Winter 2023 Note: For our Winter 2023 Indoor program, Howell Board of Education is permitting use of the gym with no special health-related requirements. If that changes during our Indoor program, all participating spectators, parents and players will be expected to comply with any mandates. We are not able to offer an Adult Indoor program in 2023.
Eligibility
The Winter Indoor Soccer program is open to Pinelanders members who played, coached or otherwise participated with us in the preceding Spring or Fall outdoor season, and their immediate families.
The Board may occasionally open Indoor registration to “guest players” (players who did not play in the preceding outdoor seasons), in divisions that have low registration. Guest players will be charged an additional registration fee, but will receive an equal amount in credit towards registration for the following Spring or Fall season.
Parents of eligible Youth players are eligible to play in the Adult Indoor program, if one is offered. Alumni of our youth program and coaches or Board members who have participated for at least two seasons have lifetime eligibility for the Adult Indoor program.
Location and Schedule
Our Indoor Soccer program begins early in January and runs for about 8 weeks.
- The Winter Indoor season usually begins on the first or second Friday in January, and runs through the end of February.
- If schools are closed, Indoor games are automatically canceled.
- If the gym is unavailable because of a school event Indoor games will be canceled.
- There are no makeups for canceled Indoor sessions.
- The Youth program is played in the Howell Middle School North gym [map] on Friday evenings.
- When offered, Adult Indoor games are usually (depending on permits) played on Thursdays at the same location, starting at 8PM.
- The game schedule and other useful information will be available through your My Pinelanders page a few days before the start of the program.
The Youth Indoor Program
The Indoor program is very informal – we do assign players to teams, but teams don’t hold practices, we don’t keep standings, and we allow coaches to use players from other teams if their team is short-handed. Games are played in the gym, and usually last for about 25 minutes.
A schedule will be published a few days before the start of the season. Games usually start at around 6:15PM (depending on permits), with the younger age-groups playing in the earlier time slots.
The fee for the whole season (2023 fee – subject to change) is $25 per player for up to two players, and $20 per player for additional players.
The program is open to players who will be aged 6-18 on the following April 1st and:
- Played with us, or registered but could not be placed, in the preceding Spring or Fall season; or
- Are siblings of an eligible Spring or Fall player; or
- Had a parent who coached or otherwise participated significantly in those seasons.
GUEST PLAYERS: Players who are ineligible by the above criteria may be invited to play in the Indoor program in divisions that have low registration. Guest players will pay an additional fee to cover insurance costs, but will receive an equal amount in credit towards registration for the following Spring or Fall season. If not used, the credit will expire after the following Fall season.
A player’s eligibility is shown on his/her registration page in the Registration Center. If you believe the eligibility information is incorrect, please contact the Registrar. Eligibility rules are strictly enforced.
On-line registration through My Pinelanders is required. There is no walk-in registration.
What to Wear
All players must wear suitable athletic clothing. Players who are not properly attired will not be allowed to play. Players must wear:
- White shirt (colored pinnies will be provided to distinguish teams).
- Athletic shorts or sweatpants (NOT street clothing such as jeans, dungarees or shorts with any metal attachments).
- Shin guards.
- Sneakers or indoor shoes.
If the ground outside is wet, players should change into different footwear to play. Wet soles are very dangerous on the gym floor.
School Closing & Makeup Games
If the host school is closed for any reason, indoor soccer is automatically canceled. There are no makeup games.
Coaching Indoor
We always need parents to help with coaching Indoor teams. Coaching an Indoor team doesn’t require any extra time commitment if you’re going to be at your child’s games anyway – there are no separate practices, and there’s no need to make any phone calls. All you need to do is to gather your team at the start of the game and move players in and out of the game to make sure they all get a chance to play.
If you’re not familiar with the game there’s very little to learn, and you’ll get all the help you need.
If you’d like to help just check the box on the Coaching page of the Registration Center, and let us know if you have questions.
The Adult Indoor Program
When offered, the Adult Indoor program will be played at Middle School North on Thursdays [map].
Your are eligible to play in this program if:
- You are at least nineteen years of age on April 1st following the Indoor Season
- And you meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Your are a player, or the parent or legal guardian of a player who completed one of the Pinelanders Spring or Fall Intramural seasons in the prior year.
- You have been a coach, referee or Board member during one of those seasons or for at least two seasons in the past.
- You are an alumnus of the Pinelanders regular program and you participated within the last two years of your eligibility.
Eligibility rules are strictly enforced.
On-line registration through My Pinelanders is required. There is no walk-in registration.