“Parent’s Meeting”
Skyline Coyote Girl’s Soccer
Web Page Handout for fall of 2005
As coaches, we feel it is vital that we provide as much information to the parent’s of our players as possible. We would rather provide too much information rather than have parents wondering what is happening.
A major portion of our philosophy is to teach children real-life skills through athletics. For this reason, much of the day to day information your child needs will be given directly to them with the hopes of getting it home. You can aid in this process by being sure to ask for any new details on a day-to-day basis.
However, to aid in having a smooth season for the families and players, as well as the coaches, there is a lot of information we want to be sure you know. Our goal as coaches is to spend as much time “coaching” as possible and avoid the “administrative” work that is a necessity. In large part, making the following information available here and now will help avoid confusion and more work later on.
As coaches, we have invested dozens, if not hundreds of hours to get to this point and want the experience for all players to be a good one. We are asking each parent to please take the required time to review all of the following information and referred to attachments very carefully. We consider each bit of information relevant and important. By relaying the information in this fashion rather than requiring a meeting at a set time, we hope you appreciate the time-savings for all of us. Please help us to continue to make this system a success by giving each “handout” serious review.
Your Daughter’s Coaches:
Head Coach:
Jennifer Katz
472-9586
When at all possible, please contact us via e-mail. This is the preferred form of communication. Know that when you approach us on the field, you have us at a HUGE disadvantage. With over 30 kids and many responsibilities with our need to stay a step ahead of the kids, please don’t be offended, but our first thought is not with whatever you are bringing to us. (Maybe it should be, but we don’t know that at the time.)
By using e-mail, you are sure that we have received and recorded and remembered any information you are passing to us. E-mail allows us to review your information when we are removed from other distractions. It also allows us to respond after careful thought.
Coaches Philosophy:
Our job is to teach the game of soccer. However, along the way we hope each player learns to LOVE the game. We aim to do this is in a safe and educational way. But above all else, the goal of the Skyline Girl’s Soccer coaches is to teach the players something that they can take off the field. It is our belief that athletics are a perfect way to teach children how to deal with real life. Through athletics, we can learn how to get along with others, how to win, how to lose, how to compete, and most importantly how to deal with difficult situations. These are only a few of the lessons to be learned. The list is endless and varies with each child. The point is that soccer is only a means to accomplish this.
It is a documented fact that less than 2% of High School athletes will play organized sports after High School. Is the other 98% wasting their time by being here? Of course they are not. It is our intention to use the game of soccer to benefit all children, no matter their skill. This is done by helping them grow as people, by playing the game. For example, we learn about goal setting by working to improve our soccer skills throughout the year. We will strive to put each player, regardless of skill, in a situation where they can succeed.
Team Rules:
The rules for this team are pretty simple: Respect.
Beyond what is laid out in this document, there are day-to-day rules that, for the most part, are discussed as they occur with the team. Your child will never be held responsible for anything that she has not been told, save one: Show respect at all times, to all people. It is your job, as parents, to make this clear to your child, and also act in the same manner.
The coaches of this team are BIG believers in the premise that most everything can be handled properly if everyone is respectful at all times.
Specifically:
Every player must be “ready to play” at the assigned practice time, or 30 minutes before any home game (45 for Varsity). Plan on being at the bus for away games no later than the assigned times with all equipment in the bag ready to go (uniform on). The bus will wait for no one. (If you doubt this, ask a few players that have been around a while.)
BE ON TIME! The greatest show of disrespect is tardiness. When a player is late they are expected to sprint to the field and get ready to join the team.
Web Page:
Updated on a regular basis during the season, this is your source for up to the minute information.
Game Schedules – changes and updates
Power point rankings
Practice Schedules
Directions to away games
Away game - bus departure time and return times
Links to the High School Website
Please note that the game schedules on our website are superseded by the schedules on the Mesa Public Schools website. Any changes that take place to the schedule appear there first. We make every effort to have our website up to date as soon as we hear about changes, but work schedules do not allow this to happen as fast as we would like sometimes.
Activity Bus:
A late bus is available to transport your athlete home after practices. In the past, pick-ups have been at the gymnasium parking lot. This may vary with recent changes at the schools. Information on time and location will be provided to your child. Pay attention.
Attendance:
Any time a player will miss any team activity, we must be notified a head of time.
The preferred method of doing this is via voice message 472-9586 or e-mail jlkatz@mpsaz.org
If a player is to miss practice or game due to non-school event:
If you know, in advance, that your daughter will miss a practice or game, please e-mail or send it in writing. DO NOT have your child, or you, tell us verbally at the field. I can guarantee that we won’t remember you told us. Also, please notify us as early as possible if you are aware of conflicts. If you know in October that your daughter will be missing something in December, please e-mail us immediately.
If your daughter will miss practice or a game due to illness or other last minute occurrence:
If your daughter is staying home from school or will otherwise be missing a practice or game, we must be notified as soon as possible. When we plan practice or prepare our rosters for games, it is vital that we know exactly who to expect.
Please treat this in the same manner that you do the school when your daughter will be absent. Please include us on your “must call” list.
Leave this information at this number: 480 472-9586 (Voice-Mail – 24 hours a day)
Unexcused absence
An unexcused absence is any absenteeism where the coach was not notified ahead of time. This MUST BE IN WRITING AHEAD OF TIME. If the player is missing due to illness, the team will use the same notification rule applied by the school. If a voice mail is not received by 1:15 pm, it will be considered unexcused. A verbal notification that a player will be missing is unacceptable and that will count as an unexcused absence.
Unexcused absences will effect playing time.
Major change from other Skyline High School Sports Teams
In the past, any player could not participate in a game if she is absent the day before, for any reason. This rule has lead to, what I felt, have been some unfair penalties in playing time for issues that often times were out of the control of the player. Doctor and Dentist appointments are difficult to get, family events are more important than soccer, and certainly religious events must be first.
For this reason, any absence where we have been notified ahead of time, including illness if notified by 1:15 pm the day of the absence, will not result in loss of playing time. HOWEVER, if the coaches feel, or even suspect that this rule is being abused, it can be revoked for a player, or the team, at any time.
This was done as an experiment for 2004 season, and we feel the result for the team and the individuals was favorable. Therefore we are doing it again this season. Again, I remind you that this can be eliminated for any individual at any time if we feel it is being abused. (This does not excuse players who are not ready to play because they missed important game-planning information the practice before a game. The Varsity team is getting more advanced all the time and more game-specific strategy will be in place this season than in the past.)
Weather:
Must dress appropriately for all weather. Know that we will practice regardless of the weather. Only if there is thunder & lighting will we go inside. If a player does not dress appropriately and therefore cannot practice, that is an unexcused absence.
We suggest that as winter approaches, all players carry all required clothing with them at all times.
(see the “Equipment List” handout.)
Away Games:
All players MUST ride the bus, with the team, to the games. Occasional exceptions can be made for this due to very special circumstances but arrangements must be made by the parents through the Athletic Departments office (NOT the soccer coaches) at least one day a head of time.
After the game, if you choose to, you are entitled to take your daughter directly home after an away game. Please wait until the end of the game, at which time the parent or legal guardian must come to the coach to sign the form to take your child. Parent or legal guardian MUST sign your (and ONLY your) child out. Siblings CANNOT take their sisters home.
THIS RULE HAS NO EXCEPTIONS
Please encourage your child to ride the bus home and please support the team by adjusting your schedule to accommodate with rides home from school. Please review the AWAY GAMES information in the “Handouts” section of the website.
Medications:
If there are any medications that your child is required to take or maybe needed in case of an emergency, please put this in writing for the coaches. Inform us of any medical conditions we need to be aware of. In writing.
Soccer Rules:
Anybody who wants a detailed discussion of any soccer rule or other general soccer questions, feel free to call or e-mail us. If it is a quick question, see us after the game or practice.
Soccer Risks:
Good News – Soccer has the lowest injury rate of team sports
Bad News – When you get hurt, it is bad – mostly knee injuries (in girls)
(We will be discussing injury prevention with the girls in great detail)
A tip for parents: Ask your daughter about the “Balancing Exercises” we do at practice. Encourage your child to do them every day (for the rest of their lives). They are an amazingly simplistic way to prevent ankle, knee and hip injuries; Particularity in women.
Parental Involvement opportunities:
Videotaping games, Photograph games, Support and attend games (home and away), Concessions, anything you want to suggest - ??
Help your child know that they have all of their equipment before they leave the house each day.
Complaints:
By the very fact that we, as coaches, are human, we will make mistakes. We guarantee it. And at times, these mistakes WILL affect your daughter. Here are a few guidelines:
How can I get more playing time? – as opposed to – Why don’t I play more.
Additional “Handouts” that should be reviewed as part of this process:
All of the following documents are also found in “handouts” on the Girl’s Soccer website – Listed are the titles of the handouts. Much of it is general information to answer the most frequently asked questions, but you and your child will be held responsible for everything in them.
Away Games
Equipment List Minimum Practice Requirements
Concessions Ready to Play
Recommended Meals & Nutrition Team Set-up
Parental Support Team Apparel
*** Your Daughter can not play in a game ***
. . . until at least one parent states that they have reviewed, understand and will abide by the information contained in this and all other “handouts” listed above, which are available at this website.
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Players Name
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Parent’s Name
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Parent’s signature