Welcome to Pinellas Park Fall 2008-2009 Recreational Soccer Season

Welcome to the Pinellas Park Fall 2008-2009 Recreational Soccer Season!!!
The Pinellas Park Board of Directors welcomes you to the annual fall recreation soccer season. Our goal is to provide a safe, structured and fair environment in which young players can have FUN and enjoy playing and learning the game of soccer at the Pinellas Park Fields. There are no official win/lose records kept during the regular season. Coaches are required to play all players 50% of each game during the season and end of season tournament.

The deadline for registration is Sat. Aug 23, 2008. Late registration deadline will be Sept. 13, 2008. Registration fee is $130 with three (3) hours volunteer time or $100 without volunteer time. Late registration will be an added $30. This fee includes a complete game uniform, regular season games, an end of season tournament (U10-U19 age groups), and closing ceremonies where trophies are awarded to every player. Registration fees also cover the cost of coach’s clinics and equipment, background checks on coaches, referee fees and supplemental player medical insurance through the Florida Youth Soccer Association. Pinellas Park has a NO REFUND POLICY. There is a $30 fee assessed on all returned checks.

Parents are expected to provide players with shin guards, soccer cleats, and proper size soccer ball. Players in age groups U6 to U8 use a size 3 ball, U10 to U12 use a size 4 ball and U14 and above use a size 5 ball. We have shin guards and soccer balls for sale for your convenience.

Our Fall Soccer Program had over 300 players and more than 33 teams last season at the Pinellas Park Fields. We depend on volunteer coaches, who are mostly parents to make this program successful. We offer coaching clinics to provide basic training to the recreational coaching staff. Please consider becoming a volunteer coach or assistant coach. Without the coaches we risk teams not being able to be formed.

The teams are selected and developed on the premise of fairness to promote FUN over winning at all costs. Head coaches may pick 2 players for their team (no more) plus a team sponsor. Players are then placed on teams based on age and years of experience in a blind draw conducted by a League Commissioner from another GYSA Affiliate in an attempt to balance the teams. Players may play only for their assigned team. There will be absolutely no requesting coaches or switching teams under any circumstances.

  Pinellas Park will also be conducting a soccer training program. This program is designed to provide recreational players with the opportunity to further develop their skills as they train with Professional Coaches and Trainers. This training will be scheduled once practices begin in October. This training will focus on the younger age groups to help develop soccer skills. This is not to say the older age groups will not get training too.

The regular season will begin November 1, 2008 and finish late February or early March depending on your age group. The U12 through U19 age groups will go on to play in the end of season tournament. U-10 may play in a season ending Jamboree event.

Good sportsmanship is required of all parents, players and coaches during all Pinellas Park activities. Pinellas Park will not tolerate any abusive or disrespectful behaviors towards anyone at the fields. There is an absolute zero tolerance for unsportsmanlike behaviors by players, coaches and spectators. Referees must be treated with respect and courtesy at all times. Offenders of this policy will be immediately removed from the sports complex and prohibited from participation in future Pinellas Park activities. If you observe a problem with any abusive behaviors, please report this to the field director or board member immediately. Parents must monitor their children’s behavior at the fields. U6 to U12 players MUST have a parent or guardian at the fields during practices and games. Please do not allow your child to hang on the goals or nets. This is destructive to the equipment, and it is very dangerous for your child!

Pinellas Park is a volunteer organization. There is always a need assisting with organizing and administrative duties, phone calls, team parents/managers, and field striping and preparation. If you see a problem or need, please don’t complain. Do volunteer to help us fix any problem you may encounter. Team sponsorship is a great way to help the kids of Pinellas Park as the proceeds of all sponsorships are used to directly benefit the recreational kids of Pinellas Park organization ! Sponsorship forms are available at registration and the Pinellas Park website, under forms.

The Pinellas Park Board of Directors thanks all of you for participation in the fall soccer season. We hope all of you have a great soccer season!!!!

Tim Smith  - President Pinellas Park