U11s get ready for 2012 - Notes for parents

ST SYLVESTERS GAA CLUB U11 FOOTBALL and HURLING (Children born in 2001) Season 2012 NEWSLETTER (page 1 of 4)

We are also very encouraged by the development of all the players in the squad but we are always looking for more players. This is due to the fact that we have decided to enter 3 football teams again this year and thus need as many players as possible.

Therefore we would ask that you advise friends, relations, class-mates of the lads etc or any children expressing any interest in playing, regardless of ability, to contact us.

• Team Format

Football:

For the 2012 Season three U11 Teams will compete in the 11-a-side team league. The first 2 teams will play in a 2 team league while the third team will play in a one team league. Therefore some players will be going to different locations each match day.

While each young player develops at a different speed our approach at St Sylvester’s is to operate a panel system whereby we intend keeping all the players together as a panel, training together etc. However it is important to note that we intend to mix players across the teams so as to ensure each team has the appropriate support while also ensuring players are developing at the appropriate level. Therefore a player could be playing for the 3^rd team one week and the 2^nd team the next week and so on.

The reason we have decided to enter 3 teams is to reduce the level of substitute time spent by players at matches thus providing the lads with as much “game” time as possible -this is really important for their own development and more importantly for the parents and coaches sanity – no kid wants to be a sub! Our emphasis for this year is on developing their skills and understanding their role during an actual match. We currently have over 35 players on our panel, and obviously with 3 teams of 11 each required for each match, it is really important that all players attend as many matches as possible.

Therefore I would ask that you communicate back to us via text regarding availability each week so that we can organise the teams for that particular weekend and therefore players/ parents know the location and time of matches. Attached is the calendar of games for the coming year.

Please note the rules for this age group are also attached.

Hurling:

We will continue to play in a 2 team league with 2 11-a-side teams. As for football we would ask you to respond back to us by text regarding availability. The rules for the year are attached.

• League Schedule

As per the fixture list, the football games for the coming year commences on Feb 4^th with hurling starting a few weeks later.

Initial matches take the form of blitz matches which will form the basis for grading the teams in to appropriate divisions. There will be a break for Easter and during the Summer months. Once hurling starts there is hurling matches every other week as last season. While the initial calendar is generally adhered to, it is subject to change due to cancellations re weather etc.

• Communication

A few days before a match text messages from mentors will be sent out to all parents when matches are on and off. If parents are notified by text that matches are on it is important that a return text ( Y or N) is sent to inform the mentors if your child is or is not playing the football match on that Saturday. Please ensure that you respond even if your child is not playing. This is to ensure the mentors know the numbers for making up the teams to play. A follow up text will be sent regarding the match and location that your child is going to.

• New Mentors

We are very fortunate to get a huge amount of assistance and encouragement from Parents. This assistance from parents on the day of the matches is greatly appreciated i.e. setting up home pitches, organising teams, giving out jerseys, lifts to away games, washing jerseys, organising water bottles etc. so don’t hesitate to come forward and help us out. We appreciate there are instances where parents are unable to attend, particularly for away matches so please let us know and lifts can be arranged. Your support at all the games is much appreciated so please continue. We would also encourage assistance at training, please come forward if you can help at any time.

Due to the fact that we have 3 teams obviously we require a lot more assistance particularly on match day. Therefore a number of parents have come forward to assist us in running the teams and would ask that you give them as much assistance & support as possible. The various mentors will move around the teams as required – please see contact list below. I will advise by text before each match day as to which mentors are looking after each team.

• Gear

It is important that each of our teams are well turned out for each of our matches and also have the appropriate gear at training. For each match the mentors will supply the St Sylvester’s jerseys. The jerseys must be returned to the mentors after the match. St Sylvester’s shorts and socks must be worn for each match played. If your child does not have the shorts and socks these are available by contacting Panner McCarthy – our Club Coach or by dropping in to the Nursey in Broomfield on Saturday afternoon. Please see our website for details. I would also encourage all players to wear gum shields as it is important that players become accustomed to wearing these at a young age.

• Membership

All U11s playing for the club must pay club membership fees for the upcoming 2012 season. Please note that we now have an online membership registration facility which I would encourage everyone to use – it’s really simple to navigate and allows payment to be made in instalments and accepts all major credit and debit cards. In any case, membership forms are available on the website or in the Clubhouse on Church Rd. It is important that you pay membership as soon as possible to ensure that all juvenile members are covered by insurance, registered to train or play for the club in the coming 2012 season. I would also encourage as many of you to take out family membership. As members please note that your have access to our Club facilities on Church Rd.

• Training & Matches

Can I ask that all players attend training and matches on time – I appreciate this can be difficult due to other commitments - but particularly on match day it’s important all players are there at least 30 minutes before kick-off for the warm up and team selection. Training times have moved slightly but training will commence at 6.15 sharp. All players and parents can keep up to date with news, match reports and updates on training and match venues/times on the club website at www.stsylvesters.ie. I would ask that some parents take some match photos and we also require volunteers to write match reports – we can also incorporate the photos into our match reports –any takers? – we just require a few lines to be sent in via email which would be great for the kids to look up on the website.

• Sponsorship / Financial Support

If anyone can provide sponsorship/financial support to the team then I would ask that you contact any of the mentors listed. Following on from our successful trip to Wexford we hope to organise a few more trips down the country for matches this year and financial assistance with these would be appreciated.

We hope that your child will continue to enjoy football and hurling during 2012 but we cannot stress enough the importance of continuing to encourage your children to attend and be part of our Club which is of course particularly important during their teens. Therefore please let us know if any of the boys are losing interest or have any issues by contacting the mentors listed below or Panner McCarthy, Director of Coaching (086-8167399).

Ernie Brenner (ebrenner@thegrand.ie) 0872327074

Jimmy Deneher 0861045004

Pat Hoyne 0874129778

Paul Curran 0872311981

Ciaran Meehan 0872524902