Conditions of Use

Montclair Soccer Club expects once again to use the Merritt College natural grass fields and the Shepherd Canyon Park fields for its practices. MSC also will be responsible for game set up and clean up at these sites. We are hoping to secure access to additional fields.

As permitted users of the fields at Merritt College we are guests of the College and our permits can be revoked if abused. We may only use fields during permitted times. Park only in marked spaces not reserved for faculty or staff. Avoid parking close to buildings in use for College activities. Remember, the College has a heavy schedule of evening classes MTWTh. On weekdays before 5:00 PM you may only park in Student Parking areas. On weekdays and Saturdays you must purchase a $2.00 parking ticket from parking ticket machines, or risk getting a ticket.

As permitted users of City of Oakland Parks & Recreation Department fields we have priority use of the specified field area only during the permitted time. On these fields, as at Merritt, be sure to have your coaches and players passes if possible, player medical releases and practice schedule during all practices and games.

Be respectful of the field and all of its users. Avoid practicing in worn areas of the field. Move goals can be moved to distribute wear and tear in the goal area during practice time. Do not use wet areas of the field as this breaks the roots of the grass, beneath the surface. Pick up your own trash, and other trash that you see, including plastic water bottles.  Remove all items that would impede the safe progress of mowers or other grounds keeping equipment.

Please do not allow pets on any of the fields. This violates health and safety policies of Merritt College, Oakland Parks & Recreation Department, JLYSL and MSC.

Practice Field Scheduling

All practice field reservations are for one-half of the assigned field, unless otherwise noted on the schedule. Practice times for U10 and older teams will appear on the schedule as 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM or 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. When the time between 4:00 PM and the end of civil twilight is less than three hours, teams are expected to adjust so that practices that start at 4:00 PM end proportionally before 5:30.  For

Spring Season 2011, this is not a concern as the clocks move ahead the day before our practices start, giving us plenty of light.  U8 practices will be scheduled for one hour each beginning at 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, or 6:00 PM unless specified otherwise.  U10 and older teams will be assigned 90 minute practice times.
No team will be scheduled for two practices in a week if there are not enough field resources for every team that wants practice space to have at least one practice. Teams from other Clubs may be added to the practice schedules managed by MSC at Merritt College and even Shepherd Canyon Park.

Practice times are expected to be available at all the fields on weekdays from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. However, no fields are to be used after the end of civil twilight - about the time it is too dark to see a baseball coming at you.