Below is some helpful information about the Windham Soccer Association Travel Program
Philosophy
Travel Soccer is divided into two distinct areas, competitive and non-competitive. Although all travel teams play other town and club teams, the scores are recorded for U12 teams and above only and team standings are published based on those scores. U8 and U9's are classified as development programs.
With the dedication of both full time British coaches (Challenger Sports) and dedicated Coaches from our own community, we nurture the development of each child in our Travel program.
The three areas of a child's development we are concerned about are:
a. Physical development, by learning soccer skills and improving fitness and conditioning.
b. Psychological development, by learning to control their emotions and developing positive feelings of self-worth; and
c. Social development, by learning how to be a part of a team and display appropriate sportsmanship.
Similar to our excellent Recreational program we feel that the best environment for a child to develop in these areas is an environment where there is no pressure to win! If we strive to encourage each child to do their very best and not be concerned about winning, then we feel like each child will be able to experience personal success and growth - and that's a winning program!
Once players are part of a U12 team, they will begin to focus on positional play, team set movements and game winning plans.
To ensure a payers development progression, coaches will attempt to play each individual at least 50% of the time in all U8 through U11 games. Thereafter U12 and above, game play will be assessed based player commitment, skills and positional requirements. However the 50% goal will still be a fair benchmark, but left to the coaching team to determine.
Ages applicable to the Fall 2010 / Spring 2011 travel season
Division Age Group Ball Size Field Size Game Time
U-8 8/1/02-7/31/04 3 6 v. 6 4-12minute quarters
U-9 8/1/01-7/31/02 4 6 v. 6 4-12 minute quarters
U10 8/1/00-7/31/01 4 6 v. 6 2-25 minute halves
U11 8/1/99-7/31/00 4 8 v. 8 2-25 minute halves
U-12 8/1/98-7/31/99 4 8 v. 8 2-30 minute halves
U-13 8/1/97-7/31/98 5 11 v. 11 2-35 minute halves
U-14 8/1/96-7/31/97 5 11 v. 11 2-35 minute halves
If players are assessed as superior, the board of directors in association with the players coach will determine the possibility of playing up an age group.
Registration
Registration for the fall /spring league will begin in April and run through June 30th. Beginning August 15th all submitted registration forms will be placed on a waiting list and accepted on an as needed basis only. WSA Registration fees are only refundable if a player is NOT selected for a travel team.
Travel Fees will need to be paid by August 20th. During the first week of August, a separate link to pay these fees will be sent out to those who made teams.
Making the team
Travel team tryouts are for every player, regardless if they are currently on a travel team. Tryouts are normally held during Memorial Day week in May, and players should be contacted by the 3rd week end June if they made a team.
There is also a tryout in mid October to fill any vacancies and/or create new teams for the Spring season.
For more information concerning the travel team formation process, please go to:
http://files.leagueathletics.com/Text/Documents/2941/18518.pdf
Coaches and Volunteers
The Windham Soccer Association relies solely on volunteers from the community to run the league. If you are interested in being a head coach, assistant coach, or division coordinator, please indicate so on your child’s registration form. All coaches must complete the Kid Safe form prior to coaching. Please note that the number of teams offered will depend on the number of volunteer coaches. Any questions regarding volunteering can be directed to
. A coach’s clinic will be offered prior to the beginning of the season. The WSA also offer full reimbursement for Coach certification course, required at U12 level and up. We strongly recommend all coaches in Travel to be certified at some level within 2 years of joining the program.
Season Dates and Practices
WSA highly recommends that all travel teams attend the Challenger run team camp normally the 3rd week in Aug (see website for more details). Our practices begin immediately following camp, with games scheduled from the 1st week in Sept through the 1st week in November.
Travel soccer is a 2 season sport, Fall and Spring
The Spring season starts with outside practice around the 3rd week in April, games beginning the 4th week in April going through to the middle of June.
Often teams will also partake in indoor competitive sessions (SportZone etc) or skills during the off season. We do sponsor a skills session for indoor through WSA.
Tournaments
Each team is sponsored and urged to attend 2 tournaments a season, normally Memorial weekend and Columbus weekends. However, if the team wished to attend more than two a season, the fees associated will be the teams responsibility. There are also opportunities to attend Jamboree's as well.
Uniforms and Equipment Needs
Each travel player in WSA will receive a two team shirts, home and away colors, two pairs of shorts and one pair of socks. Players must provide their own shinguards and proper footwear. WSA will provide soccer balls, however players may provide their own as long as the size is appropriate with the team play age group.
Jewelry
Please note that no jewelry of any kind is allowed during WSA play. This includes: necklaces, earrings, rings and headgear. Please note this also included newly pierced ears. Covering the ears with band-aids and tape is not allowed.
Zero tolerance rule
Unfortunately youth sports have recently seen a surge in specatator and even coach tendancies to become abusive or agressive. The WSA with Granite State Soccer and New Hamphire Soccer have a zero tolerance for this. And as such have issued statements detailing the warning process and ultimately ythe rejection of suspension of coach and spectator attendance.
