Pre-K Cancelled this Weekend
The forecast is calling for 90+ degree temperatures on Saturday and Sunday so we are going to cancel our PreK program for this weekend, May 21st and 22nd. Stay cool and hope you have a nice weekend.
Travel Soccer Evaluations: 9 & 12 June
Each spring, Milton Travel Soccer players entering 3rd-8th grade in the fall participate in player evaluations. These evaluations are used to place players on appropriate level teams that compete in BAYS at appropriate levels of competition. The external evaluators (Hermes Lima Soccer Academy Coaches) will evaluate each player on tactical, technical, athletic and attitudinal aspects based on different soccer activities and playing situations. It is expected that parents will observe from afar and not interfere in the process.
These external evaluations will be used in combination with Milton coach evaluations of players to place players on appropriate teams. While not perfect, we have found the external/internal evaluation combination to be a solid process, especially when considering individual player development over 6 years. While attending both sessions is encouraged to yield a more accurate evaluation, players are only required to be evaluated on one of the two days.
Please Note that Girls and Boys switch Locations for the 2nd Evaluation
Thursday, June 9th
- Girls at Houghton's Pond (Blue Hill River Road)
- Boys at Milton Healthcare/Flatley Field (15 Neponset Valley Parkway)
- Rising 3rd Grade (Current 2nd) & 4th Grade (Current 3rd) - 4:00pm Check-In/4:30-6:00pm tryout
- Rising 5th - 8th Grade (Current 4th-7th Grade) - 6:00pm Check-In/6:30-8:00pm tryout
Sunday, June 12th
- Boys at Houghton's Pond (Blue Hill River Road)
- Girls at Milton Healthcare/Flatley Field (15 Neponset Valley Parkway)
- Rising 3rd Grade (Current 2nd) & 4th Grade (Current 3rd) - 4:00pm Check-In/4:30-6:00pm tryout
- Rising 5th - 8th Grade (Current 4th-7th Grade) - 6:00pm Check-In/6:30-8:00pm tryout
Please have your child wear cleats and shin guards and bring a ball and water. Thanks in advance for participating and please direct any questions to Bob Chen, [email protected], Heather Montgomery, [email protected] Tom Petersen, [email protected]
- Milton Soccer
Coaches Corner - 15 May
Hey Coaches! Please find attached practice sessions designed for grade levels 3rd & 4th, 5th & 6th, and 7th & 8th.
Reminder About Coaching Evaluations: You should have received an email from Tom Petersen regarding Coaching Evaluations. Please complete your team's evaluation by June 1st on TeamGenius. Email Tom Peterson with any questions.
And just a friendly reminder that there is no goalie training this week. There are only 2 sessions left: May 24th and 31st.
Updates to SafeSport
Due to changes in the US Center for SafeSport and US Soccer Federation policy, athletes 18 or over who may interact with Minor Athletes, have more responsibilities to Milton Soccer/Mass Youth Soccer, under state and federal law than they had as a minor.
What does this mean?
- Athletes that are 18 or will turn 18 during a current playing season and play on a team with minor athletes are required to take the SafeSport Core Abuse Prevention training in order to participate. Players who are currently 17 years old may get a head start on this requirement and take the training with parental consent prior to their 18th birthday.
- To Follow US Soccer policy, these athletes must be crosschecked against the Commonwealth of Mass SORI database, the US Soccer, and SafeSport Disqualification list once they turn 18th. Mass Youth Soccer will conduct this activity.
Please use this link to access the SafeSport Adult Athlete Prevention Training Help Guide. Detailed instructions on how to complete the required SafeSport Abuse Prevention Training. Also included in the help guide is the US Soccer access code that is needed to take the training for free.
Every Kid Sports Pass
Mass Youth Soccer is excited to share with you the Every Kid Sports Pass which offers qualifying income-restricted families up to $150 per child towards their registration fees for youth sports activities up to four times a year. In every town and program across the state, there are children who are unable to participate in sports programs for economic reasons.
To be eligible to receive a pre-paid visa to help cover registration fees, families need to provide Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC supporting documents containing the child’s name and show active effective dates (within 12 months).
Please note, the Every Kid Sports Pass is eligible only for Youth Recreational level programs (e.g. Town Travel / Intown / Recreational programs lasting longer than 4 week). Clubs, travel, tournament, elite, personal training, camps, and programs that cost more than $500 do NOT qualify.
Mass Youth Soccer will be raising awareness of this incredible opportunity to our full membership and beyond in November as the majority of our member programs begin opening registration for the Spring soccer season and Winter programming. Please help us to raise awareness of the Every Kid Sports Pass program by using all available avenues to promote this opportunity to families in your community!
Please click on the link below to access additional information and promotional flyers for the Every Kid Sports Pass.
4v4 Coaching Course and TOPSoccer!
It was a beautiful day on Sunday May 1st for the 4v4 coaching course. Twelve coaches attended, five from Milton. There were also nine very enthusiastic second grade boys who helped with the course!
This event took place all while two travel makeup games and a well attended and fun TopSoccer session were being played too. Good times!
The 4v4 course was run by professional coaches from MA Youth Soccer and is part of US Soccer’s Grassroots License Pathway described here, and is is a perfect training opportunity for any new coaches and certainly all K-2+ (4v4) coaches, and any coaches who would like to brush up on their coaching skills.
BAYS RESPECT Campaign
BAYS is launching their RESPECT Campaign and are asking that the BAYS community join together to help make the youth soccer experience the best it can be for all of our players, coaches, referees, clubs, parents, and fans.
Learn more about the BAYS RESPECT Campaign here and on the BAYS website.
COVID Reminder
As a reminder to all Milton Soccer Coaches, we want to stay on our toes and minimize the spread of COVID within our teams. We would like to take this time to ask you to remind your players and parents of a few things…
- Ask your players’ parents to monitor their child’s health. If their child has any symptoms, even mild ones, do not send them to practice or a game
- Avoid spitting, nose clearing on the field or spitting on gloves
- Minimize celebrations, hugs, handshakes, etc.
- No sharing of food or drinks
- Leave immediately after practice and games
Milton Soccer follows MA Youth Soccer COVID Guidelines. Please review the guidelines. Please contact Milton Soccer’s COVID Coordinator, Jaime Levash with any questions or COVID positive players or coaches. Thank you for your diligence.
No Room for Racism
Milton Soccer is committed to increasing player, coach, and board member diversity so that the program demographics accurately reflect that of our town. As an organization we stand behind and welcome all who wish to participate in Milton Soccer. By launching our ”No Room for Racism” campaign, we want to show support for the families of Milton and renounce any racism they may have experienced in our town, schools, and sports. As a board we are making available No Room for Racism practice jerseys, beanies, and face masks that may be purchased in our Team Shop (available soon) and the voluntary wearing of these items.
We will also be displaying No Room for Racism banners at Milton Soccer Fields. We believe that the organization should be welcoming and actively anti-racist. Staying silent, especially now, shows acceptance of the status quo and our organization is committed to moving forward to a more welcoming and racially diverse program.
Milton soccer does not condone discrimination or bullying in any form. Practice jerseys, beanies, and masks will be available to parents who would like to purchase them, and it is a parental choice to have a player wear them.
Please click here if you would like to view and/or purchase these items from the store. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Milton Soccer Board