Q: Can my child play for the Arsenal and a Premier level team?
Q: Can my child guest with another team in a tournament?
Q: Will our team play in a winter league?
Q: Will winter league cost more?
Q: How many tournaments will our team enter?
Q: How much do tournaments cost?
Q: Are tournaments mandatory?
Q: What can I do to help out our travel team, the coach or the Arsenal program?
Q: Are the coaches trained?
Q: I am interested in additional training for my child. What options are available?
Q: How often do Travel Teams practice?
A: The Aurora Arsenal is a member of the Buffalo and Western New York Junior Soccer League (B&WNYJSL). As the name implies the league is geographically based in Buffalo and the Western New York area. There are teams as far north as Wilson and Youngstown and to the south in Holland and Arcade. If your team plays only league games (no tournaments) you will only play in Western New York.
Q: How often do Travel Teams practice?
A: During the Travel season teams generally practice two or three times per week, especially at the younger age levels. The exact schedule is determined by the teams coaching staff. There also will be indoor practices over the winter at Sahlens and possibly the middle school and other indoor venues in the area. Player development is a key component to Travel soccer and the Arsenal tries to give the players as many opportunities as possible to develop their skills. However this does require commitment from the player and the family and needs to be seriously considered prior to trying out for a travel team.
Q: The Travel season does not start until the end of April. Why is registration and tryouts held in September and October?
A: Actually some clubs have already held their tryouts and are in the process of picking their teams in August. We choose to wait until the season is over to start the process over again. The Arsenal is a member of B&WNYJSL. By the first of the new year we have to register our teams and pay our bond fee. In order to be prepared for that deadline and hold outdoor tryouts in weather that is conducive to being outdoors we must start the process at that time. It also may take time to put teams together. Especially at the younger age groups with many new athletes there may be a need for multiple tryout sessions. This is to ensure that all the players have an opportunity to showcase their skills and that the right decision is made on team assignment and cuts.
Q: How much playing time can my child expect?
A: It is a league and Arsenal mandate that every player in age groups U10, U11 and U12 must receive at least one half game playing-time in each regular league game, unless otherwise prevented due to injury or absence. It is recommended that this policy be voluntarily followed at all higher age groups. This mandate is based upon the assumption that the player regularly attends practice sessions and games, is on time and exhibits a positive attitude.
Q: Why are there tryouts? Don’t teams move up in age each year? Aren’t teams already formed?
A: Each year at the tryout the players are re-evaluated. The Director of Coaching conducts the session and the coach and team of evaluators assess the talents of each player anew. After all the sessions the coaches rate the players and rosters are submitted for review by the Travel committee. The Travel committee reviews the submissions to ensure a fair assessment and placement has been made. Every attempt is made to maximize the opportunities for the players and to field viable teams. Only after that approval are the players contacted.
Q: My child wants to play with her friends. Can we request placement with those players?
A: We do not accept requests for placement on travel teams. Players are able to tryout and obtain placement based on a demonstration of their skills.
Q: How does my child try out for an older age group team?
A: We encourage players to stay within their age group. However we realize that some players may be talented enough and/or interested in trying out for an older team. Players should attend the tryout for the age group in which they wish to play as well as the tryout for their own age group. This will insure that they are considered for their own age group team if they are not selected for the older team. A child who tries out in a higher age division and does not make the team, but has not tried out in his/her own age division, is NOT guaranteed a spot in their own age division. Please indicate on the registration form all the age groups that you are trying out for. Inform the coaches involved that you are trying out for two teams so that we can coordinate the selection process.
Q: Will tryouts evaluate the skills of a goal keeper?
A: The first tryout does focus on field skills. Goalkeepers need to have good field skills in addition to goalkeeper specific skills. If your child is interested in playing goalkeeper let the coach know at the tryout. There are opportunities in the first tryout for your child to demonstrate their goalkeeper skills in small sided and scrimmage games. If a subsequent tryout is held the coach can specifically address those skills.
Q: Can my child play for the Arsenal and a Premier level team?
A: At the present time B&WNYJSL rules do allow players to play on a Premier team and a club team like the Aurora Arsenal. However a club team is limited to 5 Premier players and must notify the league when registering the team in January. PLEASE notify your coach immediately if your child has been selected for a Buffalo United or other Premier level team. If the deadline is missed your child will be forced to make a decision on playing Premier or for the Arsenal.
Q: Can my child guest with another team in a tournament?
A: Guest players are allowed in most tournaments. However the definition of guest varies and the coach must check with the tournament director to see if guest players are allowed from another club. Some tournaments only allow guest players from the same club.
Q: Will our team play in a winter league?
A: The Arsenal does not mandate winter league play. It is up to the coaches, players and parents to determine if winter league play is right for the team. There are several indoor facilities in the area and where the team plays is again up to each individual team.
Q: Will winter league cost more?
A: Yes the winter league would be an additional charge. It is not included in the club fee. Normally the coach or an appointed team manager would handle the collection and payment of those fees.
Q: How many tournaments will our team enter?
A: There is NO pre set number of tournaments that a team will enter. Some do not participate in any tournaments. Other teams might do several.
Q: How much do tournaments cost?
A: Tournaments for the most part are a fund raising activity for the host soccer club. Some clubs own their own facilities; others have to pay a fee for field use thus the cost to run the tournaments vary. Some generate revenue from concessions others do not. The charge for each one will be an additional charge and will vary accordingly. A rough average is $20-30 per player for each tournament.
Q: Are tournaments mandatory?
A: Tournaments are NOT mandatory.
Q: What can I do to help out our travel team, the coach or the Arsenal program?
A: First of all, be a positive spectator at the games. The Arsenal has always been in the running for the leagues good sportsmanship award in large measure because our parents are very supportive of the coaches, players and referees. Key in that is of course being positive in attitude and in comments to our players, the opposition and referees.
Even if you are not trained to coach, you can help with team management functions. Talk to your child’s coaches and offer to help them with things like directions to away games, popsicles schedule, photo day and coordinating tournaments. I am sure that your coach will appreciate the offer to assist with these duties.
If you would like to offer assistance to the Arsenal club, go to our Contact Us section on the website. We always need help with things like field set up and tear down, equipment and fundraising. Let us know that you are interested in offering assistance and one of our board members will contact you with more information.
Q: Are the coaches trained?
A: Within a year of appointment all Travel head coaches must complete the Youth module and or E licensing class. These courses give the coaches a solid baseline of training. Many continue with advanced training courses which the Arsenal will help subsidize. Enhancing the skills of our coaches is a key component in improvement of the over all quality of the Arsenal program. Dave Coulter is our Director of Coaching and is the Board member specifically assigned to attend to this area. His role is in essence is to coach the coaches by offering help and training not just to the athletes in the program but to the coaches as well.
Q: I am interested in additional training for my child. What options are available?
A: There are a myriad of options available and the price and quality vary. Paying more money may not buy your child better training. If you need direction contact Dave Coulter our Director of Coaching for advice that will best fit your child’s needs.
