PHSA Spring Season begins Saturday, April 10, 2010.  Spring registration fee is $60, and will cover the spring season only. Players who registered and played in our Fall 2009 session are not required to re-register.  New players can register online for the spring season at: http://www.pennhillssoccer.org/registration/

Registration deadlines

§         March 24, 2010 – last day to register on-line without $15 late fee

§         April 10, 2010 – last day to register at Dible Field ($15 late fee applies)*

                  *  This will be the last day to get raffle tickets

§         April 11, 2010 – last day to register on-line ($15 late fee applies)

Existing members, please login to update your member account information, including email and phone numbers, before the season starts. If you do not intend on returning for the spring season, please email Ann Salemi at registration@pennhillssoccer.com.  It will allow us to assign new players to teams that are short players and keep the teams balanced.

Coaches should contact players by March 29, 2010.  If you have not been contacted by March 30^th, please contact a board member.

PHSA would like to welcome our newly elected Board Members for the 2010 year:

Tifany Turner

Tom Pope

Krista Dye

Heather Albert

Tifany will be responsible for the Secretary and Newsletter positions.  Tom will take over the fields and equipment position, and will be busy keeping our soccer fields in shape after this long winter.  Krista assumes the Volunteer Coordinator position and will be contacting those members who indicated they could help out during the season.  Heather will assist the In-House Vice President and Coaching Director with scheduling of games and practices and team assignments.

The Spring session starts soon and I for one, can’t wait for the warm weather! I hope everyone survived the snow and got in some good sled riding! I’d like to take just a few minutes of your time to inform you of some changes this year. 

After five years as President, I believe the changes we have made during this term have been major improvements to our program. We now provide Coaches with Training Aids and Players with additional “skills” training. We have increased our scholarship funds 100% and created ways to “grow” them to increase it in the future. We have setup an economical online registration and communication scheduling system to minimize mistakes in uniforms, save nearly $1,000/year in printing/mailing and create balanced teams. We provide Referee Rewards to improve the technical aspects of the game. Our Player and Referee evaluation ensures they are on fields appropriate to their skill. Plus many smaller improvements to our program that are no less significant. I have only been able to accomplish this due to a GREAT supporting Board of Directors. These fine people still serve on our Board and NEED YOUR continued help and support. 

I am remaining on Board as the Webmaster and will be helping the new President learn the ropes. Brenda Feldman has served as Registration and Uniforms for the last three years but has done FAR MORE EVERY WEEK, as most of you know. Please provide her with every bit of respect and helpfulness you have shown me. We are all volunteers and many of us do three or four tasks including coaching and we get no pay and little thanks.

This Spring then Fall of the 2010-2011 Season will be the last sessions we play at Dible School due to the planned construction there. The Penn Hills School Board has told us we can use Shenandoah fields starting in the Spring of 2011. As a result, we will need to start preparing those fields ASAP and will need lots of help from our Members. Let us know what you can help with or donate to this cause.

Our Winter Training camps have made NOTABLE improvements in our players skills and confidence. This has been passed on to their teammates during In-House practice and games benefiting the entire Penn Hills Soccer Association. The PHSA Board has decided to make this part of our regular In-House program. As long as we can secure the Fralic Center in the winter or Fields in the Spring we will have an additional Skills Camp. We would like all of our players to be able to get this training to make Penn Hills the best soccer program we can. Registration will be required but the cost will be a “Token” fee about $10 per PHSA player. 

I look forward to helping out in the future and challenge the rest of you to volunteer some time as a Coach or Board member to further improve the PHSA through the coming years.

Truly Yours In Soccer, 

  Michael Davis

Your help is needed!!!  Parents and Coaches are needed to volunteer their time for our Spring Season field set-up.  No prior experience is needed, and even if you can only spare an hour, your time will be greatly appreciated.  The more volunteers we have, the quicker we can get it done!

Date:   Saturday, March 27, 2010

Time:  9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Place:  Dible Elementary School

Snow/Rain Date:  Sunday, March 28, 2010

If you selected "Field Set-Up" as a volunteer activity to waive the Opt-Out fee for this year, we are counting on you!  You should receive a confirmation call from Krista Dye.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEAM FIELD SET-UP

1) Team parents meet at fields approximately 30 minutes before the game.  

2) Go to the brown storage boxes and pick up the following items:

§        Paint machine & spray paint cans (for lining corners arcs of the field)

§        Corner flags

§        Garbage can and bag for age group

§        Soccer ball and bucket for age group

3) Follow previously sprayed lines on your field and spray corner arcs. 

4) Drag the goals to goal lines, measure to center the goals in the box.

5) Stake down the goals and nets.  Three pegs are used to stake the net down, this keeps the ball from rolling through the nets.

6) Place the corner flags in each corner of the field. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FIELD TEAR-DOWN

After the game team parents will:

1) Remove the 4 corner flags.

2) Pull stakes from the goals and nets and place in bucket. (do not move
U10 and U13 Goals).

3) Move goals back to fence and chain/lock nets to fence:

• The U-10 and U-13 goals are not to be moved from their place
• The U-6 and U-8 goals are staked together then chained as one onto the fence
• The U-6 goals go against the fence (Don’t chain)

• The U-8 goals go behind the U-6 goals then chain to fence

4) Pick up litter and empty garbage bag from can and place next to dumpster by the concession stand.

5) Place bucket with stakes and corner post back in the garbage can.

6) Drag garbage can, paint sprayer, and corner flags back to the brown storage boxes.  Place these items back into the storage box. 

NOTE:  Goals are to be LOCKED UP after the last game on that field every Saturday. They are not to be moved for any practices.

A Finders Fee of $5.00 will be paid for finding new players to join PHSA.  So if you find five new players to join PHSA, you will be paid $25.  To qualify, the new player must not be currently registered and cannot be an immediate family member of a player already registered.  In order to qualify for the Finders Fee, the new player(s) must identify the referring individual when registering.

PHSA would like to welcome Deb Schuetz as our new referee coordinator.  All referees who are interested in refereeing PHSA games for the spring should plan on attending an informal meeting with Deb on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 1:00 pm at Dible. 

The meeting will focus on the expectations for the upcoming year, receive handouts and eat cookies.  It is also an opportunity for Deb to get to know you and help her in assigning you to games.  If you need to contact Deb, please email her at referee@pennhillssoccer.org.  We need our referees to help pitch in with the spring field set up, and make the field set up a success!

In addition, referees are also needed by PA West (www. pawest-soccer.org).  Please contact them for certification, availability, and additional information.

TOPSoccer (The Outreach program for Soccer) is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with special needs.  The program is designed and administered by US Youth Soccer and its volunteer TOPSoccer committee and provides meaningful learning, development and physical participation opportunities to these young athletes through the game of soccer.

A TOPSoccer player is defined as any youth player between the ages of 4 and 19 who has a disability that limit their ability to perform at the level of play in which they have chosen to participate.  Our goal is to enable the thousands of young athletes with disabilities to develop their physical fitness, technical skills, courage and self-esteem, through the joy and excitement of playing soccer.

If you would like more information regarding the Penn Hills TOPSoccer program, please contact Christine Jenkins, Regional Coordinator at clmjenkins@aol.com. Or call at 412-330-7645

The PHSA will offer $2,000 for scholarships, upon approval of its Board of Directors.  In order to qualify for this scholarship the candidate must: 

§         Demonstration of involvement with PHSA (i.e. as a player, referee, coach, etc.) and the Penn Hills community

§         Complete the application and submit all requirements postmarked by April 1, 2010

§         Application can be downloaded from the PHSA website at http://www.pennhillssoccer.org/Scholarships.htm

§         Provide proof of acceptance by a post-secondary school

§         Provide two (2) letters of recommendation; one (1) from a school official and one (1) from a PHSA member

§         Provide proof of your grade point average for all high school terms except the final term of the senior year

§         Mail completed application and supporting documentation to:  PHSA, PO Box 27095, Penn Hills, PA  15235

Anyone interested in being on the Scholarship Committee, please contact Brenda Feldman at president@pennhillssoccer.com

Remember to check the website at www.PennHillsSoccer.org for rain cancellations or you will get a call from your coach.  If you don’t hear from anyone…GAME ON!!

You can also sign up for eAlerts Online for TXT message to your PDA/Cell phone/Email at www.PennHillsSoccer.Org

We currently have 6 travel teams: U16 girls/Riptide, Brian Rossetti; U14 girls/Power, Dave Kun; U12 co-ed, Ed Antonucci; U14 co-ed, Sandie McDonough, U17 co-ed/Phantoms, Keith Polliard and U10 co-ed/Predators, Mick Beers .  Some of these teams are in need of players; so if you are interested, please send an email to travel@pennhillssoccer.com. 

Your information will then be available if any of the coaches need additional players.

Show your support for our players by attending Sunday games at Dible or Friendship Field. Check out the PHSA web site at http://www.pennhillssoccer.org/Travel.htm for dates/times.

• There will be a coaches meeting for all U6, U8, U10 and U13 coaches before the season field set up on Saturday, March 27^th at 12:00 pm at Dible.  We will discuss the spring season, referees, rules and misc. items.  Rain date is Sunday, March 28^th at 12:00pm.  Following the meeting, we could use your help to line the fields.  A little work from many will get us out of there quickly!

• All registered coaches must complete the Kidsafe Disclosure Application (KDA), or provide a copy of their valid Act 33/34. every two years from the original date The KDA fee is $10, and is available from the PA West website at: https://ssl.hammersoccer.com/pawkidsafe/RiskUser.asp.  For more information, please contact Jen Spicer, coaching@pennhillssoccer.org.   The $10 KDA fee will be reimbursed by PHSA once the background check is completed, received and reviewed by the PHSA Risk Management Committee.  The Committee will contact any person privately to discuss any unfavorable report.  All information pertaining to this is held strictly confidential.

• All coaches are required to sign in every Saturday at the PHSA Board Tent prior to your scheduled games.  Any handouts and related PHSA information will be given to all coaches upon signing in.  Please disseminate to all players and parents.  You are the source of information for most parents, so please help them stay informed.

• If you have not already done so, please sign up for practice times on the PHSA website.  You may keep the same day/time as in the fall season, but all coaches must re-register their team for a practice slot.  Teams who have registered will be given preference with the fields if there is a conflict.  Now is also the time to dust off the cobwebs and think about your practice game plan…find some new ideas for instruction on the PHSA or PA West websites.

• All coaches (and parents) are encouraged to participate in the PA West Soccer Coaching Program's licensing courses as a way to improve their knowledge and add to their bag of tricks.  The State Youth "Y" level certification is a 6 hour course designed to provide coaches with a basic knowledge of methodology, team administration, risk reduction, child characteristics and a wide variety of fun coaching activities.  There is a U6/U8 module and also a U10/U12 module.  If you have not already done so, please consider signing up for one or both of the modules at http://pennhillssoccer.org/CoachingClinics.htm.  The course is provided free of charge to both coaches AND parents.  This is one thing the Penn Hills Soccer Association can do for YOU!
  
  

The 15th annual Autumn Ambush Soccer Tournament, hosted by PHSA during the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend, was another great success! The tournament involved 47 teams and helped raise over $6,000 for the Association, which allows us to provide more quality training and equipment! 

    Winners of the 16^th annual Autumn Ambush:

• U8 Coed Champions:    Plum                            (Finalists, Norwin)
• U10 Boys Champions:  Plum                                        (Finalists, Murrysville)
• U12 Girls Champions:   Holidaysburg                (Finalists, Connellsville)
• U12 Boys Champions:   Plum                                       (Finalists, Kiski)
• U14 Girls Champions:   Norwin                                    (Finalists, Penn Hills)
• U14 Boys Champions:   Norwin                                   (Finalists, Plum)

To all Coaches, Players, Parents and Volunteers,    THANK YOU!

Special Thanks to Carl Anderson, Brenda Feldman, Praetha Brown

Kim Anderson, Greg Ferraco, Jack Quinisk and MJ Gula

Fall registration will open on April 18, 2010

.  Sign up at http://www.pennhillssoccer.org/registration/

Registration fees for the In-House Soccer Fall 2010-Spring 2011 year will be $70 for the first child and $60 for each additional child (up to three children).  Families with 4 or more children will have a maximum registration fee of $250.  Registration is done online and the invoice must be sent to PHSA and postmarked (with payment) by July 15, 2010 to avoid the late fee.  All invoices postmarked on or after July16, 2010 will be charged a $15 late fee.

13 year old players, this may not be your last year!  Do you want to play one more year?  The PHSA will need 48 players in both leagues in order to establish separate U14 and U12 Leagues.  If we have enough players that are 12 and 13 years old as of July 31^st, we need you to sign up!  Let’s create a new league and extend your playing time.  Avoid the late fees!

Sign up for a volunteer task and save the $10 opt-out fee just by helping the league provide a quality soccer program for our children.  Help us keep the PHSA the most affordable program in the area.

The concession stand has lots of goodies for sale, including grilled hot dogs & hamburgers, soft drinks, Gatorade & water, chips, candy, etc.  Volunteers of the PHSA travel teams run the concession stand, so please stop by and support them.  The proceeds go directly to the individual teams and helps make playing travel soccer affordable for all.  Thanks for your support!

Any travel team interested in running the concession stand on Saturdays, please contact Shawn Peterson at travel@pennhillssoccer.org.  PHSA Board will operate the concession stand on Festival Day.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Krista Dye at volunteer@pennhillssoccer.org

“GET BACK ON YOUR GAME”

Sponsored by the Penn Hills Boys Varsity Soccer Team

In partnership with the Penn Hills Soccer Association

The 4^rd Annual Summer Soccer Camp will be held in August 2010, on Tuesday through Friday evenings at Dible Soccer Fields.  Open to all ages, boys and girls, between 4 and 12 interested in soccer!  The Penn Hills High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team players and coaches will conduct the camp, which will include age appropriate games, drills, skill building components and fun activities.  All campers will be divided into groups according to age.  Each player will receive a camp T-shirt and prizes will be awarded.   Everyone who participates in the summer camp will have a pizza part on the last day of camp.  If you are interested in this camp please e-mail Tom Pope at fields@pennhillssoccer.org, and additional details regarding the camp will be sent.

• All camp proceeds will benefit the Penn Hills High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team Boosters

• PHSA has a “Swap Box” available at the Board Tent for items such as cleats, shin guards, balls, etc., that are available to those who need them.  If you forget your cleats for game day, stop by the tent to see if we have one’s in your size before you head home.
• If you don't have someone to pass down your cleats, shin guards or balls to, drop them in the Swap Box
• Donations Needed!  We are looking for any gently used soccer jerseys. PHSA sends these jerseys to those soccer organizations in need around the world.  Your donations could make a child very happy!  Please bring any donated items to the Board Tent.

• PHSA will have a Recycling Container adjacent the concession stand for plastic bottles and aluminum cans…please do not place trash in the recycling container.

• No smoking on the school grounds                           
• No dogs allowed on the fields                                                           
• Please watch your speed when on school grounds       SLOW DOWN!

The district is generous enough to allow use of the fields, so please let’s abide by the rules.  Thanks!

• Please use the parking lots, and not to park on the roadside during game days

§         Lost and Found is located at the PHSA Board Tent

§         Bring your best attitude and good sportsmanship and be ready to have some fun

• Please be aware of the "PLAYERS ONLY" and "NO SPECTATORS" areas.  These areas are designated to limit distractions to players and referees, and allow coaches and referees to see the whole field and make better coaching decisions and penalty calls.

§         Bring water, Gatorade, or similar drink to guard against dehydration

§         Shin guards are REQUIRED.  Wear soccer cleats- no metal spikes

§         Do not wear jewelry or metal accessories (it’s a safety issue!)

§         In cold weather, sweatshirts may be worn UNDER your uniform.  Hooded or unzipped sweatshirts are not allowed as loose clothing may lead to an injury

§         Bring your soccer ball for warm-ups before games (Ball Sizes:U6 #3, U8 #3, U10 #4, U13 #5)

PHSA would also like to thank State Representative Tony DeLuca and the Penn Hills Park and Recreation Department for their continued support of our soccer program, as well as other Penn Hills sports programs! 

Show our sponsors our appreciation for their support by utilizing their services and products!