If you're new to the adventure of having your children play youth soccer, the following Parent's Guide to Youth Soccer should help you understand the basics of how the club is organized, what your child can expect, and what your commitment as a parent will be.

How old do my kids need to be to play soccer?
Point Grey Soccer Club has teams for players 5 to 17 years old (U6 to U18), and they are welcome to start at any age within that range.

What equipment is required?
The only equipment your child needs to play soccer is a pair of soccer shoes with cleats (for outdoor fields), running shoes (for indoor play), and shin guards. Getting a soccer ball for practicing is also an excellent idea.

Do I need to buy a uniform?
No. The team supplies uniforms, consisting of a jersey, shorts and socks. At the beginning of the season, each player provides a $65 uniform deposit cheque, which is not cashed if the jersey and shorts are returned at the end of the season.

How do I join the Club?
To join Point Grey Soccer Club, all you need to do is register your child as a player on one of the girls or boys soccer teams, and pay the annual registration fee.

When does registration start?
The season starts in September and runs through to the middle of March. To ensure that your child is placed on a team, we encourage all interested players to register early in the spring, and offer an EarlyBird rate. Late registrations are accepted, but do cost more.

How do I register?
Point Grey Soccer Club introduced on-line registration back in 2005. From the comfort of your home, and at whatever time of day you choose, you can fill out an on-line form and pay by credit card or cheque.

How much does it cost?
The full soccer season costs are different for micro, mini and divisional players. The registration fees for the 2008 - 2009 season are as follows:

• Micro Soccer (for players born in 2003):
  $140 EarlyBird fee until May 31st,
  $160 from June 1st and on;

• Mini Soccer (for players born from 1999 to 2002):
  $140 EarlyBird fee until May 31st,
  $160 from June 1 to July 31;
  $180 late registration fee from August 1st and on;

• Divisional Soccer (for players born in 1998 and earlier):
  $180 EarlyBird fee until May 31st,  
  $200 from June 1st and on.

What do the "U's" mean? The "U" stands for "under" and is always followed by a specific age. For example, "U11" means the player is 10 years old at the start of the season. This system is used because the calendar year of a child's birth determines the age group in which he or she plays. Age categories for the teams are as follows:

How are the teams created?
For children 5 to 10 years old, the teams are divided into groups by age, with players of all abilities mixed together. For these younger ages, the club tries to ensure that kids are grouped with their friends as much as possible, and that the teams are balanced in overall strength. Those who register late cannot be guaranteed placement on a team with a friend.

For children 11 years and older, the teams are divided by both age and ability, with the better players grouped together in competitive Gold, Silver and Bronze teams. Interested players need to go through a tryout process in order to be selected for the Gold and Silver teams.

How many players are on a team?
The 5 year olds play 3-a-side Micro soccer in a gym at Point Grey Community Centre.

Players from 6 years to 9 years old play 4-a-side or 6-a-side Mini Soccer on fields within the community. The 8 and 9 year olds play some of their games against other soccer clubs in Vancouver.

Players 10 years old, play 8-a-side divisional against other soccer clubs in Vancouver.

Boys 11 years old and up play 11-a-side, full field soccer, against other soccer clubs in Vancouver, Richmond, the North Shore and Burnaby.

Girls 11 years old continue to play 8-a-side soccer in a Vancouver-Richmond league, and begin to play 11-a-side at age 12. The league for 12 year olds encompasses the whole Lower Mainland out to Abbotsford.

How big is the time commitment?
It depends on the age and competitive level of the team. Soccer games are scheduled on the weekends, with the younger kids playing for up to 50 minutes, and the divisional kids playing for up to 90 minutes. Most teams practice once on a weekday evening, some teams practice twice, and the youngest age groups might not practice at all. Gold level divisional teams (U11 to U18) require a commitment to two practices a week, plus weekend games, and tournmaments.

Do boys and girls play on the same soccer teams?
The 5 year olds play together, and then boys and girls are streamed into separate teams. Some girls, however, do choose to continue to play with the boys through mini soccer. A rare few continue to play with boys in divisional soccer for as long as their strength, skill, and size permits.

Who coaches youth soccer?
The vast majority of coaches and assistant coaches are volunteers and parents of one of the kids on their team. They all share enthusiasm for community sport, and have varying levels of experience with soccer.

Does the Club offer soccer training programs?
Yes, the Club has a full-time Technical Director, Gregor Young, whose job is to help develop the Club's players. Gregor is a former member of Canada's national soccer team, and a skilled youth soccer coach. He coordinates and leads training programs for players, and for the Club coaches.

I don’t know anything about coaching soccer. Are there volunteer positions I can help with?
Absolutely! All parents are encouraged to help out the club by either coaching, or assisting with the numerous other tasks that come with organizing a soccer season for 1200 players. A few of the positions include:

• Coordinators to pull together the players for each age group.

• Team managers to distribute information, and coordinate practice, snacks, and uniforms for each team.

• Schedulers to help coordinate practices and games.

• Writers to add content to the Club website.

• And numerous volunteers to help set up the opening and closing season tournaments.

For more information, contact us at info@pointgreysoccer.ca