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. Most 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 U8 players (2nd grade) the opportunity to participate in Team Evanston. New this year, U8 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 U9 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 in the afternoon, generally. We request home field starting times after 12:00. Our leagues determine the final schedule. Girls teams play on SUNDAYS! We request home game starting times to be after 12:00 on Sunday for girls in the U9-U11 age groups. We are limited to 1 full size soccer field for our use. Consequently, some U12 (6th grade)-High School girls teams will have Sunday morning slots for home games. Our starting times for home games on Sundays for the older girls are generally: 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 1:30, and 3:30.

Please note: We have no control over the time of games at opponent’s fields.

Q: How much does it cost:

A: The club fee for 2007/2008 is approximately $875. Fees include:

- 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

- Summer drop in street soccer starting in late July

- 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.

C. Uniforms are an additional expense. Generally we use the same uniform for a minimum of 2 years. The uniform cost approximately $85.00.

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. However, Team Evanston does offer an alternate training session, referred to as a “Tech Session” during the week. The tech session is a skill building practice not with an individual’s own team but with the age group. A tech session can be an alternative to practice. There are also keeper-training sessions during the week. 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: There is a lot of information available on the team placement process and tryouts elsewhere on the website. Hunt around for it.

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: Due to IYSA regulations tryouts cannot occur until June 1. With school ending during that 7-day period we have very little time to reschedule evaluations. Check the hotline, 847.289.7154 for weather cancellations, but it is very doubtful that rain will postpone a tryout.

Q: My son/daughter has a conflict with the tryout schedule, what should we do?

A: The tryout period occurs during a busy period for everyone. If your child has a conflict that is more important than our tryouts, please contact the director of girls or boys teams as appropriate for scheduling. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ASSURE PROPER PLACEMENT OF A PLAYER IF THEY ARE NOT IN THEIR AGE APPROPRIATE TRYOUT GROUP.

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 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 2008 we will post the teams by 5:00 on June 10th. Mandatory registration will occur soon there after.

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 is an optional activity. We generally field at least one and sometimes two teams in a gender age group. Our teams play in Palatine, Des Planes, or Waukegan. None are as bad as they sound.

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.