South Carolina
United FC
South Carolina United YMCA Questions and Answers
1. Question: Why have the Columbia YMCA and South Carolina United FC chosen to combine their recreational youth soccer programs?
Answer: More Friends. More Fun. More Soccer! Both organizations firmly believe that valuable life lessons can be taught to the children of our greater community by engaging them with one another through organized recreational youth soccer in the Columbia United YMCA Recreational Youth Soccer League (“League”).
2. Question- At what age does the League let children start playing soccer?
Answer- We will allow children to join the League at the age of 3. Some may think this is rather young but frankly many children are ready to begin at that age. We do not want to discourage anyone from participating if they think they are ready and would like to try. At our U4 level, most parents get as much exercise as their children as they help hold their hands and point them to kick the ball in the right direction!
Answer- We will allow children to join the League at the age of 3. Some may think this is rather young but frankly many children are ready to begin at that age. We do not want to discourage anyone from participating if they think they are ready and would like to try. At our U4 level, most parents get as much exercise as their children as they help hold their hands and point them to kick the ball in the right direction!
3. Question- How often do the U04, U05 and U06 teams practice and play?
Answer- These youngest teams will not have weekly practices but will play games on Saturday and occasionally on Friday nights. Games will be (4) 10-minute quarters. U06 teams however will be allowed 1 practice a week but attending such a U6 practice is certainly not required!
Answer- These youngest teams will not have weekly practices but will play games on Saturday and occasionally on Friday nights. Games will be (4) 10-minute quarters. U06 teams however will be allowed 1 practice a week but attending such a U6 practice is certainly not required!
4. Question: Do I need to provide a birth certificate for proof of age?
Answer: Yes, the first time you register with the Columbia United YMCA Soccer League you will need to mail a copy (not the original) if Columbia United or the YMCA does not have a current copy on file. You may also upload a copy during our online registration process. We apologize for the inconvenience, but must verify that all players are placed in the proper age group.
5. Question: Will the Age Groups of teams still consist of 2 ages, i.e. U07/U08 and U09/U10?
Answer: No. For the younger Age Groups, teams will be formed in single age groups. We will have Girls Teams for girls only for the U07–U14 age groups if the numbers permit and Coed Teams for boys and any girls who wish to play on those teams for the U04–U19 age groups. Please note, however, that at some venues, we may have to combine the following groups: U4/U5, U7/U8 and/or U9/U10.
|
Age Group
|
Coed
|
Girls Only
|
|
U04
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
U05
|
Yes
|
No
|
| U06 | Yes | No |
|
U07
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
U08
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
U09
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
U10
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
U12
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
U14
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
U16 (fall only)
|
Yes
|
No |
|
U19 (fall only)
|
Yes
|
No
|
6. Question: What does the “U” stand for in the phrase U08?
Answer: The “U” is short for the word “Under.” Pursuant to SCYSA registration guidelines, the playing age of a player is determined by his or her birth year. That is, effective June 1, 2016, the old August 1 cut-off date no longer applies. As such, whether your child is a true U08 versus a true U09 player for registration and team formation depends on which year your child was born. To make things simple, please see the chart below. Simply scroll down the birth year column in which your child was born until his or her birth year appears. Then look to the top row to find the season your child is registering for and go down to your child's birth year line and that is the Age Group in which your child will be registered.
The Age Groups change annually and can be found posted online at Birth Age Matrix.
7. Question: Is a player allowed to “play up” and be rostered on an older team?
Answer: Only siblings may play up 1 year if another sibling is on the older team. Additionally we will consider other requests based only upon extreme hardship situations. Also, we will permit preschool, church and elementary school teams but all players must have the same preschool, church or elementary school listed on his or her applicaton.
8. Question: What will the maximum number of players be on any team that is formed and what match format will be used?
Answer:
|
Division
|
Roster Size
|
Match Format
|
Match Time |
Ball Size
|
|
U04
|
10
|
3v3, no goalkeeper
|
8 minute quarters |
3
|
|
U05
|
8
|
3v3, no goalkeeper
|
8 minute quarters |
3
|
| U06 | 8 | 3v3, no goalkeeper | 8 minute quarters | 3 |
|
U07
|
10
|
5v5, including goalkeeper
|
12 minute quarters |
3
|
|
U08
|
10
|
5v5, including goalkeeper
|
12 minute quarters |
3
|
|
U09
|
12
|
6v6, including goalkeeper
|
25 minute halves |
4
|
|
U10
|
12
|
6v6, including goalkeeper
|
25 minute halves |
4
|
| U11 | 14 | 8v8, including goalkeeper | 30 minute halves | 4 |
|
U12
|
14
|
8v8, including goalkeeper
|
30 minute halves |
4
|
|
U13/14
|
18
|
11v11, including goalkeeper
|
35 minute halves |
5
|
| U15/16 | 18 | 11v11, including goalkeeper | 40 minute halves | 5 |
9. Question: How will limiting the number of players rostered on a team that is formed change the team selection?
Answer: The team selection will only change in terms of roster size. That is we will do our best to place players on teams they request so they can play with their friends of the same birth year. But at the same time our program is a great way to make new friends with new teammates! Also, please note that our Recreational league rules require that each child be given the opportunity to play at least 1/2 of the match and thus roster sizes are limited to 2 times the match format for the player's age group.
10. Question: Will the rules change?
Answer: All USYSA/SCYSA micro small-sided rules will be followed unless modified by the South Carolina United YMCA Soccer League. The League is an "in-house" recreational league operated by South Carolina United FC pursuant to South Carolina Youth Soccer Association guidelines. The League is open to all players who sign-up to play recreational soccer through either the Columbia YMCA or South Carolina United FC website and thereby become registered members of South Carolina United FC.
11. Question: How many players will be allowed on the field of play at any one time?
Answer: See chart above.
12. Question: Does each child get equal playing time?
Answer: According to our South Carolina United YMCA Recreational Soccer League Rules, every child must play at least half a match. Coaches will do their best to ensure that all players get equal playing time.
13. Question: What size soccer balls are used?
Answer: See chart above.
14. Question: Can we sign up to play for a specific area of town?
Answer: Yes, we have 4 Basic Community Service Areas split into 6 Community Divisions as outlined below:
- The Northwest Community serving the greater Irmo, Dutch Fork, Chapin, Ballentine, Harbison, Broad River and surrounding areas and these matches will be played at Ballentine Park and at the NorthWest YMCA located on Kennerly Road.
- The Northeast Community serving the greater Northeast Columbia, Lake Carolina, Blythewood, North Columbia, Dentsville, Arcadia Lakes, Forest Acres, Fort Jackson and surrounding areas and these matches will be played at the Polo Road Soccer Complex, and at the Jeep Rogers YMCA at Lake Carolina.
- The Downtown Community serving the greater City Center, North Main, Olympia, Waverly, Shandon, Heathwood, Rosewood, Bluff Road, Hamptons, Garner’s Ferry, Leesburg, Atlas Road, Southeast Columbia and surrounding areas and these matches will be played at Owens Field and at the Garner’s Ferry Sports Complex.
- The Lexington Community serving the greater Cayce, West Columbia, Oak Grove, Springdale, South Congaree, Red Bank, Lexington and surrounding areas and these matches will be played at the Lexington Family YMCA near I-20 and Hwy 6.
- However, please note that some U9-U19 teams may have cross-over matches played against teams from oneo or more of the other playing locations.
15. Question: Can I still request a particular coach and/or a particular team?
Answer: Yes, but there is no guarantee that your request will be honored because (a) we are limited by the size of each roster we can form for each team and (b) we want to make the teams as evenly balanced with players of the same age as possible. Again, the purpose of limiting roster sizes is to ensure that all children get a chance to play half a match and be actively involved in each match so as to get more touches on the ball, take more shots with the ball and have more fun actually playing the match! Also, please note that we will always honor a request not to be placed on a team with a particular coach.
16. Question: How can I sign up to coach?
Answer: When you register online, you will be given the opportunity to volunteer as a coach. Coaches will be required to attend an in-house training class. Once the coach has completed all required training and paperwork and his/her criminal background check has been cleared, he/she will receive a Coach’s shirt and be assigned a team.
All coaches for the South Carolina United YMCA Soccer League must also have a Coach’s certification or license. New coaches will be given a 1-year grace period to receive the certification/license requirement. Recreational coaches must have a minimum of a youth module certification or other level offered by the club's Community Soccer Officer or other staff.
17. Question: What does my son/daughter need to play soccer?
Answer: 5 “S’s”
- Shoes – Soccer cleats are not required, but are recommended for the older players. Sneakers or running shoes are acceptable. Metal cleats and/or baseball cleats are not allowed (baseball cleats have the front spike under the end of the toe, which is dangerous).
- Shin guards – Shin guards are a must. No child will be allowed to practice or play without shin guards!
- Shorts
- Soccer Ball – see chart above for proper size ball.
- Smiles
18. Question: What do I need to do to be a referee?
Answer: All referees for the South Carolina United YMCA Soccer League must be certified. The South Carolina United YMCA Soccer League will be hosting a Referee Certification Clinic to be announced soon! You may also look at http://www.scref.org for other referee clinics located throughout the state.
19. Question: Can my business still sponsor a team or teams in the new League?
Answer: Subject to (1) any exclusive sponsorship restrictions already in place and (2) our ethics and association rules prohibiting certain subject matter and content, the answer is a resounding “YES!” When you sign your child up to play, you will be given the opportunity to submit an application to sponsor a team. For your accepted sponsorship dollars, your company’s name will appear on your child’s team's goalkeeper pinnie. In the event your child’s team is already sponsored, we will place your company’s name on the uniform of another team in the League which is in need of a sponsor! Team Sponsorships for the Fall Season are available for $250 per team or $1,000 for 5 teams.
20. Question: I have heard of the “Shoe Exchange.” How does the “Shoe Exchange” work?
Answer: Before each season begins the league holds a shoe exchange at Soccer Plus (located in Diamond Point Mall on Two Notch Road). The shoes provided at the shoe exchange are used shoes that have plenty of soccer left in them. These shoes have either been given to us or traded at a previous exchange. If you come to the exchange without any shoes and find a pair your cost will be $3. If you come to the exchange with a pair of shoes and find a pair of shoes then it is an even exchange. If you come to the exchange with a pair of shoes but do not find any shoes then we will pay you $3 for the shoes.
Answer: Before each season begins the league holds a shoe exchange at Soccer Plus (located in Diamond Point Mall on Two Notch Road). The shoes provided at the shoe exchange are used shoes that have plenty of soccer left in them. These shoes have either been given to us or traded at a previous exchange. If you come to the exchange without any shoes and find a pair your cost will be $3. If you come to the exchange with a pair of shoes and find a pair of shoes then it is an even exchange. If you come to the exchange with a pair of shoes but do not find any shoes then we will pay you $3 for the shoes.
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