The Glen Cove Junior Soccer League Fall Intramural Program has some new changes in store for the new season. They will be instituting new policies to build a better experience for all players.

The mission remains the same, to teach and train children in the world's "beautiful game." The intramural program is where the training takes place. No one records scores or keeps standings. There are no league playoffs and no league champions.

To improve the quality of training the players get, the league is instituting the following changes for fall 2002:

In the kindergarten program and divisions 1 and 2, the field and goal sizes have been reduced. There will also be smaller roster sizes and fewer players on the field. The game time will remain the same, but in four quarters rather than two halves. Kindergarten players will receive instruction from the league's training partners, Globall Soccer. Referees will be responsible to help instruct players in divisions 1 and 2.

The benefits of these changes are great. Fewer players on the field means each player will have a greater opportunity to play the ball, smaller roster size means more playing time for each player, smaller field and goal size makes the game more exciting and four quarters means substitution time can be managed more easily.

In divisions 3, 4 and 5, fields and goals have been modified to be more age appropriate and the game times in these divisions will remain at two 25-minute halves.

In all divisions, the referees will be available to the coaches on the sidelines. However, they will only respond during a stoppage of play or during halftime. Spectators will not be permitted to make any contact with the referee at any time. Referees are part of the training process and will assist the coaches with instruction of players regarding infractions and procedures but will not coach the team.

The referee has a tough job, but it is a rewarding one. The Glen Cove Soccer League is looking for referees who want to work with its players and coaches and have a great time. Referees receive a stipend for their time. The requirements include a love of the game of soccer, a love of children, spending one evening a week or a few hours on Saturday and attending a training program on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. The minimum age for a referee is 14, and adults are strongly encouraged to join. If you are interested, please call Dan Cox at 674-3809. Become A Glen Cove Junior Soccer League referee. It's a kick!

The season opens Saturday, Sept. 21 with the annual parade and games.

Over the past two years, the league has taken intramural players to tournaments around Long Island. They would like to continue the program this year with more players. If your child would like to participate on a tournament team, Glen Cove Junior Soccer League needs to know now.

These teams require a significant commitment, not only for the player, but for the parent and the family.

On the weekend of Columbus Day, teams from Glen Cove will be attending a tournament on Long Island. The actual tournament has not been selected yet but the following conditions apply to all who wish to participate: The player must be available for all three days of the Columbus Weekend, parents will be responsible for driving the player to and from the location of the tournament, there is a fee for this program, there must be an adult who volunteers to coach the team for that weekend, players must be between the ages of 7 and 10, there must be enough players to field a team in the different age groups, players will not play on their intramural teams that weekend, participation in this program does not guarantee a spot on any future travel team and players will have the option to participate in future tournaments over the winter and spring.

If there are not enough players to fill teams, the league will not participate in the Columbus weekend tournament, but will keep your child's name on file as interested in a tournament team.

If you are interested please e-mail player's name, date of birth, phone number and parent name to gcstrikers@yahoo.com. All requests must be received by Sept. 14 to be considered for the Columbus weekend tournament.

This program is separate and distinct from the fall intramural program.