Q: Can you give me some advice on what equipment I need to buy, and where I can get it?

A: Players aged 4-6 use #3 balls, 7-13 use #4, and 14-18 use #5.  You don’t need a name-brand ball – Franklin will do just fine initially, but you should make sure the ball is stitched, not glued!  You should bring a ball to each practice for use in drills – but please make sure it is clearly marked in several places with your child’s name and phone number.  Balls do get mixed up and lost, and the writing does get erased over time.  We don’t recommend that you bring a ball to games, as it’s much easier for it to get lost at our fields.

You also need to provide:

• soccer cleats
• full-length black socks
• black shorts
• shin guards (see advice below)

Shin guards must be covered by the socks.  The Club supplies a shirt, which must be worn to every game.  The shirt must be tucked in during games, and must not be mutilated.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get soccer stuff for a beginner.  K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. all have sporting goods sections that carry soccer balls, shin guards, even goalie gloves.  Bob’s Store in Freehold is good for cleats – but balls and shin guards are carried sporadically with only limited selection.  Consignment Sports have new as well as used equipment.  More specialized stores include the Soccer Post (Eatontown),  or Modell’s or Dick’s (Freehold & Manalapan).  Champs also carries balls, shin guards, cleats and socks.  And if you can’t find them elsewhere, we will have a limited supply of shorts and socks for sale at our fields at our cost price for the first couple of weekends of the season.  And finally, there are plenty of places to buy on-line.

Some advice on shin guards:

• Bob Hoenig says:  Those “one piece” shin guards are a bad idea, especially for a younger kid.  The shin guards that you put on your child’s leg (they usually have Velcro straps that hold them in place) and are then covered by the soccer sock are made of a harder fiberglass material.  They offer more protection.  And you can get them at any store that sells sporting goods, including the local department stores.
• Mario Guarino says:  I have, use, and would continue to recommend the style with the stirrup and ankle protection. I feel they offer more coverage in areas likely to get kicked, they are very secure on the leg (not a lot of movement or twisting around) and a long soccer sock fits comfortably over them. Which is another drawback to the sock & shin guard combination: we require black socks whereas Howell United (traveling soccer club) usually is green and I am not sure how many layers of socks one wants on his/her feet!

Q: What if it rains?

A: You should always assume that games are ON unless you hear otherwise.  Games may be canceled if there are concerns for the players’ safety or well-being, or if the fields are in poor condition. Usually the decision is made by the Club, but occasionally Howell Recreation Department makes it for us and closes the fields.

The decision for Friday games is usually made mid-to-late afternoon.  The decision for Saturday games is usually made at the fields around 7:00AM.  If we cancel, we announce it on our web page. We will e-mail members and coaches of the teams scheduled to play that day. We no longer call coaches, but coaches should then call their teams.  If the weather looks “iffy,” you should definitely check our website and your e-mail.

Remember: If there is no information that says games are canceled you must assume that they are on, and be at the fields in time for your game.

Also note that the Board of Education sometimes closes school fields because of inclement weather, and sometimes for other reasons such as tick-spraying. Should that happen, we’ll notify coaches and post a notice on our web page. Always check before coming out to practice on a rainy day.

Q: What if there’s a thunderstorm during a game or practice?

A: For safety, at the first sign of an approaching thunderstorm all games are immediately suspended and the fields are cleared.  Operations may be canceled for the day.

Coaches must follow the same procedures during practices.

Q: What can my child wear under his/her uniform for cold-weather games?

A: Safety and warmth are things we pay very close attention to.  Your child can wear anything warm under his uniform shirt.  As long as the shirt is showing, that’s all we care about…. sweat pants, jackets etc. are all acceptable… even gloves and hats if it gets too cold… your choice!  If the weather becomes too inclement we would call the games.

Q: Can you please give me some information about the Winter Indoor Soccer program?  Do you have to be a member of Pinelanders to play?

A: To qualify for the indoor program a player must be aged 7 or older on the following April 1st. We start sign-up around the end of the Fall season. The program usually begins the first Friday of the new year; games are played Friday evenings in the Middle School North gym. Players are assigned to teams, but it’s much less formal, and nobody cares who wins. Games are about 30 minutes. The registration fee is $5.

Only those who have personally been Pinelanders players or referees in the preceding Spring or Fall season are eligible for the indoor program – siblings do not qualify.  The children of anyone who was a coach or Board member of Pinelanders during either of those seasons are also eligible to play, even if they did not play themselves in the Spring or Fall season.  See our Policies document for the full eligibility rules.

Q: This is our first year in Pinelanders and I would like to know what Trophy Day/Night involves.

A: Trophy Day/Night is held on a Saturday, usually the weekend after our last games of the season. In the Spring season we hold a big family BBQ at the fields, with some fun events.  In the Fall season it’s held in the evening, usually in the Middle School North cafetorium.

It takes about an hour per division, and different divisions come at different times. Teams usually bring pizza, soda etc., and we award trophies to the players , and make various other awards. Players should wear their team shirts.

In the Fall season Trophy Night is also our Annual Meeting of Members, so we hold elections for Board positions.

Q: How old do you have to be to qualify as a referee?

A: The minimum age for a license is 14.

Q: How old do you have to be to qualify as a coach?

A: Pinelanders’ policies require a head coach to be at least 21, and an assistant coach to be 18.  But if you’re not yet 18 and you want to help out with coaching, let us know – we can assign you to a team as an “extra” assistant, and many coaches are glad of some regular extra help.

The minimum age for a coach’s F-license is 18, but you can take the class at 14, and get a trainer’s certificate.