The 2016 HHS Soccer Season is Underway!

Welcome to the 2016 Hanover High School boys' soccer season!  This blog will be published daily between now and the end of the season, and is the single most effective way for you to get information about the Hanover High School programs.  We will still send e-mails to parents and players regularly, depending on the sorts of information we need to convey.  We will be working with the HHS Athletic Department and their new Athletics Web page, and encourage you to become a "fan" of that site, which may replace the Shutterfly site that we have used in the past.  But for up to date information and results, this blog is the place to go.  Please bookmark it and daily.  Because I do some of my best work after hours, it makes sense to check it every morning as a matter of routine.

Preseason starts Sunday night with fitness testing at 6:00 at the Hanover High turf field.  We hope to accomplish several things:  1. Sign in every player to get an idea of the numbers to expect for the week ahead; 2. Collect paperwork and checks (so please bring anything that you still owe); 3. Get an idea of individual and team fitness levels.

We will use the "beep test", a continuing 20-yard shuttle run.  Participants try to stay on pace with a series of "beeps" that will mark the time between 20-yard intervals.  The time decreases as the steps continue, and eventually the "beeps" win.  Players should bring comfortable running shoes or sneakers.  Soccer boots are permitted, but no soccer activity of any kind is allowed.  The testing should be over by 7:30 at the latest.

Preseason begins Monday morning at the Dresden fields on Rt. 5 in Norwich.  Heading south on Rt. 5, the entrance is on the left,  just after the Car Store, King Arthur Flower, and the Killdeeer farm stand (in order).  Please observe the parking protocols:  Park in the areas prior to the traffic circle. Players may be dropped off in the circle, but there is no standing at any time.  The area to the right of the circle is for coaches only.  No parent or player cars should be parked parallel or  beyond the circle at any time.

Players must be equipped with shin pads, held up by soccer socks. We cannot and will not give players tape to hold up their socks.  Please do not ask for this.  Player must bring ample drinking water.  One water bottle may not be enough for a two-hour session.  This is an important health issue.
Players will be required to wear mouth guards by Thursday, and actually wear them.  There are new rules this year for mouth guard use, and yellow cards may be given for improper mouth guard use.  We will be giving mouth guards away, and these may be altered to fit individuals, but not cut down significantly as in past years.  This might be the year for you to purchase a higher-end, fitted, dentist approved mouth guard.  Players carded for improper mouth guard use in games and scrimmages will see a drastic reduction in playing time.

The morning sessions this week begin at 10:00.  That means that players must be completely ready to go at 10:00, and not arriving shortly before.  We understand that traffic can be an issue and that there can be conflicts with other activities such as driver's education and health appointments.  However, tardiness means missing warmup time, and this is a health and injury concern.  I will generally be at the fields at 9:00, and will be eager to converse with players and parents between 9:00 and 9:45.  I become much less eager to chat at the start of practice gets closer.  Thank you for understanding the value of punctuality.

The evening sessions Monday-Wednesday are scheduled from 5:00- 7:00.  We will reserve the right to change those times if weather becomes a factor.  We'll be keeping an eye on the weather all week, and ask you to keep an eye on the blog.

Tomorrow's blog will contain the entire schedule for the first two weeks of preseason, and we will shortly publish the schedules for all four HHS teams.