Charter
Mission Statement
The Almaden United recognizes the critical role team sports play in the development of well rounded, confident, young adults. We challenge girls (athletically and otherwise) to earn success in preparation for what they'll face in life. Along the way, we encourage individuality stressing that it come within the context of "greater good for the team".
Goals
- For each girl to reach their personal full potential
- To continually improve their individual skills and tactical team play.
- To maintain a roster occupied by open minded and dedicated girls.
- To foster positive internal competition within a team first environment.
- To build upon accomplishments experienced thus far and succeed against top teams in California.
- To not overwhelm girls such that soccer becomes their only thing.
- To prepare girls to make their High School and ODP teams, and beyond, if they so desire.
Commitment
- Schoolwork always takes priority over soccer.
- Participation in other activities is encouraged. Our league games and tournaments should take precedence.
- The start time for practice is the START time, not the arrive time.
- Coaches to indicate, well in advance, when an extra practice may be added.
- Intense periods of three practices per week will occur prior to big tournaments and Fall league play.
- We will take moratoriums from soccer in late June and from late November to late December.
Playing Time
We wish to maintain a talented and deep team such that there is no fear of substituting. Actual time and who starts can change from game to game and is at the discretion of the coach. Outside midfielders and forwards are asked to do a lot of running and thus sub in and out frequently. We strive for cohesiveness on defense so players in those positions will not sub as much. Other things effecting position or playing time on any given day can be effort or attendance in preceding practices, size and condition of the field, type of opponent, style of game, weather, a coach's hunch, etc.
Parent's Decorum
Good: Encouragement of the team and your child, praise of another player, questions of coach in proper format.
Bad: Critical comments to a girl other than your own. Critical comments about another girl to other parents. Any comment to a player on the field re their positioning or what you think they should be doing. Any comments towards the referee or the other team. Critical comments about coaching to other parents or the girls.
Coach's Decorum
Good: Encouragement of the team, repositioning and reminders, explanation of where change or more effort needed.
Necessary: Yelling out when a girl is out of position. Complaint to referee about missed call or rough play.
Bad: Isolating player with criticism, addressing ref or team in combustable nature, comments towards opposing coach