The Goals of the Hanover Boys Soccer Program

 As we prepare to embark on this unique Hanover High soccer season, it is logical to state the goals that we have established for the program.  We are proud to be offering a co-curricular activity that involves nearly 100 students, more than 13 percent of the HHS student body.  We work closely with the Hanover administration and staff to support these students and help them take advantage of an opportunity for exercise, connection and learning. Every year, we review and revise our goals and objectives for the program, share them with the coaching staff, and then communicate these to players and parents, so there is clarity about the ways in which we want the season to work.  These are our goals:

1. Safety -  This is not the first season that we have made the physical and mental health of our players a priority.  We always play practices and games with an eye toward safety. All coaches have training in first aid, concussion safety, and heat precautions. This year, we have added Covid-19 training to the list, and we are already practicing a number of important protocols.  We will check temperatures and attestation every day, and carefully follow guidelines for social distancing, mask use, and sanitation.  We feel fortunate that our entire program takes place out of doors, which greatly reduces droplet danger, the single most significant risk factor in virus transmission.  Every aspect of the school experience this year will be carried out with the goal of protecting students, staff and families.  This is a total community effort.

2. Learning -  We follow an educational model.  Soccer is a means to an end, and the process of learning and practicing skills and tactics provides us with the opportunity to teach players positive work habits, resilience, team skills, resilience, sportsmanship and responsibility.  The process of team building is a gradual one, beginning with familiarity, communication and the understanding that individual goals and needs can be achieved while also putting the team first.

3. Individual improvement -  Each player has the right to expect that he will be given the opportunity to become a better player.  We have always emphasized player development, and can provide individual skill development, conditioning, and tactical instruction.  If players become better, it follows that their teams will succeed.

4. Sportsmanship - The Hanover boys team has won the NHIAA Sportsmanship Award nine times in the past eleven seasons, including the 2019 season. This award is voted upon by the opposing coaches and athletic directors. Criteria for this award includes behavior on and off the field, and the manner in which teams are welcomed at Hanover High School for games.  The Hanover players have done an exemplary job maintaining a high degree of sportsmanship.  Their style of play is skillful, but also tough and competitive.  Nevertheless, Hanover players are asked to “Honor the game”, and not indulge in cheap or chippy tactics. They are asked not to comment to other players, except to compliment them, and to never speak to opposing coaches or spectators.  Only team captains are allowed to converse with officials, and they are asked to do this in a respectful manner.  The do not question calls, or react negatively to calls that are not in their favor.  This behavior is mirrored on the bench.  Coaches rarely if every speak to the officials during a match, and do so only in a respectful manner, at the proper times.  We urge our spectators to maintain this level of sportsmanship.  We ask that spectators not question calls by officials (while acknowledging that many of you are experts in the game).  We ask that you compliment good play by both teams, and refrain from criticizing or coaching  (again, acknowledging your expertise).  While this may significantly limit the range of expression normally available to red-blooded sports fans everywhere, and occasionally on the opposing sidelines and stands, it is nevertheless a standard which we expect from Hanover High School fans.

We are very proud of the welcome which is extended to visiting teams.  We sincerely to our best to make them comfortable when they arrive for games, and do what we can to meet their needs.  We are courteous to their fans in the stands, even when their behavior may occasionally invite us not to be.  We provide snacks to the visiting teams after the games.  This has been greatly appreciated by most of our visitors, and in several instances it has encouraged them to do the same when team visit them.

 

5. Fair Playing Time -  We have made a habit of giving every player the opportunity to participate in every game and practice.  With large rosters, we cannot and never have promised "equal" playing time.  However, we do promise "fair" playing time on all subvarsity teams. Fair playing time means that every player will have the chance to play significant minutes in each half.  Even if this varies from game to game, over the course of a week or a season, everyone will play. The only exception to this is the Varsity team. Playing competitive soccer in Division One means that players own the Varsity will understand and accept assigned roles that will mean less playing time.  Such is the case on every Varsity team at Hanover (and for that matter in every high school).  That said, we are always able to err open the side of finding playing time for every Varsity player as well, usually because we create playing situations with the quality of our play.

6. Verticality -  We are one program, and every player is important to us.  We are not a pyramid, with the Varsity on top, receiving all of the attention and all of the recourses.  The Varsity uniforms are the oldest in the program.  We believe that every team experience has integrity and importance, and enjoy the opportunity to share practice facilities and training opportunities.  Coaches regularly shift between teams during training, and we encourage every player in the program to know and support each other.  We are proud of the mentoring attitudes our upperclass players take toward their younger associates.  We are one program, sharing the goals stated above. Somehow, this has not interfered with the ability of every team to improve significantly over the course of the season.  Three of our four teams were championship teams last fall. Karma.