Practice areas and game fields.
As we all know, field conditions in the county were experiencing a steady decline. With more people coming into the area and looking to be involved in sporting activities, the demand for fields by all sports is at a premium.
Since the summer of 2008, SASA and the county’s Parks and Recreation department have actively pursued ideas to see how our soccer program can be structured to produce less wear and tear on the fields upon which we play and practice. As parents, coaches, and volunteers, we must remember that all the fields in the county are maintained by the county. The elementary and middle school fields are also maintained by the county staff. We have to help keep these fields in good shape so the kids can continue to play on them. To aide in this process, SASA, in partnership with the county, is looking at changing the way it schedules practices. The underlying principle is as follows:
If we do not change, we will lose our fields or have unsafe playing areas.
As one solution, SASA has practice areas for teams to train on. These practice areas will be marked out in roughly 20 x 30 yard rectangles. The focus is to get the coaches and the players to concentrate on age-appropriate fundamental development while at the same time saving some of the fields for use in the games.
In the past, teams were allotted one half of a field and the teams predomominantly played around the goal areas. This practice wore the goal areas out to a point where no grass would grow. SASA now has practice areas while also having GAME SPECIFIC FIELDS.
Having game-specific fields should eliminate the ’wear and tear’ that practicing every night puts on a field. SASA is seeking to better the fields upon which we schedule games. Significant progress has been made. The county believes that with the practice areas there should be enough room to move them around so that the practice fields do not get torn up.
SASA requires everyone’s help in this matter. SASA puts together detailed practice schedules for all divisions. This schedule goes to the county. They will know what team should be on the field or what game is taking place. Teams can no longer go and play on any field. County staff will be walking the fields and making sure nobody plays on the game specific fields. If the county or a SASA representative sees a coach/team practicing on a game field, they will receive one written warning. If they are uncooperative again their team will drop a game from the schedule.
Remember we are doing this in the best interest of the kids to produce better and safer fields for them. We do not want to take games away from players but we have to ensure the fields are safe.
SASA believes it is important that players continue to develop. The older age groups also need to focus on the tactical aspects of the game. Therefore, older (U14 and above) teams will have one technical session on the practice fields and one tactical session on half a large field.
In summary
SASA’s agreement with the county offers:
Game specific fields
Practice specific areas
A designated area for all teams to practice
No teams losing practice time because a game is taking place at the same field
It is required that:
Coaches follow the SASA practice schedule
Coaches educate parents and let them know why this is necessary
U6 through U12 teams will train exclusively in practice areas
U14 and older teams will have one weekly training session on a practice area (technical) and one session on half a field (tactical)
We hope to accomplish the following:
Improve the condition of the fields
Have game specific fields which will host games only
Have practice areas where teams can train
Focus on the fundamentals of soccer
