Dear Soccer Players, Coaches, and Parents,

The Strikers 2011 season starts on Sunday, September 18, at 9:30AM.  We hope that it will be a fun, safe and rewarding season for all. Remember, we meet each Sunday, from 9:30AM to 11AM.

Everyone should come prepared each week with the following:

• The Solomon’s Strikers jerseys (they will be given out on the first Sunday).  Please be aware that these jerseys are reversable, one side is light colored, other side is darker colored.  One team on the field will use the colored side, the other team will use the white side.  As such, the coaches may ask the players to turn their jerseys inside out.  Please make sure the players are wearing a shirt underneath their jerseys, so they feel comfortable reversing their jersey without having to go to the restrooms to change.  It is hard to get the team reassembled if players wander off to the bathrooms.
• A soccer ball and shin guards (some will be available for sale at the Striker's store).  Also, for the older children, where the play is more competitive, consider getting groin protection.  This is a personal decision which is highly recommended, but it is up to the parents and our soccer players.
• Shorts in the early season is fine, and probably the most comfortable way to play. You’ll do a lot of running and sweating, so shorts will work best. Once it chills down a bit, long pants, and eventually jackets or sweatshirts will be the dress of the day (please try to keep your jerseys over your jacket or sweats, if possible.)
  
• A Kosher, peanut free snack, and water or some other cold liquid refreshment.  Of course, these items will be available for purchase at the Striker's Store.

This year, we are going to set up the league as follows:

• The emphasis of this recreational league is not on winning, but on having fun, improving one’s skills, getting some exercise and becoming physically fit, and learning good sportsmanship and fellowship.  We will make every effort to keep the games balanced and fun, including moving players around as needed.
  
• To avoid creating unbalanced teams, we are not going to form teams in advance of the season.  For the kindergartners, we will form teams each Sunday morning, depending on attendance and skill set.  For the upper grades, the coaches will scrimmage the players on the first day, and then form balanced teams based on skill set.  We will attempt to keep the same teams together week over week, as long as the attendance stays constant and the teams are balanced skillset wise.
  
• Phil, our professional Soccer coach from NOGA, will instruct the Kindergartners and 1st graders from 9:30am - 10am, followed by the 2nd & 3rd graders from 10am-10:30am, followed by the 4th & 5th graders from 10:30am-11am.  During the rest of time, soccer games will be played.
  
• For the kindergartners, we are going to play without a Goalie.
• As always, we conclude the season with an awards ceremony accompanied by pizza and drinks after the last session.  Each player will receive a full sized trophy.
  

We are going to use the following fields for the games (click image to see it in full size):


In case of inclement weather, if we are forced to cancel a session, we will follow this process:

• The decision to cancel the Sunday morning session will be made either on Saturday night 90 minutes after Shabbat ends (if multiple weather reports are certain that the morning will be a washout), or on Sunday morning, no later than 8am.
• All players and coaches will be notified via email as soon as a decision is made.  In addition, if you have opted into receiving a phone call on Sunday morning during player registration, you'll get a phone call around 8am on all the phone numbers provided, along with a recorded message.  We use the One Call Now service that the SSDS school also uses.  Caller ID will display my cell phone number - 917-514-5028.
• Please note that we cancel sessions only if we absolutely have to.  If the weather is iffy, we make every attempt not to cancel.
  

A special thanks to the volunteers:

Kindergarten: Jack Habert, Morry Kalimian
1st grade: Scott Bornstein, Josh Rezak, Shea Z. Lerner
2nd & 3rd grades: Scott Gilder, Keyvan Frouzan
4th & 5th grades: Paul Schwartz, Jay Lipman