The Fall 2011 season is about to begin. Upper division practices have started with, weather permitting, opening day this Saturday. Lower division practices start next week with opening day scheduled for Saturday, September 17th. Game fields have been lined and the remaining practice fields are scheduled to be completed soon.
I want to personally take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteer coaches. I hope that throughout the season you will take the time to thank your coach who has so generously volunteered his or her time and energy so that our children could enjoy playing this great game.
I also want to thank our Board officers. Their dedication and commitment to our children is above and beyond. The responsibilities are immense:supporting the registration process, forming rosters, field preparation, ordering and distributing uniforms, developing game and practice schedules, recruiting coaches, recruiting and scheduling referees, managing our finances, etc. Over the last year, their sacrifices of time and energy has allowed us to improve our program now and into the future, most notably - (1) field improvements (2) convenient practice locations (3) our new partnership with the Goochland YMCA, and most recently (4) player and coaching development through a partnership with OwnTouch for our U8 - U14 teams.
Before I stop typing, I'd like to pass on a few expectations for our parents this season:
(1) Be Positive - remember, this is recreational soccer. Focus on the good things your children accomplish on the pitch.
(2) Let Your Coach, Coach - please do not shout instructions or give direction during play. It is enough for your kids to concentrate on the ball and what they have to do next. Instructions from the sidelines are distracting and limit player development. Soccer teaches all by itself. Your children will learn from their mistakes. Cheer when appropriate, but let them enjoy playing the game.
(3) Be Respectful on the Sidelines - under no circumstances are GUSA parents to make negative comments about opposing or GUSA players, opposing coaches, or refs. If opposing parents make negative comments, ignore it.
(4) The final score isn't as important as the enjoyment of playing - our children are rarely impacted by the final score. At the lower divisions, the snack at the end of the game is way more important than the score. At the upper divisions, the final result is usually forgotten within a minute or two, if not before the end of the game.
Recreational soccer is not about winning or losing. It's about the kids enjoying themselves, making friends, developing confidence, learning teamwork and responsibility, and growing into young adults.
