Parents/Players,

It has been announced that High School Fall sports (with the exception of golf and heat training for the football team) will start September 4th.   Competitive league games will begin September 21st.  Mr. Templin, our Athletic Director, will be attending an AD’s meeting today to discuss further details.   Following the instructions from Mr. Templin we will explore training opportunities –  optional “open gyms” – to prepare for the upcoming season.  Our regular summer open gyms will continue Monday/Wednesday (6-8pm) until August 12th.  Captain fitness runs continue each Tuesday/Thursday evenings at 7pm – meet at the tennis courts.

High School/Upcoming Freshmen:  At this time please continue prepare your schedules as listed on our website for optional open gyms.  We will update you if we will be hosting morning and evening open gyms beginning August 17th.

Junior High:  Your preseason begins September 8th.  Please continue to prepare your schedules for optional open gyms (5-7pm) beginning August 24th.

Parents/Players,
Due to the uncertain forecast for heavy rains during our open gym session and no indoor access we must cancel soccer pick up. Use the time to juggle the ball at least 100 times with each foot and work on your footwork skills. Or go for a fitness run!

Fast Footwork Challenge

Parents/Players,

Time to take a serious athletic approach to your preparations for preseason – BOTH senior and junior high boys. Championships are WON in the off season. The coaching staff STRONGLY encourage boys to run daily to prepare themselves for preseason. If considerable time is devoted to fitness during preseason it will steal the technical/tactical time to prepare the team to be competitive. More importantly it will prevent early injuries. Players get motivated. Parents help them!!! COVID19 won’t stop the Bears! Go Bears!

INCOMING FRESHMAN: YOU ARE PERMITTED TO TRAIN WITH THE VARSITY THE FIRST THREE DAYS BEGINNING AUGUST 17TH. LET THE COACHING STAFF KNOW IF YOU YOUR TRYING OUT FOR THE VARSITY/JUNIOR VARSITY PROGRAM.

PRESEASON:
VARSITY/FRESHMAN TRYOUTS AUGUST 17TH 7AM: THOMPSON STADIUM: I MILE = 6 MINUTES

JUNIOR HIGH GRADES 7=9: AUGUST 24TH: EAST HIGH FIELDS 5-7PM

Parents/Players,

Players,

Championships are won in the off season.  It is essential that we get fit!!  The captains are offering team fitness runs every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7pm beginning Tuesday, July 21st.  Players are to meet at the High School tennis courts.  While the coaching staff strongly encourage players to run daily – the captains run is an opportunity to test your fitness level.  Captains plan to offer a group chat system on the first Tuesday run to communicate about inclement weather.  Go Bears!!

IMPORTANT:  Are you watching English Premier soccer?  Why not?  Learn formation movements and watch the trapping/passing techniques by the professionals.  Who is your favorite player and why?  Be a student of the game.

Parents/Players,

As we witness a national surge in COVID we wish to remind everyone participating in open gyms that they must follow the protocols established by the school district.    Athletes are not required to wear face coverings while actively engaged in practice or competition but we ask they have a mask with them.  Athletes are required to wear a face covering if they are on the sidelines and cannot be more than 6 feet apart.  During off season workouts we need to make sure that athletes are more than 6 feet apart when they are arriving, leaving, taking a drink break, etc  to avoid athletes taking masks on and off, multiple times during a workout.  When athletes arrive and put their bags down make sure the bags are more than 6 feet apart, that way athletes will be less likely to congregate during arrival, breaks, etc.

Pre workout  paperwork for each session MUST have confirmation that the family has completed the required temperature check – this is not optional.  

We put the safety of the boys and our coaching staff first and foremost.  We encourage families to continue to follow the CDC guidelines.

Parents and Players,

Parents/Players,

The Elizabethtown Area School District Athletic Department is finalizing a “reopening” plan for summer open gym training pending school board approval.  Please revisit this site frequently as we receive dates, times, and require protocols for boys soccer.

Quad Camp is postponed until further notice.  Please note that we are exploring possible training opportunities for the first week of August (8/3 – 8/6) to be hosted at Manheim Central with our regular training partners (Hempfield, MC, and Penn Manor).  More information will be released as we proceed through July pending approval from the school district, PIAA, and the our status (green, yellow, red).

Bucknell Team Camp Cancelled.  Per the school district directive we cannot sponsor/endorse a team training camp at this time.  Bucknell has not released any possible alternative training opportunities to team camp as of yet as they are awaiting instructions from NCAA.  Once we receive an update we will post the information on this website if you still wish to pursue collegiate level training.  IMPORTANT: All registrations and deposit checks submitted will be destroyed.  If you wish to have your deposit check returned please contact Coach Sostack ASAP otherwise the check will be shredded.

What can I do to improve my skills?

Here are a list of recommended home workouts per the United Soccer Coaches Association.  Remember to get fit…run…run…run!!

Cap City Home Workout : Footwork Videos

FC Boulder Player Resource Center: Challenges/Home Work Outs

TSC Virtual Library: Fitness/Mindset/Soccer Work Outs

Questions?  Contact Coach Sostack at james_sostack@etownschools.org   

Parents and Players,

Here is a message for junior and senior high players about the commitment for summer training.  Please revisit this website frequently as we get more instructions on when and how we will proceed.  Start your fitness (6 minute mile) now and work on footwork (can you juggle 100 times..using both feet?…make it your goal).

Senior Captains Message 2020

*** note:  Daniel Tema’s message: turn up the sound!!