Important information about fans (2010)

-We expect fans to be supportive of and encouraging to the players. Fans should refrain from yelling instructions to players during the game. This confuses players and prevents them from learning the game themselves*; it's like doing their homework for them. Fans who do this or who are abusive to the other team or to the referee will be told to leave.

(*-For a good explanation of why this harms player development, read here and here)

-Fans should bear in mind that most of our games will have at most one referee who will be single-handedly responsible for 22 players, 2 coaches and over 6000 square yards of field.

-Fans should remain positive. This is middle school soccer, not the World Cup. Everyone (players, coaches and referees) will do the best they can.

Important information about practices (2010)

-Practices will usually be held Monday-Friday starting at 3:30 PM**, typically ending at 5:00 PM. All practices at Kensington unless otherwise announced. Several will likely be moved to Crandall Park but that will be announced the day before and posted on the online.

***EXCEPTION: new state regulations ban all school sporting activity when the heat index is 96 degrees or higher. If it looks like the heat index will be in that neighborhood in the mid-afternoon, practice’s starting time may be moved to 5:00 or 5:30. If this happens, an announcement will be made at school and will be posted on the website and Twitter. Please make sure Coach Farenell has yours or your parents’ email address so he can send out such changes that way too.

-In case of rain or other bad weather, players should assume there WILL be practice (or game) unless an announcement is made at school. If a practice is canceled, it will also be posted online. If there’s bad weather on a weekend, you should check online.

-Players should come to practice prepared with: athletic shorts; red, white or black t-shirt; soccer cleats, socks and shin guards; sufficient water or a sports drink; a soccer ball.

-If players are late to practice because of extra help or other academic reasons, they should get a note from the teacher. If they are late because of a medical appointment, they should get a note either from their doctor or dentist or their parent. If this is known beforehand, the parent can either tell or email the coach in advance.

-Players are required to participate in nine practices before they can play in the first scrimmage.

Important information on games (2010)

-Players must be properly equipped in order to participate in games. This includes the appropriate jersey, black shorts, black socks, shinguards and soccer cleats. Goalkeepers must wear a different color jersey and must have a helmet, mouthguard and goalkeeper gloves. All jerseys as well as the goalkeeper equipment will be handed out by the coaches. Players are NOT allowed to wear bracelets or necklaces during games. The only exception is medical necklaces, which must be taped to the players' chest. If a player is not properly equipped, he will not be allowed to play.

-Players will travel on the bus to all away games. Bus departure times will be announced the day before away games and will also be posted on the website. The bus will leave PROMPTLY at the announced time. If the bus leaves before school ends, players will be excused from early from their last class. If a player is late and misses the bus, he is out of luck. A player must travel to and from away games on the team bus, unless he has prior written permission from the athletic office. The bus for away games will leave in the back entrance of the high school (the one with the handicapped entrance). Players will be responsible for getting themselves to and from home games.

-Players will be permitted to bring food and drink on the bus to away games, provided they don’t leave a mess. However, players should not bring soda, iced tea, energy drinks, junk food, salted snacks or anything else unhealthy or inappropriate for an athletic competition.

-Most home games will be played at Kensington, although a few may be moved to Morse Fields.

2010 pre-season info

FIRST PRACTICE
The modified first practice will be held on Tuesday September 7 at 12 noon at Kensington Road School. Players should arrive at least 5 minutes early so they have time to get ready. Important: Players will only be allowed to practice if they’ve already been medically cleared by the school nurse (see below).

OTHER PRACTICES
Practices are generally scheduled every weekday at 3:30 PM and they typically end around 5:00 at Kensington. We usually do practice in rain and other bad weather, except lightning. Players should always assume that practice will be held unless an announcement is made in school canceling it or unless the coach specifically told them the day before. During the first few weekends of September, practices may also be held on Saturdays.

WHAT PLAYERS SHOULD BRING TO ALL PRACTICES
Soccer or athletic shorts; a red, black or white tshirt; shinguards; soccer cleats; a soccer ball; and water or a sports drink. If you come to practice without any of these things, it is considered 'unprepared.'

If you don't have a soccer ball of your own, one will be lent to you for the season but you'll be responsible for bringing it to and from practice. There is also no easily available water at Kensington so it's important to bring enough water or sports drink to last you the whole practice.

MEDICAL STUFF
All players must get medical clearance from the school nurse before being allowed to practice.

**You can have a physical (free) with the middle school nurse. These will be held on July 8 and July 22 in the morning. You must call in advance to make an appointment: 793-3418. If you get your physical this way, you'll have to complete an update form (see below).

**If you have a physical with your own doctor, you must get a form from the school which your doctor will fill out. They have to use this form. You must submit this completed form to the school nurse. She will review it and to authorize you to play assuming there are no problems.

**If you have your physical before August 1, you will also have to fill out a medical update form. This is just to ensure that you haven't had any injuries since your physical. All that's needed is for your parent to fill it out and sign it and submit it to the school; you don't have to go back to the doctor.

All forms should be submitted to the middle school nurse or athletic office in August but no later than August 31 at 11am.

All forms can be picked up in the Athletic Department Office in the high school or in the middle school nurse's office or by clicking here.

It is strongly recommended that parents make and keep a copy of any medical forms in case there is a hiccup.

If you are not medically cleared for any reason, you will have to wait until the first day of school to see the nurse and thus miss the first few practices and possibly the first contest as a result. So if you are unsure about anything, please contact Coach Farenell (see below) or the athletic office in the high school.

Do NOT bring any of these forms to the coaches at practice. They must be given to the nurse. The nurse will provided to the coaches a list of players who are medically cleared. Coaches are not authorized to medically clear players nor to permit them to practice until they are cleared.

All are encouraged to check this website during the summer for any updates.

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TEAM WEBSITE: GFmodsoccer.net

TEAM CALENDAR: tinyurl.com/gfmodsoccercalendar

TEAM UPDATES ON TWITTER: www.twitter.com/gfmodsoccer

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS: Please contact Coach Farenell