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SOCCER FAMILY NEWSLETTER Dear ASA Family,
Welcome to the first issue of the Arlington Soccer Association Soccer Family Newsletter. ASA
will publish this newsletter monthly during the soccer season with
soccer news and information for families - parents, players, brothers
and sisters. Your suggestions and comments are welcome. - To
start, we have a contest to name the Newsletter. The person
submitting the winning name receives two new soccer balls or a pair of
tickets to a DC United game.
Our deadline is Friday, September 21. Send your ideas to: familynewsletter@arlingtonsoccer.com.
If you don't want to receive this Newsletter, click on unsubscribe above. If you want to forward this newsletter to friends, click on the Forward email link at the end. The Editors, Ken Bass and Steve Spangler |
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SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2007 SOCCER SEASON
- Practices begin:
- August 20, Friday
- U8 and above:
- Sept. 15, Saturday - First games.
- U6 and U7:
- Sept. 15, Saturday - Soccer Fun Festival for U6 teams.
- Sept. 22, Sat. - First games.
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NEW TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
The Arlington Soccer Association has hired Bob Bigney to fill our new Technical Director position.
The
Technical Director's primary functions are to train and educate ASA's
recreational coaches and to coordinate increased player development
opportunities, in the form of clinics, camps and other programs for our
recreational players.
Bob is a native of Virginia Beach,
VA. He has coached soccer at college, semi-pro and youth
levels. He has also been a teacher of coaches at various
national, regional and local soccer education programs.
Bob has
a United States Soccer Federation "A" license and a National Youth
License. He is also certified as an elementary school teacher.
The
ASA is fortunate to have Bob aboard to fill this important new
position, which will bring professional help to our volunteer coaches
and enhance player development opportunities within the ASA.
More information about Coach Bob
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COLUMBUS DAY TOURNAMENT
October 6 & 7
ASA is planning the 2007 Columbus Day Recreational Soccer Tournament for Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7.
Our
tournament focuses on the majority of our players who play on
neighborhood recreational teams. This tournament is a celebration
of community soccer.
Following our successful tournament last year, we are expanding to include younger teams:
 U7-U8 5 v 5- U9-U10 5 v 5
- U11-U12 8 v 8
- U13-U14 11 v 11
We plan on two brackets of teams for both genders in all age groups. Teams will play four games.
Cost per player will be $12.
Deadline for team registration will be Wednesday, September 26.
The
Tournament is sponsored by DC United and area businesses. Each
tournament player receives a ticket to a DC United game.
From the 2006 Columbus Day Tournament: Web site Slide show
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PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CLINICS - U7 & U8
A six-week program for boys and girls in the under 7 and under 8 age groups.
The
clinics are designed to improve the player's technical ball skills,
body coordination and understanding of the game of soccer.
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REFEREE CLASS - STARTS SEPTEMBER 5
ASA's referee class certifies you to officiate Arlington Soccer Association 5 v 5 recreational play for U8, U9, and U10.
- The class is open to parents, coaches, players, and others.
- Minimum age is 13. No maximum.
- This 5-hour class is free.
- Attendance is required two evenings and a Saturday field practice.
- You must pre-register so that enough training materials are available.
See Referee Class Details |
U6 OPENING DAY FESTIVAL
Saturday, September 15th
ASA is hosting a new Opening Day Festival for U6 Teams on Saturday, September 15, at Kenmore Middle School.
ASA Technical Director Bob Bigney will introduce our youngest players to soccer - game format and rules.
- 8:00 am - 10:00 am: Clubs: Aces, NW Lions, Optimists
- 11:00 am - 1:00 pm: Clubs: Potomac Kiwanis, Tanzmans Tornados, Arlington Kiwanis
- 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Clubs: Civitans, Crystal City, Lightning
- 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Clubs: Hurts Hammers, Falls Church, South Arlington
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VOLUNTEER TO HELP IN YOUTH SOCCER
You
saw the flyer, went to the website, heard from a friend. Now,
your child is signed up for an Arlington youth soccer team.
What should you, as a parent, be doing, besides cheering for your son or daughter at weekend games?
The ASA Soccer Family Newsletter will
have more on that in coming issues, including how you can help your
child develop soccer skills in the backyard or local park, and how you
should conduct yourself at games and other events.
One important thing is for you to volunteer to do something for the team.
- The
coach is a volunteer, usually a parent. The coach needs at least
one assistant coach, preferably two. You don't need to know much
about soccer to be an assistant-you just need to care about kids and be
willing to help out.
- Teams
also need managers-someone who can take on some of the administrative
chores that otherwise fall to the coach, such as organizing a phone
tree, setting up a snack schedule, sending out reminders, and even
organizing the other volunteers.
- During
games, parents can also help out by volunteering as an "assistant
referee"-the person who makes line calls when a ball goes over the
sideline. Don't worry about making a mistake, as it's more
important that the kids have someone making the calls.
- It also helps the coach to have someone keep the score and perhaps maintain other statistics for the team.
- Many teams have a season-ending picnic, party and/or trophy (or medal) presentation. Volunteer to put it together.
- Some
parents have special skills that can be used as well. For
example, photography-snap some pictures at games and put together a
team scrapbook. Send some to asawebmaster@arlingtonsoccer.com to get them published on the ASA Photo Pages.
Offer to help and, if you're not needed yet, your time will come. |
FREE SOCCER BALLS FROM UNIROYAL TIRE
As
part of Uniroyal's national youth soccer program, ASA soccer players
can receive a free soccer ball and ASA will receive a donation.
ASA
club managers and coaches will distribute to players a certificate
redeemable for their soccer ball beginning September 9, 2007 (while
supplies last). Participating Arlington stores are Merchant's
Tire & Auto Centers at 4801 Lee Highway and National Tire &
Battery at 2825 Wilson Blvd.
Uniroyal, Merchant's Tire &
Auto Centers and NTB- National Tire & Battery will present ASA with
a cash donation of $2 for every Uniroyal tire sold to the general
public from September 9 to October 9, 2007.
Parents can also enter the Uniroyal "Win a Free Soccer Season Sweepstakes" at:
The
Tanzman's Tornado Soccer Club is coordinating this year's program and
will donate half of the proceeds to ASA's "Soccer Plus" program.
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QUICK KICKS
Wondering about the ASA's rules? They're linked from the About ASA page on the ASA website.
The rules were updated this summer by the ASA Rules
Committee, so you might see something new.
Have questions about ASA soccer programs or about soccer in general?
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NAME THE NORTH TRACT
Arlington is developing a 28-acre world-class park and recreational area at the Potomac North Tract.
ASA
families will benefit from two soccer fields in the Phase I to be
completed in 2009 and two more fields in the final phase. (See
North Tract Photo and Plan.)
Susan
Kalish, of Arlington Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources says,
"With dirt moving on the site, it's time the community got to the heavy
lifting: helping select an appropriate name for what will be
Arlington's new signature destination."
The North Tract Naming
Committee has come up with a number of good ideas. They want your
input before they make a recommendation to the County Board.
Go to North Tract Naming to let the Committee know what you think. |
MAKE SOCCER GOAL SAFETY A PRIORITY
Parents, coaches and players should pay close attention to the safety of the goals on the fields.
A gust of wind, a young player, an uneven playing field. In their
current design, only 22 pounds of force can bring a 400-pound goal
crashing down, injuring - even killing - a player.
This past week a player in the Northern Virginia Soccer League was injured by a falling goal.
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BUY DC UNITED TICKETS AT ASA DISCOUNT
Watching
professional soccer inspires players, teaches the game, builds team
spirit, and provides exceptional game-day experiences for teams and
families.
- Discounted Tickets
Tickets purchased through ASA benefit ASA and are always discounted.
- On-field game-day experiences
DC
United offers our teams on-field game-day experiences, such as Halftime
Mini-Games, High-Five Tunnel, Ball Kids (must be U13 +), Touchline
Kids, and Flag Carriers.
Check the DC United/ASA Ticket Packages web page for the latest opportunities.
- MLS Cup,
the league's 12th championship match , returns to DC on Sunday,
November 18, 12 Noon. Tickets for will be available through
ASA.
Call to buy tickets or get additional information:
Mighty Moreno! DC United's Jaime Moreno is the all-time leading scorer in Major League Soccer with 109 goals. See video on Access United - 2007 Video Highlights.
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The Arlington Soccer Association provides soccer programs for kids ages 5 - 18 in Arlington and Falls Church, Virginia.