Check the Voicemail and websites regularly. You are expected to attend practices in order to be eligible to play in the games. Failure to do so can result in a 1-3 game suspension as determined by the coaching staff. Remember to wear correct Marcus workout t-shirts and sweats to practices. Non-Marcus uniform will not be tolerated and players will lose points on their participation grade.

Practice is a reflection of the game. Be competitive and organized.
Unexcused tardy to practice, the bus, games etc. or behavior determined by the coach to be inappropriate will result in non-starting and possible non-playing in the game.

You are responsible for all school issued bags, jackets, warm-ups, shirts, shorts , socks. You will be assessed a fee for lost or damaged uniforms. You will sign a form which determines what uniforms you have been issued. Do not switch with others on the team.

We have large numbers of players on 3 teams at Marcus, more than any other school in LISD and possibly in the metroplex. We try hard to play as many players as possible. There is a rotation system for the teams. If you do not play one game , or do not play much that game, we hope to play you more for the next 2 or 3 games. The Varsity will restrict this policy , especially in district and play-off games. Each coach will make decisions on the teams. Everyone wants to play every minute of every game…that is inevitable with the type of players that we have here. Remember that the season is a marathon race, not a sprint.. If you have a problem please make an appointment with your coach.

Be disciplined in the classroom, locker room, on the bus, and at games.
Treat your opponent with respect. We are guests at their school so please be on your best behavior. Pick up trash, and leave it as you found it.

Keep up with your academic classes. Grades are very important for UIL eligibility. If you are behind in a class contact the coaches to see how you can catch up/use class time etc. If injured you see the trainers immediately. They will determine the treatment and outline a schedule. You will have to attend 3 times a day minimum in order to be considered ready to play. Their decision is final.

Make sure you eat and drink correctly. No sodas or fast foods. Stretch and care for your body. Soccer is a team sport. Support each other in every area of Marcus life.

All three teams practice in the school period. Please be on time and be prepared to work hard for the hour plus. The coaches have the right to demand extra practice after school if the weight workout, fitness and soccer practice in the class period is not performed at an acceptable level. 24 hour notice will be given for practice the next afternoon. Notice will be on the Voicemail 214-890-5972. Failure to attend will result in non-selection for the next game

Be proud to be a Marcus Soccer Player

Have a positive attitude.
Be a cheerleader. Make as much noise as possible to support the team.
Volunteer for various roles on committees within the booster club.
Wear Marcus colors/spirit wear.
Your daughter is the center of attention , not you. Let the coaches know as soon as possible if your daughter is unhappy, has concerns, needs support etc.

Check the various sites (websites, voicemail, book etc) for updated information. Bad weather can quickly change times and locations . Let us know in advance any problems or questions you may have.

You can only transport your daughter after a game if you have completed the correct form and it is in the coach’s hands . This can be done prior to the game or immediately after the game. We prefer that players travel as a group to and from games, especially if that is the only game to be played. However we realize that there may be 2 or 3 games that night and with weather problems and homework to be completed that players may leave after their game. The coach will summon parents to the sidelines and call off players to make sure that an adult is present to take their own child home. No-one else can transport a player that is not their child. Please do not write a permission slip for a non-relative to transport your daughter. Your daughter could be suspended if she travels back with a non-parent/guardian.

If a problem occurs at a game, parents are not to approach the coach after the game to discuss the situatontact you within 24 hours . Confrontation with a coach can result in suspension of 1-3 games or expulsion from the program as determined by the coaching staff and/or athletic coordinator.

In the last few years , some parents have taken to using the local newspapers (Star Telegram, Morning News etc) to take out their frustrations on the coaching staff or the program by negative comments on their website boards.
Please refrain from negative comments. If you have a problem, contact the coach himself. It is easy to trace the sender of negative messages. We have shown the players some of these and they are appalled also. It would be great if you could channel your efforts into positive support for the program and teams or simply keep quiet. Penalties will be severe. Any messages traced back to a Marcus parent with a player in the program will result in a 1-3 game suspension as determined by the coaching staff . Continuation of this will result in expulsion from the program if deemed necessary by the coaching staff and/or athletic coordinator.

Club and High School Soccer Co-ordination

Club soccer is a very important part of the development of players in the metroplex . We at Marcus are blessed to have so many talented young ladies on our squads and their development in their clubs and on a daily basis at high school hopefully will see them continue to blossom at the collegiate level. At Marcus, we have adjusted our practices to make sure that each player can play important league and tournament games at their best and have eased off on really tough workouts at certain times of the club season. It is important that workouts and rest are finely balanced.

The club season has moved further and further into the high school season. Tournaments and showcases extend into December and into the Christmas break. Even the Spring season has begun in late January for some teams. The high school season is only 10 weeks but it is filled with over 20 matches for each team It is obvious that with the advent of 12 month a year club contracts and additional club coaching and exposure that there are bound to be conflicts. At Marcus, we have adjusted to cooperate with clubs March thru December.

Here are some of the guidelines under which we operate at Marcus Jan thru March (and even April with the play-offs ) that we would like you to share with your club coaches and managers so that possible conflicts are avoided. Varsity and Junior Varsity seasons are from Jan 3rd to March 18th 2008

When you sign up and are selected to be in the Marcus soccer program, you have made a commitment to play high school soccer from these dates ( and beyond if Varsity are in play-offs). You are expected to fulfill this commitment.

Club Practices:
These are suggestions. We know that we cannot force you to follow these guidelines but hope that you will use commonsense so that you do not get fatigued and/or injured We hope that Marcus players will limit their club practices with their club team Monday thru Friday to a max of one during their high school season. Early in the season we play three tournaments in three weeks. Let your club coaches be informed that you need time to recover. Weekends are free for you to practice with clubs as long as there are no high school games.

Inform your club coaches/managers asap of the length of high school season and the schedule for your high school team. When managers go into important planning meetings with teams, leagues for Spring play, they need to be aware of possible conflicts with the high school schedule and adjust accordingly.

Games:
If you have any conflict with the high school schedule contact the Head Coadiscussion and options outlined. Players can miss a high school game /tournament due to National ,Regional or ODP recognition . Notification of such an award and possible conflicts with the high school games need to be sent in writing to the Head Coach as soon as possible.
Players are excused from High school games if they are asked to go on a church retreat, confirmation, religious purpose. We need to have it in writing with a letter from the church organization at least 3 weeks in advance of the proposed trip.

There is a desire for club coaches and directors to get extra practices, tune up games, tournaments before the high school season is completed. The successes we have had the past 4 years is due to rest and recovery , importance of High school play-off games over club commitments and a working relationship with club directors and coaches

Please make wise decisions. Rest is very important as the season reaches critical games. Practicing and playing every day can result in breakdowns. This is a team game and your teammates will be counting on you to be there healthy both physically and mentally.

In 2008, Spring Break for LISD schools is during the soccer season for all three teams.
All three teams play Tues March 18th at Coppell . Practice will be on Monday 17th: Both JV teams will scrimmage each other at 9-10:30am on Monday 17th . Varsity will practice at 4pm-5:30pm Please do not take your daughter out of soccer to go on vacation during Spring Break. Failure to practice and play the final game due to the desire to take a vacation will result in the expulsion of the player from the program immediately after Spring Break and no post-season award recognition. All high school teams in 6-5A will be playing games and practicing during their Spring Breaks. March 21-22 is designated Play-In days where teams that are tied for 4th place in district play a game to determine district representation. All Varsity players will be available for those dates if necessary.

If you must practice with your club teams please work around these dates and times. This is four months advance notice to your clubs coaches/managers…

Varsity hope to be going to play-offs. The first game in play-offs is Mon 24-Tues 25. If you commit to a club tournament/showcase March 21-23 you go into play-offs extremely tired and could easily affect performance. We recommend that you tell your club coaches that you will play a max of 2 games only over the 3-4 days We have learned that it may be difficult to work with some players, parents and club coaches around this time. We only hope that you share all this information with your club coaches/managers and both players and parents use commonsense in making decisions. There are always other showcases and tournaments.at different times of the year..There is only one chance each year in the high school play-offs. We realized how great that experience can be in 2005-07

Club Tournaments 2008
We allow our players to go on showcases/tournaments from Aug-Jan 2. The problem is that our season is only 9-10 weeks for JV and hopefully a couple more weeks for Varsity. Clubs have increasingly requested that their teams enter tournaments during our season and have put players into a dilema of choosing club/school commitments. Increasingly they have selected out of state tournaments which involve considerable expense, travel, but exposure to potential college coaches. This year I asked 7 top high school coaches how they approach club requests with high school commitments. The answers ranged from no club involvement at all with instant dismissal from the program if violate to allowing club matches to be allowed but with sanctions I sat down with the captains and Coach Miller and looked at all the requests

We have come up with an arrangement for this 2008 season that we hope can benefit all parties. At the end of the season we will re-evaluate to see if it workable for future seasons. Players have to put requests in writin3rd.that could be possible conflicts with High school games. We have the list assembled below for 2008

Scrimmages:
Players that are returning from tournaments over the Christmas holiday can be held out of games in order to recover and be ready for upcoming tournaments/non-district games. Players can ask for rest/recovery and/or the coach will determine and communicate that he/she is resting the player. She will still attend the scrimmages to support the team .

January Tournaments/Games
All three teams are in three tournaments and non-district games during this month. Players will rotate playing /resting games during the tournaments. If a player has a club tournament at this time they are expected to be available and play for Marcus on Thurs and Fri and we will allow them to go to club tournament Sat/Sun. The request needs to be in writing to the High school coach by Monday of that week so the coach can organize the team. Same for SAT testing on Sat 26 Jan

Feb-March
This is when District starts and 14 crucial games are to be played. We cannot take an opponent lightly and determine which are “tough or easy” games. Each is considered important Players are expected to fulfill High school commitments. We usually play on Tues and Fri for district matches. JV White have one Sat game only on Mar 1st and play all other games during the school week

You will be available for selection for high school on those dates. Once you fulfill your commitment to play the game on Fri you can play/practice with your club on the weekend. If you miss high school to play club on Fri, you will miss the next two games , grade reduction by 10 pts . If it occurs again then you will be asked to leave the team

The biggest challenge is the Las Vegas tournament Mar 14-17 involving a number of Varsity players. Fri Mar 14 is very important to us as it is the last home game for the team and Senior Recognition night to celebrate the high school careers of our seniors and their parents. This is a very important occasion for all three teams. It will be a very important game v Hebron as it has play-off implications and district seeding status for play-offs.

We request that no-one misses that evening at Marcus. In return we will allow players to travel to Vegas after the game and play in the tournament. We have organized practice for Mon at 4pm for Varsity players. If players cannot make it back in time they will still be allowed to play but not start on Tues v Coppell provided they have come into school Tues morning to stretch/recover. This gives you time to talk to college coaches in Vegas and maybe do a little sightseeing as we hope that Spring Break will be filled with preparation for the Play-offs.

After the final game all JV players are released to their clubs. Varsity players will practice Thurs/Fri at 9-10:30am in preparation for play-offs. This is a critical time for us as play-offs begin Mon 24 March. Some players have requested tournament play with their clubs. We will only allow you to play two games Thurs-Sun as they are needed for play-offs. If it conflicts with HS practice you can be excused from practice only if notified in writing the Mon of that week and you /your coach agree to limit to 2 matches playing.

If you commit to club tournaments while we are in play-offs inform your coach that you cannot play until eliminated. Emotionally and physically play-offs effect players and parents. Play-off games come first over club games.

If a high school Varsity game is cancelled due to weather and rescheduled for Saturday play you are expected to play high school. If the tournament is local you will play high school and then return to club. If it is out of town and a considerable amount of money has been spent on flights, hotels, fees etc then you will be allowed to go with your club and we will adjust at high school.