Question 1 What should we expect from the NEW Placer United? Answer 1 The environment and culture of the NEW Placer United: will be competitive, with our Red Teams able to compete with the best; will challenge our players and will provide them with the tools to help them realize their full soccer potential; will have a training and development curriculum specifically designed for the U12 to U14 age group/ will be spirited and supportive of all its teams and players. The Club s staff: will communicate with parents and players; will lead by example; will be professional during games and training sessions; will be approachable; and will create a fun and exciting soccer environment for your players. The youth soccer experience goes by fast. It s a journey let s have fun and enjoy it. It is our job to make sure we create a positive environment for as many players / families as possible. Negativity will not be tolerated. Coaches and parents are role models for the players and are representatives of Placer United. Page 1 of 16
Question 2 Why should I choose Placer United for my child? Why is Placer United better than other competitive clubs in the area? Answer 2 Your child can learn soccer from the best competitive soccer club in the Sacramento Region. Placer United has a clear mission! Placer United is led by Executive Director of Coaching, Gregg Thompson. Gregg was a 7-year professional player and the #1 draft choice coming out of college, former member of the U.S. Olympic Team, former member of the U.S. National Team, and Captain of the Indiana University NCAA Division 1 Champions where he was named the Tournament MVP. Placer United Boys Program is led by Paul O Brien. Paul is a B licensed coach committed to Placer United for the past 13+ years. In addition, Paul has been the CDA head coach for the past two years (the only USSF Academy Program in the Sacramento region). Placer United Girls Program is led by Ron Benjamin. Ron is an A licensed coach committed to Placer United for the past 6 years. Placer United is teamed with the San Jose Earthquakes (professional Major League soccer team) to bring their professional regional development program to Sacramento, with Gregg Thompson and Paul O Brien coaching the team for this region. Placer United is the only club in the Sacramento region with its own indoor soccer/futsal facility. Placer United is the only club with its own lighted grass fields (with more to come). Placer United has more licensed coaches on staff than any other club in the Sacramento region. Placer United has the most teams competing in the most competitive leagues in Northern California. Placer United has a legacy that includes past national champions and numerous state cup champions. Placer United is proud of its alumni that include State and Region IV ODP players and youth national team players. Placer United is proud to have a record high of 30+ high school seniors in 2012 who have committed to play college soccer. Placer United is focused on college showcases and college placement with great success in having numerous players continue on to experience college careers in Division I, Division II, and Division III level programs. Placer United is a member of U.S. Club Soccer and NorCal Premier Soccer League. Placer United has an open door policy with a true club environment. We rely on feedback from coaches, parents and players to make our soccer product better. Page 2 of 16
Question 3 Who is the face of the NEW Placer United and ultimately who is responsible? Answer 3 Everyone is the face of the NEW Placer United. The face is all players, all parents, all coaches, all Board members, and Gregg, Paul, and Ron. We all represent Placer United. Everyone is responsible for making the NEW Placer United one of the most respected and highly spirited clubs in Northern California. The buck ultimately stops with Gregg Thompson as the Executive Director of Coaching, with Paul O Brien and Ron Benjamin always offering input and advice as the Directors of Coaching responsible for the Boys and Girls Programs, respectively. Question 4 Who conducts try-outs and who will be making decisions? Answer 4 The head coach for the age group will lead his/her respective try-out with the final roster approved by Gregg Thompson and either Paul O Brien or Ron Benjamin. Question 5 Who will be coaching which age groups? Answer 5 A huge benefit of this newly combined club relates to our staff. We have the opportunity to be very selective when deciding who we retain for the 2012-2013 season. The roster of coaches for U12,, and U14 are posted to the website. Page 3 of 16
Question 6 Please explain the differences between the Blues and Cal Blues (former PAFC) Answer 6 The Blues merged with Placer United. The merge combines the best of the "Blues Way" with the best of "Placer United" to form the NEW Placer United. Cal Blues chose another path and is NOT part of the "Blues Way" or the NEW Placer United. The NEW Placer United and Cal Blues offer different programs based upon different philosophical approaches in how to run a soccer club. Below summarizes the differences between the NEW Placer United and Cal Blues: The NEW Placer United o Has been in existence for 30 years; o Has professional, paid coaches attending 90% or more of their practices, games, and tournaments; o Maintains consistency with a standard training program for U8 to U18; o Includes futsal training once a week for all teams U8 to U18 at its own indoor soccer training facility; o Includes its own lighted grass and all-weather astro-turf facilities; Cal Blues o is also known as the old PAFC or California Blues (founded by Dominick DeRosa); o includes volunteers (usually parents) that coach during games and tournaments and train players during practices; o may include paid trainers advising and assisting the volunteer coaches during practices (but typically not during games); o operates similar to how a CCSL or select program functions as the low cost program; o is PYSL s low-cost option for a competitive league using volunteer coaches. The NEW Placer United supports all PYSL clubs. Many of our families have sons and/or daughters in multiple clubs. We thank the many volunteers who spend countless hours providing soccer options for the children of our community. All clubs provide great alternatives while targeting different levels of skill and demanding different levels of commitment both financially and in time. Page 4 of 16
Question 7 Placer United and Blues have three teams combined for my child s age group. Are you expecting to have two or three teams for 2012/2013? If only two I interpret that to mean roughly one out of every three players currently playing competitive soccer in the two Clubs will not make a Placer United team for 2012/2013. Is that true? Answer 7 We want the Placer United name to exemplify excellence. We will be fielding competitive teams. All of our teams will be playing against other competitive soccer teams in Northern California. In this scenario, we hope for three teams, but can t guarantee the outcome until we determine whether we have adequate talent. If the skill level justifies three teams, we will field a Red, White, and Black team. If we do not have adequate talent to form three teams, we will offer two (Red and White). Question 8 We are concerned about favoritism to former players or unfair try-outs because of politics. How do we know that won t be a factor in the upcoming try-outs? What assurance can you give us that tryouts will be fair and unbiased? Answer 8 It will NOT happen. We will select the best players. This is competitive soccer focused on building the best teams possible! With WINNING being one of the ultimate goals, why would we not select the best players for our teams? To be the best, we must select the best talent. Gregg, Paul and Ron are all aware of this issue and will be involved with all tryouts and selection processes. As for the concern about favoritism let s address it head-on. The evaluation of talent goes through a similar process each season: All coaches and observing parents can quickly identify the top four to five players in an age group. That s easy! Page 5 of 16
Answer 8 (continued) Frequently Asked Questions The next seven to eight players that comprise the middle group are more difficult. This group will be comprised of players who range in skill, speed, and size/stature. Some players will have more speed but less skill, others will have more skill but less speed, and others yet will have adequate skill and speed but be small in size/stature. While this group of players will produce some degree of disagreement between coaches about how they rank after the top group, there is likely a general consensus among coaches and even observing parents about which players belong in this middle group. The biggest differences of opinion occur with those players on the bubble, players that don t really stand out. These selections usually include the final two to three players selected to a team. Depending upon the number of players at tryouts, we might have five to ten players vying for these final spots. Most everyone (coaches included) will have differences of opinion on these selections. From the coach s perspective, the final choices might come down to the actual position that a player plays, the degree of hustle and effort during tryouts, or one of several other factors. It is likely this last group of two to three players is where parents cry foul. Ultimately, the coach is responsible for the success of his/her team. Depending upon the makeup of the remaining players on the team, the coach may be biased toward selecting speed, skill, and/or size for the final spots. Each coach and each team dynamic is different. The final two to three players will come down to coach preference. This is why it is sometimes suggested that there is favoritism or why soccer is tagged as the who you know sport. Please keep in mind, one of the factors coaches will be evaluated on is their win/loss records. They are motivated to pick the best players. It is Gregg s, Paul s, and Ron s job to make sure that happens. Please keep this in mind during the 2012/2013 tryouts. Page 6 of 16
Question 9 Is my son or daughter guaranteed playing time? Answer 9 We are a competitive soccer club. We do not guarantee playing time. The amount of time you play is earned based upon your ability to impact the game, your hard work and dedication, your attendance, and your improvement as a competitive soccer player. However, every attempt will be made to ensure all players will play a minimum of 35%-50% of all league/tournament games. Please remember, when challenged and facing a must win game, we will be fielding our strongest team. Part of the formula for the success of our Club is winning, and unfortunately, at times, playing time is sacrificed. Question 10 Does Placer United allow players to play-up to an older age group? If yes, how do we go about doing that? Answer 10 YES. Players are allowed to play-up though it s viewed as an exception to the rule. Each player is required to tryout in his/her own age group. The respective Director of Coaching will determine whether it is to the player s benefit to play-up to the older age group. Question 11 Will coaches have a standard training program that they will follow with defined expectations? Answer 11 Absolutely! The NEW Placer United will use the same training program that has been used to develop the talent of several players selected to the U.S. Youth National Team. All coaches will be held to a high standard of excellence both on the field during games/practices and off the field in their interactions with parents and in the soccer community. Page 7 of 16
Question 12 Will futsal be included as part of the training curriculum? Answer 12 Yes! One of the reasons for the slight increase in dues is to cover the additional cost for futsal training. We believe futsal is critical to player development. The cost of renting a futsal court is three to four times more expensive on a per team basis than renting a grass or turf field; however, the training benefit is enormous. Fortunately, we have secured a long-term lease for the Placer United Indoor Soccer Training Facility. All teams will have at least one futsal session per week. In addition, the indoor facility will provide: an indoor keeper training area; free age-group-specific drop-in games on the weekend players show up, pick teams and play like in the old days; small ball soccer training with a size 1 or size 2 soccer ball to develop ball skills; and parent s date night drop your son/daughter off and let him/her play soccer while the parents get a quiet dinner out with no kids. Question 13 In which leagues will the teams be playing? Answer 13 The NEW Placer United will have teams playing in different leagues varying by team: the Regional Academy League, the Norcal League (spring, fall and/or winter) and the WCDA League. Page 8 of 16
Question 14 Who comprises the Board of Directors and Leadership Team for Placer United? Answer 14 The Board of Directors is here to support the governance and mission of the Club and is comprised of the following voting members: Nelle Thompson Board Chair Jonna Ward Vice Chair/Treasurer/Secretary Jeanne Mabry Board Member Brad Tooker Board Member Beth Meuser Board Member The Advisors to the Board of Directors include the following non-voting roles: Gregg Thompson Executive Director of Coaching Paul O Brien Director of Boys Coaching Ron Benjamin Director of Girls Coaching Jodi Tarr Director of Administration Page 9 of 16
Question 15 Where will we be training? Frequently Asked Questions Answer 15 Our facilities are first class and the best in the Sacramento region. Placer United will have sole access to its own 27,000 square foot indoor training facility (located near the intersection of Highway 65 and Sunset). In addition, Placer United will have sole access to the fields we have developed through a public-private partnership with Cirby Elementary School. With the following facilities, we can assemble our training schedule weeks in advance allowing parents to plan ahead. Placer United Indoor Soccer Training Facility, Rocklin (1091 Tinker Road) o 4 futsal fields o 1 keeper training area o waiting area for parents complete with Wi/Fi and large screen TV Cirby Elementary School, Roseville o 1 grass field (lighted) o 2 small grass fields (lighted) Del Oro High School, Loomis o 3 grass fields (lighted) o 1 turf field (lighted) Oakmont High School, Roseville o 1 grass field (lighted) o 1 turf field (lighted) To allow our fields to rest and recover, there may be a brief two to three week period of time during the summer when we choose to use fields other than those mentioned above. Question 16 When will the indoor training facility on Tinker Road open for training? Answer 16 The tenant improvements have begun. The facility is schedule to open for training sometime during March 2012. Page 10 of 16
Question 17 The rumor mill says Placer United bought the building on Tinker Road for the indoor soccer facility and GT Soccer (Gregg Thompson) will be running his own leagues from the building purchased by Placer United. Is that true? If yes how is that a benefit to Placer United? Answer 17 The rumor mill is wrong! Placer United did not buy the building. An LLC entity owned by three investors purchased the indoor soccer facility on Tinker Road in Rocklin. Placer United signed a long-term lease with the building owners, at a below-market rate with 12 months of free rent in year one, in exchange for using the facility 100% of the time with 24/7 access. Likewise, Placer United has the flexibility to rent or sub-lease the facility to other entities if they so choose during those times when the facility is not being used by Placer United teams. Question 18 When are club breaks? Answer 18 Below is the schedule for club-wide breaks for the 2012-2013 season: U8: June 1 July 31, 2012 U9 to U14: June 25 July 6, 2012 U9 to U18: December 21, 2012 January 4, 2013 U15 to U18: The prior season ends in late spring. Team breaks for summer and fall will be decided by the coach depending upon the needs of the team. Club-Wide: November 19-25, 2012 (unless the team is playing a tournament) Club-Wide: No practices on Federal Holidays Page 11 of 16
Question 19 How is the money we are paying Placer United being spent? Answer 19 Placer United is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The money you pay funds the mission of the organization. The fees you pay cover coaching salaries, referee costs, tournament entry fees, league registration fees, field usage, coach s travel expenses, college identification processes, and office space. The breakdown of our expenses for every $1 spent is as follows: 49.4% Coaching Staff 24.0% Field Cost 13.7% Tournaments 6.2% League Play 6.7% Operations and Administration 100.0% Question 20 During the 2011/2012 season, the Premier teams for Placer United paid lower monthly dues than the Elite teams. While we understand that cost will vary by age group, we heard via the rumor mill that monthly dues for the Red (A), White (B), and Black (C) teams will be the same. Is that true? If yes what is the rationale for doing this? Answer 20 YES monthly dues for the Red, White, and Black teams will be the same. We offer one soccer product that varies by age group, irrespective of whether the player is on the Red, White, or Black team. Our product includes paid coaching, tournaments with appropriately matched competition, league play, indoor soccer/futsal training, outdoor training on grass or astro-turf fields, and player evaluations in addition to including pick-up games and other activities at our indoor soccer training facility. Page 12 of 16
Question 21 My son/daughter played for the Blues during the 2011/2012 season. We practiced three times per week with one of those practices usually including futsal at CalFit. Why will my monthly dues increase since that s the same type and number of practices as what we will have with Placer United in 2012/2013? Answer 21 Going forward, the Blues could not continue providing dedicated futsal at the same monthly dues as what you paid in 2011/2012. The cost at CalFit is increasing, and high demand with limited availability continues to drive the price higher. Further, had the Blues expanded to include more teams in 2012/2013, we would have had inadequate capacity to support all teams. Bottom-line had Placer United and Blues not merged, the monthly dues for Blues would have increased or our soccer product would not have included futsal. Page 13 of 16
Question 22 What is my financial commitment for monthly dues and for the registration fee? Answer 22 Placer United is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The money paid by parents funds the mission of the organization. If the financial commitment from parents is not fulfilled, none of this is possible. Monthly Dues. Monthly dues for players are summarized below and are paid on the 1st of each month in advance of the month not paid in arrears. Monthly dues are scheduled and paid electronically on a monthly basis through GotSoccer. No refunds will be granted for monthly dues. The minimum number of months to be charged aligns with the minimum season defined below. If the minimum season extends beyond the dates shows below due to continued playing of additional games for State Cup, league, or tournaments additional monthly dues beyond the minimum noted below will be charged in half-month increments, with 50% charged if the season is extended for 1 to 15 days, and 100% charged if the season is extended for 16 to 30 days. The date of the last game is different on a team by team basis. : Minimum of 10 months March 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 Monthly Dues $195 per month Registration Fee $295 Registration Fee. The registration fee will be collected at the team kickoff meeting scheduled shortly after the completion of tryouts. No refunds will be granted for registration fee. Page 14 of 16
Question 23 In addition to monthly dues and the registration fee described above, what additional costs should I expect to incur? Answer 23 Each player is responsible for the cost of his/her travel, uniform, training kit, and shin guards as further described below. Travel. Each player is responsible for his/her travel expenses for league play and tournaments. Depending upon the age group and the team, this could include the cost of hotel, airplane tickets, meals, gasoline, and/or other incidentals. Uniforms and Training Kits. Each player is required to purchase one uniform and one training kit. The cost of a uniform is estimated at $150 to $175 depending upon the size. This includes two jerseys, two pairs of shorts, and two sets of socks. The training kit is required per our existing contract with Adidas and is estimated at $50. This includes one practice shirt, one pair of shorts, and one set of socks with the practice shirt printed, at no charge, with the club logo and potential sponsors on the back. Each player is required to wear only the new red and white training kit at practice. Please note that all Placer United uniforms and practice gear are to be ordered directly from Extreme Soccer (the designated vendor per Placer United s contract with Adidas). Shin Guards. Each player is required to wear shin guards during all organized training sessions, scrimmages, and games. As required by our insurance policy, players not wearing shin guards will not be allowed to play. Optional Gear. Each player has the option, but not the requirement, to purchase additional practice shirts ($16 each), warm-ups, and soccer bags at an additional cost. Spirit Wear. Players and parents have the option to purchase spirit wear at an additional cost. Please visit our Placer United Store to learn more. Page 15 of 16
Question 24 We may need financial assistance to afford Placer United. What financial assistance is provided by the Club? Answer 24 We are sensitive to the various price-points that families can afford. While we know the NEW Placer United is more expensive than PYSL clubs due to paid coaches, more training, committed futsal, dedicated facilities, and out-of-town tournaments we are also committed to providing fundraising tool kits to help families lower the cost of competitive soccer. Visit our Fundraising Toolkit page to learn more about how you can raise funds to minimize your costs. This might include giving priority to our older players to be paid referees, securing advertising at our futsal facility with the net proceeds going directly toward lowering your dues, or providing items for our annual auction that allow you to retain 50% to 100% of the proceeds. Parents and players who are willing to knock on doors can nearly eliminate the full cost of playing competitive soccer. Question 25 You say you have an open door policy. If I want to make suggestions, how do I do so? Answer 25 We definitely have an open door policy. This Club is for the players. If you have feedback, comments or suggestions on how we can improve, please contact us through the Open Door Policy button on the home page of our website at www.placerunited.com. We always want to get better! In addition, you can always address questions to Gregg by emailing or calling him at Gregg@placerunited.com or 916-716-4735. Page 16 of 16