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1. Q. What is our primary coaching philosophy at Team Boca?

A. We have 4 primary goals.

a) To improve every player’s soccer skills to the most advanced level possible. (technical, tactical, physical and psychological).  Player Development is our highest priority.

b) To teach every player how to work as hard as they can individually and as a team player, and that hard work will be rewarded.

c) To teach every player good sportsmanship.  This is a responsibility that is too often overlooked by coaches.

d) To create a positive, fun environment.  I guarantee if your child is not enjoying their experience with Team Boca (or any sport for that matter) they will not continue. Having fun is an absolute necessity!

As you can see, winning is not listed as a primary goal!  Team Boca is first and foremost a developmental program; therefore winning as a priority will always get in the way of accomplishing the more important goals listed above.  It is our experience that if we succeed in the other 4 goals listed, we will win both on and off the field, as evidenced by many years of past success. Please believe that no one wants to win as much as our coaching staff, however we will not sacrifice our primary goals in order to win.  This will be more fully discussed at your parent team meeting.

2. Q. What type of commitment is expected from parents?             A.  We expect a total commitment from parents.  This is an elite level travel soccer club. Parents must understand that to be part of such a club there must be a total commitment by all players, staff, and parents.

PRACTICES

 3. Q. When are practices and are they planned to cover a specific subject or are they just a fun scrimmage time?

A. Practices are two nights per week, Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 – 7:30 or 7:30 – 9:00 (always the same two nights and time per week).  Older elite level teams may practice three nights per week. Practices are pre-planned and usually designed to cover only one particular skill such as dribbling, passing, shooting, etc.  This type of training has been shown to be most effective. Therefore it is extremely important that your child attends all practices in order to develop all skills necessary to be a well-rounded player. 

4. Q. Will a player participate in a game or tournament if they miss practice?

A. Missing practice with or without permission will have some consequence (not starting, sitting out half or one full game, etc.) depending on the reason. Missing practice without permission will definitely result in sitting out at least one game.  Excessively missing practice will result in that player being dropped from the team permanently.  Players (U12 and older although even younger ages are encouraged, not parents must contact their coach in advance if they will not be attending practice.  This will be more fully discussed at your parent team meeting.

 5. Q. Will a player be penalized if they are late for practice?

A. Yes.  They can be penalized in three ways.  First, they will miss the team warm-up activity that begins precisely at 6:00 & 7:30 p.m. respectively. This period is crucial for physically warming up which prevents injury.  Therefore they will be required to warm-up alone, (usually jogging laps or doing exercises) which in most cases draws negative attention to the player.  Second, they may not know how to do a particular exercise or activity their teammates are doing when they arrive since they missed the demonstration, again placing negative attention on them. Third, unless pre-approved by the coach, being late to practice will also result in some consequence (extra fitness, not starting the next game, etc.) Parent’s commitment to getting their child to practice on time is vital to their improvement and success.

 6. Q. Can parents depend on practice starting and ending on time?

A. Yes, providing all players are on time to practice.  Practice sessions are pre-planned to be 90 minutes.  Assuming practice starts at 6 p.m., practice will be over promptly at 7:30.

 7. Q. Do we have practice in bad weather conditions such as a rainstorm?

A. Yes. If there is not lightning at the field, practice will be on schedule.  Please do not assume practice is cancelled if there is a rainstorm or lightning at your house.  Practice is only cancelled if it is posted on our website or if you receive a phone call from your Team Manager, Coach, or another parent who has already been called.  We will make every effort to call you 30 minutes prior to practice if it is cancelled.  If practice is cancelled prior to 5:30 it will also be posted on the Team Boca Website Home Page.  Parents must understand that we have a limited number of practices and that soccer games are played during inclement weather so it is important to practice during such weather.  Many times here in South Florida practice may start out with ugly weather only to turn perfect in a matter of minutes. 

 8. Q. Are parents required to attend team practices?

A. No. You do not need to attend practice. You are welcome to leave your child at practice providing you are back to pick them up no later than fifteen minutes before the end of practice.  It is required that your coach has a phone number where you can be reached in case of emergency.  If you stay and watch practice you are encouraged to do so at a distance.  Parents are not allowed to disturb or interrupt practice, nor are they allowed to give directions to players.  Please understand that training sessions are learning situations and players need to concentrate and listen to their coach to improve.   

9. Q. What equipment are players required to bring or wear to practice?

A.  A white Team Boca t-shirt along with standard soccer shorts, soccer shoes, and proper shin guards are required.  Players are also required to bring a fully inflated soccer ball to practice.  Players must be responsible to bring a soccer ball to soccer practice!  Players are also required to bring water or sports drink to practice to insure proper hydration.  No player is allowed to wear any type of hat, jewelry, or non-soccer equipment during games or practice! 

GAMES, SCRIMMAGES, & TOURNAMENTS

 10. Q. How early must players be at the field prior to a game?

A. This is up to your coach but generally all players must be on the field in full uniform ready to play at least 45 minutes before the start of the game.

 11. Q. What are players required to bring or wear to games?     

A. Same answer as question 9 (Practice) except all players are required to be in either their home blue uniforms with blue socks or away white uniforms with white socks.  However, players must bring both uniforms to every game due to last minute changes!  Players must be in uniform ready to play when they get to the field! 

 12. Q. Who decides how much playing time and what position your child plays?

A. The coach and only the coach.  These decisions are made based on several factors, including but not limited to your child’s performance during practice sessions, during games, and what is best for the overall chemistry and strength of the team.  It is highly probable your child will play several positions throughout the season.   

13. Q. Is there a minimum or maximum amount of minutes your child will play each game? 

A. No. Your coach will determine playing time depending on several factors, including but not limited to their technical and tactical ability, their physical condition, game performance, practice performance, attitude, game tactics, and strategy.  A player’s development takes place over the course of many months of training and games – NOT in any one particular game.  Coaches are instructed to manage the playing time of each player over the course of an entire season of games.  Every effort will be made to balance the good of an individual player verses the good of the entire team. Your coach should not be confronted over player personnel matters relating to playing time or other team issues. This area will be more fully discussed in our group meeting. 

14. Q. If your child is not in the starting line-up does that mean they are not considered one of the better players?

A. No.  In fact, there will be several occasions in which stronger players may be used to substitute for weaker players to keep a strategic balance or lineup on the field at all times.  Please do not try to “read into” the coach’s lineup decisions.  There are numerous factors that determine the lineups.  This has and will be explained to all players.  Line-ups can also change throughout the season based on skill improvement, learning new positions, and physical conditioning improvement.

 15. Q. Can you coach your children from the sideline during games?

A. Unequivocally NO. This will not be tolerated! This is part of our “Zero Tolerance Policy” and will be more fully explained at your team meeting.  We do not want two forms of instruction being fed to the players.  Players need to concentrate 100% at the task at hand.  Those of you who have played a competitive sport already realize that someone yelling instruction to you at a specific moment when you’re involved in a play is extremely distracting and in most cases causes you to lose your concentration and make an error or mistake. Yelling at the referees will also not be tolerated!  For either offense parents will receive one warning. Second offense they will be asked to leave the field.  Third offense will result in that parent being suspended from all fields for thirty days.  Any further offense will result in the player being suspended or released from the team. Team managers, coaches and club administrators will be responsible for enforcement of this policy.  Sit back, relax, and just let the kids play.  It is their game! 

16. Q. Can you yell anything to players during a game or do you have to sit quietly? 

A. It is perfectly normal and appropriate to be a good fan on the sideline, and it is fine to yell encouragement to your children.  However all the players should be encouraged and not just your own child.  Yelling out criticism at your child or any player will not be tolerated!  Please realize that encouragement should not be mistaken for telling players where to be, who may be open, or to shoot!  That is coaching (see question 15). Parents are not allowed to yell anything whatsoever at the other team’s players, coaches, or at the referees.  Any verbal abuse will result in that parent being asked to leave the field. It is expected that Team Boca parents will project a positive image and set an example of good sportsmanship before, during, and after the game. 

17. Q. If your child is injured during a game can you run onto the field to see them?

A. No. Only the coach is allowed on the field when a player is injured.  The coach will immediately assess the injury and determine what, if any, medical attention is needed.  In most cases your child will merely have a minor injury or have the “wind knocked out” of them and will require nothing more than time to get them composed.  In most cases your running out on the field will only embarrass them.  Parents can be ejected from the game if they run onto the field for any reason without permission.  Be assured if emergency medical attention is needed your coach will respond immediately.  Any pre-existing medical condition that your child has should be reviewed with the coach. 

18. Q. Will players be penalized if they do not attend all of the tournaments?      

A. Yes.  One of the most important and exciting aspects of being a member of a travel team is the ability to travel as a team to other cities.  This allows your child to experience camaraderie at a higher level.  It also allows them to compete against unknown players giving them exposure to varied coaching strategies and different skill levels.  It will certainly be the player’s loss not to attend.  If parents cannot travel due to financial reasons or other commitments, please speak to  your coach  to see if alternative arrangements could be made to allow your child to attend by traveling with another player’s family.   

MISC.

 19. Q. What can you do as parents to support your coach?

A. It is extremely important that you support all your coach’s methods and decisions whether you agree with them or not.  A player develops best when they trust and respect their coach.  The coach’s job is to motivate, teach, and constructively critique each player’s performance.  It is crucial for the players to trust and relate to their coach as soon as possible regarding soccer issues.  This relationship between coach and player produces the best results.  When parents express opinions different from the coach it causes considerable confusion.  It is impossible as a parent to understand what motivation a coach may have for using a certain method, motivating a certain way, or even implementing disciplinary action, without having coaching experience and without being at each and every practice and game and seeing exactly what the coach has seen.   

20. Q. What can you do as parents to support your child’s efforts?         

A. Support, Support, and more Support.  Create a positive supportive environment and do not be critical of your child’s play, especially directly after a practice or game.  Leave the critiquing to their trainer and coach.  Do not make the worst 15 minutes of your child’s game day be their ride home from the game!    

 21. Q. Is it appropriate to speak to your coach about your child’s progress?    

A. Yes, in fact, if requested your coach will also give you a critique of your child’s development at the end of the season.  It will include a detail of their strengths, weaknesses, areas that have improved, areas that still need improvement, and suggestions for off-season training.  However, communication throughout the year is both welcome and encouraged in regard to your child’s development.  However, discussion in regard to playing time, positions, etc. should not be discussed and should be between the player and coach only.     

22. Q. When does our season begin and end?  Is it possible for my child to play other competitive sports and still be on a Team Boca Travel Team?

A. Our season begins with skills practice in late August (early August in some older age groups) and can continue in some capacity until June tryouts (possibly into the summer for older players) The last tournament is usually the end of May or beginning of June.  The younger age groups may end as early as February.  Due to the elite level of some specific teams, both time and physical demands may make it difficult for your child to play additional sports.  However, especially with respect to the younger age groups, playing additional sports is both possible and encouraged providing players make Team Boca practices, games, and tournaments their priority! 

 23. Q. How many tournaments will we participate in and are any out of state?

A.  Exact tournaments have yet to be determined.  You may attend one to three tournaments and in some cases involving elite level “A” teams there will be out of state tournaments especially in the college recruitment High School age years.  Because we are constantly striving to challenge our players and put them in the most competitive environment, top national tournaments such as WAGS in Washington D.C., Raleigh Shootout in North Carolina, Dallas Cup, or similar tournaments may be chosen for teams U12 and above. 

 24. Q. Can my child guest play for another club’s team?

A. It is against FYSA rules for any coach or parent to speak to any player of another club team and ask them to guest play without first obtaining permission from their coach.  Therefore, any direct communication or solicitation from another coach or parent will not be tolerated and would also result in that player definitely not being allowed to participate as a guest player.  We will provide the maximum amount of practices and games suggested for proper development; therefore only in unique circumstances will your child be allowed to play with another team as a guest player. 

 25. Q. Can you explain the new Academy Program in the Girls U9 & U10 and the Boys U10 age groups.

A. Both the boys and girls leagues have adopted a new Academy format for U9 & U10 (U9 only in boys). No league standings, less games (approx 10), less travel distance, no playoffs. More emphasis on development and less on winning specific games! This also gives us more opportunity for additional scrimmages, tournaments and club festivals if desired.  Team Boca is in complete support of this program.  Training will also routinely include the complete age group as opposed to only training with the individual team. 

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