Mercer Area Youth Soccer Association FALL IN-HOUSE RECREATIONAL SOCCER Register Online Today at

www.MercerSoccer.org Mercer Area Youth Soccer Association (MAYSA) is a youth soccer club serving Mercer and the surrounding communities. The In-House Recreational Soccer Program is where the basics of soccer are encouraged in a fun environment. Teams are formed for three different age groups within the club. Every child participating is given equal playing time during games and coaches plan practices so every child can learn and improve regardless of ability. The goal of recreational soccer is to unlock the game within each child. This will only happen by having fun!

Online Registration Again this season, all In-House Recreational Soccer Registration will be conducted online via our website. Register for Fall In-House Recreational Soccer today at www.MercerSoccer.org. If registering for the first time, it will be very helpful to have your child’s birth certificate available as it is required to complete the registration process.

Get League Information On Your Phone MAYSA league wide announcements and parent information is now available on your phone.  We encourage parents to take advantage of the most convenient way to receive all MAYSA league communications.   Simply text the keyword followmaysa to 84483 (a five digit number) and you will receive an immediate confirmation.  You can opt-out at any time.

League Contact Info Club Registration: Kami Dubiel: [email protected] Concessions Coordinator: Marianne Hustead [email protected] General questions: Ken Ferrans [email protected]

Where do we play and practice? All practices and matches are played at the MAYSA Soccer fields at Cool Springs Fitness Center.

When do we play and practice? Practices will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM starting August 25, 2016. All matches will be held Saturday mornings beginning September 10, 2016. The season will conclude Saturday, October 22. Please mark these dates on your calendar.

Who can play? Any child eligible to start kindergarten through the sixth grade.

What equipment do kids need? All kids must have the red/white reversible mesh shirt, ordered through online registration. Shirts from previous years are fine. Shin guards with socks over top are required to play. Soccer cleats or turf shoes are encouraged, but not mandatory. Soccer cleats do not have a toe cleat. Baseball and football cleats do have a toe cleat (that is a cleat at the very front of the shoe).

What are the age groups? The age groups are as follows: K and 1st graders are Beginners, 2nd and 3rd graders are Juniors, 4th through 6th graders are Seniors. Saturday match times are listed below.

Saturday Match Times:

Beginners [K-1st: 9:30am]

Juniors [2nd-3rd: 10:30am]

Seniors [4th-6th: 11:30am]

Coaches Needed! MAYSA is a 501(c)3 non-profit and operates entirely as a volunteer organization. The quality of the experience for your child depends on the commitment of the volunteers. This is especially true for the position of coach. Most parents do not want to coach because they have no experience with the game. However, if you consider the goals of the program and the type of soccer we play, anyone with a willingness to learn can be a successful coach. Our goal is to teach the game of soccer in a positive environment. We are not expecting world class soccer training sessions for kids of this age or ability. We are looking for volunteers who can run practices and games where every child is involved, all the kids are kept moving and where kids have fun. There will be a coaches clinic the week before the season begins. This will cover ideas for practices and game day tips. A packet will also be given with resources to help you plan practices. MAYSA is committed to the philosophy of micro-soccer or small sided games. Instead of fielding teams of kids playing 11v11 on a full size field, we play 3v3, 4v4, up to 7v7, depending on the age group. This gives all the kids an opportunity to play and actually get touches on the ball during the game. Just getting the opportunity to play and be involved makes it fun for the kids. It also makes it easier to coach, because you have fewer kids to keep track of. This program will not work without our volunteer coaches. Our goal is to have at least two adult coaches for every team. Coaching is a fun and rewarding way to spend a couple hours a week with your child.

Coaches Clinic Our coaches clinic will be held on Aug. 18, 2016 at 6:00PM at the CSF fields. Coaching packets will be handed out, practice ideas reviewed, game structure discussed, and team selection process reviewed.

What are the fees? Registration Fee: First child additional siblings

Club Shirt (Mandatory) $45 $40

Youth Sizes and Adult Sizes Adult XL

$15 $20

Fees cover the PA West Association Fees, player insurance, equipment, field maintenance, youth referees, administrative and operational costs.

Concession Stand Volunteers Needed! During Saturday morning games our concession stand will be available serving various hot food items, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, water, and more. The Concession Stand is a vital part of keeping MAYSA playing fees low, offsetting equipment costs, and helping to pay for annual field maintenance. Families will be contacted and to either volunteer for an hour or two or to donate one or two specific items. For more information contact Marianne Hustead at [email protected]

Fall Competitive (or Travel) Soccer If your child is interested in competitive soccer, Fall Travel Soccer consist of two 90 minutes practices a week and eight Sunday games (4 home and 4 away). Visit us www.MercerSoccer.org to learn more or [email protected]