frequently asked questions
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Registration Questions
Does my child need any soccer experience to play in this league?
The fall league for soccer is recreational in nature so no soccer experience is necessary. This is a league designed to introduce your child to the game of soccer and some of the fundamental ball handling skills.
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How do I know which level to sign my child up for?
Level of play is guided by birth year and NOT grade in school. The "U" in the level of play stands for "under" so U8 is meant for those children who are under 8 years old and likewise for the other levels.
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Why is the birth year chart so weird? Why does my 7 year old have to play on a U10 team?
AYSA follows US Youth Soccer birth year calendar which follows the calendar year instead of school year calendar. That means your child is placed in the age group based on how old they will turn by the end of the current year. So, if your player is 7 on August 1st but turns 8 by December 31st, they will play in the "Under-10" or U10 age group. This age group consists of players turning 8 or 9 years old in 2024. Every age group is set up with only two years of players. Think of the U in each age group as "Under," so that team should not actually consist of players aged 6, 8, 10, etc.
There isn't an option for friend requests on the registration page. How can I make sure my child is playing with their friends?
If your child is in a level which has more than one Chester Park team, an email will be sent out in late June/early July for friend requests. This is done when the coordinator is putting together the teams.
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My child's friends are registered for a different level than my child? How did this happen and can a player play down so they can be on the same team?
Level of play is determined by birth year and not grade in school. This is often how friends will end up on different teams. Players should NOT play down as AYSA does not want older children putting a team at an unfair advantage. There are small exceptions to this rule depending on physical and mental disabilities. There is an option for players to play up an age level if they want to play with family and friends. If you have a question about this, please reach out to the coordinator at lgiammar@gmail.com.
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Our family can't afford the registration fee. Are there scholarships available?
It is the mission of AYSA to provide soccer opportunities to all children regardless of their financial resources. Scholarships for the registration fee are available. There is a form to fill out to request a scholarship on the Welcome Page of the registration as well as under the Scholarships page on this website.
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We would like to wait until later in the spring or summer to register as we don't know our schedule yet. Will we still be able to register then?
Registration will remain open until May 31, 2024, if there is still space available. If your child has any interest in playing soccer in the fall league, it is best to sign up in April for a team as there may not be a team for your child at the end of May. If registration numbers for a certain team are not high enough to put the minimum number of players on the field, then Chester Park will close registration for that level. If at least 10-12 players are signed up for U10, U12, and U14, it is easier to recruit more players for that team in May, June and July. If you wait until May or June, there may not be a team available.
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I really want my 3 year old to play soccer this year? Is there a team for them?
The fall league is meant for 4 1/2-year old to 13-year old children. A 3-year old may be overwhelmed by playing with older children. There is not a formal team for 3-year olds, but AYSA does offer Little Netbusters for the younger children. There is more information on their website at arrowheadsoccer.com.
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We decided not to play this year. Can I get a refund?
Life happens and plans change so it is understandable if a family decides not to play soccer this year. Reach out to the coordinator via email ASAP with this update. A full refund minus the minimal online processing fee will be issued up until the first 10 days of the season. We often have a waiting list for the younger teams and this enables us to find a spot for those children.
If you withdraw from the program after the first ten days of the season, you will receive a refund for half of your registration fee as well as for your jersey if you haven't received it yet or are able to return it. Chester Park Soccer Club is responsible for paying a player fee to AYSA and those players are counted at the beginning of the season.
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We travel a lot in the summer? Should we still sign up for this league?
Games begin on August 1st so the majority of the playing is done in August before school starts. Many families take one week of vacation during this time and coaches do expect this so it would be OK to sign up for a team. This is a six-week season so if you are going to be gone for the majority of August or for more than three weeks, then you should reconsider if you want to participate.
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Season Questions
When does the season start?
Games will start on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Coaches will choose to practice for the two weeks prior to games.
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Why is it called the "fall league" when most of the games are played in August?
AYSA has chosen to call the recreational league the fall league as it leads into the start of the school year. It also helps separate this league from their two other programs designed for older children. The majority of the games WILL be in August so this really is a late summer or August league. You will still have a few games in September.
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How many practices and games are there each week? What is the time commitment for families?
Most teams have one practice a week. At the beginning of the season, some coaches may choose to have two practices a week before the games start. Practices are held on Sunday afternoons and evenings. Practices run 60-90 minutes in length.
At the U6 and U8 level, the teams will have eight games scheduled. The team usually has one game a week, but there are a few weeks with two games so that the games can wrap up before the middle of September.
U10, U12 and U14 teams have ten games in a season so they usually have two games a week as well as one practice a week. There is an opportunity for play-offs for the U12 and U14 teams that occurs at the end of September.
Most games are an hour long.
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Where are the practices held?
Our younger U6 and U8 teams usually hold practice at the field in upper Chester Bowl. The other practice field is Grant Field next to Myers-Wilkins Elementary School.
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Why don't all the teams play or practice at Chester Bowl?
The fields at Chester Bowl are appropriate sizes for U6 and U8 teams. The rules of US Youth Soccer require larger fields for the U10 and up teams so they play elsewhere.
The Chester Park Soccer program has grown significantly in the last few years, and there isn't enough room for every team to practice at this field. Priority for Chester Bowl is given to the U6 and U8 teams. It is also recommended that the U10 and up teams practice at Grant Field as there is more space there and they can get used to larger playing fields.
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Why are practices on Sundays?
Practices are on Sundays as most of the games are played during the week. The Chester Bowl field is being utilized for games Monday through Thursday so there isn't space for a practice.
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Do we have to make it to every practice?
No, you do not need to make it to every practice. Vacation and travel plans can make it challenging to get to practice; however, your child will likely have a more fulfilling experience and improve their soccer skills by showing up for practices. Practices are also a great way for your child to get to know their teammates. Please communicate any absences with your child's coach.
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What equipment does my child need to play?
All players must have shin guards to play. At the U6 and U8 level, cleats are not necessary. At the U10 and up level, soccer cleats are recommended as your player will find it easier to run in the grass and kick a ball with them. It is helpful to have a soccer ball to bring to practices and to have at home for pickup games and practicing on your own. Coaches will have a good supply of balls should you not have your own or forget to bring it with you to practice.
U6 and U8 use a size 3 soccer ball. U10 and U12 use size 4 soccer balls, and U14 teams use size 5 soccer balls.
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Where are the games and practices held?
Home games for the U6 and U8 teams are held at Chester Bowl. Most teams will have at least half of their games at Chester Bowl, but that may not always be the case depending on how many teams there are. The other U6 and U8 team games are held at various community centers and fields. AYSA does have a field directory on their website at arrowheadsoccer.com
U10 and up play their home games either at Arlington Fields or Jean Duluth Fields. Away games can be in the other communities as close as Rice Lake and Hermantown or as far away as Grand Rapids. There is usually only one game that is more than 30 minutes away. These fields are also included in the AYSA Field Directory.
Practices are held at either Chester Bowl field in upper Chester or Grant Field next to Myers-Wilkins Elementary School.
Communication Questions
How will the coaches communicate with the teams?
Coaches are given a roster with parents' emails and phone numbers. Most coaches will start by emailing the team and will set up group emails for mass messages. They may utilize an app such as TeamSnap to better communicate schedules and messages with the team.
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Where can I find the practice and game schedule for my child's team?
The coaches will communicate practice times and game schedules with the players and their families. Chester Park Soccer will also post practice schedules on the Chester Park Thunder Soccer Facebook Page as well as this website under the practices and game section.
Coaches may change or cancel practices that the Chester Park coordinator is not aware of so always listen to what your coach communicates with you. The game schedule will also be posted on this website, but you do need to know which team your child is on.
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Why is only one parent/guardian receiving emails for the soccer season? How do I make sure the other parent/guardian also receives emails?
The coaches will receive two parent/guardian emails as long as they are provided during the registration process. For all club emails that are generated by SportsEngine, one parent may be the only one getting emails. If you would like the other parent to receive these emails, you will need to go into your settings on your own SportsEngine account and update communication preferences. The club coordinator is not able to add email addresses to these SportsEngine large group emails.
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Coaching Questions
Do I need to have soccer experience to coach?
No, you do not need to have soccer experience to be a coach. At the U6 and U8 levels, you just need to have energy to keep the children engaged and a lot of patience. There are many online resources to help with developing practice plans as well as understanding the rules of the game. AYSA is also willing to support coaches with less soccer experience.
Soccer experience does help at the U10 and up level, but it's more important that you have experience working with children.
What are the coaching requirements?
This is a volunteer position and we are always happy to have people step forward to help out with the teams. Coaches need to sign up for a background check as well as some additional online training that is done through AYSA. The online training is on concussions as well as abuse prevention. ALL of this training as well as the background check MUST be done before you start a practice with the players. The time commitment for this initial training is about 40-60 minutes. It does not need to be completed in one sitting.
Coaches are also required to organize and lead an hour-long practice every week so the team can develop their skills. They are required to be present at the games as well.
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I would like to be a coach, but am worried about the time commitment. What is the time commitment for coaching?
The time commitment is at least three hours a week not including commuting time to and from games and practices. There is one hour for practices and then usually two games a week. The majority of the games are held between 5-8 pm during the week. The majority of the season also occurs in August so if you are planning on a lot of travel at this time, it may be best to pass on volunteering to coach. The club tries to put at least two coaches on a team to help account for vacations and/or work conflicts with the games and practices. If you are only going to be gone for one week during the season, it is definitely worth your time to sign up for a volunteer coach.
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What happens if there are not enough coaches signed up for the season?
The coordinator will reach out to all of the parents at that level requesting volunteers to help out. If we still are not able to get enough coaches for the teams, we will roster the amount of players we can accommodate based on coaches. First priority is given to children of volunteer coaches and then remaining players will be rostered based on when they signed up for soccer (first to sign up=first to be rostered on a team). Refunds will be offered to the other players that we were unable to put on a team.