News about practice

It is official! Our first soccer practice is Tuesday February 16th at 5:30pm. We will meet at the point of the traffic circle closest to the Cocoa Beach High School baseball field. Our practice will take place at the fields behind the track/football stadium.


Players should have: a ball, shoes and shin-guards. Do not worry about the size of the ball; just pump it up with air. There is a water fountain at the baseball field bathrooms, but thirsty players need to bring a water bottle. Comfortable shoes are a must. Cleats are good; but flat bottomed shoes are fine. Kids at this age grow like weeds; better comfortable flats than too small cleats.


Until the season starts, we will have practice on Tuesday and Thursday. Once we begin playing games, practice will be one day per week. If a kid cannot make practice, it will not effect the time he or she plays during the game. I understand that there are many other demands on the young players time; homework, instrument practice and differential calculus. The first practice is important because it is our chance to meet each other and get off to a good start. The goal of practice is for the kids to have fun; if they are not disappointed at missing a practice, I am not doing my job. More fun = better soccer.


While I will be shuttling kids on and off the field during the games; the goal of having each player play the same amount of time remains the same. Assuming a player attends all eight games; he or she should play exactly the same amount of time as every other player. Your child should expect to play for long, uninterrupted chunks of time. We are trying to encourage players to take risks and be creative; nobody gets pulled because of a bad play. The kids need to know that they will get taken off the field not because of some aspect of their play; but only because their allotted time has expired.


Executive Summary: 1) Practice 5:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday.
2) Must have ball and shin-guards.
3) Attendance at first practice is important.
4) Meet Tom on the sidewalk by the handicapped parking nearest the Cocoa Beach High baseball field.