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GENERAL QUESTIONS - REGISTRATION - VOLUNTEERING - AGE GROUPS / TEAMS - GAMES & PRACTICES - SPONSORS - INDOOR SOCCER

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What is the Brookfield Youth Soccer League (BYSL)?

BYSL is a non-profit co-ed "recreational" soccer league for children ages 4 to 14 based around the Brookfield, Ohio area.  Our main focus of operation is our summer/fall season and this FAQ refers to that (except for the indoor soccer section).

Who can play?

Any boy or girl who meets the age requirements is eligible to play.  There are no "try-outs".  Non-Brookfield and Pennsylvania residents are welcome.

What does "recreational" mean?

The basis of "recreational soccer" is about teaching the fundamentals of the game, good sportsmanship, and respect for others.  We accept ALL players, as opposed to some competitive/travel clubs that hold try-outs and only take the best players.  However, we do travel to other communities to play, but the driving distance is generally much shorter compared to "travel" clubs.  We are not affiliated with or restricted to US Youth Soccer or Ohio North.  Games can be naturally competitive, however the final stats and scores do not matter.  The main goal is to teach and advance the children's abilities.

What are the rules/policies?

Each age group has it's own game rules that were designed by the Trumbull County Soccer Association (TCSA) and they can be found here.  However, BYSL has it's own league policies for operation, and you can find our by-laws here.  We also have a Parent Code of Conduct and a Player Code of Conduct.  Both of the codes of conduct are required to be reviewed and acknowledged during the registration process, and will be strictly adhered to throughout the season.

Who operates the league?

BYSL is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of elected volunteers who have been involved with the league for a minimum of two years.  BYSL players are coached by a group of volunteers who are dedicated to teaching children the fundamentals of soccer.  The keyword involved is VOLUNTEER.  There are no paid positions within BYSL and every individual involved sacrifices their own free time to make the league successful.  We are always looking for new volunteers so if you are interested, please contact us.

How can I stay in contact with the league and/or coaches?

BYSL has various methods of contact for general league notices or communication with coaches:

BYSL GENERAL NEWS AND NOTICES - The league uses a few methods of posting news and messages: this website, our mailing list, and our facebook page.  It is HIGHLY suggested that parents check either of these sources as league news is impossible to send out to 200+ individuals through phone/texting.  The website is updated often with anything a parent may need, so please check it first before reaching out.  The facebook group is a private group that is set up for supportive individuals of BYSL.  If you are not a member, simply send a request and it will be approved by the administrators upon review.  The group is designed for BYSL affiliated individuals only.  Please do not post negative or sensitive matters to the page and address them to the appropriate party in private.  Rude or negative posts will not be tolerated.  You can also contact a league officer or send a general email for questions and concerns.  BYSL also runs an Instagram account of relevant game and practice pictures.

COACH COMMUNICATION - Coaches generally use text messaging as their primary method of communication.  It has become impractical to individually call parents, especially in a time sensitive situation.  Please make sure to notify a coach if texting is not an option for you.  Coaches will also post important messages to the facebook page.  A list of BYSL coaches and their contact numbers are available here.

COACH COMMUNICATION - Coaches generally use text messaging as their primary method of communication.  It has become impractical to individually call parents, especially in a time sensitive situation.  Please make sure to notify a coach if texting is not an option for you.  Coaches will also post important messages to the facebook page.  A list of BYSL coaches and their contact numbers are available here.

REGISTRATION

How do I sign up and when?

Registration typically begins in May, however online registration is usually available starting in April.  The May registration dates are in-person and held at Brookfield Schools and/or other locations depending on the dates and availability.  Dates and times are announced when they are determined.

How much does it cost?

Our goal at BYSL is to keep our fees affordable while still covering operational costs.  There are no paid positions and all fees go directly towards running the league.  Currently registration costs consist of a base sign-up fee and a fundraiser fee.  Discount family rates are also available.  Seasonal rates are listed on the home page at the time of announcement and on the registration forms.  Payment MUST be made at the time of registration.  We accept checks, cash and credit cards.  Online registration is handled through StackPay which accepts major credit cards.

Fundraiser fee?  What the heck is that?

Our fundraiser fee provides two tickets to our annual raffle fundraiser.  With any youth sport there are fundraisers that are set up to raise extra money to help improve the organization.  While the base registration fee will cover the cost of running the league, the fundraiser fee helps to improve the league with new equipment and additions, such as field improvements, soccer balls and the like.  We are a smaller community and do not have the funds to provide everything to the kids that we would love to, so we count on the fundraiser fee to help us accomplish this.  While other youth sports typically have the parents work or sell things to raise money, BYSL currently does not "require" this.  However, we need volunteers (especially in the concession stand) to help raise funds and keep our registration costs the same each year.

What is the annual BYSL raffle fundraiser?  Do I have to buy tickets and attend?

Our annual raffle fundraiser is typically held in October after the season finishes up.  The date and location will be announced at a later time.  The fundraiser event has food, music, chinese auctions, a 50/50 raffle and more.  The main event is the raffle that is held throughout the evening.  Each ticket given at registration has four raffle numbers on it, and every ten minutes a number is drawn, and a cash prize is awarded.  This continues in gradual increments until our grand prize.  Even if you win, your numbers remain eligible for the remaining raffles.  The tickets are required to be purchased at registration, however if you choose you can sell them to others and get your fundraiser fee back.  There are usually plenty of people looking for additional tickets.  Only ONE pair of tickets is required to be purchased per family registration.  Also you DO NOT need to be present to win the majority of the raffles, however the larger grand prizes drawn at 9:20PM require the winner to be there in person.  But we encourage everyone to attend as it is a great time, and you might even win enough to make your registration costs back and a lot more!  *Note: This is an ADULT ONLY event due to alcohol laws.

Why is a concession deposit required?

Our biggest expense each season is the cost of referees, which continues to rise due to national shortages and the lack of local refs.  We have tried to offset some the cost of referees with our concession sales, but over the past few seasons we have seen a sharp decrease in volunteers willing to work the concession stand.  Because of this the concession stand has been closed at times during games or the same volunteer is stuck working over and over.  If we do not make enough concession sales then our referee costs must be taken out of other funds that would normally go to league improvements, equipment, etc.  Starting in 2022 we were forced to implement a concession deposit during registration to try and recoup some of these costs.   A $25 deposit check must be provided prior to a child being put on a roster.  If a parent works the concession stand at least once during the season, the check WILL NOT be cashed and returned.  If a parent does not work the concession stand or chooses to opt out entirely, then the check WILL be cashed and the money will go towards our referee fees.

What do I receive with my paid registration?

Your child will be given a jersey, shorts and socks once they are ordered, and you will receive two tickets to the fundraiser.  This year we are allowing players to have their last name on the back of their jersey!  Please take care of the uniform as the jerseys are custom made and cannot be replaced for free.  If you register online, we will contact you to receive your tickets.

Can I get a refund?

Refunds are NOT available once the uniform order has been placed.  Please make sure you select the proper size jersey and shorts for your child at registration because these cannot be exchanged for free once they are made due to custom logos, numbering, etc.  If you are unsure of the sizing your child requires, please consider registering in-person as the uniforms are available to try on.

VOLUNTEERING

How do I become a volunteer and what are the options?

BYSL is a non-profit organization run solely by dedicated volunteers.  We have had a lack of volunteers the last few years and that needs to change, as we cannot give the attention we would like without enough help.  Every coach, helper and league officer is a volunteer who chooses to offer up their free time to help run the league for the kids of the community.  It can be a thankless job, but every individual does it because they want to and enjoy it.  We understand that many parents simply do not have the extra time to help, but if you do please consider volunteering.  To become a volunteer, contact us or simply tell a coach or league officer.  Every bit of help is appreciated and there are many different areas available to volunteer your time:

COACHING - Many parents assume that to be a coach they must have some form of soccer background.  While any experience in soccer is a plus, the rules and gameplay are very easy to pick up and learn.  None of our coaches are former professional players and some were parents like yourself who decided they wanted to be more hands-on instead of watching from the sidelines.  Current coaches and league officers can help any individual learn the ropes.  Coaching does not necessarily mean "head coach" either.  Some age groups may have a head coach already in place and are looking for some assistant coaches.  For anyone interested, BYSL requires a background check for head/assistant coaching, that we provide access to.  In return for your hard work, we offer a nice discount on your child's registration.  For more details, contact us.

ASSISTANT COACH/HELP - This area is a nice alternative to coaching for those that cannot make a head coaching commitment.  It is ideal for every team to have a head and assistant coach.  Coaches may have tons of kids on the field at practice depending on the amount of teams they have to be in charge of (we've had over 30 kids on the field at once at times).  For the coach to be able to teach properly, they need the full attention of the kids, which can be nearly impossible with the younger groups.  Assistant coaches and helpers come in to play by keeping the kids organized and focused.  They are not expected to have complete soccer knowledge, but may be asked to keep the kids occupied with a simple drill or two.

SNACK SHACK / CONCESSION STAND - Beginning with the 2015 season we were able to purchase a concession stand with the help of our awesome sponsors.  It was a great success and used quite often.  However, each season we only had a small handful of individuals who could work it during the games.  Many times coaches or league officers who already volunteer most of their time with the kids were forced to pull double duty, and a few times we could not open it at all due to unavailability.  This is very unfortunate, as the Snack Shack profits help pay our numerous referee fees ($1000+) and having it open is a must.  With enough volunteers to choose from we could create a simple schedule and the same people would not have to run it every time.  Some youth sports require parents to work the concession stand as part of their registration duties, however we prefer to take volunteers to help.

FUNDRAISING - Typically we do not do much fundraising besides our raffle fundraiser.  We do offer a merchandise sale (shirts, hats, etc.) towards the start of the season.  We are looking for individuals to help pass out forms and deliver merchandise for this.  When left up to the coaches they may not have the time to keep track of it all.  We also try to get as many sponsors as possible and could use individuals to help broaden the possibilities, as well as gather Chinese auction donations for our raffle fundraiser.  We are always open to suggestions on other fundraising opportunities and would love to have a "fundraising coordinator" assigned to help with this.

REFEREE - While not a "volunteer" position per say, we are always in need of referee help.  Usually we use coaches and players from the older age groups, but many times their own schedules conflict with other games.  We would love to have a dependable team of refs to use for our games.  Referees are paid per game, however training must be completed and individuals must qualify.  If you are interested in becoming a referee, please contact us.

AGE GROUPS / TEAMS

What age group will my child be in?

Age groups are broken up into U8, U10, U12 and U15.  An age chart for the current season can be found here.  The "U" stands for "under", so U8 would mean under 8 years old.  Currently, the players age as of August 1st of the current year determines their age group.  For example, if Johnny turned 8 on July 31th of the current year, he would be in the U10 division.  If Susie turned 8 on August 1st of the current year, she would still play in U8.  For the U15 division, if the player turns 15 years old after August 1st, they are still eligible to play.  Players can play up an age division if it is determined their skill and experience merits so, but it is the decision of the league officers based off of coach recommendation or other qualifying circumstance.  Players may also play in multiple age groups they qualify for, if deemed acceptable by a coach.  Players MAY NOT play down an age division unless there is an extreme circumstance that requires so and it is approved by the Board of Directors.

How are teams decided?  Can my child be on a team with their friends?

Usually teams are kept together as much as possible as they move through the age groups, so they may already be on a team with their friends.  This helps encourage teamwork and sportsmanship as the players continue to play together.  For new sign ups, we cannot guarantee a child is placed on any particular team. However, it is ultimately up to the coaches and/or league officers to assign the teams.  If the situation allows, coaches/league officers can make adjustments and will generally work with parents the best they can.

There are several factors taken into consideration for team placement, such as:

• prior experience playing together
• the amount of kids on a team (too many kids on a team leads to less playing time)
  
• family members of coaches (coaches usually are parents)
• player siblings/relatives
• prior coaching experiences that may impact team placement
• valid league approved parent requests

Every team is created with these factors in mind, and no team is given preference over another.  Once these factors are taken into consideration, the teams tend to build themselves.  The league also has a deadline to place uniform orders, and once a child is placed on a team, they must have the appropriate sponsor put on their jersey, which are non-returnable once printed.  Swapping teams is discouraged due to this reason.  Please discuss any absolute needs at the time of registration and direct any issues with team placement to the league officers.

GAMES / PRACTICES

How many games and practices will there be and when?

Practice schedules are up to the coach, but they generally consist of one or two weekdays and a Saturday each week, usually starting at the end of June or beginning of July.  Games start in August and continue until the end of September or early October with the same frequency as practices.  Usually once games start the amount of practices are reduced.  The total amount of games played can vary each season, but typically it ranges from 15-20 games depending on the age group.

What amount of commitment is required?

While our league is recreational in nature, we cannot stress enough the importance of attendance at practices and games.  We understand that it is the summer time and not every game and practice can be attended.  But an effort should be made to attend as much as possible for various reasons.  Mainly, the coaches cannot teach absent players, and it is not fair to the other players who attend frequently to have playing time reduced in favor of "part time" players.  Also, many teams can end up with smaller roster sizes, and one or two missing players can mean the difference between having any subs, or even enough players to take the field at all.  No matter the skill level or experience of a player, as long as they are making an effort it will be recognized.  Coaches may determine appropriate guidelines for lack of attendance for their teams.  The coach should be notified in advance of any scheduling conflicts and planned absences, such as vacations, etc.

Can I be a coach or help at practice?

YES YOU CAN and we strongly encourage it.  As long as an individual meets the league requirements for coaching, whether it be a head or assistant coach, they can volunteer to do so by contacting us.  If you have interest in helping but cannot commit to coaching, there is always a need for practice help.  Coaches can have up to 30+ kids on the field at once for practice, and it is very challenging to keep their attention and focus on drills when some wander off to do whatever it is kids do.  Parent volunteers can help keep the kids organized with no soccer knowledge required.  If you are a parent who has the free time and would like to be involved, please volunteer.  There is nothing worse to a volunteer than to listen to a "sideline coach" parent shouting instructions and criticism of their coaching while they are on the field and the parent is not.

What is my child required to bring to practices and games?

Each player should bring soccer shoes, shin guards and WATER to every practice and game.  Soccer shoes and shin guards are the responsibility of the parents to provide.  Soccer shoes cannot have a front toe spike (like baseball shoes do).  A player CANNOT play without shin guards.  Water is essential on hot summer days and there is no accessible water at the soccer fields.  Since it is the summer time, sunblock is also suggested, as well as bug spray for those warm, humid evenings.  Things NOT to bring: candy, junk food, sodas, energy drinks, etc.  These things can lead to dehydration and can cause quite a distraction on the sidelines with younger kids when one of them brings a bag of candy or the like.

Where are games and practices held?

Starting with the 2016 season, all age groups will have practices and home games at the Brookfield School K-12 Complex, located at 614 Bedford Rd, Brookfield, OH 44403.  U6/U8/U10/U12 will play behind the elementary school (right side from entrance) and U15 will play up at the high school track.  There is NO PARKING allowed in the spaces running along the U6/U8/U10/U12 fields per the school!  Away game locations will be announced with schedules and the directions to their fields can be found here by selecting a venue from the list.

How far do I need to travel for away games?

We play surrounding communities and the farthest drive is usually around 30 minutes and sometimes as short 15 minutes.  Please allow enough traveling time to make it to the games.  Remember, away games are just as important as home games and players and coaches are counting on their teammates to be there.  Repeated absences at games will result in more playing opportunities for players that attend.  Depending on availability at the time of scheduling, we play other clubs from the TCSA which are: Badger, Bloomfield, Bristol, Champion, Howland, Hubbard, LaBrae, Lakeview, Lordstown, Maplewood, Mathews, Newton Falls, Niles, Orwell, Warren and Williamsfield.

What should I do if I have a concern with a coach?

If applicable, concerns should be respectively addressed to the coach after practice or a game (never during) if it is in regards to things such as coaching techniques or playing time.  Many times coaches are completely unaware of an issue and if it is brought to their attention it can be easily fixed.  Remember, coaches have a lot on their hands, and simple mistakes and oversights may happen.  They are also volunteers and may not have been coaching for very long.  If you are not comfortable with discussing the concern with a coach, feel free to contact a league officer.  The same applies to league officers who may be unaware of issues with a coach unless they are brought to their attention.  Please refrain from making comments and spreading gossip to others who cannot solve the issue.  If you do not direct your concerns to the proper people, your problem cannot be solved!  DO NOT call out a coach publicly via facebook or group messaging as this can only escalate a problem further.

Is soccer played in the rain?  Will a game or practice be cancelled?

Soccer is played in the rain unless there is a severe weather emergency.  A downpour or steady rain is NOT considered severe weather unless accompanied by thunder and lightning.  You can find our severe weather policy here.  Please do not ask coaches about cancellations hours in advance, or because of a supposed forecast.  With all of the phone apps and technology we have in today's world, it seems forecasts are more wrong than ever, and we really don't know what is going to happen until closer to event time.  Even if there is severe weather ahead of time, if it clears up by the start of the game/practice and the fields are playable, things will continue as scheduled.  Generally there are no cancellations unless severe weather is happening at start time or the fields are deemed unplayable due to standing water.  The coach will notify all parents when there is a cancellation, so please do not assume anything is cancelled until you hear from them.  Rain is not an excuse to not travel to an away game, as we have noticed this in the past and it is not fair to the players who do go and then there are not enough players to field a team.  Just because the weather doesn't look good in our area, doesn't mean it is bad at another community that is a few miles away.  Rain outs are a part of soccer, and there may be times where you have to turn around and go home, but that is the nature of the game and part of being dedicated to a team.

SPONSORS

What are sponsors and what do they do?

Sponsors are extremely generous business owners and individuals who understand the importance of youth sports and the need to raise funds to continue growth.  Our registration costs cover most of our operating expenses, but just like our raffle fundraiser, additional funds are needed to grow.  With the help of our sponsors we are able to keep our registration costs low, purchase new equipment and improve the league overall.  In the past we have been able to buy soccer nets, balls, field paint, grass seed, benches, banners, goalie gloves, fencing, gates, practice jerseys, The Snack Shack (as well as the equipment and food for it), and even send teams to tournaments.  Our registration fee has remained the same for a few years now.  Without our sponsors we would not be able to provide these extra things.

How can I or somebody I know become a sponsor?

In the months leading up to our summer season we reach out to previous sponsors and potential new sponsors, but we can use all the help we can get in doing so.  You can contact us directly with any questions or print out a sponsor form with all the information here.  We accept sponsors any time of the year as well, which helps with our planning for upcoming seasons and indoor sessions.

What do I receive as a sponsor?

We love our sponsors and want everybody to know it, so depending on the sponsorship level, there are opportunities to have your company name assigned to a team and displayed on the jerseys (you get one for yourself too), as well as field banners.  Team sponsors also get a photo plaque to display.  All our sponsors are displayed on this website and our facebook page.  In the past we had to expand our sponsorships to our fields and rebranded our concession stand to The Snack Shack to accommodate the amount of sponsors.  Also, if we choose not to have custom shirts made for our indoor sessions, the players may wear their outdoor sponsored jerseys to play, giving added company exposure for many months.

INDOOR SOCCER

What is indoor soccer?

Indoor soccer is played during the "offseason", which is generally October through April, typically broken up into sessions consisting of numerous games.  Indoor games are typically played at the Farmer Jim's Sports Complex, located at 2971 Niles Cortland Road, Cortland, Ohio 44410.  There are other indoor soccer facilities as well.  Indoor soccer is a great way to continue the development of skills and extend the soccer experience year round and participation is highly recommended if the player is serious about advancing their skills.  Indoor soccer is considered a separate entity than our summer recreational season and BYSL does not manage teams, coaches or players. All communication, rosters, fees, etc., are handled by the coach/individual who registers a team.

And most importantly: HAVE FUN, IT IS ONLY A GAME!!!

*updated 3/31/2022*