"Honor the Game"
Welcome to the 8th grade boys soccer family! I want to share my expectations for how we "Honor the Game" at M.E.M.S., and carry on a "culture" that "respects the ROOTS of fair play and sportsmanship" within the 8th Grade boys soccer team. Please take a moment to review this important information below.
The lines of communication are open to me. All team news, practice and game schedule details, as well as other announcements for the season can always be viewed on the "8th Grade Boys Soccer" web page.
First and foremost, players must all remember they are student-athletes, and I expect each player to: play hard, play smart, do their best at all times - and have fun with this experience. Being a responsible student in the classroom is an absolute necessity in order to compete on the field of play. The 8th grade soccer experience will be challenging, but enjoyable and rewarding. Things may not always go our way during games, but no matter how the results on the field turn out, we will always "honor the game" and play fair by respecting the rules, our opponents, officials, and teammates. Win, lose or tie - we will always compete with pride .... and honor.
As for parents, I ask for your support in "honoring the game" and respecting the "ROOTS" of fair play. ALL of us connected to this team/program must be mindful of the following :
Rules - We play by the rules and will not bend or break them in order to gain an advantage over our opponent. We will play fairly at all times.
Opponents - They are not our enemies. They challenge us to be at our best and we will respect them. It's OK to to cheer good plays made by players on either team.
Officials - Referees make mistakes (just like us) and we won't agree with every call that is made. We'll "flush it and forget it", and move on. If we disagree with calls made, we can do it silently or just walk away in order to "cool off".
Teammates - Each player on the team has a role no matter how much or how little playing time they receive. Although the objective is to have every player participate in each game, it may not always occur. Every player can be a "game changer" no matter how much they play. We will always be a stronger team when we stick together and work together.
Self - As players, take pride in everything you do, both on the field and off. Leave the field with no regrets. DON'T MAKE EXCUSES when things don't go well. Make the necessary improvements in order to be better next time. Expect nothing, blame no one, and do your best.