PROformance is running a summer soccer clinic July 29 - August 1 from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm at Cerrone Park (Broadway Fields) in Stoneham.

This 4-day clinic is open to boys and girls ages 7 to 15, and includes key skill development components along with soccer matches. There will be heavy emphasis placed on footwork, passing and shooting. This FUN instructional program is designed for players of all abilities, benefiting novice to elite level players. The key to soccer development at any level is in the mastery of simple soccer movements that through constant repetition develop muscle memory. PROformance clinics correctly teach these methods.

Please visit PROformancesoccer.com for additional information and to sign up (fee = $150). Additional details also in the attached flyer, at this link.

Initial Travel tryouts have been completed, and details regarding Call-Backs have been sent to players. If you have not received a Call-Back request, you do not need to attend Call-Backs.

Make-Up and Call-Back Tryouts are scheduled for Sunday June 16th:

• U10 Boys/Girls - 4:30 pm-5:15 pm (check-in at 4:15 pm)
• U12 Boys/Girls - 5:30 pm-6:15 pm (check-in at 5:15 pm)
• U14 Boys/Girls - 6:30 pm-7:15 pm (check-in at 6:15 pm)

The Purpose of Call Backs:

• To look at players with very similar scores that will be split amongst 2 teams because of roster size limits.

• Example: If 7 players score a 3 to a 3.1 and there are 3 spots left for team A and the remaining 4 will go to team B7, we want to be sure we are fair and pick the correct 3 players. Therefore we have them tryout with one another to get a better look.

• Also, this provides us with a slightly larger group of players for the folks who missed tryouts to compete against.

If you cannot make callbacks, that is ok. We will take the score as is. It is not mandatory. However, if you missed the first tryout, callbacks are mandatory. If your child is unable to make the Make-Up/Call-Back date, please email us at StonehamSoccer@yahoo.com.

Players need to bring a water bottle and wear appropriate equipment (shin guards and soccer cleats).

Registrations for the Fall 2013 Town Soccer Is Now Open

Please log in using the "member login" link in the upper right corner of our website. For additional registration details, please follow the "Registration/Program Info" link to the left. If you have questions, please contact Pam Sherry at 781-438-0736.

PLEASE NOTE: Travel registration has ended.

NEW starting this Fall: Clinic (previously for those of Kindergarten age) is now called U6, and we are expanding this to include 4 and 5 year olds. Children registering for this program must have birthdates between 9/1/2007 and 8/31/2009.

• UPDATE 6/2/13: U6 BOYS registration is closed due to higher than expected enrollment. if you are interested in registering please email StonehamSoccer@yahoo.com and ask to be placed on a wait-list

Our Spring Shooting Stars program was a huge success. However, this program will not be available in the Fall. Given the change in our U6 program, we will only be offering the Shooting Stars program in the Spring so that we can focus on U6 player development in the Fall. Shooting Stars Spring 2014 registration will open in September, and will be available for children born between 9/1/2009 and 8/31/2010.

PROformance Clinics (U8 and U10) Fall 2013 program details are not yet available.

NOTE: All communications are delivered by e-mail. PLEASE keep your email address up to date by logging on to your member account and making adjustments as needed. If weather is questionable, please check e-mail often.

Town Program - In the event of ongoing or impending inclement weather, SSC Commissioners evaluate Cerrone / Broadway fields for safety before 7 am on Sundays.

• Games will be cancelled if the field conditions are poor and could lead to player injury, or if lightning is anticipated.
  • Cancellation information will be posted on our website by 7:15 am in the upper right corner of the home page, and an e-mail will be sent out to families.
• Games will play as scheduled if it is determined that the weather will not create a safety issue for players.
  • SSC will cancel games in progress and remaining games if it is determined that field conditions are unsafe for continued play. This decision will be made by the Board Member(s) on duty at the field, and an e-mail will be sent out to families. Therefore it is important to check e-mails on game days.

Games cancelled by SSC will be made up at a date to be determined by SSC. Games cancelled in progress will not be made up.

Please note: Coaches cannot cancel games if the Club has determined that games are playable. Weather - good and otherwise - are a part of the short soccer season. Games cancelled by coaches because of inclement weather cannot be made up. The league understands there are circumstances that prevent players from attending games in poor weather (or at any time during the season), but the expectation is that games are to be played as scheduled unless decided upon by commissioners and the Board.

Travel Program - Field Closures are determined early Saturday mornings and posted on the Middlesex League website. The link is located in the right bar on the home page. If games are played during inclement weather, it is up to the assigned referee to cancel games.

Field Closure

SSC occasionally will need to close Cerrone / Broadway fields because of unsafe field conditions. When we designate that the field is closed, we will post that in the upper right corner of our home page and expect that all coaches cancel their practices until the field is opened again. Additionally, we discourage coaches from holding practices on other fields, as other sports organizations maintain their own fields as well, and, out of respect for their time and money, we would not want to see their fields damaged.

Below are some announcements to help parents and players during the season. Please be sure to check back often for updates and other communications.

Reminders to Parents and Players -- PLEASE READ:

• For new players, uniforms can be purchased at Reading Trophy at 660 Main St. in Reading.
• • Town Uniform : Reversible shirt, black shorts, & black socks. (NOTE: If it's cold and the players wear pants be sure they wear their black shorts over the pants).
  • • NOTE: The "home team" wears the BLUE side of the shirt.
  • Travel Uniform: Please e-mail the league for more information: StonehamSoccer@yahoo.com.
  • Cleats: If your child wears cleats please make sure they're soccer cleats. To avoid injuries NO BASEBALL, FOOTBALL OR METAL CLEATS ARE ALLOWED. Please see the "For Players" link to the left for more information on safety.
  • Shin pads (which must be worn under socks).
• Jewelry, including earrings, necklaces or bracelets, must be removed. (If earrings MUST remain in place for newly-pierced ears, please cover them with bandaids). Medic-Alert bracelets and chains are allowed; please secure them with medical tape.
• Glasses are allowed but must be secured by a safety strap. Sports goggles are preferred, especially if your child intends on playing goalie often.
• Please remember to pick up your children promptly after games and practices. If possible, arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the anticipated end of the game or practice to avoid delaying others' departure.
• If your child is unable to make a game, please try to communicate this to the coach as soon as possible.
• Please be sure to keep off of the newly-treated areas on the field so that we can allow the field to regenerate properly for next season.
• For safety reasons, please keep children out of the wooded areas surrounding the field. This includes areas surrounding the Senior Center parking lots except in cleared pathways. There is only one pathway near the fence for the upper fields, and two pathways from the small lot extension nearest the shed.
• On game day, parents must sit 6 feet from the sidelines in order to avoid disruption in sideline play, and to assure the safety of our spectators and players. Please also do not sit behind the goals to avoid being hit by a fast-moving ball. Please sit on the opposite side of the field away from the team and coaches to avoid distractions to the coach and the players.
• Please note: ONLY parents who have REGISTERED with Stoneham Soccer and filled out a CORI form may coach during practices and games. Parents should not otherwise be near the team in the sidelines or on the field during practices and games.
• When leaving the field, please dispose of all trash properly, and recycle plastic and aluminum containers in the designated receptacles.
• Stoneham Soccer Board Members wear black and white jerseys and black jackets. Please look for us on the field should you have questions or concerns, or if you just want to say "HI" so that we can introduce ourselves.

To All Players and Parents,

We are aware of the heightened concern regarding mosquito-borne illnesses (West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis or EEE).

Since many games and practices may be held during hours of peak mosquito activity (predominantly around dusk, but mosquitoes are still active in the early morning hours), we are asking that parents and players take appropriate precautions and use mosquito repellent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a very good reference to help guide your selection of mosquito repellent: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/mosquitorepellent.htm.

Please be aware that coaches are not expected to apply mosquito repellent, as it is possible that a child may have an unknown allergy, or a parent has a particular preference for a product.

We encourage coaches and families to discuss mosquito-bite prevention plans in advance of potential exposure.

We thank you for your help, and look forward to a safe and exciting season!

Lice is a very common problem among school-aged children. We have heard several concerns about the transmission of head lice among players.

The Center For Disease Control and Prevention has an excellent reference for frequently asked questions related to head lice, located at this link. The following is an important point related to the transmission of head lice from one person to another:

"Head lice move by crawling; they cannot hop or fly. Head lice are spread by direct contact with the hair of an infested person. Anyone who comes in head-to-head contact with someone who already has head lice is at greatest risk. Spread by contact with clothing (such as hats, scarves, coats) or other personal items (such as combs, brushes, or towels) used by an infested person is uncommon. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice."

The risk of transmission from sharing pinnies is extremely low. However, all players and coaches should be aware of the small risk and take proper precautions. One option instead of putting pinnies on over the head is to wear them tucked into shorts like flags or tying them around the child's waist. Some coaches may opt to wash pinnies after each use or ask players to purchase a particular colored pinnie to use for the season.