NEYSA Soccer

FAQ’s – Registration and Polices

U-6 & U-8

Who runs the Association? How can I become involved?

Northeastern Youth Sports Association (NEYSA) is a not-for-profit youth sports organization. It is a volunteer run organization with governing by-laws that offers youth sports programs for children living in or near Northeastern School District. However, we are not affiliated with Northeastern School District. The general membership meetings are held the second Sunday of each month at 7pm. The meetings are held at the Mt. Wolf Fire Hall.

Please visit our website at www.neysa-sports.org – there is also a NEYSA soccer blog linked off the soccer page of the website. Please visit this blog for more detailed information relating to soccer.

What do we expect of parents and guardians?

The goals of our association include fostering an enjoyment of the game, advancing the development of individual and team skills and promoting good sportsmanship. It is imperative that parents assume appropriate levels of responsibility to help us achieve these goals. While there may be some disagreement about coaching methods, any concerns or disagreements with NEYSA coaches or board members should be handled respectfully and directly with the individuals concerned. As a condition for registering children with our organization, we require that parents agree to abide by the Code of Ethics. Failure to follow these rules will result in appropriate action being taken by the association to ensure that the guidelines are followed, including removal of spectators from games and possibly their child’s dismissal from their respective team.

· treat coaches, players, referees and other spectators with respect

· bring and pick up child from practices and games promptly

· let your child’s coach know when he/she will be unable to attend practices or games as far in advance as possible

· discuss any differences in opinion or concerns with child’s coach in private and at a time agreeable to him/her

· do not be publicly critical of coaching or playing decisions

· do not use foul, abusive or inappropriate language at practices or games

· do not use alcohol or tobacco at the complex or on school district property

· abide by all other posed rules at the complex

We also expect that parents and guardians volunteer to help us with some of the routine tasks that are needed to help run the organization: coaching, concession stand, field lining and maintenance are the most obvious examples.

How are coaches selected?

All of our coaches are volunteers, although because of a shortage of volunteers, coaches are often drafted. Filling coaching positions is currently our biggest challenge. If you have the time to bring you child to practices and games, you probably have the time to help coach.

For our U-6 and U-8 programs, there is no special soccer knowledge required, just a willingness to help your own children and others have fun! We hold short, introductory coaching clinics seasonally to help provide the basics for coaching at this level.

I’m not comfortable coaching, but still would like to help out – what else can I do?

There are several other ways that you can help. Team parents are needed to help make phone calls and distribute information for the coaches. We need help staffing our concession stand. We also need people to line the fields weekly, usually Friday evenings.

During the past several years, it has become increasingly difficult to manage the soccer program due to lack of volunteers. Very often, coaches and coordinators have been stuck covering the concession stand or lining fields because parents have not come forward to help. We’re only looking for an hour or two of your time in this capacity, not a full time commitment.

Please contact a Soccer board member if you’re able to volunteer. Without volunteers, there will be no NEYSA Soccer.

How do the U-6 and U-8 programs work?

Our U-6 and U-8 programs are in house and only play NEYSA teams. We play small-sided games as recommended by USYSA, to develop individual player skill.

Our U-6 teams play on Saturday mornings. Practice days, times and locations are at the discretion of the individual coach. Games are played using a 4 v 4 format with no goalkeepers. Our emphasis is on participation and fun, not winning.

Our U-8 teams play on Saturday mornings. Practice days, times and location are at the discretion of the individual coach. Games are played using a 6 v 6 format, with one being a goalkeeper. Once again, our emphasis is on participation and fun, as well as skill development, not winning.

Players are initially placed into age appropriate teams. Occasionally, we may move a player up into an older age team based on ability or on size/strength as a matter of safety. Such moves are made at the discretion of the Soccer board and not based on parent requests for convenience purposes.

While we try to accommodate your requests for placing players on the same team as another player for carpooling purposes, we cannot guarantee it. If your schedule or your child’s schedule is inflexible, participation in soccer may not be in your best interest. There will be no refunds based on a player’s inability to attend practices or games after they have been assigned to a roster.

What do registration fees cover? Are there additional costs?

Registration fees cover: Player t-shirts, referee fees and office expenses (copying, etc). A portion of all registration fees are budgeted for field services and maintenance items such as paint, nets, goals, flags, balls, etc.

As soon as players are registered, the process begins to register them. Therefore, the club does not issue refunds of registration fees, except for unusual circumstances. If a refund is issued, it will be for the full amount minus any expenses already incurred. Refunds will NOT be granted simply because a player decides not to play or their schedule has conflicts.

Are there fundraisers?

We rely on the operation of our concession stand to replace typical fundraising activities. A Fall fundraiser is held to raise funds needed to maintain our soccer program. Without these, registration fees would need to be significantly increased. Depending on our funds balance, we will determine if we need a fundraiser in the Spring. Otherwise, we try to keep the costs to a minimum for the parents.