Welcome to Pinellas Park Fall 2011-2012 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. Our recreational soccer league is broken down by player age as of July 31, 2011.

Age Group	Birth Date Range
U19	08-01-92 thru 07-31-95
U16	08-01-95 thru 07-31-97
U14	08-01-97 thru 07-31-99
U12	08-01-99 thru 07-31-01
U10	08-01- 01 thru 07-31-03
U8	08-01-03 thru 07-31-05
U6	08-01-05 thru 09-01-07*

*A player must have attained his/her fourth (4th) birthday prior to Aug 1st., or attain his/her 4th birthday prior to any participation in a sanctioned program or eligible to register.

 Age Chart for 2011-2012 Soccer Season

DIVISION	August	September	October	November	December	January	February	March	April	May	June	July
U19	92	92	92	92	92	93	93	93	93	93	93	93
U18	93	93	93	93	93	94	94	94	94	94	94	94
U17	94	94	94	94	94	95	95	95	95	95	95	95
U16	95	95	95	95	95	96	96	96	96	96	96	96
U15	96	96	96	96	96	97	97	97	97	97	97	97
U14	97	97	97	97	97	98	98	98	98	98	98	98
U13	98	98	98	98	98	99	99	99	99	99	99	99
U12	99	99	99	99	99	00	00	00	00	00	00	00
U11	00	00	00	00	00	01	01	01	01	01	01	01
U10	01	01	01	01	01	02	02	02	02	02	02	02
U09	02	02	02	02	02	03	03	03	03	03	03	03
U08	03	03	03	03	03	04	04	04	04	04	04	04
U07	04	04	04	04	04	05	05	05	05	05	05	05
U06	05	05	05	05	05	06	06	06	06	06	06	06
U05	06	06	06	06	06	07	07	07	07	07	07	07

The deadline for registration is Wednesday August 31st. Registration fee is $120 with three (3) hours volunteer time or $220 which would include an additional $100 without volunteer time. 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. 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.

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!!!!

Chip Bruce  - President Pinellas Park