PAL Summer/Travel 2024 Soccer UPDATES

6/17/24 - CLINIC WELCOME EMAIL SENT:

Welcome to the 2024 Summer Soccer Clinic.  First clinic session is Wednesday 6/19 at 6:15 Boro Field.  Updates will be posted on www.lincolnparksoccer.com

This email pertains only to the CLINIC.  It is important to know which division your child is in since many times the bulk email will refer to different divisions.  Note:  If you have other children participating at another age level you will receive a separate email in the next day or two.

The CLINIC is for those going INTO K or 1st  grade this fall.  If your child will still be in Pre-K this fall it is important that you know the fall K & 1st grade children participate together and there may be a physical mismatch between your child and an older child.  Please let me know if you find you made a mistake in registering.

The CLINIC will meet every Wednesday 6:15 at Boro Field for 6 weeks.  It will last approximately 1 hr to 1 hr 15 minutes depending on weather and other circumstances. If there is a conflict on Boro Field we may move to Lanes Field on Ryerson Road.   The clinic operates in a camp environment.  We start the session with some basic skill training.  We then shift to some soccer related games/drills that utilizes some of the skills we are teaching and then finally actual soccer games. 

We still need help coaching.  You do not need any experience.  At this age level it is about fun and introducing the basics.   Please reply to this email with your name and email address if you are interested.

IMPORTANT:  EVERYONE MUST HAVE SHIN GUARDS.  IF YOUR CHILD DOESN’T, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. You can find them locally at Dicks or Soccer Zone or online at Amazon.

Cleats are optional and not needed on the turf. Sneakers are fine.  No open toe shoes or sandals.  Bring plenty of water.  Gatorade/Powerades, etc are not permitted by the town on the turf.  We will be on the half of the field furthest from the parking lot (there is more shade!).  You can setup your blanket or chair about 5 yards or so off the sideline on the side of the field closest to the tennis courts.  Please make sure your child knows where you setup and don’t move!  We generally have water breaks every 10/15 minutes and they are going to come running over to you. Bathrooms will be open.  You must accompany your child to the bathroom.

Weather - If there are any weather related changes I will try and post to the soccer home page www.lincolnparksoccer.com by 5:30.  Since humid summer days are known for quick afternoon storms we can sometimes squeeze games after a quick storm.  Sometimes we think a storm will miss us and don’t cancel only to get hammered!  If there is any thunder or lightning, we will leave the field.  We cannot go back on the field until it has been 30 minutes from the last thunder or lightning strike. Many times this will force us to reschedule.  I will also post any other pertinent information on the web page. If there are heat warnings we take additional water breaks and scale down the activities.  If you have any concerns about the heat we completely understand and recommend keeping your child home. 

No need to inform us if you will be on vacation.

While the clinic starts 6:15, we generally let the children play unstructured for 5 or 10 minutes.  We find this gives them time to chat or play with friends they may have not seen for a few days or so.  This way they aren’t chatting while we are trying to teach.   At the start of the session I will blow my whistle when we start and the kids can all come over. Once we start all parents should be on the sideline.   Make sure your child knows where you are on the sideline so they can find you.  I will take attendance and hand out tshirts (if they are in).  I will then send them back to you to either help put the shirt on or for you to hold if you don’t want to put on yet.  When the session is over I ask you to move off the field towards the playground or library as men’s softball comes on after us.

The Borough has special turf rules we must follow.  Here are some examples:

No tables or tents allowed on turf unless mat is placed under equipment. BRING A BLANKET INSTEAD!

No animals (dogs or pets of any kind) are allowed.

No drinks such as colored sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, etc.), soda, hot chocolate, coffee, etc. (ONLY WATER IS PERMITTED).

No food is permitted on the turf, including but not limited to: gum, sunflower seeds, grapes, oranges, nuts, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, french fries,

No high heel shoes.

No stakes, posts, spikes or poles can be driven into the turf field.

Metal chair legs must be protected by rubber end tips and cannot contain any jagged edges that may damage the track or artificial turf field surface.  Also, with the small diameter of a chair leg it should not be allowed on the field without some type of cover on the turf.

No bikes on the field 

Mike Iapoce

Lincoln Park PAL Soccer Director

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Thunder/lightning Rule

What is the? Everyone must leave the field at the first thunder or lightning strike and seek shelter inside a building or car if safe. No one is permitted back on the field until 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning strike. What that means is if has been 25 minutes since the last thunder/lightning and and we hear or see more, the 30 minute clock resets from the begining.  This is why many times we just end up canceling the session.

Clinic Division - Going into K or 1st in the fall of 2024
American Division - Going into 2nd or 3rd in the fall of 2024
National Division - Going into 4th, 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2024