Frequently Asked Questions
Q. HOW EXPENSIVE IS IT TO PLAY SOCCER WITH SCSC?
- Uniforms- costs are approximately $70 for U8-U18 teams for 2 jerseys, 1 pair of shorts and 1 pair of socks (Thruway teams require 2 different color socks).
- Winter Fees – vary depending on whether teams play in the winter and if so whether they play in League play, Tournaments, or both. Each team makes its own winter plans. With the recent addition of our Indoor facility at 103 Philo Road West; Nearly all teams start training as early as December in preparation Spring Season. The Spring season registration fees cover these trainings; however as mentioned above tournaments or league play are not included and is covered by the players participating in the winter league/tournament.
- Spring Fees $330 – $400— This fee includes insurance, player passes, league fee (and bonds in some cases) for either BCSA, NYSW Thruway league , entry fee for 1 tournament per team or State Cup entry fee, referee fee, coaching equipment, coaches/manager stipends, coaching education, and field maintenance/supplies. Players selected to play on a premier level team may incur an additional fee after team rosters are announced.
- Tournaments (generally $45 per tournament and most teams do 1-2 tournaments per season). Please appreciate that these costs are for seasonal play and your costs may vary depending on how many seasons you play soccer. Most expenses are collected at the beginning of each season.
Q: HOW DOES THE COST OF SCSC COMPARE TO OTHER PREMIER LEVEL SOCCER CLUBS IN NEW YORK WEST?
A: Most premier level clubs that SCSC plays against cost anywhere from $1,000-$3500 for their basic registration fees which includes many of the things that we charge for $300-$500. SCSC provides the same top quality training, highly licensed coaches, and league play as these other clubs but for a fraction of the cost. We firmly believe SCSC provides the highest value soccer experience in the area.
Q: IN WHAT AGE GROUPS DOES SCSC OFFER SOCCER PROGRAMS?
A: Boys and girls from 9 to 19 are welcome to play in our programs.
Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CVSA SOCCER AND SCSC SOCCER?
A: CVSA is considered recreational soccer and SCSC is considered travel or competitive soccer. The main difference between the programs is that virtually all SCSC coaches are licensed, certified coaches with prior playing or coaching experience. While CVSA is a wonderful program for kids interested in recreational soccer, SCSC is for those players who ultimately desire to play competitive soccer in middle school, high school, or college. Our coaches utilize a long-term developmental program to develop all players to their greatest potential. In addition, Soaring Capital Soccer Club provides year-round training for your player including winter training.
Q: DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO BE INVITED TO PLAY WITH SCSC?
A: NO, all players are welcome to attend the team selection tryouts for travel teams.
Q: WHAT SEASONS DOES SCSC PLAY SOCCER?
A: Soaring Capital Soccer Club offers two major seasons ; Fall Season which provides a playing opportunity for players U9-U13; and the Spring Season which provides playing opportunities for U9-U19 . However, as mentioned above most teams start training as early as November to help build our skills and teams at our turfed indoor facility.
Q: WILL THERE BE "CUTS"?
A: Our goal is to NOT make any cuts so long as we have enough players to field a second (or third or fourth…) team in a particular age group. Players who do not make an “A” team will be put in the “B” team pool of players for their particular age group. Depending upon registration numbers our “A” and “B” teams may be single age group (year) or combined age group teams (ie. U9/U10).
We will encourage any players who exceed the roster limitation to practice with the team even if they would not be able to play in the league games. In the past, many kids practicing in this fashion have ultimately played their way onto the roster. Our goal is to develop players and you cannot do so by cutting players before they have had a chance to learn.
Q: IF A PLAYER IS NOT SELECTED FOR A TEAM OR THERE IS NOT A TEAM AVAILABLE FOR A PLAYER, IS MY REGISTRATION FEE REFUNDED?
A: Other than the nonrefundable tryout fee, Yes, a credit will be issued to you. Please note however that if your child is placed on a team, following the team selection announcements, then no refund will be issued should you decide to withdraw from the program (except in extraordinary circumstances, eg. injury, moving away from the area). All refund requests should be made in writing for review by the board.
Q: CAN WE WITHDRAW FROM THE PROGRAM AT ANY TIME?
A: Of course. Times and situations change for us all. Please note however that refunds will NOT be issued to players withdrawing after team selections are announced for each season. If you think you have an extraordinary reason for a refund being issued (eg serious injury, moving away from the area) then we ask that you put your reasons into writing and the Board will consider the request at it’s next meeting. Please let it be understood that these refund requests are handled on a case-by-case basis considering all factors and the Board expressly reserves the right to either accept or reject such requests in its sole discretion.
Q: WHAT IS "DOUBLE-ROSTERING" AND DOES SCSC PERMIT IT?
A: Double-rostering allows a player to play for two separate teams and is often used by players as a method to represent a secondary club in addition to SCSC (SCSC requires that player to be roster primarily with one at least one SCSC Team), but it also allows players within our club to experience playing against older/stronger opposition, by playing games with the ‘next level’ SCSC team. SCSC does permit double-rostering in limited circumstances, and solely at the discretion of the Director of Coaching (DOC) and the coaches of both teams involved. If double-rostering is permitted, the DOC will designate the team which is considered “primary” and which is “secondary” (generally, a player will be required to play with their age-appropriate team as their primary team). If double-rostering is permitted, the player and his/her parents need to understand that the primary team MUST take priority should any conflicts arise in training or game schedules, and they are to notify the coach of the secondary team regarding the conflict.
Q: HOW FAR DO YOU TRAVEL FOR GAMES?
A: Thankfully, the travel for travel soccer is not nearly so bad as the horror stories that you may have heard about travel programs in other sports like hockey where games are often 3-4 hours away. With the exception of occasional trips to more distant tournaments, the vast majority of travel games are played within one to two hours of Elmira. Most league seasons are 8 games with 4 games home and 4 games away so the travel really isn’t too bad. BCSA Teams may travel as far as Oneonta or Cooperstown (usually only once), and Thruway teams will travel to Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, and/or Binghamton.
Q: WHEN ARE THE TRYOUTS FOR SCSC TEAMS?
A: Tryouts are in June for the following Winter/Spring teams (U8-U19). Please check our website for tryout dates/schedules which are generally posted approximately one month before the tryouts.
Q: HOW ARE THE TRYOUTS CONDUCTED?
A: Tryouts are usually conducted by an assigned coach evaluating players of a certain age (i.e all U11 players are evaluated together, all U12 players are evaluated together, etc.). Depending on the number of players tryout, occasionally two age groups will tryout together (U11 and U12 players will tryout together). There are usually two tryout sessions of 2 hours each. For fair consideration, it is important that players attempt to attend both tryout sessions. During the session, the coach will evaluate many factors regarding each player. These factors are different depending on the age of the players as, obviously, we would not be looking for tactical awareness in a U10 player like we would for the more technically sound older players. However, ability aside, some factors a coach may look for that reign throughout all ages include attitude, commitment, effort, etc. We want good soccer players at the club but we also want co-operative and motivated players! Following the sessions, the coach will then make his team selections based upon his evaluation of each player. Team selections are generally announced two to three weeks after the tryouts.
Q: ARE THERE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO PLAY SCSC SOCCER?
A: YES!! One of our goals is to make sure that EVERY interested child can play travel soccer regardless of his or her financial situation. Accordingly, we have a scholarship program for deserving players who would not be able to participate in the program without scholarship assistance due to severe family financial situation. Scholarships are generally available for 50% of the Registration Fee but in extraordinary circumstances scholarships may be awarded for 100% of the registration fee. All scholarship applications (available on our website) will be reviewed in strict confidence by a panel of three board members consisting of the Club President, Treasurer and Registrar. Applicants (and/or their parents) that are approved will be asked to volunteer time (per fee paid by SCSC) to the Club in one or several areas (field maintenance, fund raising…).
Q. WHAT IS "PREMIER" SOCCER AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM TRAVEL SOCCER?
A: There are basically four different levels of soccer in our area:
- Recreational– these are local, non-travel leagues like CVSA
- Travel– these are travel leagues like the Broome County Soccer Association (BCSA)
- Thruway League Premier President Division– this is a more competitive travel league, their club must be recognized as a “Premier” club
- Thruway League Premier National Division– this is a higher level division and a team must either be invited to play in this League or their club must be promoted as a result of a top placing in the President division. Teams must be from “Premier” clubs.
SCSC teams compete in both BCSA and Thruway leagues, with the goal of matching each team with an appropriate challenge level to foster player development.