Filling up on food, mingling with teammates and parents, and hearing from coaches are all on the menu for the annual soccer booster club potluck on Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 6-9 p.m in the high school commons.

All parents, players, and coaches, are invited to come.

Assistant soccer coach Courtney Todd said the potluck is a longstanding tradition and one of the big “kick-off events of the year” for the soccer program.

“It’s kind of been a fun annual way to kick off the year,” Todd said. “It’s something that people have grown to kind of expect and know and look forward to in the fall.”

Other than eating lots of food, the potluck is for reconnecting, president of the soccer booster club Yong Kwon said. The coaches will speak about their expectations and hopes for the year, and the soccer community will have a chance to mingle.

“That’s kind of a way of making aware at this potluck dinner, ‘Hey, this is what goes on with the soccer program, these are your coaches, here are your board members, and you know we really need people to just be involved,’” Kwon said.

The event is also a way for the middle school players and the freshman to feel welcomed and included in the soccer program.

“Basically it’s our first introduction for new families, ninth grade families especially, since Willow Springs is somewhat separated from us,” Kwon said. “And so it’s a good way to get them to meet the coaches, and meet other families as well.”

Overall, the potluck’s influence on the soccer booster club is evident, sophomore Tyler Bellows said.

“It’s to influence our program, to make it bigger, and make it better,” Bellows said.

The soccer coaches will speak on their goals and views this year at the potluck. Both athletes and parents are encouraged to go and listen.

“We want to give the coaches plenty of time to meet everyone and introduce the program to a lot of people.” Kwon said “This is an encouragement for parents and players to come and be a part of the program off the field as much as they are on the field.”