Ephrata Youth Soccer Club

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Frequently Asked Questions about
Ephrata Youth Soccer Club

How do I sign-up on line?
1. Have SS number, insurance info and birthday available.
2. Click sign up on line.
3. Fill in all information, include the best email address to reach the family.
4. Hit submit.
5. A copy of the data and form should appear.
6. Hit the Print hyperlink at the bottom of the page, which sends the form to your
printer.
7. Sign and Mail a copy of the form to the address provided.

Signing up on line, reserves your space. Final registration is only complete when payment is received. Online signup sets the date of registration. You may sign up online through the deadline without a late charge. As long as payment is received within 10 days of online sign up, no late fee will apply.

Who may play with the Ephrata Club?
Intramural and Recreational registration is open to age eligible players living or schooling (public, private, or home) in the Ephrata Area School district. Players who started in the Ephrata Club may continue with the Ephrata Club, should they move out of the area or stop schooling in the area. It is not the intentions of the club to otherwise compete for intramural or recreational players. Any player lacking a place to play or having special request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Players should be at least 5 before or turn 5 during the season to play in the U-6 program others will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Our club is not equipped to handle most special needs players. Any special needs players will be considered on a case by case basis, based on the player’s safety, our ability to accommodate the needs of the player and based on placement not disrupting the essential mission of our program.

Travel registration and tryouts are generally open meaning any age eligible player may tryout. The club reserves the right to limit tryouts to only Ephrata players at any age, should the club feel that it would be beneficial to do so.

How do I know what age to sign up For?
Teams are normally assigned base on a Soccer Year, which runs from August first of one year to July 31of the following year. As a rule of thumb, take the players age as of July 31 prior to the fall season, add one year and the player plays at that "Under age" for the full soccer year.

Example: The player is 6 as of July 31. Age 6 + 1 = "Under 7" player for the Fall and Spring Season.

Note: At some time during the season the player will turn 7; however, he or she remains a U-7 player until Aug 1 of the following year.

To make things even more confusing to the newcomer, out club normally groups 2 age groups together for intramural and recreational players. That grouping is done on the even year. Hence while the player’s age is U-9 they are playing U-10 age grouping, as are the U-10 players.

Age Typical Grade

U-5 PK

U-6 K

U-7 1

U-8 2

U-9 3

U-10 4

U-11 5

U-12 6

U-13 7

U-14 8

U-15 9

U-16 10

U-17 11

U-18 12

U-19

August Birthdays – Players with August Birthdays will not be playing with their grade based on age assignments. We will permit Aug birthday players to play up. The parent should declare their intentions to have the player play up at the time of registration
Playing grade option – An older player may play down with their grade on Intramural and Recreational Teams. Again this should be declared at the time of registration.
EPYSA publishes the age breaks at: http://www.epysa.org/assets/pdfs/AgeGroupChartforTravelandRec.pdf.

Special Request – Players with special request for placement must be made in writing, at the time of registration. Request should be on a separate piece of paper from the registration form. We cannot guarantee request but will refund your money if the placement is not acceptable.

What do I need for my child to play?
Players must furnish their own water and the player should bring water to every practice. This is particularly important during hot weather.

While many players wear spikes they are not necessary, as a pair of athletic shoes will do.

The younger players get a numbered T-shirt. Most children wear athletic shorts (Nike, Adidas, Umbro etc) but any shorts will do. The players will need shin guards and a pair of cover socks. Full uniforms (Shirt shorts and socks) are provided the older players U-10 and above.

A ball is not required but would be of benefit for the child to practice at home. Many coaches encourage players to bring a personal ball to practice. Intramural players ages U-5 to U-8 use a size 3 soccer ball. U-10 and U-12 use a size 4 ball and all older groups play with a standard size 5 ball.

May my child play up or down from their grouping?
Normally the parent would initiate a request to play up or down at the Intramural or Recreational level. For travel this may be at the written request of the parent or by the club based on skills assessment.

Due to the many variables that need to be considered, request to play up or down, must be considered on a case by case basis. Special request for intramural or recreational should be initiated in writing to the registrar who depending on the situation may consult with the appropriate Director, Coach, Parent and or the Executive Board. Travel request need to be directed to the Director or Travel.

Normally we discourage players from playing up, particularly at younger ages. Travel players may play up based on skill.

Recreational or Intramural Players may play down, based on skill, physical or emotional needs. Players may not play down, if their size would intimate teammates or if doing so would result in a team having an unfair advantage. Travel players may never play down.

When does the season begin?
For spring, the games usually start the first weekend in April and run until either the last weekend of May or the first weekend of June. For Fall, the games begin the first weekend after Labor Day and the last games are the first weekend in November. Practices for all except U-6 start 1-2 weeks before the first game.

What is Travel Soccer?
Travel Soccer is soccer played at a higher level than Intramural soccer. Travel league games are generally played against the same clubs we play against at the intramural level. Players for Travel Soccer must tryout out on the designated tryout night for their age group (nights to be announced). Travel Teams will also play two or three additional weekend tournament per season, where traveling is required, hence the name (Travel Soccer). Tournament locations include: Campbelltown, Fleetwood, Downingtown, Gettysburg, Lancaster, York, Dillsburg. Lebanon. Some teams travel farther to locations like State College, Quakertown and Scranton. Older teams could travel out of state to play tournament.

Travel Soccer teams are a one-year commitment. Players who are selected from the pool of players who tryout are expected to play for two seasons Fall and Spring. Travel Soccer will start practice earlier in the season than regular soccer. Practice will be held 2 to 3 times a week and players are generally expected to attend all practices. Playing time during games will be determined by the coaches and is based on player ability and commitment. Playing time is not guaranteed in travel soccer. Tournament play increases a player’s financial obligation to his/her team. On average this could mean an additional cost of $75 or more in addition to registration.

In general, players must be U-9 or above. The youngest travel team is U-10. Only a few elite U-9 players are likely to make a U-10 travel team. For additional information contact the Director of Travel.

What is the relationship with the school program?
While the Ephrata Youth Soccer Club, is not directly affiliated with the Ephrata Soccer Boosters Club or the Ephrata Area School District, we have many common interest. Many of the young school players have played or continue to play within our club and many of the school coaches provide their time and talent to teaching our players.
Ephrata Youth Soccer supports the Ephrata Booster Club by sponsoring an ad in the Annual Boys and Girls Program and several of the clubs officers or former officers are members of the soccer boosters club. The booster club supports the youth club by sponsoring a spring and fall youth night and providing prizes for participation. Ephrata Area School district supports our club by providing space for our players to practice and play.

Where does the money go?
We are a private not for profit club and receive no funding from the school district, municipalities or the Rec. Center. Typically, we spend approximately $50,000 per year. About 90% of our income comes from registration fees and the rest from fund raisers.
• 25% for Uniforms and equipment
• 25% for Fields – setup and lining
• 15% to Coach and player development/training
• 15% to Referee Fees
• 10% for Registration and Insurance
• 10% Administrative (Player’s folders, Accounting, Copies, Web Site, Office Supplies and Postage)

What to do if you have a problem?
1. Discuss it with your coach. Parents should not confront other coaches, parents or
refs.
2. Contact the Director of Intramural, Recreational or Travel.
3. Contact the President.
4. Take it to the board.

Contact information can be found on this web site.