Frequently Asked Questions Page
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Travel Soccer FAQ
WHAT IS TRAVEL SOCCER?
Travel Soccer teams play competitive games with teams from other towns in WNY. It is more competitive, scores and standings are recorded (but not the U-10 teams). Teams are gender specific.
HOW DO YOU GET ON A TRAVEL TEAM?
Travel team players are chosen at Try-outs in August/September usually on a Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. You must attend at least one try-out to be considered for a Grand Island Travel team. However, you are encouraged to attend all try-out sessions.
HOW MANY TRAVEL TEAMS ARE THERE PER AGE GROUP?
The Club tries to put together as many teams as we have players available for – usually 1-2 teams per age group with similar skilled players together. In recent years we have had up to three teams in some of the U10 & U12 age groups!
WHAT IF MY CHILD DOES NOT MAKE A TRAVEL TEAM?
Encourage your child to sign up for at least one session of the Grand Island Soccer Academy (information under Player Development), continue playing soccer in our House soccer program, and come to try-outs again the following year. Every child develops at a different pace. Also, two players are added to the roster each year through U12, as well as past travel players may decide not to try-out.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The Registration fee is $95.00 (2012). This is paid online during Online Registration or at the Try-Out Registration table prior to your try-out time. If you do not make the team, your money will be returned. Once placed on a roster, there will be NO refunds.
WHAT KIND OF COMMITMENT IS INVOLVED?
Players are expected to be at games and practices. If you have a soccer game and a baseball/lacrosse, etc. practice scheduled at the same time, you should be at your soccer game. Likewise, if you have a baseball/lacrosse game and a soccer practice scheduled at the same time, you should go to the game. Be sure to let your coaches know about the conflict.
WHEN IS THE SEASON? HOW MANY GAMES AND PRACTICES ARE THERE EACH WEEK?
Travel teams play from first week of May through first week of August. Each team plays one game a week. Practice days are at the coach’s discretion, but are usually twice a week starting in April as soon as weather permits.
WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK ARE THE GAMES PLAYED?
| Monday: Boys U11/12 and Girls U13/14 | |
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Tuesday: Boys U13/14 and Girls U11/12 Wednesday: All U17 and U19 Thursday: All U15 and 16 Friday: All U10 |
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Players are to be at the field at 6:15 pm for a 6:45 pm game.
WHERE DO THEY PLAY?
Half of the games are played on Grand Island. The other games may be played at Niagara Falls, Lockport, North Tonawanda, Tonawanda, Amherst, Clarence, West Seneca, East Aurora, Lancaster or another town in the surrounding area, depending what teams are in your division.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENTS?
Tournaments are held on weekends. Most teams compete in one tournament per year, some compete in more than one. The Tournaments page lists the most popular tournaments in our area.
WHAT DO TRAVEL PLAYERS WEAR?
Travel Teams wear Uniforms. This is not included in the registration fee. Every team wears the same Grand Island Soccer Club Travel uniform. The Club tries to keep the same uniform for a few years so you don’t have to buy a new uniform every year. More information will follow on this - it is currently under review by the Board.
DO TRAVEL TEAMS PLAY DURING THE WINTER?
Most of our travel teams will play indoors during the winter at Sportsplex, Epic Center or Sahlen’s Soccer Center. This is determined by each coach and their team. There may also be practices during the winter if the Club can get field time at the above mentioned facilities or the school gyms. Refer to Field Locations for details and maps on these facilities.
House Soccer FAQ
WHAT IS THE GRAND ISLAND HOUSE SOCCER PHILOSOPHY?
Grand Island House Soccer is dedicated to providing all children of Grand Island a place to play soccer. Our primary focus is on player development, having fun, and providing a safe environment. Winning is not a primary objective of this league.
- Player Development - Our goal is to teach the players how to play soccer to the best of their ability. To accomplish this all players are to be given equal playing time during games and attention during practice.
- Having fun - The number one reason to play is to have fun! To promote fun we will encourage equal participation in practice and games, matching athletes ability to their challenges, and by helping to set performance goals, rather than outcome goals.
- Safety - It is important to always make sure that a safe and age appropriate environment is set for games and practice.
WHERE CAN I GET ASSISTANCE?
This Grand Island Soccer Club website is a great resource for parents and coaches. It is updated regularly so it is a good suggestion to keep checking it for important updates. Check out the House Section which includes registration information and schedules depending upon the time of year. Also, FAQ, Resources, Player Development and News announcements on the Home page. If you want to talk with someone use the Contact Us Form or feel free to e-mail or call one of the contacts indicated on the site.
IS IT OK IF MY APPLICATION IS LATE?
If your child has been playing for years then you should know the importance of submitting your application early. The number of teams in each age group is determined by the number of coaches we have available. If the age group is full, it is not possible to simply accept one more player, because we are then put in the position of either: turning away players or adding too many players to teams, thus reducing playing times for all players. However, if the age group is not full, then it may still be possible to accept a late registration. Bottom-line, please register before the deadline to guarantee a playing spot.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DOES MY CHILD NEED?
Players must provide his/her own shin guards, soccer shoes or sneakers, and a ball (see ball size chart below). Players must remove all jewelry before playing. Players will receive a team shirt, shorts and socks. Balls may be purchased through the club, for cost, on the registration form.
- U6 Instructional: Size 3 Soccer Ball (provided)
- U7 Micro Soccer: Size 4 Soccer Ball (provided)li>
- U8, U9, U10: Size 4 Soccer Ball
- U12, U15, U19: Size 5 Soccer Ball
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS?
Grand Island Soccer Club does not cover the costs of individual/team photos or trophies. All coaches will provide parents with ordering information and costs. Trophies range from $5 to $9 per player as agreed upon by each individual team. Pictures packages range from $10 and up.
CHILD PLAY IN AN OLDER AGE GROUP?
The House League soccer cutoff date is the same as the school cutoff date so that kids can play with their friends and classmates. As a general policy, we do not encourage kids to play up in an older age group, but it is permissible. Parents should carefully consider if it is in the player’s best interest to move up an age group before doing so. The most common reason for moving up an age group is for travel players who also want to play House.
WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE START OF THE SEASON?
U8-U19 coaches are given their team rosters at the coaches preseason meeting held in May. You receive an e-mail from the club in early June. All practices will begin after Father's Day. Games will begin in mid July and continue through to Labor Day. U6 and U7 players will receive a letter/e-mail from the age group coordinator in early June, explaining the program in further detail with specifics regarding the schedule.
CAN MY CHILD BE PLACED ON COACH SMITH'S TEAM?
There are approximately 1,000 kids between 5 and 15 years old playing soccer in our town. Many requests are made to be on the same team as a sibling or a close friend. The age group coordinators for U6 and U8 evaluate all requests as teams are constructed and do their best to honor them, as long as teams are still evenly balanced. But for U9 and up, it becomes much more difficult to honor requests and still maintain balanced teams. Therefore the honoring of requests is considerably reduced and almost eliminated. The overriding concern must be to properly and fairly put teams together to reach the ultimate goal: the most fun for the most soccer players. However, remember if you register your child for the correct age group, your child will be playing with friends and classmates at each game regardless if they are on the same team or not.
WHAT IS THE U6 PROGRAM?
The U6 program is the prerequisite program for all new players beginning to play soccer in Grand Island House Soccer. The U6 program is instructional. Players will be led by their coach through a series of fun soccer activity stations and will play small sided games. The goal is to introduce the children to soccer in a low pressured fun environment. The U6 program meets twice a week; once on Saturday and once on a weeknight.
WHAT IS THE U7 MICRO SOCCER PROGRAM?
As a continuation of the U6 instructional program, GISC is introducing Micro Soccer for the U7 age group. This program has been proven very successful in other clubs. All players will play the entire time and will benefit from more "touches" on the ball. There is no need for teams, since players will rotate through the drills and several small-sided games, with the help of facilitators. The U7 program will run Saturday mornings from mid-June until August. Refer to our U7 Micro Soccer Flier and FAQ's for more information about this program.
WHERE AND WHEN ARE U8-U12 GAMES?
These groups play weekly on Saturdays. In August, these groups play twice a week, on Saturdays and one weeknight. Most games are at Veterans Park with some games at the High School/ Middle School. Weeknight games start at 6:30pm, but players are expected on the field ready to play by 6:15pm. The starting times of Saturday games range between 9:00am and 12:00/noon and again, players are expected on the field ready to play 15 minutes before game time.
HOW OFTEN & WHERE ARE THE PRACTICES?
U8 and U9 will try to practice 4-6 times before the actual season begins. All coaches try to fit in one practice between games if there is no game scheduled during a weekday. However, the U8-U9 coaches will spend 15-20 minutes prior to each game with their players, teaching and reinforcing important skills that can be tried in the game. The pre-game practices are paramount to player development.
HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER TO HELP?
Your constructive comments are always welcome. Please contact any Board Member to discuss anything or to volunteer your ideas or time. The people involved are volunteers and are trying to do their very best to be fair and objective. They make decisions based on what’s best for the whole soccer club and the participants, THE KIDS!!! They do not try to make bad decisions on purpose. We strongly suggest getting involved to change what you think is wrong. You will be able to contact any one of use with your concerns through this website under About Us / Club Personnel!
For More Information About Grand Island Soccer Contact The President at president@gisoccerclub.org