Message from the DOC

As we look forward to another season, it is also a time to reflect on the accomplishments and strides we have made over the last year.

As our graduating seniors move on, we wish them well and take pride in the fact that the Lions Futball Club played a part in many of them realizing their dream of playing college soccer and pursuing higher education. Twelve out of twelve members of the '89 Lady Lions team will be attending either a Division I or Division II college with scholarship money. Additionally, several of the '89 Lions team will also be attending colleges or universities on scholarships.

While these seniors will be missed, our Club has a bright future due in large part to the addition of new teams and our Academy Program that will resume August 13/14. Additionally, we will continue to provide community outreach with our free clinics for youth players on Friday nights.

As you can see, we have much to be proud of. I am looking forward to another successful season working with such quality players, parents, board members and coaches. You are truly the Pride, Guts, and Glory that is the Lions Futball Club.

See you on the pitch,

Peter Moore, Director of Coaching

Letter from the President

Greetings to all in our Lions family!

As you can see, due to the tireless efforts of our webmaster, our website has been improved and the focus will be to keep it updated with the latest information. Managers are in the process of updating team information for the Fall '07 season. Information about the Lions FC academy training program is available. Also, the information on the Lions sponsored Showcase tournament has been finalized and information will soon be available.

In closing, I want to remind everyone that this is your organization. The backbone of this club is volunteerism. There are many opportunities to become part of the team/club. Your help is truly needed for the overall success of the organization. I want to encourage you to step up and ask what you can do to support your player, team, and club.

I want to thank all of you for your support.

Abe Parazo

The Club's Philosophy

The Lions Futball Club fosters and promotes youth soccer at the highest level of competition for girls and boys in the U-11 through U-19 age groups.

For U-11 through U-14, the focus is on player development. Emphasis is placed on improving individual skills. Success is measured in player and team improvement, while competing against the best competition possible.

For older players, U-15 through U-19, the focus is twofold. First, training for these players challenges them to higher level of physical and mental conditioning, producing players and teams with high-level soccer thinking skills, physical finesse, and tactical cunning. The intent is to produce not only top-notch club players and championship caliber teams, but also vital varsity high school players. Secondly, the club endeavors to showcase its high school seniors, juniors and sophomores to recruiting college coaches.

Needs of the Youth Game

by April Heinrichs and the U.S. Women's National Staff Coaches

Introduction

It is appropriate at this time to put together a summary of our observations concerning the needs of the youth game. These thoughts come from a year of observing play on the girl's and women's side at the club, state, regional, and national team levels ages U14 through U19. Watching play at the various youth tournaments and youth national team events demonstrates to us an exciting and continuing trend on the women's side: players and teams are becoming more technical and athletic at an earlier age. Certainly evaluations at our U14, U16, U17 and U19 Youth National Team camps bear out the fact that the players are more technical, athletic and tactically sophisticated than previous generations. However, as we aspire to continue to develop national and international caliber players and teams, we must find ways to consistently develop all aspects of the game. Watching the 2003 Women's World Cup, we have identified several aspects of our game that we will spend the next 2 years addressing at the state, club, regional and national levels.

What follows is a short list of the areas that we feel are of the most urgent concerns: Learn more

Field Use Rules and Regulations

NO PRACTICING IN GOAL MOUTHS – Stay out of the goal mouths. Do NOT set up practices that unnecessarily put wear on the grass in front of the goals. Players should stay out of any permanent goals that may be set up – shuffling of a goalkeepers feet is the most damaging, however, players running in and out of goals to retrieve balls puts unnecessary wear in this critical area too. Limit full field scrimmages and, when they are held, use only practice goals set up at the top of the goal boxes.

GOAL NETS Each team is responsible for the entire area in which they train, this includes the goals and nets that are in place for games. It is the responsibility of the club using the fields to make sure that no players or siblings are playing with the nets. Soccer International will inspect the fields daily; if any nets have been torn or goal damaged then the team using the fields last will be responsible for replacing them.

RUNNING PRACTICES – Run all practices in the ‘East-West’ orientation. The next most worn out area of the field is the middle, so set up practices to run from touchline to touchline and stay out of the center circle.

SAQ EQUIPMENT The use of ladders, poles hurdles and other SAQ equipment is ONLY to be used on the sides of the fields. Please help us to maintain the fields. SAQ equipment usually involves high impact movement on the fields which is of course damaging to the turf. 

USE THE CORNERS OF THE FIELD – When a small area is appropriate for a practice, use the corners where the grass is the best. For example, this would be a good area to do fitness work, rather than tearing up the turf in the middle of the field doing sprints. SAQ equipment to the sides of the fields!!!

RAIN-OUT – Stay off wet fields/areas. If the fields are excessively wet, they will be closed for practices and games to protect the fields and players. If in doubt about whether the fields are closed, please call the rain out number 210 237 8213 or 210 219 7278. Even if the fields are not closed, certain areas may remain to wet to use. Organize practices to avoid any soggy areas. Please be considerate.

GAMES/SCRIMMAGES – Be mindful of overuse and wear during pre-game warm ups. Teams should warm up outside the goal area. Keepers are not to be warmed up in the goal mouth.

DANGEROUS DEBRIS – No rocks on the fields or other dangerous items. Any rocks that are thrown or carried onto the fields create a danger to players who may fall and cut themselves on sharp edges. Rocks chip and damage mower blades. Keep an eye out for anyone playing with or otherwise handling rocks and tell them to leave the rocks where they belong. Remove any rocks you see on the fields. Coaches are responsible to walk the field and collect any rocks and debris before all training sessions and or games.

POLICE YOUR AREA – Clean up your trash. After all sessions make sure your teams place ALL trash in the trash cans provided. Soccer International will monitor all areas to ensure rules are being adhered to.

SPEED LIMIT – Drive safely. Teams shall drive safely on the roads and NOT on the fields. Adhere to the speed limit. The posted speed limit at Soccer Texas is 5 MPH. Any parent, player or spectator found driving on the fields will be immediately banned form the complex.

PARKING – You can only park in the designated areas.

FIELD LIGHTING USE – Turn off the lights. The light switch must be turned off when finished. Powering the lights during non-use is a waste of energy and resources and is expensive. Please only turn the light on that cover your field of use.

ENTRANCE GATE – Secure the entrance. The last to leave is responsible for securing the entrance.

ALCOHOL – No alcohol is permitted at any time.

ANIMALS – No pets allowed at any time.

JOGGING – Runners, please do not run on the fields and interrupt practice sessions. Please run around the perimeter of the fields.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES – No sales of food or beverage. You must purchase food and beverage from Soccer International or our approved merchants.

NEIGHBOURGHOOD WATCH – Help keep everyone honest and following the rules. If you see anyone violating any field use rules, we ask that you politely approach the violator and issue a reminder of the rule that is being infracted upon and get their name, position and a club team name. If they persist to break the rule, Soccer International asks that you report the infraction to us. Email a detailed report describing the incident providing the person’s name, club name and your contact info. Send the report via email to jssoccerinternational@yahoo.com

FIELD USE VIOLATIONS – Violators will be banned from the complex. Failure to adhere to these rules may at Soccer International’s discretion, terminate a team’s field use and forfeit any pre-paid field use fees. Any trainer, coach or club administrator in charge during practice sessions and/or game who are caught and subsequently charged in violation of these rules will be banned from access to Soccer Texas for a term and timeline deemed appropriate by the Soccer International Board of Directors. An appeal can be petitioned and must be in written form or email by a club administrator other than the violator which said appeal will be brought before the Soccer International BOD for consideration.

CHANGES – Rules, Regulations and Policy Modifications. These rules may be changed and amended, at Soccer International’s discretion, at any time.

The 10 Commandments

(Adapted from "The Ten Commandments for Hockey Parents")

Source:  http://www.decatursports.com/articles/10commandments.htm
 

Thou shalt not impose your ambitions on thy child.

Improvement and progress occur at different rates for each individual. Don't judge your child's progress based on the performance of others, and don't push based on what you think they should be doing.

Thou shalt be supportive no matter what.

There is only one question to ask your child - Did you have fun? If games and practices are not fun, your child should not be forced to participate.

Thou shalt not coach your child.

Do not undermine the coach by coaching your child on the side. Your job is to support and love your child and the coach is responsible for the technical part of the job.

Thou shalt have only positive things to say at a soccer game.

If you are going to show up at a soccer game, cheer and applaud, but never criticize. Always strive to set a good example for your child.

Thou shalt acknowledge your child's fears.

A soccer game can be stressful. It is appropriate for your child to be anxious. Assure your child that the coach would not have suggested his or her playing position if you child was not ready for it.

Thou shalt not criticize officials.

Don't criticize those who are doing their best.

Honor thy child's coach.

The bond between coach and player is a special one which contributes to your child's success as well as fun. Do not criticize the coach in the presence of your child. It will only serve to hurt your child's game.

Thy child shall have goals besides winning.

An honest effort, regardless of the outcome, is much more important than winning.

Thou shalt place your child first above everything.

Ask yourself this question - Are your child's goals more important to you than they are to your child? Remember that the focus of youth sports should be fun. A child is constantly changing, and his/her goals, interests and participation in activities will change as well. Parents should remain flexible, patient and always supportive while their child strives to find his/her niche in life.

Thou shalt not expect thy child to become an MLS star.

There are more than 10,000 competitive players registered on 600 teams in the North Texas Youth Soccer Association alone. The odds of your child becoming a star in the MLS are very slim. Soccer teaches self-esteem and fitness. It provides lifelong friendships and much much more. Soccer builds good people and you should be happy that your child wants to participate.