U11 Boys Spring 2010 Travel Team

By accepting a position on a New England Premiership team, you are accepting a slightly greater commitment in time and fees than a Granite State League team. NEP teams will compete against clubs from other states in New England, requiring greater travel distances for away games. However, because the level of competition will be higher at these matches, the Lightning SC Board of Directors and coaching staff feel that the NEP represents the appropriate level of competition for this team. 

NEP League Schedule:
The NEP League schedulers arrange the schedule so that a club plays its farthest competition (in our case Rhode Island and Connecticut clubs) at the double-header festivals, which take place in a central location (e.g. the Seacoast Complex in Epping, NH or Citizens Bank Fields in Lancaster, MA). The “Regional Games” listed below are home or away games against other teams in the league, but are not double-headers.

PLEASE NOTE: We have a team commitment on the final Sunday of school break in April (April 25th). Please take this date into consideration when you make your travel arrangements.

NEP Game Dates:

• Sunday, April 11th – Games #1 and #2 – Location TBD
• Sunday, April 25th – Games #3 and #4 – Location TBD         
• Saturday or Sunday May 1st / 2nd –  NEP Regional Game #5
• Saturday or Sunday May 8th / 9th –  NEP Regional Game #6
• Saturday or Sunday May 15th / 16th –  NEP Regional Game #7
• Saturday or Sunday May 22nd / 23rd – NEP Regional Game #8
• Saturday or Sunday June 26th / 27th  – Games #9 and #10 – Location TBD

Memorial Day Tournament:
In addition to the above games your team will participate in the Needham Memorial Day Tournament in Needham, MA. Please block out the date. 
http://www.needhamsoccer.com/Default.aspx?alias=www.needhamsoccer.com/tournament

Head Coach:
The head coach for this team has yet to be named. We are talking to a number of exciting and qualified candidates. We will let you know once someone has been named.

Parent Roles:
Team Manager – The U11 boy’s team is looking for a parent to be the team’s manager this spring. Team Managers work with the coaches and with the Lightning organization to provide answers to any questions families have. A Team Manager is key to keeping everyone informed and organized, at the right place for practices and games, and with the right gear. If you want to know what's going on and you feel you can communicate clearly and quickly to people, this is the job for you!
Please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if interested.

Assistant Coaches - We encourage parents with a soccer background and/or interest in coaching to volunteer to be Assistant Coaches. We are lucky to have two very accomplished parent assistants who have agreed to return and help the team. Peter Dodge, head men’s alpine ski coach at Dartmouth, is a former member of the U.S. Ski Team and a professional ski tour champion. Rob Edson, principal of Claremont Middle School, is a former national champion and All American in cross country and is a member of the Division II Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame. Thank you Rob and Pete for agreeing to help the team!

Practice Schedule:
Practices for NEP teams will begin in early March at Grantham Indoor (once per week) and move outside once the turf at KUA is cleared of snow (end of March) for a couple of Sunday practices. Regular outdoor practice schedules begin after the April break. At that time, practices will be twice per week, either Mon/Weds or Tues/Thurs. The time and location for practices will be published early to mid-February.

Spring 2010 Fee:
The Travel Team fee for the spring will be $420 which covers NEP league fees, tournament fees, field rental costs, coaching fees, referee fees and select soccer kit items.

A player designated as an "Alternate" for a NEP team trains with the team and may be invited to compete in games as space permits (if another player is sick or can not make a game). Alternate player fees are$225.

Player Pool is a training-only option offered to motivated players who wish to improve their skills to compete at the travel level. Pool players participate in training as do travel players, but they do not compete in games. The fee for Player Pool is $200.