Seacoast United Maine 2024/2025 Handbook

SEACOAST UNITED MAINE

Soccer isn’t just a game; it’s a way of life.

For Seacoast United, that passion among its directors, players, and fans has turned this small NH soccer club into one of the most successful athletic organizations in the region. Seacoast United Maine works with over 1,000 players each year while working with college coaches to place our talented athletes into DIVISION 1/2/3 schools.

Founded in 1992 with the simple mission to advance the physical and social wellbeing of kids and adults through competitive soccer, Seacoast United has grown exponentially ever since.

Two teams have evolved into 10,000 players, 11 locations spanning from southern Massachusetts to Maine. A handful of members have risen to 20,000+. Two fields have expanded into several world-class facilities - both indoor and outdoor. The organization has built a reputation among community and business leaders for creating more than just championship soccer teams.

Now powered by 3 Step Sports, the impact of Seacoast United Soccer Club can be felt both on and off the field, increasingly around the world. That’s one reason why Nike named Seacoast United as one of its Premier Soccer Clubs.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

PLAYER

SCHEDULE OUTLINE

August

Preseason Training & Elite Regional Tryouts

September-November

Fall Season - League Play U10-U14 EDP NL/DPL TeamsTraining 2 x week

November-December

U8-U14 Training 2 x week

U15- U19 begin training after the conclusion of their HS seasonTraining 2 x week

April-June

Spring Season - League Play (all ages) Training 2 x week 2/3 Tournaments

SEACOAST TOURNAMENTS

Ocean Cup (U8-U15)

Spring Events

March Showcase Tournaments (U15-U19)

March Invitational Tournaments (U9-U14)

Nate Hardy Memorial Day Tournament (U8U19)

*Coastal Summer Challenge (U9-U19)*

Additional Showcase Events are also available (Extra Fee)

*Optional Event depending on tuition (varies by region) Your teams tournaments will be included on the team specific page you will receive from your program director upon

LEAGUE PLAY

Seacoast United Maine teams Play at the highest level of competitive youth league play within the state of Maine competing in both the EDP National League (boys) and DPL (girls) as well as each of our premier sides competing in the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL).

Team placement with each league is based on competition level in an effort to promote player development. Travel requirements for none-academy teams are within the New England region, with both home and away games, with our U8-U10 teams playing locally in Maine!

GOALKEEPING

A position with such unique skill set requires its own dedicated training program.

Seacoast United Maine offers a goalkeeper development curriculum and year-round training by the club's own goalkeeping directors. Weekly training sessions take place for all club players throughout the Fall and Spring outdoor seasons, paired with indoor skills programs taking place during the Winter And spring months. Extra programs throughout the year are also available (extra-fee).

Learn more about SUSC Goalkeeper project via our goalkeeping Director: Mkeen@seacoastunited.com

ELITE REGIONAL PROGRAM

To create an elite level environment which creates a pathway between each regions and the academy program

Helping higher level players perform in an environment which is out of their comfort zone, to be exposed to different coaches

Create an additional show casing opportunities for the U15 - U17 age groups

• Making sure the program is accessible to all selected players, not creating any conflicts with existing SUSC regional commitments

Who is the program for?

The program is open to all SUSC male and female players born from 2012 to 2006 and will complement your existing SUSC teams schedule.

How do players get selected?

Players will be recommended by their respective SUSC Regional Directors to attend the ID event

When is the ID event?

The identification events for the Elite Regional Program will be held the week of August at Epping Complex.

What are the benefits of this program?

• Represent SUSC on a team with players coming together from all SUSC New England clubs

• Be coached by selected SUSC coaches

• Attend Domestic and/or International Tournament

• Pathway for Elite players to be viewed for future SUSC Academy Teams.

When do we find out more?

Players/families will receive communication about the identification process in July. After the identification process, players chosen to be part of the 2024/25 Elite Regional teams will receive notifications by the end of August,

FACILITIES

NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY

GORHAM SPORTS CENTER

ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

PORTLAND SPORTS COMPLEX

PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT

Players are the most important people in soccer. Playing for the team, and for the team to win, is the most fundamental part of the game. But not winning at any cost – fair play and respect for all others in the game is fundamentally important.

Obligations toward the Game

A player should:

1)Play for the fun, not just to please your parents or coach.

2)Be a good sport, appreciate all good plays, whether it is your team's or your opponent's.

3)Remember that the goals of the game are to have fun, improve skills and feel good.

4)Make every effort to develop their own sporting ability, in terms of overall knowledge of the game, technique, tactics and physicality.

5)Give maximum effort and strive for the best possible performance during every game, even if the team is in a position where the desired result has already been achieved.

6)Set a positive example for others, particularly young players and supporters.

7)Avoid all forms of unsporting behavior and time wasting.

8)Always have regard to the best interests of the game, including where publicly expressing an opinion on the game and any particular aspect of it, including others involved in the game.

9)Concentrate on playing soccer and on affecting the outcome of the game with your best effort.

10)Not use inappropriate language.

11)Control your temper and most of all, resist the temptation to retaliate when you feel you have been wronged.

12)Treat Seacoast United Soccer Club as my priority should any scheduling conflicts arise

Obligations towards the Team

A player should:

1)Work equally hard for your team as for yourself.

2)Treat all players as you would like to be treated.

3)Make every effort consistent with Fair Play and the Laws of the Game to help the team performing at its highest level as a team.

4)Resist any influence that might, or might be seen to, bring into question commitment to the team.

Respect for the Laws of the Game and Competition Rules

A player should:

1)Know and abide by the Laws, rules and spirit of the game, and the competition rules for leagues, Cups and tournaments. Accept success and failure, victory and defeat, equally.

2)Resist any temptation to take banned substances or use banned techniques.

3)Cooperate with your coaches, teammates, opponents and the referees.

Respect towards Opponents

A player should:

1)Treat opponents with due respect at all times, irrespective of the result of the game.

2)Safeguard the physical fitness of opponents, avoid violence and rough play, and help injured opponents.

PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT

Respect towards Team Officials

A player should:

1: Abide by the instructions of their Coach and Team Officials, provided they do not contradict the spirit of this Code.

2: SHow due respect towards the Team Officials of opposing teams.

I confirm that I have read and familiarized myself with the above code of conducts of which I must comply.

Print Name: …………………………………………………………. Signature: …………………………………………………………….

Parent Code of Conduct

A parent or guardian should:

•Foster an environment of respect for referees, players, coaches, and spectators of the opposing team through words of encouragement and support.

•Applaud superior play, effort, and sportsmanship by players on both teams.

•Support your coaches and managers consistently regardless of the results on the field. Coaches contribute many hours of their time to your children. They deserve your congratulations when the team wins and your encouragement when the team doesn’t.

•Communicate any concerns to the coach at the appropriate time (24 hour cool off period) away from the playing location and players.

•Always remain at least two yards from the playing field so our young players have room to play and enjoy the game.

•Your cooperation with these standards before, during, and after each game or practice will make Seacoast United more enjoyable for everyone.

A parent or guardian must:

•Never use foul language or obscene gestures at a game or practice site.

•Avoid comments and gestures that express disagreement with referee decisions.

•Cooperate with any request by the game officials.

•Never consume alcoholic beverages on the field location at practices or games.

A parent or guardian understands that:

•Any parent or spectator who fails to adhere to these standards will be required to leave the playing area, and play will be suspended until he or she does so.

•Seacoast United Soccer Club reserves the right to suspend or terminate a player’s enrollment for his or her parent’s persistent or extreme sideline misbehavior, and there will be no refunds of player fees in such cases.

•Parents or guardians are responsible for their guests’ behavior and must inform their guests of the applicable rules of conduct.

Any breaches of this Code of Conduct can result in your child’s suspension and a member’s removal from Seacoast United Soccer Club. Comments and behavior of any member which disrupt the functioning of a team can result in the suspension and/or removal from Seacoast United Soccer Club.

I confirm that I have read and familiarized myself with the above code of conducts of which I must comply.

Print Name: ………………………………………………………….

Signature: …………………………………………………………….

Girls Premier Director & Club Director: Danny Heaney - Dheaney@seacoastunited.com

Assistant Community Programs Coordinator - Kevin Mollison - Kmollison@seacoastunited.com

Assistant Youth Programs Coordinator - Callum Buchanan - Cbuchanan@seacoastunited.com

Marketing Coordinator - Aiden Curran - acurran@seacoastunited.com