Co-Ed Soccer is played in the Spring and is offered for students in Grades 4 - 8.

Soccer Program Director:  Roy Arnond

8th Grade Varsity: Andrea McHugh

8th Grade Varsity: Roy Arnold

6th Grade Junior Varsity: Brian McHugh

5th Grade Junior Varsity: Chris Yakim

Developmental:  TBD

Administrative Contact: Diana Arnold

Diocese of Pittsburgh Soccer homepage - includes schedules, standings, directions.

Note that directions to games are also listed in the School Sports Calendar - simply click on the event to get a pop-up window with more information, including a link to the google map of the field.

The program has grown to include more than 80 children from grades 4 through 8 who we expect to participate.  We are looking forward to another outstanding season where the students have fun, show good sportsmanship and develop their soccer skills.  We understand that your children may have other commitments at times.  In this regard, we ask only that whenever possible please notify your team's coach when your child will be unable to attend a game on a particular date.

Here are a few key scheduling items:
1.  Practices.  To kick off the season, we will begin practices next week.
The Junior Varsity team will practice on Mondays.
The Developmental team will begin with practice on Wednesdays. (This could change after next week).
The Varsity team will practice on Thursdays.
Practices will be held at the Vincentian High School small field.  For new families, the small field is the field that is located in the front, below the school and closest to McKnight Road.  You can see the field from the intersection of McKnight Road where you turn right to go into McIntyre Square at Peebles Road. 

Subject to darkness, practice will generally begin at 6:00 pm and go until approximately 7:30 pm. 

It is beneficial for the students to attend practice as frequently as possible as this provides them with the most opportunity to be coached and develop their skills.  Please rest assured that a coach will remain at the practice until all children have been picked up.

2.  First Games.   Please try to arrive at a game approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of your team's game.  This will allow time for stretching and warming up appropriately.  It also will afford time for the coaches to check the players' equipment.

For the Varsity and JV teams, we will be looking into possibly scheduling some additional "friendly" matches with some teams.  The purpose of these additional games is to strive to provide some additional playing time given the number of team members.

3.  Team Rosters.  We will circulate rosters once they are finalized so you can see who will be playing on your child's team, including the players from the other grade.  The Developmental team will be all 4th graders.  Some have asked about the prospect of "playing up."  Generally speaking, the 4th graders will play as a team with the goal of encouraging teamwork, good sportsmanship and school spirit.  The 5th and 6th graders will play on JV.  The 7th and 8th graders play on Varsity.  Given the numbers signed up to play on JV and Varsity, I expect that there will likely be limited opportunities for players to play up.  If there is a genuine need due to the depletion of the roster to the point where we would be unable to field a team or lack any substitutes, a coach has the discretion to call up one or more players from a more junior team, subject to good judgment concerning the player's ability to physically compete without risking injury.  In the end though, I wouldn't bet the farm on there being many opportunities to play up this season.  And frankly, for the players who may excel at their age level, there is a lot to be said for them learning the important skills of how to play with all skill levels and to help make their teammates better players.  That is what all the truly great players learn to do.

4.  Medical Issues/Injuries.  We have your registration and physician release paperwork (except perhaps a few).  All paperwork must be supplied before your child can practice or play in any game.  If your child has any serious medical condition, please make it a point to alert your child's coach, including any symptoms to keep an eye out for.  If your child suffers an injury at practice or at a game that requires medical treatment, please notify your team's coach or me as soon as possible and stay in communication with us so that we may submit the appropriate notification to the school, etc.

5.  Equipment and Uniforms.  Players will be issued uniforms at their team practices next week or the following week.  Due to the number of players, we need to use different uniforms for the Varsity team than we used in the past.  Therefore, if you are a Varsity parent/player who is in our "uniform amnesty" program, you will need to turn in your jersey.  Sorry.  We have enough uniforms but to field teams with consistent uniforms and so we match some smaller sizes with the smaller players on the younger teams, we will need the jerseys back to be redistributed.  You'll understand better once uniforms are distributed.

The shirts are all reversible.  Our Home colors are white jerseys and black shorts.  Our Away colors are green jerseys with black shorts.  Each player must wear shin guards and soccer cleats.  Baseball cleats are not acceptable.  Players without the appropriate equipment will not be able to play.  Each player also should bring his or her own bottle or container of water for each practice and game.  Players should drink plenty of water during practices and games.  If you have any questions, please contact your team's head coach.

6.  Practice or Game Cancellations.  As a general matter, soccer games are played even when it rains.  However, we are guests at the Vincentian fields so we consider that fact, the safety of the children and the weather generally when making decisions whether to play or cancel games or practices.  Practices may be cancelled at the coach's discretion either due to weather or when a schedule conflict arises.  The coach (or someone acting on his/her behalf) will notify the team members when there is a cancellation.  Home game cancellations are generally my judgment call with input from the other coaches.  We strive to make these judgment calls as early as practicable given the need to notify the opposing teams and referees.

7.  Martorelli Stadium Games.  For the new families, we try every year to schedule a daylong series of games (Dev./JV/Varsity) at Martorelli Stadium usually in the first few weeks of May.  Once I have a final schedule, we'll evaluate whether we simply relocate one of the May games to Martorelli or add another game date.  The event is a great opportunity for the student-athletes to play in the North Hills stadium.  Stay tuned as details unfold.

8.  Youthtown Playoffs/Tournament.  The Varsity and JV teams need to earn their way into the playoffs each year.  If they do, then those playoffs occur at the Youthtown fields near the Pittsburgh International Airport.  The Developmental team generally plays in an end of the season tournament on the same dates and at the same location.  We are looking forward to our teams doing their best and making a strong showing this year.

9.  League Website.  Add the league website to your favorites.  The site is located at www.leaguelineup.com/dsl.  The site has information on the schedule and standings.  Most importantly, the league website has a "Directions" page that will provide you with directions to any fields where the Away games will be played.  For the Developmental team, please be aware that scores are not recorded and there are no "standings."  The league is instructional to encourage participation, skill development, good sportsmanship and fun.

        Thank you again for your patience as we worked through some administrative matters.  We look forward to another successful season.