Junior High Soccer Coming to York!

Players and Parents –

Just passing along some great news that I just received! I'll paraphrase most of it...

Starting with the 2007-2008 school year, Junior high boys and girls soccer is coming to York County. (It already exists in Lancaster and Harrisburg). For those players currently in 5th grade, your 7th grade year would be the initial season.

This will be a big deal! The peer pressure that exists to go to football in Junior High would be much lessened by an interscholastic soccer team. And the additional touches from playing at least five days a week can’t be underestimated. A major bonus is being coached by someone within the school’s program, and learning your particular school’s system / style of play / etc.

In Lancaster and Harrisburg, those that want to still play for their club team on Saturdays. Club teams would still exist for indoor and the off-season (spring). So club teams will not disappear, as they have not in Lancaster or Harrisburg. But the boys would get to represent their schools in Junior High.

I think it is some pretty big news. This was announced by Al Chesnavage, head girls coach at Kennard Dale, as well as assistant boys coach. With many of you having younger kids as well, I wanted to let you know. Personally, I think it is long overdue, and very positive news for local soccer. I hope it is not delayed and comes to fruition as scheduled.

Rick

Soccer Joke

Credited to Coach Shel Fung:

Conversation overheard at a U-12 game:

Coach (to a substitute he's preparing to insert back into the game): What position were you playing, John?

John: Over There.

Coach: What?

John (pointing): I was playing Over There.

Coach: Err, OK, go back in over there.

Coach (to second player): Mark, what position were you playing?

Mark: Coach, I was playing Way Over There.

So, while *we* may think in terms of sweeper, stopper, LB, RB, DCM, LF, CF, etc., from a player's perspective, there are really only the following eleven positions: KEEPER, HERE, THERE, OVER THERE, WAY OVER THERE, THIS SIDE, THAT SIDE, THROW-IN THIS SIDE (as in "I take the throw-ins from this side"), THROW-IN THAT SIDE, UP FRONT, and WAY BACK.