VIENNA YOUTH SOCCER

FALL 2010

GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET

PURPOSE:  Vienna Youth Soccer (VYS) was founded to establish a program encouraging soccer education, training, competition, and good sportsmanship.  VYS sponsors three youth soccer programs, House, Travel, TOPSoccer, and a Parent League.

HOUSE LEAGUE:  The House League is a recreational program for all boys and girls born between August 1, 1991, and July 31, 2006.  For U14 divisions and under, games are played on Saturdays in Vienna/Oakton.  All players play at least half of each game, subject to attendance and disciplinary constraints.  Carded Travel players are not permitted to play in the House League games.

TRAVEL LEAGUE:  The Travel League is a competitive program with games usually played on Sundays in the Washington Metropolitan Area.  Players are eligible to try out each year, typically in the late Spring/early summer, starting in their rising third grade year, and may play for either the National Capital Soccer League (NCSL, boys), the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS), or the Old Dominion Soccer League (ODSL, boys or girls). Please check our web site for tryout information at www.vys.org, and click on “Travel.” Additional fees are assessed for the cost of tournaments, professional instruction, uniforms, etc., and vary for each team.  There is no guaranteed playing time in the Travel League.

TOPSOCCER PROGRAM: TOPSoccer is “The Outreach Program” under the auspices of United States Youth Soccer (USYS) and its 55 affiliated state soccer associations.  TOPSoccer is designed to enrich the lives of children with mental and/or physical disabilities through the game of soccer.  The Virginia Youth Soccer Association (an affiliate of USYS) is an active participant in this important and rewarding endeavor.  The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, ages 4-19, which has a mental or physical disability. Our goal is to enable our young athletes with disabilities to become valued and successful members of the US Youth Soccer family. You are welcomed to join us for a fun game and training once a week on Sunday afternoons in a Vienna area field.

PARENT LEAGUE:  The VYS Parent League is a co-ed intramural soccer league for men and women players, age 30 or older (born before August 1, 1980).  Games are played on Friday evenings at fields in the Vienna/Oakton area.  Eligible applicants must:  (1) have a child registered with VYS for the current season, or within the preceding 12 months, or (2) elect to volunteer to assist VYS during the current season in some capacity as stated on the Parent League registration form.  The Fall 2010 registration fee for the Parent League is $95.50 and is included in multi-player family discount.

AGE DIVISIONS FOR THE 2010-2011 SEASONAL YEAR                

U5 PROGRAM:  U5s do not play games against other teams. Instead, a one-hour soccer practice is held each Saturday (or Sunday depending on field space) that introduces the child to soccer with fun exercises and small-sided games. Fairfax County does not allocate field space for teams involving children 5 years-old and under, and field space is provided by VYS on a space-available basis for this program.  Every effort is made to accommodate the program, and to date, VYS has never had to cancel; however, in the event that there is not enough field space, and VYS cannot provide fields for the U5 division, the program is subject to cancellation and refunds will be made.

ON-LINE REGISTRATION:  VYS encourages all “returning” members to use on-line registration with a credit card for the Fall 2010 season.  “First-time” registrants may also register on-line, but are required to mail in the registration fee, along with a copy of the player’s birth certificate for proof of age.  You can access on-line registration via the VYS web site (www.vys.org) beginning June 1, 2010.

WALK-IN REGISTRATION:   You may also register in person or by mail.  Walk-in registrations will be held on June 12, June 26, and July 17, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Thoreau Middle School, 2505 Cedar Lane, Vienna, VA.  If this is your first registration with VYS, you must bring a copy of your player’s birth certificate or passport to verify his/her date of birth. 

MAIL-IN REGISTRATION:  Registration forms may be downloaded from our website (www.vys.org).  Forms must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.  Unsigned forms, forms bearing incomplete information, or accompanied by incorrect fees, will be returned, and must be sent back to VYS by July 22, 2010 to be considered on time.  We cannot properly place your child if information is excluded or incorrect.  Make checks payable to VYS. 

REGISTRATION FEES:  The fees for Fall 2010, which include multi-player family discounts, are as follows:

The Parent League registration fee is $95.50 and is included in the family multi-player discount.  If registering by mail, please add $10 per player to total amount due above. 

Non-volunteer Fee:  Sign up as a volunteer to help make this organization successful!  Non-volunteers will be assessed an additional fee of $30 per child.

LATE FEES:  THERE IS A LATE FEE OF $25 PER CHILD IF ON-LINE OR MAIL-IN REGISTRATION IS RECEIVED AFTER JULY 22, 2010.  Late fees are non-refundable if you withdraw from the season.   Late registrants will be accepted on a space-available basis only.

REFUND POLICY:  A $30 administrative fee is subtracted from all refunds.  No refunds will be made after House league games have started (September 11).  Refunds may be requested by calling the VYS information line, 703-242-3828, or e-mailing the VYS Registrar at Registrar@vys.org.  Do not ask your coach or commissioner for a refund.   If you do not request a refund during the current season for which you paid the VYS fees, you may not ask for a refund later or for the fee be applied to any subsequent seasons.

GRADE LEVEL EXCEPTION (GLE):  VYS policy allows players in the U5 to U14 House League Age Divisions, with birthdates that fall between August 1^st and September 30^th, and who are in school in the next higher grade, to play up one age division so that they can play with friends in their grade school class.  A player must meet both conditions to be eligible for the Grade Level Exception.  There will be no play up into the U5 division, as per existing policy -- no exceptions.  NOTE:  If you select to register by “grade” via on-line, you must send an e-mail to Registrar@vys.org, indicating you have requested a Grade Level Exception on your registration form.  If you are using the walk-in or mail-in options, you must submit a Grade Level Exemption form (which is downloadable from our website) along with your registration form.    

FINANCIAL AID REQUEST:   No child will be denied participation due to legitimate family hardship. 

To request financial aid for Travel or House league fees and/or soccer equipment necessary to play the game of soccer, please fill out a Financial Aid Request form.  The downloadable form can be found by clicking on “Financial Aid” under the Registration section.  Please attach the Financial Aid form to the player’s registration form and mail it to VYS, P.O. Box 993, Vienna, VA 22183, or you may bring it to one of the “walk-in” registrations listed above.   A separate form must be completed and submitted for each player each season.  Applicants may be asked to provide documentation to substantiate their financial aid applications.  All players are asked to pay the state and county fees.  These fees are currently $14.50 for House players and $18.50 for Travel players.  This fee should be sent with the financial aid application.    Applications are due no later than May 1 for Spring Season or September 15 for Fall Season.  Decisions will be communicated within 3 weeks.

SEASON CALENDAR:   All House League regular-season games will begin September 11, 2010, with additional games on September 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and November 6 -- weather permitting.  Travel League (NCSL, ODSL, WAGS, SFL) regular-season games will begin September 11th.  Please check the VYS web site at www.vys.org for further updated information.

EQUIPMENT:  Shin guards are mandatory to participate in all practices and games, and shall be fully covered by socks.  Individual water bottles are recommended.  Cleats are not mandatory, but are recommended.  NO metal on shoes.  NO jewelry, including hair clips or stud earrings, may be worn at practices or games.  VYS provides first aid kits, and a limited number of balls and cones to each coach.  Players should bring their own ball to practices (U5 to U7 size 3; U-8 to U12 size 4; U14 and above size 5).

VYS UNIFORM KIT:  All players, in age divisions U13 and above, registering to play in the House League, are required to wear a VYS uniform.  The cost of the uniform kit is $30 and includes two jerseys (one red, one white).

CONDUCT:  Verbal and/or physical abuse of referees, players, coaches, and parents is NOT tolerated!  Coaches may be dismissed; players may be suspended or expelled; parents may be banned from games and legal action may be taken.  Coaches are held responsible for the conduct of their players, parents, and spectators.  Please read the VYS code of conduct.

SCORING:  House league coaches, not referees, are responsible for adjusting player positions and substituting players to maintain an "equal level" of competition during games.  Substantial (3 or more) score differentials are not in the spirit of the VYS House League's stated purpose of developing good sportsmanship.  Adjustments are made with the permission of the referee, as appropriate.  Win-loss records are not kept for divisions U8 and under.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  VYS insurance is "excess only" insurance.  It covers only certain expenses not covered by other family insurance.  Claims must be filed within three months of the accident and coaches must report injuries. 

FAMILY PETS:  It is unlawful to bring dogs onto public school grounds.  Given the number of very young siblings who attend games, VYS is stressing to parents that they are breaking the law and possibly endangering the safety of children when they bring dogs onto public school grounds.  So please, leave Fido at home when attending soccer games.

AGREEMENT TO VYS POLICY: VYS parents/guardians agree that by registering their child for soccer with VYS that the player and the parents/guardian(s) will follow all policies and by-laws of Vienna Youth Soccer, including the VYS code of conduct. The policies and by-laws are listed on the VYS web site at www.vys.org.  Please review them. If you have any questions about the policies and by-laws, please contact your commissioner or other officer of VYS for clarification.