Last updated on July 4, 2009.

1.  When did the Fargo Soccer Club form?
The Fargo Soccer Club (FSC) formed on May 3, 2007.

2.  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.

3.  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.  For competitive (traveling) soccer, we currently have the following teams for Summer 2009:  Under-11 boys team, Under-9 boys team and Under-10 girls team.  For Fall 2009, we will have U-12 boys, U-11 girls, U-10 boys, U-9 boys and U-9 girls teams.  We will add competitive teams at any age level and gender from Under-9 to Under-19 based on interest.  We will entertain any requests from any player or group of players to affiliate with the FSC.

4.  When do you play, i.e. what seasons?
The FSC recreational leagues play separate seasons in the Spring and the Fall.  Unlike other area clubs*, 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.  Our competitive teams play separate seasons; Summer and Fall.  The Fall season runs September 1 through October 15.  Our Summer seaons runs late March through July.

5.  Do you carry insurance?
The FSC is fully insured by virtue of our membership in the national Soccer Association for Youth (SAY), US Club Soccer, North Dakota Youth Soccer Association and the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association.  This includes $3,000,000 in liability coverage.  For more information on insurance, visit SAY at www.saysoccer.org and US Club Soccer at www.usclubsoccer.com.   Our traveling teams are typically dual-registered and carry the insurance policies of both national associations.  Because of this, our travel teams are the most insured soccer players in the State of North Dakota.

6.  How frequently do practices occur?
For recreational soccer, practices are held once per week.  For competitive soccer, Fall practices are 2 or 3 times per week.  During our Summer season, we start with indoor training in March, twice weekly.  When we start to practice outdoors in late April, it is 2 or 3 times per week.  By late May we have 3 to 4 soccer events (practices or games) per week.  When we have weekend tournaments we may have 2 practices and 4 games in a week.

7.  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.  Competitive uniforms are currently priced between $38/child and $70/child and can be reused for any season. Registration fees for recreational soccer are typically between $35 and $50 per season.  Registration fees for competitive soccer are currently $295/player for the summer season and $80/player for the Fall season.  Travel costs such as hotels, transportation, food, etc. are the responsibility of the individual families.  The competitive soccer fees include tournament registration fees.

8.  How do your traveling teams pick tournaments?
Each team meets in the Winter and chooses tournaments for their Summer season.  The Club does not choose tournaments for each team.  The parents and coaches on each team make the decision on tournaments.  In this way, the needs and desires of each team are met.  With our current fee schedule, each team can choose up to 3 tournaments.  Any tournaments beyond the three would have to be financed by the individual team, not the club.  In the Fall season, we play in the NSC Fall Cup in Blaine, MN.

9.  Why do your competitive teams play in only 3 tournaments each Summer when most clubs play 5 or 6 tournaments?
There are only so many local tournaments so every tournament represents a financial sacrifice for each family in terms of transportation, lodging and meals.  By playing non-tournament weeknight games within a 100 mile radius of Fargo, we avoid costly lodging expenses of far-away weekend tournaments.  We also free up 2-3 Summer weekends for families who like to enjoy lake cabins or other family outings.  Clubs who play exclusively or predominantly in weekend tournaments suffer from other factors.  See the excellent articles on tournaments in our Documents section.  Regardless, our combination of tournaments and weeknight "league" games provides the same number of games as clubs who only play in weekend tournaments at greatly reduced expense.  We have applied to and expect to be accepted in to the Minnesota northwest league for Spring 2009.  This league will give our team 10 league games; the equivalent of 2-3 tournaments.

10.  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.

11.  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.  For competitive soccer, the answers vary.  Up to a certain age the FSC policy is equal playing time.  At some age, players who exhibit a stronger work ethic and/or skill level will see proportionately more playing time.  Playing time is also based on attendance, attitude and behavior.

12.  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.

13.  Does the FSC perform background checks on coaches?
Yes.  Every competitive team coach has at least one background check performed by the Club.  Random background checks are performed on recreational team coaches.

14.  What other safety precautions does the FSC take?
The FSC requires all volunteers to submit a volunteer screening application.  The FSC has a policy requiring that at least 2 unrelated adults be present at each and every soccer event, e.g. game, practice, transportation to ensure the safety of the youth player and the volunteer.

15.  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.

16.  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.

17.  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.

18.  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.

19.  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.

20.  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.

* In response to our separate Spring/Fall registration practice, other area clubs are now beginning to offer separate registrations.  However, a stiff late fee applies to their registration deadlines.  For example, one must have registered and paid by June 7, 2008 if you wanted your child to play in the Spring of 2009.