General Questions for the Preseason
Q. Is it okay that my child has no soccer experience?
A. Absolutely. At Okolona Soccer Club, we teach the fundamentals of soccer to kids of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. No prior experience is needed–just a willingness to learn, work hard, follow directions, and work with their team.
Q. How many nights per week is practice? What time is practice?
A. The coaches develop their own practice schedule. Usually, coaches hold practice two nights per week with a game on Saturday or Sunday (coaches do not make the game schedule). Many coaches opt for a Tuesday/Thursday or a Monday/Wednesday schedule, though this can vary depending on your child’s coach. Generally, practice will be held from 6:00pm-7:30pm for older players, and 6:00pm-7:00pm for younger players.
Q. When does the season start and how long does the season last?
A. Fall season generally runs mid-August through October, and Spring season generally runs mid-March through May. Games take place the final 8 weeks of each season. Our U6 Academy season generally starts later than our older age groups.
Q. Will my child receive a uniform?
A. Each child receives a full uniform of jersey, shorts, and socks. You must provide your child with cleats, shin guards, and an appropriately-sized ball.
Q. What equipment do we need?
A. Shin guards and soccer cleats are mandatory for all practices and games. (Please ensure that your child does not wear baseball or football cleats during soccer practices or games.) Your child will also need an appropriately-sized ball.
Q. What size ball does my child need?
A. Players in U6 & U8 use a size #3 ball. Players in U10-12 use a size #4 ball. All players U14 through adult play with a size #5 ball.
Q. What does my registration fee cover?
A. Your registrations fee pays for the organizational cost of your child playing for OSC. The fees include but are not limited to the following: McNeely South Park land lease from Metro Parks, electricity for the lights and clubhouse, Kentucky Youth Soccer Association fees (a Player fee and an insurance fee), Jefferson County Youth Soccer League fees, referee cost, uniforms, sales tax, essential equipment, and field maintenance.
All soccer equipment is provided by and maintained by the club such as goals, nets, corner flags, and paint for striping the fields. Keeping the fields maintained is also a large part of the expense of the club and includes cutting grass, gas, mower repair, grass seed, and fertilizer.
Q. When will I hear from my child’s coach?
A. It takes a bit of work for our volunteers to finalize all of the administrative tasks required to register players and create teams, so if you registered early, it could be over a month before you hear from your child’s coach. Please be advised that you should hear from your child’s coach by early- to mid-August for Fall season and early- to mid-March for Spring season. If you have not, please reach out to a board member or to our Facebook administrator.
If your child is in U6 Academy, it may take even longer to hear from your child’s coach. But please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Q. Can I request a certain practice night?
A. No, we are sorry. To remain complaint with KYSA rules and regulations and the open draw requirement, we are not able to accommodate team selection requests based on scheduling. Coaches pick their practice nights based on their schedules and field availability. Many coaches opt for a Tuesday/Thursday or a Monday/Wednesday schedule. If you have a specific scheduling conflict and want more information, please reach out to one of our Board Members.
Q. Can I request that my child be placed on a certain team?
A. No. Because we must follow the open draw (see below), we cannot place children on specific teams. The only children guaranteed a spot on a specific team are those of the head coach. S/he can request one assistant coach and their child(ren) will also be placed on the team. A coach is limited to one assistant coach each year. (Covers spring and fall season). If a new assistant coach is required, they will need to choose from players parents already on the team.
Q. What is the Open Draw?
A. OSC is a member of Kentucky Youth Soccer Association and United States Soccer Association. According to their rules and regulations, all recreational soccer teams must be formed using a blind draw. Players are divided as evenly as possible by birth age (balancing junior and senior players as much as possible, while factoring in the number of children registered and rarely, any extenuating circumstances). During the fall season each year, players’ applications are divided between juniors and seniors and coaches pick blindly from each group. In the spring, new players are divided by age and coaches pick blindly to fill any open spots on their teams. New players are divided as evenly as possible among teams with open spots.
Q. I am being asked to coach but I don’t know anything about soccer. What can I do to learn more?
A. Coaching is a very rewarding experience and gives the parent/family member an opportunity to interact with their child(ren) in a unique and special way. Most people that coach recreational soccer know little about the sport when they start. OSC can provide resources and support for coaches to pursue training and coaching tips. Experienced coaches are available to help them when asked. If you are interested in coaching or assisting, please contact any of the board members. Background checks are done on all OSC coaches for the safety of all of our players.
General Questions During the Season
Q. What do I bring to practice?
A. A ball, soccer shoes, shin guards and plenty of water. Leave jewelry at home.
Q. What can my child wear during games/practices?
A. Players should wear comfortable athletic clothing during practice, which should include their shin guards, socks that cover their guards, and cleats. During games, players should wear their full uniform, shin guard, and cleats. The referees do a gear check before every game to ensure players are not wearing anything that can disrupt the game or injure other players.
Prescription eyewear is allowed, but it may be helpful to invest in a strap or sport goggles. Mouth guards may be helpful if your child has orthodontics. If a player has a cast it must be well-padded (with egg-foam) and as with any other situation, the decision whether to permit it or not will be the referee’s.
Q. What is my child not allowed to wear during games/practices?
Absolutely no jewelry is allowed. If your child has recently gotten their ears pierced, they may cover the earring with a bandage during the game. No hats are allowed. Sweatshirts and jackets may not be worn over the soccer jersey but can be worn underneath it. If there is a hood, the hood must be tucked under the soccer jersey. Referees determine if an item can be worn without being dangerous.
Q. How many games will my child play and when are they?
A. There are eight regular season games played on Saturday or Sunday with kickoff times ranging from 9AM to 4PM. Most games are on Saturday. Four games will be at the OSC home field and four games at other soccer clubs in the general area. Please note that schedules are not usually available until one or two weeks prior to the first game. Also, your child’s coach does not make the game schedule.
There is the JCYSL tournament during the season and the KYSA State Tournament at the end of the season. If your child’s team will participate in a tournament, you will receive more information from your child’s coach during the season.
Q. How much playing time does my child receive?
A. Every child in recreational soccer gets one-half of a game playing time. However, if you are late to a game, or if your child regularly misses practice, that time could be deducted. That is up to the discretion of the coach. It is also important to consider the challenging job a coach may have during a game situation–often children express not feeling well, wanting a break, or wanting to play more. You may be surprised what your child has communicated to their coach. However, if you feel at any time that your child is not receiving his/her share of playing time, talk respectfully with your child’s coach about your concerns.
Q. Will there be any opportunity to play in a tournament?
A. There is the JCYSL tournament during the season and the KYSA State Tournament at the end of the season. Several factors determine whether or not your child’s team will participate, but note that there is an additional fee for tournament play. Playing in the tournament is optional, and if your child’s team plans to participate in a tournament, you will receive more information from your child’s coach during the season.
Q. Can I receive a refund if my child signs up and then does not play? (Did not get practice nights desired/conflicts with other activities/child changed their mind)
A. A refund may be given for a child who is registered and then withdraws only if it is done before draw night. OSC is unable to provide refunds once a child is placed on a team. Once teams have been formed, uniforms have been ordered and administrative tasks have been completed. Reasonable exceptions may be made for players with extenuating circumstances, or a voucher for the next season may be given for players who receive an injury or unexpected illness that does not allow them to play. These exceptions are considered on an individual basis and at the discretion of OSC Board members. (A child that is withdrawn after being assigned to a team may request and receive their uniform since it has already been ordered and paid for. However, because OSC does not mail uniforms, arrangements need to be made to pick it up.)
Q. I already have insurance, why do we have to pay for more?
A. Per guidelines, OSC is required to carry insurance on each player. Please contact a board member if you have questions or concerns.
Q. Will practice or games continue if there is inclement weather?
A. Soccer is played in all weather, but there are exceptions. Practices will continue as long as the heat index does not rise above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and/or as long as there is no lightning or thunder. Coaches may choose to cancel practices after periods of heavy rain to keep players safe and preserve the integrity of the field.
A referee is the only person who can cancel a game. If it starts to thunder during a game, the referee usually will stop the game for 10 to 15 minutes to see if it stops. If not, they will probably cancel the game. If it is thundering before you leave to go to a game, you may contact your coach to see if your game has been cancelled. If you can’t reach anyone, you should probably go to the field – it might not be raining there.
Q. Do you use certified referees?
A. Yes. OSC uses certified referees. George Huffman is the referee assigner we use. There may be times he is not able to get us all the referees we need and we may ask family members on the sideline to be line judges to determine when the ball is out of bounds. A lot of the referees are young (you can train to become a referee at 13). We always ask that parents remember that these are young adults and that refereeing any sport is not easy and mistakes are made. Please refrain from making comments about calls regardless of the age of the referee or how wrong the call is. As a member of OSC, all spectators are expected to show respect for referees and players and anything else will not be tolerated.
Volunteering and Development Information
Q. I would like to become more involved. What can I do?
A. Okolona Soccer Club is staffed entirely by volunteers–from the coaches to the president! As with most youth sports, all members are expected to volunteer (help) on some level to ensure a successful soccer season. Whether you help pick up litter during practices, clear branches from the field, help mow and stripe the fields during the season, maintain the fields during the off-season, coach/assistant coach, work as team manager, help with administrative work, help fundraise, or donate money to the club, anything you can do is essential to the success of the club. Without the dedication and hard work of all of our volunteers, this club would not exist.
There are positions on the board, committee chair and committee positions that are available. You may find something that matches your interest, abilities and time. Helping to improve the experience for our children within the community is a great way to make a positive impact, so whatever you choose, just start now. Don’t hesitate to ask your child’s coach how you can assist them, and if you’re interested in doing more, feel free to contact any board member.
Q. Where can I find out more about soccer?
A. Please browse our website, or email one of the board members if you have specific questions. There are also lots of fun and informational resources on the internet. You can also check specialty stores and bookstores or the library for books about soccer. We encourage you to find out more about the game because it is a great way to connect with your child as they are learning and playing!