What is the mission of the Warrenton Youth Soccer Club?

The founders of WYSC created the league as a place where children of all ages and abilities could learn about the sport of soccer while having fun. The emphasis is on learning, teamwork and sportsmanship, not on the final score or the division standings. Fields are small, as are team rosters, so that children get lots of “touches” on the soccer ball. Small-sided games provide each player greater playing time. More time on the field translates to more ball touches, player interaction, individual player game strategy, etc.

The league is run almost entirely by volunteers, but coaches and referees receive training before they take the field.

The history of WYSC began 1999 with 21 children, and has grown steadily to host about 700 players on travel and recreational teams. WYSC is a member of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association VYSA and subject to all VYSA policies.

What are the important dates for the spring 2008 season?

(See the calendar for complete information.)

Registration due: Feb. 28

Late registrations accepted until: March 1 ($10 late registration fee applies)

Coaches meeting: 3: 30 p.m., March 29

Referees meeting: 6 p.m., March 30

Teams picked and notified:

Practices start: March 17

First games: April 5

Games played: Every Sunday

End of regular season:

Rain date for any games rained out:

Season-ending celebration:

When and where are games played?

Recreational games are played on eight consecutive Sunday afternoons. Travel games are on Saturdays. Recreational schedules and travel schedules are posted at the beginning of each season.

Several WYSC fields are located behind the Warrenton Recreation Center (on Waterloo Road off Route 211, across from Fauquier High School). Other fields are located alongside Fauquier High School back by the basefield fields.

What about rain-outs?

In case of bad weather, a decision will be made about game cancellations in the morning and posted on the WYSC home page.

Where are practices held?

WYSC has the use of soccer fields throughout the county. Coaches choose fields that are most conveniently located for themselves and their team members, and will let families know before the first practice.

When do I register?

Registration is divided up into three stages:

-- Early registration takes place during the last two weeks of current season and comes with a $5 savings.

-- Regular registration takes place after early registration, and until Feb. 28 for the spring season; Aug. 31 for the fall.

-- Late Registration requires an additional $10 late registration fee. It starts March 1 for the spring; Sept. 1 for the fall.

Registration will remain open until the first game of the season.

How do I register?

Soccer registration forms are sent home in school backpacks before the season starts. You can fill out the form and mail it back to WYSC with a check.

If you don’t have a form, you can download one at www.wysc.org (Click on the soccer club logo and then click on registration form under downloadable forms.) Before mailing in the form with your check, download the medical release form, too and send it in along with the other paperwork.

If you prefer, it’s easy to register online.

New players to WYSC will need the following information to complete their registration: 

• Medical insurance carrier and policy number.

• Doctor’s name and phone number.

• Emergency contact.

• Child’s date of birth.

• Your e-mail address.

• A working printer, to print completed registration.

Here’s how to register as a first-time player.

1. Go to www.wysc.org, the Warrenton Youth Sports Club Web site.

(This portal site serves youth soccer players and their families; adult soccer players and players for the Warrenton-Fauquier youth basketball club. This is also the site to go for information on youth soccer camps and the Warrenton Cup soccer tournament.)

2. Click to enter the Warrenton Youth Soccer Club Web site (top left-hand image).

Click on Registration. (Once you have successfully completed your child’s registration, the system will provide you with a member ID number, as well as a family password for future access to WYSC’s on-line system.)

3. Click on “Register NEW player. No member in my family has ever played in WYSC.”

Follow steps 1 through 5 to complete registration. Once you have completed the registration, you’ll need to print, sign and mail the registration form and fee to WYSC.

PLEASE NOTE: all Under-6 and older players need to select "REC SOCCER" as their division of play.

Under-5 players need to select "Under-5" as their PROGRAM.

4. If you have any questions regarding registration, please call us at (540) 347-7289 or e-mail the WYSC registrar or any of WYSC’s contacts.

5. If you need a refund, requests need to be received by WYSC before the coaches meeting (March 29). Refund requests will be assessed a $15 fee, except players registered during early registration period. (Refunds for these folks will not be assessed a fee.) Refund requests must be in writing. Either e-mailed to WYSC at REFUND@WARRENTONYSC.ORG or by regular mail to WYSC’s office. Verbal refund requests will not be processed. Refunds will be processed after the fourth week of seasonal play.

If you are registering as a returning player:

1. After clicking on Registraton, click on “Returning player, or at least one member in my family has registered before.”

2. All your information has already been posted to the system. Just log in and make sure all information is current.

3. Once you have completed the registration, you’ll need to print, sign and mail the registration form and fee to WYSC.

How much does it cost to play with WYSC?

$65 for U5 instructional league; $70 for recreational players; XXXXX for travel players

Are there any recreational league scholarships?

The WYSC scholarship program provides registration fee scholarships to help youth from low-income families, or families in financial need. To be eligible for a recreational scholarship, parents need to make a commitment for their child to attend a minimum of 80 percent of the practices and games. Also, a player’s parent will be required to complete four hours of volunteer work for WYSC.

For more information, e-mail the WYSC Director or call WYSC at (540) 347-7289

How are teams chosen?

WYSC encourages volunteer coaches to select and register their own teams. With the goal of strengthening the teams, coaches are encourage to maintain the same team from season to season, as well as from division to division.

If a player would like to be placed with a particular coach, parents may indicate this on the registration form. Children who are new to the league or do not arrange for participation on a particular team, will be placed on teams by league officials.

Coaches will contact players no later than 2 weeks before the first practice.

Does my child need any special equipment to play?

Coaches will ask that children bring cleats, shin guards (mandatory for all practices and games), a soccer ball and a water bottle to practices.

For games, players will need to wear uniform shirts and socks. Parents need to order the WYSC shirt and socks when they register. Jerseys are $13 ($15 for late registration); shorts are $5 and socks are $6 ($7 for late registration). Coaches will be given the purchased uniforms before the season starts and coaches will deliver them to players.

U5 players are not required to purchase a uniform.

Who referees the games?

Referees are young soccer players who have received referee training. Referees begin by working with the U8 teams, then, as the they gain more experience, they move up to work more advanced games. As stated in the WYSC Rules of Conduct, parents and coaches may not admonish or criticize the referees. Coaches may take up any questions with WYSC league officials.

Who is eligible to play with WYSC?

Girls and boys, aged 5 to 15 play in the recreational league.

The travel league hosts a U9 boys team and boys and girls teams in the U10, U11 and U12 divisions.

Tell me about the recreational league.

The U5 division is strictly instructional. The children are taught some basic skills and engage in fun soccer drills. The emphasis is on fun – you can tell by the giggling.

U6 team members play in small-sided games with small, pop-up goals. The kids get the idea of kicking toward a goal and sometimes passing actually takes place – frequently by accident. Again, fun is the primary objective and although goals are recognized with loud parental cheering, scores are not recorded.

U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16 divisions are also hosted. As the children progress from one league to the next, the fields get bigger and the team rosters get larger. Scores are recorded and division winners are celebrated.

As an added plus for rec players, one player from each team is eligible to attend a once-a-week goalie clinic. The WYSC covers the cost of the clinic.

How do I know which division my child should be in?

See the chart below for your child’s birth date to determine which division your child should be in.

U05 - 8/1/2002 and younger.

U06 - 8/1/2001 to 07/31/2002

U08 - 8/1/1999 to 07/31/2001

U10 - 8/1/1997 to 07/31/1999

U12 - 8/1/1995 to 07/31/1997

U14 - 8/1/1993 to 07/31/1995

U16 - 8/1/1991 to 07/31/1993

What are the goals of the travel ready teams?

TRP is WYSC’s program to transition recreational players and coaches from recreational competition to travel league competition. There is one boys U9 travel ready team and boys and girls teams in the U10 division.

WYSC strongly believes players should not start travel competition until completing the U10 division. Playing travel league competition before the U-11 division may increase the possibility of player burn-out before players reach their soccer potential.

Each fall season WYSC will select an U10 boys and U10 girls coach to head WYSC’s next TRP teams. The coach will then select registered recreational players he/she believes are competitive and interested in the higher level of competition, and have the commitment required at the travel league level.

If you would like your child to be considered for the TRP, you are welcome and encouraged to contact the TRP coach.

Players selected for the TRP will remain on their current recreational team with their current recreational coach/team, but will have an additional weekly practice or endurance/conditional training with their TRP coach and team.

* Besides regular recreational practice, TRP players will have a weekly practice with their TRP team.

* Goalies of the TRP team will attend weekly (Saturday) goalie clinics free of charge.

* TRP teams will have access to a weekly endurance training program, also free of charge

* TRP teams will be required to attend an All Star tournament held after the completion of the regular recreational season.

What are the goals of the travel teams?

The WYSC sponsors boys and girls travel teams for each of the U11 and U12 divisions.

WYSC teams play in the Old Dominion Soccer League (ODSL).

How do I volunteer to help?

There are lots of volunteers opportunities with WYCS. From coaching to lining the fields, there is always of work to be done. See the volunteer page for all the options.

What if I want to coach?

Great!!

Coaching is a wonderful way to give back to the club and set a good example for your kids. It requires an hour a week for practice and another hour on weekends for the games.

One the most significant benefits? The hilarious antics of your players will provide numerous highlights in your week. One of your players will inevitably shoot on the opponant’s goal; one will no doubt head the ball perfectly – without meaning to. There will lots of cheering -- no matter what the score -- and plenty of hugs.

All coaches must earn a coach’s license. Licensing classes are offered before the season.

Classes cover the rules of the game and age-appropriate coaching techniques.

This season, for the first time, further coach’s training will be offered once the season begins.

What other community efforts are the WYSC involved in?

The WYSC believes that the club is part of a larger community and has spearheaded several charity drives. Food drives have provided hundreds of cans and boxes of the food for The Haven, Fauquier County’s homeless shelter. Dozens of backpacks filled with school supplies were given to needy children through the WYSC’s Back to School initiative.

Is there a WYSC scholarship program?

Every spring, the WYSC accepts applications for two $2,000 college scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to Fauquier County high school seniors who have contributed to the goals of the club. Scholarship applications are due March 1 and winners are announced by April 20.