Rec League FAQs - Alexandria Soccer Association

ASA offers two levels of competition: recreation (rec) and travel. In the rec level, any child may play, regardless of experience. Many of our youngest players have had no experience at all. Most ASA players are Alexandria City residents, but non-city residents are welcome to register also. (An additional $35.00 non-resident fee is assessed to non-resident players each season.)

The recreation league (rec league) consists of two seasons: fall and spring. Registration for the year (two seasons fall and spring) begins in early May 15 and ends early September. Practices begin early September. Registration for the spring only season begins in November with practices beginning in early March. Usually teams stay together from fall to spring. Some teams have stayed together from U5 through U19.

2. Where do Recreation League teams play?

Games: For each season, each age-group is assigned a specific game field within the City of Alexandria. Each scheduled game is played at that assigned field, although start times may vary from game to game. Most games are scheduled for Saturday mornings with first games starting at 8:00 or 9:00 AM and the following games starting through mid-day. Rescheduled make-up games are scheduled for Sundays. Game times are arranged by the age-group coordinators, and during the seasons most teams will have varied start times each Saturday. Games usually last about an hour.

Practices: All rec coaches are volunteers and are typically parents or guardians of a player on that team. Coaches have the opportunity to request their practice field location and times of practice through the ASA office. Practice fields are located across the City of Alexandria, often on school grounds, and are assigned to ASA each season by Alexandria’s Department of Parks and Recreation. As ASA tries to group players on teams near where they live, practice fields are often within easy driving distance of home. Teams usually hold a 1 hour practice during the week. ASA encourages parents and guardians of young players to be present throughout each practice.

3. How long is the season?

Practices for the fall season begin in early-September, with the first of 8 games scheduled for mid-September and the last game scheduled for early November. In the fall season our youngest age-group of U5s play a shortened season of 7 games in order to give them an extra week of practice.

Practices for the spring season begin mid-March, with the first of 8 games scheduled for the end of March to early April, and the last game scheduled for the end of May. In the fall and spring seasons our youngest age-group of U5s play a shortened season of 7 games in order to give them an extra week of practice.

See the current season’s calendar located at the "Recreation" drop-down menu tab at the top of the main page.

4. How are teams formed?

ASA makes every attempt to form teams by neighborhood. That is why we ask to know the Alexandria City school closest to your home, whether your child attends that school or not. Depending on how many players register, different neighborhoods will have different numbers of teams. Age-group coordinators work hard to place children as close as possible to their home neighborhoods. Coordinators also match volunteer parent-coaches with their neighborhood, and always place the coach’s child on that team.

5. What about playing time?

One of our goals is for each child to participate in at least half of every game. That is why we limit the size of teams.

6. How much does it cost to register?

Player fees for the fall 2016 season are as follows:

Description

Fee

U5-U8

If registering during early registration period from 05/02/16 through 07/31/16

$165.00

U5-U8

If registering during the regular registration period from 08/01/16 through 09/02/16
$190.00

U9-U12

If registering during early registration period from 05/02/16 through 07/31/16

$175.00

U9-U12

If registering during the regular registration period from 08/01/16 through 09/02/16
$200.00

U13-U19 (SFL)

If registering during the early registration period from 05/02/16 through 07/31/16

$185.00

U13-U19 (SFL)

If registering during the late registration period from 08/01/16 through 09/02/16
$210.00

These registration fees include the one season Alexandria City field fee of $12.

City of Alexandria non-resident fee ($35 fee per season):

(Zip codes other than 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, 22312, 22313 and 22314 must pay this fee, however PLEASE NOTE that some of these listed zip codes are members of the Alexandria section of Fairfax County and therefore NOT within the City of Alexandria, and must also pay the non-resident fee).

$35.00

per season

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7. Does my child need a uniform or other equipment, and if so what are the fees?

Yes. A uniform is required to play in any U5-U12 ASA game. You may order and pay for your uniform items along with your registration fees. You may also register by the deadline, and then later visit the ASA office during office hours to choose and pay for your uniform items.

Either way you will have to come to the office to claim your uniform items, and you may exchange sizes at any time as long as the item has not been worn or washed. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 3:00. Prior to the start of each season the office is also open for three nights from 6:00-8:00 pm. If you are unable to visit the office during any of these times, please call us and we can make other arrangements for uniform pickup.

The set of red and blue performance shirts is only available for purchase through ASA. You may purchase the other uniform items elsewhere, but we offer them for sale in the office for your convenience. All players should have a soccer ball to bring to practices. Coaches will supply the game ball for the team.

For new SFL players (U13-U19), uniforms are available to order online, shorts and socks are stocked in the ASA office, jerseys must be ordered and numbered. See prices below.

For any age group, shin guards are mandatory at practice and games.

Description Fee

SHIRTS (U5-U12):

(Set of 2 performance shirts: red and blue)
20.00

SHORTS (black): 12.00

SOCKS (black): 6.00

SHIN GUARDS: 6.00

BALL: 15.00

SFL JERSEY 18.00

SFL SHORTS 12.00

SFL SOCKS 8.00

Ball sizes: U5-U8 Size 3; U9-U11/U12 Size 4; U13/14-U19 Size 5

Additional ASA spirit wear is available for purchase in the office.

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8. What does U5 or U6 or "U"any other number" mean?

The "U" designation refers to an age-group. Each Fall a new age-group of U5’s is added, making up ASA’s youngest players.

See item 16 below for an explanation of what happens when co-ed U6 teams advance to all-boy or all-girl U7 teams.

In the fall the previous spring’s U12 age-group usually advances to the Suburban Friendship League and is designated U13 or U14. The SFL is still part of ASA’s recreation league, but gives players the opportunity to be matched against SFL teams from nearby areas such as Annandale and Falls Church. Half of the season’s games are played within Alexandria, and half in nearby areas. Teams are larger, field size is larger, rules may change somewhat, but our SFL players thrive with the changes. SFL comprises the U13/14 age-groups up through U19.

The current season’s age-groups and their coordinators are located at the "Recreation"drop-down menu tab at the top of the main page.

9. Are there any age restrictions?

Yes. Recreation league age-groups are structured by date of birth, and by grade in school. A list of all current age-groups and their coordinators is located at the "Recreation" drop-down menu tab at the top of the main page.

10. Can I request my child be placed on a specific team or with specific friends?

Requests can be made but not guaranteed.

11. How can I help my child’s team?

Each team needs a coach and an assistant coach. In addition, a parent usually volunteers as a team manager to schedule snacks, orange slices and take charge of the end-of-season party.

If you are interested in volunteering as coach or assistant coach of your child’s team, you may do so on-line as you register your player. Each coach and assistant coach must submit a completed "Kid Safe form" to the ASA office prior to the start of that season. This document is used to run a background check in accordance with regulations from ASA’s guiding group, the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA). You can complete the Kidsafe form on-line as you volunteer, or the ASA office can email this form to coaches. The forms will also be available at the Coaches Meetings in both fall and spring seasons. No coach or assistant coach may attend a practice or game without first submitting a completed Kid Safe form to the ASA office.

Coaches of each age-group work with an age-group coordinator, who is also a volunteer and usually a parent or guardian of a player in that age-group. The age-group coordinator places players on teams, places coaches with teams and sets up the game schedule.

12. How do I register?

There are three ways to register:

Register on-line (preferred) as it saves paper and eliminates many hours of database entry and check processing.

1. On-line at www.alexandria-soccer.org with a Master Card, Discovery Card or Visa.

Click on the Registration Link. Fall 2016/Spring 2017 on-line registration is available starting 05/02/16 and ends 09/02/16. To complete your on-line registration, birth certificates must be sent (and received in the office by 09/02/16) by email, fax, 703-739-9668 or mailed to ASA, PO Box 25996, Alexandria, VA 22313. If the birth certificate is not received in the office by 09/02/16 the registration will be incomplete and the player will not be placed on a team.

2. By mail with a check or money order.

Print form and instructions from the website at www.alexandria-soccer.org. Mail-in registration is available starting 05/02/16. Mail to ASA, PO Box 25996, Alexandria, VA 22313.

3. In person at the office with cash, check, credit card, or money order. Print forms at home or come to the office and fill them out there.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 3:00. Each season the office is also open several evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. See the current season’s calendar located at the "Recreation" drop-down menu tab at the top of the main page.

13. What is the deadline for registration?

The deadline for completed registrations is 09/02/16. Please note that the cost of registration is less if you register during the early registration period from 05/02/16 through 07/31/16, and increases during the regular registration period from 08/01/16 through 09/02/16. See Item 6 above.

"Complete" registrations include the registration form, birth certificate or passport, and payment. Whether mailed, delivered or filled out on-line, the complete registration must be received in the office (not post-marked) by 09/02/16. Any registration not complete by 09/02/16 will be considered incomplete and the player will not be assigned to a team.

Please note that the Birth Certificate or Passport copy is due to the office by 09/02/16 at the same time as the Registration Form. If the Registration Form is turned in and the Birth Certificate is NOT turned in, it will be considered an incomplete registration and the player will not be assigned to a team.

Please keep in mind that age-group coordinators (NOT coaches) determine if there is a need for additional players on any team within the age-group.

14. What is the policy on refunds?

ASA will make refunds before the first game of the season. No refunds are given after the first week of games. Please make any refund requests by email to asasoc1@alexandria-soccer.org.

15. Does ASA offer financial aid?

Financial aid is available for both registration and uniform fees. (Financial aid is not available for the City Field Fee or Non-Resident Fee.) Our aid program is based on the same criteria as the Alexandria City Public School Lunch Program. A copy of your player’s enrollment in the lunch program is required for aid consideration.

Please note that registrants applying for financial aid may complete their household information on-line, but must submit a birth certificate or passport, and payment, directly to the office. The on-line registration site is not able to process financial aid.

Once the player’s Alexandria City Public School Free Lunch program enrollment letter is received in the ASA office, the financial aid available is:

For fall2016/spring2017:

U5-U19: $90 registration fee 05/02/16 through 07/31/16 - $100 registration fee 08/01/16 through 09/02/16.

Uniform items are additional, at the following prices for U5-U12 age-groups:

Shirts (Set of 2 performance shirts: red and blue) - $15.00

Shorts (black) - $12.00

Socks - $6.00

Shin guards - $6.00

Ball - $15.00

16. When do teams change from being co-ed teams to being all boy or all girl teams?

In the fall of each year, the U6 spring co-ed teams advance to U7Boy or U7Girl teams. As each U6 co-ed team separates into same sex teams, there is a need for new coaches. If your female child’s U6 team coach was the parent of a boy on the team, (got that??), then the girls on that U6 team will either need a new coach to stay together, or will be separated and placed on other U7Girl teams. Conversely, if your male child’s U6 team coach was the parent of a girl on the team, then the boys on that U6 team will either need a new coach to stay together, or will be separated and placed on other U7Boy teams.

Either way, the fall season for new U7 teams is a time of opportunity for parents to volunteer to coach (or become the coordinator of the new "vacant" age-group).

17. What happens after I register my child?

Upon completion of registration, you will be contacted by your coach after the coaches meeting. You will be notified, by your coach, with information regarding practice locations/times/game schedules, etc. For continuing players, it is very likely that you will be placed on your same team as the previous season. However, there are circumstances, such as coaching changes, where it is necessary to re-shuffle teams. We strongly encourage parents/guardians to always consider volunteering as a coach or assistant coach.