This time of year we get a lot of questions about players who play on our U-13 and U-14 Select and Club teams and their participation in Middle School Soccer.

I have two thoughts about Middle School Soccer.  First of all is that the level of instruction and competition on your Club team will typically be higher than Middle School Soccer.  Club soccer provides professional coaching and State wide competition that middle schools cannot consistently provide.  On the other the hand the allure of playing in a scholastic environment is really high.  Players are playing on the “school team” they wear their jersey to school… it is cool to play for the school team and that is a good thing.

Furman United supports participation in Middle School Soccer programs for players who can academically and physically meet the demands of participating in both programs.  If a family decides their player can participate in both programs and maintain a balance we will support that.  The reality is if a player is participating in both Club soccer and Middle School Soccer that there will be times where a Club Player will miss an event.  Communication is absolutely imperative.  If you are going to miss a club event because of a middle school event you must let your coach know in advance.  Habitually missing training or games because of another program will hold your player’s development back and is unfair to the club team they are playing on.  Non communicated absences can result in playing time ramifications and can impact a player’s roster spot if it rises to and unacceptable level.  Each coach will decide what their tolerance is.  This is not a science it is an art.

As always please feel free to call or email me or your coach if you have questions.  Each situation is unique and communication up front and over the season is the key to situations like this.

This time of year we all start looking at our cleats from last season,
cold weather gear and equipment deficiencies. Dick’s Sporting Goods on Woodruff
Rd. has been a partner of the club for a year and a half.   They
make a significant donation to the club and offer amazing pre-season discounts exclusively
for FUSC players.

You will find attached two items.  First is an online coupon you can print or get
at the store the day of the event.  This coupon
gets you 10% off the most common soccer equipment from now till May the 15th.
Additionally you will find an additional flyer for 15%  off for FUSC members on the FUSC day in the Woodruff
Rd. store.  Come in between 10:00 and
2:00 on the 14th and get this additional savings. If you need cleats and buy
them on that day you get 25% off their already great prices.

Mark your calendar and don’t buy anything till the 14th at Dick’s!

FUSC Day Flyer

FUSC Coupon Flyer

Go to Drum Creative

Kwik Goal Furman Christmas Flyer 2011

U-8 Boys

U-8 Girls

U-10 boys

U-10 Girls

U-12 Boys

U-12 Girls

U-14 Boys

Additional 15% off coupon

This time if year we all start thinking about equipment needs… new cleats, balls, shin-pads etc.  Last season we formed a partnership with Dick’s sporting good.  Dick’s Sporting goods provides two events a year for FUSC members to buy equipment at tremendous discounts.  Additionally they provide equipment scholarship money we use to purchase equipment for families who are undergoing financial hardship. 

This fall’s event will be This Sunday August the 7^th from 11:00 till 4:00. 

Members of FUSC will receive:

1. Soccer Specific discounts.
2. An additional 15% off almost everything in the store on top of coupons provided.
3. This is tax free weekend so save an additional 7%
4. Register your Dick’s Score card for the “Play it forward program” and Dick’s will donate 2% of your purchase back to FUSC every time you shop at Dick’s Sporting Goods. 

We will also have a raffle for a 50.00 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods. 

Use the link below for the coupons you will need for the soccer specific discounts. 

http://furmanunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Furman-United-Soccer-Club-Shop-Day-Coupon-Fall-2011.pdf

Use this link for the additional 15% off your entire purchase.

 http://furmanunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/soccer-specific-deals2.pdf

Looking forward to seeing you out there Sunday afternoon!

Bill Martin