Dear Members, Program overview and aims

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1 Dear Members, Thank you for showing interest/ signing up for Recreational Soccer with PAC Fire soccer club this fall. We are all excited for the new season and looking forward to seeing some new faces and of course welcoming back existing members. Program overview and aims The Recreational soccer Program at PAC Fire aims to give players from 4-8 year old a positive, educational and fun soccer experience and prepare all players for the next stage of soccer whether that be in our older Recreational program or the second stage in the soccer pyramid in our Youth Development Program. The program emphasizes fun for all participants; age appropriate development of players, formation of equally balanced teams, and education for coaches and referees. Our Recreational soccer program focuses on player development and fun and encompasses development over winning games and all scores of the games are not kept and are there are no leagues. Louisiana Fire Juniors

2 Louisiana Fire soccer club offers in total 3 Recreational Soccer program at: Lions Field (Kenner, Metairie), City Park, PAC Fire (Westbank) and Audubon Park. The programs are comprised of players located in those areas. Why Choose PAC Fire Soccer Recreational program over the others? Professional Training Clinics (7 years +) Maximum 14:1Player coach ratio Support from full time office staff Camps offered throughout the year Gateway to Youth Development program (U9/U10) and Competitive Soccer (U11+) What do my fees cover? Required fees cover the rental, maintenance, and lighting of the fields, expenses associated with obtaining referees, insurance coverage, cost of and background checks on all adult volunteers. What Happens Now? Now that you have signed up for the program your son/ daughter will be placed into a team in their age group and you will be notified of this by. Who will be my Childs Coach? Once registration is complete on we will be then lining up VOLUNTEER PARENT coaches for teams. If you have requested a coach we will do our best to place you on their team, however please understand that this is not always possible. Can I volunteer to be a coach? And what do I get provided with? If you would like to a be a coach, assistant coach or team Parent please contact David Wright (Campus coordinator) at: dwright@louisianafirejrs.com or via phone on (281) If you want to help children and have a desire to get involved in their lives, you have the beginning qualities of becoming a great coach. PAC Fire will provide beginning training in the skills of soccer to anyone wishing to become a coach. If you are interested in coaching, please register online today. During the fall and spring we conduct short coaching clinics, this is not a course that is certified, but it is an opportunity to learn basics of coaching and age appropriate tips on coaching. Keep in mind PAC Fire can only form as many teams as we have coaches. It is our desire to have every child who wants to Louisiana Fire Juniors

3 play soccer be placed on a team. So please help us by volunteering to coach so we can be sure not to turn away players. As a coach you are responsible for conducting two practices a week and coaching on game days. You will be given cones, bibs and two coaching t - shirts to wear to practices and games. The age group director throughout the season with session plans will also support you and various other coaching related resources. Can I be an assistant or a team manager? Each team next season will need an assistant coach who helps with practices and on game days. The coach having an assistant is important with the younger age groups and helps with the organization of the sessions and the games. Team managers are also highly recommended for each team to help with communications of team practices and games. Here are a few ways ALL of you CAN HELP: COACH: Be the head coach for one of the Recreational teams ASSISTANT COACH: Help the head coach at practices and games TEAM PARENT: Communicate between the coaches and the parents; set up snack schedule, trophy and picture pick up, end of the year party What equipment do I need and how can I get a uniform? All players must wear Soccer cleats and Shin guards to all practices and games. If your child already has an existing uniform they do not need a new uniform. However for new members the uniform is exclusively available from Third Coast Soccer located at: 2311 Veterans Blvd Metairie Phone:(504) The uniform is $35 and consists of two game jerseys (1x Red & 1x White) Red shorts and Red Socks. You will be notified on the schedule what color jersey your child is wear. For practices players may wear any Jersey and shorts they like but must wear soccer socks, shin guards and Soccer cleats. Soccer balls information: Below is the size soccer ball players will need. Soccer balls are is to bring to ALL practices and games. Louisiana Fire Juniors

4 U-4 through U-8 #Size 3 U-9 through U-12 #Size 4 U-13 through U-19 #Size 5 When does the Season start and where do we play games? The First weekend of games is Saturday 13 TH February. Your child will practice 1-2 times. Team who practice twice a week will either practice Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. The times and days are dependent upon the coaches choice. However you can request days on the request field when you sign up. All Practices are at the PAC Fire Soccer Fields, which is located at: 9201 Patterson Rd, New Orleans, Louisiana What time do we practice and when are games? A full Schedule will be sent to you in the first week of the season. All Practices run from Mon- Thursday and will either be 5pm-6pm or 6pm-7pm at PAC FIRE playing fields. We advise that players get to practice a minimum of ten minutes before practice to allow for the coach to start practice on time. Games will be on Friday nights and Saturday Mornings at City Camp. Games last for one hour and on occasions teams may have two games on one day, your team will be notified of this once the schedule is released. Game Week Schedule: All games will be played between 8am-12pm On Saturdays at PAC FIRE playing fields. Week 1-13th February Week 2-20th February Week 3-27th February Week 4-5th March Week 5-12th March Week 6-19th March Week 7-2nd April Week 8-9th April Week 9-16th April Louisiana Fire Juniors

5 Rainouts If games are rained out these games will no be replayed we offer a maximum of 10 games per a season. We aim to play a minimum of 8 games. If for any reason we have an event where we fall below 8 the season may be extended at the discretion of the campus coordinator and the membership will be advised. What happens if I cannot make a game or Practice? We ask for all our members to when possible make all practices and games, however we understand on the rare occasion this is not possible. In the event of we ask members to notify their coach as early as possible if they are going be absent. This helps the coach with organizations for practice and game days. How will I know if Practices and Game are cancelled? In the event of bad weather sometimes Practices and games will be cancelled as a safety precaution. In the event of this you will receive an by 4pm notifying you of the field closure and we also ask our coaches to notify their team of this as early as possible. Practices due to time and space constraints are not made up. On game days you will be notified by 7:30am of any Cancellations. How do the games work? The games for U6 are set out the following: Two Small fields are used with two dual games 3v3 on each field with no Goalkeepers. The games are split into 4 10-minute quarters with a 5-minute break after the 2 nd quarter. The coaches and volunteers referee the games The games for U8 are set out the following: The games take place on a 5 v 5 sized field with one game of 5 v5 plus a Goalkeeper for each team. The games are split into 4 quarters of 12 minutes with a 5-minute break after the 2 nd quarter. Louisiana Fire Juniors

6 The games are each assigned a referee when possible although there may be certain games that may be refereed by the coaches if we can get referees. What game time will my child get on field? Your child will receive as equal as possible game time and we ask all our coaches to organize what minutes they are giving their players before the games, to ensure every child receives adequate game time to assist with their development. All coaches are required to play players a minimum of 50% of the game, if you feel your player is not receiving the minimum playing time Can I request a position for my child to play? We ask all of our coaches to use players in different positions so that they can learn each position, which will aid with their development as they grow older and continue up the soccer pyramid. This also includes players often having to be a goalkeeper for a quarter of the game occasionally, but normally teams will have a set goalkeeper. Where do I go once I am at PAC FIRE Soccer Fields? Once the schedule has been released it will include field assignments for all teams and there will be a map available that will be sent to each member of our program. Once you are the game we have one sideline for parents/spectators and one sideline for Coaches and players. We do not allow spectators to watch from behind the goal or watch from the Coaches sideline. Any parents doing so will be politely asked to watch from the designated spectators sideline. How can I support my child and be a good soccer parent? Louisiana Fire Juniors

7 What behavior is expected of Parents and Other Spectators at Games? PAC FIRE Soccer Club prides its self on being able to continually project a positive image to both the soccer and local community. An attitude of good sportsmanship and positive support for the players, coaches and officials is essential for this type of image. The following should be used as guidelines for behavior. 1. Only words of encouragement should be shouted from the sideline - being positive at all times. The cheers from the sidelines should be restricted to non-coaching comments. Even repeating the coach's instructions or instructing your child where to position himself/herself on the field can cause detrimental distractions to the play of the game. The coach and trainer must handle this aspect of the game, and in accord with accepted soccer training guidelines even this instruction should be kept to a minimum. 2. No Smoking or drinking is allowed in areas where players are present. 3. Refrain from any comments, and especially negative comments, about the officiating. Even if you feel the quality of the officiating was poor, please do not verbalize your opinion. There is a general shortage of qualified officials, and the association attempts to institute methods to identify and deal with poor officiating. It is a nice gesture to thank an official for a well-called match. 4. If there are any aspects of a particular game that you would like to discuss with your coach or trainer, arrange for a meeting at a later time through your coach or manager. This Club will not tolerate loud, crude, profane, vulgar, argumentative and/or belligerent behavior or language. Remember, we are the primary role models for our children. As athletes, parents and Coaches, we all have an obligation to uphold to each other, please review these when you have time and take some time to think about your responsibility to each other and the Club. COACH'S CODE 1. Soccer is a game for happiness. 2. The laws of soccer should be regarded as mutual agreement, the spirit or letter of which no one should try to evade or break. 3. Visiting teams and spectators are honored guest. 4. No advantages except those of superior skill should be sought. 5. Official decisions should be accepted without looking angry, no matter Louisiana Fire Juniors

8 how unfair they may Seem. 6. Winning is desirable, but winning at any cost defeats the purpose of the game. 7. Losing can be a triumph when the team has given its best. 8. The ideal is the greatest good to the greatest number. 9. In soccer, as in life, treat others, as you would have them treat you. PLAYER'S CODE 1. Play the game for the game's sake. 2. Be generous when you win. 3. Be graceful when you lose. 4. Be fair always, no matter what the cost. 5. Obey the laws of the game. 6. Work for the good of you team. 7. Accept the decisions of the officials with good grace. 8. Believe in the honesty of your opponents. 9. Conduct yourself with honor and dignity. PARENT'S CODE 1. Parents remember: Children have more need of example and positive reinforcement than criticism. 2. Make athletic participation for your child and others a positive experience and make sure your child finds a love for the game of soccer. 3. Attempt to relieve the pressure of competition, not increase it. A Child is easily affected by outside influences. At the Younger ages the focus must be on development of the fundamentals and finding a love for the game. 4. Be kind to your child's coach and to officials. They are volunteers giving of personal time and money to provide a recreational activity for your child. Without these coaches this program would not be possible 5.The opponents are necessary friends. Without them, your child could not participate. Applaud good plays by your team and by members of the opposing team. 6. Between the exuberance of the winner and the disappointment of the Louisiana Fire Juniors

9 loser we find a person called a referee. All of them follow the same rules to watch every move of every player and to call the game to the best of his/her ability. Do not openly question his/her judgment and never the honesty. He/she is a symbol of fair play, integrity and sportsmanship. 7. Accept the results of each game. Encourage your child to: Be gracious in victory, and Turn defeat to victory by working toward improvements. This will be huge quality in which they will be able to take into all their future endeavors in life and sport. In the past seasons parents have been a big part of making the program and we hope the carry on the tradition this season. Any spectators/ parents reported or seen doing any of the Don ts will be asked politely asked not to and we ask anyone who is concerned about any of the above to report these to the Campus Co-coordinator David Wright (dwright@chicagofirejuniorslouisiana.com) Can I Sponsor the Program? At PAC Fire Soccer we have various sponsorship opportunities and packages to offer and any interest is welcome. Sponsorships are really key to keep our programs constantly improving our program and help us to continue to give a high standard of support to all our players and Coaches in the program. If you are interested in a sponsorship package please contact:dwright@louisianafirejrs.com and/or Toby Salsman (LA Fire Board Member) at tobysalsman@gmail.com If I have any questions throughout the season whom do I contact? Of course throughout the season there will come times where you may have questions about certain things that are happening. We encourage open communication in the program and ask for any team related questions to ask your team manager and coach. If you have other related enquiries about the program you can contact the age group director: David Wright at: dwright@louisianafirejrs.com and (281) Thank you once again for signing up to the program we hope the above answers the majority of your questions and all of us a Louisiana Fire are looking forward to another fun filled soccer season. Important contacts: Campus Co-coordinator David Wright- dwright@louisianafirejrs.com Cell: LA Fire Director Of Coaching Louie Smothermon- lsmothermon@louisianafirejrs.com Louisiana Fire Juniors

10 Chairman Toby Salsman- Cell: Louisiana Fire Juniors