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PTOEC & SOCCER PLAYERS
The soccer season is fast approaching and will be on us in no time. We have just over
a month to turn our letters of intent to play soccer for the Special Olympics Summer
Games. I am again hoping to have at least two to three teams as always this upcoming
soccer season with all the things we have to offer to PTOEC athletics’. I am also hoping
to see a lot of new faces since I know we have lost a few players. If we have enough
players I am also continuing with a Girls Team or junior’s team. I am hoping to make
my 21th season with PTOEC the best. 21 years; can you believe that…now I feel older!!.
INITIAL MEETING:
Since we have to have our “Letter of Intent” in by 19 February 2016 to Special
Olympics, I will hold an informal meeting on 30 January 2016 at 9:00 to 10:30 at the
Arnold Field (PTOEC New complex). Players are encouraged to attend since we will be
sizing them for uniforms after the meeting. The meeting is to address all aspects of the
upcoming season. We discuss and collected all needed information for the upcoming
season.
I am requesting that each player bring a current copy of their medical application and
physical to the meeting. I am required to have them at all practices and games. Your
player will not be able to practice unless I have these forms on file. If you do not have
one I will request a copy from PTOEC after the meeting and prior to the first practice.
I am also asking all players to have a current membership with PTOEC prior to our
first practice. This is a mandatory requirement by PTOEC to take part of the programs
offered by PTOEC. If you are not current with your membership and physicals at the
time of the meeting, I cannot let you practice when we start on 13 February 2016. I will
make arrangements to have PTOEC membership forms and a current roster of
membership at the meeting so we can verify memberships. You will be required to
obtain and have a current physical on file prior to the initial meeting if you wish to play
soccer. This will make it easier to form teams since all required forms will be on hand
prior to the first practices.
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I will be requiring two emails and at least two emergency telephone numbers. This
way you can receive emergency texts if something is canceled and a weekly email. A
weekly email will be sent by Tuesday each week of weekly activities. I have attached an
excel sheet with required information. Email will be the main form of communication on
a weekly basis. You can email it or fill it out at the initial meeting.
I have also attached an Illinois Youth Soccer Medical Release form and Impact form
that needs to be turn in at the initial meeting. I use them as a quick reference of medical
conditions or contact points in case of an emergency. I will also have copies on hand that
can be filled out after the meeting. The concussion Impact form gives a starting point for
a concussion test (Will discuss policy at meeting).
I also will be getting all players sizes that intend to play soccer at this initial meeting.
We will allow others that will play other sports to get uniforms so they can take part of
the soccer events during the season. They will receive a red jersey, black shorts and red
socks on the day we issue the uniforms. Bob will look at our uniform needs and make
sure we have every player a uniform.
The information obtained at the meeting will also allow all those involved in the
process to get organized and allow prepare for the “Combined Qualifier.” Tara will have
to check my paperwork and this will allow me to accomplish it in plenty time for Tara to
make the changes she needs as the State requires us to be involved in Regionals and State
Games. I will have a set of uniforms at the meeting so everyone will be able to see them
and try them on to get the right size for their player. I have tentatively scheduled uniform
issue on 12 March 2016 so every player will be able to have a uniform for all the new
soccer events and games.
I will have a copy of all the forms that will be needed and can complete at the meeting
so we will be ready to start practicing on 13 February 2016 at 0900 at Arnold Field in
Belleville. This will give us more than a solid month to get the teams organized and to
meet the deadline of April 2016 for our entry in the Combined Qualifier. I hope to set
the teams by 13 March 2016. It is important that all players and parents that intent
to play soccer to attend this meeting if possible. If a player or parent cannot attend this
meeting, please contact me at richardcrothers@charter.net or 618-406-2727 so I have an
idea of who intents to play and we can get organized for the season.
NOTE: Players that wish to play other Special Olympics sports with PTOEC but come
to our soccer events and practices are more then welcomed, (Actually encouraged
because we will have a lot of different new things this year) but they will have to meet
the requirements of the physical/medical application and PTOEC membership. They will
also have to meet the requirements of notifications for all special events so transportation,
and other needed requirements are met prior to the event. I am asking for those players
and parents that are playing other sports attend the initial meeting so they can get the
required information.
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PRACTICES:
Official practices will start on 13 February 2016 at Arnold Field in Belleville.
Practices will be every Saturday from 9:00 to 10:30 unless of a scheduled conflict. We
will also have a weekday practice every other Monday from 5:30 to 7:00. This will
assure that I can be at every practice. I will set a solid practice schedule for the whole
season after the initial meeting. Each training session will be given a “theme” to prepare
your player for the competitions.
To assure we can have practice when the weather is bad, I am currently making
arrangements to use the old gym in Summerfield School with the new owner. He has
verbally agreed to allow us to use the school’s gym. If we use the gym, a notification
will come out as soon as the decision is made. We will also have the opportunity to
practice on artificial turf at the new Metro East Legacy compound.
I am making it mandatory for players to wear shin guards at all practices and games.
This is required by Special Olympics. Shin guards should cover the shin from about one
inch below the knee and one inch from the ankle. The best have been stamped with an
NCAA/FIFA certification on the inside. Players in the past have worn equipment that
puts their safety into question. A question was brought forth about balls for practice. If
you are buying your player a ball to practice with it should be a size 5 ball.
I am also asking for each player to bring their own ball with their name on it
and water to every practice. (We will have some at practices but we have limited
equipment). They should dress appropriate for the weather. For new players that may not
know, you are not required to have soccer cleats. The Illinois State Games in June are
played on artificial turf in the football stadium. Turf shoes (recommended), indoor
soccer shoes or good running shoes are perfect to play in for all the games we will play in
this upcoming year.
I am requesting a work schedule for those players that work at the beginning of every
month, so we can know ahead and adjust tactics that we will cover during training
sessions. I am willing to work with all players that work or have other obligations, but I
need to know ahead of time. I do not want to set teams to later find out that the player
cannot attend qualifiers, tournaments or State Games. This has happened in the past and
it makes it hard on the other players and coaching staff. ALL PLAYERS ARE
REQUIRED TO ATTEND QUALIFIERS AND STATE GAMES.
I am asking for all players or parents that miss practice to call or email me as soon as
they know they will be missing practices.
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This year we will have a lot of help with individual player development. The
Metro East Legacy Soccer Club has made it mandatory for each High School Metro East
Legacy players to volunteer five hours to our teams, so we will have a lot more “Metro
East Legacy Days.” Belleville East, Mascoutah High School and Althoff Girls Soccer
team have volunteered their girls to come to a practice during our season.
SIUE Cougars Girls Soccer team has also volunteered for two days with our teams.
They will be our Honorary Referees during our tournament. I want to make sure every
player has an individual to assist your player on those days so I can coordinate ahead of
time with the respective coaches. I have arranged two sessions with Greenville College
and Southwestern Illinois College to assist with our tournament and training camps.
We will be traveling in May to Missouri to play with the Special Needs Program in
Fenton (7 May 2016). If things go right, I hope to schedule one or two games in
Missouri before their tournament on 23 April 2016.
We will be hosting our “Clash of the Borders” on 26 March 2016. I have three major
colleges incorporated into helping us. I have Greenville College Men's soccer team,
SIUE Cougars Women's team, and Southwestern Illinois College Women's soccer team
have dedicated the day to help out. They will run some mini-camps and skill sections.
SIUE girls will be volunteering as referees. Metro East Legacy complex will be used
again this year so we can more than two games going on at any given time. We will have
four games going on at once. The complex will be broken down so we can have training
sessions on the North side and games on the south side. My Metro East Legacy U11 girls
have volunteered to be ball girls. Other Metro East Legacy volunteers will assist teams
as ambassadors.
There is a chance we will also assist with the Big Blue in Decatur.
I have also going to arrange for information to be put on the PTOEC web site that all
participants can check regularly and will be able to check if practices are cancelled due to
weather or field conditions. The site will help eliminate any confusion of times and dates
that could be checked at any time of the day.
We have a total of 30 practice dates for the upcoming season. Seventeen practices
have been set aside to prepare for the Regional competition and then thirteen additional
ones to prepare for State Games. This gives a lot of time to work around weather and
other issues. I am hoping with the possibility of a gym and turf field we will not have to
cancel any practices this year.
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GAMES
The Combined Qualifier tentatively will be held in Springfield on 23 April 2016.
Times will be announced at a later date. We must have three games prior to April 2016
entry deadline. I will have tentatively scheduled to hold them on 26 March 2016.
We will again be holding our own tournament on 26 March 2016. It will be called
“Clash of the Borders 2016.” I will again try to arrange for different teams to play our
teams during the tournament. Each team will play at least one Missouri team during our
tournament depending on participation which is set by Special Olympics guideline.
There are again several other starting programs that will allow us to share the experience
of games in preparation for the Combined Qualifier: We are trying to have our
tournament at Belle Clair/Metro East Legacy Turf fields.
There is a great possibility that we will be attending an additional tournament in Missouri
on April 2016. I will have information at the Parent’s meeting.
All players are required to play in the State Qualifier on 23 April 2016 if they plan to
attend the State Summer Games. NO EXCEPTIONS. For those players that work,
please start to make arrangements NOW. Please plan on spending the whole day in
Springfield if the qualifier is held there. More information will come as we get closer to
April.
It is our intention to play in the Jacksonville Tournament. It is held the Sunday after
Mother’s Day weekend. I believe it will be held on 14 May 2016. It will be in
Jacksonville. Again, plan on spending the whole day.
The Summer Games will be held on 10-12 June 2016. All rostered players are
required to attend with no exceptions.
If you look at the schedule you will find that we will have games at least once a month
starting in March and end at the Summer Games. This will give each player an
opportunity to excel in a game environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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I look forward to this upcoming season. There are some new and exciting things that
will help our players. First, we will have more “Special Event” Days. College teams and
other High School teams will be out to help with practices and games. Second, the
Belleville East High School Girls Soccer Coach, Mascoutah High School girls and
Althoff (Jurgeon Huettner) has also requested to come out to assist us. Third, I also am
attending some FIFA soccer training sessions prior to the season starts to learn some new
training methods that can help our players develop that I hope to implement during the
season. Fourth, Ed Ratka (Ex professional goalkeeper) and a great supporter of past
PTOEC teams will be volunteering a session with our players. This alone should make
your player excited be part of the PTOEC soccer teams. I have also got Kelsey Dingus
(All-American and professional soccer player in Germany). Fifth, we will also have one
away practice and one at home practice with the SIUE Cougars soccer team, Greenville
Men’s Soccer and Southwestern Illinois College. Sixth, we will also travel to the Soccer
Park in Fenton, Missouri to take in activities with the Special Needs Soccer Program
(SNSP). We are currently making arrangements to have them attend one of our sessions
at the Sportsplex. Seventh, Missouri has aligned their season with Illinois and we will be
attending an additional tournament and have more games.
As you can see there is a lot of focus on fun, learning on an individual level and a lot
of activities this upcoming season. It is my hope to make my 21st year with PTOEC one
of the best.
Bob, Rusty, Floyd and I have great expectations for this upcoming season. Rusty will
return as a trainer and assistant coach basis. I will continue to work with players on
endurance and tactics on the field. Bob and I will direct the teams to peak at the right
times to get the best results. Floyd will be our float to help in areas where someone needs
help. Rusty will work goalkeepers. Again, we will have additional help when they can
make it. The practices will be extremely structured with a theme (Individual, small
games and game play) and each player will be also given their own training plan that they
can follow at home. I have spend numerous hours developing these practice schemes
and individual training plans that will be forward to all the new programs to assist them
in developing their players. I will be handing out a training book at our first practices
that will have a tracking section for skills and activities that the player can practice at
home.
It is my hope to get some new players for this upcoming season. We have lost players
and will need additional players to stay at two teams. I would really like to make a girls
or junior team. Please spread the word to all the new PTOEC members. I want to point
out that they can be from other special needs organization and participate in soccer since
we are the only local program that offers soccer. If you have any questions, please call
me.
I believe PTOEC is clearly one of the best organizations in the state that serves your
Special Olympics athletes and hopefully by them playing soccer they will see this first
hand. I know I am extremely proud to be part of this program and hopefully we can share
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the special opportunities that PTOEC soccer offer to these athletes. I am currently
working to get the word out about PTOEC’s soccer program to Region #12 agencies and
our offer to a unique soccer program. It is my hope to get a few players from those
organizations
OTHER PTOEC OPPORTUNITIES:
I will be arranging other opportunities for the players to do things this year that are
associated with soccer that are currently not on the schedule. I will be arranging to take
players to Metro East Legacy soccer games, Althoff & Belleville East Soccer Games,
SIUE and Greenville college games. I have already discussed having our players
recognized during one of the half times on the Althoff High School girl’s game and
Greenville College Game.
Another opportunity will be I will be asking for some of our players to go with me to
Decatur for the Big Blue Training sessions that I can use to demonstrate proper training
techniques to future Special Olympics soccer coaches in May. If your player wished to
volunteer, please let me know since it will be a trip with limited space.
Important Tentative Dates
Parent’s Meeting
Clash of Borders Tournament
30 January 2016 @ 0900 @ (Arnold Field)
26 March 2016 @ Belle Clair Game times TBA
23 April 2016 Regional Competition (TBA) @ Springfield
15 May 2016 Sunday (Tournament Games) Jacksonville
State Games
10-12 June 2016
NOTE: There will be no practices on Easter and Memorial Weekends.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by my email or cell phone.
Mark your agendas for out initial meeting. Hope to see you all real soon. Thanks for
your time
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at richardcrothers@charter.net or
richard.a.crothers@nga.mil
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Call:
618-406-2727 (Cell)
314-676-1412 (Work).
Rich Crothers
Coach, PTOEC
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