FIELDS Mark Linsky and I are members of the City of Saratoga Development Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force is to decide and submit to the City Council a recommendation on Saratoga park improvements.

The current recommendation, priority one, would involve building a new soccer field at Blue Hills School and Azule Park. This would include parking, snack shack, rest rooms and storage facilities. Stay tuned for more information. . .

We still have the task of negotiating AYSO’s new fees for the fields. Based on comments made, I expect we will again have to go before the City Council to reach a fair and reasonable fee to use the fields for AYSO soccer. Please let me know if you are willing to come and show your support when we go to the council meetings.

AYSO’S COST AYSO is not opposed to assisting in the cost of maintaining the fields and we are even looking into taking over this responsibility. We are opposed to the very large increase that the City previously proposed, a per player fee and the City including a percentage of the City’s indirect cost.

Saratoga AYSO wants, and our children deserve, good, safe fields to play on. This is our goal and we are willing to pay a reasonable fee in order to achieve it.

CONGRESS SPRINGS PARK I am pleased to report that the City has been working on CSP. Many of the sprinklers have been replaced with a new and better type. This should help to dry up the wet spots and put green back in the dry spots. CSP will be a safer and more pleasant field to play soccer on.

It is all of our responsibility to help. PLEASE, PLEASE, keep our soccer park clean! 1. Put all trash in the cans provided. 2. Keep your pet on a leash and clean up after it. 3. If the trash can is full, go to the next one. 4. Turn all lost articles in at the Snack Shack.

PLEASE REMEMBER THERE IS NO SMOKING OR DRINKING OF ALCOHOL ALLOWED AT CONGRESS SPRINGS PARK AND THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO STOP OR LEAVE THE FIELD!

Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers, our tournament was a great success. Players and their families had a great time.

Saratoga AYSO’s soccer seasons are successful because of all the volunteers who donate their time and energy to the program. It is unfortunate that there are a few who fail to perform their promised obligations. Others have had to step in and fulfill the responsibilities of those who are negligent in addition to their own volunteer obligations. This is very unfair to all those hard workers who pick up the slack. I am requesting that all managers notify me if they have a volunteer who does not perform their promised obligations. These people will have their job classification changed to "sponsor" and they will be asked to fulfill the sponsor obligations.

REFEREE CENTRAL You may have noticed a new feature at CSP during the opening tournament. We have provided a place for the referees to gather and discuss the rules or a particular call they made, store items, have water, rest and cool off. This is Referee Central and it is reserved for the referees. It is located next to the infield of the diamond next to the Snack Shack. Please do not use

Should you have a question regarding the rules, please feel free to stop by and ask. Also, take the opportunity to thank them for donating their time to the referee program.

DRAWING On behalf of the AYSO family, I wish to thank Mary Gardner, Superintendent of Saratoga Schools for coming to Congress Springs on Sunday and drawing the winning tickets, The winners are:

1. Idres Kothari Soccer Ball signed by the 1997 Clash Team 2. Tom Copenhagen Soccer Ball signed by the 1997 Clash Team 3. Steve Newberry Signed 1998 Clash Poster 4. Kathleen Pollard Clash Tickets 5. Richard Palmer Clash Tickets 6. Randall Seago Signed Clash shirt 7. Rob Selvi $20.00 Togo’s gift certificate 8. Frank Nadcizod $20.00 Togo’s gift certificate

I look forward to a wonderful 1998 season. Thank you for all your support of AYSO soccer.

Come and get your fresh, hot coffee from the AYSO Snack Shack as early as 7:30 a.m. It’s tasty, hot and eye-opening. Only $.50 per cup! We also have fresh donuts from Maple Leaf donuts on Saratoga Avenue. Sweet, soft and wonderful! Go ahead. . .take a break from the morning bagel and splurge on a donut!

New to the Snack Shack this year is ALL SPORT, the body quencher, caffeine free sports drink from Pepsi-Cola. We sell it by the cup--only $.25. We still have Country Time Lemonade, too, at a bargain price of $.25 per 8 oz. cup. Both All Sport and Country Time have donated these beverages to your Snack Shack. Please purchase their products from the Snack Shack as well as from the grocery store. Let’s show them how much we appreciate their donations!

Also NEW, to save you time during your busy week. . .The Snack Shack is now selling oranges every week. . .$.25 per orange. We’ll even cut them up for you! Thanks to Royal Produce Company of San Jose (and a parent who owns it) for help in setting up this service.

The Snack Shack is a place to get refreshments AND also a major source of funds that go straight back into the AYSO local league. These funds help AYSO keep your registration fees down, put on clinics, pay for league purchases, etc. Support your Snack Shack please! And say a kind word to all the parents who help our kids decide which flavor Skittles or otter pops they really want. We do our best to provide your children with special treats, an early breakfast, a lunchtime offering or a late afternoon pick-me-up. Snack Shack hours: Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

MLS Soccer Camp was very popular with Saratoga AYSO players once again this summer. Fifty five players attended the first session and seventy three attended the second session. We had players from age 5 to 13 coached by professional players from England. Coaches are invited to spend the weekdays with an AYSO family. This can be a wonderful inter-cultural exchange for AYSO players, their family, and the coach. If you are interested in hosting a coach next year, please be sure to let us know when you register next year.

1) Have you moved recently? Fill out a change of address form on-line to make sure that AYSO mailings are getting mailed to your correct address.

2) Lost your schedule? Look up the game schedule of all games (as well as maps of playing fields). The following week, check out the game results also posted on the Web.

3) Questions about AYSO? Read the policy handbook on-line to have your questions answered. Also included are a list of key contacts' names and phone numbers.

4) What else is new? Read the latest Kicker on-line and special soccer promotions for AYSO kids and families on the Website.

There are absolutely no practices allowed formally or informally, ( i.e. come on over to my house and we will play some soccer games ) except 1/2 hour before game time. This is a Saratoga AYSO policy and will be strictly enforced. Any violations of this policy will result in possible suspension of all coaching privileges and also spousal coaching privileges. Division 7 is a true introduction to soccer for the younger kids and will remain that way. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Larry Fine or Mark Chapman, Regional Coach Administrator

The pre-season tournament ran very smoothly, with coaches and teams ready to play on a very tight schedule. Teams in all divisions look very well-balanced. The referees especially must be commended for stamina in the heat.

Congratulations to the following teams as top finishers of the pre-season tournament:

Division 4 boys:	First--Blazers Second--Strikers
Division 4 girls:	First--Tidal Waves Second--Sharks
Division 5 boys:	First--Screaming Eagles Second--Rockets Third--Flash
Division 5 girls:	First--Sharks Second--The Blaze