Soccer Equipment Status

Here is an update on soccer equipment.

I picked up medical kits, size 3 balls, goalie shirts and goalie gloves. I've placed this equipment on my front porch. My address is 109 Trotwood Drive, Venetia. Make sure you check-off-your-name so I know who has stopped.

Important Notes:
=============

• Everyone gets 1 medical kit.
• We are short on size 3 balls. So, only pick up one size 3 ball if you need one. If you coached U6 or U8 last year then you likely won't need one.
• Please drop off one of your size 4 balls. You can keep the other one.
• I was given goalie gloves for this year (we didn't use them last year). Take a pair if you want them. They are optional for you to use.
• I was only given a handful of goalie shirts. There will not be enough for everyone. For those that don't get a goalie shirt, the Equipment Director suggested you use the yellow pinnies in your coaches bag or pick up a used shirt from a thrift store. My suggestion: you can always use a different colored soccer jersey from home ( e.g. The yellow British Soccer Camp jersey from this year).
  

Fwd: Field Closure Message

A message from Pete about the fields hotline.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Peter Chiste <pmchiste@hotmail.com >
Date: Aug 30, 2006 9:28 PM
Subject: Field Closure Message

Commissioners,

 

The PTSA Fields (all) were closed via PTSA Hotline voice message posted on Tues. 8/29 due to standing water and spongy conditions.  I've had reports that teams practiced Tuesday, nevertheless.  The Hotline message was not changed today, Weds 8/29, hence the fields (all) were not yet re-opened, yet I know practices occurred on every field tonight. 

 

Please reiterate with your Coaches that they must abide by our Field Director decisions regarding field openings and closings.  Many volunteers spent a lot of hours and labor at our fields over the last month and the fields are now at risk of being torn up because Coaches are making unilateral decisions to practice regardless of the closures. 

 

I have heard many, many complaints about the poor condition of our fields and most lay the blame on neglect by PT Parks & Recreation.  However, PTSA will have no one to blame but itself when our teams trample upon wet fields during periods post-rain storms.  Although rain may have been light yesterday and today, the fields are still in fragile condition as many field areas are perched and do not absorb water or drain well.

 

Again,  please notify all Coaches in your respective age groups to check the PTSA Hotline (724-969-0771) frequently to ascertain field openings / closings and rremind them that whatever the last message is on the hotline controls from that date forward.

 

Thanks.

 

Pete Chiste
724-969-1070 h
412-327-8538 c
pmchiste@hotmail.com

Soccer Picture Day

I just wanted to let everyone know that team photo day is scheduled for Saturday September 23 and Sunday September 24.
Specific time schedules have not been released yet.

You might want to pass this note onto parents.

I'll be sending you time schedules when they become available.

Practice Times and Field Diagram

I've updated our U8 boys homepage: http://abelfiore.googlepages.com/ptsau8boyshomepage

You can view the entire practice schedule: http://abelfiore.googlepages.com/PTSAU8BoysPracticeSchedule.htm
I believe everyone got their top 2 choices. Cool.

Also, I've attached a diagram of the Peterswood Soccer Complex:
http://abelfiore.googlepages.com/PeterswoodSoccerComplexFieldDiagram.jpg

Important Note: Please take note of the yellow and blue boxes on the diagram.
These are the areas where the teams (blue areas) and spectators (yellow areas)
should be located during games. Please help the referees ensure we follow
these guidelines.

U8 Boys Game Schedule Completed

I've updated our U8 Boys home page.

It now contains our game schedule.

A few important notes:
=================
* The home team is on the left and wears white.

* It is the responsibility of the 9am coaches to line the fields. You might want to delegate this job to helpful parents.
I would recommend painting the lines on Thursday or Friday, so your not scrambling on Saturday morning.
Please make sure all three U8 boys fields (Field #3, Field #4, and Field #5) get lined.
For more information on painting the lines see the Field Preparation section of the coaches guide.

* I intend on giving the fields some rest this year (note the black boxes on the game schedule). I hope this cuts
down on the wear and tear we normally see.

U8 Coaches Info and Practice Time Requests

I now have 18 committed coaches. Whew. It wasn't easy.

First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for committing your time to the soccer program.
It is greatly appreciated. I can't say this enough.

As always, the U8 home page is this: abelfiore.googlepages.com/ptsau8boyshomepage

I plan on sending out rosters tomorrow.
As I get late registrations I'll add kids to your teams.
If anyone has a kid that quits then let me know ASAP so I can get you a replacement.

I need each and every one of you to do three things:

1. Confirm your name, phone number and email address that I have listed here:
http://abelfiore.googlepages.com/PTSAU8BoysCoaches.htm
This is the information I will provide to the PTSA. Email me either way - let me know if it is correct or incorrect.

2. Please send me a list of your practice time requests. You have until this Friday night to get me your requests. Please provide at least 4 time slots that work for you. Rank them in order. I'll try and be as fair as possible. There are 3 available time slots to pick from Monday through Friday: 4:30-5:30pm, 5:30-6:30pm, and 6:30-7:30pm.
3. If you have not picked up a coaches bag voucher (and a coupon booklet for your parents), then please stop by my house sometime in the next week. My address is 109 Trotwood Drive, Venetia. Just call and make sure we'll be home. I think I'll be home all tomorrow night after 5pm. You need to pick up your coaches bag at the South Hills Village Dick's store within the next week or two (I can't seem to find the date right now). Remember that you'll be receiving size 4 balls in your bag - which you'll exchange with me or Brad Carpenter for the correct size 3. More on that later.

Once again, I can't thank you guys enough. Good luck this year.

Coaches Meeting Notes 8/16/2006

Here are my notes from the coaches meeting. Please red carefully, as there are a few key items that you need to understand.

* Some folks asked again last night about the home page I have for U8 Boys. I try to include it on every email. So, here it is: http://abelfiore.googlepages.com/ptsau8boyshomepage
Please read through both the Parent and Coaches guide. They will answer a lot of your questions. Feel free to share the Parent Guide link with your parents.

* Practices can start as early as August 21st. The hang up, right now for me, is securing at least one more coach before I release rosters. If you know anyone that would be interested please let me know. I'm desperate.

* Games start September 9th.

* October 28th is the last day of games (November 4th would be for make ups)

* U8 practices and games will be located at the Peterswood Soccer Complex (known last year as Field #5 in Peterswood Park). I'll be sending out a diagram of the fields sometime in the next week or so.

* Don't send me practice time requests just yet. I'm waiting to hear from the Fields Coordinator regarding field availability for practice times. As soon as I get the rosters done I'll send an email to all of you asking for day/time preferences. So, stay tuned, and keep checking your email.

* Dick's Sporting Goods is providing equipment bags for coaches. I'll distribute a voucher card to each coach. Coaches then take the cards to Dick's store at South Hills Village and pick up their bags. Bags will be available only at this store. For those U-8 coaches who received a voucher for a Dick's bag with size 4 balls, please redeem the voucher and Brad Carpenter will switch out the size 4 balls for size 3. If you were unable to make the coaches meeting last night, you will have to stop by my house and pick up your voucher. My address is: 109 Trotwood Drive, Venetia PA 15367.

* First aid supplies, goalie shirts and goalie gloves will be issued to coaches separately from the Dick's bags. I'm not sure when these will be available.

* We have a new policy for rescheduling games ( e.g. makeups due to weather ot other reasons). I'll be sending out an email later with the details.

* There are coaching courses available in the near future, for anyone that would be interested. Here are the ones targeted for U8 level coaches:

E License (reimbursed by PTSA)
Aug. 18-20 $50.00 Murrysville
Aug. 25-27 $50.00 Grove City

U6-U8 Youth Module
Aug. 19 Butler
Aug. 21 Washington City / Finleyville
Aug. 26 Seneca Valley North
Aug. 28-29 Washington City / Beth Center
Sept. 12-13 Sewickley

* Adopt-a-Field program: PTSA is encouraging all coaches and parents to volunteer time to help re-condition our fields periodically. David Vaughan coordinates Elm Grove and Brad Carpenter coordinates Rees Park. If interested in volunteering to coordinate work at Peterswood Soccer Complex, Old Grasshopper, or Venetia Elementary, contact Steve Magnotti, PTSA's Director of Fields. We'll be scheduling a date in November for post Fall season repair and a date in March for pre Spring season repair.

* Sporting Essentials is official supplier of In-House and Travel Uniforms. Information on PTSA website. In-House uniform sizing / ordering nights by Sporting Essentials will be held on August 23 & 24 at the PTCC Multipurpose Room from 6:00pm to 8:30 pm. Coaches to inform all parents. Our approved In-House Uniform set is a "HighFive" brand reversible jersey (red/white), Metro Short (black) and red sock. Players unable to attend those nights may order via 1-800 (see website).

* All head coaches will be required to have a Criminal Record Check and Child Abuse History Clearance pursuant to a program of the Peters Township Parks & Recreation Department effective 3/1/06. Many of our coaches are already on a list of approved coaches that will be sent to all Commissioners. If a coach does not have clearance, they will have to provide Pete Chiste their name, date of birth, and social security number by August 25th. This information will be given to the Peters Township Parks & Recreation Director so the Peters Township Police Department can conduct the checks. PTSA covers the cost of obtaining the check and clearance. For coaches who are not comfortable providing their SS# to PTSA or the Peters Township Department of Parks & Recreation, they can obtain these checks directly and they must provide their clearance confirmations to the Peters Township Department of Parks & Recreation. ANY YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION THAT KNOWINGLY VIOLATES THE PETERS TOWNSHIP POLICY IS SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY MEASURES THAT MAY INCLUDE RESTRICTIONS ON FACILITY AND/OR FIELD USAGE, AND SUSPENSION OF COACHES AND/OR OFFICERS.

Fwd: PTSA Board Meeting Notes 08/07/2006

Here are my notes, that I wanted to pass onto you, from the PTSA board meeting last night.

* The coaches meeting for tomorrow night has been postponed to next Tuesday, August 15, 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Rec Center. Please respond to my other email confirming you got the message.

* Sporting Essentials, the company that provides our game uniforms, will be on-site August 23rd and 24th from 6:00pm-8:30pm. This is a good opportunity for parents to try out the various uniform sizes before placing their orders. Please inform your parents, when you get your roster, of these dates.

* Right now I have 13 coaches committed. I expect to need another 5 - making for 18 total teams. I'm still receiving registration information from the registrar.

* PT Parks and Rec are going to "enforce" that all coaches have clearance checks prior to the Fall session. More information on this will be discussed at the coaches meeting. Please make sure you get this completed.

* The first game will be September 9th. Most coaches start practices 2 weeks prior to games - so that would be Monday August 28.

* It looks like we will be receiving coaching bags from Dick's Sporting Goods again. I believe that bag vouchers (and possibly medical kits) will be handed out at the coaches meeting.

* The area in Peterswood Park known as "Field 5" from last year is being renamed to "Peterswood Soccer Complex". This is the area across the street and down the hill from the old Grasshopper fields.

* That being said, you'll all become very familiar with the Peterswood Soccer Complex - since all of our U8 practices and games will be located there. The Venetia fields have been closed for repairs in the fall.

* I plan on creating/lining 5 U8 size fields at the Peterswood Soccer Complex sometime in the next week or so. It could be as early as this weekend. If anyone can help, then I would greatly appreciate your time. I'll send out an email when I pick a day and time.