After enjoying a sucessful Fall campaign finishing in the top 3 in their league going 6-2, only losses coming to Twinsburg (1st) and Solon (2nd), the U13 boys continue their winning ways as they go indoors.

As clouds gave way to beautiful sunshine, Oxford Elementary School won the second annual SOS soccer tournament, held May 31st at Forest Hills Park. Canterbury Elementary School was the runner-up. Also joining the tournament as ‘guests’ were two teams from the Shaker Rec soccer program. SOS, which stands for ‘Schooled-on-Soccer’, is a new outreach program initiated by the Eastside Kickers/Heights United Soccer Club to develop after-school soccer programs in Clev Hts/Univ Hts public elementary schools. The goal is to provide a fun, organized soccer experience for 4th and 5th grade children who are new to the game. More than 110 kids participated among the five elementary school programs, which included Boulevard, Noble, Oxford, Gearity, and Canterbury. The teams practiced once a week, starting at the beginning of May, under the supervision of volunteer coaches, many of whom were Heights teachers. The coaches were Sean Sullivan (Oxford), Fiona Conner-Kuntz (Gearity), Julie Lustic (Canterbury), Belinda Lowe (a Boulevard parent), April Firstencel (Noble) and Gary Wildey (Eastside Kickers). Two former Heights High soccer players, Joshua Wildey and Dylan Beach, also helped coach at Boulevard and Noble, while Heights freshmen players Eli and Bennett Wildey, Evan Lanese, Paul Stroud and Ciaran Coen helped set up and ref the tournament. A BIG thanks to all for making the tournament another success!

It's time to start thinking about Summer soccer!

Sean Sullivan's Heights United Soccer Camp is a day camp that runs for 5 weeks in June and July. Campers get the opportunity to play soccer every day, as well as many other activities. http://heightsunitedsoccer.com/

The very popular Total Soccer Academy (TSA) summer camp dates are set in Shaker Heights. Sign up for one or both of two sessions: July 28 through August 1 and a second camp from August 4 - August 8. Times are 9-1:30. There is also a finishing clinic during the first session from 4:30 - 6:00. These soccer intensive camps are specifically designed for Travel and Premier soccer players and are highly recommended to prepare players for the fall travel and premier seasons. Experienced Instructors are flown in from Holland to give your child a uniquely Dutch soccer experience. If selected, Goalkeeper training is offered during the camp sessions. Sign up early as space is limited. Download the flier to begin the sign up process. http://www.shakeryouthsoccer.org/ = go to Driesen TSA Camp for the flier.

Also, for girls only, Dennis Weyn - Head Coach at Hathaway Brown and coach for Ohio Premier, hosts camp sessions at Hathaway Brown school for advanced players age 6 and up. To sign up go to http://www.hb.edu/html/summer.php?id=898.

An all boys camp is also available at University School. For more information please contact Dennis - cell: (440) 567-9893, home: (216) 561-0236

Thanks to a large influx of players and a state rule change, the Hts High Lady Tigers, a no-cut soccer program, will have three squads in 2008! For the first time in school history, we wil field Varsity, JV and Reserve squads. If you are thinking of playing high school soccer, stop by at any of the following events:

Core/Weight Training- Tues & Thurs 5:30-6:45 -- meet at Hts High Track. Runs through June 3.

Open Fields Thurs 7-8:30-usually on the football field at Hts High. Runs through June 5 (maybe through 6/12, pending start of Summer League)

Fitness/Conditioning 9-10AM- Saturday mornings- Hts High track. Through the end of July. Starting June 10, we will also condition on Wednesdays, at a time to be announced.

THIS SATURDAY, MAY 17, IS A SPECIAL CAPTAINS' EVENT AT FOREST HILLS STARTING AT NOON-- LOTS OF FUN--MEET YOUR FUTURE TEAMMATES!

Contact Coach Gisser for more info.

All the Premiership games kick off at the same time on the last day of the seasons - 10am ET on Sunday. FSC and Setanta will be showing the title battles live (Manu v. Wigan and Chelsea v. Bolton) and then Setanta will be showing the Relegation battles on delay while FSC shows what might be the most competitive tie - Liverpool v. Tottenham.

Also, watch for the UEFA cup final - Drew Carey's favorite team Rangers v. Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg on Wed. the 14th on FSC

FRIDAY, May 9

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
USL CHARLESTON-MIAMI (live), 8 pm.

SETANTA SPORTS USA

Remember, next Sunday is the last week of English Premier League games. As is tradition, every game kicks off at the same time, 3pm on Sunday - 10am our time. With Chelsea beating Newcastle today, 2 games will matter for the title - Setanta is showing the Man United-Wigan match live, while FSC is showing the Chelsea-Bolton match live. If Man United win they win the title, but if they don't, then Chelsea wins the title with a win.

Setanta will then show the most important relegation battle on tape delay - Portsmouth-Fulham, if Fulham wins, they (and the 5 Americans who play for them) will stay in the Premier League, thanks to their win over Birmingham City last Saturday. FSC will show probably the most interesting game than won't affect the standings - Tottenham-Liverpool at noon.

Also, 2nd leg action of the Copa Libertadores - the South American Club Chamionship - and the beginning of the League Championship playoffs, where the 3rd through 6th place teams battle to determine who gets promoted to the Premier League and cashes in on $50m in TV money.

In soccer worldwide, the rules are known as the Laws of the Game. OYSAN does do some modifications of the Laws for Youth soccer - 6v6 and 8v8 games for younger children, Sizes of goals, distance from the ball for a free kick. But most of the rules are the same worldwide.

The Laws cover everything, including the size and lining of the official 11v11 field, conduct of players, fouls - and the official Offsides rule.

The official document is available from USSoccer.com

This is the 3-31-08 OASL schedule, published as a shared Google doc. These schedules are for the boys:

OASL Spring 2008 Schedule

This may be useful - the Home Field master Schedule, published as a shared google doc. It contains links for Forest Hills, Monticello and Practice Fields

Google Spreadsheet - Home Field Master Schedule

Interesting Soccer games on TV, coming up: