LACEY TRAVEL SOCCER FAQ's
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1. What is travel soccer?
Answer: Travel soccer is competitive soccer played against teams from other towns or communities. Lacey Soccer Club is a member of MOSA (Monmouth Ocean Soccer Association), with games played throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties. Lacey Soccer Club’s instructional program curriculum is intended to prepare players to transition to travel soccer. This transition may occur between age 7 (U8 age group) and age 10 (after the U10 age group, end of instructional program). Lacey Soccer Club encourages that players make the transition as early as possible, considering both their interest and ability.
2. How is travel soccer different from recreational soccer?
Answer: Travel soccer generally requires a greater commitment of time, provides a higher level of training, and better competition. Time commitment involves travel to home/away games, two training sessions each week, and team events (team building, fundraising). The large group trainings of the instructional program are replaced with individual team training sessions in our travel program. Lacey Soccer Club and MOSA work together to place our travel teams in flights (groups of teams at similar skill levels) to achieve a competitive environment for each team each season.
3. Where do we “travel” to?
Answer: Home games and practices occur at Hebrew Park and Gille Park. Away games are played in other towns in Monmouth and Ocean counties and the surrounding area, generally within 45 minutes of Lacey Township.
4. How much time will my child be expected to devote to soccer?
Answer: Travel teams generally train for 90 minutes twice per week, with games played on Sundays between 10AM and 5PM. Typically, the Fall season begins in late August and concludes in early November, and the Spring season begins in late March and concludes in mid-June. Teams play 10 games each season, 5 home and 5 away.
Training days and times are assigned by Lacey Soccer Club, and consider coach/trainer availability. Teams are required to participate in the Lacey Labor Day Tournament in early September (largest club fundraiser), and Lacey Soccer Club recommends that teams participate in one tournament per season.
5. How are teams formed?
LSC will runs open tryouts the week of April 29 for all age groups (U8 and up; Boys & Girls) to form teams for the Fall 2019/Spring 2020 season. Club coaches and our training staff conduct player evaluations at tryouts, and teams are formed based on evaluation results. Team roster size and the number of players on the field at any one time varies by age. Lacey Soccer Club requires that a team carry at least two players more than the number of players on the field (i.e., minimum of 9 players on a 7v7 team). The maximum roster size is established by New Jersey Youth Soccer Association.
Tryout dates and additional information regarding process/results will be available soon at www.laceysoccer.com. Register for tryouts at www.laceysoccer.com.
6. How are coaches selected?
Answer: Head and Asst. coaches are appointed by the Lacey Soccer Club Executive Board each year and are required to be licensed through New Jersey Youth Soccer Association and/or United States Soccer Federation and pass a youth sports volunteer background check. The Lacey Soccer Club Executive Board expects coaches to adhere and enforce the club’s bylaws and rules and regulations, including managing the conduct of players, parents, and assistant coaches.
7. What if my child plays another sport?
Answer: Many of our players balance a schedule that includes other sports, activities, and commitments. Lacey Soccer Club asks that parents be aware that accepting a roster spot represents a commitment to the team and leaves that roster spot unavailable to other interested players. As such, players accepting a roster spot are expected to attend all games and practices during the Fall and Spring seasons. Unlike our instructional program which offers season only participation options, participation in travel soccer requires a commitment to play both the Fall and Spring seasons.
8. What are the Parent responsibilities?
Answer: LSC expects each parent to support their child, offering positive reinforcement and encouragement. Other responsibilities include ensuring that your child arrives to practices and games on time and prepared to play, participating in team and Lacey Soccer Club events (fundraising, parades, other volunteer opportunities). Lacey Soccer Club encourages parents to actively engage in the administration and events of the club – we are an all-volunteer organization, and are always looking to add to our volunteer family.
9. How much does participation in travel soccer cost?
Answer: Travel soccer costs fall within three buckets – registration, uniform, and team costs.
Registration: F2019/S2020 registration fee is $195.00. Fees are paid online via credit card as part of accepting your roster spot following tryouts.
Uniform: Each player is required to purchase a uniform (home/away jerseys, shorts, socks). Uniforms costs are approximately $95.00. Uniforms are purchased via an online portal direct from the vendor. The club updates the uniform style every 2 years. Uniform orders are placed each year to accommodate growth spurts, new players, lost uniforms, etc.
Team: Teams are responsible for the cost of professional training, tournament registration fees, and any other team activities (e.g., pizza parties). These costs are generally covered via team fundraising. The type and level of fundraising is dependent upon the activities of the team.
10. There is no Work Bond for travel soccer!