Spring 2015 Meeting Notes

Notes for the Spring 2015 U8 Coaches and Team Managers Meeting

Last Update: March 10, 2015

Our Coaches/Managers meeting will be Tuesday, March 10, 7:15pm-8:15pm, in the gym of St. Paul’s school, 124 Montecito Avenue, Oakland.    All coaches and team managers are welcome.  Each team should have someone there.  If you can’t make it, the information will be in this document.     This document will be posted on our web site and I’ll keep updating it as we finalize details of the season.

  • Spring Season Summary
    • All games are on Saturdays at Raimondi Park in Oakland.   Start times from 9am to 4:30pm.
    • Raimondi Park is on 18th Street, between Wood Street and Campbell Street.
    • NOTE: No food is allowed on the Raimondi Turf.   Have your snacks in the stands.  No dogs are allowed on the field.
    • No reserved practice fields.   Teams can either just play games, or attend our Friday Recreational Academy sessions in place of practices.
    • Raimondi is a turf field so you can play in the rain.
    • We'll have teams from Piedmont and Academia Latina playing with us again this spring (welcome!)
    • Teams can have larger rosters for the spring.  Expect players to have other activites and conflicts.
    • Schedule is available now: www.eastbayunitedsoccer.org > U6-U8 Soccer > U8 Rec Program > Teams and Schedules.
    • No reflighting in the spring, full season schedule is available now.
    • Use your balls and equipment from the fall.   We don't give at new balls or have an equipment budget for the spring. 
  • List of Key Dates
    • Coaches and Managers Meeting:  Tuesday, March 10, 7:15-8:15pm, gym of St. Paul's School, 124 Montecito Avenue, Oakland
    • Submit uniform order to get uniforms by the first game: now, but players can use pinnies if they don't have uniforms.
    • First games of the season: Saturday, March 28, Raimondi Park, Oakland
    • Last games of the season, Saturday, May 30, Raimondi Park,  Oakland
    • No games April 4 (Easter weekend) or May 23 (Memorial Day weekend)
    • Start of Recreational Academy Sessions: Friday March 27
  • List of things to do:
    • NOTE: As much as possible, the coach should just handle the games.   The team manager and other volunteers should handle everything else.   Coaches should not try to do everything.
    • Attend PCA if you haven't done it.
    • Manager: get a Uniform Coordinator volunteer to submit a Uniform Order Form (details below)
    • Coach or Manager: Contact all your families. 
    • Manager: confirm teamsnap account has all the right contact information for your families.  Enter game and Rec Academy schedule information in teamsnap.
    • Manager: enlist parents for other volunteer positions: see our web site for information the positions.
    • Coach and Manager: attend our Coaches and Managers meeting.  Get balls, t-shirts, and medical release forms.
    • Coach: get equipment using budget at Soccer Post (see below)
    • Ask for whatever help you need!   My job is to answer your questions.  Don't hesitate to ask as many as you need.
  • Contact Information
    • Karl Haas, [email protected].   I'm the East Bay United U8 Commissioner and am your first contact for issues or questions, especially administrative issues.  I am also the U8 Match Secretary for the spring 2015 season.   The Match Secretary handles flighting and game scheduling.
    • Mark Grody is the East Bay United Associate Director in charge of our U8 programs, among other things.
    • Mike Woitalla is a very experienced club coach and Executive Editor of Soccer America Magazine.  He will provide coaching guidance and advice to our U8 coaches.  His email is [email protected].   Put REC SOCCER in the subject so he can identify the emails from our coaches.
  • Web sites
    • The East Bay United Soccer Club web site is www.eastbayunitedsoccer.org.    We will try to put all information that you need on that site.   Give us feedback on what you'd like to see there.   The web site includes a calendar with date, time, and location for key events.
    • The U8 information on that web site is under U6-U8 Soccer > U8 Rec Program.
    • The Sportability web site (www.sportability.com) has team contact information (coach, manager, assistant coaches) and game schedules.    You can get to the sportability schedules through our web site: eastbayunitedsoccer.org > U6-U8 Soccer > U8 Rec Program > Teams and Schedules (Spring 2015)
    • www.teamsnap.com is the recommended site for communicating with your team.   Each team gets a free teamsnap account.
  • East Bay United Philosophy
    • Our club focuses on developing our players and coaches.
    • Winning is not the goal.   The goal is making sure each player has fun, is safe, and develops as a soccer player.   Players, coaches, and parents should be having fun.
    • In U8, every player must play at least half the game.
    • The coaching focus in U8 is on developing the individual skills of players.
    • To develop the skills of our coaches we have coaching clinics, coaches available to answer questions and give advice, and online coaching information.    For any of our coaching events, assistant coaches and team managers are welcome, not just head coaches.
  • U8 Game Rules
    • The game rules for U8 are online at eastbayunitedsoccer.or > U6-U8 Soccer > U8 Rec Program > U8 Game Rules and Game Monitor Role  or here
  • Rosters and Sportability Login
    • Use your sportability login from the fall.   For new teams, you should have received an email with your team roster and login information for your coach Sportability account.   Use the Admin Login section on www.sportability.com to log into the account.
    • You'll use sportability to find the contact information of other teams.
    • Contact all of your parents to give them information about the season, share the roster and contact information, confirm their contact information (phone numbers and email addresses), and decide how you're team will communicate (we suggest using your teamsnap account).
    • For spring U8 we don't limit the rosters to 12 players.   Teams often need larger rosters due to player conflicts in the spring (ex. baseball, softball)
    • For liability/insurance reasons, don't let unregistered players participate in your games or Recreational Academy sessions.
  • Teamsnap accounts
    • All teams in our club get a teamsnap account, at no additional charge.
    • Your team manager should enter your game and Recreational Academy schedule information into teamsnap.   Players can then mark their availability so you know who to expect.
    • You can send emails through teamsnap to all of your families.   You can set it up to send email reminders of games and practices.
    • You can have families sign up to provide snacks for the games.
  • Medical Forms
    • You must have a roster and medical contact sheet for each player at every practice and game.   
    • For returning players, use your medical release forms from the fall.
    • Returning players who move to a new team for the spring should get the medical release forms from their fall coach and give them to their spring coach.
    • For new players, the registrar will mail the medical release forms to the spring coach.
    • If you don't have them from the fall, or get them at the meeting, contact our registrar at [email protected].
  • Coach/Manager Contact Information
    • Check that your contact information is correct in sportability.   Other coaches may need to contact you to reschedule or cancel a game.   Also, if your email address isn't correct in sportability, you won't receive coaching announcements.
    • You can change your contact information or add team contacts (manager, assistant coaches, etc.) through your sportability account.   Log in, go to the Team Info section, then the Team Contacts section.
  • Team name
    • If you want to change your team name, send me an email.
  • Store for Uniforms and Club-provided Equipment
  • Ordering Uniforms
    • All teams use the blue/white reversible East Bay United U6/U8 recreational uniforms.
    • NOTE: U10 uses different uniforms than U8.  If you have a new U8 player who will be moving to U10 in the fall, she/he would only use a U8 uniform for this spring season.   If new players don't want to buy a uniform just for the spring, it's fine for them to use pinnies.
    • The Uniform order form is online at eastbayunitedsoccer.org > U6-U8 Soccer > Uniforms > Recreational Uniform Order Form or here
    • If a player has a uniform that fits, either from U8 last year or U6, she/he doesn't need to get a new uniform.   U6 and U8 uniforms are the same.
    • Get a parent on your team to volunteer as Uniform Coordinator.   The Uniform Coordinator will:
      • Find out which players on the team need uniform parts (socks, shorts, jersey) and what sizes they want
      • Fill out the Uniform Order Form and email it to Soccer Post (address is on the form).   Soccer Post will send an email when the order is ready for pick up.
      • Collect payments from the team families, pick up and pay for the uniforms at Soccer Post (address is on the form), and distribute the uniforms to the team.
      • Note: the order form asks for shirt numbers.   The shirt numbers are not important for U8.  It's ok if multiple players on the team have the same number.    You don't need to collect existing numbers from any players who already have uniforms.
      • If a player doesn't have a uniform in time for the first game, she/hee can still play.   Just use a pinney, etc.
  • Player Equipment
    • Players are required to wear shin guards at all games and practices.
    • Cleats are not required.   For some kids, turf shoes may be better.  Sneakers are ok.  No baseball cleats or other metal/sharp cleats are allowed.
    • It is a good idea to remind parents to check that players' cleats still fit.   At this age players grow a lot between seasons.
    • No jewelry of any kind is allowed.   Game monitors should check for earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, etc.
  • Team Equipment
    • Use your fall equipment.   We don't give teams an equipment allowance in spring.  We also don't give out balls in the spring.
    • New teams who don't have ball from the fall should contact me.
  • East Bay United T-Shirts
    • Unlike the fall, we don't give out T-shirts in the spring.
  • Flights
    • Unlike the fall, we don't reflight in the spring.   Flights are set for the whole season and the entire schedule is available now.
    • Teams are split into flights based on age, experience, and skill level.   Teams only play games against other teams in their flight.
    • We usually have 3 flights:
      • Red: 2nd year teams/2nd graders/more skilled younger teams
      • White: mixed-age teams or medium skill
      • Blue: Reserved for 1st-grade teams.
  • Schedule
    • The schedule for the entire is available on our web site.   eastbayunitedsoccer.org > U6-U8 Soccer > U8 Rec Program > Teams and Schedules (Spring 2015) or here
    • The first games are on Saturday, March 28
    • The last games are on Saturday,  May 30.
    • No games Easter weekend (Saturday April 4) or Memorial Day weekend (Saturday May 23)
    • All games will be on Saturdays at Bushrod Park in Oakland.  Bushrod Park is between Shattuck Avenue and Racine Street, between 61st Street and 59th Street.
    • Your team manager should enter your schedule into your Teamsnap Account.
    • Make sure your families know how to view the schedule.
    • Raimondi has turf fields, so you can play in th rain.  Never play if there's lightning.   If it's raining, confirm that your opponent is going to show up.
    • Start times range from 9:00am to 4:30 pm.
    • Start times are 1 hour and 15 minutes apart, which should leave enough time to stay on schedule.
    • It is very important to finish games on time, even if you start late or don't manage the game time well.   If you're behind schedule, make half-time breaks shorter.   Note: we use running time during the game.  Don't stop the clock during the game.
    • The game monitor is responsible for managing the game time.
    • If there is an odd number of teams in a flight, one team will have a bye each week.  That team will have a reserved field that they can use for a scrimmage.  In the schedule, if the same team is listed as the Home and Away team, that team has a bye, but can use the one of the listed fields at the scheduled timeslot.
    • NOTE: The Boys Red and White flights have byes for Spring 2015.   In the schedule, I've put the two teams with byes on the same pair of fields and same timeslot.   Those teams can either play a regular game against each other, or each of them can use one of the fields for a team scrimmage.  If you have a bye and want to play against the other team, send them an email or give them a call.  You can click on their name on our Teams page to get their contact info.   Here are the teams with byes each week:
      • March 28: Red Fire Breathing Vipers - Sobel/Mega Mighties - Farinella
      • April 11: Academia Latina Panteras/Firecrackers - Parker
      • April 18: Wildcats Merid/Ninjas - Masket
      • Aril 25: Sparks - Meyer/Rockets - Evans
      • May 2: Los Leones - Thomas/Piedmont - Kobal
      • May 9: Academia Latina Escorpiones/Avengers - Grasman
      • May 16: Cheetahs - Mailman/Crazy Cats - Russell
      • May 30: Academia Latina Murcielagos/West Oakland Seals
  • Field Numbering
    • The schedule will include field numbers (ex. Raimondi 7&8).   There will be a picture of the field layout including the field numbers on our web site: eastbayunitedsoccer.org > Fields > Field Locations > Raimondi  NOTE: The current diagram on the site is not correct.  I'll send a note when it's fixed.
  • Changing the game schedule
    • If you want to reschedule a game, you must contact the teams involved (your opponent and the teams you want to change with) and work out a change, then send me a note with everyone's agreement to the change.   I'll update the schedule.   All involved teams must then communicate the change to their families.   There are open fields for the spring so it should be possible to reschedule games.
  • Cancelling games
    • Try very hard not to cancel games.   Even if you only have a few players, talk to your opponent and see if you can mix players.
    • If you need to cancel, let the other team know using the contact information in sportability.
  • Rainout Notices
    • In case of rain, check the eastbayunitedsoccer.org web site and your email.  We'll post a rainout notice on the top page of our web site.
    • Since Raimondi has turf, games would only be rained out if there was a serious problem with the drainage.
    • Never play if there's any lightning.
  • Practices
    • No practices for the spring season.   Use our Recreational Academy sessions in place of practices.
  • Recreational Academy
    • The recreational academy is group training for any players and coaches who are interested.   They are great training for both the players and coaches.   They are lead by experienced Bay Oaks coaches.
    • The session leader will show a session to the coaches then help the coaches run that session with the players.
    • You don't need your whole team there.  Bring as many players as are interested.   If the coach can't make the session, some other team parent needs to be there.
    • There is no fee for the Recreational Academy sessions.   Registration is required so we know roughly how many players will be there.
    • The sessions will probably be on Fridays at Alameda point.
  • Sportsmanship
    • There will be some games where the teams aren't evenly matched, either in skill or physical ability.
    • Make adjustments to keep the game fun for everyone.   For example, if your team is up by a lot, you can put some restrictions on your players (must make some number of passes before shooting, must do a certain dribbling move before shooting, etc.).   Or, the team that's behind could add a player.
    • Don't focus on winning.
    • Your reaction and your parents' reactions will impact how much your players worry about winning or losing.
  • PCA (Positive Coaching Alliance)
    • Our club is very committed to PCA principles.
    • See the PCA link at www.positivecoach.org for more information.
    • At least one parent from each family must have attended a PCA session at some point.  If they attended PCA for another sport or different season, that meets the requirement.
    • Make sure any new parents are familiar with PCA and know the requirement.
    • Coaches and parents can attend any PCA session.  It doesn't have to be the one sponsored by East Bay United.
    • For coaches who haven't attended a PCA session, there will be one TBD   There is no charge.  Register on sportability.
    • There will be a parents PCA meeting on TBD   There is no charge.  Register at www.sportability.com.
  • Coaching Resources
    • Mike Woitalla is available to answer questions and give guidance.
    • Mark Grody directs our U8 program and can answer any questions you have on coaching and player development.
    • EBU Rec coaches are welcome at the Bay Oaks coaching clinics.   The U9-U11 Bay Oaks coaching clinics are usually held the first Thursday of the month, 8pm-9:30pm, in the gym of St. Paul's School, 124 Montecito Ave, Oakland.   Check the Club Calendar on the club web site to confirm the clinic is on.

 

 

Partnerships:

Copyright © 2015 TeamSnap & East Bay United Soccer Club