Parents Meeting 2012
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Welcome
Who Is Woodstock United (video)
Board Member Introductions
Volunteer & Sponsor Involvement
Programs- Recreational & Travel
 Mission Statement and Philosophies
 How the program works
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Player and Parent Expectations
Web Sites
Questions
Closing
We truly value yours and your Childs participation
in the Woodstock United Soccer Association
and look forward to working with you both for
years to come.
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WUSA is the premiere youth soccer association providing
both recreational and travel level of play to the children of
Woodstock and it’s surrounding areas.
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Formerly WAYSO and Crossfire SC, WUSA combines the best
aspects of those programs to bring you one comprehensive
program supporting all levels of play and interest in the sport
of soccer.
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WUSA is affiliated with Illinois Youth Soccer Association.
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Club is made up of all volunteers! It’s Fun! Varied Roles!
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President (Oversee Board): Jayson Thill
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Vice President (Next President Candidate): Steve Schreiner
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Treasurer (Watch the $): Anne Maidment
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Registrar (Oversee registration and teams/players): Beth Misulonas
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Secretary (Circulate/maintain BOD minutes): Paul Furlano
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Director of Travel: Bryan Foster
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Director of Recreation: Gin Bishop
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Director of Coaching: Matt Warmbier
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Director of Fields: Mike DiCanio
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Director of Referees: Patrick Legge
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Website: Brandon Cook
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Equipment: Chris Azzaline/Mike Ordenhal
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Marketing & Sponsorship: Multi coverage
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Concessions: Monica Sargent/Kyle Shultz
Latin Community Coordinator: Jose Rico
Many positions Still available!!!!
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Emails for the board can be found on the Woodstockunitedsoccer.org website
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WUSA is highly run by volunteers including the Board of Directors
and coaches.
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This year on the rec side went with a volunteer buy out to help
enforce volunteer coverage for concession hut, field maintenance,
and field striping team when no volunteers can be found.
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Monica Sargent and Kyle Shultz will be maintaining the volunteer
log in order to make sure all shifts are covered and logged .
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If no one volunteers these tasks will go undone, ultimately
affecting the children of the organization.
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For the travel side we would like to encourage
parents to step up:
 if the coaches need a team parent
 Picking up refuge and lost and found after all practices
and games.
 Assisting in team car pooling if needed
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Sponsorship information can be found on the
woodstockunited.org website.
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Also by contacting
info@woodstockunitedsoccer.org or
volunteer@woodstyockunitedsoccer.org
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Recreational And Travel
While housing both Recreational and Travel
levels of soccer, Woodstock United will provide
a safe, experienced and educational
atmosphere in which you will watch your
child(ren) flourish athletically and socially,
enhancing their sense of self esteem,
accomplishment, and team work.
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WUSA Recreational soccer will provide an affordable, structured, non-competitive
and fun learning environment that allows the youth to discover a passion for the game
of soccer. Coaches will be equipped with the information and resources to allow them
to teach the young soccer players in a positive atmosphere.
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WUSA Coaches will consistently display good sportsmanship and fair play.
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WUSA Recreational soccer pledges to consider every player as an equal and integral
part of a team allowing equal playing time in a variety of positions to optimize the
learning experience.
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WUSA Recreational soccer aims to teach the youth the basic skills and love for the
game so that they can enjoy the game of soccer well into adolescence and adulthood
and share their knowledge with future generations. We use soccer as a child
development tool to build self esteem, team work, problem solving, and much more!
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Travel soccer (Crossfire Soccer Club) is committed to teaching the youth
not only the complete game of soccer, but the value of personal
commitment, fair play, teamwork and sportsmanship.
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Travel soccer will promote a positive and safe training environment for
the players to learn and improve their skills and knowledge of the game.
We will encourage each team member to play in an enthusiastic manner,
with the knowledge that good sportsmanship creates a positive
competitive environment. We stress this during all training sessions and
games and encourage all coaches, parents and volunteers to support this
approach.
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Travel Soccer Players are selected through a tryout process based on
need of the team and players skill set.
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WUSA recreational soccer league is for children age 4 to under 19,
which provides an open, non-competitive opportunity for children to
play soccer, develop their skills, have fun, and become part of a
team.
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Player Development: Emphasis is on the development of players at all levels:
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Good Sportsmanship: Create good sportsmanship through a positive learning
environment.
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Positive Coaching:
Encourage kids to have fun.
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Everyone Plays:
Our goal is for all kids to play soccer.
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Open Registration:
Our programs are open to all children.
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Opportunities:
Allow kids to play to their potential.
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Each team has at least 1 coach (starting point)
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Honor all practice night requests
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Honor mutual friend requests (1 max)
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Each team has at least 2 schools represented
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Try to have at least 1 player from their school
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Except private schools & late registrations
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Balance teams for abilities based upon ratings
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Try to group elementary schools by area
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No swapping teams/players except: Truly Extenuating circumstances (e.g., cannot
make practice)
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ONLY by: Director of Recreation Program or Club President
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This year we returned to a mass order system that had
been used in years past.
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This makes it easier for administration to move players
around the age divisions while allowing us to order the
uniforms early enough to have them in time for the
season.
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This minimized many issues we had last year with size
specific ordering and allowed us to have uniforms for all
teams at the start of the season.
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All players must provide their own shin guards and cleats
or gym shoes
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All volunteers
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Parents
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High School & College Students / Community Members
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Two adults on the field at all times!!
Preferably one of each sex
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Head Coach (HC)
Present for 75% or more games/practices
Practice plans
Lineups / Subbing
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Assistant Coach (AC) – Required for practices
Works with the HC on and off the field
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Team Manager (TM)
If you have one they are to help with contacting and keeping players updated
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Over the last 3 years WUSA has begun to integrate a
youth coaching program at the younger levels.
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We found great success with these coaches, every year
all the players from those teams have returned to play
and even requested these coaches again.
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This year we have 3-U5 teams, 1-U6 team, and 2-U8
teams that have youth coaches. 1-U12 team with a
youth assistant coach, and we also have 3-4 youth
coaches that work at practices on a drop in basis.
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All youth coached teams have an Adult assistant
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Demonstrate, No Lectures and No Lines
5 minutes warm-up; player lead stretches
10 minutes of dribbling, group warm-up
• Handle the Ball
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Include both Right and Left
Proper dribbling technique, protect ball (shielding)
Proper striking the ball
Games like Sharks and minnows, freeze tag, and red light green light
Break into 2 groups when possible (15min each)
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Attacking
Defending
Shooting/Finishing technique
Foot Work
Breakaways
Passing/Diagonal ball
Throw-ins
Corner/Goal/Penalty Kicks
Traps/Feints
2 v 2, 3 v 3, 1 v 2, 2 v 3 etc...
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Always finish with a Scrimmage
 The scrimmage lets the players use the skills they just learned in a
game like situation
 The scrimmage allows the coach to evaluate the players growth and
areas of opportunity
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Focus on fun / teambuilding / learning: Not training college prospects
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Always have ICE, Basic First Aid Kit, cell phone
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ABSOLUTELY ENFORCE --- Players’ Safety
No Jewelry including earrings, hair beads, necklaces, rings, watches, consider mouth guards
Wear proper size shin guards, cleats, socks, and uniform ,using proper size ball.
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Maintain structure, discipline, set consistent rules
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Say something positive to each player
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‘Complement Sandwich’
positive---opportunity---positive
…Yelling “Shoot, Jenny, shoot” to a player who is
approaching the goal with the ball does a
number of destructive things. First, it tells every
player on the opposing team that Jenny is about
to shoot, therefore lessening considerably her
chances of success. Secondly, it makes Jenny feel
she has no choice but to shoot, and that if she
doesn’t shoot, she is somehow letting the team
down. Worst of all, it let’s Jenny off the hook.
Now she doesn’t have to actually think and make
a decision herself about what to do. All she has to
do is obey the instruction.
For kids of this age, obeying instructions
from an adult comes far more naturally to
them than making decisions of their own.
But soccer is a sport where the
players have to make the decisions
themselves, literally thousands of small
split-second decisions every game. The
younger they start, the better.
So please don’t yell specific instructions to
players during games…
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EQUAL PLAYING TIME FOR ALL PLAYERS, ALWAYS!
Referees have the game cards to keep track
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Each Age Division Has Different Game Lengths
U5: 2- 10 minute halves
U6: 2- 15 minute halves
U8: 2- 20 minute halves
U10: 2- 25 minute halves
U12: 2- 30 minute halves
U14: 2- 35 minute halves
U19: 2- 45 minute halves
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Every Player should play at least half of the game.
At the discretion of the coaches the referee shall permit
substitution. This normally occurs as a substitution
during play, the player coming out will be asked to slap
the hand of the player going into the game at the
touchline. It is the coach’s responsibility to ensure the
correct amount of players is on the field. On occasion
the referee may need to stop play for substitution while
the ball is in play, in which case the game is resumed
with a dropped ball.
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Exception: If player shows up late or leaves early.
Then player will play at least half the time they were there
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We play under the Rules of the Game; small sided games
governed by US Youth Soccer. (with the exception of keepers at U8)
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For the rules go to:
www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/rulessmallgames.asp
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Any for additional questions you may ask a coach, an
official, or a board member for clarification.
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Parents and family must sit on opposite sides of team.
No parents allowed on team sideline. This helps the coaches maintain player focus.
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Both Youth & Adult Refs
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Some are
• Volunteers
• Just learning this season!
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Please be courteous and thank the refs
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Zero tolerance!
• 2nd Infraction – Red Card (coach/spectator/player ejection)
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Both coaches and referee should speak before game to establish common
knowledge on what to expect.
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Contact Director of Referees or Age Group Coordinator if there are issues.
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Teach /demonstrate/ explain to the players
(especially U8/U10)
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Control the game
• Blow the whistle loudly!!
• Make calls loudly so all can hear
• Call early fouls on overly aggressive players
• Do restarts quickly/immediately
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Run with the game
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Use your judgment on all calls
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Keep the game moving
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No jewelry – PERIOD
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Clear the fields in the presence of lightning.
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Practices begin week of 8/13 for some
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F i r s t g a m e s o n S a t u r d a y 8 / 25 f o r I n H o u s e a n d 9 / 8 F o x V a l l e y
Conference
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S c h e d u l e s - h t t p : / / w w w. g o t s p o r t . c o m / h o m e . a s p x o r a t
h t t p : / / w w w.w o o d s t o c k u n i t e d s o c c e r. o r g
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S h e p p a r d S c h l e i s m a n To u r n a m e n t – U12&14 Late September in Cary, IL
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Season Ends 10/27
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I n d o o r S e a s o n S t a r t s 1 2 / 1 (optional for additional charge, 5 weeks)
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Spring Season Starts 4/13
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Spring Season Ends 5/18
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Field conditions and weather are checked
game day by 7:30AM, you will receive an
email by 8:00AM if games are to be
cancelled for that day in case of inclement
weather.
Stay posted though just because some
games are cancelled it doesn’t always
mean all will be.
On occasion there may be a schedule
change do to a coach or field issue. We will
try to have a 7 day notice for all those
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Woodstock United Soccer Association
Rec & Crossfire Travel Soccer Club
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Harvard AYSO
Wonder Lake Soccer
McHenry Area Soccer Federation
Rec & Vipers Travel
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Crystal Lake Soccer Federation
Rec & Force Travel
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Huntley Soccer
Rec & Heat United Travel
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Cary Soccer Association
Rec & Cary Defender Travel
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WUSA takes pride in educating and training the players and coaches to a competitive
level yet in a positive fun environment. The club promotes sportsmanship, integrity,
leadership, self-discipline, and character development by stressing the technical,
tactical, physical and mental components of the game.
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Sportsmanship and team spirit are as important to us as being a highly skilled
competitive player. In order to accomplish our philosophy, the club has placed great
emphasis on the following:
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Long term development of all players
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Conducting age appropriate training sessions during the course of the year directed by
certified & licensed coaches
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Offering a year round program for both fall and spring players
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Conducting winter training sessions for all players under the direction of licensed
coaches as well as our Director of Coaching
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Encouraging our coaching staff to further their soccer education
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Crossfire Boys teams play in the YSSL, YOUNG
SPORTSMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE
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Crossfire Girls teams play for IWSL, Illinois
Woman's Soccer League
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Teams are formed after try outs in the spring
when coaches draft their teams based on a
teams need and players skill set.
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Uniform Kits come with a Home and an Away
Jersey, socks and shorts.
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All coaches for Crossfire soccer must be E class
certified with the state in order to be a passed
coach.
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Most coaches also have many years of playing
and coaching experience as well.
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At least twice a week for 1.5 hours
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Working on many of the same items as
recreational players as well as additional
conditioning, advanced ball skills and game
situation development.
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Continuing through the winter months indoor at
RSC.
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Games are governed by the current Laws of FIFA except as
noted below. The only person empowered to interpret and
administer those laws during the game is the Center Referee!
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Game Length and Ball size
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U8-10 2 X 30 minutes
U11-12 2 X 35 minutes
U13-14 2 X 40 minutes
U15-16 2 X 45 minutes
U17-19 2 X 45 minutes
Size 4 Ball
Size 4 Ball
Size 5 Ball
Size 5 Ball
Size 5 Ball
Halftime and rest periods
 All teams should be given a minimum of 5 minutes at halftime.
 In conditions of high temperatures and humidity, halftime can be
extended 2 to 3 minutes and rest periods at midpoint of each half for 2
to 3 minutes should be taken.
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A players time on the field during a game is
based on the coach.
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Coaches make the decision to put a player in a
game based on attendance and participation at
practice and games, need of their skills on the
field, players attitude, and other variables.
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It is at the sole discretion of the team coach how
much time every player gets on the field.
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For U9 & U10 Northwood is home field
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For U11, U12 & U13 South Street is home field
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For U14 Biglow is Home field
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Referees are provided by YSSL and IWSL,
 with exception to the home game AR’s
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Thank the Referee for being at the game
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Referees are the end all, be all of what happens
on the field. Do not:
 Argue with them
 Challenge them
 Disrespect them
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Season begins 9/10 and runs through 11/12
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For some teams there is the Lighthouse
tournament in Racine October 8 & 9
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For any game cancelations or changes your
coaches will let you know and the league website
will be updated.
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Players are expected to be at all practices and games
“on time”.
 “On time” means on the field and ready to go at the
practice start time.
 “On time” for games is determined by the coaches usually
15-30 minutes prior to game start time.
 If you are unable to be at them for any reason, or you are
going to be late, please notify your coach prior to the
absence.
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There is a basic Code of Conduct on the WUSA
website that all families agree to by allowing
their children to participate in the program.
 This includes but is not limited to:
 Respect for yourself and others including coaches,
players, spectators, and officials
 Sportsmanship
 Not attending games or practices while intoxicated
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We encourage:
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Parents to support and cheer on their team
Come to every game
Help when possible
Practice with player at home
Pick up your player on time after games and practices.
Talk to coaches and/or appropriate board member
when problems arise.
 Have fun!!!
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We discourage:
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parents coaching from the sidelines
Never attending your players games
Not encouraging practice at home
Forgetting to pick up your child on time
Ignoring a problem or gossiping about it on the
sidelines.
 Never offering to help
 Even if it is just picking up at the field after a game
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Woodstockunitedsoccer.org
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Gotsoccer.com
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YSSL.org
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IWSL.org