Game 6 - Last Game & Awards

 We are so excited to close our first season back together!  As is tradition, Cielo will be playing Cielo during the hours we have an even number of Cielo teams.  Then, we will head to the tent for certificates, trophies, and ribbon awards!  We can't wait to see all your smiling eyes tomorrow!

Everyone playing at their normal times tomorrow, except for:

• 11:00am - Lightning v. Thunderstorm
• 1:30pm - All-Stars v. Barcelona (Waggoner)
• Calling any 7-8 year olds! Anyone that wants to play a double-header (FREE), be there for the 10:00am game!

Game 5 - Heading Down the Home Stretch

We are excited and sad that we are headed into the home-stretch of our season.  With only two more games (Dec. 5th and 12th), it will be over in a blink.  We are going to make the most of the time we have left of this wacky and wonderful season.  We are looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow at Waggoner for Game #5, so come ready to play!

Weekly Reminders:

• Sign-in your child on the app Saturday morning or when you arrive (FALL season, not winter)
• Come to the white tent for check-in and temperature checks
• Wear your mask 
• Maintain a safe social distance
• Cheer on those soccer stars!!!

Saturday Updates:

• Cyclones (7-8 y.o.) are playing at 11:00 am this week
• Barcelona and All-Stars will be playing at Waggoner this week

See you at the pitch!

-Coach Sean & Erin

Happy Turkey Day!

 Happy Thanksgiving, Cielo Soccer Stars!  We are so grateful for our Cielo soccer family and all the joy you bring to our lives.  We hope you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving as we reflect on all that we have to be grateful for during these turbulent times.  We love seeing you every Saturday and hope you enjoy your week off and spend some time with family.  We will see you all back on Saturday, December 5th.

***********************HAPPY THANKSGIVING************************

Game 4 - Cielo is Rockin' the Fields

 We are so proud of all of our Cielo soccer stars!  You come every week, ready to play with winning attitudes.  It's going to be another wonderful day at the Waggoner pitch!  Thank you for coming prepared with everything you need, as it helps everything go smoothly.  Here are a few reminders, as it's easy to forget with our busy lives.

Reminders:

• Check-in on the ActivStars app Saturday morning (at the field or before you arrive)
• The app has been defaulting to the "Winter" season, so change it to "Fall 2020"
• All players and spectators need their temperature checked at our white tent
• All players need to mask-up
• Spectators must wear masks as well, unless maintaining a safe social distance from others
• 13-15 year old teams, Barcelona and Argentina, will be at Waggoner tomorrow, Nov. 21st
• 7-8 year old team, Thunderstorm, will be playing at 11 am tomorrow
• All other team times/locations are the same

See you at the pitch!

-Coach Sean and Erin

Game 3 - Wonderful Weather

 It's about time that the weather is finally cooling down to a balmy 75 degrees on Saturday.  It's a much needed reprieve from the hottest summer on record (and seemingly longest).  We greatly appreciate all you do to keep making our strange but fabulous soccer season going full steam ahead!  Thank you for checking in, taking temps, masking up, and doing it all with a smile.  We undoubtedly have the best site in the league, and it wouldn't be so without all of you.  We know check-in ran a little long last week with the extra temp checks, but we will hopefully speed things up tomorrow.

• 13-15 year old teams - All-Stars & Barcelona ONLY
• All-Stars and Barcelona will be alternating game locations (Waggoner & Patterson) due to fewer teams this season
• This Saturday, Nov. 14th, they will be playing at Patterson Elementary at 1:30pm
• 1211 E. Guadalupe Rd., Gilbert 85234

Game 2 - Recap & Updates ***MASK UPDATE***11/7/20

 ***We just received word from the corporate office, that masks are now REQUIRED on the field.  The policy changed since our post yesterday, so we are trying to keep up with ever-changing mandates.  Thank you so much for your continuing support*** #StrongTogether #StrongerCielo

Wowza!  What a great turn-out for the first game of the season!  I heard lots of positive feedback about our new game site, WAGGONER, including lots of shade and parking.  This Saturday should be much cooler, and we are excited for the fall weather!  We love the game portion of the season, and seeing the kids put their skills to work!

We received some updates regarding a few policy changes, due to the Covid restrictions and concerns, so bear with us.  You have all been doing such a wonderful job, going with the flow of all the changes, and we are so grateful for your support.

Soccer Protocol:

• Check-in 
• Check-in through the ActivStars app each week (it's open Saturday morning)
• I just confirm check-in when you arrive at the check-in tent
• Temperature checks
• Players AND spectators now need their temperatures checked upon arrival
• Illness / make-up 
• If your child is sick, please keep them home. 
• I can help you schedule a make-up class by playing an additional game when they are feeling better
• Masks
• Are required to be worn by players and spectators upon arrival and departure
• Once settled, spectators may remove mask when socially distanced
• Players are REQUIRED to were a mask on the field
• We know this is not ideal, but that little step will go a long way in making game day go more smoothly.
• Throw-ins
• Any call that would normally yield a throw-in, will now be a kick-in
• Please remind your kids of this changes, and we will reiterate it at the game as well
• 13-15 year old teams - All-Stars & Barcelona ONLY
• All-Stars and Barcelona will be alternating game locations (Waggoner & Patterson) due to fewer teams this season
• This Saturday, Nov. 7th, they will be playing at Waggoner

Again, we greatly appreciate your support and cooperation during these ongoing changes.  Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Let the Games Begin - October 31st

 We are so excited for games to start tomorrow!  There will be four fields set up up at Waggoner, and the field assignments will be at the registration table.  Here are a few things to remember:

• Arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled game time
• Go directly to our check-in table (normal spot) for temperature check and verify you've checked in
• Equipment/Uniform -
• Uniform/light blue shirt (if you have one)
• Pinnie (if you have one)
• soccer ball
• cleats
• shin guards
• water

See you at the pitch!

Last Practice and Teams

 This year continues to surprise us with an unprecedented season and many changes to accommodate our new format.  We feel so blessed to have such an amazing Cielo family.  It has been challenging with many facing unforeseen hardships, worries, and burdens.  Yet, we now can come together every Saturday, be with friends and family, and put our cares away for an hour or two.  

We are so grateful that so many felt comfortable to return and starting with us this season.  Other sites have not been as lucky, and numbers at other locations are at a record low.  Due to this, we have made some slight changes to game format, to accommodate fewer players.  On the bright side, our new game site is WAGGONER PARK!  Here's a summary:

• Game Site: Waggoner Park
• 5-12 year old teams (6 v. 6)
• 13-15 year old teams (5 v. 5)
• 13-15 year olds will alternate locations

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

We have been contacted by the office twice due to issues with check-in, so please adhere to the new guidelines.  We were unclear about them as well, so we completely understand.  Please help us properly follow all new protocol, as we all learn these things together.  

• Upon arrival, come to the tent with your child
• All players need their temperature checked
• Parents, need to check in your child through the ActivStars app
• If you do not have the app, you can download it at the App or Google Play store on your device
• If you have not been checking in your child on the app weekly, please login and reconcile their attendance
• Students who are in attendance and paid in full, I am able to and have checked in your child weekly
• The app does not allow me to check in students who are paying weekly, and it must be authorized by your app
• You must use the email login associated with your child's account in order to view their classes and check-in for the day

If you have any issues with the app or doing your weekly check-in that I cannot fix, please contact the office so they can guide you.  

ActivStars Office: 480-603-3780

We know these changes are not easy, so we appreciate your patience as we navigate them together.

We are so excited to see you all tomorrow.  Coach Sean will be announcing teams, and we will get in our last Saturday practice before heading into games.

See you at the pitch!

-Coach Sean and Erin

Week 3 - Special Guest

 We hope you are enjoying fall break, for those of you who have one.  We are taking our first family vacation since last year, so it's been a nice reprieve.  Even though schools are on break, we are still on for soccer!  

Tomorrow, you have a special guest coach, Jose Velarde.  He comes with extensive experience as a club trainer, and a coach for club, high school and ActivStars soccer.  Most recently, he's been named the soccer trainer for the east and west valley.  We have known coach Jose for years and are lucky to benefit from his vast experience and love for the sport.  Coach Andy will be there running practices tomorrow as well, so you will be in good hands.  If you are out of town for the break, please email me to let me know.  Your child can do a make-up class when you return.  

We are excited to hear about your wonderful day of practice tomorrow!

Week 2 - Practice Times

 Tomorrow is our first day of regular practice times, and we are so excited!  We love our shade and parking at our new location, so we are liking our new digs.

A few things to remember:

• Check in at the white tent upon arrival
• ALL players need their temperature checked before getting on the field
• Payments are made online through the Activstars site
• Students must be registered before playing
• Purchase a black/white pinnie online through the ActivStars website
• Bring plenty of water - there will be no water available on site
• Comfy clothes, cleats, shinguards, and a MASK

Practice Times:

• 9:00 am - 5-6 year olds
• 10:00 am - 7-8 year olds
• 11:00 am - 9-10 year olds
• 12:00 pm - 11-15 year olds

Let's Get Ready for Soccerrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

It's finally here, and we couldn't be more excited!  Though it will look a little different, we are making it happen!  Below are some basic first-day reminders and some updated Covid protocols. 

LOCATION: 

WAGGONER PARK ( 1100 E. Carver Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284)

• If you registered at Hangar Park (our original location), your registration was transferred to the Waggoner roster.

ONLINE REGISTRATION is through ACTIVSTARS: Soccer Registration

Select from Drop-down: 

• State: AZ-->City: Tempe-->Location:Waggoner Park-->Sport: Soccer

Registration Day: (Sep. 26th) 

• 5-6 years - Registration @ 9:00 am & Practice @ 9:30-10:20 am
• 7-8 years - Registration @ 10:45 am & Practice @ 11:15-12:05 pm
• 9-15 years - Registration @ 12:30 pm & Practice @ 1:00-1:50 pm

Equipment:

• Uniform or comfortable clothes
• Shinguards
• Soccer ball 
• 5-6 years - Size 3
• 7-10 years - Size 4
• 11-15 years - Size 5
• ActivStars Pinnie (order online - Practice Pinnie )
• Equipment & uniforms will NOT be sold on-site, so please order online
• If you are ordering a uniform or equipment online, and you're using a voucher, email michael@activstars.com to order
• Bring plenty of WATER

Restrooms:

• Restrooms are not available on site, so have your child go before practice

Covid Procedures:

• Must check-in weekly, at the table, for no-touch digital check-in
• ALL players and spectators (parents, siblings, grandparents) will need to have their temperature checked (no-touch) before going to the field
• PLAYERS must wear a mask
• Players can removed mask when on the field and socially distant
• Families do not have to wear masks while sitting in household groups and socially distant from other families
• When not socially distant, masks must be worn
• For a complete overview of ActivStars Covid Guidelines, visit the website: ActivStars Covid Guidelines

We know these changes are not ideal, but they are procedures we need to follow in order to be able to play together.  We are so excited to play, we are just excited to see everyone and be out there!

See you at the pitch!

-Coach Sean and Erin

LOCATION CHANGE - WAGGONER PARK

NEW LOCATION 

We were just informed of a location change for this season.  Due to scheduling conflicts at Hangar Park, we have been moved to Waggoner Park, which many of you are probably familiar with the location.  When you register, Hangar/Cielo will not be listed.  Make sure you register for the WAGGONER PARK location (see below).

Waggoner Park

1100 E. Carver Rd.

Tempe, AZ 85284

PAYMENT CHANGES

Another change you'll notice is the payment.  Since fees are now paid directly through ActivStars, not Kyrene, there are two options: Pay in Full OR Pay registration & first class then payment deducts weekly.  All transactions will be made online, as we are not allowed to accept payments in person.  

VOUCHERS

Many of you who prepaid for tournament last season have (or should have) a voucher for tournament fees.  If you prepaid and did not receive a voucher, please contact the ActivStars office. Vouchers can be used for equipment or merchandise through ActivStars.  All students a required to purchase a pinnie/vest this semester, since we are unable to share equipment (see below).  If you want to use your voucher for equipment/pinnie purchase, contact michael@activstars.com.  If you want to use your voucher to pay for classes, register online and pay for registration and the first class.  Then, bring the voucher to the first class, and it will be applied to the cost.

NO EQUIPMENT SALES

Due to the fact that we are technically using parks as opposed to being sponsored by schools, we are not allowed to take payments of any kind at practice.  Therefore, we will not be able to sell equipment on site.  Shin guards and balls can be purchased online through ActivStars or at any sporting goods store.  

OTHER UPDATES

Keep an eye out for updates on the blog/email this week.  I'll send a more comprehensive email later this week, so you are have all the information you need for 

WE ARE BACK!!! Fall Season Start - September 26th

 It has been a lonnnnnnnng time since we've hit the pitch to play soccer, and we have the green light!  

First, we hope you all are doing well.  We know that the past six months has been difficult for so many, and we have been constantly thinking about you.  As things are still constantly changing, we are excited to at least be able to meet again and start playing soccer.  Our girls have been begging to start, and I've heard many of your kids are as well.

As with everything, you are going to see changes to maintain the upmost safety.  What won't change, is our dedication to soccer and the amazing families we love to see every week.

Our location for this season is Hangar Park in Tempe, which is the same general area as our previous sites.  Activstars prides themselves in their school partnerships, but at the current time, they were unable to do so.  In the meantime, we have a great park to play and are excited to get going.

Due to the fact that it is a city park, we are unable to take any type of payment.  This isn't entirely new to our location, since we are used to using Kyrene for payments.  However, this means that we will not be selling any soccer gear the first three weeks on-site, and payments will be made directly through ActivStars.

Right now, the most important thing to do is REGISTER for the fall season.  Please use the link below to register for our fall season starting on September 26th.  We will not be able to take payment on-site, so please register and pay (payments or full) before that date.  We don't know if/when they will need to cap our numbers, so the sooner you can register, the better!

I will be posting more information about the upcoming season, changes, check-in procedures, etc., so we will be keeping you posted.  

Hangar Park

501 E. Knox Rd.

Tempe, AZ 85248

After you click on the link below, select:

• State: AZ
• City: Tempe
• Location: Hangar Park
• Sport: Soccer

Register Here - Cielo Soccer at Hangar Park

Let us know if you have any questions!  See you at the pitch!

cielosoccer@gmail.com

-Sean & Erin Banda

Remembering One of Our Own - Andrew Nechtman

It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that one of our beloved players, Andrew Nechtman, passed away last week.  He started with Cielo in 2014, and we watched him grow from a seven year old just learning the game, to a tall, strong, fierce goalie, who always had a smile on his face.   Over the years, we watched him grow and develop as a player and friend who was loved by all.  His  passion and ability were amazing to watch.  In 2019, he took his goalie skills to play club with Phoenix Brazas and would still come back to watch his brother, Zachary, and his friends play.  Not only was he a gifted soccer player, but he had a heart of gold.  He was always there with kind words and a big smile that just made our day whenever we saw him.  He was a leader on and off the field, and everyone loved to be around him. He will be sorely missed, but we feel truly blessed to have been a part of his life.  WE LOVE YOU, ANDREW!!!

His parents, Heidi and Warren, along with his younger siblings Sarah and Zachary, have invited all of Andrew's friends from soccer to a Shiva, tomorrow night (Wed., May 13th) at 5:00 pm on Zoom.  If you would like to attend, email me directly, and I will send you the information.  As a show of unity and loving memories we have of playing soccer with Andrew, we would encourage all the players to wear their Cielo soccer jersey.  It is totally optional, just another sign of our connection with him.

Andrew had a kind heart and a love for soccer.  As a testament to his compassion and desire to help others, Brazas Futbol Club along the the Nechtman family have created the Andrew Nechtman Scholorship Fund to continue his legacy and give those less fortunate the opportunity to play organized soccer.  For more information, please use the link below.
Andrew Nechtman Scholarship Fund

To show our love for Andrew and the entire Nechtman family, we are putting together some gifts for them, including a photo collage of Andrew and gift baskets for his brother and sister.  If you are interested in making a donation to go toward the gift basket, contributions will be collected by Venmo.  Any additional funds will be used to buy a DoorDash gift card for the family.
(Venmo: @ErinBanda or www.venmo.com/erinbanda)

If you have any pictures with Andrew in them, past or present, please email them to me.  The pictures will be used to make a collage for the family and will be forwarded to them as well.  Any photos will be a welcome memory of our sweet, friend.

💙You are forever in our hearts, Andrew.💙

'

Soccer Bonding

We miss you guys!!!  It really hit us when we didn't got to tournament last weekend! :(  As the weather is getting hotter and we are still in quarantine, we are spending more time in the pool and inside.  As temperatures approach 100* before noon, we wanted to share great soccer match with Real Madrid vs. Barcelona (previously recorded).  You can pretend you're in the stands, watching the game with a huge crowd, but at a safe social distance.  Enjoy the game, cheer for your favorite team, and comment below with your favor highlights from the game!

Real Madrid v. Barcelona

See you at the virtual pitch!

-Coach Sean and Erin

Sad News

First and foremost, we hope your family is healthy and safe.  That is of the upmost importance to us in these uncertain times.   As you've already seen, due to school closures in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, our soccer season has been come to an end.  Though it was short, it has been one of our favorite seasons to date!  The camaraderie, teamwork, and growth has been amazing to see, and we are sad it has to end so soon.

Kyrene Community Ed already credited accounts with prorated refunds for the latter portion of our season.  We are in contact with the ActivStars office regarding refunds for those who already paid for the Regional Tournament.  They will be issued, and we appreciate your patience as they are working to process these for many students in the organization.

Though we are sad to be done so early, we are glad that it's to help keep people healthy.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone for the Fall 2020 season, and it will be the best one yet!

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.

Stay safe. Stay healthy.  Stay strong.



-Coach Sean and Erin

Soccer Update - March 27th

As of late, I have found that I know many different ways to say, "I don't know."  At least we are all in the same boat and are learning things together everyday.  Though there are still many unknowns, we do KNOW that we MISS seeing you every week and playing "the beautiful game."

We were just notified by a few parents that they received a prorated refund from the Kyrene Community Education Dept. for the remainder of the season.  This not initiated by ActivStars, in fact, they didn't know Kyrene had done this.  Point being, the season is not necessarily finished.  

According to an email sent out from the ActivStars office, games will resume on April 18th if schools are reopened on April 10th as scheduled.  However, as we've all seen, things change by the hour, so we will continue to be flexible.   We will let you know when we have a definitive answer from ActivStars.  In the meantime, enjoy your refund, and we'll keep our fingers crossed that we can resume on April 18th.

Most importantly, we hope everyone is continuing to stay safe, healthy, and practicing appropriate social distance.  We've been playing soccer in the yard, as a family, as we've seen (photos) many of you have as well!   We are happy to hear about the fun family bonding many of you have been able to enjoy.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to this families that have been affected by this virus.  We hope you continue to stay safe and healthy through these trying times.  We look forward to seeing you all, when we've been given the all-clear.  It will be a very sweet reunion.

Fundraiser
We greatly appreciate all of you that participated in the fundraiser!  It makes a huge impact in our organization.  Since we won't be meeting soon, please email or drop your fundraising packet off at the ActivStars office.  They will take care of the prizes and orders.

ActivStars Office
16451 N. 90th St. C101
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phoenix Rising Event - CANCELED
We are sad to announce that the Phoenix Rising team event has been canceled.  Jamie is planning to organize one in the fall, and it will be a blast!  Until next time!



Let us know if you need anything.

-Coach Sean and Erin

Soccer Update - March 20th

Though we were hoping we would be able to resume next week, we are now have to cancel classes through April 10th.  We have not received the most recent updates from ActivStars, but we are going back the latest release from the Governor's office.  Since all schools are are cancelled through April 10th, we will not have access to any of the sites until that date, at earliest.  

We know this has not been the best case scenario, but as you know, the situation changes hourly.  Everything that's being done in the interest of health and safety of you and your families.  Considering this date brings us with only a month from the end of the season, we are not sure of what ActivStars plans are for soccer.  Since this update was released just this afternoon, I'm sure they will have more answers for us early next week.  Please keep posted to find out what next steps are for the season.  

Most importantly, stay safe and healthy!  We will send out updates as we receive them.  

-Coach Sean and Erin

Soccer Updates - March 17th

We appreciate the love and support we have received from such an amazing Cielo Soccer family!  We hope that this email finds you healthy and hunkered in.  Just to piggy-back off of the email sent by ActivStars, we wanted to reiterate the upcoming changes so far.  Due to the nature of the situation, things are changing rapidly, so keep an eye out for emails from us or ActivStars to give you the latest information regarding our season. 

Below is the email sent by ActivStars that includes the above-mentioned changes.  

As we try to navigate through these unprecedented times, we will do our best to keep you informed about our Arizona soccer program status.  

As indicated on our website, we are following the lead of EACH school district where our soccer practices and games are held. At this time, ALL Arizona school districts, and programs have been postponed through March 27th. There will be no soccer games held this weekend on Saturday, March 21. 

We hope that we can resume games on Saturday March 28. If that changes, we will let you know immediately. 

Furthermore, we have rescheduled and pushed back our Regional Soccer Tournament to Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 at Scottsdale Sports Complex. We will not have a State Tournament this spring, instead points and standings from Regionals will determine the final placement of teams. 

To view Regional Tournament Event Info Click Here:  https://az.activstars.com/events/desert-cup-soccer-regionals/ 

Again, please refer to our Activstars website for the most up to date information moving forward at:  https://az.activstars.com/ 

​Though we hope to see all of you very soon, ​that will be when it's deemed safe to do so and always making choices on the side of caution.  We will keep you updated as we get more information, in the coming days and weeks, from ActivStars.  We appreciate your time, dedication, and support.   YOU are they reason our site is the best in the league!

NO SOCCER - March 14th

Due to field conditions from all the rain this week, ActivStars cancelled practice.  Games start next week at Summit, and we are looking forward to it!  As of now, we'll plan to start next week, and I will post the game schedule soon.  However, keep an eye on the blog and for emails from ActivStars for updates on the current situation.  Should any changes occur, you will be notified.

Phoenix Rising Event - Get Your Tickets Now!

The Phoenix Rising Event is approaching quickly, so reserve your tickets before they run-out.  This event is not limited to Cielo players only, it is for the entire family; aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends!

Reservations need to be made in advance, so get your tickets today!  One of our amazing parents, Jamie Bingham, organizes this event so we can watch a professional soccer game together as a Cielo squad.  Email her directly, at the email below and get your tickets reserved.  We have been to this event many times, and it's such a great experience!  We can't wait to see you all there!

April 25^th @ 7:30 pm / Casino Arizona Field

Tickets are $23.39 each and include a food & beverage voucher

To reserve, email:   CieloRising@yahoo.com

Include:                                Example:

Group Name                      Bingham Family

Total # of tickets               4 tickets

Player name (age)            Aidan (12)

                                             Jack (8)

Summit for the Season

We are planting our roots at Summit for the rest of the season!  We still have two more practices at Summit, then we will be starting games.  Luckily, we will be at the same location.

Tournament
Remember to register online for tournament on April 18th & 19th.  The cut-off for early registration is quickly approaching, and after Mar. 22, the cost will increase to $60.  Register your child for Desert Cup Regional Tournament through the ActivStars website.

Your child will be playing three games on either Saturday or Sunday April 18th or 19th.  Game schedules will be released closer in April.  At this point, we don't know which teams are playing which days, but we'll let you know when we have that information.

Teams that qualify during the regional tournament will advance to State Finals in May.  It is the premier event of the season, and the kids who have played before are counting the days!

We will see you tomorrow at Summit!  Park in the east parking lot, near the Desert Oasis Aquatic Center, which will put you closer to the football field/track.

Summit Academy
1560 W. Summit Pl.
Chandler, AZ 85224


See you at the pitch!

Practice at Mirada - Come Ready to Play! - Feb. 29th

We're back and ready to play!  Though we wanted to play last week, the fields were too flooded for the district to keep them open.  There is beautiful weather in the forecast for tomorrow, so let's head out and play some soccer!  We are looking forward to a fun and productive practice!

Let's 'leap' out onto the fields!  See you at Mirada!

****UPDATE - SOCCER CANCELED*** FEB. 22ND

Due to flooded field conditions, the Kyrene School District has closed all fields today.  PRACTICE IS CANCELED.  Spread the word to others to make sure they get the update.

Thank you, and see you next week!

-Coach Sean and Erin

Back at Mirada - Playin' in the Rain - Feb. 22nd

Play on!

Tomorrow’s weather forecast is calling for steady rain. Always expect soccer practice even during rainy days. Light rain does not cancel soccer. Only lightning, dangerous field conditions or the likelihood of ruining the fields will stop class.

Bring dry clothes to change into post-soccer. Some of the most fun and memorable moments come from these rainy days!

If Mirada is deemed unsafe due to lightning, field conditions or field damage, we will post on the blog on Saturday.  Check for updates on the blog before your child's practice. I do not have the ability to send a mass email from my phone, but I can post on the blog.  That's where you can find the update.  

Cielo Soccer & Phoenix Rising FC Event

We are so lucky to have the opportunity to watch a Phoenix Rising FC game together!!!  The Binghams, one of our long-time and dedicated families,  organize this memorable event!  It's fun for the whole family, so come out and join us!  Jamie Bingham is the coordinator, so contact her with reservations or questions at the email below.

April 25^th @ 7:30 pm / Casino Arizona Field

Tickets are $23.39 each and include a food & beverage voucher

To reserve, email:   CieloRising@yahoo.com

Include:                                Example:

Group Name                      Bingham Family

Total # of tickets               4 tickets

Player name (age)            Aidan (12)

                                             Jack (8)

At halftime, the Cielo players will get to go onto the field and play mini games against each other!!  Only 49 player spots are available so reserve now!  1^st come, 1^st served.

Additional details to follow.  Email CieloRising@yahoo.com for more information.

Practice #4 - Summit Academy - Feb. 15th

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  I hope you are celebrating with the special person in your life and enjoying this day of friendship and love!  Hopefully, you indulged in some sugary goodness as well....there's plenty to go around.

Practice at Mirada - Feb. 15th
Due to irrigation at Mirada, we will be at Summit Academy tomorrow for practice (game site).  For those that are new, use the parking lot shared with Desert Oasis Aquatic Center and walk to the track, past the pool and tennis courts.  We will be back at Mirada next week.

Summit Academy
1560 W. Summit Place
Chandler, AZ 85224

Tournament Registration
The Desert Cup Regional Tournament will be here before we know it!  Be sure to register online before the price goes up.  Teams will play on either Saturday OR Sunday, April 18th or 19th (Schedule TBD).  Each team will play three games at the tournament.  All qualifying teams will go on to compete in the State Finals on May 3rd.

If you have trouble registering your child through the online portal, call the ActivStars office directly. They will be able to register your child over the phone and fix any issues for tournament registration in the future.

ActivStars Office
Ph. (480) 603-3780

Early Registration Deadline: March 22nd ($40)
Late Registration Deadline: April 5th ($60)

cielosoccer.blogspot.com

• 1560 West Summit Place
• Chandler, Arizona 85224

• 1560 West Summit Place
• Chandler, Arizona 85224-120

• 1560 West Summit Place
• Chandler, Arizona 85224-120

Practice 3 - Away We Go!

We are off and running to a great start to the season!  We love seeing the new faces and veteran players alike!  Make sure you come a few minutes early to sign-in at the table every week and get any notes or reminders.  This will be the last week we will be selling equipment, so if you need shin guards or balls, this will be the last day to do it on-site.  Otherwise, you can purchase equipment at any sporting good store.

Weekly Reminders for New Players & Veterans

• Sign-in at the table EVERY WEEK
• Bring  cleats, shin guards, soccer ball, comfortable clothes or uniform, and two water bottles
• Tournament registration for the April 18th-19th Desert Cup is open.  It is the PREMIER event of the season, that you don't want to miss!  Coach Sean will talk more about it at practice and answer questions, especially for our new families.
• https://az.activstars.net/events.asp?v1=eventslogin.asp
• Early registration and lower price ($40) closes on March 22nd
• After this date, late registration cost increases to $60

See you at the pitch!

-Coach Sean and Erin

Practice Week 2 - Info, Info, Info

What a great start to the season!  It was so wonderful to see everyone's smiling faces at practice last Saturday. It was a fantastic turnout and are excited for the season ahead.  Here is some important information for the our Spring 2020 season.  

*Please refer to the previous blog post for practice times, if you missed last week's practice.

DATES FOR CALENDARS

  

• Feb. 15th - Practice at Summit (Irrigation at Mirada)
• Spring Break - March 7th OR 14th - TBD
• March 21st - Game #1 at Summit
• March 22^nd: Regional Tournament on-time registration deadline ($40)
• April 5^th:  Regional Tournament late-registration deadline ($60)
• April 11^th: No Practice (Happy Easter)
• April 18^th  -AZ Soccer Regionals at Scottsdale Soccer Complex
• April 19^th  -AZ Soccer Regionals at Scottsdale Soccer Complex
• (Wed) Apr 29^th: State Tournament on-time registration deadline ($25)
• (Sun) May 3^rd:  AZ Soccer State at Scottsdale Soccer Complex (on-site reg: $30)
• May 9^th: Game #6 + Awards 

WHAT TO EXPECT

Mentally, my goal is to help kids no longer fear making mistakes in front of others. Physically, I’m striving for kids to be comfortable with their left and right feet and hands to get them more successful across multiple sports.  I want kids getting a high number of reps in drills – I’m not a fan of kids standing line and not having their foot on the ball. 

If you are a parent with no soccer experience and want to get out on the field and interact helping, these are all drills easy enough for adults to teach kids.  It’s rewarding watching a small pod of kids at your station improve over the course of a drill or two.

If you’d like to get a start on your parent coaching skills, here’s an inside drill that only requires a wall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIE31aQptSk (jump to 3:30 mark)

Parent coaching tips: 

1. Keep toe pointed down thru the kicking motion
2. Lean over slight (chest drops a little towards grow)

The drill includes both a laces kick and a side-kick where the foot is turned 90 degrees instead of pointing down.

YouTube has lots of great drills if you want to work with your kids at home. It’s a great opportunity for your kids to use a search engine for learning purposes!

WHAT TO BRING EACH WEEK

Please have your child show you these four items before jumping in the car:

1. Soccer ball
2. Shin guards
3. 2 Water Bottles
4. Light blue shirt. Jersey is not required but recommended.  

JERSEY

The jersey is not required for games – only for the tourney.  The $30 unshrinkable, always brightly-cleanable jersey (according to parents, not any scientifically-funded study) can be ordered from this link. Choose Cielo location (light blue / white). 

https://az.activstars.com/product/activstars-soccer-jerseys/

Expect the jersey to easily last a couple years.

ALL PLAYERS MUST BE SIGNED IN WEEKLY

Don’t skip the front desk on the way in.  Important paperwork and messages from sign-in table helpers might await you.

Also, do not drop your child off at soccer and leave. Parents should remain on-site during practice.

ONLINE DRILLS AT HOME

This is a great drill for younger players or new players 7+ (jump to the 30 second mark)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DX04jhrxXI Simple setup. You can use a rag instead of a cone to stand over.

TOURNAMENT

This 3-game regional tournament is the premier event of the season.  It's what the kids work toward the entire season and a great value for $40 at Scottsdale’s soccer complex.  There is an additional $20 for teams that advance to State, where they play two or three games while vying for the state title.  The $30 jersey is required, but the jersey’s cost is one-time until your child outgrows the jersey.

We have lots of first-time soccer players attend.  I stress to players and parents, winning the tournament is not the goal.  After each regular season game when I ask kids what we want to improve on for next game, we have to wait an entire week. But at tournament, the next game is an hour later to apply what we just learned. An an hour or two after that is a third game.  It’s a tremendous learning experience and great opportunity to see what other teams around the Valley are doing.  That gives us focus heading into next season’s practice. 

Each week at sign-in, you’ll be asked if you’re a Yes, Maybe or No for the tourney.  When I split kids into teams as mentioned above, I will try keeping tourney kids together so they get as much experience as possible. If you have any questions about the tourney, please ask myself, the sign-in table helpers or other parents. 

You can register for the tournament starting today here: 

https://az.activstars.net/events.asp?v1=eventslogin.asp

March 22^nd is the deadline to register ($40)  without a late fee (additional $20) for the tournament

April 5^th is the hard deadline for the tournament

April 11^th we have no soccer due to Easter weekend

April 18^th-19^th is the tournament. There is no regular soccer this weekend (hence, if not participating in the tournament you’ll have a little two-week break).

Let us know if you have any questions!

See you at the pitch!

-Coach Sean and Erin

Spring Soccer - First Day and Registration

NEW LOCATION:
Due to confiicts with field availability, practices will be had a Kyrene de la Mirada Elementary School this season (5500 W. Galveston St., Chandler, AZ 85226).  We are planning to be back at Cielo for the Fall 2020 season, so we are just referring to our teams as Cielo at Mirada.

REGISTRATION / PRACTICE 1 - January 25th:

Ages 5-6 Registration 9:00 a.m.   Orientation & 1st Practice 9:30-10:20 a.m.

Ages 7-8 Registration 10:45 a.m.  Orientation & 1st Practice 11:15-12:05 p.m.

Ages 9-15 Registration 12:30 p.m.   Orientation & 1st Practice 1:00-1:50 p.m.

Register online: Spring Soccer Registration - Cielo Soccer at MIRADA

DO NOT SKIP PRACTICE #1.  We will be starting advanced drills on the first day.

PRACTICE 2 AND BEYOND:

Starting Feb 1^st – this is the “likely” time for practices:

9am - Beginning - Intermediate 5 & 6 yr olds (Dragons & Cheetahs)

10am – Intermediate - Advanced 6 yr olds & Advanced 5 yr olds (Lions & Sharks)

11am – Beginning - Intermediate 7 & 8 yr olds (Sun Devils & Tsunamis)

12pm – Intermediate - Advanced 8 yr olds & Advanced 7 yr olds (Lightning & Thunderstorm)

1pm – Beginning - Intermediate 9 & 10 yr olds (Falcons) 

*1pm - Advanced Teams 9 & 10 yr olds - By Invitation - Speak to Coach Sean (Phoenix Rising & Sky High)

2pm – Beginning - Advanced 11-15 yr olds (11-12: Argentina & 13-15: All-Stars)

*2pm - Advanced Team 11-12 yr olds - By Invitation - Speak to Coach Sean (Phoenix)

BLOCK YOUR CALENDAR:

·       Jan 25^th – Practice #1 

·       Mar 21^st – Regular Game Start

·       Apr 18^th & 19^th – Desert Cup Regionals

·       May 3^rd – Desert Cup State Tournament (not Mother’s Day – woohoo!)

WHAT’S DIFFERENT:

First, tournament registration ($40) will be open Week 1 of soccer.  You need to register for the tournament separately from general soccer registration, through the ActivStars website.  Tournament registration deadline is FOUR weeks before the tourney. Registration after the deadline is $60.  

Second, we’re not holding the Mini Cone Cup this spring due to a lack of location availability on dates that work for our organization.  If it is an event you've enjoyed in previous seasons, let me know and I’ll forward your feedback to our directors.

WRAP UP:

Like always, your feedback and suggestions are always encouraged to continue improving Cielo soccer!