A Beginners Guide to Boys Soccer at Terre Haute North 2012 What is the “Call Out” ? This is an organizational meeting or initial meeting for all the boys and their parents that are interested in playing for the upcoming fall season. This meeting is of particular importance to incoming or new players to THN soccer. At this meeting the coaching staff and the officers of the Kicker’s club will give a presentation to explain and answer question about THN Boys Soccer. What is the IHSAA? The Indiana High School Athletic Association is the organization which regulates, supervises and administers interschool athletic activities. The association has public, private and parochial school members. Soccer became a sanctioned (Varsity) sport in 1994. What is the MIC? The Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference is the athletic conference which both Terre Haute North and South belong to. Other member schools include Ben Davis, Carmel, Center Grove, Lawrence North, Indianapolis North Central and Warren Central. The first year for soccer in the MIC was 1997. What is Dead Week? The IHSAA requires schools to observe one week each summer during which the coaches of all sports can have no contact with high school players. The dead week for the IHSAA is the week that includes the Fourth of July. For 2012 that week is July 2nd -8th. What is the Patriot 6 v 6 Tournament? Terre Haute North Boys soccer hosts a tournament the Saturday prior to Dead Week. Invitations to teams are given to surrounding schools, local teams including open and adult teams. The cost for playing is $50 per 8 player team. The funds raised are used to help with field development and boy’s equipment. The date this year is June 30th.
What is the THN Camp? This one day camp for high school players only is designed to introduce and refresh prominent concepts for THN boy’s soccer. We spend quality time discussing and demonstrating technical, tactical, physical and psychological pillars of our successful program. This is a very important camp to attend. Funds raised at this camp are placed back into the boys’ budget to help with items for the boys’ team. Plan to attend on June 23rd. The cost is $20.00. What is the Rose Hulman Team Camp? This team camp is hosted by RHIT and their coaches. This camp provides a great atmosphere for team bonding, technical development and superb fields. The cost is $75 dollars per player for the week long camp. The date for this is June 11th-June15th. What is Performance Week? This is the week prior to Mandatory Practice that teams may be together but may not practice with a soccer ball under the supervision of the coaching staff. This is according to IHSAA rules. We use this opportunity to assess the players’ physical and mental abilities through a list of tests. Their results are compared to their previous marks and from players from past teams. Those that excel will be receive the coveted “700 Club” award. What is Mandatory Practice? The IHSAA determines the date at the end of summer in which fall teams can start practices. All practices after this date are considered mandatory by their coaches and schools. The IHSAA requires players to attend 10 days of mandatory practice before they are eligible to compete in athletic competition. Players are to notify coaches prior to the practice if they are unable to attend. What is the Jamboree? This is an event in which Terre Haute North and South, West Vigo and Northview compete at the beginning of the season. This competition is known as a Jamboree. Each team plays 2 quarters of 20 minutes. The purpose of the Jamboree for each team may be different. This will be August 11th. What is a Player Packet? The player packet for the boys’ team is the cost for two pairs of game socks, two practice shirts and a number of box lunches for double header away games. The cost changes from year to year but is usually around $40-50. The school corporation does not pay for these items.
Should my child bring water to practice? At the start of Mandatory Practices the school will provide water in coolers for the team. For health purposes it is not a bad idea for each player to have individual bottles. Prior to the start of Mandatory practices please send water to practices. What else should a player have? It is recommended that each player have sun screen, insect repellant, extra socks, and gym shoes for indoor soccer and running long distances, a white and navy T-shirt, tape for shin guards/socks, Band-Aids and antibiotic ointment for blisters. Extra cash for emergencies is a good idea. If a player has a cell phone they will be turned off at practice and game times. All players are required to have NOSCAE labeled shin guards that correspond to their height. See table below. Size* XXS XS S/JR M/JR L/SR XL
Shinguards Recommended Height Range Up to 3'3" 3'4" - 3'11" 4'0" - 4'7" 4'8" - 5'3" 5'4" - 5'11" 6'0" and up
*As a shinguard increases in size, it becomes longer and wider to accommodate larger leg diameters.
The Referees are required to give yellow cards to coaches and players if the shin guard is not the right size and if they do not have NOCSAE rating. The player will not be able to play unless they have the proper shin guards .
What about uniforms? THN will provide uniforms. The student and parents are responsible for the care of the uniform. These uniforms wash easily and dry very quickly even when air dried. Each player is responsible to bring every part of the uniform to every game. The day before the game the team decides what uniform to wear but circumstances at game time may change the choice. Typically, light colored uniforms are for home games and dark colored uniforms are for away games. At the end of the season, at the last game, the uniforms will be collected prior to leaving the field.
Uniform numbers are determined by the coaches. Preferences are considered by the coaches depending on the seniority of the player. What about undergarments? Athletic apparel under the uniforms will be white in color. No boxer shorts are allowed. What about jewelry? Players are not allowed to wear any type of jewelry at games or practice. This includes rubber wristbands to piercings. Optional apparel and gear At the beginning of the season students and parents will be offered a variety of items to purchase with team design. These usually include sweatshirts, warm-ups, equipment bags/backpacks, tshirts, etc. While many students and parents like to purchase them, these items are strictly optional. This is a fund raising activity. What about athletic trainers? Terre Haute North provides athletic trainers who are available to help with athletic injuries. The trainers will be available during the summer and on the field starting with mandatory practices. What about sports physicals? Every athlete is required to have a physical completed and the Code of Conduct signed prior to start of practice. The Boys Team requires that the physicals be completed prior to any summer contest. A physical must be completed after May 1 to be good for the subsequent school year. Terre Haute North has a date in early May for physicals at a cost of $10. Home Games The players and the coaches appreciate your attendance at Home games. There is an admission to home games. Individual and Family passes are available at the Athletic Department office. We appreciate loud, supportive and respectful fans. We do have a concession stand that appreciates your business. This is a major fund raiser for our club. Away game travel The players are expected to be on time for departure to away games. We leave on time. A bus will be provided and all players are expected to ride with the team to and from these games. Any exception to this must be cleared by the Athletic Director 48 hours prior to the game. Parents are expected to be waiting for players upon their arrival back at Terre Haute North from their away game. Players will call parents about 1520 minutes prior to their arrival at North. We encourage parents to attend
away games. Directions to away game will be on our website. http://metadot.vigoco.k12.in.us/metadot/index.pl?id=31771&isa=Category& op=show .We will provide parents with a call list to help with communication. Meals on the road Meals will be provided as per the Players Packet for double header games. The meal provided will be the food in between the games. The bus will stop after most games in Indianapolis for food at a local fast food establishment. At times the Parents of the boys will provide breakfast prior to the double header MIC games in Indianapolis. State Tournament Every team participates in the State Tournament at the end of the regular season. The first competition is called Sectionals. Winners of that tournament advance to Regionals. Winners of that tournament move on to play Semi-State and then State in Indianapolis. What about weather situations? Soccer is played in most types of weather. Lightening will postpone or cancel a game. The Athletic Director makes the decision prior to game time and the referee during the game if a game is going to be delayed, postponed or cancelled. The safety of the players is paramount. Who are the Kickers? The Kickers is the focus group which helps support soccer activities at Terre Haute North. A membership can be purchased any time which includes membership to the main Terre Haute North Athletic Boosters. Dues and fundraising activities are used to maintain the fields and provide support for other necessities not provided by the school corporation. The Kickers also organize volunteers to assist at games or with other activities. Although the School Corporation, the Athletic Department and the main Booster club are very supportive it is important to have a strong and vibrant Kickers Club. How can I help? The soccer program is a very strong program because of the help from parents and families. Parents run the score board and the concession stand. They do the announcing at games. They help with food before, during and after games. They help with the field maintenance and help with fundraising. We expect every parent to contribute their time and effort for the good of the team. Leaders of the Kicker’s Club will have sign ups at the beginning of the season for these activities. If you are unable to do any of those opportunities then support the team by being a great fan.
