Q: My child is not challenged by AYSO anymore. Does that mean she/he is ready for travel soccer?
A: Probably. The vast majority of Team Evanston families entering our program enter for similar reasons. Most of our children come from AYSO as a strong player from their team.
Q: Team Evanston seems expensive. How is it different from AYSO?
A: Our teams play in competitive travel soccer leagues. Teams practice twice a week with a professional soccer coach. All of our coaches carry high licenses after training with Illinois Youth Soccer (IYSA). Team Evanston employs a director of coaching to both recruit coaches and develop curriculum for our players. We provide soccer opportunities throughout the year.
Q: What are the ages for participation in Team Evanston?
A: We are offering U08 players (2nd grade) the opportunity to participate in Team Evanston’s travel program. New this year, 5-6 year old players will be enrolled in the Team Evanston Academy. Please click on the Academy link on the website for more information.
There is no change in the previous offering for U9 and above.
Q: Is team placement ability based?
A: Yes, for U8 and above.
Q: Is this a Evanston Park District program?
A: No, but we are an affiliated program. Being an affiliated program gives us access to fields in Evanston. We pay a per player fee to the city for each season.
Q: How far do we really have to travel for games?
A: Most games are against teams in the immediate surrounding area like Wilmette, Glenview, Park Ridge, etc.... However, based on ability level seeding by the leagues there may be an occasional game against a team requiring an hour drive. At the younger ages this rarely occurs for our girls teams.
Q: When are games played?
A: Boys play on Saturdays and Girls play on Sundays. Occasionally, there are games that need to be rescheduled and games would be played on both days.
Please note: We have no control over the time of games at opponent’s fields.
Q: How much does it cost:
A: The club fees for 2011-2012 are:
Academy-$450 (no tryout required, open enrollment)
U08- $900
U09-U10 $1,000
U11-U12- $1,100
U13-U14- $1,300
High School- $1,595 (includes indoor)
- City of Evanston field fee
- Director of coaching
- Paid professional soccer coach
- 5 day summer camp
- 2 1 ½ hour practices per week starting in mid-August or as set by the club for each team
- 10 game fall and 10 game spring season or as set by the leagues
- Optional training session in addition to practice (tech session)
- Optional goalie training session
- Two tournaments in either fall or spring without additional coaching fees (new for 2008/2009).
The value of soccer participation for a child doing all of the activities we offer is approximately $4.00 per hour. Minimal participation is valued at about $6 per hour.
Q: Is that all of the cost?
A. Maybe. Some teams will elect to do multiple tournaments, which will carry additional cost associated with coaching and tournament entry fees. Some will travel to out of state tournaments. Tournament play is a team decision and is encouraged. The club fee covers two tournaments plus coach pay for the tournaments.
B. There also maybe additional fees for indoor soccer practice during the winter. The indoor fee for the 2011-2012 season is TBD.
C. Uniforms are an additional expense. Generally we use the same uniform for a minimum of 2 years. The uniform cost for the 2011-2012 season is TBD.
Q: Do you provide financial assistance?
A: Finical assistance and payment plans are available. However, we do not grant 100% scholarships.
Q: My child has decided not to play. Can we have a refund of our fees?
A: Team Evanston fees are non-refundable. Exceptions are limited to medical reasons confirmed by a physician.
Q: I don’t live in Evanston but would like to play for Team Evanston. Is that OK?
A: Yes. Team Evanston is a community-based program. We do not promote our club outside of Evanston, but welcome children from other cities on to our teams.
Q: We would like our son/daughter to be placed with a friend to help with transportation issues. Is that possible?
A: Teams are formed by ability level and consequently we cannot honor requests.
Q: When will our team practice?
A: Teams begin practicing in mid to late August depending on the start of the season. The practice dates and times will be set by the coach with the help of the team manager (a parent). Hopefully the manager and coach take into account the players’ on the teams schedules.
The Team Evanston preseason camp is usually the first full week of August.
Q: My child has a conflict with the practice date/time. What can be done about that?
A: Conflicts are generally not an insurmountable problem in scheduling. In most age groups there are multiple teams and depending on team size, it may be possible to attend a practice of another team. However, our expectation is that a family will arrange their activity schedule to include their soccer practice.
Q: What should my son/daughter wear/bring to tryouts?
A: Shin guards covered by socks, a properly inflated soccer ball, water bottle, a positive high-energy attitude, are required for tryouts.
Q: How are teams formed?
A: Please click here to find out about our tryout selection process.
Q: Can players make the top team if they are coming from outside of Team Evanston?
A: Yes. Please read that information in the tryout section of our website.
Q: What if it is raining during tryouts?
A: Tryouts will be rescheduled only due to lightning, severe weather conditions, or poor field conditions. Check our website for the most up to date information or the club hotline, 847.289.7154 for weather cancellations.
Q: My son/daughter has a conflict with the tryout schedule, what should we do?
A: The club recognizes that outside factors such as injuries, family and school commitments, and travel plans may conflict with tryouts. The club will always give players opportunities to make up a tryout by attending another age group/gender’s tryout, however, it is important for parents to understand that in order for a player have the best possible evaluation, that player needs to attend all tryouts for his/her age group. It is the parent’s responsibility to check the tryout schedule and ensure that the player attends all tryouts, as well as contact the club if there is a conflict with any of the dates or times.
Q: What is required of me as a parent?
A: Your main task is to sit back and enjoy and support your child playing a sport. Besides the financial commitment there is also getting your child to and from practices and games on time.
Q: My child plays multiple sports. I am sure there will be conflicts. What do we do?
A: We encourage sport participation. We ask that you inform your coach of conflicts and treat the sports equitably. Generally missing more than 15% of team events per season can effect a child’s development and future placement.
Q: How many teams does Team Evanston field? How big are teams?
A: The number of teams fielded is dependent upon the number of ability appropriate players that attend tryouts as well as the number of players that register.
The number of players on a team varies by age group.
Q: When will I know if my child has made a team?
A: The results of tryouts will be posted on our website, www.teamevanston.org, shortly after the tryout period concludes. For 2011-12 tryouts we anticipate to post High School Girls teams within 3 days of their last tryout, High School Boys and U08-U14 Boys & Girls by June 13th.
Q: If I have a complaint or issue, what should I do?
A: The first step is to talk to your child’s coach. If it cannot be resolved the next step is to contact the director of girls or boys teams as appropriate who will engage our club president or director of coaching as appropriate.
Q: What is indoor soccer?
A: Indoor soccer typically takes place January-March, during that time teams practice once a week and play one game per week. Although indoor soccer is not mandatory it is strongly encouraged. For the 2010-2011 season we had almost 100% participation.
Q: I am not sure that I am ready as a parent for travel soccer. What does it take from me?
A: Getting your child where they need to be on time and supporting them positively.
Q: My child wear’s eyeglasses. What is acceptable during games?
A: Sport type glasses are acceptable. With fashion being so important, many sport glasses look like regular glasses. We highly recommend sticking a data sheet from the glasses manufacturer in your child’s bag in the event that a question on their suitability for sports is raised.
