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FAQs
Welcome to SYSA! As a member of the SYSA community you
are sure to have questions. As this is often your child’s first
athletic experience and that youth soccer has many moving parts, it can be
confusing. To that end we list the following Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs). In most cases, the answers represent guidelines,
rather than hard and fast rules, and are subject to change. SYSA’s
guiding principle is for the children involved to have fun and enjoy the
SYSA program. Should you have a question you do not see listed below,
please send to the Safety & Risk Management Director Safety.
What are the differences between SYSA’s “intramural” and
“travel” soccer programs?
All SYSA programs are guided by the same fundamental
principles, but travel and intramural soccer are by necessity organized
differently. SYSA fields teams in both the fall and spring
seasons. Both fall and spring programs generally have an 8-week
season commencing after Labor Day in the fall and in early April in the
spring.
Intramural soccer commences with the U-5 (under 5) age group
and continues through U-9. The program generally consists of 1
to 1½ hour of soccer on Saturdays, with some portion dedicated to drills
and skills training and the other portion dedicated to games against other
teams. We may also hold clinics and other activities on Sundays and other
days of the week. We generally do
not field intramural teams older than U-9 as most kids desire to play
travel soccer when eligible and we do not have sufficient numbers to field
intramural teams at older ages. Nahant Youth Soccer operates their
own training sessions for their intramural players. All IM games are
against other Swampscott teams and the Nahant teams, so intramural soccer
is an “in-town” program.
Travel soccer competes in the Essex County Youth Soccer
Association (ECYSA) league and is subject to ECYSA’s rules. In the
fall, we field teams in the U-10, U-12 and U-14 age groups, and we also
field older teams in the spring when numbers allow. Teams older than
U-14 are not fielded in the fall as many of the older players will be
playing high school soccer.
The U-12 and older age group teams will have players within a
two-year age group who are eligible to play for those teams (i.e., 1st year
players and 2nd year players). This is different from our U-10 teams,
where typically only “2nd year” players play travel soccer, as our U-9s
continue to play intramural soccer.
What is the new "preparatory" soccer program?
Under the legacy Intramural framework 350-400 children from
age 5-9 were grouped together under a single "Intramural"
heading. This is a very large number of kids to be managed under one
organizational umbrella. This age range spans a very diverse spectrum of
needs with respect to soccer skills instruction and the teaching of team
and game concepts.
Starting in the Fall of 2012 SYSA will be separating the Intramural grouping
into two new groups, Intramural (U5, U6, U7) and Preparatory
(U8, U9). This is being done in an attempt to improve the ease of
logistical coordination and enhance overall skills development of these kids in an efficient and
appropriate manner.
In these years SYSA expects that players and coaches will
continue to gain and refine soccer skills and experience as they focus on
learning, playing and coaching within the structure and rules of the game.
SYSA recognizes that the element of competition will emerge, but the
priority and focus must be on the continuous development of team and
individual skills that elevate all players and coaches as they advance and
enjoy the game of soccer.
What are the differences between SYSA's
"Intramural", "Preparatory", and "Travel"
soccer programs?
All SYSA programs are guided by the same fundamental
principles, but Travel, Preparatory and Intramural soccer are by necessity
organized differently. SYSA fields teams in both the Fall and Spring
seasons. Both Fall and Spring programs generally have an 8-week
season commencing after Labor Day in the fall and in early April in the
spring.
Intramural soccer commences with the U-5 (under 5) age group
and continues through U-7. The program generally consists of 1
to 1½ hour of soccer on Saturdays, with some portion dedicated to drills
and skills training and the other portion dedicated to games against other
teams. We may also hold clinics and other activities on Sundays and/or
other days of the week.
Preparatory soccer consists of our U8 and U9 players and is
meant to bridge the transition from Intramural to Travel soccer. The U8/U9
grouping under the "Preparatory Soccer" umbrella is new for the
Fall 2012 season. In these years SYSA expects that players and coaches will
continue to gain and refine soccer skills and experience as they focus on
learning, playing and coaching within the structure and rules of the game.
For both U8 & U9 preparatory soccer teams will be chosen randomly and
balanced before the season starts. U8 play will be 5 v 5
and U9 will be 6 v 6. U8 and U9 play may consist of a midweek
practice/skills session and also Saturday game.
We generally do not field intramural teams older than U-9 as
most kids desire to play travel soccer when eligible and we do not have
sufficient numbers to field intramural teams at older ages. Nahant
Youth Soccer operates their own training sessions for their intramural and
preparatory players. All IM and U8 Preparatory games are against other
Swampscott teams, U9 play will be amongst Swampscott and Nahant teams, so
both are "in-town" programs.
Travel soccer competes in the Essex County Youth Soccer
Association (ECYSA) league and is subject to ECYSA's rules. In the
fall, we field teams in the U-10, U-12 and U-14 age groups, and we also
field older teams (U16 – U19) in the Spring when numbers allow. Teams
older than U-14 are not fielded in the Fall as many of the older players
will be playing high school soccer.
The U-12 and older age group teams will have players within a
two-year age group who are eligible to play for those teams (i.e., 1st year
players and 2nd year players). This is different from our U-10 teams,
where typically only "2nd year" players play travel soccer, as
our U-9s continue to play preparatory soccer.
How are players selected for the teams?
Players play in their own age group as determined by birthdate
(i.e., there is generally no “playing up”).
See “Does SYSA allow playing up or playing down?” for more information.
For the intramural teams, the teams are chosen at random, and
not by school or some other pre-determined criteria. In the older age
groups, the Intramural Director may work with the age group directors and
others to attempt to balance the teams.
For the travel teams, teams are chosen based principally upon
results from try-outs held every spring for the following year, and
evaluations prepared by the coaches from the prior season. Teams are
picked on the basis of ability rather than age (i.e., a team may be
composed of a mixture of “1st year” and “2nd year” players, rather than
fielding teams composed only of 1st or 2nd year players).
It is important to understand that the purpose of the try-outs
is to determine which team each player will play on, not which players will
make the teams and which players will be cut. A fundamental goal of
SYSA is to place each player who wants to play on a travel team.
However, the ECYSA league rules place limits on the maximum size of team
rosters, and due to those limitations, SYSA is sometimes unable to
accommodate every player on a travel team.
It is also important to understand that the teams are chosen
without regard to who the potential coaches might be. The players on
a team are chosen first, and after that is accomplished, SYSA looks at the
list of parents of those players to see who has volunteered to coach the
team. In other words, the perception that a particular parent may be
a “good coach” does not affect which team his or her child is placed on.
Does SYSA allow “Playing Up” or “Playing Down”?
For travel soccer “playing down” (to play with players younger
than the specified birth date) is not allowed by league rules. In general SYSA does not allow players to
“play up” (to play with players older than the specified birth date). An exception may be made for players who
want to play up in order to play with school classmates. Once a player has chosen to “play up”
that player must continue to “play up” at that level for each future season
through to the second year of U14.
Will the players and the coaches stay together from one season
to the next?
A soccer year consists of 2 seasons (Fall and Spring).
Teams are selected for the Fall season each year. IM teams
change from Fall to Spring. Travel
teams generally stay together from the Fall to Spring seasons. Some
changes will occur, however, as players may decide only to play one of the
two seasons, and coaches may sometimes change. Sometimes the change
in the number of players from Fall to Spring is such that the teams must be
combined or more fully reconstituted in order to field teams of appropriate
size.
Each
Fall, new teams are chosen as players move to appropriate age groups.
As described above, the Travel teams within an age group are chosen based
upon ability and not age. Unlike some other towns, SYSA does not seek
to field “first-year teams” and “second-year
teams.” So as a general matter, the teams will not remain together
from year to year, and keeping teams together is not a criteria used by
SYSA in the team selection process.
Does the Essex
County Youth Soccer
Association (ECYSA) have different divisions, and how are teams placed in
those divisions?
ECYSA
has Divisions 1 , 2 and 3, with Division 1 being
the most competitive, and there are various groups within each division
which are ranked based upon ability. Teams are placed by ECYSA based
upon their record from the prior season and input from the travel director
from each town.
How can I become a SYSA coach?
SYSA is always looking for volunteers to coach and provide
other assistance. The first step is to volunteer- indicate your
desire to help in connection with the on-line registration process for the
players each season. SYSA can also use volunteers in a number of
other areas beyond just coaching.
If you are interested in coaching, you should also contact
either the IM Director or
the Travel Director depending
on the age group. Parties interested in coaching should also review SYSA’s
Coaches Code of Conduct, which all SYSA coaches are required to sign, to
understand some of the expectations in connection with serving as a
coach.
SYSA also has coaching license requirements. SYSA
requires that its IM coaches obtain a “G” license, and that its travel
coaches obtain an “F” license. SYSA will pay the relevant license
fees and will assist interested parties in learning how to obtain their G
and F licenses.
Why does SYSA make people sign up so early for travel soccer?
The timetable for sign-ups each
season are driven buy ECYSA’s deadlines to get
teams registered. Teams for the fall need to be registered with
ECYSA by early July, and teams for the spring need to be registered by
early January. So SYSA needs to get the players signed up early and
then divided into teams in order to get the teams registered to play in the
travel league by ECYSA’s deadlines.
Does SYSA have futsal and/or indoor soccer teams?
SYSA does not organize futsal and/or indoor soccer teams,
although it encourages its coaches to do so. Whether or not to
organize a team is entirely within the discretion of coaches or other
interested persons, although it would be helpful to inform the appropriate
SYSA Age Group Director of the intention to do so.
Historically, the most popular venues for Swampscott teams
have been in Beverly and Revere
for indoor soccer and in Danvers
and Topsfield for futsal (futbolito, calcetto).
What level of commitment is expected of the children?
IM player participation usually consists of games on Saturday
in Swampscott (or Nahant for U9) and up to one practice per week.
Travel participation consists of one weekly game (in
Swampscott or anywhere in Essex
County) and up to two
practices per week. Being present for Travel practices is very important
for the development of the players and the team.
Does SYSA enter teams into tournaments?
SYSA does not enter teams into tournaments, although it encourages
its coaches to do so. Whether or not to enter a team into a
tournament is entirely within the discretion of coaches or other interested
persons, although it would be helpful to inform the appropriate SYSA Age
Group Director of the intention to do so. Among other things, most
tournaments require that the players exchange town “patches” after each
game, and these patches will need to be obtained from SYSA.
Many of SYSA’s travel teams will play in out-of-town
tournaments, particularly over holiday weekends. Historically, the
most popular tournaments for SYSA teams have been over Labor Day weekend
(in Salem), Columbus Day weekend (in Peabody), and Memorial Day weekend (in Danvers and Lynn).
Many tournaments have brackets for teams starting at the U-8
age group. Teams of Swampscott/Nahant intramural players could be
entered into these tournaments at the discretion of coaches or other
interested persons.
Most tournaments will allow players of the appropriate age
within Swampscott or Nahant to play on any other team fielded by SYSA in
that age group. Accordingly, a SYSA team which is short players for a
tournament will sometimes borrow players from another SYSA team for
purposes of the tournament. Some tournaments also allow teams to field
a limited number of “guest players” from other towns, and the tournament
rules should be consulted for these and other applicable tournament rules.
©® 2011, 2012, 2013
Swampscott Youth Soccer Association
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