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Register for kids’ soccer this month
Updated: September 10, 2012 6:04AM
Registration for Thunder Soccer’s Fall season for boys and girls in kindergarten through eighth grade will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Franklin Park Community Center, 9560 Franklin Ave. Fall practices will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 11.
The program includes twice-weekly practices from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at various parks and schools in the Leyden area. Games are played on Sundays at West Leyden High School, 1000 Wolf Road, Northlake. This season’s first games will be played on Sunday, Sept. 16. The final games will be played on Sunday, Nov. 4. Participants must be 5 years old by Sept. 1.
Each participant receives a uniform (shirt and socks). Participants provide shin guards and black (pull on) gym shorts. Soccer shoes or cleats are not required. Gym shoes are acceptable for practice and game play. Thunder sponsors a “Shoe Exchange” for players to donate old used soccer shoes to the program and players may “borrow” a pair to use for the season and return them to the Thunder “Shoe Exchange” at the end of the season. Players must wear protective goggles. Eye glasses are not allowed to be worn in practices or in games.
Registration fee is $65 per player, with discounts for siblings. Your registration fee includes, two one-hour weekly practices and one game per week (weather permitting), supplemental liability insurance through IYSA, team photo package, trophies for each player and sometime during the season, each player is recognized as the “Player of the Game.”
Register early — the fall 2011 season was a near sell-out. A $25 late charge applies after Sept. 1.
Thunder Soccer recommends registering at the first registration on Aug. 25 as some of the divisions fill their rosters earlier than others based on the availability of volunteer coaches.
Thunder sponsors a group outing to see the Chicago Fire professional soccer team once, each season (spring and fall). These group tickets are sold at a discount to club members. Dates and details are disclosed to participants during the season.
For more information, contact Wayne Bernacki (847) 671-0330 or Miguel Valdez at (847) 233-9176.
Also, volunteer coaches are needed to work with players on skills development in weekly practices and Sunday games. Training for coaches is available and an early-season coaches clinic will be provided. This is a great opportunity for parents, new to the game of soccer or new to coaching, to learn about the game while helping teach skills and conduct drills during weekly practices. Volunteers may contact the Coach Coordinator Esther Rodriguez at (847) 233-0858 about coaching opportunities. Parents, don’t miss the chance to enjoy some fun time together with your child.
Thunder Soccer Travel Teams compete against other suburban teams in the area and play in the Young Sportsman’s Soccer League or the Women’s Illinois Soccer League. For information about the program and tryouts contact Miguel Valdez at (847) 233-9176.
