DOES REGISTERING FOR SALINE FC TRYOUTS COMMIT A PLAYER TO SIGN WITH SALINE FC?

No.  Anyone interested in the competitive level of travel soccer is welcome to attend our tryouts. Please reach out to us if you have questions or concerns we can help you with. You can contact us at admin@salinesoccer.org.

 

WILL REC KIDS BE ALLOWED TO TRYOUT AND JOIN TRAVEL TEAMS?  

Yes, they are welcome and encouraged to try out during their age group time slot.

 

IS MY CHILD GUARANTEED A SPOT ON THE TEAM WHEN THEY REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS?

No, players should match the general ability of the team and age group or show proper potential. 

 

WHO DECIDES WHO IS SELECTED ON THE TEAM AND ON WHAT CRITERIA?

Our coaching staff works together and decides.

The player evaluation is designed to target the main attributes needed to design effective teams. These attributes are: Technical Skills, Tactical Skills, Physical abilities and Attitude.

 

WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I MADE A TEAM?

Each player receives a note at the end of the first day, Saturday. The note can state that you have been offered a position on a team and asked to come on Sunday or just the invitation to come back on Sunday. Not all positions will be filled on Saturday.  At the end of the day on Sunday, those players who have not been offered a position on Saturday will be given a note stating either an offer to join a team, or a thank you for joining our travel tryouts.  When you are offered a position on a team you are asked to sign a contract on the spot. All the other paperwork will be emailed to you.

WHEN I SIGN A TRAVEL CONTRACT FOR MY PLAYER, HOW LONG IS THE COMMITMENT?

When you sign a contract at tryouts in June for your son/daughter, you will commit for a complete season year, which means fall, winter and spring. High school players participate in two seasons. Boys play winter & spring only and girls plays fall & winter only. The players will start with team camps in mid-August and end mid-June the following year. 

 

WHAT IF I SIGN AND THEN CHANGE MY MIND?  

Please sign only after you are certain of your commitment to Saline FC. Once the contract is signed, Saline FC can hold a player’s registration for the complete soccer year. By signing, however, you ensure your spot on the team.  

 

CAN CURRENT TRAVEL PLAYERS SEND A SKILL VIDEO?

Yes, if you feel you would like the coaches to see updated skills, improved techniques or anything on which you have practiced during your time at home, please do send us a video. You can find instructions for recording and sending a video HERE.

 

HOW MANY TRAVEL PLAYERS DOES SALINE FC HAVE?

Saline FC on average has 330 travel players divided over approximately 31 teams.

 

• The youngest team consists of U8 players, and plays 4v4

• U9 and U10 players play 7v7

• U11 and U12 players play 9v9

• U13 through U19 players play 11v11

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH AGE GROUP MY CHILD WOULD PLAY?

Players attaining the limited age for any age group on or after January 1 will be eligible to play for the full seasonal year. A player who turns 7 on January 1st 2022 is born in 2015 and will play in a U8 team in the complete 2023/2024 season (fall 2023, winter 2023/2024, spring 2024).

 

ARE THERE DIFFERENT SKILL LEVELS BETWEEN TEAMS IN THE SAME AGE GROUP?

Yes, in every age group we can have black, gold and even white teams. Black teams are the most competitive teams with a higher level of skills, followed by gold and then white.

 

COULD PLAYERS GET MOVED TO AND FROM BLACKAND GOLD TEAMS?  HOW WILL WE BE NOTIFIED?   

Yes. There is the possibility, just like at regular tryouts, that players could move teams. The coaching staff will have a conversation during tryouts about how each player has progressed over the season and determine whether a change would best aid their development.  We encourage everyone to register for tryouts now to make team formation and placement possible. If you are sure you, for whatever reason do not wish to return, please inform your coach of that also. This can help us in forming teams and the future development of our club.

 

THIS YEAR MANY AGE GROUPS HAD THE SAME COACH FOR THE BLACK AND THE GOLD TEAM; DO YOU ANTICIPATE DOING THIS AGAIN?

There are a lot of factors that go into deciding which coaches take which teams. Last year we had multiple age groups where one coach took both the Black and Gold teams. This may or may not happen.  It is determined by the Director of Coaching each year.

WILL THERE BE CUTS IN CURRENT TRAVEL TEAMS?

Our goal is always to do everything we can to allow kids to play travel soccer with Saline FC. Cuts are not necessary providing there is space on the roster and the level is appropriate for the player. However, with this in mind, we have had to cut players in the past. If this happens, Saline FC offers training opportunities or will aid in placement elsewhere.

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PLAYERS TO FORM A TEAM AFTER A PLAYER HAS SIGNED?

Our goal is to form a team or two if numbers allow at every age group we can. Often, players from inside and outside Saline FC inquire about playing with our club later in the summer. However, if we find we are short players after all efforts have been made to form a team, Saline FC will release players and aid in their placement elsewhere.

 

IN WHAT LEAGUES DO THE TEAMS PLAY?

We participate in three different leagues. League placement depends on skill level.

 

U8-U19 teams play in WSSL (Western Suburban Soccer League).

The most competitive teams in the U11 and U12 age group play in the DA (Director’s Academy) which is a highly selective statewide league. The most competitive teams in the U13 and older age group play in MSPSP (Michigan State Premier Soccer Program). 

All these leagues work closely with, and receive guidance from MSYSA (Michigan State Youth Soccer Association) who itself is a member of the US Youth Soccer Association.

 

DOES DIRECTOR’S ACADEMY LOOK DIFFERENT AT TRYOUTS?

No. Once a team is formed, it will be determined if the skill level of that team is best suited to play at the Director’s Academy level.  Saline FC recognizes many of our teams are at that level, hence our work to be a designated DA Club.

 

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE DIRECTOR’S ACADEMY STATUS WILL MEAN FOR TEAMS?

Acceptance into the Directors Academy is highly selective. MSYSA looks at the club’s structure, player programming, player development, coaching development, and history of participation in MSYSA programs and events. The Director's Academy offers competition at the U11 and U12 age groups. Both age groups play 9 v 9. After communication with each club's Director of Coaching, teams will be placed into ability appropriate tiers.  By placing teams into tiers the goal is to create a competitive game environment that provides teams with meaningful games. For players who are serious about their development and aspire to play at the highest levels in US Youth Soccer, the DA program is the best option for them in Michigan.

The Director’s Academy is a statewide program, and as such, you will be expected to travel outside your immediate community.  There are currently DA clubs in Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Traverse City.

 

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT WHEN CHOOSING TO PLAY TRAVEL?

• Fall and Spring season:
  2 practices a week of 90 minutes per practice outdoors.
  8 games per season, 4 home and 4 away games mostly during the weekend.
  1 tournament in the Fall and 1 tournament in the Spring.

• Winter season:
  2 practices a week of 60 minutes per practice
  - 8-10 games per season at WideWorld in Ann Arbor, for U8-U10 players. Games will be played during the weekend.
  - 8-10 games per season at High Velocity in Canton, Total Sports in Wixom or EMU in Ypsilanti for players U11 and older. Games will be played during the weekend. 

Players are always encouraged to practice their skills at home.

 

WHERE IS THE  PRACTICE FIELD FOR TRAVEL TEAMS?

The outdoor practices are at the intersection of Campus Parkway & Industrial, to the east of Industrial and south of Campus Parkway (To get directions in Google Maps, use 1367 Industrial Drive, Saline, MI 48176)

There will be two indoor practices for all teams. The younger teams will have both practices at Liberty School in Saline. The U11 and older teams will have one practice at Liberty School and one in the dome at High Velocity.

 

WHEN DO THE SEASONS RUN?

There are three seasons:

• Fall: Starts with a team camp week mid August and runs through early November

• Winter: Mid November through mid April.

• Spring: Mid April until mid June, just before Tryouts for the next season.

We offer many summer options, like Summer Camps and the Summer Champions Cup. These are optional and therefore not included in the travel registration fees.

 

WHAT ARE THE COSTS AND WHEN AM I EXPECTED TO PAY?

The prices are different for certain age-groups. Please refer to our website for all details. 

The registration fees can be paid in full or in three installments. The first payment is due on July 1st. This due date also applies to the High School boys, even though their season doesn’t start until November. A link to make the payment will be sent with the contract offer.

A uniform is required and the additional cost is approximately $125.

 

THE FIRST REGISTRATION PAYMENTS ARE DUE ON 7/1.  

Our goal is to eliminate vulnerability for our committed players by cementing their commitment via payment. It is an industry norm.  Saline FC, however, will still offer the same payment plans for two or three payments over several months.

 

HOW MUCH TRAVEL IS INVOLVED FOR EACH AGE GROUP?

This varies by age group and league competition. Younger age groups travel less, typically within a 60 mile radius. Older groups can travel further within the state. Tournaments can be in other surrounding states like Ohio or Indiana.

 

HOW MANY PLAYERS PER TEAM?

• U8 (4v4) minimum roster is 4, maximum roster is 6

• U9-U10 (7v7) minimum roster is 6, maximum roster is 12

• U11-U12 (9v9) minimum roster is 7, maximum roster is 16

• U13-U19 (11v11) minimum roster is 9, maximum roster is 22, max 18 per game

 

WHEN WILL THE ROSTERS BE ANNOUNCED?

Rosters will be set closer to the optional Open House in June, but will be subject to change. MSYSA has not set a deadline for people to sign so changes and additions can happen throughout the summer.

 

IS MY CHILD GUARANTEED PLAYING TIME IN GAMES?

Yes.

 

CAN MY CHILD PLAY TRAVEL AND RECREATIONAL SOCCER SIMULTANEOUSLY?

No, once a player has signed a travel contract they cannot play in the recreational league. 

 

DO TRAVEL SEASONS INTERFERE WITH HIGH SCHOOL SEASONS?

No, Travel seasons for high school aged soccer players are customized to their calendar. High school aged boys will not play travel soccer in the fall and High School aged girls will not play travel soccer in the spring.

 

WILL THERE BE A FALL PLAY FOR BOYS WHO DO NOT PLAY HIGH SCHOOL?

Once the majority of the registrations have come in, around July 1st, we will start getting in contact with DOCs from clubs in our surrounding area to see how many effected players are in a similar situation. We would then look to form what they call a "Trapped team," for the fall season only. That team would play against other areas who look to do the same. 

This is something that happens every year since US soccer switched to the birth year format for forming teams.

 

DO WE HAVE TO BUY NEW UNIFORMS THIS YEAR?

Check with your team manager or Saline FC admin as we cycle out our uniforms every 2 years. If a player is new to travel, then they must purchase a uniform.    If new uniforms are required, order them by July 1st to make sure the uniform arrives before the first game in the Fall. Before ordering, please check your jersey number with Saline FC admin at admin@salinesoccer.org. Ordering information will be sent to you by admin. 

WHAT GEAR DOES MY CHILD NEED TO PLAY TRAVEL SOCCER?

The required items of a travel uniform ordered through SoccerWorld consist of:

• Two jerseys, one black, one white

• One black game short

• Two pairs of socks, one black, one white

• One practice jersey, gray 

Additionally required:

• Soccer cleats and for the winter season indoor cleats or gym shoes

• Shin guards

• Soccer ball, size depending on age group

Additional items that can be purchased through SoccerWorld like a backpack, warm up pants, hoodies etc. are optional.

WILL THERE BE A SUMMER PROGRAM OF ANY SORT AND IF SO, HOW WILL YOU FORMULATE TEAMS?

Saline FC is hosting our Summer Camps.  We are considering participation into the Summer Champions Cup.