AYSO Newsletter Aug/30 2007 To All Parents: Welcome to another season of soccer fun. The first game of the season starts on Saturday September 8th. This season we have approximately 2000 kids in the program. To those of you who have volunteered some of your time to help out, I give you my personal thanks. Without you, AYSO would not be possible. Summer Soccer Camp: For those of you that went to the AYSO Soccer Camp this past summer, I would appreciate it if you could send me an email letting me know what you thought of the program and whether you would consider it for next year. MLS Coach Training: As some of you may know, we are also using MLS to help us with our coach training. We just completed a session this past weekend and there will be another one coming up on the weekend of September 8th. We are still looking for a few more people to help us out as assistant coaches. If you are interested or know of a high school student who is interested, please let me know. Referees Needed | No Experience Necessary Our children canft play soccer without coaches and referees. These important volunteers are parents just like you. Many parents have discovered what an incredible privilege it is to be a soccer referee. The referees get to run around on the field with the kids. Referees are much more teachers than police, particularly at the younger age levels. No prior knowledge of soccer is required. Wefll teach you everything you need to know. To get started as an AYSO soccer referee just check out the class schedule at http://www.ayso26.org/ref/refhome.html. First-time soccer referees can get started by taking the U7/8/9 Referee class or the Basic Referee class for U10 and above. U7/8/9 and U10 Referees Take Note If you have been refereeing small-sided U7/8/9 games and now want to start refereeing U10 games, then you must take the Basic Referee class. Your experience in U7/8/9 games will be helpful, but the U10 game is completely different in all respects: laws, procedures, referee mechanics, child development. Referees are required to have a Basic (formerly Regional) Referee badge or higher in order to work U10 games. The Basic Referee course is offered in Palo Alto three times in August and September as well as other times elsewhere. Take the Basic Referee class and step up to refereeing at a higher level. Coach and Referee Volunteering: If you have volunteered to be a coach, assistant coach or referee, you must have an AYSO ID. If you do not yet have one, please go to http://www.eayso.org and register as a volunteer or youth volunteer. Send me an email to let me know that you have completed the registration process and I will email you back your ID. Once you have completed the process, you can print out three copies of the form, sign them and mail it to our post office box which is: AYSO PO BOX 1493 Palo Alto CA 94302 In addition, if you are a referee, please login to WebYouthSoccer and update your preferences and availability as soon as possible. Team Banners: Every team needs a banner. You can make one or get one from the Banner Closet. Here are the details: AYSO26 Banner Closet (Banners only, NO poles) OPEN: Friday, September 7, 2007 TIME: 6:30 - 7:30 pm LOCATION:1491 Arcadia Pl, Palo Alto, 1 blk north of Channing and Newell intersection. Ist house on the right as you turn in the cul de sac. Directions for making a banners and corner flags are located on the website under Information for Parents http://www.ayso26.org/banner-closet.html Cleat Exchange: Hello AYSO Parents! Do you hate buying brand new, one-size-bigger cleats each year (just to have your child grow out of them by next season)? Then we invite you to participate in the AYSO Cleat Swap! Here are the details: Please bring cleats in good condition, of any size (adult sizes are ok too) to 3833 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto any time before Thursday, August 30th. There will be a large box out on the front porch - just tie your cleat laces together, and drop them in. Please also pick up a Cleat Swap ticket when you drop off the shoes (they will be attached to the box) - you'll then be able to redeem the ticket for a pair of cleats at the Cleat Swap. The Cleat Swap will be held at 3833 Middlefield Rd., on: Thursday evening, August 30th, 4pm-7pm Tuesday evening, September 4th, 4pm-7pm I will have the shoes organized by size, so it will be quick and easy to redeem your Cleat Swap coupon. Come early for best selection, and please be sensitive to our neighbors when parking (there's plenty of parking along Middlefield though, and you can also park in the Mitchell Park parking lot and walk across the street to our house). Any leftover cleats at the end of the Swap will be donated to low-income youth playing sports in East Palo Alto. If you have any questions, feel free to call me (Pamela) at 650-504-1811 or email me at pa m _ n os p a m @ c h e s a v ag e . c o m . VIP Program: The VIP program is a special program for kids with special needs. This is the second year that we are running this program and if you would like more information on it, please contact Chuck Malone at vi p - 0 7 @ a y s o 2 6 . o r g We are always looking for volunteers to help out with this program. High School students interested in volunteering with a special needs soccer team Sundays Sept 9 to November 18 from 1:30 to 3:00 in Peers Park can contact vip-07@ayso26.org for more details. Jewelry: Please note that during the practices and games, your child is not permitted to wear earrings. This is done for safety reason. If your child is about to have their ear pierced, please wait until after the season. If a referee sees anyone wearing earrings at game time, they will be asked to remove the earrings or sit out the game. AYSO Philosophy: AYSO philosophy is about having fun not being competitive. This means, that kids and parents need to be positive. Please do not yell at your kid or the referee during the game. Referees are volunteers and while they are trained, mistakes will happen. Just shrug it off. For coaches, we have partnered with Positive Coaching Alliance to provide a coaching session on how to be a positive coach. I urge every coach who has never been to one of these sessions to attend one. The session in Palo Alto will be on September 10th at JLS. As always, if you have any questions, concerns, complaints or suggestions, just le me know. My email address is r c - 0 7 @ a y s o 2 6 . o r g. Have a fun season. I look forward to seeing you out on the field. Saul Rotblatt ( Regional Commissioner )