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​Season Information

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Panthers ~ Fall '23

General Notes on the Season

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​This year, we will have a mandatory IN-PERSON parent meeting to be scheduled for the first practice night of the season. Please plan to attend.

August 7:  JV/Varsity parent meeting at start of practice.

August 21:  JH parent meeting at start of practice.

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Important Eligibility Rules

These rules apply to JH, JV and Varsity levels

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• As outlined on the ELIGIBILITY page, players must be at least 51% homeschooled.  There are two roster spots per team for non-homeschooled players.  These players must attend a school which does not offer soccer. 

• If your player is not an approved exception, then parents must read through and initial each of the eligibility requirements on the ELIGIBILITY CONFIRMATION page at registration. (This is Step 1 of registration.)  

• If you are an approved exception, you can initial through the 5 Eligibility Steps once you've approved your player with us. 

• **We work to make sure that exceptions allowed in 9th grade can remain for all 4 years of high school eligibility. **

• If the two roster spots have already been taken (by returning players previously approved), there is still the possibility of an additional waiver given some extenuating circumstance. Please talk to administrators to see if another exception is possible. 

• For Varsity level, exception waivers would need to be granted via the state and national tournament committees. We will take your request and need to be approved via those committees. 

• For Junior Varsity and Junior High levels, the exception determination is decided by EMP administrators who will consider the number of current "exception players" projected to move up to Varsity in successive years. Please request this waiver in advance of the season.  

• If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact us at kathiemarshall777@gmail.com. 

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Volunteer Duties

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• Parents are required to fulfill a volunteer duty.  Examples are Banquet Team, Panther (Spirit Night) Team, Tournament Team, Photographer,  Uniform Boss, etc. We will try to find one that fits your schedule and your talents/interests.  No exceptions unless specifically waived due to extreme extenuating circumstances.

• With the exception of a few special needs,  job signup will take place after the in-person parent meeting.  

• If parents have not chosen or been assigned a specific job by August 10 (JV/Varsity) or by August 28 (Junior High), remaining job needs will be assigned to unassigned parents.  

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Fees

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• No administrator, volunteer or coach is paid for their time.  Head coaches receive 1 player free.  Assistant coaches receive 1/2 off the fee for 1 player.   All other administrators and volunteers pay the full fee for their players. 

• Fees are kept as low as possible and are determined based on the expenses for the season and projection of the rosters.

• We are hoping to find ways to earn grants or raise money to be able to supplement our budget and/or award scholarship money.

• All players (JH/JV/Varsity) are required to submit a $75 uniform deposit. Uniforms are frequently discontinued and the cost of replacement and customizing is significant to our budget, so we have no choice but to begin requiring a deposit beginning with Fall '23.

• Payments can be accepted via the website PAYMENT page as well as ZELLE (Kathiemarshall777@gmail.com), VENMO (@kathleen-marshall-40), CHECK or CASH. 

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Ways to help with payment

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• All payments can be made at your pace in installment amounts of your choice via the website as long as fees are paid in full by October 10. 

• Siblings receive $25 discount for Varsity, Junior Varsity and Middle School levels.  Example:  1st child - full price; 2nd child - $25 discount; 3rd child - $25 discount; etc.  The $25 discount does not apply to Panther Cubs.  Cub siblings receive $10 off. 

• Fifty percent of the amount earned via RaiseRight can be applied to your player's registration fees.  Funds can be applied through the final date that registration fees are due (October 10). See the RAISERIGHT main menu tab for more information.

• Scholarships of up to $150 are available for Hamburg Township residents because we are an approved group using township fields. Contact Kathie Marshall for more information : kathiemarshall777@gmail.com.

• East Michigan Panthers is a 501(c)3 organization.  Donations are tax deductible.

 

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FALL '23 Team Levels

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Panther Cubs

Coach:  TBD

Fee:  $50/$40/$30 4th+ children are free

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• Ages K-4th Co-ed

• Runs 6 weeks beginning Thursday, September 7 through Monday, October 16. 

• This age is developmental and meant to be a fun introduction to soccer.  

• Coaches will run drills, learning games and have inter-team scrimmages. 

• The season wraps up with a family pizza party on October 16.

• Each participant receives either a Panthers t-shirt or a soccer ball. 

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Junior High Boys

Coach:  Eddie Recznik

Email:  erecznik@gmail.com

Fee: $250   ​

   

• Eligible Grade Level is 5th-8th.  5th graders who are very new to soccer or who have lesser skill sets may receive less  playtime but may still be part of the team. Please talk to the coach if you have questions about your 5th grader.  

• Any players from last year are grandfathered in. 

• Official practices begin Monday, August 21st.  

• Panthers Junior High Boys play in the AAIAA Ann Arbor area school league.  Their games begin after Labor Day and run through October 12.   League members include Ann Arbor Christian School, Spirit Sanctus (Ann Arbor and Plymouth locations), Washtenaw Christian Academy and East Michigan Panthers.

• Commitment is 3x weekly.

• Season consists of 8-10 games and 2 Saturday Tournaments: October 9 WCA "Pre-season" and October 13/14 League Tournament.

• HOME games and practices are at Manly Bennett Park in Whitmore Lake. 

• Uniforms must be returned at the end of the season.

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Junior Varsity Men

Coach:  Brian Gatt

Assistants:  Ryan Swieringa, Mike Peterson

Email:  bgatt21@protonmail.com

Fee:  $300

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• JV/Varsity Placements take place Monday, July 31st through Thursday, August 3rd.

• Players will be notified by the end of placement week if you will play on JV or Varsity.  No cuts. 

• JV team is competitive but has a primary goal of preparing players for Varsity.  Therefore, all players should receive time in games although it will not necessarily be equal. 

• The JV team has a total of 16 games and (at least) 1 tournament. 

• Practices and HOME games are at Manly Bennett Park in Whitmore Lake.  

• There is no overnight travel for JV. 

• Farthest games would be Lansing, Wixom, West Bloomfield, south Flint area. 

• Commitment is 3x weekly - possible occasional 4th commitment. 

• Cost   -  may be paid in installments, of your amount and timing, to be completed by October 10th. 

• ​Includes uniform and end of season party. 

• Uniforms must be returned at the end of the season. 

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Varsity Men

Coach:   Andrew Florczak            

Email:   andrew.florczak@gmail.com

Fee: $400

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• JV/Varsity Placements take place Monday, July 31st through Thursday, August 3rd.

• Players will be notified by the end of placement week if you will play on JV or Varsity.  No cuts. 

• Varsity Team is competitive - no playtime is guaranteed; however, coaches should try to maximize playing time for each player according to their ability and the teams we play. 

• The Varsity team has a total of 16 games and 3 tournaments (Dansville, State Cup and National Tourney). 

• Practices and HOME games are at Manly Bennett Park in Whitmore Lake.  

• There is no required overnight travel except for the National Tournament near Chattanooga, Tennessee.  

• Farthest games would be Lansing, Wixom, West Bloomfield, south Flint area.

• Commitment is 3x weekly - possible occasional 4th commitment. 

• Cost   -  may be paid in installments, of your amount and timing, to be completed by October 10th. 

• ​Includes uniform and end of season party. 

• The cost of hotel accommodations/travel for the National tournament is the responsibility of families.

• Uniforms must be returned at the end of the season. 

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