Westfield Soccer Association

Field Status

05/17/2012 10:46 AM

WEATHER ADVISORY:

The Town of Westfield relies on a lightning detection system to automatically activate Siren Stations to warn people at various locations when lightning is detected within 10 miles.

Lighting Alarm

Wave Siren Stations sound a “Horn-Siren-Horn-Siren” audible tone for about 12 seconds. The Strobe Light attached to the Siren Station then illuminates to indicate that a Lightning Alarm condition exists.

Lightning All-Clear

The All-Clear sounds when no lightning is detected for 30 minutes within 10 miles of the lightning detection sensor. Wave Siren Stations sound a “Horn Intermittent” audible tone for about 12 seconds. The Strobe Light attached to the Siren Station then extinguishes.

Some, but not all fields are equipped with lightning alarms. All players, coaches, and parents must clear the fields immediately when lightning is detected. Fields must be cleared if lightning or thunder is observed, even if the alarm does not sound.

Please help us keep our fields clean. Take all your water bottles with you when you leave the field. Clean up after your team and, if necessary, your opponent. Coaches and trainers should report field areas in need of repair to: bobclancy@aol.com

U11 Will Play 8v8 in 2012-2013

04/30/2012 07:11 AM

Even US Soccer, in their core player development manual advocate playing small-sided through the age of U12 (on the www.westfieldnjsoccer.com site, check under Coaching & Players Development for the Best Practices Handbook, pgs. 19-32). In fact, New Jersey is late to the game as neighboring states are already keeping their teams small-sided for longer.

So beginning with the 2012-2013 season, the Mid-New Jersey Youth Soccer Association (MNJYSA) will make this transition and expects nearly all of its U11 teams next year to remain small-sided. The WSA will also join this important initiative with our Fall 2012/Spring 2013 WSA U11 travel teams remaining small-sided, playing 8v8. This means that we will be fielding four teams at the U11 age group where we would typically field three teams with larger rosters.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to get in touch with your child’s coach. We’re excited about this development and hope you are, too.

Two WSA Fire Players Selected to NJYS U12 ODP Player Pool

05/14/2012 06:39 AM

Emily Broughton and Grace Elliott were each selected by New Jersey Youth Soccer to attend the U12 Olympic Development Program during the summer of 2012. Both players are members of the Westfield Soccer Association Travel program and play under the direction of Coach Jonathan Nash for the U12 Girls Fire team which plays in the JAGS premier league. Congratulations to Emily and Grace for their ODP selection.

The US Youth Soccer ODP Philosophy is to identify players of the highest caliber on a continuing and consistent basis, which will lead to increased success for the U.S. National Teams in the international arena. The program was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team will be selected for international competition; to provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels; and, through the use of carefully selected and licensed coaches, develop a mechanism for the exchange of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.

Westfield Soccer 2012-2013 Travel Tryouts

04/04/2012 12:09 PM

Tryouts for all 2012-2013 WSA travel programs will be held on May 12. A full description of the WSA Travel Program is available on the website.

All players must register on line for travel tryouts prior to tryouts and only players that have registered for tryouts will be considered for a travel team.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WSA TRAVEL TRYOUT SCHEDULE AND TRYOUT REGISTRATION

FC Premier Tryouts for 2012-2013 Teams

05/10/2012 12:12 PM

FC Premier tryout dates for the 2012-2013 season have been posted and are available by clicking on the FC Premier menu option. All players interested in attending a tryout are strongly encouraged to register on line.

Tryout dates for the U15 Girls have been posted.

Summer Soccer Camp Recommendations 2012

03/29/2012 07:35 AM

Looking for Summer Soccer camp? The Westfield Soccer Association is proud to recommend the following camps.

Westfield Soccer Summer Camp: The camps will be run by our current WSA and FC Premier coaches who, along with qualified trainers from BRASA and Sone Soccer and local High School coaches, will provide an excellent environment to learn the game and to enjoy the summer in a positive, productive way.

Lady Blue Devil Camps: The Lady Blue Devil Soccer camps offered by current Westfield High School coach Alex Schmidt. Coach Schmidt’s camps offer strong technical sessions and add in classroom activities that help produce soccer intelligence as well as leadership skills.

Camp details and registration information can be found on the Summer Soccer Camp link on the left under Site Contents.

2012 Spring Goalkeeper Program

03/27/2012 08:06 AM

Attention Keepers! We are excited to announce the 2012 Spring Goalkeeper Program. During these sessions, Competitive Goalkeeping will be running a comprehensive and technically focused program on the turf field at Sid Fey. All WSA teams are welcome to have their goalkeepers participate; Travel teams are expected to sponsor their goalkeepers as they did last spring. We have seen notable growth and development in keepers that have taken advantage of this program and hope to see that continue.

Sessions will be one hour on Thursdays between 3:30 and 6:30pm starting April 5th. U9/10 - 3:30 to 4:30, U11/12 - 4:30 to 5:30, U13+ - 5:30 to 6:30.

For the U9/U10s, the cost of the 6 week program is $225 per team with a three goalkeeper allotment.

For the U11/U12 and U13+, the cost of the 9 week program is $225 per team with a two goalkeeper allotment.

** New to this season: Competitive Goalkeeping will also come to one game for each team and provide a written evaluation for each WSA goalkeeper observed during that game.

Team registration is available via the link above. If you would like to have more goalies attend than are allotted for your team, please contact Scott Kraemer skraemer@comcast.net

Goal Safety Policy

01/18/2012 01:11 PM

This January a nine year old boy in North Carolina was killed by a falling goal (Read Article). All coaches, referees, parents and players are asked to pay close attention to the safety of the goals on the fields that they are using. As such the WSA would like to remind everyone of our Goal Safety Policy:

Coaches must inspect goals prior to any activity to make sure they are secured. Special attention is needed at practices.
Coaches must warn players and all parents of the dangers of goal posts.
Parents must be attentive and responsible for their children.
Do not allow horsing around on or around goals.
Referees must inspect goals prior to a game.
On fields that have small-sided games, the large goals must be placed face down and off the field.

Let’s make sure a tragedy like this does not occur in Westfield. Goal safety is everyone’s responsibility!

Houlihan Sid Fay Regulations

04/06/2011 04:23 PM

The WESTFIELD RECREATION DEPARTMENT takes pride in offering a “state of the art”, lighted, synthetic turf athletic field at Houlihan and Sid Fay Fields to its users. To preserve the performance, resilience, and appearance of the fields PLEASE ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS:

Place ALL TRASH & LITTER in containers provided.
ENTER & LEAVE the fields on the “PERIMETER CARPET” & WALKWAYS PROVIDED. ACCESS to both fields is from the “PARKING LOT” ONLY.
DRINKS limited to water/ CLEAR power drinks. PLEASE - - No Orange/Red/Blue/Yellow sports drinks, chocolate, coffee, cola, fruit drinks or juice, ice cream, ketchup, mustard, milk, tea, butter, food coloring, water colors, etc.
No chewing gum, chewing tobacco, or sunflower seeds.
No pets allowed.
This is a SMOKE-FREE facility.

PARKING: The lot has been expanded to allow parking for over 40 cars. Please observe and follow posted signage.

BATHROOM FACILITIES: Two port-a-potties are available at the field for emergencies. DO NOT use St. Helen’s facilities.

NOISE: Amplified music, air horns, etc. are not permitted. Our neighbors live right across the street.