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Spring 2012 Briarwood Soccer Registration Information
We very much appreciate your interest and participation in Briarwood Soccer Club, which is a ministry of Quest, a board-directed ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church dedicated to outreach through recreation. The following is intended to give parents some basic information about the upcoming Spring 2012 soccer season. There have been a few changes so please read thoroughly! Thank You.
The Ambassador Theme
Briarwood Soccer Club’s banner name is the “Ambassadors.” The Ambassadors name follows the spirit of 2 Corinthians 5:20, which states: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God.” All our U11 and older teams are called the Ambassadors or Lady Ambassadors. The Club’s tag line, “We serve a great God. We play a great game. We are Ambassadors,” reflects an attitude of reaching out to members of our community and introducing them to the Gospel of Grace through fun-filled participation in the most popular game in the world. The theme verse for the Briarwood Soccer Club is Habakkuk 3:19, which states: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He enables me to go on the heights.” We accomplish this through prayer and Bible studies with our teams, and looking for opportunities to use soccer to build relationships with people to show them the love of Christ. T-shirts, hats, and winter caps bearing the club’s logo are available at the Soccer Club Office.
Briarwood Soccer Club has a full-time director of coaching and outreach, Ryan Leib. Coach Ryan has held this post since September 2002. He played professionally for 8 years, most notably with the Charlotte Eagles SC and Atlanta Silverbacks SC, where he coached several youth teams in addition to playing. Ryan holds the NSCAA Premier, Advanced National, National, and Youth National coaching licenses as well as the USSF National Youth License. Coach Ryan runs clinics for the coaches and players at BSC as well as training sessions. He is excited about imparting his soccer knowledge and expertise from a biblical perspective to the club’s coaches and players as we continue to grow and impact the soccer community. Ryan can be reached at the Soccer Club Office at (205) 776-5114 or at soccer@briarwood.org.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Registration forms and fees for children playing on Mid-Alabama Rec Soccer League (MARS) teams aged U11–U18 (see age chart on “Registration Fees” section or form for correct age group) are due in the Soccer Club office no later than Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Space is not guaranteed for those submitting forms after February 1. Forms and fees for children playing on teams aged U6, U8, and U10 are due in the Soccer Club Office no later than Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Space is not guaranteed for those submitting forms after August 19. Parents are urged to submit their forms to the Soccer Club office in a timely fashion to avoid disappointment. Please do not turn in a form without the correct fee. Your child’s playing age is determined by the chart below.
Age Groups and Fees
-Under 6 (Not 6 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011 *must be 5 by May 15, 2013) $95
-Under 8 (Not 8 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $120
-Under 10 (Not 10 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $130
-Under 11 (Not 11 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $135.00 (AYSA team=$225)
-Under 12 (Not 12 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $135.00 (AYSA team=$225)
-Under 13 (Not 13 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $155.00 (AYSA team=$250)
-Under 14 (Not 14 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $155.00 (AYSA team=$250)
-Under 15 (Not 15 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $165.00 (AYSA team=$250)
-Under 16 (Not 16 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $165.00 (AYSA team=$250)
-Under 17 (Not 17 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $165.00 (AYSA team=$250)
-Under 18 (Not 18 yrs. old by Aug. 1, 2011) $165.00 (AYSA team=$250)
Briarwood Soccer Club is a volunteer organization. The giving of your time and talents is vital to helping our club achieve our mission. Please indicate how you can help in the following areas: Coach, Asst. Coach, Team Manager, Service (Concessions, Field prep, Office help)
Competitive Teams Ages U11–U18
Briarwood Soccer Club has competitive teams playing at the highest level in the Alabama Youth Soccer Association, or AYSA. These teams are formed after the tryout sessions in early June of each year for the following Fall season (June 4–11 this past June). Those teams will stay intact for this Spring season unless a spot opens up due to a current player’s lack of participation in the Spring. In that case, the team coach and Director of Coaching will choose the replacement players to fill the roster. Our desire is to see everyone who wants to play soccer at BSC have a place to play, regardless of ability. Players making the team for the Fall are required to play Spring at the competitive level for ages U11-U14. For Rec (MARS DIII) teams, their spot is available to them in the spring unless they forfeit that spot, then the DOC and team coach will fill that spot. We will have as many teams as we have players to fill at each age group. We will divide the players according to ability from age U11–U18 and place the teams in the appropriate leagues dependant on the teams’ collective ability. The leagues of play available in Alabama Youth Soccer are as follows for age U11–U19:
• AYSA Division I: Age U13–U19, State-Wide, very competitive
• AYSA Division II: Age U11–U19, State-Wide, competitive
• Mid-Alabama Rec Soccer (MARS, Division III): Age U11–U19, Greater Birmingham area, recreational
This Spring we project having 11 teams playing in the AYSA State league, and 2 teams playing in the Mid-Alabama Rec Soccer League (MARS). To see the age group and coach of each team, check on the “Teams/Schedules” page.
U10 Boys and Girls Skills Development Program
Following the recommendations of the United States Youth Soccer Association (“U. S. Youth Soccer“). Briarwood Soccer Club runs its own small-sided program for the U9/U10 age group. This six-a-side format, including goalkeepers, gives young players far more playing time and allows for much more fun and opportunity for skill development than other formats available. In addition, the U10 program ends each season with its “Ambassador Cup” competition. All U10 coaches are licensed by U. S. Youth Soccer or NSCAA and the Alabama Youth Soccer Association (“AYSA”) and are proficient in providing a high level of instruction to U10 players. Briarwood Soccer Club has separate leagues for boys and girls at the U10 level. This U10 Development Program has been a great foundation for our U11 and older Ambassador teams. We attribute the success of our older teams to the skills and confidence built in our small-sided setting at the U10 age. Also continued this Spring will be a select team from the U10 Boys league that will compete in a local tournament in Birmingham. This will give them a taste of competition against other clubs to help prepare them to transition into the U11 competitive division the following year. Briarwood SC also holds an additional, optional skills clinic every week during the season for all U10 players desiring some extra training from one of our staff U10 coaches.
Special Requests Policy for U6, U8 and U10 Players
For U6, U8 and U10 teams, parents may only request one of the following:
• That their child be placed on a team with one other child, for carpool reasons
• That their child not be placed on a team that practices on a particular day
• That their child be assigned to the team that practices at a particular field
If a registration form is submitted containing multiple requests, only the first stated request will be considered. While every effort will be made to accommodate a request, such is not guaranteed. For example, team placement for players playing at U10 depends on the results of player evaluations. Therefore, the results of a player’s evaluation will be considered over a particular request for team assignment to a team or player to make sure all U10 teams are as even as possible. We DO NOT keep the teams the same from fall to spring season for U6, U8, U10 so players get a variety of teammates and coaches, which is best for their long-term development. Team placement for U11 and older is based on demonstrated playing ability, and therefore parents should not make any requests for placement on a team at these age groups.
Evaluations and Tryouts
For the Spring season, any new players to Briarwood Soccer must evaluate. If you played for Briarwood Soccer in Fall 2011, you do not need to evaluate for the Spring season. Evaluations for new players age U11–U18 that did not go to tryouts in June will be Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 5:30–6:30pm at Engle field. Attendance for all new players that did not play for Briarwood SC in Fall 2011 at evaluations is mandatory, unless you went to tryouts in June 2011 at Briarwood SC. If you came to tryouts in June 2011, you do not need to attend this evaluation. Players desiring a spot on a competitive team must try out in early June of each year.
U10 boys and U10 girls’ players new to BSC (did not play for BSC in Fall 2011) will be evaluated Monday, February 13, 2012, at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church Field from 5:30-6:30 pm. Evaluations are for any new U10 player, both boys and girls. Evaluations for all U8 players are Wednesday February 15, 2012 at Briarwood 119 field from 5:30-6:30pm, any new (that did not play for BSC in Fall 2011) U8 player must attend. Evaluations are not conducted for U6 players.
Practices and Skill Sessions
U6 teams practice once a week for one hour. U8 teams practice once a week for one-and-a-half hours. U10 teams practice once a week for one-and-a-half to two hours. Teams aged U11 and above practice twice a week for between one-and-a-half and two hours per practice. Practices for AYSA teams start the weekend of January 30, 2012; U11 and older MARS teams will begin the week of February 13, 2012. Practices
for U6–U10 will begin the week of February 27, 2012. BSC also has specialized skill training for players desiring additional training as well as a weekly goalkeeper training session from our nationally licensed goalkeeper coaches. There will be weekly skills sessions for U10-U18 players; check the website as details come available.
Games
Games for U6, U8 and U10 teams begin on Saturday, March 10, 2012 and continue through to Saturday, May 19, 2012. U6-U10 teams will have 8 games with a make-up day scheduled in for inclement weather. There will be no games for U6-U10 teams on March 24 for Spring Break and April 7 for Easter. U10 Boys and U10 Girls end the season with the Ambassador Cup and Lady Ambassador Cup on the last 2 Saturdays of the season.
AYSA games start Saturday, February 11, 2012. MARS League games for U11 and above begin Friday, March 2, 2012 and go through Saturday, May 19, 2012. Some teams age U11 and above may play in pre-season and/or post-season tournaments both locally and out of town. All games begin with prayer led by the coaches or players.
When Will I Hear from a Coach?
For competitive teams age U11–U18, both AYSA and MARS teams, you will hear from a coach after tryouts by mid-June each year. For U11-U18 Rec teams you will hear from a coach by Sunday, February 6, 2012. For U6, U8, and U10, parents will hear from their child’s coach no later than Sunday, February 26, 2012. If you do not hear from a coach by a day past the applicable date, call the Soccer Club Office at 776-
5114.
NOTE: A copy of the player’s birth certificate must be filed with the club office. If your child is a returning player, one should be on file already. If unsure, please provide a copy.
YOUR CHILD CANNOT PLAY UNLESS A COPY IS ON FILE!!!
All Briarwood Soccer Club uniforms may be purchased from A Winning Streak soccer store. The store is located at 5502 Caldwell Mill Road at the intersection with Highway 119. The telephone number for the store is 995-5533. The uniform for U6, U8, and U10 is the same as last season, a reversible gold and royal blue jersey with royal shorts and royal socks. U10 players get a 4” number on the back of the jersey. U6 and U8 have no number. The uniform for U11 and above is same as Spring 2010/Fall 2011, the Diadora Ermano kit. Diadora is the official uniform supplier for Briarwood Soccer Club. The Diadora Ermano uniform includes a gold jersey with white trim and a royal logo and number; royal with white trim Diadora Ermano shorts with white number and gold Diadora Squadra socks. U11–U18 teams must have a second jersey, either the royal Diadora Sfida tee with Ambassadors logo on front and number on back as an alternate jersey or the alternate white Diadora Ermano jersey. Check with your team coach for details as to what your specific team is doing. Diadora team backpacks, and Diadora Coppa Training Suit are available as well that will be ordered as a team through Winning Streak Soccer Shop, or we will have a club-wide warmup and bag order in September 2012. • Players of all ages MUST wear full uniform at all games.
• All players must wear shin guards and soccer shoes at all games and practices.
• Baseball/football cleats or any other type of shoe with toe cleat are not permitted.
• Players without shin guards will not be allowed to play.
Quest-Briarwood Soccer Club International Missions
BSC and the entire Quest ministry have taken the ambassador theme to other parts of the world. We partnered with Campus Outreach Brazil to put on our Ambassador Soccer Camp in Belo Horizante, Brazil in July 2004. We use the game of soccer to share the Good News of the Gospel and bring much needed soccer shoes, equipment, soccer balls, and love to less fortunate kids in this soccer-crazy nation. Coach Ryan Leib and a team of 4 coaches and 4 players went on this ground-breaking trip to work with the soccer school of JK Villa. We are continuing to strengthen our relationship with the missionaries in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and the church Communidade Horizonte. We brought 2 coaches and soccer ministers from Brazil to help with our Ambassador Soccer Camp in the summer of 2005 and went back to Belo in summer 2006 with another team of coaches. In July 2007 our 91 Ambassadors Gold team went to Belo, we took another team of 91 age players back in 2008, our 94 Lady Ambassadors Blue team went in 2010, and our 95 Ambassadors Gold went in July 2011. The soccer ministry in Brazil continues to be successful. Thank you to all who have prayed for and supported this work, and those who have made the trip. Please pray that the Gospel would be clearly shown in our next trip with the 96 Ambassadors Gold team in July 2012.
Other Questions?
Please direct all other questions to the Soccer Club Office at (205) 776-5114
