PARENT INFORMATION AND ORIENTATION On behalf of the New London Soccer Club, we would like to thank you for your interest in our soccer program. We are a group of volunteers dedicated to providing your children with an enjoyable soccer experience and the opportunity for each player to reach their own potential. We feel it s important for all parents to have a clear understanding of the commitment involved, both from a time and financial perspective, and our expectations for our coaches, parents and volunteers. The following information will help to give you a clear understanding of the NLSC soccer program. This and any additional information about our club can be found on our website www.newlondonsoccerclub.org. Important time frames Registration is online, opens early May and will be accepted until early July. Players not registered by the deadline posted online will be placed on a wait list. In addition, a $25 late fee will be applied to those accepted off the wait list. If registration numbers allow us to have multiple teams at any age level, a soccer skills evaluation is typically scheduled in early August at Calkins Park. NLSC will post more details of evaluation times on our website and via an additional club-wide email communication. Practices will generally begin the 3rd week of August and the fall outdoor season officially begins Labor Day weekend. The season will normally end by the second week of November. There may be an opportunity for players also take part in the winter indoor soccer league sessions at Wide World of Indoor Sports in Montville. Individual coaches and teams may choose to participate in these indoor sessions. THIS IS AN OPTIONAL ACTIVITY AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR REGISTRATION FEE.
We also offer an outdoor spring league. This session is included in our one-time registration fee. New players will be able to register to fill any open roster spots. Registration for new spring players will be open in March (this includes indoor players who did not play in the fall or any rec players looking to move up). Practices begin at the end of April and games are scheduled in May and early June. What is the time commitment? For each week of the fall and/or springs seasons, your child will have two practices of up to 90 minutes each at Calkins Park. In addition, there will be one game per weekend unless there is a make-up game. We play four home at Calkins Park and four district away games each outdoor season. What are the costs involved and is there financial aid available? The approximate fee breakdown is as follows: - One-time (covering fall and spring SECJSA seasons) registration fee - $90.00. Family max of $200 - Spring season-only registration - $30.00 - Uniforms: $25.00 (for first time registrants and those returning players who have grown out of theirs) - In addition, all players are required to have shin guards, soccer-specific cleats and an appropriate sized soccer ball (Size 4 for U10-U12, size 5 for U14). Financial aid is available. Please contact any NLSC board member and your questions will be promptly answered in complete confidence. When are payments due? Payments are due at the time you register your child online. Payments by credit/debit card are accepted online or checks can be submitted to the club at the address provided. Past due balances must be settled prior to acceptance of the current registration. Please contact NLSC if you have financial concerns as scholarships are available.
What documents are required? In addition to the completing the online registration form (which includes the medical release form), an updated player photo and a copy of your child s birth certificate (for new players only) must be uploaded with the online registration form. What team will my child play for? The teams are based on the age/birth year of your child. Please refer to the US Soccer Birth Year and Season Matrix under the Documents section of the website. Depending upon registration numbers, birth years may be combined or split when appropriate to meet league roster standards. Can my child play Premier/Elite/Club and/or Middle School Soccer in addition to playing for NLSC? Generally, yes. For the U13 and above classifications, any team having a single premier or elite player will have to play in the district classic division. How are coaches selected? Each head coach is evaluated and appointed at the discretion of the NLSC Board of Directors. Coaches subscribe to NLSC philosophy and policies. Those interested in coaching can contact our Director of Coaching or any Board member. All coaches registered with the NLSC and CJSA are required to submit to a background check. How much will my child play? NLSC protocol is such that, whenever possible, our players are granted at least 50% playing time. This may change at coach s discretion based on attendance, attitude and effort. We feel that this affords the players an opportunity to grow and develop their soccer skills. This is assuming a roster size of 12 to 16 for 7v7 and 9v9 and 16 to 20 for 11v11. How many children will be on each team? There are guidelines that the club follows with regards to roster sizes. Ideally teams playing 7v7 and 9v9 (U8/9 U12) will have 12 to 16 players. Ideally teams playing 11v11 (U13/U14/U15) will have 16 to 20 players. The NLSC Board may from time to time allow for exceptions to the above roster sizes.
How are teams classified? The NLSC is affiliated with SECJSA (Southeast Connecticut Junior Soccer Association). NLSC typically fields teams in three age groups: U10, U12 and U14/15 depending upon registration numbers. In order to allow teams to compete in a level manner versus teams of their own age and skill level teams are classified into two subsets: RecPlus and Classic. More information on the different leagues/classifications can be found on www.secjsa.org Your child s team will play other clubs that use the same classification. When registration numbers allow us to have more than one team at an age level, the NLSC will provide a professionally run and impartial evaluation package in the summer (usually early August) to classify those players at the appropriate and similar skill level prior to the fall outdoor soccer season. Those NLSC players are expected to attend the formal player evaluations and will be placed on a team based on current evaluation. Parents will not have input as to which team their child plays for. All players must remain on and play with the team to which the player was assigned. Players may not be borrowed and/or double-rostered unless in the extreme situation where a team doesn t have enough players to field a team. All changes to rosters will be approved and handled by the Registrar in advance. With each spring soccer session, please be aware that team placement may be adjusted/changed from the fall team due to overall roster numbers and in order to maintain an appropriate level of competitiveness. The NLSC is committed to creating a fair, equitable and competitive soccer experience for all players and coaches. How will we receive club/team communication during the season? Each team s head coach is responsible for all communication as it relates to his or her team and should have the assistance of a team manager or assistant coach. Please volunteer for these positions if you would like to be involved with helping the team. In addition, information pertinent to the NLSC will be posted on our website www.newlondonsoccerclub.org and will be sent out via club-wide email. Individual team information and schedules will be posted on the team pages on our website. What does the NLSC expect from our parents? The NLSC is run entirely by volunteers. There are many things that must occur in order for your children to have the opportunity to play soccer. Please consider volunteering. If interested, please contact any board member.
The NLSC & SECJSA expect the highest standard of sportsmanship from all NLSC coaches, players, parents and club officers. Please see our Parent/Player and Coach Code of Conduct forms on our website. We also ask that you notify your coach if you expect regular conflicts with practice or games. If you are asked to assist with coaching duties, you must fill out a volunteer form and return it to the NLSC Registrar. Volunteers may not assist with on-field activities without having completed the volunteer form and background check. Players and parents are expected and to read and sign the Code of Conduct agreement listed under the Documents tab on our website. The NLSC values the opinions of our parents and would like to hear from you. Please feel free to email any questions to your NLSC Board of Directors (for additional info please read the Contacts section). Key Contacts Your team s head coach will provide all team specific information and contacts once the season begins. Your coach will also be your main point of contact for all team related questions. Parents concerned about the treatment of their child should address their head coach directly in a professional and courteous manner. Please follow the 24 hour rule. If there is not a satisfactory resolution within 24 hours, a meeting can then be set up with a NLSC club officer. Contact information for the NLSC Board of Directors is listed on the NLSC web site www.newlondonsoccerclub.org Registration Checklist Registration is ONLINE, opens early May and closes early July. Fee is $90 per player, $200 family maximum. A late fee of $25 per player will be assessed for any and all players registering late regardless of reaching family maximum. Registration includes: Completed registration form online Birth certificate - upload online (new players only) License-size photo of player - upload online Please see the NLSC home page in August for start of season information, possible evaluation times and important details on what to wear and bring.