MESA SOCCER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Team Rules
Welcome to the start of the 2012-13 high school soccer season. We are building our tradition of soccer here at MMHS and this year’s team is shaping up to break things out. As a soccer program we have made great steps in forming a solid reputation on this campus for being mature, hard working students and quality soccer players. Our school has some lofty goals and we are looking to make some waves in both our pre season and league play.

There are a few rules that need to be understood before we start the season. Failure to adhere to the rules will lead to either suspension or expulsion from the team.
Team Rules
There are a few rules that need to be understood before we start the season. Failure to adhere to the rules will lead to either suspension or expulsion from the team.

1) All players are required to show respect to coaches and referees. They will also be respectful to players and parents of
our team as well as those of our opponents. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.
2) All players must be committed to MMHS Soccer during the official CIF soccer season. This season starts with our
first game (TBA) and ends with the last game. For JV the last game is 2-8. Varsity’s season will end with their last
playoff game. No player may play on a team outside of high school during this season. ODP and National team play is
excluded from this rule.
Attendance- Players are required to be at all scheduled team practices and games on time. More than two unexcused
absences will result in dismissal from the team. If a player fails to complete the season in good standing with the
team (injuries not included) will result in the player not receiving a letter and the player will not be invited to end of
the year ceremonies.
Tardies- Players must be on time and dressed in appropriate soccer equipment for practices and games. Practice
begins (TBA). For home and away games players must arrive at the game in uniform and be in the stands by 3:50.
No street clothes. Injured or ill players will be in team gear (again no street clothes) on the bench unless otherwise
instructed by a doctor’s note. The following punishments will result from failure to be on time.
1st+2nd Tardy – Warning.
3rd+4th Tardy – Loss of playing time, parent notification.
5th Tardy – Suspended one game.
6th Tardy – Dismissed from team.
Non-suit- Players must be dressed in appropriate soccer clothes for all practices and games. If a player has a doctor’s
note he is excused from dressing. Parents, if you feel your son cannot participate due to sickness or injury you may
write a note excusing your son for up to three days but they must still dress out. We do have a very qualified trainer
on campus and the boys should see the trainer if they pick up an injury. Three non-suits will earn a player a dismissal
from the team.
Accepted practice/game clothes- MMHS or soccer shirt/warmup, soccer shorts or warm ups, socks, shin guards,
and soccer shoes. Any undershirts or sliders must be Mesa gear or blank in either green or white. It is preferred that
undershirts and sliders be the same color as the uniform they are being worn with; green with away, white with the
home uniform. Rules state that the team must wear the same color under their uniform.
Shin guards- The NFHS rule on shin guards for high school is they must be age and size appropriate, they may not be
modified in any way, and the bottom edge must not be higher than 2 inches from the ankle. This year, the NOCSAE
seal and appropriate height range must appear on the shin guard. Failure to follow this rule will result in the coach will
ruling the player ineligible for the contest.
Cell phones- From the beginning of practice until its conclusion, there will be no cell-phone use by players: this
includes texting, email, Facebook, and Twitter. For matches, this rule is in effect 1 hour prior to kick-off and until the
team is dismissed by the coach at the games conclusion.
Social Media- It is unacceptable for players to use social media, i.e. Facebook and Twitter, to criticize any coach,
player, parent, or teacher from our school or our opponents. Also, refrain from using these sites to criticize the referees
and their Association. Please use Social Media sites in a positive and responsible way. Failure to adhere to these will
be seen as disrespectful to not only the coach but the team and can result in disciplinary action.

Practice Guidelines
It is expected and required that all soccer players will be at practice each day. This must be a priority. Winning takes dedication and commitment. Playing time in the games can and will be affected for failure to attend a scheduled practice. Players should communicate the importance of this to parents who may be planning trips over Thanksgiving and Christmas break or making routine medical or dental appointments that could be made at a later time. Emergencies are always the exception. The guidelines listed below should be read and understood before we get too far into the season.
If you miss practice:
1. Coach Ebert should be informed as early as possible. Email is the best way to alert your coach. Do not relay the message through another player. Coach Ebert – sebert@murrieta.k12.ca.us .
2. If a player is too sick to come to practice it is assumed he will be too sick to play the next day in a game. Players
just feeling poorly will be given credit for being at practice even if they sit on the bleachers without actually participating. This shows commitment and a desire to play.
3. Coach Ebert should be informed as early as possible if a player knows in advance that he will miss a practice.
Unforeseen family emergencies and funerals are two examples. The coaching staff will then determine what the appropriate action to take is in regards to the next game.
4. Vacations during the soccer season are simply inappropriate. Players that go on vacation during the soccer season will be subject to suspension or expulsion from the team. Parents need to be informed of this policy. Now, not later, is the time to deal with this issue.

Playing Time
Playing time is always a concern for parents as well as players. It should be understood that the coaches of each team will have the sole responsibility of determining their starting lineups. Calls by parents to set up meetings with the coach concerning their son’s playing time are unacceptable once the season starts. Coaches will not meet to compare their son to other athletes on the team; coaches will only discuss the abilities of the parent’s son. We encourage all parents to contact the coach for a meeting prior to the start of the season if they feel it would be beneficial. Once the season starts it is the responsibility of the player to ask the coach for an evaluation of his skills. Even if the player is reluctant to do this, the parent should not act on his behalf, but encourage their son to sit down with his coach to find ways he might improve. It’s important to understand going into the season that playing time is not shared equally at the interscholastic level. Players must keep a positive attitude and work hard in practice whether or not they are in the starting lineup. Parents need to resist the urge to criticize the coach to other parents. These ground rules need to be understood and accepted prior to the first scrimmage. Now is the time to voice any concerns-not later. Our scrimmage is (TBA). We hope to have your support throughout the season.
Parents
Soccer is a passionate sport and we love the enthusiasm of our stands. We need to be sure to remain positive at all times; the same respect that is expected from our players is also expected of from our parents, and we must be the examples.
Help
Our coaching staff is very busy on game day. We need help to run concessions as well as the scoreboard. We are asking parents to claim one game (when the final schedule comes out) that they will help run concessions. We are very willing to train 3-4 parents to run the scoreboard during the games as well.
30 minute Rule
Please observe this rule. After the game please do not critique your son for 30 min after they leave the soccer facility. He just played in a tough contest and then was instructed in the beginning, half, and conclusion of the game. Those lessons need time to sink in. Please give your athlete 30 min to think and digest what was covered. After 30 minutes have passed, feel free to constructively discuss your son’s play.
If you have a question regarding any of these you can contact me via e-mail at sebert@murrieta.k12.ca.us.
Sincerely,
Shane Ebert
Head Coach – Men’s Soccer
Murrieta Mesa High School