U9 BOYS AND GIRLS - TRAVEL TEAM SOCCER

Frequently Asked Questions

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What exactly is Travel Team Soccer?

Travel team soccer is an opportunity for the best and most talented players in a soccer club, like Haverford Soccer Club (HSC), to compete against the best players in other clubs in our geographic area.

Where are the other clubs from?

HSC travel teams play in either the Delco Soccer League (DELCO) for Boys or the Philadelphia Area Girls Soccer league (PAGS) for girls. Most of the teams in DELCO and PAGS are from the Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties and from the state of Delaware.

Are there separate teams for boys and girls? And how old do you have to be in order to play?

There are both boys and girls travel teams in the HSC and players presently range in age from Under 9 to Under 18. 

What are the age groups and what does U-9 mean?

Travel teams are made up of players under a certain age.  The term U-9 means that all the players on that team are less than 9 years of age at the start of the Fall season. Therefore, children play on travel teams with, and against, players of their own age. For the 2012 tryout year the ages of U9 players will fall between 08/01/2003 and 07/31/2004 or younger (it is possible for a U8 player to make a U9 travel team).

When do the seasons start and end?

Generally the Fall travel season starts the Saturday after Labor Day and runs into mid-November.  Teams play a schedule that generally includes 10 to 12 games, including play-offs at the end of the season in November. Teams may also play and train over the winter and have a Spring season that involves games and practices.

How much do the children practice in a given week?

Each travel team sets its own practice schedule.  Generally speaking, teams practice twice a week in the Fall, and will start preparing for the season in the Summer with practices and usually a week of intensive pre-season training in August. In the Winter and Spring teams will practice once a week depending on the level of the team.

When are the games?

Games are always scheduled on weekends, either Saturday for DELCO or Sunday for PAGS.  Sometimes, on a particular weekend, a team may play on both days. There may also be odd occasions at the end of the season if there are re-arranged games that you could play on a week night. Teams may also elect to play in one or two Tournaments and this will involve a whole weekend

Is there fund-raising involved?

There can be.  Each travel team is responsible for managing their own finances.  They can run their own fund raisers if they want.  Travel teams are accountable to the soccer club for certain costs, however, decisions to spend money and raise money rests with each travel team.

 

 

What credentials do the coaches have, if any?

Each travel coach must attend coaching courses and earn a coaching license in order to coach a travel team.  Coach’s certification courses are offered through the USSF and NSCAA.  After one year of coaching a travel coach must have obtained at least licenses relative to the clubs guidelines in order to continue to coach at the travel level. 

So, just what are the benefits of my child playing travel soccer?

Travel soccer can be a great experience for a number of reasons.  It is a wonderful opportunity for children to develop and refine their soccer skills.  This happens by receiving good coaching, playing against, and practicing with, the best soccer players in their age group.  While learning to play at a higher skill level, children are also learning about the importance of team work.  Personal growth and confidence is often a by-product of travel soccer, too.  And, last but not least, it is fun!  Children meet and make new friends on travel teams.  The experience of traveling to other communities and playing together against other clubs builds a bond between many players that continues for years, both on and off the soccer field. 

How does my child join a travel team?

Each year, at the end of April / beginning of May, the HSC travel teams hold their tryouts.  Children wishing to play on a travel team must attend at least one of the three scheduled tryouts. It is highly recommended that they attend as many of these tryouts as possible so that they are selected for the right team for their ability level. After the tryouts, players are notified at the end of May which team they made.  Then, usually in August, practices begin for the season which starts in September.

 

U9 Boys and Girls Tryout Dates – Spring 2011.

Players need to attend 2 out of the 3 sessions in order to receive the best possible evaluation!

 

U9 Boys            Date                             Registration     Tryout              Site

#1                     Sunday May 1, 2011      2.30pm             3.00–4.30pm     Coopertown ES

#2                     Friday May 6, 2011        5.30pm             6.00–7.30pm     Coopertown ES

#3                     Saturday May 14, 2011  8.30am             9.00–10.30am    Coopertown ES

 

U9 Girls            Date                             Registration     Tryout              Site

#1                     Sunday May 1, 2011      1.00pm             1.30–3.00pm     Coopertown ES

#2                     Friday May 6, 2011        5.30pm             6.00–7.30pm     Coopertown ES

#3                     Saturday May 14, 2011  10.00am            10.30–12.00pm  Coopertown ES

 

Who can I talk to if I have further questions?

You can contact the following people if you have further questions:

Bernie Holst, VP Travel:  610-246-2675

Monica Durfee, Girls Travel Commissioner:  610-649-6897

Pat Lacey, Boys Travel Commissioner:  267-767-2495