Important JI Spring Updates 2023

SPRING IS HERE!

We are so excited to see kids training and competing again on the fields this spring. Our amazing Director of Coaching (DOC), Nick Swaim, is usually at the fields coaching or doing field maintenance every weekday evening so if you haven't said hello or if you have a question, he's around. He'd love to put some faces with names and answer any questions you may have about the club. If you have a medical emergency, Nick has a first aid kit and AED!

Tryouts are coming in June! Mark your calendars! More information below!

A few reminders for families to help keep our fields looking nice and families safe:

If you are walking a dog during training, please make sure you stay to the perimeter of the fields and pick up all messes.
There is NO parking on Moreau Court. We've had several businesses complain as they are open 24 hours and use courier services that need full access to the street. We want to keep families and vehicles safe and our parking lots are plenty large enough. Thank you for your help!
If you are exercising during training, please be careful if you run/walk on the road or in the parking lots. There are many cars coming and going all evening.

The Jr. Irish MDI Tournament (May 26-May 28) is coming up quickly! Please note that our local JI teams could have games on Friday evening and that we are playing at both Newton Park and the JI Fields. If you are scheduled at Newton Park, please know that every team is guaranteed a game at the JI fields. The schedule will not be finalized until the week of 5/22. Every family is required to donate 2 hours per child in the club (limit of 4 hours) at somepoint throughout the season. We will be sending out a volunteer sign-up sheet in a couple of weeks. You'll want to sign up early to get the job and shift that you want!

Good Luck to all teams this spring in league play, various tournaments as well as the state tournaments in May!

2023-2024 Season Information

Nick will be holding in-person and zoom meetings the week of May 1 and May 15 to talk about next year's season. He plans to cover try-out details, team information as well as club fees.

For U15 (2009 birth year) players, Nick plans to have a meeting NEXT WEEK (week of 4/24) to discuss how it works when playing for your high school as well as those players that will still be in 8th grade (trap players.)

Watch social media and stay tuned for meeting information.

Tryout dates for 2023-2024:

Tuesday, June 6, 5:30-6:30 pm:

U8-U10

(2017-2014 birth years)

Monday, June 12

& Tuesday, June 13: time TBA

U11-U19

(2013-2005 birth years)

Supplemental Tryouts 6 - 7:15 pm:

Thursday, June 15: 2017-2005 birth years

Monday, June 19: 2017-2005 Birth Years

IMPORTANT NOTES:

The link for tryouts will be live on 4/19. You must select 2023-2024 tryouts in your demosphere account. If you sign-up for the previous year's tryouts,

you won't be in the system for the 2023-2024 season.

Any returning player who can't attend tryouts due to family vacation, school or a camp, reach out to Nick Swaim so we can get them properly placed on a team.

All returning players must wear their training jersey to tryouts.

Financial aid applications will be done at tryouts via QR code. All families wishing to apply must bring proof of current income to turn in at tryouts.

Help us protect our fields!

Over the past year, our storage containers have been broken into several times. We continue to implement a variety of security features to protect our equipment and gear but we'd love your help.

If you are handy and can help install/implement higher gauge locks, weld lock boxes, donate/install shed doors or more, please contact our Facility Director: Mike Krempec.

And as always, if you see someone suspicious or

it feels like something is off, please immediately report it

to Nick or call the police.

Hacienda & JI

Give Back Day

Thursday

April 27th

ALL DAY!

Jr. Irish is thrilled to partner with the Hacienda restaurant

on Portage Road for a club fundraiser.

Present the coupon (shown above) electronically or a physical print-out ANYTIME on Thursday, April 27th and JI will receive

20% of all Hacienda sales!

You know you're already driving out to the fields, why not pick up dinner for your family and support the club?

Hacienda Restaurant

3903 Portage Ave, South Bend, IN 46628

Spring Outdoor Coaching Focus

Now that we are officially outside on grass fields with more space, we have a variety of skills and strategies that teams are working on. Each team's development and focus is different but for those soccer junkies out there, we continue to improve upon quick and organized transitions, high press in the attacking third, passing and finding space in between the lines, and solid individual and block defending.

Coach Corner: Clay Bright

Clay coaches THREE JI teams: 06 Girls Premier, 08 Boys Green and the 11 Boys Green teams

He has been a soccer coach for over 5 years and is currently in the process of joining the South Bend St. Joseph Girls Soccer Coaching staff. Clay loves watching the development of players and giving them the necessary tools to be ready for the next level of play.

Most of all, Clay loves the passion within the sport of soccer and how it unites the enitre world. "No other sport can do the same thing."

When he's not coaching or playing in a men's outdoor soccer league, he works as a Branch Manager at the First State Bank in Elkhart and plays in a bowling league.

First Aid & CPR Training

Jr. Irish takes the health and safety of our families and players very seriously. We are thrilled to remind you know that our club invested in an AED device that will be available for Academy home games and other Jr. Irish home games. We are offering First Aid & CPR training to

all coaches and Board members.

Know of anyone that wants 2 lacrosse goals?

We have two at the fields that we'd like to sell. Message Mike and make an offer!