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posted 09/15/2009 The Fargo Soccer Club offers two levels of soccer; recreational and competitive. Recreational soccer is characterized by local play against teams within our club. Competitive soccer is characterized by regional play against teams from other clubs.
1. Can children from outside Fargo play on FSC teams?
Yes. The FSC serves any child in North Dakota or Minnesota. We focus primarily on Cass and Clay counties.
2. What age groups play for the FSC?
For
recreational soccer, we currently offer a pre-school program, a kindergarten program and a first/second grade program. By Fall 2010, we will offer recreational soccer from pre-K through 3rd grade.
3. When do you play, i.e. what seasons?
The FSC
recreational leagues play separate seasons in the Spring and the Fall. We separate our registrations for these 2 seasons so parents can choose Spring, Fall or both for their children. Our Fall season runs approximately September 1 through October 15 and consists of 1 practice and 1 game per week for a total of 6 games. Our Spring season runs approximately April 20 through June 20 and consists of 1 practice and 1 game per week for a total of 8-10 games. We also offer winter indoor clinics and scrimmages.
4. What are the costs?
All soccer players are required to have their own shinguards, ball and water bottle. Shinguards range in price from $5 to $50. Balls range in price from $10 to $150. Generally, the lower priced equiment is more than sufficient, especially below the high school level. Each player must have a uniform from the Fargo Soccer Club. Recreational uniforms (reversible jersey, socks, shorts) are currently priced at $38/child and can be reused for any season. Registration fees for recreational soccer are typically between $35 and $50 per season.
5. I don't know anything about soccer but I received an email about coaching my child's recreational team. What should I do?
Coach! If you have time, i.e. you don't travel extensively for work or you have to work late weeknights or Saturday afternoons, then you should consider coaching. Especially at the pre-school or kindergarten level, soccer coaching is mostly about your attitude and teaching fundamentals. If you can create a fun environment where each player can feel good about themselves, strive to be a good soccer player and have fun, then you are being a good coach. If you motivate by yelling or browbeating, then don't coach. The Club will provide with you training prior to the season. Coaching is very rewarding.
6. Will my child play as much other kids on the team?
For
recreational soccer, the answer is yes. Each child should play equally and each child should play every position. Some kids don't want to play goalkeeper and we don't force kids to play goalkeeper. .
7. Can I coach my child's team?
The FSC believes that parent coaches make the best coaches. We monitor each team for fairness of playing time to address the common compliant that the coach's kid gets more playing time. Frankly, parent coaches who know the rules on playing time are very good at following the rules. Parent coaches are highly motivated to see their child's team succeed. Parent coaches are more reliable than non-parent coaches. Non-parent coaches typically have a much better soccer background and can provide superior skills demonstration and instruction. That is why we try to pair up a parent coach with a younger, non-parent coach on our competitive teams. For our recreational teams, coaching is currently exclusively done by parents.
8. How do the FSC coaches differ from other coaches in the FM area?
Nearly all our recreational coaches have already undergone a 2-hour coaching education program before they step on the field with their team. Recreational coaches at some of the other clubs do not enjoy this important benefit. Many of our coaches are enrolling in extensive, i.e. 18-hour coaching education programs to enhance their expertise. The club encourages this and pays for this. This does not happen with most other clubs.
9. How many kids does each coach have on their team?
For our pre-school and kindergarten teams, we usually have 2 coaches and 8 kids per team. Therefore, the coaching ratio for our pre-K and Kindergarten teams is 4:1 or better for nearly all teams and there are no more than 8 players per team. For other area clubs, the ratio is more like 8:1 to 16:1. In a scenario where 1 coach is trying to coach 8-16 kids, personal attention by a coach is virtually non-existant. For our older teams, we typically have 2 coaches for every 8-10 kids.
10. How long are the two recreational seasons, Spring and Autumn?
The Spring season is 10 weeks in length. The Autumn season is 6 weeks in length. The other local clubs have a 5 week Spring season and a 6 week Autumn season.
11. Can my child "play up" if I want them to do so?
The "play up" scenario happens when a child is a gifted soccer player who is not particularly challenged by playing with other children their age. Unlike other local clubs we will gladly allow players to "play up" to the level of their ability. However, in instances when we interplay recreationally with the local clubs, we may be required to only play kids with kids their own age.
12. How do you form recreational soccer teams?
We generally form teams from neighborhoods. That makes practices more convenient. We don't keep the same kids together on the same team every season because we want kids exposed to a variety of coaches and a variety of teammates. We will attempt to honor one mutual friend request. Siblings in the same age category are placed on the same team. Relatives can be placed on the same team. Special circumstances are considered.
13. Do you offer scholarships?
Yes and no. Technically, there is no such thing as a "scholarship" since scholarly work does not earn you something in soccer. We have provided subsidies to disadvantaged children and we work with Metro Youth Partnership (MYP) on subsidies. It is for kids in grades K-12 in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo so that they can participate in fee-based activities of their choosing. It covers $50/year/child and there is a simple application process. Contact the MYP at 218.299.5437 or via www.metroyouthpartnership.org. For more information on subsidies, contact Matt Noah at either
or 701.282.9344.
