1. How old does a child have to be to play in the Spring 2012 season?
Children are allowed to play in the VYS Spring 2012 season if they were born on or before July 31, 2007. There are no exceptions to this rule.
2. When does the VYS season start and end?
The VYS Spring 2012 season’s first House game will be Saturday, April 14, with additional games on April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, and June 2 -- weather permitting. Travel, SFL, and HSGSL leagues have different schedules than the VYS House league, and schedules can be viewed on the various leagues’ web sites.
3. My child(ren)’s coach has not contacted me yet concerning my child(ren)’s assignment to a team. What should I do?
If you haven’t been contacted by a coach and it is March 15, or later, please contact your age-division commissioner, who is listed on the VYS web site, at www.vys.org, under “VYS Contacts.” The commissioner will be able to tell you to which team your child has been assigned and the coach’s name and number. Please be sure to check your E-mail during the month of March. Most coaches make their first contact by using E-mail.
4. How do I obtain a refund from VYS?
A refund for registration fees may be obtained by e-mailing the VYS Registrar at Registrar@vys.org. A $30 processing fee will be subtracted from all refunds requested. No refunds will be given after the first game, April 14, unless there is an injury in the beginning of the season, and the child cannot play soccer. If an injury occurs, and VYS is contacted during the same season that the injury occurs, the refund will be based on how many weeks the child has played soccer. DO NOT CONTACT YOUR COACH OR COMMISSIONER FOR A REFUND. Refunds are sent out near the end of the season, and not immediately upon request.
5. I live right by a school or park field, yet my child is assigned to a field on the other side of Vienna. Why can’t my child practice/play at the field by our home?
A VYS volunteer assigns practice fields for over 3,500 players each season. Before the season starts, coaches submit field and practice day requests to the VYS field assignor. Coaches’ requests are honored as much as possible, but it is not always possible to accommodate a coach’s first choice. Your child’s coach may not have selected or have been assigned the field by your home. Also, VYS’s fields are assigned to us by Fairfax County Community and Recreational Services, and we are not assigned all of the same fields in the spring and fall; therefore, the field by your home may not have been assigned to VYS for that season.
6. What does my child need to play soccer?
Each child should bring their own soccer ball to practice. Please write their name on the soccer ball.
· U5-U8 – Size 3 ball; U9-U12 – Size 4 ball; U14 and above – Size 5 ball
· Soccer cleats recommended, but not required (No metal cleats)
· Shinguards and soccer socks
· T-shirt provided by VYS
· Water bottle
· No jewlery should be worn
Your coach will tell you if your child needs anything else during the season.
7. How can I help VYS?
Vienna Youth Soccer is an all-volunteer organization, so please VOLUNTEER! It is a great way to meet neighbors, make new friends, and become a part of the Vienna community. Please mark at least one of the volunteer choices on your registation form, and when your coach or the volunteer coordinator calls you, please say “Yes,” you will volunteer. Any time during the year you may call VYS at 703-242-3828 or Email VYS at Admin@vys.org to volunteer. Occasionally, throughout the season, VYS may send out E-mails requesting volunteer help.
8. What is the time commitment for my player?
· U5 – Saturday morning or afternoon, for a one-hour developmental soccer clinic.
· U6 – U11– One practice during the week (if field space is available), and a game on Saturday
· U12 – U19 -- Two practices during the week, and a game on Saturday
· Travel – Varies for each team, but usually two practices a week, and a game during the
weekend (generally on Sunday, but there can occasionally be Saturday games)
9. What is the SFL League (boys U-16/19) and the HSGHSL League (girls U-16/19)?
The SFL is the Suburban Friendship League, and was established because in most local clubs the registrations decline substantially at the older age groups, and clubs could not provide enough teams within their own leagues to compete with each other. The SFL enables clubs to provide competitive soccer games between teams from other clubs. Limited travel is involved in the Northern Virginia area.
The HSGHSL is the High School Girls House Soccer League, and was co-founded by VYS 20 years ago. When it was founded, it was the only venue for U19 girls to play house soccer. In the HSGHSL, U16 and U19 girls are combined on the same teams. They play a 10-game season with other teams in the area.
10. Does Vienna Youth Soccer provide the trophies for my child’s team?
For divisions U5 to U14, the teams are responsible for collecting fees to purchase the end-of-season trophies or other awards the parents and/or coaches decide to provide the team. For the U15 teams and above, standings are kept for division championships, tournaments may be played, and trophies are provided by the various leagues for first- and second-place teams in the SFL and HSGHSL.
11. How do I reach someone at Vienna Youth Soccer?
Go the VYS web site at www.vys.org. Under “VYS Contacts,” you will find a list of all the officers and commissioners. This page provides the telephone number and if you click on the name of the person, it will bring up the link to their Email address. For Travel contacts, please go to the “Travel” section, and you will find the Travel Reps listed, and all the VYS Travel teams, with their team contacts listed.
12. I’ve recently moved. How do I change my address on file with VYS?
Please Email the VYS Registrar your new address at Registrar@vys.org, or call 703-242-3828. Leave a message with your name and address, and your player’s name, and your telephone number for confirmation purposes.
13. It’s my turn to bring snacks to the game. What are some good ideas for snacks?
Good halftime snacks include orange wedges, cut-up watermelon, or grapes. For the end-of-game snacks, bring cold drinks (juice boxes) and a light snack (granola bars, pretzels, chips) individually wrapped for each player. Bring enough to supply all of the team members, and maybe the coach(es) would appreciate an after-game snack, too. Please be sure the team picks up all trash afterwards, especially the cellophane straw papers that come with the juice boxes.
14. What should spectators do on the sidelines?
Be positive in supporting the players on both teams. (Yes, you can cheer for the other team when they make a good play!) Please refrain from coaching or correcting your child from the sidelines. That is the coach’s job. Also, be sure to sit at least ten feet from the sidelines. You cannot go near either of the goals.
15. What should I do if I think a referee makes a terrible call?
As upsetting and frustrating as it may be, the best thing to do is to try to forget about the mistake. All of the referees are human, so they make mistakes just like everyone else. Many of the referees are our children learning how to referee and they are doing the best they can. Put yourself in their shoes and think how you would like people to respond if you made a mistake (or if there is a difference in opinion on rule interpretation). How you react to the referees could be picked up by the players, and it could become quite distracting to them during the game. Parents should set a good example to the players.
