Parent Handbook Your child has decided he/she wants to play soccer. Now what do you do? This handbook gives you a step-by-step tour of the soccer parent's season.   Step 1 - Registration    The first step is to get your child registered to play with the USA in the upcoming season:   When? For most, registration happens earlier than you think - so be ready. Registration for the Spring season happens in January. Registration for the Fall season happens in June. Why so early? Because completed rosters are due to FCYSL over a month before games start. Currently registered USA players will receive a reminder flyer via U.S. Mail. Also, most children in the area receive flyers at school that will tell you the specifics for the upcoming registration. Notices also appear in the Gazette and Frederick News-Post newspapers. We do the best that we can, but this is not a fool-proof system. Where? Registration is now online. Simply go to:           www.urbanasoccer.org and click on the registration link on the left-hand-side.  That will take you into the online registration system. It’s straightforward and simple. Saves a lot of paperwork!   NOTE: If you don’t have internet access, you can always go to the Urbana Regional Library. How much? Costs for the various programs vary, but in general, expect to pay between $65-$110 per season per child. Check the registration flyers for cost details. Why so much? There are many costs involved in running the program. We must buy equipment and uniforms. We must pay a registration fee to the FCYSL  and the MSYSA. We must pay referee fees. We must maintain our fields. We do everything that we can to keep costs down. We also do not do any fund-raising of any kind. Most of us feel that we are bombarded enough with fund-raising efforts from school, band, Boy/Girl Scouts, etc. We don't want to add additional fund-raising events to your already busy schedule. What do I need to know at registration? The important information that you’ll need to know when registering your child is: ·        Child’s date-of-birth. ·        Health insurance information (doctor's name and phone number, insurance policy name and number, etc.). ·        Any special medical information about your child (allergies, medications, health conditions such as asthma, etc.). ·        Any special requests that you’ll need to make – play with a friend, carpooling requirements, etc. What age group? Your child plays in the same age group starting with the Fall season and including the following Spring season. Which age group is determined by your child's age as of the preceding August 31st. If your child's birthday is October 28th and he/she will be 12 on that day, your child is eligible to play in the U12 (the "U" stands for "under" 12) age group for both Fall and Spring seasons. Why? Because he/she was only 11 on the preceding August 31st (even though he/she will be 12 for the entire Spring season). What gender? For U6s and U8s that's easy - coed (that's all that's available). If your child is male, that's easy too - coed (there are no boys teams although many coed teams are all boys). If your child is female, you must make a decision if she will play U10, U12, U14 or U19. In these age groups, both girls and coed teams are available. Which one you pick is really up to your daughter. Just make sure you specify the correct team on your registration form. In-house or Travel? All of our U6 players play in our in-house program. All players in U8 and above play in traveling programs.  Playing up? We no longer allow players to “play up” – i.e., play in an older age group – except in the following cases: ·        A U6 player who is in first grade may play U8. ·        A U12 player who is in seventh grade may play U14. ·        A U14 player who is in ninth grade may play U19. If your child falls into one of the above categories and wishes to play up, you must make the request in the Special Request section of the registration form. What team/coach? At the USA, we're very lenient with team/coach requests. If your son needs to play with the neighbor's child because of car pooling, put that down on your registration form, and we will do everything possible to make it happen. If your child wants to play on a certain Coach's team - put that on the registration form, and once again, we will do everything possible to make it happen. (Unless that coach is a Division 1 coach and your child is not a Division 1 player.) If you have no special requests, then we will get your child on a great soccer team that has openings. At the USA, we try to keep teams together season after season. This helps foster team spirit and makes team development easier. This is not a guarantee as many teams change from season to season due to coaching changes, players not registering, players moving to other teams on request, etc. However, don't expect the registration coordinator to know what team your child played on last season - there's just too many players. Make sure that you add this information to the registration form. Oops - I missed registration! It's February 2nd (for Spring) or July 2nd (for Fall) or later and you still haven't registered your child. Are you out of luck? Maybe not, but you need to hurry. Go to the web site – www.urbanasoccer.org – and click on the registration link to register. The only times we will not take your child into the program is if all of the teams in that age group are filled, or if it is past the date that we must send team rosters to the FCYSL. If the age group is filled, the online registration system will notify you that you have been placed on a waiting list. If space becomes available, the registration coordinator will notify you. Please remember that if you do not register ON TIME, your child runs the risk of not playing soccer for the season. So, please do your best to get registered on time!   Step 2 - The Sporting Goods Store    Now, you must get your child ready for the upcoming season. First practice is only two weeks away - off to the sporting goods store you go. Your child will need: Water bottle (with his/her name on it). Approximately $5. Molded rubber cleats (or turf shoes) that fit properly. Make sure that your child wears any new cleats several times before playing in them to prevent blisters. Approximately $30-150. Shin guards (required to play in any league). Approximately $10-30. Socks for practice that completely cover their shin guards. Approximately $5-10. Soccer ball - size 3 ball for U6 and U8; size 4 ball for U10, and U12; size 5 ball for U14 and older. Make sure you put his/her name on the ball. Approximately $15-30. Mouthguard - optional for field players, but all goalies should have one. Approximately $15. There are several sporting goods stores in the area - The Sports Authority is across from FSK mall and is the biggest. Frederick Soccer Store is located in the Frederick Sportsplex and has the best soccer stuff. You can try Kohls, Wal-Mart and Target, too.   Step 3 – Practice   Depending on your child's age group and coach, your child will be practicing two to three times a week.   Getting Ready Make sure that your child is properly attired for practice - cleats, shin guards, socks that cover the shin guards, mouthpiece, water bottle, soccer ball, and proper clothes for the elements.  Make sure that everything that's not attached to your child (for example, the soccer ball and water bottle) has his/her name on it. The Practice Prime Directive - Don't Be Late For a coach, it's very hard to run a practice if half of the team shows up 15-30 minutes late. As a parent, your goal should be to get your child to practice 10 minutes before the actual starting time. Practice is invaluable at this age. If you have to be late (or must miss practice altogether), please call your child's coach and tell him/her. If you just have a transportation problem, call the other parents. Maybe they can take your child to practice and you can pick them up after practice. Do I Stay or Do I Go? This is up to you. Some parents like to watch practice and some don't. You should at least stay for a few practices so that you get to know what the coach expects from your child. Picking Up Your Exhausted Child Practice is a lot of fun - games, running, being with friends. Unfortunately, it doesn't last forever. You should always plan on arriving 5-10 minutes before the official end of practice. Remember that the coach can not leave until all players have been safely picked up and whisked away. Meet a New Parent - Make a New Friend The happiest teams have the closest parents. When you're at practice, say Hi! to the other parents. Find out who they are and what they do. You'll find a new friend. Make carpool arrangements together (the players always love to travel to practice/games together). There's nothing worse than having all of the parents standing together on the sideline, and no one knows anybody's name. Inclement Weather If the weather looks like it may turn nasty during practice, you'll probably want to stay just in case practice ends early. Practice ends early if it's too cold, starts pouring, or if there is lightning in the area. Once again, remember that the coach can't leave until all of his/her players are safely picked up.   Step 4 - The Uniform   You couldn't begin to believe the number of arguments and the amount of time we've expended discussing uniforms at the USA meetings. It's always a dreaded topic since it means a 3 or 4 hour meeting! Anyway, here's the USA policy on uniforms. If you have questions, please contact the uniforms coordinator.   Age Group(s) Uniform U6 Every player is given the following at the beginning of each season (Fall and Spring): USA T-shirt NOTE: No shorts or socks are given to players in this age group. U8, U10, U12, U14 Every player is given the following at the beginning of each season (Fall and Spring): Soccer socks Every player is given the following the first season they play in the current soccer year (the soccer year consists of the Fall and following Spring season): USA game jersey USA game shorts You can buy replacement jerseys and shorts during the online registration process.   In general, players will receive new uniforms one week prior to their first game. Take good care of your uniform - we want to play great soccer and look great doing it. USA colors are silver and navy jerseys with navy shorts and navy socks.   Step 5 - Game Day   Your child has practiced and practiced and practiced. Now it's the big day - GAME DAY! You don't know who's more nervous - yourself or your child. You have visions of him/her dribbling down the field with 30 seconds left to go in a scoreless game. Past one defender, past a second defender, past all the defenders! Just the goalie to beat. He/She fires off a vicious shot. It's past the goalie - it's going to go in.... Wait, it hits the crossbar. But your son/daughter follows his/her shot, dives over the goalie and heads the rebound into the top corner of the net to win the game!!!!!!   Wake up - you're dreaming. If you get that pumped up for a youth soccer game, your child is going to be so nervous that he/she won't know what to do. Relax.   'Twas The Night Before A good night's sleep will mean a better game tomorrow. Some players will be nervous the night before a game and will stare at the ceiling imagining the great plays or disasters that are to come. Try to adhere to the normal routine for bedtime. If your child is apprehensive about the game (especially the younger children), just tell him/her that he/she will do great, you love him/her and you're proud of him/her. Then talk about anything else but soccer! And remember every coach’s nightmare is players attending sleepovers the night before a game. Before the Game Make sure your child knows he/she has a game that day. They can do all of their normal activities before the game - playing, chores, etc. Don't make them rake your entire 5-acre lawn or make them run a marathon, but children have incredible amounts of energy. Eating Your child should eat a high-carbohydrate (complex carbos - not just sugars - check the nutrition label for carbohydrate information) meal approximately 1½ - 2 hours before game time. Pastas, cereals, sports drinks, rice, etc. all have a good deal of carbos in them. Don't let your child eat like a sumo wrestler, but eat a decent meal/snack. I'd stay away from heavy foods that take a long time to digest such as meats. You'll have to see how your child reacts. If you're away from home and need to get something quick, try pizza. Just say no to any McDonald's Big Macs, Burger King Whoppers, etc. Save that for AFTER the game. Getting Ready Make sure you leave plenty of time for your child to get dressed for the game, and for you to get your child to the game safely. The less hurried you are, the less likely you are to leave those shin guards at home. Your child should suit up in his/her appropriate uniform - game jersey or T-shirt, game shorts, shin guards, game socks (remember that the socks must completely cover the shin guards) and cleats. Your child should bring the following to the game: ·         Water bottle (with his/her name on it). ·         Mouth guard - optional for field players, but all goalies should have one. ·         Soccer ball (if coach wants it that way)  Tell your child that you're looking forward to his/her game, and that you know that he/she will play great today. Be positive. Don't try to rattle off a list of 100 things that he/she needs to remember during the game - that's what practice is for. If you have a little extra time, go out in the yard and kick the soccer ball around. Where Are the Games? All U6 games/practice sessions are at Urbana Park. U8 and up play home games at Urbana Park (U8, U10, and U12 on the Lower Field; U14 and older on the Upper Field). Away games (usually) can be anywhere in Frederick County. We've been known to go as far away as Hagerstown, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Make sure you know where the game is to be played and that you have directions to the field site before you leave. Your coach should have given you directions before the game - if not, directions to most field sites can be found at www.fcysl.net. Carpooling is a great idea. Not only does it save on gas, but the players love to travel in a pack. When to Get There? Follow your coach's guidelines, but most coaches like you to be at the game field 30 minutes prior to kickoff time. Where Do I Go at the Game? According to FCYSL regulations, parents are banished to the side of the field opposite of the side where the players sit. You might not like it, but it's the law! You also MAY NOT sit behind either goal. How Should I Act? First and foremost, be positive. And that goes for both teams. If a player on the other team makes a great play, politely applaud it and say "Great play." If a player on your team makes a great play, go crazy and yell "Great play!" Don't criticize the players on either team - you'll see lots and lots of mistakes. Remember - they're still learning.   If you've been to practices, you should have some idea of how the coach runs his/her soccer team. It's difficult for the players if the coach is yelling "Go right!" and the parents are yelling "Go left!". It's nice if everybody is on the same page. Sometimes it's best just to yell "Go Urbana!". Leave the decision making up to the players.   Lastly, NEVER yell or argue with the referee - no matter how bad the call was. If you've refereed a soccer game before, you know how difficult it is. Good coaches don't yell and scream at their players and tell them how stupid and blind they are in an effort to make them play better. So when a referee makes a mistake, why should good parents yell and scream at him and tell him how stupid and blind he is in an effort to make him referee better. Remember, sportsmanship is one of the pillars on which the USA is built - that goes for parents as well.   The following is taken directly out of the FCYSL Constitution and By-laws:   Parents are responsible for their behavior as well as the behavior of their guests. Good sportsmanship for soccer fans includes development of a knowledge of the game, an attitude of fairness toward the other team, and an understanding of the difficulties facing the officials in calling a fast-moving soccer game. Parents and guests shall avoid: ·         Poor sportsmanship, including displays of temper, attempts to engage in confrontation tactics, loud and abusive comments, or foul language directed toward either team or either sideline. ·         Verbal abuse or foul language directed toward the officials. ·         Any action which the coach tells a parent or guest to cease. ·         Any action which may result in disciplinary action against a coach. ·         Physical abuse of any party, either on or off the field. Entry onto the field of play at any time without the express permission of the official. Note that by FCYSL rule, all parents and spectators must sit on the opposite side of the playing field from the location of the teams.   After the Game Positive, positive, positive. If little Billy let the game-winning goal go between his legs at the end of the game, talk about the great save he made just before that or the great punts that he made. Say you like the way that your child and Annie passed the ball to each other today - you looked like a team out there. Whatever you do, don't dwell endlessly on the game. For most young players, the game is over and done with, win or lose, about two minutes after they shake hands with the referee and the other team. That's about the time when the after-game snack gets opened up.   If your child's team has just lost 10-0 for the sixth game in a row, well, that's a tough one. The best advice I have is to take a friend out for ice cream, or go up to the playground and let your child play with the other players for thirty minutes. You'll be amazed at how quickly he/she returns to that happy and carefree child. You, on the other hand, will be a basket-case. You must be doing something wrong. You'll tell yourself that you need to get little Billy out at home and practice for 2 hours a day. Forget it - it's only a game. Just make sure that little Billy is on time for the next practice.   Step 6 - Pictures   Every season, a photographer will come out to practice and take both individual and team pictures. This usually occurs in April for Spring Season and in September for Fall Season. A form will be sent home with your child outlining the various packages that are available. Buying pictures is totally up to you. Questions? - contact the pictures coordinator.   On picture-day, make sure that your child wears his/her complete game uniform to practice.   Step 7 - Tournament Time   You're child's team has played its last game of the season. You think you're done with soccer. Oops - not so fast. It's Tournament Time! Tournaments for U8s and older are somewhat complicated and time-consuming. The FCYSL Fall tournament is for U10 and older teams and is usually the first weekend in November. U8 teams play in the MAYAA U8 tournament which is usually the second weekend in November. Teams are usually divided into two divisions - Division 1 teams and Division 2 teams - based on the number of entries in that age group. Teams play a round-robin tournament with the top four teams advancing to a single-elimination round. The winners of the semifinal games play each other for the championship. Trophies are usually awarded for 1st and 2nd places and all players receive a participation award. All games except for the championship game are usually 1/2 their usual time. For example, U10 teams play 25-minute games in the tournament (instead of the usual 50-minutes). The championship game is a full-length game. Your child will probably play 3 games on the first Saturday of the tournament. If they advance to the semi-finals, they'll play 1 or 2 more games on Sunday. Forget about getting anything else done on that weekend!   In the Spring, there is no FCYSL tournament. U8 teams play in the MAYAA U8 tournament again which is usually held on the second weekend in June. Some U10 and older teams have been playing in the Mid-Atlantic Cup which is Father’s Day weekend at the Germantown SoccerPlex. Other U10 and older teams choose the BASC tournament which is also on Father’s Day weekend and is held in Boonsboro (Washington County). Some U10 and older teams choose not to play in any tournament at all. Tournament formats vary but expect 3 games on Saturday and championship games on Sunday. It can be very hot during these weekends in June so be prepared.   There are many other tournaments around - some are pre-season, some are mid-season and some are post-season. Your child's team may play in one or more of these as well - this is left up to the individual coaches.   Step 8 - It's Finally Over   You made it! The season is finally over - hurrah!   Wait a minute - little Billy says he loved playing soccer and he can't wait to play again. "Please can I play next season, please!!!". Back to Step 1 you go!!!!! Remember, registration for Fall season is in June while registration for Spring season is in January. Practice starts the beginning of August for the Fall season and the beginning of March for Spring season. Looks like you'll have to take that vacation in July this year!   Step 9 - Volunteer   The USA is an all-volunteer organization. No one gets paid except for the sheer delight of watching children enjoy playing the great game of soccer. What can you do to help? Coach Be a team manager Be an officer Help with registration Help organize and distribute pictures Help organize and distribute uniforms Help organize and distribute participation awards Help with field lining and maintenance Help procure and distribute equipment Most of these positions take very little time. If you're interested, please contact one of the USA officers. Thanks.