1. What is travel soccer?

Answer: Travel soccer is competitive soccer played against teams from other towns or communities. Games are played in the Western NY area as a member of the Buffalo and Western NY Junior Soccer League. Travel soccer is designed for players and parents who desire a higher level of commitment in time, effort, training and competition. Players who have shown an interest and ability greater than most recreational players can benefit from moving to travel soccer. Most high school teams are made up of travel soccer players or most starters are the products of travel programs. If an ability or desire to play beyond high school exists, the player certainly must play travel and should explore ODP participation. Some of our teams that wish to play at the highest local level, will compete in the premier league.

 2. How is travel soccer different from recreational (house league) soccer?

 Answer: There are three basic levels of soccer: recreational (house), travel, premier. Each level provides an increased level of commitment and cost. Amherst Soccer recommends parents let their child decide the level that suits them. Most young children benefit from playing with their friends and classmates in their own community. Amherst strives to form as many teams as possible at the younger ages to give children a chance to experience travel soccer. Many premier teams are formed with players from throughout the region. Premier soccer league (Upstate New York Premier League) play is not available before age 12.  Our club will advise you if your child is ready for premier soccer.

 3. How much time will my child be expected to devote to soccer?

 Answer: Open to any resident of the Amherst, Williamsville or Sweet Home School Districts , teams are formed in October. Indoor practice will begin in November. Each Amherst team is scheduled 2 sessions per week in the North Amherst Rec Center or Village Glen for practice.  Some older groups are scheduled 1 session per week until April.  Teams also participate in indoor soccer leagues that play once per week from January to April. Outdoor practices start in the spring, weather permitting. Coaches at different levels have varying numbers of practice per week. Early in the season 2 per week is the minimum. Outdoor league games run once per week May to August on weeknights. Expect to play in several weekend tournaments including Memorial Day weekend. Sometimes an overnight trip to play a tournament is included.

 4. Where do we “travel” to?

 Answer: Games are played around Western New York on weeknights. Most towns have clubs. Divisions of seven or eight teams are formed and home and away games are played. Examples of towns include, Clarence, Tonawanda, Hamburg, Orchard Park , Lancaster, Lockport, Lewiston, Wilson, Kenmore, West Seneca , etc. Tournaments are played on Saturdays AND Sundays around the area and in the Rochester area. Sometimes overnight trips are made to Erie, Cleveland or Binghamton . Should your child join a team that is entering the Upstate NY Premier League, you will play league games against teams from Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton , instead of local town teams (although the travel distance is farther for games, the number of games is fewer).

 5. What if my child plays another sport?

Answer: Travel soccer is not for everyone. A substantial time commitment is required. That being said, many of our players are able to juggle a schedule that includes baseball, basketball, swimming, dance, etc. Our coaches are expected to offer some consideration during the winter training season for conflicts. Once the outdoor season begins, soccer should become the first priority. If you are 13 and a travel baseball player, you would not be able to commit to travel soccer. Many of our players play high school spring sports and the league and team coaches try to schedule for that. I would suggest you speak to the coach about level of commitment. Coaches will have a pre-season meeting to explain expectations. Every child who plays travel is expected to commit to a minimum of 75% of all team activities during the year.  Do not expect to receive much playing time if you show up for games and not practices.

 6. What is the difference between an “A” and “B” team?

 Answer: Not much! Seriously, we have so many children who want to play travel soccer in Amherst that we are often able to form two teams in an age group. For purposes of development, at U 9 or 10 or 11, we will no longer separate players by ability and just randomly assign players to teams. We have the age-group pool all practice together all year. Soccer development is better served at the youngest ages by focusing on technical development. At U12 and older, children start to make decisions as to what sports and level of committment they are willing to make. When we form “A” and “B” teams, we usually place them in different divisions to allow appropriate competition. Many times the “A” team is made up of players who have played for several years and the “B” team may be the newer players. This is done yearly and players may move between the teams over time based upon development. Amherst “B” teams are stronger than many other club’s “A” teams. Sometimes the top 2 or 3 players on a “B” team improve more than the last 2 or 3 on an “A” team and will win a spot on that team the next year. The expected commitment level will be the same at either level.

 7. What if my child doesn’t make the team? When will I find out?

 Answer: We will have all coaches make contact with you within 14 days of the selection process. If your child does not make a team initially or is not selected for the training pool, you will be notified within 14 days of the selection process. After each process, we will try to make contact within 14 days. Our goal is to find a place to play for any child willing and able to make the committment expected. That may mean that they are placed on a mixed age-group team and not necessarily with their friends. If the child wants to play, we endeavor to find a team for them.

 8. How much will my child play?

Answer: The League and Amherst Soccer have a rule that “every child who plays on a team and is regular in attendance and effort will play 50% of the game at age 9-12”. Additionally, each child should play a variety of positions on the field. Coaches are encouraged to train the total player and not focus all of their attention on winning. After age 12, more specialization will begin although the coaches are encouraged to play the kids at more than one position until age 14. You will see the players themselves starting to determine where they feel the most comfortable by then. ASA has changed coaches in the past for failure to adhere to the 50% rule. Older players will receive more or less playing time based upon the discretion of the coach. Factors that effect time include: attendance, attitude, effort, and ability. ASA coaches at U14-19 make every effort to be fair to all players.

 9. How are coaches selected?

 Answer: The Director of Coaching makes the selections based upon the application and observation of the individual. Each year we endeavor to find the best possible coaching candidates while maintaining a reasonably priced program. All of our coaches, parent or otherwise, have played soccer in high school and/or college and/or have demonstrated sufficient experience in working with children in sports or both. ASA also requires each coach to attend and obtain a coaching license through the USYSA programs. They have all obtained at least an “E” license, most now have “D” and two obtained “C” level (only about 6 in Buffalo ). Each requires a substantial commitment of time and training. Coaches are encouraged to continue their education and obtain higher-level licenses and many coaches use trainers from the local college teams and former professional soccer players to assist. The past several years, ASA has secured the services of many college-aged or recent graduate soccer players. Each year we assess performance and coaches must apply yearly for a team. We will rotate coaches to different teams.  It is not in the child’s best interest to have the same coach throughout their soccer experience.

 10. What is ODP soccer?

 Answer: Olympic Development Program- is a training program run by the state associations for the players who desire a high level of training and competition and access to a variety of excellent coaching. This is the recommended activity for players who wish to play in college or have a sincere passion for the game. There is higher visibility with college scouts and contacts through this program than there is with premier soccer. For more information, access www.nyswysa.org. Training starts during the fall and runs throughout the year. ODP activities require travel and additional cost. Several Amherst Soccer coaches are on the ODP coaching staff.   We recommend ODP for the opportunity to play with some of the best players in the state and work with accomplished coaches.

 11. What is Premier soccer?

 Answer: For children who show exceptional soccer development and passion for the sport.  Several clubs in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse try to recruit the better players to come to play for them. They will accept anyone from any town and do not have the restrictions placed upon local town clubs. Sometimes, but not always, at certain age groups, they are successful in convincing many of the best players to come to their club. These teams usually play in a higher level league, travel more, and visit more out of town tournaments. Many of the ASA coaches have been involved in both club and premier and odp soccer with their children in the past or have coached at various levels. Ask to speak to someone for opinions and talk to other parents of older children who have experienced the premier programs before committing over $1000 and much more time to youth soccer. ASK the premier programs for names and where their kids ended up in college, and how much scholarship money they got, before assuming that is the end result.

 12. What is "Dual Carding"?

 Answer: The Buffalo Western NY League allows no more that 5 players per team to be "dual carded". What this means is the player has committed to a Premier team and the Premier coach AND Amherst coach have agreed in writing to allow the player to play on both teams. In this situation the Premier team is considered primary for all conflicts. Amherst Soccer has taken the position that this is not in the best interests for most players, teams and families. We currently leave this to the discretion of the Amherst Coach to decide if he wishes to accept any secondary (dual carded) players and how many up to the league maximum of 5. 

 13. What are the Parent responsibilities?

 Answer: ASA expects each parent to be supportive of their child and the club by getting your child to practice and games on time, helping them to be regular in attendance at all or most activities, scheduling vacations after the season ends whenever possible, showing consideration to the coach and team by giving notice of absence as early as possible, paying your fees to the club and team timely, and by volunteering your time to help with the Amherst International Memorial Day Tournament (our only fundraiser).   Remember, we expect attendance at 75% or more of all team activities- practices, games and social events.  Once a child commits to a travel team, we hope the parent will help to assure that the committment is honored for the season.

 14. What are the estimated costs?

 Answer: A typical team has a yearly (November thru July) total per player cost of about $400-600. This can be effected by various discretionary items, such as tournaments, warmups, bags, etc. A sample for a U10 team is below. This is per player (14 total). Larger rosters for older teams will show different amounts.

 ASA registration $205 includes league fees, insurance, referees, administrative costs, equipment, etc

 20 weeks of indoor training (30-40 sessions)

 Uniform $75 two shirts, shorts, socks (will be a new set in 2009-everyone will buy) 

 Indoor League $70 Played at Epic, Sportsplex or Sahlens at coach’s discretion

 Warmup/Hoodie/Sweats $30-90 Optional per coach and team

 Training shirt $10 -Optional at coaches discretion

 Bag $10-40 Optional

 Tournaments $75 -3 weekend tournaments

 Coaching fee $70-100 -We offer a coaching fee to non-parent coaches

 End of Year Party $20 -Optional and variable

 AIM Ads $50 minimum -We ask each family to sell at least one tournament program ad or pay the amount of that ad. If a team sells their goal it receives a rebate of some fees

 Travel/Hotels ? Some teams make trips out of town for tournaments