GET READY FOR FALL SOCCER! U12 Boys Tournament Correction ROAD RUNNERS WON! IN THE LAST KICKER, WE MISTAKENLY REPORTED THE WRONG TEAM AS THE WINNER OF THE U12 BOYS AREA TOURNAMENT THE ROAD RUNNERS WON ON PENALTY KICKS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THEY HAD A TERRIFIC TOURNAMENT, GIVING UP ONLY 2 GOALS THE ENTIRE WEEKEND. THEIR SUCCESS IN THE TOURNAMENT WAS IMPRESSIVE AS THEY ENDED THE REGULAR SEASON IN FOURTH PLACE SARATOGA SOCCER CONGRATULATES THE TEAM FOR THEIR FINE PERFORMANCE The editor regrets the error! * FROM THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER In case you may have heard otherwise, I am pleased to tell you that Saratoga Soccer, AYSO Region 27 is expected to continue to grow in the Fall of 2001. Yes, we will lose use of Congress Springs Park for one year, but your Board, the City, and local school organizations are working together to provide what we expect to be anther great year of youth soccer for Saratoga. We are still working out all the details, but our center of play for this Fall will move from Congress Springs Park to Redwood Middle School. So please remember our registration days and sign up for the best youth development, sports, and soccer program around. This Kicker is likely to be the last one for which I will be writing articles as the Regional Commissioner. Although I will continue to offer to serve on the Board, I am looking forward to other members having the opportunity to provide leadership and influence. Your board is comprised of an outstanding number of people and we are very lucky to have these folks helping to make Saratoga Soccer the number one league that it is. Please remember, however, that they cannot run this organization on their own. They need the help of every participating family. I am especially thankful to Mark Chapman for becoming the new Regional Commissioner. I know that I leave the position in great hands. You will continue to see me around, as I will still be involved in administrative, coaching, and refereeing activities for AYSO. As I start my 16th year in Saratoga Soccer, and 14th on the Board, my goal is to continue to help ensure that we have a well-organized, fun, safe, learning youth development organization, which listens to its participants and customers. My heart is truly with this program and its values. And we should never forget that, "It's for the Kids." CHANGES IN SPONSORSHIPS This year the Board has made some changes with respect to the fees and benefits for our three sponsor programs. Please note these changes so that on Registration Day you can plan to select the one appropriate for you and your family. Even though the sponsorship names may look familiar, there are some key changes. All three sponsorships do satisfy the Region's request that every family have at least one volunteer position. - League Sponsor costs $400 but no plaque or recognition is provided. - Team Sponsor costs $500. A team plaque is provided, along with a listing in the Roster Handbook. - Corporate Sponsor costs $750. The sponsor will be listed in the Roster Handbook and an advertising banner will be provided and displayed on game days at Saratoga Soccer's main game field. The fees from these sponsorships are very important to our league in helping to pay for operating expenses, including the increased costs of providing safe, accessible, appropriate soccer fields for games and practices. GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS The bad news is that Saratoga Soccer will not be able to use Congress Springs Park in the Fall of 2001. However, the good news is that not only have we developed an alternative plan, but also we will be returning in the Fall of 2002 to a wonderful renovated park with more playable and safer fields. Through the joint efforts of Saratoga Soccer, the Saratoga Union School District, Saratoga High, and the City of Saratoga, alternative plans are being made to have our main game field activity at Redwood Middle School. At this time, it is planned that games will also be played at Blue Hills School, El Quito Park, and Saratoga High School. For practice, we will be able to return to Argonaut, Saratoga, and Foothill schools. Although practice field space, especially for the upper divisions, continues to be limited, we are continuing to identify alternatives. We, as coaches and parents, will need to be flexible. Although we do not expect to be able to meet all of our needs, we should still have enough space to make the program fun and successful. Mark Linsky WANTED: BOARD MEMBERS Wanted: Board Secretary, must be good with a pen or pencil; record the minutes during board meetings; handle small scheduling tasks; willing to work with a great group of volunteers! Wanted: Treasurer, must be good with a calculator (or Excel); track flow of funds into and out of Region 27 accounts; pay bills; meet monthly with a fiscally responsible crowd of volunteers! Wanted: Purchasing Co-Commissioner, must be good at shopping and bargain hunting; able to buy, keep and then distribute these great deals to little kids; coordinate efforts with similar sale minded bunch of volunteers! If you have an interest in any of these positions or know of anyone who you would recommend, please email Mark Linsky (mark linsky@hp.com) or Mark Chapman (mark chapman@csaa.com). * THE SOCCER SNACK SHACK RETURNS! Yes, we'll be back again this year, providing all you parents and soccer players with lots of fresh, hot coffee and donuts in the morning, snacks, soda and BBQ at lunch, and treats for the afternoon. Look for us on the Redwood campus, central to the playing fields. We're not quite sure how we'll freeze over 5,000 of the ever popular otter pops, or how many Mr. Coffee coffee makers to buy, or how many bags of ice we'll need every Saturday, but we'll have all that figured out by the time you show up for the Opening Season Tourneys. Where there is a will (and a desire for Starbursts, Ring Pops or Corn Nuts), there is a way! Calling all you Veteran Snack Shack and BBQ Workers: sign up again, and lend your expert assistance. We'll need your experience and willingness to staff this important part of the AYSO program. We're also looking for two strong Assistant Directors to assist the Snack Shack Commissioner. Flexibility and a desire to be part of the planning process as we creatively design the snack shack menu and related procedures means that your new career in Fast Food could begin now! Registration is coming up soon! Sign up then! For further info about the Snack Shack, call Barbara at 996.0247 or email bseewilde@metricom.com. Thanks! * SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL REFEREE On game day, who is it that make sure your child's game is safe, fair, and fun? Did you ever feel that you wanted to manage the game? Do you ever find yourself wondering what that call was? Does your understanding of "The Laws of the Game" leave something to be desired? Need some exercise? Want to have some fun? When your working out at the gym, do you feel a need for some real motivation? Do you have a bad habit that you could kick if only a purpose was important to you? Just a suggestion, consider Beginning Referee as your family's job. You would only "work" on weekends. We provide training, flexible schedule, uniform, exercise, and lots of fun. As a referee volunteer your family will also enjoy the assurance that there will be room on a team for the kids. Couple referee teams are encouraged. We also have two special registration days just for referees. So save time, save some money, and sign up for the best time you've ever had. We also encourage couples, mom's, and juniors (age 12 and up) to take advantage of this rare opportunity. A special note to Mom. If you have little girls in your life, imagine what they must think when every time they go to play soccer someone's dad is in charge. Dads run the show. Moms take care of the kids. This is pretty much the stereotype. Now, what if they went to the soccer game and saw someone s mom running the show? Do you think that they might grow up with a different attitude? Maybe they would grow up with the confidence that girls can be in charge too. Young minds are very impressionable and need to be fed. So if not now, when, and if not you, who? * Van Nelson PLAYSOCCER 2001 ADVANCED REGISTRATION Dear AYSO Family, Thank you for participating in our pre-registration program for jobs. We have a wonderful soccer program, and you have generously stepped up to help keep it going. We are offering advanced registration to all Coaches,Assistant Coaches, Referees and Board Members. PLEASE COME AND REGISTER ON March 31. 10am-11am or 3pm-4pm OR APRIL 28. 10am-11am or 3pm-4pm There will be more information at registration and a chance to talk to the Regional Coach Administrator. Remember, this process is for returning families only. If you know of others who will be joining us in the coming season, let them know that some jobs have been held for them, and will be available at registration in May and June. Thank you,
Place:
Redwood Middle School
FALL REGISTRATION DATES TO REMEMBER
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