WHAT'S A BLAZE
 		 
Feburary 2011
Newsletter
 

Its time to SIGN UP NOW for your SUMMER SOCCER CAMP!  Each year we have campers on the waiting list, wishing they had signed up earlier.  And pass this on to your friends and possible camp roommates.  Listing them on your application as a roommate won't ensure them a spot in camp if they sign up after we are full. 

Sincerely,

Mike Getman
Head Coach Men's Soccer at UAB
Mike Getman Soccer Camp Logo 
2011 Schedule
 
 Day Camp  June 13-17
Day Camp  July 11-15
Residential (Premier) June 19-23
Residential (Advanced) June 19-23
Residential (Advanced) June 26-30
Team Camp  June 20-23
Advanced Mini Camp July 29-31

As a parent how much involvement should I have?  Should I be trying to get my son to play on the most competitive team he can?  Is there an age where this becomes more important?


This is a tough question that I get asked often.  The younger your son, the more you should not worry about how "competitive his team is.

 

First you need to decide what your son is trying to achieve.  If he just wants to have fun, then let him play on a team close to home with his friends.  Remember, the more fun he has, the more likely he is to keep playing and to keep learning.

 

If his goal is to become the best player he can be, then look for these things:

1. The best players he can play and practice with. Being challenged each day at practice will help your son develop his skills and understanding.

2. The best competition. Playing quality games will help your son learn from his mistakes.  If he can play poorly and win each game, then he won't be learning.

3. The best coach to guide him.  A quality coach can make the game fun, teach skills and inspire your son to be his best.

 

If you can find a team with all three of these qualities than your son should enjoy his experience while developing his talent.

 

 

RECRUITING

WHAT TO EXPECT


By Coach Getman


Hopefully you have already read, in past newsletters, the steps to take in the recruiting process.  If you missed any of these, click here to access archived issues of Whats A Blaze.

What is the Signing Date and what does it mean for you?

For College Soccer the signing day each year is the first Wednesday in February. This year the Signing Day was February 2.

This is the 1st day that High School Seniors can sign a scholarship acceptance with Division I or II Universities. Seniors can sign from February 2 up until classes begin at their college. While most Seniors will sign on or near this date, sometimes they take longer.  There is no real deadline, although coaches may put a deadline on recruits to make a decision.

When signing day comes, some players will sign a "scholarship" or NLI (National Letter of Intent).  Others will be walk-ons, which simply means they are not being offered a scholarship.

Signing day in Football tends to be a day with lots of media attention.  In Soccer, there isn't as much attention, but it is just as important.  This is the day that players can officially make their commitment to a University.  Once they sign, they cannot change their mind without going through a lot of red tape.  Once signed, the University can announce which players will be joining their team. 

For coaches, this is the day that they know in which direction their program is moving. If their top choices have "signed", they know that the future looks good and they can start working on the following years recruiting class.

If signing day didn't go well, coaches know they will be back on the road recruiting, looking for another player to help their team this coming fall, which can give uncommitted players another chance to be recruited. 


Check out our Summer Camps where you will get a chance to work with all of my Coaching Staff as well as the Soccer Coaches from several other colleges.

Sign up to read my step by step guide in future newsletters and send in your questions.  I will answer your questions and more in each edition.  Click here to access past newsletters with articles about the recruiting process.