2010 Spring Soccer Information.

3/12: All teams are full. Send us an email at cascadesoccer@msn.com to be placed on a waiting list in case any spots open up.

Spring Soccer Frequently Asked Questions:

1) At what age can my child play soccer?

• Small sided soccer is open to players who were between 4 and 10 on July 31st, 2009
• Younger players may play if they are able to compete with players who are on average one year older.
• Contact CSC at cascadesoccerclub@msn.com if you have a younger child who wishes to play.

2) Can my child play at a higher level (higher age bracket)?

• This decision is best made depending on the child’s ability and size. A request to play at a higher level is reviewed by the Small Sided Soccer Director, The VP of Player Development, and/or Board of Directors and is governed by the rules of the Washington State Soccer Association.
• The club retains the right to refuse a player from playing on an older team if it is deemed in that child’s best interest, or if playing on an older team is deemed unsafe.

3) How do I determine what age my child should be playing at?

• Refer to the Age chart below to determine the lowest level your child can play at. He or she can player at a higher level if it is appropriate.

4) My son/daughter will be playing soccer for the first time. What equipment will he or she need?

• Every player will need age-appropriate shin guards, socks, shorts and a jersey. Properly fitted shin guards completely cover the front of the lower leg (the shin) and end approximately one inch below the knee cap.
• Molder soccer cleats are recommended for all children. No baseball of football cleats may be used.
• Cascade Soccer club will provide a team jersey to every player. The jersey is returned at the end of the season, usually at the last game.
• The coach may suggest that the team use a certain color, so please check with the coach before purchasing socks or shorts. He or she may ask that you get a certain color.  
• A soccer ball is recommended for home practices as players are encouraged to practice the skills they are taught.

• Players should bring water, shin guards, and sun block if the weather calls for it. Have them dress for the weather.
• Please arrive at least 10 minutes early so that practices can start on time.
• Cascade Soccer Club will provide soccer balls. We prefer players do not bring their own balls, as they tend to spend more time at practice keeping an eye out for their ball instead of focusing on the drills. 

 6) When do practices start?

• Teams are formed one to two weeks before the start of the season, coaches are assigned at that time. Some coaches who have returning players who have already registered and paid may start practices sooner. 
• Important: No player will be allowed to practice unless they have registered and paid.

• Cascade Soccer club is a 100% volunteer organization. We rely on volunteer coaches. Many of our teams are coached by returning coaches, but each year new coaches are needed, especially for the newly formed U-5 and U-6 age brackets.
• If your team does not have a coach, you may be asked to coach.
• If no parent steps forward, players on that team will be refunded their fee. Cascade Soccer Club provides clinics, training materials, and if needed, one on one assistance with an experienced coach. committed to help you succeed. 

• Cascade Soccer club is a non-profit volunteer organization and keeps fees in line with our costs. When a player registers to play for our club, we are required to obtain insurance that covers their practices and game play. Once we pay this fee, it is non-refundable. We also pay a fee to register our players into a state-wide database. We will honor requests for refunds, but we are required to cover our costs and will have to withhold an amount to cover our insurance and registration fees. Currently, those costs are about $15. Any refund we process will be subject to the $15 fee. Refunds may also be prorated based on when the player withdraws. We will refund 100% of the fee (less the $15 cost) before the season starts. After the start of the season, the refund will be prorated.
• More information can be found on our Refund Policy page.
• Players who cannot be placed on a team due to no roster spots will receive a 100% refund. 

• We will honor these requests as best as we can. To make such a request, state it in the Special Request line of the paper registration form, or the Special Requests/Needs section of the On-Line Registration form. To best give us an opportunity to meet this request, register early.
• We cannot add your son/daughter to a specific team once that team is full, so special requests on late registrations are difficult to fill.  

• The club will consider these requests as long as the player has the size and skill level to play up. Some players will benefit from playing at a higher level, and the club may ask you to consider playing your son or daughter at a higher level to better develop them as a player. 
• See the Age Chart below to determine the correct playing age for your child.

• As our coaches are parents like yourselves, they need to schedule practices when their schedule allows it. We encourage one to two practices a week. No practice can be held before 5:00 PM on school nights as we are not allowed to use the school facilities until then. 

9) Can my child wear jewelry while playing?

• For the safety of the players, Washington State Youth Soccer Association (WSYSA) forbids the wearing of any jewelry during practices and games. This includes rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets (including the Lance Armstrong type), etc.
• WYS also forbids the use of hair pins, wooden hair beads, hats with hard bills or hats with loose parts. Medical Alert medals taped to the body are acceptable.

10) Do we play in the rain or cold weather?

• While the decision to allow your son or daughter to play on a given day is ultimately up to the parent, soccer is a year round sport and is played whenever conditions are not deemed to be unsafe.
• Games are not played during lighting storms or when field conditions are not safe (ice, snow, standing water).

• Cascade Soccer club is always forming new teams at the U-5 and U-6 levels as players take up the sport for the first time. We encourage you to volunteer to coach, as if no coach is found, the team cannot be formed. If your team has a coach, please ask the coach if they need an assistant coach.
• Other positions you can volunteer for are snack parents, game referee (U-5 to U-7, but sometimes needed at higher age levels), picture coordinator, contact person, team manager, safety parent, team representative for club meetings, and other assorted positions.
• You can also volunteer to assist with Winter/Summer camps, Fall Jamboree, or other club level positions.  

• Registering without sending in a payment does not assure a spot on a team. When teams are formed, if your son or daughter's fee has not been paid, they will be dropped from the registration list, and their spot will be given to someone else. The only way to assure a spot on a team is to register and pay early.   

• Maybe. Teams are limited in roster size. We will continue to accept players after registration on a space-available basis. To inquire if space is available, send us an email to cascadesoccer@msn.com. Include your child's gender, and date of birth.  

• U-5 and U-6 teams usually play all their games are Cascade Elementary.
• U-7 to U-10 teams will play their home games at Cascade, but may travel to sourrounding communities for games. These communities may include Kent, Maple Valley, East Renton, Skyway, and Tukwila. 

• Once teams are formed, each coach will select the site, as well as the dates and times of practices. We have link to a list of available fields posted on our home page, or you can click here.

17) What are the rules for Small Sided soccer (formerly Modified Soccer)?

• Generally, Small Sided soccer is played on a smaller field, with smaller nets, and fewer players on the field at one time. This increases a child’s “touches” with the ball, improving their skills over a period of time. Some parents may remember playing 11 a side when they were younger but the Small Sided format has proven to develop a player’s skills faster, while increasing their participation and enjoyment of the game.
• Click here to view the complete rules.

18) Why do I need to provide a birth certificate for my child to play soccer?

• There are three reasons:
  • Providing an equal playing environment.
  • Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) requirements
  • Insurance and Liability
• We require a birth certificate to confirm the age of the player so that he or she can be placed on an age appropriate team. Players learn best in an environment with players of equal skills. While it is not always possible to place your child on a team with players of equal skills, it would be unfair to have him or her compete against older players who are usually more advanced.
• Your child may continue to play soccer as they grow older and may eventually join a competitive team where proof of eligibility is required.
• Many tournaments require proof of age before a team can be allowed into the tournament.
• Once your child’s birth certificate has been confirmed with us, you will not be asked to provide another copy in the future.
• You may request to have the copy returned to you once it has been verified.

2009-2010 Age Chart 

To determine the correct playing age for your child, locate their year of birth across, then their month of birth down.

• * Players born after 8/1/2005 may play U-5 if they are ready to compete in a team sport. Contact CSC at cascadesoccer@msn.com to ask about younger players.
• Players may play "up" at a higher age bracket if their skill level will allow them to compete at the higher age bracket. CSC allows parents to register their child one level up.