Soccer Association seeks coaches, executive members

The Central Frontenac Soccer Association has begun to plan for the 2010 soccer season, which will run from May 25 to July 24. 

March and April will involve planning the schedule, registration, gaining coaches and referees, organizing the tasks involved with the equipment, nets, field lining, etc. and the year end tournament.

This year a new idea will see the registration become a Fun Fair with games and skills demos for players and their families in May. 

Also in May, we are holding half-day referee and coaching workshops for interested parents or teenagers. The workshops will cover game basics, running a practice or game, game rules, and how to encourage the kids to play and enjoy the sport and team setting. 

We are looking to gain approximately 5 coaches at this time. 

Previous last-minute searches for coaches have been stressful for the organization. It has been decided for this year that all coaches will be in place before the season starts. Ideally we want to obtain 1-2 coaches per team to ensure your child’s age group will be offered in the schedule. This enables coaches to work together and also to cover each other if one can’t make a game. Spouses or friends can pair up to coach a team through the season. 

More coaches would also help us to keep the age range smaller per group. In the past, coaching shortages have required us to create larger age spans to enable the maximum number of kids to play soccer. 

We have also simplified the way the tasks involved in running the season are organized, and are currently organizing a task list with the various jobs required to run the season. So if coaching doesn’t interest you, there will be opportunities to sign up for one-time or limited task such as: organizing food for the tournament; lining the field if it rains; setting up the nets for a game; etc. This will of course require many more parents to be involved in helping run the season, but the involvement will be limited in order to help parents fit participation into busy schedules. 

We know the kids love the soccer season, and it has been too time-consuming for the few that are organizing, running tasks and coaching as well. Having more parents involved would help us run a smoother season, split the tasks, and provide for input about what works and what doesn’t work. This will help the kids to enjoy their games – learn new skills, be part of a team, and improve their physical and mental health.

There are three ways you can become involved in this year’s soccer season.

1. A meeting for parents who would be able to help out the executive in planning the season is scheduled on Wednesday March 24 at 7pm at the Medical Centre Community Room (downstairs at the back of the building near the dental office). The executive meets between 6-8 times from January to May to organize the season.  
2. Coaching signup will take place in April, but anyone wanting to coach this season can contact Lynette Whan at 375-8282 at any time. Coaches are required to participate in games three times every two weeks for a one-hour game.
3. Finally we are looking for volunteers willing to do season tasks, which is a committee on one or two occasions throughout the season. Sign up for these tasks will take place in April and May. 

Our greatest need, however, is for coaches. Without coaches the kids can’t play.

Our next fund-raiser is our St. Patrick’s Day Dance.  It’s going to be on Saturday March 13, from 8 - 1pm, in the hall at St. James Catholic Church on Road 38 in Sharbot Lake. A DJ will provide music. There will be a 50/50 draw, door prizes and various contests like the jig contest. It is a licensed event, and there will be a buffet. Tickets are $8 or 2 for $15, available at Grays Grocery, Sharbot Lake Pharmacy and at the door.   Come Out. Have Fun. Wear Your Green!