Natick Soccer

FAQ's

KINDERKICKS SOCCER

The Kinderkicks program is a fun recreational program for kindergarten children.  The program is designed to provide the players with an outdoor activity and to introduce them to soccer through a variety of fun games.

Cancellation or postponement of a session is rare.  However the Natick Soccer Club will post field closing information under "field status" during the season for questionable weather days.  Please look for an information sheet in September for the fall session or March for the Spring session.  

INTRAMURAL SOCCER  

The Natick Soccer Club intramural program is a town-based recreational program open to children in first through fourth grades.  Players are assigned to teams with one weekday practice and games on Saturdays. The program runs in both the fall and spring seasons.

Third and fourth graders play in a combined league ("U10") while first and second grade players each play in a single grade league ("U7" or "U8").  There are separate teams for boys and girls.  Registration for the fall season is held the previous spring and registration for the spring season is usually in the fall.

Who decides which team my child will play on?

The Natick Soccer Club designates members of the Board as Intramural Directors to coordinate and manage the activities of each age group.  Team formation is the responsibility the age specific Intramural Director who will rely upon coaches' evaluations, the Intramural Director's own observations, and the observations of other Soccer Board members during the season. 

How are intramural teams formed?

It is always the intent of the Intramural Director to assign players in such a way that all teams will be balanced, meaning there is a mix of talents and skills.  Teams are NOT formed by neighborhood or which school the child attends.  Beyond the objective of learning the game of soccer, this also provides an opportunity to meet new friends from different schools.

Can I request the team/coach I want my child to play on/for?

No.  Due to the large number of players involved in the program, we are unable to take special requests for team placement or specific practice days.

Will my child be on the same team in the spring as he/she was in the fall?

No.  The intramural program plays two distinctively separate seasons - fall and spring.  Players are re-assigned to new teams each season.  There may be some overlap of small groups, but the aim is to mix it up.  New players entering the program are assigned to teams on a random basis.   

How will I know what team my child is on?

Players will be notified of their team and practice times from their coach no later than one week prior to the start of the season.  In the event a player has not been reached by the coach, the player should contact the age specific Intramural Director. 

If my child's game is canceled, will there be a make-up game?

There are no make-ups if games are canceled due to weather or other reasons.  However, teams are encouraged to scrimmage each other midweek without a referee. 

How much playing time will my child get?

Equal playing time is to be given to all players participating in the intramural program. 

I registered my child late.  Will he/she still be on a team?

Registration periods close to allow Intramural Directors sufficient time to form teams, schedule games and get set-up for the upcoming season.  It is VERY important to get an accurate player count as soon as possible as even a few extra players can change the number of teams in an age group, and the number of players on the teams.  Late registrations will be waitlisted and accommodated whenever possible.  It is our goal to involve as many children as possible, but sometimes rosters are full.    

TRAVEL SOCCER

Players in fifth through eighth grade participate in the club's travel program.  There are also several third and fourth grade travel teams, and in the spring, several teams of high school aged players participating in the travel program. 

Teams are selected following placement tryouts in the spring for the following year and play in the BAYS (Boston Area Youth Soccer) league against other town teams in both the fall and spring seasons.

The travel program has a competitive focus, but still emphasizes fun, skill development, and reasonable participation.  Travel teams may also participate in additional tournaments, typically on Labor Day, Columbus Day and Memorial Day weekends.  The spring season is more competitive than the fall, as the section winners for the older age groups receive trophies and the Division 1 and 2 winners play in the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions. 

How are players selected for a team?

The Natick Soccer Club holds travel team tryouts for the Under 9 (U9) through Under 14 (U14) age groups during May/June for the next soccer year.  The typical player (based on age eligibility) will be in the spring of their 2nd grade (U8) year when they are eligible to tryout for the first time for U9 (Fall 3rd grade).  The tryout results along with the coaches evaluations are used to recommend placements.  NSC Tryout Committee reserves the right to determine final placement.

How many players are on a travel team roster?

The number of players on 6v6, 8v8, or 11v11 teams may vary depending on many factors but ultimately determined by the travel committee.  There are BAYS limitations for the number of players rostered on a given team, however, we typically fall well below the BAYS limit.  For U9 and U10 teams, there will likely be 10-12 players per roster since other players will play in our intramural program.  For 8v8 and 11v11 teams when all teams are travel, the travel committee determines the roster size based on the number of players needing placement. 

What are the age requirements for travel soccer?

Natick Soccer Club follows BAYS requirements for travel soccer.  While intramural players play with their appropriate classmates, travel players follow BAYS requirements.  The birthdate cutoff is July 31st.  The link included will take you to the BAYS site for review or you can contact us for clarification:  BAYS AGE GROUPS

Do travel players have to try out?

Players in 3rd and 4th graders are required to attend tryouts if they wish to play on one of two (3rd grade) or three (4th grade) travel teams in the Fall.  If they do not attend tryouts, they will be placed on an intramural team. 

Players in grades 5th through 8th grade that want to play on one of the top three travel teams in the Fall must tryout.  Tryouts are not mandatory for those 5th-8th grade players that do not want to play for one of the top three travel teams.  

We encourage players wanting to play Spring Only to tryout in May to assist us in determining appropriate placement  the following Spring.  Placement for Spring Only players that do not go to the prior year's tryout will be based on past coach's evaluations, input from the club's coaching staff, and input from past soccer coaches (if moving to Natick from another town).  NSC Travel Committee will make the final placement determination for each player.

What if my child doesn't make a travel team?

Not all players attending tryouts for U9 and U10 teams may be selected to travel.  There will be two teams selected for U9 and three teams selected for U10, for each gender.  Players in this age group that do not make a travel team can still participate in the intramural program.  All players in grades 5 through 8 will be placed on a travel team.

What if my child is injured and can't participate in a tryout?

If a player is ill or injured and cannot attend tryouts, you must contact the tryout coordinator and the player's coach prior to the scheduled tryout.  Any player not attending tryouts due to injury or illness will receive appropriate consideration for a travel team when the full travel team is rostered.

How much playing time will my child get?

The most difficult part of coaching in a competitive league is trying to balance winning and ensuring that everyone plays.  It is easy for a coach to divide playing time in lopsided games but in close games it is nearly impossible to keep everyone happy.  It is the coach's discretion to devise the substitution plan based on each game situation, but it is recommended that all players participate on average at least half the game for travel.

Who evaluates players during tryouts?

Evaluators at a tryout can include:

• The head coach or assistant coach (not both) of the age group being evaluated;

• Any Natick Soccer Club board member who is not currently a coach for the age group;

• Any Natick Soccer Club coach who is not currently a coach for the age group;  and/or

• Any individual who the travel director determines can make a meaningful contribution to the assessment of the players skill level. 

Parents and by-standers cannot evaluate unless they satisfy these criteria.

COACHES CORNER

TRAVEL COACHING

The Natick Soccer Club fields as many as 50 travel teams each season and relies exclusively on its volunteer coaches (a community of parent and non parent volunteers with varying levels of backgrounds and experience).  Due to the size of the program we need volunteer travel team coaches every year at every age level from U9 to U14.

What's the commitment?

Travel coaches are expected to run a minimum of two practices a week and will play in the BAYS league which has a 10 week season (one game every Saturday).  The club encourages travel teams to participate in tournaments and any other additional clinics or additional soccer activity.

How do I apply?

Anyone interested in coaching must complete a coaches application each year.  This applies to new coaches as well as ALL current coaches - regardless of level or experience.  The travel committee reviews all applications and conducts interviews of any new applicant coach or any returning coach who is interested in coaching a team for which there is more than one applicant.  Natick Soccer Board members are subject to exactly the same process and criteria as non-board member coaching applicants.  Coaches Application Form

What is the travel committee?

Each year, the Club's Board of Directors form a travel committee which during the spring/early summer solicits coaching applications from anyone interested in coaching in the fall (and/or spring).  It is the Club's policy and the travel committee's duty to objectively review ALL coaching assignments.  Only the travel committee has the authority to appoint a coach to a team.  

Should assistant coaches complete a coaches application?

Assistant coaches do not need to complete the application but may want to express their interest to the travel director for each age group if they would like to be an assistant coach.

Where do I send my application?

Completed travel coaching applications can be emailed to gpease@naticksoccer.org or mailed to:  

NSC Travel Committee

P.O. Box 393

Natick, MA  01760

When must my application by submitted?

For the Fall season, the deadline for submitting travel coaching applications is June 1st of that year.  Coaches will be notified and asked to coach a specific team by July of that year.  Current coaches are requested not to discuss future coaching assignments with parents and players until coach selection process is completed. 

What criteria are used in selecting a travel coach?

The following criteria, in no particular order, are considered when selecting a travel coach:  years of experience, familiarity with appropriate format (6v6, 8v8, 11v11), familiarity with age group and gender, MYSA or other coaching certifications, other coaching experience, playing experience, and results of CORI check.  Additionally, information obtained from coaches evaluation forms will also considered.  The Club actively solicits coaching evaluation forms from parents at the conclusion of each soccer season.  These forms are reviewed by the executive committee of the board and shared with the board and travel committee.

Does Natick Soccer reimburse coaches to attend coach development courses?

NSC will reimburse MYSA courses for levels G through D (G,F,E,D) assuming prior levels of completion (proof of pre-requisite levels).

Are travel coaches selected before travel teams are selected?

Travel teams are finalized before any coaches are assigned to a team.

Who do I contact for additional information?

Should you have additional questions regarding the selection of coaches, please contact Gary Pease at gpease@naticksoccer.org.