The Southern Lehigh Soccer League is pleased to announce tryouts for the 2012/2013 Travel Team Program. Please take the time to read the following program summary. It should provide you with valuable information and allow you to understand the travel team soccer program.
TRY-OUT LOCATION
Try-outs will take place at the Upper Saucon Park soccer fields. There are the fields across the street from the library. There will likely be many try-outs occurring at the same time so ask the coaches.
PROGRAM
The Travel Team program is designed for players who want to play soccer in a more competitive environment against similar teams from neighboring communities. Although your commitment is for the fall season, the program also allows the teams and/or players the option to play in the winter indoor season, and spring season.
ELIGIBILITY
Any interested player is eligible to tryout for a travel team. You do not have to live within the Southern Lehigh School District. You must, however, fall within specific age ranges (see the tryout schedule for these age divisions). In most cases players must play in their appropriate age division if a team is offered for them. Sometimes we don't have a team in that age bracket if there aren't enough kids (like the U12 Boys team for 2011/12).
TEAMS OFFERED
Each year the Southern Lehigh Soccer League Board evaluates the program, and makes preliminary decisions on what teams will be offered. This decision uses factors such as past year’s tryouts and participation, coach availability, anticipated players returning to the program and other pertinent facts. These preliminary decisions have produced the teams listed on the attached tryout schedule. Just because an age group is not listed in the schedule does not mean it will not exist and conversely just because an age group is listed does not ensure this age group will exist. Our decisions on adding or dropping age groups are based largely on the quantity and quality of the players that attend tryouts and the availability of qualified coaches. If the turnout and ability is large enough to justify a second team in an age group, or to split combined years into single years, we will make every effort possible to field the additional team.
COMMITMENT
Players are expected to make every reasonable effort to attend as many games and practices as possible in their teams primary season. The primary season is the fall season for most teams. You will find coaches more than willing to work with players to avoid conflicts, but the same cooperation is expected from the players and parents in return. If your team plans to participate in the optional winter and/or spring season, your coach prior to that season will explain the commitment level.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
REGISTRATION
Each player will be charged an initial registration fee of approx. $135.00. This fee covers team and player registration with the Lehigh Valley League and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association, secondary medical insurance, referee fees, alternate jerseys, socks, state cup registration fees, some tournament fees and the administrative cost associated with the travel team program. These administrative costs include many items such as paint for the fields, game balls, practice equipment, goals, non-resident field fees, etc. Do not make any payments at this time. We will collect the payments after the teams have been selected.
UNIFORM
Each player must purchase a uniform. This uniform can be kept and used from year to year. Approximate cost is $65.00. You will not need to purchase another new uniform until requested by you or required by the league due to the availability of the current style. Players and parents are responsible for buying shin pads and soccer cleats.
ADDITIONAL COST
The Southern Lehigh Soccer League will pay $650.00 towards each team’s league entrance fees into sanctioned tournaments. The league will also cover the cost of all Ref Fees and entrance into one State Cup tournament fee. Additional player costs are incurred when your team’s cost for the above exceeds the $650.00 funded by the Southern Lehigh Soccer League. Each team may also have an additional cost to hire a trainer to work with the kids for a specified amount of time throughout the season. Additional cost may also be incurred if your team decides to participate in a function outside the normal scope of the travel program.
TRYOUT PRE-REGISTRATION
All players interested in playing on a travel soccer team for the 2012/2013 season must pre-register with the Southern Lehigh Soccer League prior to tryouts. Pre-registration will take place online at www.slsl.org prior to your teams scheduled tryout time. At that time both the SLSL registration form and the EPYSA RG6 form must be completed, printed and signed by a parent/guardian to complete the tryout pre-registration process. No fees will be collected until after teams are formed. No mailed in forms will be accepted. Please be sure to arrive 15-30 minutes ahead of the scheduled tryout time to register. Do not make any payments during registration. We will collect the money after the teams have been selected.
TRYOUTS
Tryouts for the travel teams will take place in May. Dates to be posted by 15 April 2012. See the enclosed list for exact dates, times and coaches for each age group. All tryouts (unless noted) will be held at the Upper Saucon Township Park Fields. Players must complete the pre-registration as noted above prior to tryouts. Although coaches encourage players to attend as many tryouts as possible, a player need only attend two tryout sessions to be eligible for the team. Please bring a soccer ball and a supply of water when attending tryouts. You must wear shin guards to participate in the tryouts. Soccer cleats are recommended but not required for try-outs.In the case of inclement weather, contact the coach listed for that age group for details.
TEAM SELECTION
Teams will be selected in late May / early June. All eligible players, who have participated in the tryouts, should be notified prior to June 14th, as to their status with the team. For those selected, your team registration meeting will take place in the middle of June.
FALL SEASON
Teams generally begin practicing 2-3 times per week in July or August. Once school begins, practices usually continue 1-2 times per week. Many teams enter preseason tournaments in August and early September. Some teams also enter a tournament over Columbus Day weekend. The locations of tournaments vary by team. League play begins the weekend after Labor Day and runs until the middle of November with generally one game per weekend. Home games are played at Upper Saucon Township Community Park. Traveling time for away games generally range from 20-60 minutes in most cases. Most teams play in the LVYSL (Lehigh Valley Youth Soccer League) but girl teams have played in PAGS (Philadelphia Area Girls Soccer) and boy teams in DELCO (Delaware County). All of these leagues are part of EPYS (Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer). The league selection is the coaches choice and the decision is normally based on the competitiveness of the age division for each team. The Southern Lehigh Board strongly recommends playing in LVYSL. All U9 teams will automatically be entered into LVYSL as well as any coach that doesn't notify the Southern Lehigh Registrar that they will be playing elsewhere.
WINTER SEASON
During the winter months, players have the option to participate in our indoor program. This may include indoor practice and participation in various indoor tournaments. These tournaments can range from local events run by other clubs to events at regular indoor soccer facilities. Participation in this season is at the discretion of the teams coach. Players may choose to opt out from playing in the winter.
SPRING SEASON
Most age groups have the option to participate in leagues and tournaments during the spring and summer months. The decisions on the type and amount of spring play are up to each team’s parents, coaches and players. The parents must make their level of commitment for the spring season known to the coach prior to the spring season and then standby their commitment. A player who opts not to participate in the indoor program is still eligible to play in the spring and summer.
TEAM RESPONSIBILITY (Very important and SOMETIMES overlooked)
Each travel team has certain responsibilities to the Southern Lehigh Soccer League, the Lehigh Valley Youth Soccer League, or any other league in which they are entered. These include field setup and painting, team registration, team uniform ordering, club meeting attendance, Lehigh Valley Tournament assignments and many more. These responsibilities should not be borne solely by the travel team coaching staff that already put many hours of their time in coaching your sons and daughters. These responsibilities need to be shared by the parents and players of the team. Please make it a point to be aware of your team’s responsibilities and help fulfill these required tasks.
Please bring a soccer ball (size 4 for U9-U12 and size 5 for U13 and older) and a drink to each tryout. Players must complete the pre-registration paperwork prior to their 1st tryouts. You must wear shin guards to participate in the tryouts. If possible, arrive 10 minutes early to allow proper time to sign-in with the coach and warm-up. All tryouts will be held at the Upper Saucon Township Park Fields. If you think tryouts might be cancelled due to weather or field conditions, please contact the coach listed for that age group.
Fields are numbered 1 though 4 with 1 being the large field closest to the playground and refreshment stand/bathroom building. Fields 1 and 2 are large sided fields for U13 and above. Field 4 is the farthest from the play ground.
Age for the travel teams is considered the age of the player on August 1st of the current year.
Additional dates and teams will be listed as they are finalized by the coaches. Please check back often for cancellations, updates and additions.
Tryout Dates
U-9 Boys: Coach--Aaron Bealer (Aaron.Bealer@biworldwide.com)
Wednesday May 2nd, 2012 5:30-7:00 All try-outs on Field 4 (parking lot side)
Sunday May 6th, 2012 5:30-7:00
Monday May 7th, 2012 5:30-7:00 Field 2 (parking lot side)
Wednesday May9th, 2012 5:30-7:00
Sunday May 20th, 2012 5:30-7:00 Rain date make up
U-10 Boys: Coach – Greg Scharf (gwscharf@gmail.com) (610) 737-4888
Monday April 30th, 2012 5:30-7:00 PM All try-outs on Field 4 (wooded side)
Wednesday May 2nd, 2012 5:30-7:00 PM
Monday May 7th, 2012 5:30-7:00 PM
Tuesday May 8th, 2010 5:30-7:00 PM
U-11 Boys: Coach Gregg Falcone (gfalcone@ptd.net) (610) 295-3242
Wednesday May 2nd, 2012 6-7:30pm All try-outs on Field 3 (parking lot side)
Monday May 7th, 2012 6-7:30pm
Tuesday May 8th, 2012 6-7:30pm
Wednesday May 16, 2012 6-7:30pm
Friday May 18, 2012 6-7:30pm Rain date make-up
Monday May 21, 2012 6-7:30pm (Rain date if needed)
U-12 Boys: Coach - Glueck Larry (slxtremesoccer@gmail.com ) - (610) 965-4149
Monday April 30, 2012 6:00-7:30 Field 3 (parking lot side)
Tuesday May 1st, 2012 6:00-7:30 Field 3 (parking lot side)
Sunday May 6th, 2012 6:00-7:30 Field 4 (wooded side)
Monday May 7th, 2012 6:00-7:30 Field 3 (wooded side)
Thursday May 17th, 2012 6:00-7:30 Field 4 (parking lot) Rescheduled from Rain
Sunday May 20, 2012 6:00-7:30 Field 4 (parking lot side)
U-13 Boys: Please contact sabramtm@apci.com if you are interested in trying out. I need to know what the numbers will be like. We did not have a team last year in this age bracket. We will have one try-out session/parent's meeting to look at numbers and interests. Please attend. If you can't and are interested, please notify Ted Sabram at the above address.
Friday May 4th, 2012 6:00-7:30 Try-outs and parents meeting on field 2 wooded side.
U-14 Boys: Coach - Jose Minguillon (jpminguillon@verizon.net) - (610) 868-3173
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 6-7:30 PM All try-outs on Field 2 (parking lot side).
Friday, May 4th, 2012 6-7:30 PM
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 6-7:30 PM
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 6-7:30 PM
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 6-7:30
U-9 Girls: Coach--New coach found! More coaches are needed. Please contact sabramtm@apci.com if interested..
Tuesday May 8th, 2012 5:30-6:30 Field 4 (parking lot side)
Saturday May 12th, 2012 3:00-4:15 Field 4 (parking lot side)
Wednesday May 16th, 2012 5:30-6:45 Field 4 (wooded side)
Thursday May 17th, 2012 6:00-7:00 Field 4 (wooded side)
Tuesday May 22nd, 2012 6:00-7:00 (Rain date if needed) Field 4 (wooded side)
U-10 Girls: Coach – Joe Fenstermacher ( izzpie@rcn.com)
Wednesday May 9th, 2012 5:30-7:00 Field 4 (wooded side)
Thursday May 10th, 2012 5:30-7:00 Field 4 (wooded side)
Saturday May 12th, 2012 4:00-5:30 Field 4 (wooded side)
Tuesday May 15th, 2012 5:30-7:00 Field 4 (wooded side)
U-11 Girls: Coach - Paul Groeber (paul.groeber@medtronic.com) - (610) 216-5821
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 5:00-6:30 Field 3 (parking lot side)
Monday May 7th, 2012 5:00-6:30 Field 4 (parking lot side)
Thursday May 10th, 2012 5:00-6:30 Field 3 (parking lot side)
Tuesday May 22nd, 2012 5:00-6:30 Field
Thursday May 24th, 2012 5:00-6:30 Field 3 (parking lot side)
Tuesday May 29th, 2012 5:00-6:30 (Rain date if needed) Field 3 (parking lot side)
U-12 Girls: Coach – Ted Sabram (sabramtm@apci.com) - (484) 432-9131
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 6-7:30 PM All try-outs on Field 3 (wooded side)
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 6-7:30 PM
Thursday, May 10th, 2012 5:00-6:00 PM
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 6-7:30 PM
Wednesday May 23, 2012 5:00-6:00 pm Field 3
U-13 Girls: Coach - Chris Cocozza (cdcoco@ptd.net) - (610) 282-5751
Monday May 14th, 2012 6:00-7:30 All try-outs on Field 2 (wooded side)
Tuesday May 15th, 2012 6:00-7:30
Thursday May 17th, 2012 6:00-7:30
Monday May 21st, 2012 6:00-7:30
Tuesday May 22nd, 2012 6:00-7:30
U-14 Girls: Coach - Paul Groeber (paul.groeber@medtronic.com) - (610) 216-5821
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 6:30-8:00 All try-outs on Field 2 (wooded side)
Monday May 7th, 2012 6:30-8:00
Thursday May 10th, 2012 6:30-8:00
Thursday May 24th, 2012 6:30-8:00
Tuesday May 29th, 2012 6:30-8:00 (Rain date if needed)
