With the spring season drawing to a close and many people making summer travel plans, we wanted to take a quick moment to update you on all of the exciting soccer-related things going on this summer, including updates on the World Cup, our fields, and clinics among other things.
In this issue:
1. World Cup Overview
2. Save the Date! Watch USA vs. England at Hopkinton High School!
3. Details on Sponsored Summer Clinics
4. Update on the Fruit Street Fields
5. Need Help Remembering a Name? NameCatcher can help!
The World Cup is Here!
Soccer enthusiasts the world over will turn their attention to South Africa in June as 32 nations and most of the best players in the world will take the pitch in hopes of winning the 2010 World Cup. Since this opportunity only comes along once every four years, it's a great chance for your player to connect with the global game and watch some of the best soccer in the world.
Please encourage your players to take this time to explore the game. With most games being televised on ABC or ESPN and an endless amount of stories / pictures / analysis available online and in print, there will never be a better time for players to learn about the game. ESPN.com, SportsIllustrated.com, and FIFA.com will all provide excellent coverage of the World Cup.
Save the Date! Saturday, June 12 at 1:30PM!
To help generate interest and excitement in the World Cup, Hopkinton Youth Soccer will be hosting a game watch for the USA vs. England match on Saturday, June 12 starting at 1:30PM in the High School cafeteria. This will be a great chance for fans of all ages to come together to watch the game on "the big screen" and cheer on their favorite team! More information on the event will be sent to parents / available on our website in advance of the game.
Sign-up for Hopkinton's Best Local Clinics today!
There are many options available to players seeking additional soccer training / activities during the summer months, but Hopkinton Youth Soccer would recommend the following clinics for interested players:
- Hopkinton's High School Soccer Connection Clinic (June 21 - 24th; 9AM - 12PM)
Conducted by the Hopkinton Boys Varsity team, this clinic will provide players in grades 1 to 7 with an opportunity to improve skill, have fun, and interact with players on the varsity team. All proceeds will go to supporting the high school soccer program. Cost: $75. Please CLICK HERE if you would like more information and to access a registration form.
- New England Revolution Player Development Program (Aug 16 - 19; 5PM - 8PM)
Focused on players age 7 - 16, the Revolution Academy Player Development Program will both teach players the fundamentals of the game of soccer AND offer attendees the chance to see the Revolution play at Gillette Stadium. Players will receive a ball, T-shirt, and two tickets to a Revolution Match where they will be invited down to the field at halftime to participate in an "Academy Graduation Ceremony." Cost: $185. CLICK HERE to register.
- Hopkinton Youth Soccer 1st and 2nd Grade Summer Clinic (Aug 16 - 19; 9AM - 12PM)
This morning clinic will build on the concepts introduced as part of our player development programs. Players will learn to build confidence by participating in activities that are age-appropriate, fun, and challenging. Cost: $75. CLICK HERE to register or go to the registration section on the Parent Homepage of www.hopkintonsoccer.org.
- Hopkinton Youth Soccer "Kick Into Kindergarten!" Clinic (Aug 30 - Sept 1)
All kindergarten players are invited to "kick-off" the soccer season with this fun and social clinic. The clinic will be held in the morning and will accommodate flexible scheduling so as not to conflict with school activities schedule for that week. Cost: $40. CLICK HERE to register or go to the registration section on the Parent Homepage of www.hopkintonsoccer.org.
Fruit Street Field Update
We received great news the week of May 20th when final bids were opened for the general contracting / synthetic turf projects at the Town of Hopkinton's proposed Fruit Street field complex. Based on the bids results, we are working with the town to finalize a plan to build TWO full-size synthetic turf fields and a large, irrigated grass field area in the coming months. The two synthetic turf fields are expected to be complete by the start of the fall 2010 season while the grass fields will take 1-2 years to fully develop.
Obviously this is VERY exciting news, but much work still needs to be done. We are also looking for donors to help offset some of the costs associated with buying equipment (i.e., new goals, benches, etc.) and/or helping sponsor some amenities not covered in the current plan (i.e., concessions building, etc.). If you would like more information, please contact Brian O'Keefe at soccerdogz@comcast.net.
Need Help Remembering a Name? NameCatcher can help!
Hopkinton soccer parent Kelly Nowlin has developed an iPhone app to help you remember the names of all those other parents you see on the soccer fields every week! It's called NameCatcherTM and here's what it does:
When you meet that Mom or Dad on the sidelines, just add their name, assign a category like "soccer," and add a reference hint! Reference hints can be the name of their child, a distinguishing feature, the street they live on, or anything else to help you remember them. Next time you're headed to the fields, search under the soccer category or by a reference hint and remember the names you need.
The app is available in the iTunes store for $0.99.
