Q: What other soccer expenses can I anticipate this year?
A: Not included in the registration fees are the required shin guards, appropriate shoes, and a strongly recommended a practice ball. Also, each family is often requested to bring snacks for the team at one game during the season.

Q: In school, my child is with classmates who are [younger/older]. May my child “play down” in a younger division?
A: No. AYSO is a national organization that determines the player divisions based on birth dates. The new age cutoff date is December 31st of the next calendar year. AYSO’s accident and liability insurance depends on the players placed in their age appropriate divisions. Many children are in “different” divisions than their school classmates. We encourage you to view this as a positive experience – it will allow your child to broaden his/her relationships outside of school and enjoy making new friends.

Q: What should I bring to my child’s practices and games?
A: Shin guards (required), soccer shoes, a soccer ball, uniform/jersey (games only) and water.

Q: Do I have to get soccer shoes for my child to play?
A: Soccer shoes are not mandatory but are highly recommended (regular athletic shoes with no cleats are the alternative). When buying soccer shoes, they cannot have a toe cleat (baseball shoes have a toe cleat). Generally speaking, nearly all players at all age levels use soccer shoes for practices and games. We do have a Free bin near the equipment room with soccer cleats. The size you need may be available. 

Q: What size soccer ball should I get for my child?
A: Divisions U5 through U8 use a Size 3 ball. Divisions U10 and U12 use a Size 4 ball. Divisions U15 and above use a Size 5 ball.

Q: Why are the children required to wear their soccer socks over their shin guards?
A: Safety is the primary reason. Some types of shin guards are hard shell instead of soft, and may have sharp edges that could cut a player. By wearing their socks over the shin guards, players protect each other. Also, wearing the socks over the shin guards prevent the shin guards from shifting during running or when being kicked, which allow the shin guards to protect the areas they are supposed to.

Q: Is it OK for players to wear jewelry during practice and game?
A: No. Jewelry of any kind (necklaces, watches, earrings, rings, bracelets, etc.) cannot be worn during practice or games. There is an exception for Med-Alert bracelets, but they must be completely covered with tape or a soft cloth band for the safety of your child and all the other players.

Q: The doctor said that my child can play with his arm splint?
A: No. While the doctor may be representing your son’s interest appropriately, the risk to other players mandates that he limit his participation to that of moral support on the sidelines. Players may not wear casts or splints which could possibly cause injury to himself/herself or another player. NO EXCEPTIONS. This applies at the games as well as at practices.

Q: What about eyeglasses and hearing aids?
A: Glasses, hearing aids, and med-alerts may be worn to practices and games. The use of an eyeglass holder/strap or sports-glasses is recommended. As stated above, Med-Alerts must be completely covered with tape or a soft cloth band as a safety measure.

Q: It can be cold during the early morning Fall season games. Can my child wear a sweatshirt during the games?
A: Any extra articles of clothing must be worn under the uniform (so you can still determine which team a player is associated with). It is recommended that any extra articles of clothing be limited to undershirts or turtle necks (under the uniform). Try to coordinate with your team’s colors if possible. Any extra articles cannot have any zippers or any plastic/metal components of any kind.

Q: What kinds of hair accessories are acceptable?
A: Any hair accessories should not be made of metal or plastic, and should not be rigid. Soft hair accessories such as “scrunchies” and soft rubber bands are recommended and acceptable.

Q: How do I know what team my player is on?
A: You should receive an email or phone call from your coach about two weeks prior to the season start advising team number and practice dates.

Q: When is the soccer season?
A: Davison AYSO plays in the fall and in the spring - typically starting in September beginning the Saturday after Labor Day, and  for the  spring, in mid-April. Registration occurs in June for the Fall and following Spring seasons. If you missed registration, click Register Now in the upper right corner. You may still be able to register for the season, or you may go on a waiting list, depending on the timing.

Q: Can my child play on the same team as a friend?
A: Due to team balancing and fair play, the only requests honored will be for siblings.

Q: How often are practices and games?
A: Practices are usually held once a week with the time determined by your child’s coach.  Some of the older teams practice twice a week. Games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays at the Davison High School soccer fields except in the case of Interleague Play.

Q: What is Interleague Play?
A: For the older age groups (U12 and U14), we may not have enough teams to give our children opportunities to play different opponents.  In this case we work within our Area to schedule games with other AYSO Regions. Normally we play other nearby cities in the county, and this gives our children a great opportunity to play against new teams. If your team is in Interleague play, you will be expected to travel to other AYSO fields occasionally (other times they will come to our fields). The list of Regions, schedules, maps and directions can be found at www.aysoareag.org.

Q: What if I cannot make the practices?
A: Every coach is a volunteer who has freely given his time to give kids an opportunity to enjoy soccer.  Coaches set practice times based on their schedule.  If you cannot make a practice, please inform your coach ahead of time if possible. If the time does not work within your schedule, you may seek out another coach and practice with another team (though you still play for your original coach). You could also ask the coach for a list of drills that your child may be able to work on at home. Playing time is not determined by practice attendance.

Q: How much playing time should my child receive?
A: AYSO philosophy states that everyone plays.  Playing time should be equal as possible. No child should sit out more than once until every child has sat out once. However, if everyone has sat out once, and there is a need to sit someone a second time the coach may choose which child sits the second time. Everyone must again take turns sitting out.  No matter how skilled, every child must take a turn sitting out. If a child leaves the game temporarily due to injury, the coach can try to make up the playing time to the child but is not obligated to.

Q: When are games canceled?
A: Rain alone does not cancel games. Cold does not cancel games. Usually, severe weather warnings, lightning, and flooding of the fields can cancel games.  If there is lightning, or thunder we cannot allow players on the field until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike or thunder.

Q: Where is our referee?
A: We make every attempt to have a referee for every game for U10, U12, and U14. If you are missing a referee, your coach can locate a board member at the fields and we can try to get someone to fill in for that game. In the event that we cannot get someone to referee the game, we ask the coaches to referee the game with each coach refereeing half of the game. Please remember that our referees are unpaid volunteers and we make every attempt to insure your child gets to play in a safe, fair game.

Q: What about uniform colors?
A: Starting Fall 2019 Maroon is wean by the Home Team and Gray is wean by the Away Team

Q: I haven’t heard from my coach?
A: Coaches have a meeting about 3 weeks before the start of both fall season and spring season. So if you don’t hear from someone shortly after please contact us at [email protected]