NEW TO THE PROGRAM? Start Here!
Posted by Lee Spooner on 5/15/2023
If you have a question that isn't listed
here, please email it to me.
[email protected]
Welcome to the YMCA Soccer Program!
Below are the common questions we receive from the families in our program.
As a parent myself, I welcome you to the world of organized sports, for
many of you this will become a part of your weekly life for many years to come.
The YMCA of Southeastern NC started providing youth soccer back in 1975,
in that time our biggest take away is that kids play soccer to have
fun....that's it. Therefore our #1 goal is that the player has fun in our
program.
Sections below:
Basic Program Q&A
YMCA Registration / Playerspace Q&A
Fall 2023 Youth Soccer Leagues
05/15-08/05: On-time Registration
07/01: Playerspace System will switch from Spring 2023 to Fall 2023.
08/06: Late registration opens, open spots will be filled based on when registration is received.
08/09-8/11: Notification of Team Assignments start through PlayerSpace!
08/19 & 08/26: Coaches Meeting and Free Coaches Training
08/21: Practices Start
09/06: Entire Seasons Game Schedule Released
09/04-09/08: Uniforms are distributed at practice.
09/09: First League Game
10/28: Last Games of the Fall Season
11/18-11/19: 3v3 Tournament $25 per player (3 to 6 players) - U8 through HS
SPRING 2024 Youth Soccer Leagues
11/15-02/03: On-time Registration
02/17 & 02/24: Coaches Meeting and Free Coaches Training
02/19: Practices Start
03/09: First League Game
05/04: Last Games of the Fall Season
06/01-06/02: 3v3 Tournament $25 per player (3 to 6 players) - U8 through HS
BASIC PROGRAM Q&A
Q: Can I still register my kid for soccer?
A: "On-time" Spring Registrations is open and on-time registration ends on February 4th. After this date there is a $20 late registration
processing fee. It takes 24 to 48 hours to be placed on a team.
We do our best not to turn away any kid that wants to play. Many
times throughout the season positions open and you can be placed on a team even
if you enroll mid-season.
Q: How do you determine a players age?
A: For the Fall 2023 & Spring
2024 seasons age is based on a child's age as of 12/31/2023. This
guideline is set by the US Youth Soccer Association. A player must be 4
on 12/31/2023 for the Fall 2023 Season. We allow players in our league to
play up one division. Players are NOT allowed to play down a division.
This is to keep our divisions fair and equal play. The rule that
allows you to play up a division is so that friends may play together that may
be off by a few months or if you would just like a little more competitive
play. Those 2 & 3 years old can participate in our Itty Bitty Soccer
Program.
Q: What day & time are practices?
A:
Practice days and times are set by our volunteer coaches and available field
space. Usually there is every age group every day of the week for
divisions U8 and below. The average practice starts between 5 PM and 6
PM. We collect your preferred practice information during
registration. First practices of the Spring season start the week of February 20th. Once assignments are announced we can provide your options
if the assignment does not fit your schedule.
Q: What time are games?
A: That depends on total
registration. This season’s game schedule will be posted on March 8th. Games may be added to locations once we know total team
counts.
Games are on Saturdays at multiple locations.
Currently for the Spring 2023 Leagues game times will range the following for
each group:
U5 & U6 will play games between 8:30 AM and finish by 12:00 PM
U7 & U8 will play games between 8:45 AM and finish by 1:00 PM
U9 & U10 will play games between 8:30 AM and finish by 4:00 PM
U12 & UP will play games between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM (most play in afternoon)
Q: Where are games and practices.
A:
You can see a current list of our fields at the link below:
Q: How much does it cost.
A: We price divisions based on our
cost, so as our younger groups do not have referee's means the games cost less.
As kids get older, we add referees to the field per league guideline.
On-Time Registration ends on February 4th,
after this date there is a $20 processing fee.
Ages League Play
Prices
2- 3 Itty-Bitty Soccer Program
$ 80 Staff led
program.
4- 5 U5 & U6
5 v 5 $
90 Coaches on the field, no referee, no
keepers.
6- 8 U7 & U8
7 v 7 $
100 Modified keeper with staff referee.
7- 8 U9 & U10
8 v 8 $ 110
One center referee.
9-11 U12
9 v 9 $
120 3 referee team used, offsides are called.
12-14 Middle School 11v11
$ 130 3 referee team
used, offsides are called.
14-17 High School 11v11
$ 130 3
referee team used, offsides are called.
* Members receive a $20 discount.
* Financial Aid is available to those that qualify and covers 30% of
registration.
* Multiple Child Discount ($5 off each child's registration)
* Coaches Discount (Returning coaches receive 50% discount for their child, after 1 season and 2
on-line courses.)
Q: Will we have to travel
to different fields for games?
A: In short: U8 and under,
no. U10 and above, more than likely. In length: This depends
on total registration. For a healthy league you want at least 4 teams in
a division. This is so each team play each other twice for the season.
It is normal for leagues to join divisions so that you can do all home
games. These divisions have the same rule modifications. I would
expect enough teams for the U8 and under divisions so the answer would be no,
all your games will be at your assigned game field. For U10 and above, in
the case where there are less than 4 teams, teams will be combined with teams
within our league so each team would play one home game and one away game.
Middle School and High School divisions may play some games with teams
from other youth leagues in the area.
Q: How do I find out information like
my coach, practices or game schedules?
A: We
use a program called Playerspace to communicate with such a large
league. Playerspace is a sports communication and league management
portal that we use to enhance and improve the overall communication and
scheduling for our soccer league. All teams, players, coaches and
volunteers will be active users in Playerspace in conjunction with their
YMCA registration. Once registered, all users will have access to all
league schedules and information. Weekly Emails will be sent out 30 days
prior to the season starting. Cancellations due to weather are posted on
the website, emailed out to parents and text if you opted to receive them.
Q: I am having troubles with how to
use Playerspace.
A: Playerspace is
the system we use to communicate with the 2,000+ families in our programs.
It will always have the most up to date information. This includes
your child's team, coach, practice times and game times. The
following site is available to help parents on how to navigate the
system. https://www.playerspace.net/playerspace-view-all-parents
Q: I have not heard from anyone,
including my coach. When will this happen?
A: Even
if coaches don't email you, you will get emails from me via Playerspace.
We send updates out each week. We have also set-up auto reminders for all
practices and game times. So if you have not received these please scroll
to the bottom and problem shoot. If that still doesn't work please email
us so we can trouble shoot. (Meantime, all information can be found on
this site once you are logged in - including the option to email your
coach.)
Q: When do I get my child's Jersey?
A: Jerseys
are issued the week prior to first league game.
Q: What is included in my
registration?
A:
1 weekly practice, 8 games, Jersey, Player award & fun, not in that order.
Q: Does my child need shin guards
and/or cleats?
A:
5 years old and up: Shin guards are required for all players.
You can find them for $10 at Target, Wal-Mart, sporting goods store
or our snack bar on Saturdays. Nothing fancy, they will stink at the end
of the season, trust me as a parent. Cleats are not required but at some
point if your child likes soccer you will need them. We have a cleat
exchange at the Nir Family YMCA fields (during regular practice times).
Take a pair - give a pair....kids outgrow quickly.
Q: What is the Weather Policy?
A:
Below is our cancellation guidelines for Soccer.
NOTIFICATIONS:
EMAILS & TEXT:
We will email through the Playerspace system
to teams that are affected by weather so please check your email before leaving
to come to the fields. I will do my best to cancel as quickly as I can,
for last minutes cancellations we will also text as well as email the
notification. There may be a practice/game or two this season that we
wait, do not cancel and as you pull up lighting strikes. We try to keep
these to a minimum, but it happens. Either practice/game will be delayed
30 minutes or cancelled.
PRACTICES:
For those practicing at YMCA Fields:
Calls for practices are made between 3 PM and
3:30 PM during the week. Our fields dry quick and weather in NC comes and
goes just as quick so we do not cancel until we have too.
For those practicing at an offside field that
is maintained by City, Town or County:
Municipalities will notify us of
closures. Once we are contacted, we will notify the league. There
may be cases where on one side of the county we have practices and one side of
the county gets cancelled.
Our Volunteer Coaches:
Our Volunteer Coaches are given the choice to
cancel practices before we close fields. As a coach I knew my parents of
5 year olds would not come out if it was sprinkling. COACHES, please
email us so we can remove from calendar. NAC Teams will follow
field closures.
GAMES:
We play in the rain (the kids love it,
parents and our staff not so much.)
We only cancel game and practices if there is
lighting, thunder and/or standing water on more than 25% of our fields.
If light rain only, we are going to play. Calls will be made early
in the morning (7 AM to 7:30 AM) for a full day closure or if we will cancel on
a game-by-game basis. Game by game will be called 1 hour before your game
time. There may be some weekends that the 8:30 AM to 11 AM games play and
the rest of the day does not.
Q: What first-aid do you provide?
A:
We have first-aid kits at the Snack Bar. Most staff have been CPR
certified and couple have more advanced training. We call 911 for any
major injuries. If you child has any severe condition, please inform me
as well as their coach. Communication with us is key.
Q: How competitive is your program?
A:
Our #1 goal is for your player to have "fun".
U5 & U6 (4 & 5)
"FUN" and basic field spacing and direction.
U7 & U8 (6 & 7)
"FUN" foot skills, foot skills, foot skills.
U9 & U10 (8 & 9)
"FUN" introduction of team dynamics.
U12 & UP You
can make this program whatever you want. Just fun or competitive we offer
both.
Q: Where should my kid play? (How
to determine age?)
A: Your
child's soccer age is based on their birth year, so their age on 12/31/23 would
be their soccer age. Youth Soccer is broken down as follows. U12
"U" stands for Under and 12 is the age, so U12 would be 11 years olds.
Play your child in their appropriate age division. A child may
play up an age group but not play down (unless there is a health-related circumstance.)
Players move up in the fall. Fall 2023/Spring 2024 based
on 12/31/23.
Q: What are the basic rules in each
age group? (Including what
size ball for your child.)
A: CLICK HERE FOR OUR 2023 RULE MODIFICATIONS
Q: Can I play my child up or down in a
division?
A: It
is common for a child to play up one level in a recreation league in the
younger divisions. I would speak to your coach or myself if this is
something you are concerned about. It should be rarely that a child is
held back. We are pretty even in all our younger divisions so everyone is
nervous about moving up. This does not go away as your child gets
older. Our goal is that they are having fun playing soccer, fair and
safe.
Q: What is your refund policy?
A: Refunds
are given. There is a $25 non-refundable administration fee to help cover
the cost that are accrued once a child registers for the
program. Refunds must be requested prior to April 1st for the Spring League
AND October 1st for the Fall League.
YMCA Registration &
Playerspace Q&A
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE PAGE FOR HELP ON
REGISTRATION
Q: I have multiple children in your
program, I see one's schedule on PlayerSpace but not the other?
A: This one is tricky, as it depends on what type of device you’re
using on the format. You are looking for your profile button, should be
your first name and last initial with a blank picture, unless you set one up.
Click your name and within your profile you will see "You have 2
kids" or "My Children", click either of those to toggle between
your children or view a parent master which will show both.
Q: There's two parents and we both would like to receive emails.
A: Want to add your spouse or
babysitter to the Playerspace notification system for your child this
season. This is a new function in Playerspace this season. It will
have to be added by whomever signed them up this season. Using that email
to log into Playerspace they will be able to add an additional email.
Note: we are working with our vendor to be able to capture this through the registration process. We hope to have it available in future seasons.
Below are the instructions to
add an additional email to your account.
http://d13ynksnjelk36.cloudfront.net/Downloads/4626/4626_15989324222362932_20424.pdf
Q: Why do I need an YMCA account & a Playerspace account?
A: The YMCA system is used for registration and collecting funds,
this system is called Daxko. The YMCA Soccer Program uses
Playerspace so that you have convenient 24/7 online access to league
information such as schedules, practice times, team information, standings and
event specifics. You will also be notified
through Playerspace of any weather delays or cancellations!
Q: What if I am not receiving e-mails from Playerspace?
A: Be sure to check your junk, trash and spam folders
for Playerspace. You will need to add notifications@playerspace.com to
your safe sender list. If you use a mobile device, please look for your
"spambox" folder, you may need to expand your folder view to locate
as this is not the same as your "junk" folder. If you still do
not see it, please email [email protected] for assistance.
Itty Bitty Introduction Program Q&A
2 & 3 Year-Olds
Please visit our Itty Bitty Soccer Program
Website at: http://ittybittysoccer.playerspace.com
CLICK HERE FOR A GUIDE FOR NEW PARENTS TO
SOCCER
Presented by US Youth Soccer Association