Remember that the JH season officially starts today!!!! Players are to report to practice 5:00-7:00 at East High. They should be wearing a grey or blue shirt and still need to bring a Covid sheet to every practice.

Radar is showing possible TStorm at 5:45-6:30, with clear weather following. Coaches will be at the field from 7:00-8:00 for any kids that would like to come out to play. This is an optional practice.

Please remember that official practice starts Tuesday September 8th. 5:00-7:00.

Enjoy your holiday weekend.

This year the JH program is implementing several rule changes.

The first change is designed to include as many Elizabethtown students in after school sports as possible. The team rule for missing a practice before a game has been changed to the following. Any players that miss a practice, will not start the following game. (They can be substituted in with the first shift change.). Club players must give coaches their club team schedule, so we can plan tactical training with a full squad. We will work with club players to maximize participation in club and school sports. And, school games always take priority over club practice.

The second announcement is that parents may transport their son to away games. Only, your son and you must leave school property after drop off. The athletic department has been clear that no parents are allowed at any games or sitting in cars at other schools. You may return to the field to pick up your son if you sign the coaches transportation form. You may pick up other kids only if you and the parent of that child get permission from the athletic director 24 hours in advance.

Contact Coach Hershey if you have any questions. Thanks.

Players,

The captains will be hosting a captains run tonight at 7pm to prepare for the fitness test. Meet the captains at the High School tennis courts tonight. Get stronger, fitness makes a difference! “Championships are won in the off season”.

Due to Covid regulations the JH parents meeting is canceled. I will be providing information sheets to players at practice this week. If you have any questions, please email me at david_hershey@etownschools.org. We have practice 6-8 Monday thru Thursday this week.

Hope everyone has a great first week of school! Also, please share the Etownsoccer.com website with any soccer families that might not be following. Thanks

Parents,

The school district will be providing live stream for one contest per day – details TBD. Meanwhile, the Athletic Director has approved Fall sports teams to request a parent volunteer that is willing to set up live stream for home games. The following conditions apply per the AD:

If your parent group want to create a Facebook page for your team’s parents and live stream the contests from their cell phone or iPad that the district cannot cover we will support that with the following stipulations:

1. The Facebook page must have the word “parents” in the title.  That way it is separate from the school district.

2. AD needs the name of the one person coming to each game to run the camera.  Only one parent is permitted.

3. This can only happen at home events. 

4. The cost is entirely covered by the parent or parents.  We do not have wi-fi available on the grass fields so cellular data will likely have to be used.

Senior High Parents: Please contact Coach Sostack at james_sostack@etownschools.org if you are interested in organizing the “Senior High Parent” Live Stream.

Junior High Parents; Please contact Coach Hershey at david_hershey@etownschools.org if you are interested in organizing the “Junior High Parent ” Live Stream.

Players,

As promised by the Varsity coaching staff it is important that you spend individual time understanding the various tactical formations that we may adopt this season. Here is the 4-3-3 formation videos. Ask yourself what two positions will I master this season and what are the movements and expectations of those positions. Coaches will be asking you these questions throughout the week. Don’t forget to watch soccer when you can – Champions League Final today! Spend the 30 minutes watching the following videos. Pause the video when you are unsure of the movement or explanation. These coaches have strong accents so listen carefully.

4-3-3. Good presentation for basic position responsibilities: https://youtu.be/nakj8zlSaDM

4-3-3. Shows a few position movements and moving the ball as a team. And pressuring. https://youtu.be/CwwfTQy3H_w

4-3-3. Part 2 of the position movement and how to move the ball as a team. “W-W” movement https://youtu.be/BbH4ANP8JSM

Parents/Players,

The following are the protocols that must be strictly followed for all trainings.  You must have a mask with you at training.

(1) Sign workout form with temperature taken for every session

(2) Players MUST WEAR MASKS ENTERING AND LEAVING the training facility and when submitting the workout form to the coach.

(3) Players MUST WEAR MASKS when they are not directly training on the field and MUST maintain 6ft social distance in the bench area.

(4) Players are reminded to bring a LARGE water container for hydration during training with their name clearly printed on it.

(5) Highly Recommended:  boys are reminded to take a shower immediately after EVERY training session and change clothing.  Players should be hand washing immediately after exiting the training facility upon entering their transportation.

Let’s keep everyone safe and demonstrate that we can follow district/state/national guidelines TOGETHER so that we can have a Fall Season.  We can do this!!!!

JH parents and player, the new practice schedule has been posted by the athletic department. All of our practices are games going forward will be at East High Field #2. You must continue to send in COVID forms for every practice.

This week we will have optional open play 8/17 and 8/19 6:00-8:00 at the East High fields. The following weeks we will have optional practice 6:00-8:00 everyday 8/24-8/28 and 8/31-9/3 at East High fields. We have off 9/4-9/7 for Labor Day.

The official mandatory practice begins 9/8. Practice will switch time to 5:00-7:00 at East High. Players must have physical forms and PIAA paperwork handed in to athletic department or they will not be able to participate!!!! Papers can be handed in at the High School office.

If you have any questions please contact me at david_hershey@etownschools.org. GO BEARS!!!!!

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.