POLICIES AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
START OF SEASON / TIME
When Does the Season Start?
We operate on a two-season year - Spring and Fall. We have 2 practices and 11 games scheduled for the Spring 2024 Season. The first practice meet is on Sat., April 20th at 9:30 a.m. The season ends on Sat. June 8th.
At the end of the season a snack is tentatively planned.
Where Do The Games Take Place at and What Time?
Our games are played on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m at Lake Point Community Church in Oxford. A map is provided on this website or at Lake Point Community Church's website at http://www.lakepointcc.org.
All games and practices last approximately one hour except for the first two practices, which usually last one and a half to two hours.
Do I Need To Arrive Early?
We start each game with roll-call, circle time, prayer and possibly announcements. Please arrive promptly and have your children go directly to their assigned field.
LOCATION
Where Do You Play At?
We will be playing this season at Lake Point Community Church in Oxford. A map to Lake Point Community Church is available on this website or at their website at https://lakepointcc.org/contact-us/#location
/locations.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Who Do I Contact If I Have Additional Questions?
Please click on the "Contact Us" tab found on this website and complete the requested information. Someone will be in touch with you shortly.
VOLUNTEERING
Is It Required That I Volunteer to Help?
As a strictly volunteer run group, our success depends on active parental involvement. As such, we ask that all families volunteer and be either part of our coaching staff or choose one of our other volunteer positions. We realize that there are situations in which a parent is not able to such as a mother with very young children. If you have a special circumstance, please talk to us; we can usually work things out.
We do our best to NOT make the volunteer work burdensome, overwhelming, or time consuming. We try to distribute the tasks that need to be done among various volunteers so that each task that needs to be completed is small and parents will have time to sit back and relax, watch their kids play, and meet other families. Often if a volunteer is absent or running late to the field, someone will step in to help. As a family oriented league, everyone works together.
Is It Required That I Volunteer to Coach?
All families are encouraged to offer to coach, except mothers with children U4 or below - whether the tykes play soccer or not (but maybe dad could sign up?). We have up to 7 age divisions playing and each division requires up to 4 coaches. If you have any special circumstances, please talk to us; we can usually work things out.
Can I Choose Which Team I Want to Volunteer For?
We make every attempt to assign coaches to the age division and team of your choice. Most likely you will be able to coach on your child's own team. Rules are provided for new coaches and we try to place them opposite experienced coaches. Our Head Coach is also available to answer questions. Co-coaching with another parent is possible if you cannot make both Tuesdays and Saturdays, but please coach both days if you can. We are usually short of Tuesday coaches, so we need moms to coach as well as dads! Teams with no assigned coaches will not play.
What Volunteer Options Are Available?
Coaching Staff Positions
Coach
Involves organizing and leading the kids during practices and games.
● We deeply appreciate as much help as possible with coaching from moms/dads. We have up to 7 age divisions playing and each division requires up to 4 coaches.
● We will make every attempt to assign Coaches to the age division and team of your choice. Most likely you will be able to Coach on your child’s own team.
● Co-coaching with another parent works well if you cannot make both Tuesdays and Saturdays but please coach both days if possible. We are usually short of Tuesday Coaches.
● Depending upon your soccer experience, you will be either assigned as an Assistant Coach or Main Coach
● Training material is provided for new Coaches and we will try to place them opposite of experienced coaches.
● Background Checks - All coaches must submit a mandatory Background Check. This is needed in order to obtain a Certificate of Insurance which is required by the church, Coaches will be given a form to complete and turn back in for processing.
Head Coach
Must have soccer experience and know the rules. Will help train, assist, & guide other Coaches as needed; act as a substitute Coach; and offer guidance to Board Members on coaching related matters. Maybe rotating to different fields every time we meet. Either a part-time or full-time volunteer position. ie Tuesday only, Sat. only, or both days
Team Admin
No soccer experience is needed. A Team Admin is needed for each age division. Will make sure all equipment has been placed on the team field (cones, nets, pinnies...) by Field Manager/Field Team Using Team Roster, keep track of player attendance on field in order to help ensure there are enough players for the game, work with and communicate with Team Coaches, and monitor any field problems. This position can be full-time (1 volunteer needed) or part-time i.e. on Tuesdays only, or Saturday only. (2 volunteers needed) Please arrive 15 minutes early.
**Please Note: There are Field Volunteers that are in charge of placing the Nets and Cones on each individual field. Team Admin will be in charge of verifying that they have in fact been placed on the Team field, and assist in collecting and returning the pinnie basket and Team Roster to Field Manager.
**The Team Admin helps oversee only one particular team field (ie U4, U6, U8… and makes sure everything is running smoothly on that particular field. This will help make the Coaches job easier and allow them to focus on organizing and preparing for the practice/game and working with other Team Coaches and Team Players.
Field Set-Up Volunteer Positions (Tues. & Sat.)
Net Placement/Goal Stake Pounders
Please be 15 minutes early to set up the field for a particular age division that you will be assigned to.
Cone Placement
Please be 15 minutes early to set-up the field for a particular age division that you will be assigned to.
Other Field Volunteer Positions (Non Weekly)
Field Painter
Paint fields. One person (family) is needed to stripe the fields. It needs to be painted when we are not playing. We supply the equipment & paint.
Goal Repair
One person is needed to fix the nets to the best of your ability. We supply the material.
Non Field Volunteer Positions
- Board Member - Help with the decision making process and provide assistance on the field
- Prayer Leader - When needed, lead group Prayer for an individual field (Please arrive on time)
There may be other areas where you can volunteer and offer assistance other than the specific Volunteer positions that are listed on the Registration Form. We have had families in the past that had seen a need or found a way to help.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Is a Background Check Required?
Yes, they are mandatory. This is not our idea. This is needed in order to obtain a Certificate of Insurance which is required by the church. Coaches will be given a form to complete and turn back in for processing.
HOW TO JOIN / REGISTRATION
What Do I Need to Do to Join?
Registration is a 3 Step Process
Step 1 of the Process -
1) complete the Registration Form (available on-line)
2) sign the Acknowledgment Form stating that you have received and reviewed our MFYSL Handbook for the 2024 Season.
These documents will then need to be sent to us for processing and you will then move onto Step 2 of the process.
Detailed instructions on the Registration Process can be found in the Handbook.
Will Someone Be Contacting Me after I Register?
Yes, you will be contacted by the MFYSL Coordinator as you move through the 3 Step Process.
Who Should the Check Be Made Payable to and Where Should They Be Mailed?
Make checks payable to MFYSL
Mail to MFYSL
3033 Lessiter Dr.
Lake Orion, MI 48360
Can Payment Be Made On-Line?
Yes, please contact us for payment options.
COST/PAYMENT DEADLINE
How Much Does It Cost To Join?
The payment due is $35 (during the regular Registration period) for the first child, $16 for the second child, and $12 for each additional child.
*** Due to the need for Coaches (depending upon the age division, up to 4 coaches are needed per team), all Coaching Staff volunteers will receive a special discounted registration rate of $25 for first player regardless of when they register.
(In effort to show our appreciation for the work Coaches do each time we meet, MFYSL will also cover Coaches Background Check fee and part of the cost for the Coaches shirt).
Dues will be collected each season. We have two seasons per year, Spring and Fall.
What Date Must Registration and Payment Be Made By?
In order to receive the reduced registration rate of $25 for first player only (Early Registration), Registration Forms, and Payment must be received on or before February 24th. After February 24th but on or before April 6th - $35 Registration fee for First Player only. There is a fee for each additional player. If registering after April 6th - $45 fee for first player only. There is a fee for each additional player. (Late Registration)
REFUNDS
Do You Issue Refunds?
Yes. The amount of the refund is dependent upon when the request is made.
EQUIPMENT / JEWELRY
What Equipment Does My Child Need?
Each child will need to bring shin-guards to every practice and game!! The students will not be allowed to play without shin-guards.
Bring water bottles, with their names on them, to every game.
Regular running shoes are fine, soccer shoes are acceptable but not required. No cleats.
Each child needs a soccer ball with the child's name on it. Sizes are as follows:
Lower Division
U4 and U6: Size #3 (Ages 3, 4, 5, 6)
U-8, U-10: Size #4 (Ages 7, 8, 9, 10)
Middle - Upper Division
(Ages 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19): Size #5
Can My Child Wear Jewelry?
Please have your child remove jewelry before playing (earrings, necklaces, watches, bracelets, etc.)
AGE LIMITATIONS
Is There An Age Limit?
For insurance reasons, students over the age of 19 are no longer eligible, but are encouraged to coach (See the Registration Form for age ranges).
TEAM PLACEMENT
How Will I Know Which Team My Child Is On?
You will be contacted by the league or your child's coach prior to the first practice letting you know what team your child is on.
How are Teams Assigned?
Teams will be assigned solely on the basis of creating evenly-matched teams, i.e. some strong players and some beginners on each team, and roughly equal boys and girls.
Can I Request That My Child Be Placed On a Particular Team So They Can Be With Another Teammate?
No, please do not make special requests for teammates. Teams will be assigned solely on the basis of creating evenly-matched teams, i.e., some strong players and some beginners on each team, and roughly equal boys and girls.
How Many Players Per Field?
We are limited by the amount of space available for fields, therefore we operate on a first come first serve basis.
DROPPING OFF CHILD and MEDICAL RELEASE FORM
Can I Drop off My Child?
No, parents are expected to remain on the church property with their students. Occasionally, when a parent must leave, we need two things: 1) Please designate an adult to supervise your student/s and let your student/s know who that is. 2) WE MUST have a valid Medical Release. Forms are available on the website and at the front of the field on game day and are good for two reasons. Frequent absence is considered an abuse, including if your student can drive themselves to games. Students will be removed from play if parents are absent without a signed Medical Release Form.
Exceptions are made for Teenagers that drive themselves to the field. A parent does not need to be on the church property. They will however need a completed and signed Medical Release Form.
INSURANCE
Do You Have Insurance?
Yes, we are fully insured.
It should be noted that our insurance is a secondary policy with a relatively high deductible and only kicks in after our personal insurance is exhausted.
WEATHER
What if the Weather is Bad?
Games are played rain or shine unless there is lightening. Further details concerning our weather policy can be found in our Handbook