In-House Coaches Meeting for The Fall 2003 Playing Session

• 68 teams & 630 players
• Introduction of board members

• U5 & U6 separated
• U19 division added
• TOPSoccer on 3-4 Saturdays (John Papinchak & Dave Shero coordinating). Older players (U12 & up) are encouraged to help.
• An SPSA website is under construction and should be available soon.

• 8/23 Field preparation
• 9/6 First week of games
• 9/14 Y-license at SP Middle School 2 to 8 PM (no cost)
• 10/25 Last week of scheduled games
• 11/1 make-up week (if needed)
• 11/8 Field maintenance

• Game schedule provided. Note, 2:50 PM U8 game will always be on Field B (not alternating between Fields B & C)
• U5 & U6 games are scheduled for both Field E & F. Split teams into equal groups and play two games at once
• Instruct parents to park in the lot across Triphammer.
• 9/20 games will be at the SP oval as part of Community day. Schedule shows opponent and rough time of day for the game, but particular times will be determined later to work around the parade. An updated schedule for this day is planned for the first issue of the Goalpost (9/6).
• Practice schedule provided. Make changes through Paul Caracciolo
• Bob Tramontina investigating U8 half-time games at the High School. Parents will have to pay entrance fee to attend.

• Players should play equal amounts of time and all positions
• Make practices fun and instructional; maximize touches
• De-emphasize winning
• Always play with equal numbers (play down or borrow from the opposing team). Do not draft players from other teams or age groups.
• Provide parents with a team sheet, summarizing roster, schedule & team responsibilities. Recommend assigning duties, rather than asking for volunteers.
• Disclosure forms should be completed and returned to the concession stand
• Coaching curriculum under development; draft circulated at the meeting
• Continue to improve your coaching skills. Reminder of scheduled Y-license (9/14 at the SP Middle School 2 – 8 PM)
• Coaches should provide in-house commissioners with their e-mail addresses to facilitate communication.

• Field maintenance assignments provided (1 person per team for 3 hrs)
• Field set-up and take-down provided

1. First or last team on a field
2. Includes field conversions on fields A & C
3. Morning set-up at 7:15 AM, 2 persons per assigned team
4. Do not disassemble U8 nets at take-down; stow in assembled form

• Concession assignments provided

1. Coordinated with game schedule
2. Two persons per team
3. Children must be over 12 to be in concession stand
4. Paul Caracciolo to remind teams of concession responsibilities on a weekly basis

• Community Day set up assignments were made for evenings of the preceding week.

• Exceptions to standard rules

1. U5/U6: 4 + no keeper; leniency on throw-ins (tighter for U6 in the spring); no offsides, but no cherry-picking, either; no slide tackling
2. U8: 4 + a keeper; second chance on throw-ins; no offsides, but no cherry-picking, either; no slide tackling (1 warning)
3. U10: 6 + a keeper; second chance on throw-ins (fall-only)
4. U12G: 6 + a keeper
5. U12B: 7 +a keeper
6. U15: 8 + a keeper
7. U19: 6 + a keeper

• Miscellaneous

1. Shin guards must be covered
2. Must leave field (game or practice) on any sighting of lightning. Cannot return until ½-hour has passed from last sign of lightning. PAWest rules for insurance liability.

• If desired, assistant coaches shirts can be ordered at the concession stand on the first week of the season (9/6). The cost is $8 a piece.

All coaches were encouraged to provide feedback to the SPSA board to improve the organization. It was announced that the next general membership meeting is 9/8 at 7:30 PM in the Community Room. Team rosters were distributed to the coaches and the meeting was adjourned.