Hey all you awesome Moms & Dads :)
I'm so excited for our season to begin! I field a lot of questions at the start of a season so I thought I would just put everything together here to try to answer most of what I get. This is an overview for our Pinkalicious parents to let everyone know how practices and games are done and what to expect during our season! A lot of the info here is a repeat of last season but there are a few important changes, so I hope that everyone will read this overview thoroughly and please ask questions if anything is unclear or if you think I could have added more. Thanks! -Coach Jonnye
Weekly Practices
We will have practice every Tuesday afternoon at 5pm
on our reserved field, #13 at Celebration Park.
All girls should arrive on time and dressed for soccer - shin guards and soccer cleats. Every player must bring a size 3 ball and water bottle. No snacks, toys, etc are allowed during practice. Please keep these in the car to lessen distractions as much as possible. Please write your daughter's name clearly on soccer balls and water bottles with a permanent marker.
We will add an additional practice day as we move further into our season. It will likely be on Thursday's at 5pm at Celebration. I will let everyone know more details as we get closer to implementing the additional practice.Our practices will now start with a warm up and stretching exercise. We will spend the first half of practice going through fundamentals and techniques and the second half of practice will be spent doing short sided scrimmages. These scrimmages are very important to helping the girls reinforce what we learn in a controlled game like situation. When possible, we will get together with other teams in our age division and play scrimmages with them as well!
GamesOur schedule is online and here are the assigned snack captains for each game. (for some reason not enlarging here - see post above)
Since there are only 8 games and we have 9 girls I have elected Sofia to be the alternate snack captain in the event we have a last minute game cancellation due to weather or if a player can't make her assigned game.
***VERY IMPORTANT - DO ANY PLAYERS HAVE ANY FOOD ALLERGIES??***
Snack Captains should bring healthy choices for our 9 girls to enjoy after the games for the ride home.
There are great suggestions on the blog here. Also perfect items would be 100% juice boxes and a healthy packaged snack. Do not feel obligated to bring more than 9 snacks to share with siblings, etc.
Players must meet at the scheduled field 30 minutes before the start of our game to warm up and go over strategy.
At our first game, I need all players to be on Field 10 ready to play at 3pm!
If you are late to the start of a game you may cause our team to forfeit. Please. Do. Not. Be. Late.
Girls must bring soccer ball & water bottle, and be in full uniform, which consists of our team jersey, black plain nylon shorts, black socks over shinguards, and soccer cleats with laces tied. Jerseys must be tucked into the shorts. There is no jewelry or metal hair barrettes allowed.
I am big on the girls wearing their long hair pulled back when playing. I feel it's safer and less distracting, and the fields tend to be very windy. In my family it's not an option. I will bring extra rubber bands to practices and games. I also bring sunblock in my bag if anyone needs some, I am more than happy to share.
Weather can be very unpredictable during our season, and I will do my best to let everyone know if a game will be cancelled. In the past it has been difficult to get an early decision from ASA if the weather is questionable. I will call the hotline like a crazy person until I get a response then I will let you all know. If it is easiest, I would like to have everyone's cell#s and send text messages with condition changes.
***If you would like to volunteer to call the hotline on questionable days and let everyone know I am totally willing to relinquish this duty ;o) Just email me. FYI, the hotline # is
(214) 509-4809. The hotline is updated between 4:00-4:30 p.m. Mon - Fri and by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday
During games we play 5 girls on the field (4 + 1 goalie), with 4 girls on the bench. Girls will be rotated so that everyone gets equal playing time. We play four 10-15 minute quarters. During games, coaches and players stay on one side, and parents and spectators stay on the other. This is to help the players listen for their coaches for instructions during and between plays.
While parents are always encouraged to cheer and bring energy to the games, it's important that all cheering is kept to a positive and uplifting tone. Our daughters are always learning and we never want anyone to feel afraid of making mistakes. You will never hear me reprimand any of our girls for plays done incorrectly. Yelling at players or referees is not tolerated under any circumstance.
My Coaching PhilosophyMy highest priority in coaching our team is to develop
#1 love and respect for the game of soccer, all rules, and players (both Pinkalicious and opposing teams)
#2 life lessons taught during the game such as sportsmanship, and teamwork
#3 self confidence and pride in oneself through improvement by making and learning from mistakes.
Above all we want our girls to have fun playing soccer and being a valuable part of our Pinkalicious! Instead of reminding your daughter what to do, not do, or what they will be bribed with after a game well played, emphasize how much you enjoyed watching them play and how proud you are of them for going out there & doing their best!
If you would like a list of the actual game rules (kickoffs, throw-ins, goal kicks, corners, penalties, etc) check out the following link
http://www.soccer-for-parents.com/support-files/rulesv2.pdf
