THANK YOU for volunteering to manage a Weston Soccer Club team this season and welcome to the latest information that you’ll need to have a fun and successful season!

The Club website is your source for communicating important information to parents and coaches. It is better than emailing people directly because you can send an email and post a message to parents at the same time. By posting the messages too, instead of just emailing them, parents can always go to the website and check for the latest news. They don’t have to search through messages or call you to find out what’s happening. (You can also send an email message and not bother posting it if there’s a need to do that.)

The team information, including parent’s and coach’s e-mail addresses are all contained on the website. As soon as the Club Registrar has assigned the team, all of the information is available to you on the website. Once you have this information, send a message introducing yourself and confirm the correct e-mail address is in their contact information on the website. (If it isn’t they can update it themselves by going to the website and clicking on Edit My Account at the very bottom left on the home page.) Remind parents/coaches that they must check their e-mails DAILY. Very often, last minute changes occur and you’ll require quick responses from the team. 

PRE-SEASON

Weston uniforms consist of 2 numbered jerseys for Travel – 1 navy and 1 white along with a pair of shorts and navy soccer socks. For 3rd Grade soccer and for Rec Plus we use only the blue jersey, navy shorts and socks. The uniform consists of the jersey, shorts and socks. Parents must purchase all three. It is not permissible to use different shorts or socks.

It is optional to order Weston soccer sweatshirts and sweatpants to be prepared for the cooler weather. You may also wish to order team bags or backpacks. (Often teams order bags one year and warm-ups the next .)  Please communicate to parents any uniform ordering instructions or information that you receive from your Travel/Rec Plus Director and coordinate jersey numbers with him/her.  Uniforms can be tried on for size and picked up at International Soccer and Rugby in either Southport on Route 1 (254-2834) or Ridgefield on Route 7 (544-9777).

Please ask parents to e-mail back their child’s jersey # and send the jersey numbers to the Travel/Rec Plus Director so the numbers can be added to the roster.

- Beginning in Fall 2009, all travel teams will practice on Wednesdays and Fridays, and all Rec Plus teams including 3rd grade will practice on Mondays and Thursdays.

- Upon receipt of practice time/location, post to your team schedule on the website and send a message to parents/coach with info ASAP.

- Remind parents that their children are expected to be at practice on time and dressed to play prior to practice start time. Part of the experience of playing a team sport is the commitment to the team and learning about not letting your teammates down. Also, remind parents that whenever possible, they should give 48 hours notice if their child will be unable to attend a practice.

- Additionally, parents should ensure their child brings the following to each practice and game: water bottle (labeled), soccer cleats, soccer socks, appropriate sized ball with child’s name, soccer shorts, team bag to include these items.

Most coaches will coach more than one team. Therefore, it is important for Managers that share a coach to communicate with each and work together to resolve potential scheduling conflicts/ handle any changes that need to be made. No team should receive a priority over the other. When a conflict arises that can’t be resolved, then each team should take turns feeling the impact of the conflict.

Religious holidays – The Weston Soccer Club is non-sectarian and we play and practice on religious holidays. We are sensitive to everyone’s beliefs, so we make practice optional on such religious holidays. Please poll your parents to see how many of the players are available and if there are enough to make it worthwhile, practices should be held. Teams that share a coach are welcome to combine practices if the numbers are low. Coaches are not to take attendance and players will not be penalized for missing these practices.

Check website http://www.cjsa.org/  or http://www.soccertournament.us/index.html

Game Scheduling

- Upon receipt of your game schedule from your Travel/Rec Plus Director, immediately e-mail your home game schedule to Games and Referee Director lincolnbriggs@yahoo.com 

- Once the location and time are set, e-mail home game time/location to opposing team manager and send them directions AND FIELD RULES from www.westonsoccer.com

- Away games - contact the opposing town manager - confirm your game and that you’ll look forward to receiving a time and location.

- Post on the website and email game information to parents/coach as they become available even if you don’t have all times/locations as yet.

- Example: 9/10 Away vs. Darien Game Time/Location TBA

- Continue to finalize/communicate game schedule as times/locations come in from other towns.

DELEGATING

Delegate the following tasks to parents of team members

1.  Practice Parent Coordinator

- Club Policy mandates that a parent must be present at every practice. A practice parent coordinator is needed to schedule a parent at these practices. The practice parent coordinator will also inform the parents that they are needed on the field for emergency situations only and will not be asked to get involved in the practices unless requested by the coach. For younger players especially, the Practice Parent should take responsibility for helping tie shoes and tending to slight bumps and bruises so the coach can focus on coaching the team. Please remind the practice parent to be sure and bring a cell phone in case of an emergency!

- The practice parent coordinator is responsible for preparing and e-mailing the practice parent schedule. In addition, the practice parent coordinator should remind parents each week of their responsibility on their assigned day. Parents should also be reminded that they CANNOT leave the field until each child is picked up at the end of practice. NO CHILD SHOULD EVER BE LEFT ON THE FIELD ALONE – EVER!!

Emergency Medical Information: As manager, it is imperative that you review with your parents, the emergency medical information received by The Weston Soccer Club and confirm the data’s validity. If a child has an emergency during a practice or game the validity of this data is crucial

Important - First Practice - Please furnish coach with player’s emergency medical information (valid data confirmed by parents as stated above) and PLACE THE DOCUMENT IN THE FIRST AID KIT. Remind your coach that the first aid kit with the emergency/medical information is to be on the field at all times – both practices and games. If your coach will not be present at a game or practice, be sure the asst coach or parent coach has a first aid kit and that the practice parent is furnished with the emergency medical information.

2. Snack Parent Coordinator

- This person assigns parents "snack duty" at each game. The official half-time soccer snack is cut up oranges and the players will need them! The snack parent coordinator should remind parents of their assignment the Thursday prior to each game.  Everyone should be made aware of any food allergies existing on the team.  No snacks are allowed on the turf field. If a team wants to give post-game snacks to the players, they must be done off the field, outside of the fencing.

3. Team Reporter/Photographer (can be split up)

- The team reporter is responsible for writing up a creative and positive synopsis of the game and submitting to The Weston Forum. All players’ names must be mentioned!

- Articles and photos can be submitted to

4.  Tournament Coordinator

- This person will be responsible for completing tournament application and sending in a check.

- Post to website and e-mail parents/coach with details they receive from the town tournament – such as directions, tournament requirements, etc.

- Obtain players passes and roster in managers absence. Check if patches are required and obtain patches from Equipment Director if needed..

5.   End of Season Party Coordinator(s)

- End the season on a festive note! This person(s) will take care of the planning – ordering trophies, pizzas, etc and informing parents of the event. Be creative!

GAME MANAGEMENT

REFEREE SCHEDULING

This is done by our Referee Coordinator. You will receive an email each week letting you know who the referees are for your home games.

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS/COACHES/OPPOSING TEAM BEFORE GAME

Remind parents/coaches of game time/location by Thursday prior to game day. Confirm game with opposing team manager and for home games, let them know of team jersey color in case of conflict. Players should ALWAYS bring both navy and gold jerseys to games. Also, remind parents to bring uniform soccer socks, and shorts, cleats, water bottle and ball. If a child is going to be absent from a game, parents must inform manager/coaches 48 hours prior. This is essential as coach strategizes game beforehand and you, as manager, will need to keep track of attendance in case you are low on players. Also, remind parents that they should arrive at game field no later than ½ hour before game time for warm-up.

If you have a home game, confirm referee attendance (make sure you have received an email from our Referee Coordinator confirming assignments for your game).

PASSES AND ROSTERS - TRAVEL ONLY

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR FOLDER SUPPLIED BY CLUB REGISTRAR TO GAME!!! This includes current rosters (hold on to the original) and passes.

AT THE GAME

1.  Goal Safety – Sandbags have been placed at the fields to use as anchors for the goals. Please check that they are secure.

2. Pay referees prior to match and obtain ref signatures on reimbursement form (may be downloaded from the "Documents" section of the website). 

3. Bring game balls to home games and give to referee

4. Travel Only:  Both passes and rosters must be presented to the referee prior to kick-off; referee will keep rosters (keep many copies in your folder). If passes or rosters are lost or missing, the team /coaches may sign-in (see district sign-in policy).

5.  Rec Plus teams are asked to submit a game-day roster to the referee prior to each game that includes all players by name and number, as well as all adult officials.

6.  Only persons whose names appear on rosters are permitted on the players’ side of the field; all others are considered spectators and are restricted to the opposite sideline. No one is allowed behind the goal lines.

7.  Players should have a labeled water bottle with them on their side of the field.

8.  Assist in control of spectators, including parental coaching from the sidelines. Coaching is the job of the professional coach/parent coach. Any coaching from the sidelines is confusing to players and against CJSA/Weston Soccer Club rules.

9.  Half time – distribute oranges, players – drink water and re-lace shoes!

10. End of Game – Players/coaches shake hands with opposing team

11. GET YOUR PASSES & BALL BACK FROM REFEREE!!

   HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT FIRST GAME!!

POST-GAME

- E-mail or post game scores according to the method described by your league director (travel only)

- Fill out referee re-imbursement form and mail to Club Treasurer, Phil Shaner, PO Box 1281, Weston, CT 06883.