Welcome to the U-12 Monroe Wild!

 Players and parents……Congratulations on being selected to join the Monroe Wild for the 2008-2009 upcoming season. As a highly competitive team in the top flight in Mid-Jersey (Flight 1), it promises to be a challenging and exciting experience for all.

  Both Tim Rousseau and Carlos Cruz have agreed to return as Assistant Coaches. Both are highly qualified and played soccer at the collegiate level. In addition, we will be utilizing a Trainer from the Red Bulls on a weekly basis as availability permits. Maggie Martinez has agreed to serve as Team Manager. In her role, she will be asked to wear many hats including:

  Let’s talk soccer…
This is the age where the kids begin to gravitate towards a favorite sport. Given the inherent seasonal conflicts with most sports, those kids electing to participate on highly competitive travel teams are typically asked to select one sport per season. This is not only to protect the sanity of their parents, but to insure they are indeed committed to their team and sport. This is very difficult for many kids, as they truly enjoy playing multiple sports in a highly competitive environment. Having been through this process with both of my sons, I can empathize whole heartedly.

 
For any soccer team to remain highly competitive in flight one (1) and look to advance beyond Mid-Jersey Soccer into MAPS (Mid Atlantic Premier Soccer), Regions or perhaps the Super-Y League, commitment from the kids and their parents is mission critical. With this understanding, by agreeing to accept a roster spot on the Wild, each of you is confirming your commitment to place soccer as your number one sports priority. As you well know, the level of work involved for all the volunteers to run a successful, highly competitive team is enormous. The beauty of soccer is that programs exist for all levels of desired participation. Recreational soccer is available for the casual participant, lower flighted travel teams are available for those who wish to play a competitive brand of soccer, but desire to continue various other sports pursuits and premier programs for those committed to the highest levels of competition. I consider the Wild in the latter category. I hope you agree with me.
Having said that, I thought I would share some things you can expect this season on the pitch:

•    Training will focus on technique, strategic decision making, attacking/defending set pieces (corners, directs, indirects, kick-offs, goal kicks-statistically, most goals are scored off of set pieces and rebounds), first touch, working in space with/without the ball and MOST CRITICAL…KEEPING POSSESSION

• Heavy emphasis on owning the mid-field and a fortress defensive formation 

• Three (3) Captains will be named prior to our first tournament/match; I will select (one) 1; Tim and Carlos will select one (1) and the players will select one (1). Captains will be run warm-up drills before practice and match play
• A “starting team” will be selected with reserves earning additional playing time (or a starting role) based upon effort in practice and contributions during match play
• Each practice will include some form of intra-squad scrimmage, ranging from 3 v 3, 4 v 4 up to 8 v 8. This insures all kids get maximum touches
• Fitness is extremely crucial. In an average 90 minute match, a typical field player runs in excess of four (4) miles  
• Naturally, our objective will be to always put the team in the best position to win a match. The amount of playing time each player receives will be largely dictated by the circumstances of the match and their efforts in the previous week’s practices. In a highly competitive environment, unfortunately, there is no equilibrium of playing time. Every player will participate in every match, but please be prepared for a certain level of imbalance of playing time

•  Each practice, the coaches will name the winner of the “Golden Pinny” Award. This player will wear the “Golden Pinny” during the next practice and will be excused from the required warm-ups that day

• ONLY Coaches will be permitted to speak with a referee. With a coach’s permission, a Captain may ask a referee for clarification on a call. Please, no parents should ever speak with, yell at or argue with a referee. I promise, the team always pays the price and you will never change the referee’s mind. Believe me, I know; I have been a referee for ten (10) years 

 Please keep in mind that measuring our success includes our winning record, combined with our goals for/goals against ratio. Any ratio of 50% or better in favor of goals for is a positive.

The goal is for the kids to advance their understanding of the game in a highly competitive environment, while enjoying the experience and having a great time!

 

Regarding tournaments, the Club allows us to play in up to four (4) tournaments with an aggregated cost not to exceed $1500 per year (fall and spring). Our goal is to select tournaments that will provide us with the highest level of competition, perhaps challenging MAPS teams. Tournaments are the best place to truly gauge where we are as a team and to help determine when/if we are ready to move beyond flight one (1) in MNJYSA. We will be looking for a Labor Day Tournament to kick things off.

 For the summer, practices will be held every Tuesday and Thursday beginning on July 8^th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Please encourage the kids to work on their fitness as much as possible at home and in between practices, as any cardio training we do during practices twice a week will not be sufficient to compete, particularly as the long season drags on. The teams with the most energy in the final twenty (20) minutes of the match usually come out on top. Please notify Maggie if you are unable to attend a practice due to vacations, family affairs, illness, etc.

  This year cost is $225 plus a $100 Work Bond for the entire year. Maggie will be in contact with you to collect photos, birth certificates, paperwork and the fee once we receive our packet from the Club.

  I look forward to seeing all of you very soon! 
 Coach Rich Miller

  Contact Information:
Name                     Position                 email                                                 

 Rich Miller             Coach                rmiller@cenlar.com   
                                                           Miller-5@comcast.net