|
|
|
|
Long Valley United Soccer Club
WELCOME TO THE LONG VALLEY UNITED SOCCER CLUB
(LVU)
Soon, your sons and daughters will be trying out for a Long Valley United Soccer Club Traveling team. While many of you have other children who have participated in the program, others of you do not. Therefore it is our intention to help answer questions that may have come to mind when you were considering registering your child for the try-outs.
We hope the following questions and answers will help you. While we tried to think of any possible inquiries you might have, I am sure we did not cover everything. Therefore, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail any of the current LVU Board members (listed at the end). If you have questions you feel should be added (or maybe ones that you feel do not need to be included), or any points which you feel need further clarification, please visit our contacts page and select an appropriate contact for your question.Thank you!
Try-Outs
1. Is there anything special we should do/know about try-outs?
Yes: please bring a soccer ball with your name on it (size 4 for anyone in the age group from 7th grade up and size 5 for anyone born before that) and a water bottle; current traveling players DO NOT WEAR ANY PART OF YOUR TRAVEL SOCCER UNIFORM!
2. What do the try-outs consist of?
An evaluation of your child's abilities through:
A. Specific skill assessment drills
B. Small-sided games
3. Will my child be trying out with other children of the same age?
Yes, since teams are formed based on birth dates, your child will be trying out with other children of the same age.
4. Who are the evaluators for the try-outs?
There is a combination of independent evaluators and LVU coaches.
5. How long do the try-outs generally last?
Approximately 1-1/2 hours.
6. How often are try-outs held?
Once per year. Generally, some time in the spring for the following fall and Spring seasons. Sometimes teams are formed that only play the spring season – tryouts for those will be in the fall.
7. When will we be notified as to whether our child has made a team or not?
Teams will NOT be announced until after the last game of the season has been played. This is usually around the middle of June. For U8 teams in the spring season, results will be announced within 30 days of the tryout.
Team Formation
1. Are teams formed JUST for the fall season?
No, teams are formed for a complete year, which officially runs from 8/1 - 7/31. Therefore, a team stays together for a fall and spring season. Occasionally, we will form teams for the spring season - usually U8 or high school age teams.
2. I have heard the word "division" used when talking about traveling soccer. Can you please explain that?
The word division refers to an age group. Each division consists of 2 birth years. The LVSC's youngest players are in Division 6 and their age is 8. Division 2, then, would be ages 15 & 16.
3. How many teams will be formed within each age group?
If there are enough "travel capable" children in the age group, the Board will usually try to from more than 1 team. Teams are formed based on the rankings of each child in the age group.
4. If there is more than one team in an age group, will each team be even in strength?
Generally speaking, there is one "varsity" team formed and 1 developmental team. In the younger divisions (Div. 6, age 8, for example), there is sometimes a third or even fourth team formed, in which case there may be 1 stronger "Varsity" team and 2 or more even-strength developmental teams.
5. Are there 11 players on the field for every age group?
No. In Division 5 and 6, there are 8 players on the field at a time, ("8 v 8", as it is commonly called in soccer); therefore, the roster size generally stays around 12 to 14 players. In the older divisions, it is 11 v 11 and the roster size usually goes up to 15 to 18 players per team.
6. Will my child ever be playing with children older or younger than (s)he is?
Possibly. There are a couple of different scenarios:
1. Occasionally, there is a child who is an exceptionally strong player for his/her age group. Parents may petition the Board for their child to "play up" in the next older age group.
2. Although the soccer birth year goes from 8/1 - 7/31 of any given year, a child who is younger than that but is in class with children of that age group, may try out with their classmates. (Ex.: current 3rd graders generally have birth dates falling between 8/1/90 - 7/31/91. If your child is in 3rd grade, but his/her birthday is after 7/31/91, (s)he may try-out with fellow 3rd graders).
7. Will children ever move back and forth between "developmental " and Varsity teams within a year?
Not usually, but there are exceptions. Once a child is carded to a team (see explanation under Registration below), (s)he will stay with that team. An exception might be for a player to be secondarily carded to a team that has a smaller roster. This will generally not occur with children under age 12 or 13.
Another exception might be moving a child from the developmental to Varsity team if a Varsity player should move out of the area during the soccer season.
8. Does this mean that a team may change personnel from year to year?
Yes. Because the development of each individual child varies tremendously, some children may have become much stronger players since the last try-out. It is the intention of the LVU to put together the strongest possible teams.
9. So, if my child is currently playing on a "Varsity" team, is it possible that (s)he will be placed on a developmental team next year?
Yes; and this should NOT be viewed as a "step down", but rather a difference in rate of development.
10. What if our coach and the parents on our team wish to keep the team personnel together from year to year?
Team personnel depends on the outcome of the spring try-outs, so it is unlikely that a team would remain entirely the same from year to year. The intention of the LVU is to form the strongest team possible each year. Since the teams are formed by the club and do not, per se, "belong" to the coach, the LVU tries to put together the strongest possible teams in order for the players to compete at their highest possible level and to develop at their best possible pace. That would probably mean that team personnel will change from year to year.
11. I have heard something about each team having a manager. Could you please explain that?
Yes, it is necessary that each team have a "Business Manager". This person usually is a parent volunteer whose role is to help the coach with paper work/logistics regarding the running of the team. Although duties may vary from team to team depending on that particular coach and manager, the business manager often handles setting up a team phone chain, taking care of preparing the paper work for registration and tournaments, and maybe even organizing the team end-of-season party!
Commitment
1. Is traveling soccer played only in the fall?
No. Traveling soccer is a 2-season sport. Each team is formed for an entire year: Fall and spring. In other words, tryouts in the spring of 2002 will create teams for the fall of 2002 AND the spring of 2003. An exception to this is Division 2 and older. Since those children generally play High School soccer in the fall, those teams are generally formed just for the spring.
2. How many games are there during a season?
There are ten (10) regular season games in both the fall and spring seasons. Unlike "Rec" soccer, we are committed to making up games that might have been postponed due to inclement weather or poor field conditions. The number of games played may increase with participation in tournaments.
3. How often are practices held?
Customarily, coaches will hold two (2) practices per week. This may vary, depending on the time of year (winter is sometimes less, with 1 per week held in a school gym; and sometimes more than 2 per week as the season draws closer).
4. More than 1 practice/week seems excessive. Can't my child attend just one?
It is expected that players chosen for a traveling team will make the greater commitment to attend all practices and games.
5. What if my child cannot attend a practice or a game?
There is definitely much more of a commitment involved in a traveling sport than you may have been used to when participating in a "Rec" sport. Players are expected to attend all games and practices, barring an illness, injury, or some other valid reason. (e.g., trips to the Barber Shop are expected to be scheduled around practices and games). Of course, the coach should always be notified when a player cannot attend a game or practice. The coach may elect to impose penalties for unexcused missed practices and games.
6. My son/daughter plays "Rec" baseball/softball/lacrosse in the Spring and therefore (s)he is interested only in Fall Traveling soccer. Is that o.k.?
Traveling soccer is a Fall AND Spring commitment. If you feel that is not acceptable, maybe traveling soccer is not for you. Many kids, however, do play both "Rec" baseball/softball/lacrosse and seldom have conflicts.
7. Financially, what type of commitment is involved in traveling soccer?
There is currently a $155 registration fee for the year. For teams that play only a spring season, the fee is $85. Therefore, when registering in the Spring for the following Fall and Spring, you will be paying the $125 registration fee for the full year. In addition, there is a mandatory uniform consisting of 1 jersey, 1 pair of shorts, and 1 pair of socks
$40). If your team elects to get two jersey, the standard Long Valley uniform will be approximately $65. If your child takes care of the uniform, it can last for years! There are other optional items as well, such as sweats and jackets. Participation in tournaments would also increase the cost: i.e. tournament fees, and lodging and food, when applicable. (see Tournaments section below). Each team may also elect to contribute to their own team sub-account as well.
8. What is a sub-account fee?
Sub-accounts are separate bank accounts - 1 for each team - held in the LVU treasury. The fee recently has been approximately $200/family/team, although each individual team establishes this amount. These funds usually go towards your team's trainer fees, tournament participation (see Tournaments section below) and other such activities.
Game Times
1. When are the games played?
Most games are played on Sunday afternoons, although some may be scheduled for an occasional Saturday or an occasional evening.
2. How far will we have to travel?
Teams from the LVU generally play in the Morris County League, so often times, you will not have to travel out of Morris County. However, there are some towns participating in the Morris County League which are not in Morris County, i.e. Vernon (Sussex County) and Ringwood (Passaic County). This will depend on what teams have been placed in your flight.
3. How is the schedule established?
The Morris County scheduler determines the master schedule for each individual flight for each team in the entire League (i.e. which will be the home team and which will be the away team on each Sunday of the season). Each club then schedules the times and fields for its home games. The LVU Director of Scheduling is in charge of this for our club.
4. How far in advance will we learn the time and place of our child's games?
Home games: The LVU scheduler does his/her utmost to schedule our home games as soon as the master schedule is received from the County. That information will be passed along to each coach. It is then the responsibility of the coaches to get that information to the parents.
Away games: Each of our coaches should be contacted by the coach of the away team to inform him/her of the time and location of the game; usually the Tuesday or Wednesday just prior to that weekend’s scheduled game. Directions are usually given at that time. Although many clubs provide times well in advance of the game, it is possible that our Long Valley coach does not receive that information from the opposing coach until a few days before the scheduled game.
Tournaments
1. What is involved in entering a tournament?
Soccer tournaments are held at various times throughout the year. They are an excellent way to raise your level of competition. They are also fun and a great way to meet and compete with players from other parts of NJ and sometimes out-of-state. Usually, the coach will suggest to the parents which tournaments (s)he thinks the team should enter. (Typically, tournaments are held on holiday weekends, such as Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Memorial Day).
2. Where are these tournaments held?
Actually, tournaments are held all over the country (even internationally), but it is up to each individual team to decide which one(s) to enter. Some examples -- Labor Day and Memorial Day tournaments are hosted by Randolph and Roxbury, which are popular locations for many LVU teams. It is sometimes fun to go further "afield" in order to compete against teams which you would not normally meet in regular season play. (Other popular tournaments for LVU teams have been the Pocono Cup and the Hershey Tournament which are held on Memorial Day weekend).
3. Are tournaments 1-day events?
Sometimes, but more often they are 2-day events. Many times, a team will play 2 games on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Occasionally, there are games on Friday night.
4. This sounds like high intensity - is it?
It can be, although for the younger teams, it's usually just for fun. There are, however, awards given at the end of the tournaments for first & second places and sometimes third in the U11 and up age brackets. The younger age brackets (U8-U10) are typically all given participation awards for tournaments.
LVU Governing Body
1. Who establishes the policies of the LVU?
There is a Long Valley Soccer Club Board of Directors. The twelve (12) members vote on any policies, which come before the Board.
2. How are these Board members chosen?
An open election is held the first or second Tuesday of each November. Anyone who is a member of the LVU (i.e., anyone with a child who plays on an LVU team or any team member who is 18 or older) may run for a position.
3. Who may vote for these Board members?
Anyone who is a member of the LVU (see #2, above). It is encouraged that all members come out to vote.
4. How long is the term of office?
Two (2) years. Six (6) of the positions will be filled one year; the other six (6) positions will be filled the following year.
5. Do people run for specific positions on the Board?
No. A person will run to be a member of the Board. At the first Board meeting after the election, the new Board members will decide among themselves who will fill each position.
6. What positions are there on the Board?
Click here for a list of current Board members, their positions, and their phone numbers.
7. If I am interested in running for a position, how do I go about it?
There will be some sort of publicity regarding the upcoming election and who to contact. This may be in the form of a direct letter to each of the members and/or a notice in the "LVU Times" (the club's newsletter), or both. There is also a notice placed in the Observer Tribune 2-3 weeks prior to the November election announcing when and where the election will take place.
8. How often are Board meetings held?
Regular Board meetings are held once/month; currently on the secondMonday. Additional meetings may be held at the discretion of the Board.
9. Are the Board meetings open to the LVU members?
Yes, and members are encouraged to attend as much as possible. Occasionally, there may be an "executive session" held to discuss matters of a sensitive nature. In that case, only the Board members will be attending.
10. I don't have the time needed to commit to a Board position, but would like to help out in some way. How can I do that?
There are often subcommittees formed for individual projects during the year. If you are genuinely interested in helping ( and there is always help needed, no matter what your interests), please call any Board member to volunteer your time and services.
11. What should I do if I have concerns about a policy?
Ideally, any concern should be placed on the agenda prior to that month's meeting. Please contact any one of the Board members and/or come to a scheduled meeting to discuss your concerns.
Coaches
1. How are coaches chosen?
Coaches are chosen by the Board. Generally, a parent who is interested in coaching will express an interest either verbally or in writing to a Board member.
2. Are there specific prerequisites needed for becoming a coach?
Yes. A coach must have at least an "F" license. An "F" license is the lowest level of a coaching license; It goes up to "A". "F" license courses are usually held on a Friday evening and a Saturday, and are offered often, and usually locally or nearby.
3. What else is required to become a coach?
Certainly a great interest in teaching kids the sport of soccer. Also, however, an interview by a small group of Board members is required. The entire Board will then vote on approval of all coaches. If you are interested in possibly becoming a coach, you should express your interest to the Director of Coaching. He/she will then tell you the exact procedure to follow, including how to obtain your "F" license.
4. What if there does not happen to be any interested parent in my child's age group? How will we find a coach?
The Board will hire a professional trainer if necessary, in order to form the team. However, the parents of the children on that particular team will pay the cost.
5. If I have concerns regarding my child's playing time or some other type of concern regarding the coach, how should I handle it?
Any concern such as that should be directed directly to the coach(es) whenever possible. However, the alternative is the team liaison. Each team has a Board member assigned as its team liaison. Any concerns you have may be addressed to your team's liaison (or any Board member, for that matter). Click here for a list of team liaisons.
6. How many coaches are there for each team?
Usually there is one (1) Head Coach. Typically, there are also one (1) or two (2) assistant coaches.
Registration
1. Once teams are formed, what is the next step?
Registration. The LVU Registrar has specific paper work which must be submitted to the County by each player/team.
2. What do I as a parent need to do to register my child?
Parents will be asked to turn in several papers to the LVU Registrar, as follows:
A. A medical release form indicating that in your absence, the coach may take care of your child if so needed. These forms MUST BE notarized. There are several LVU members who are notaries and this is usually not a problem.
B. A player information form, which includes the child's full name, address, birth date, etc.
C. A uniform order form.
D. A copy of the child's birth certificate. This will not be returned; it will be kept on file with the County League.
E. A small picture of your child (usually the very small ones taken by the school photographer in the Fall are the best size), which will be used on the child's "player pass" or card.
3. Where can I get all of these forms?
Each coach will be given a packet. The coach or business manager should then give each parent the necessary forms. Some coaches will have a team meeting in order to do this; sometimes there is a specific registration time set aside for as many teams as can make it (occasionally held at Rock Spring Park). This format makes it easier to have those medical release forms notarized, as well. Most of the forms can also be found on this website in the forms section.
4. Is there anything else I need to know about the registration process?
Only that your child will be "carded". In other words, once the Registrar receives all necessary materials, small I.D. cards will be typed with your child's name, team name, and individual I.D. # and that small picture you submitted will be glued to the card. Your child must sign this card when it has been completed. After that, all cards are taken to our local District Commissioner (a member of the Morris County YSA Board of Directors) and the D. C. will make if official by applying his/her stamp. The cards will then be laminated and returned to the coaches.
5. What is the purpose of the I.D. card?
These cards are necessary for participation in each game. The coach will keep these cards (the coaches are carded as well) and give them to each of the players before the start of each game. Each team member is required to line up to have his/her card checked by the ref. (This is the time when the ref. will also check the child's shin guards and cleats to be sure they are regulation - safety is of the utmost importance). The players will then return the cards to the coach for safekeeping until the next game.
Uniforms
1. Does each team choose its own uniform?
No. There is a regulation uniform for all LVU players, which you will probably be able to see samples of before ordering. The only things required are a jersey, 1 pair of shorts, and 1 pair of socks. Aside from that, other items are optional and you can see them listed, as well as their prices, on the uniform order form.
2. Is that the only uniform we are required to purchase?
Yes, although your team may elect to purchase alternate jerseys as well. The alternate jersey is used in games where two teams have the same jersey color.
TERMINOLOGY/EXPLANATIONS
LVU
LVU - Long Valley United Soccer Club (i.e. LVU Traveling Soccer Club). A separate entity from the town's Recreation Soccer program, which is run by the Long Valley Soccer Association.
Division - Divisions are designated age groups. In youth soccer, a division consists of a 2-year age span. Division 5 is 9 & 10 years olds; Div. 4, 11 & 12; Div. 3, 13 & 14; Div. 2, 15 & 16; Div. 1, 17, 18 & 19. There is a Division 6 designation, for which LVSC has just begun to field teams - they are age 8.
Single Birth Year/Combined - Since each division consists of a 2-year age span, it is up to each individual club to decide if its teams will be formed of children within a single age group or a combined age group. For example, LVSC may decide to form one team of 13 year olds and another team of 14 year olds; OR we may elect to form 2 teams of combined age groups. In either of these cases, the teams would be playing in Div. 3.
U-9, for example - If you should hear (or read) the term U-9 or U-12, etc., it is referring to an age group. For example, Div. 5, U-9 or Div. 3, U-13, meaning under 9 or under 13, etc. Using the example in the above paragraph, there would either be one team of U-14's and one team of U-13's or a combined team of U-14's.
Flights - A flight is the designated level of play in which a team is placed.
Flight Placement - Within each Division, there are a number of flights. Each participating team is placed by the League in a flight which is intended to have teams that are fairly equal in strength. Flight 1 is usually the strongest; however, below that, it is not necessarily strongest to weakest. Some Divisions establish Elite or Premier Divisions which are very challenging.
|
|
