,

We are only a week and a half away from our Spring season kickoff! We hope everyone has a fun and successful season-

This note is being sent out to inform parents of what they should expect during the Spring 2010 playing season. Many coaches have taken training courses in an effort to improve the overall experience for every player-thanks should go out to the volunteers and all of the effort they put into the program.

Start of season:

The first games are scheduled for Saturday, April 10th, weather pending. You can check your team schedule on the http://www.taasports.com soccer website, or on the http://www.ecysa2.org website. Coaches will contact players soon if they haven’t yet.

Fields:

 Klock Park: Topsfield Parks and Cemeteries department has not committed to an opening date for the fields yet, although there’s a chance we could open Klock as soon as Wednesday, April 6th—updates coming ASAP. There is a possibility the fields will open later than the first scheduled home games- If the fields open later than 4/10/2010, any Topsfield team playing at home on Saturday 4/10/2010 will have to re-schedule their game. Fields will not be available for practices until after P+C has confirmed an opening date. Your coaches will contact you with all pertinant schedule information.

Spring school vacation and Memorial day:

 We will have games on both weekends surrounding April School vacation, but there will be no scheduled games Memorial day weekend. Please let your coaches know early if your player will not make either game.

Uniforms:

For any player needing a new uniform should contact Tammy Lockhart, 887-0848. All travel players are required to have a uniform, so if you’re new to the program, call Tammy. Typically a uniform “open house” occurs just before the start of the season—date/time TBA.

Practices:

Practice and game schedules are in and will be posted on the http://www.taasports.com soccer website. Again, we will be hiring professional coaches from Northshore United, Viking, Mass Premiere, along with some college coaches to assist our town coaches with practices. We will also be hosting a number of skills/training clinics during the season. Check the soccer website for updated information.

Cancellations:

 due to weather will be posted on the http://www.taasports.com website under the “Current player and Parent information” heading.  All morning games will officially cancelled and parents will be e-mailed by 7:30am , 8:30am for afternoon games—closed fields can be viewed on the “Field information” heading.  Closed fields cannot reopen that same day, so if Topsfield or an opposing town’s fields are closed, it’s final for that day.

No tolerance: 

The Essex County Youth Soccer Association (ECYSA) “No tolerance” rules are posted on the taasports website—these are basic rules about the interaction between referees, coaches, parents and players.

 

 

 

Playing time:

The travel soccer program directors and the TAA met to agree on what constitutes fair playing time during any playing season.

Fall: since the fall season is considered the developmental season (it does not end with a tournament), efforts should be made to evenly distribute playing time for ALL players.

Spring: For U10, same as fall…For U12 and U14,  the spring season ends in an Essex County tournament followed by Massachusetts state championship, it is considered the competitive season. It has been decided that for these two age groups, 60-40 playing time is acceptable.

 It is understood that sometimes players want to stay out of games, and that some coaches use playing time as an incentive to insure orderly practices. It is important for coaches to communicate playing time issues to the parents. If for any reason it seems that a player is not receiving fair playing time, please communicate with your coach immediately. Player’s photos for Fall 2010:

We have decided to have team and individual photos taken by professional photographers this season. Photos can then be purchased as part of a fundraising event—this is scheduled for Sunday, April 11th starting at 11am. If for any reason you can’t make this photo-op, please give your coach (or preferentially e-mail) a current photo of your player(s) with name printed on the back. These photos will be used to create the Fall 2010 passcards. If e-mailing, use the player’s name as the file name and send to taasoccer@yahoo.com .

Tryouts:

Mandatory tryouts will be held  at Klock Park either during or directly after the spring 2010 season--time and date TBA.  Specific information with regard to times, age groups and genders will be posted on the taasports.com website during the season under the “Current Player and Parent Information” heading. Cancellations/rain make-up dates will also be updated on the website.

Soccer camps:

Topsfield Co-Ed Soccer Camp with North Shore United Soccer, Inc. will be offered this April school vacation week, and again this June after the town program finishes.—Date, time and venue TBA .  Boys & girls ages 5-15 are welcome. Information is available on the taasports.com website under the “Current Player and Parent Information” heading, or at http://www.northshoreunitedsoccer.com

Fall registration dates:

Registration for Fall 2010 will open Friday May 14th at 6:00am and will close Sunday June 13th at midnight. Please encourage your players and parents to register on time.

 

 

Please contact your coaches or visit the website for any other information.

Thanks,

Mike Gilfeather