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​Season Information

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Panthers ~ Fall '24

General Season Information

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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.

• JOb signup will take place after players are rostered following placement week (for JV/Varsity) and after the first practice (for JH)  

• If parents have not chosen or been assigned a specific job by August 14 (JV/Varsity) or by August 21 (Junior High), remaining job needs will be assigned to unassigned parents.  

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Fees

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• Head coaches receive 1 player free.  Assistant coaches receive 1/2 off the fee for 1 player.  Beginning this year, the scheduler receives one player free per season.  

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

• 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 Teamsnap registration system (but we do pass on the 3% processing fee) as well as ZELLE (Kathiemarshall777@gmail.com), VENMO (@kathleen-marshall-40), or CHECK.  No cash this season unless payer wants to deposit directly in bank. 

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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 1. 

• 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 1). 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 '24 Team Levels

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Panther Cubs

Coach:  TBA

Fee:  $65/$55/$45/$35 (multiple player discount for 2nd/3rd/4th players)

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• Ages K-4th Co-ed 5th grade is on the cusp of Cubs and Junior High.  Please contact Kathie 586-224-0114 to find out where your player fits.

• Runs six weeks beginning Monday, August 26 through Monday, October 14.  (Pausing for a week and a half due to a Bennett blackout for the Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial.)

• Meets twice weekly. 

• Broken into groups by age; kids on the border move up or down dependent upon skill. 

• The first day of the week is a practice; the second day is a ref-officiated intramural game. 

• The season wraps up with a family pizza party or ice cream social on October 16.

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

• Each participant receives either a Panthers t-shirt ($5 upcharge) or a soccer ball. 

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Junior High Boys

Coach:  Eddie Recznik

Email:  erecznik@gmail.com

Fee: $275   ​

   

• 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. 

• We have a "Practice Player" option which is $100 for players who may not be quite ready for the team but want to practice with the team and go to games. This is done by coach approval.  These players can receive some minutes over the course of the season in certain games, but playtime is not guaranteed in any given game. 

• Any players from last year are grandfathered in. 

• Official practices begin Monday, August 19.  

• 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 13 games and 3 Tournaments: September 7 WCA "Pre-season" tourney, October 5 Homeschool tournament and October 18/19 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

Coaches:  TBA

Fee:  $300

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• JV/Varsity Placements take place Monday, August 5 through Thursday, August 9.

• 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 one 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, Clinton Township, north Romeo, and Washtenaw Christian Academy to the south. 

• Participation in the HEAT preseason is tentative and will be decided by August 2nd.  This tournament is in Zeeland. 

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

• Cost   -  may be paid in installments, of your amount and timing, to be completed by October 1st. 

• ​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, August 5 through Thursday, August 9.

• 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 18 games and 3 tournaments (HEAT pres-season, Washtenaw Christian Academy, and the State Cup.) 

• The National Tournament is tentative this year.  If the team goes, it is the last weekend of October in Tennessee and travel costs are the responsibility of parents. Carpooling and staying with chaperones is usually available. 

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

• Farthest games would be Lansing, Clinton township, north Romeo, Zeeland. 

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

• Cost   -  may be paid in installments, of your amount and timing, to be completed by October 1st. 

• ​Includes uniform and end of season banquet. 

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

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