Information is subject to change without notice. The WSA Board of Directors reserve the right to make changes and decisions in the best interest of the organization.
How
long is the soccer season?
When do teams play their soccer games?
Where are games played?
How much playing time will my child get?
What equipment do I need
to purchase for my child?
Other than equipment,
are there any other costs for soccer?
Who will coach my child’s team?
How are teams selected?
When will I hear from a coach?
When will the team practice?
What if my child
can’t make practices?
What does my child need to
practice/play?
When will the games be played?
When will we know the game schedule?
When will players receive a
uniform?
How are team age groups decided?
Can my daughter play on a girls-only
team?
Can I switch my child to another team?
What happens if there is inclement weather?
Why are some
teams practicing and my child hasn't heard from a coach?
Can my child bring a friend to
practice?
Why are
the teams and spectators placed on opposite sides of the field?
Why can't
I stand near the net or behind the goal line during games?
What does a Team Parent do?
How do I become a coach?
Can I request a team
that holds practice on certain days?
How
long is the soccer season?
Each season is approximately
10 weeks—this could change from season to season depending on holidays and other
events. The Spring season ends with the last
game played the Saturday one week prior to the Memorial Day weekend and the Fall season
ends with the last game played the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The MiniWee program is a five-week program with sessions held on
Saturdays only; it begins after, and ends before, the U5-U12 season. Specific dates for programs will be published on
our website every season along with the registration dates and times.
When do teams
play their soccer games?
Most teams
play either Saturday morning or Saturday afternoon, depending on the number of teams per
age group and the field space availability. MiniWee participants do
not play games and do not have practices. They have instructional sessions on
Saturdays.
Where are
games played?
Due to limited field space, games and practice locations may not be determined until the
season begins. Some teams may play games or
practice at
How
much playing time will my child get?
Our goal is to provide a safe, structured and fair environment in which young players can
have FUN and enjoy playing and learning the game of soccer. There are no win/lose records
kept during the season. Coaches are required to play all players 50% of each game during
the season, providing the player attends all practices.
What equipment do I need to purchase for my child?
Every
child should have a soccer ball of their own, and should bring it to every practice.
We recommend you put your last name and phone number on the soccer ball in case it’s
left at the field after a practice or a game. You should only buy a proper type
soccer ball not a toy ball.
| Age
Group |
Ball
Size |
| U5, U6, U7, U8 |
Size 3 ball |
| U10, U12 |
Size 4 ball |
MiniWee participants will receive a ball, which will be distributed by their
coach, as part of their player package. |
|
EVERY
youth soccer player is REQUIRED to wear shin guards to every practice and game for leg
protection from accidental kicks--no exceptions. You can purchase shin guards in the
sports department of most local major retail department stores. Shin guards must be:
1. Covered entirely by the player's socks.
2. Made of a suitable material (rubber, plastic, or similar substances).
3. Worn to provide a reasonable degree of protection.
Soccer cleats are required. The studs on the
bottom of the cleats help players make quick twists and turns and provide traction during
wet conditions. Children can NOT wear baseball cleats or any other style of
shoe where the cleats protrude out from the sides or front.
Other than equipment, are there any other costs for
soccer?
Parents take turns providing snacks and drinks for players and may be required to
contribute toward an end-of-season party for the team and coach/assistant appreciation
gifts.
Who will coach my child’s team?
Every
season we need Head Coaches. As WSA grows so
does our need for more volunteers as we are a non-profit, all-volunteer organization.
Without volunteers WSA would not be the success that it is! We depend on volunteer coaches, most
importantly Head Coaches, who are mostly parents to make this program successful. We have
a Player Development Officer (PDO) available to provide basic training to anyone
interested in coaching.
How are teams selected?
Teams are created and developed on the premise of fairness to promote FUN over winning at
all costs. Head coaches and Assistants will
have their child/children on their team. Teams
are created by an electronic team-building program and coaches are not involved in the
team-building or selection process. U5 and U6
teams are created by balancing the teams based on age and gender. Under 7 – Under 12 age groups are balanced
based on gender and Skills Assessment scores. While
team-balancing is not an exact science, we try to create evenly matched teams. Therefore, we do not have teams with children with
like skills (e.g. advanced players or beginners) all on one team because the level of
competition would not make it enjoyable for the children.
When will I hear
from a coach?
You should hear from your coach by the Monday prior to the first practice Saturday or
MiniWee session. If you do not hear from a
coach, you may find out your child’s team assignment and the coach’s information
by visiting our website. The Monday prior to
the first Saturday practice or MiniWee session, participants’ team assignments, team
schedules and a coaches list will be published on our website. If a parent does not wish their child’s team
assignment to be published on our website, they must inform us via an email no later than 24 hours after registration. Do not email us for coaching information, team
assignments or schedules--which will be available on our website--because we have limited
volunteer resources and you will not receive a reply.
When will the team practice?
This is based on the Head Coach’s personal schedule.
The Head coach sets the practice days/times for his/her team. Since all our coaches are volunteers there is no
way for WSA to know what your child’s practice schedule will be in advance so WSA
cannot accommodate requests for specific practice days or times. MiniWee teams do not have practices.
Typically U5 & U6 teams practice one day a week. U7 – U12 teams may
practice two days a week. Coaches
will instruct the children on the basic skills and rules of the game geared toward the age
level and skill level that the children display so it is important that children attend
their team’s practices. As a courtesy to the coaches, please be prompt at
bringing your child to practice. Parents are expected to stay at the practices and
offer to help if needed, or just watch and encourage your child along the way. If your child is enrolled in other
activities/sports, we recommend you do not register them for our league if you feel there
will be a conflict with practice times. Requests to switch to another team or
refunds due to conflicts, will not be honored. It
is expected that players attend practices in order to play in games.
Players may play and practice only
with their assigned team. There will be absolutely no requesting coaches or switching
teams under any circumstances. The only players guaranteed to play together are those of
the Head Coach and Assistant Coach and siblings (who are in the same age group). Please do not ask to be on the same team with a
friend or for carpool purposes because we cannot accommodate these requests.
What if my child
can’t make practices?
Players may play and practice ONLY
with their assigned team—this is an insurance requirement. Requests
to switch players to another team will not be honored and coaches do not have the
authority to trade/switch players, so please do not ask.
WSA and its coaches recognize the fact that players have other interests, talents,
and commitments. Coaches are committed to making practice sessions as consistent and
pre-scheduled as possible. This should allow enough flexibility to afford players the
opportunity to pursue other interests. However,
if your child is already enrolled in other activities that may conflict with soccer
practices, we recommend that you do not register your child in our league as practice
schedules will be determined by the volunteer coaches based on their own personal
schedules. Refunds will not be issued due to
conflicts with other activities and WSA practices and players will not be allowed to
switch to another team.
What does my
child need to practice/play?
| U5,
U6, U7, U8 |
Size
3 |
U10,
U12 |
Size
4 |
When will the
games be played?
Games will be played on Saturdays unless field space restrictions or extenuating
circumstances force us to re-schedule games.
When will we know the game schedule?
The game schedule will be published on our website no later than the Monday prior to the
first practice Saturday. Each coach will
receive copies of the schedules at the Coaches' Meeting for distribution to parents.
Do not email us for this information as you will not receive a reply.
When will players
receive a uniform?
The coach will hand out the uniforms by the first game. Uniforms are included in the
registration fee and will consist of two jerseys, one pair of shorts and socks. Participants are required to bring both jerseys
(home/away) to EVERY game—this way if one team is short on players, teams can share
players. MiniWee players will receive their
team jersey and ball from their coach by the first session.
How
are team age groups decided?
The cut-off date for age assignment is August 1 (not the date the season or program
begins). This is an AYSO, USYSA and FYSA mandate for ALL soccer
organizations. We must abide by age guidelines
as determined by birth dates.
Can my daughter play on a girls-only
team?
No,
all our teams are co-ed.
Can
I switch my child to another team?
Once registered, team building is done by the Director of League Development and a player
has an obligation to remain with his/her team for the season. Players must practice and play games only with
their assigned team. Coaches do not have the
authority to switch/trade players.
What happens if there is inclement weather?
If
threatening weather arises, practices should be cancelled. The decision to cancel
practice will be up to the coach. Parents are expected to remain with their child at
practices.
The rule of thumb is that games will be played in the rain as long as there is no
lightning. Parents should bring players to the
field as the decisions are made at the field. Coaches
will call the WSA Status Line to determine if games are suspended or cancelled due to
inclement weather and will inform parents. The
WSA Status Line number will not be available to parents so parents must contact their
coach to determine if games have been cancelled.
Why
are some teams practicing and my child hasn't heard from a coach?
The U5 – U12 age groups will begin practices and sometimes games will begin before
the MiniWee program begins. If you have not
been contacted by a coach, it could be simply that your email address or telephone number
was illegible or typed incorrectly. Team
assignment and coaches’ contact information will be published on our website by the
Monday prior to the first practice or MiniWee session, so parents may contact coaches
directly if they have any questions.
Can
my child bring a friend to practice?
For insurance reasons, only registered players are eligible to participate in WSA
practices and games.
Why
are the teams and spectators placed on opposite sides of the field?
Players and spectators are kept separate to aid the coach and referees in team management.
It helps the coach to have all the players in one place. It helps the player to understand
that instructions should come from the coach during the game and he/she should not have
the distractions of family around. For safety and security reasons, parents are not
allowed on the coaches' side of the field. Only those who have been approved to
coach (i.e. passed the background check) are allowed on the coaches' side of the field.
Why
can't I stand near the net or behind the goal line during games?
This is first and foremost a safety issue. Players have been injured, not to mention goals
scored or not scored, because of the distraction of people behind the goals.
What
does a Team Parent do?
Team parents are the communication link between the coach and the team. They pick up the
team's uniforms fo the coach, hand out the newsletters and photo packets and organize the
snack schedule, end of season party and coaches' appreciation. Let your child’s coach know if you are
interested in being a Team Parent.
How
do I become a coach?
If you sign up to to coach, your child will be placed on your team. You may download a copy of the Volunteer
Application form from the Coaches’ Corner on our
website. ALL sections
(including SSN#) must be completed and a copy of your Driver's License must be
included for Hillsborough County's Athletic department to perform a background check. Bring the completed form with you to turn in when
you register your child. You will also need to
check the "Coach" box on your child’s registration form. Volunteer Application forms will also be available
at registration. There are no qualifications
for one to volunteer to coach. We only ask that you be dedicated to the kids of WSA! It's
just that easy. If you will not be registering a child and wish to coach, please
send us an email.
U5 – U12 Head Coaches will determine the weekly practice days and times for their
teams based on their own personal schedules. Equipment
and curriculum guides for the age group will be provided by WSA as well as a Coach's
Handbook. The Player Development Officer (PDO)
will also be available to provide one-on-one training on how to conduct a practice.
MiniWee—the
commitment to be a MiniWee Assistant coach is very minimal because the Player Development
Officer (PDO) will be the Head Coach and will run the first 30 minutes of the MiniWee
sessions (which are held on Saturdays only). MiniWee
Assistant Coaches will assist the PDO during the first 30 minutes and will be left to run
the last 15 minutes of the session after receiving guidance/instructions from the PDO.
The role of the MiniWee Assistant Coach is more administrative. A MiniWee
Assistant Coach Handbook will be provided to guide you with the tasks required.
Can I request a team that holds practice on certain
days?
No, we do not have a schedule of practices because it is dependent on the coach’s
personal schedule. As a parent, sometimes you
may have to re-arrange your schedule for the season, which is about 10 weeks. You may indicate your practice day restrictions on
your child’s registration form; however, WSA does not guarantee that your child's
coach will accommodate your request and a refund will not be issued if the team’s
practice day/ time conflicts with your schedule. Children
cannot switch teams or practice with other teams. Participants
must attend their team’s practices in order to get equal playing time in games. If your child is involved with other activities
that do not have a flexible schedule, we
recommend that you do not register your child in our league as practice schedules will be
determined by the volunteer coaches based on their own personal schedules. Refunds will not be issued due to conflicts with
other activities and WSA practices.
| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | |||||||