Recreation
Program
Frequently Asked Questions
| Recreation
Program | Age
Chart | Referees
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| Competitive
Program FAQ |
1. Should my
child play Competitive soccer (Express) or Recreational soccer?
2. When does the season begin?
3. When do I register?
4. How much does it cost?
5. Can I get a refund?
6. When will I hear from the coach?
7. When & where do the teams
practice?
8. How are the teams formed?
9. Can they
play with their friends?
10. Do they keep score and are
there standings?
11. Do they get uniforms?
12. Where are the games played?
13. What size ball do I need,
how many players on each team, and how long are the games?
14. Are the coaches trained?
15. Can I specify on which
team I want my child to play?
16. Are there co-ed teams?
17. Is there post season
play?
18. Who are the referees?
19. How can I become a referee?
20. Can I sponsor my child's
team?
21. What is KICK START?
1. Should my child play
Competitive soccer (Express) or Recreational soccer?
Competitive soccer (also known as Club or Travel Soccer in some areas) is designed for the higher-skilled, more dedicated soccer player. Encinitas Soccer League's competitive teams are known as Encinitas Express. There is a professional coach for every team and teams are formed through try-outs. The level of play is higher with the competitive teams, but the costs and time commitments are higher as well. The competitive teams participate in pre- and post-season tournaments (beginning in June) and their league season starts in mid-August. Kids who live and breathe soccer can begin playing competitive soccer at age 7 (U8’s). More children will try competitive soccer at 8 and 9. Children who begin playing at these age groups will find that their skills and abilities will advance very quickly. Making the switch from rec to competitive gets more difficult with age, as the rec player falls farther behind the learning curve. While there is no optimum time to make the switch to competitive, children from ages 7 thru 10 will find the transition easier than older players.
In contrast to competitive soccer, no child is ever “cut” from our recreational program. There are no try-outs and ALL children will play at least 50% of the time during the course of the season. The rec games are usually played in or near Encinitas (we “game” with Solana Beach and Cardiff in Divisions 4 thru 6, Division 1 thru 3 will play throughout North County as there are fewer teams for the older age groups). The coaches are volunteers (generally parents) who have gone through a licensing workshop and risk management. Recreational teams may play in the Commissioner’s Cup tournament after the regular season which lasts from mid-August (the beginning of practice) to the last weekend before Thanksgiving.
2. When does the season begin?
The Encinitas Soccer League (ESL) Rec Soccer season normally begins the first Saturday following Labor Day and continues through the last weekend before Thanksgiving. The games are on Saturdays, with earliest games starting at 8:00 . Team practices begin in mid-August.
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3. When do I register?
Registration is in March and April, We have walk-in registration in March (watch this website for details). We distribute registration dates by mail and through the public schools. After walk-in registration has been completed, registration forms can be picked up at Soccer Fanatic and Postal Annex beginning April 1st.
Mail-in registration is an additional $15-THRU April ...$25 thru May.
Registration officially closes April 30. Late applicants ( April 30th) are placed on a waiting list. We are generally able to place a majority of those on the waiting list. If a child cannot be placed, a full refund will be provided..
4. How much does it cost?
FEES FOR WALK-IN REGISTRATION: $150
Deduct $25 for the 3rd family member (and any subsequent family member).
FEES FOR MAIL-IN REGISTRATION (April 1st – 30th) are $165
FEES FOR MAIL-IN REGISTRATION (May 1st or later) are $175
These prices include a uniform (shirt, shorts and socks), a basic photo package, Kick Start skills clinics and a trophy.
5. Can I get a refund?
Our refund policy is as follows:
From date of registration thru May 31st: 90% refund.
June 1st through Aug 31st: 50% refund.
September 1st or later: 0% refund.
This policy applies to all players unless withdrawal from ESL is due to illness, injury or an unusual event (with the approval of the ESL Executive Board). ALL refund requests must be made in writing and submitted to the ESL Executive Board for individual consideration within the prescribed time period or they cannot be accepted or considered. Send written requests to:
204 N. El Camino Real
PMB 225
Encinitas Ca 92024
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6. When will I hear from the
coach?
The teams are generally formed by June 15, but practices do not begin until mid-August with the start of the elementary school year. Coaches will contact their players some time during the summer. Some coaches do it earlier than others, but if you signed up before April 30, you will be placed on a team (assuming we can identify sufficient coaches).
7. When & where do the teams
practice?
Teams practice twice a week, either M-W or T-Th. Practices are generally an hour long. The coaches determine what time, place and days work best for them. Since coaches are at a premium (we need about 180 to 200 coaches every season - including assistant coaches), the practice schedules are set up around the coach’s schedule. However, practices normally start at 3:30 , 4:30 or 5:30 as most of our practice fields lack lights. ESL practices at Encinitas schools for the most part. Park Dale Lane , Flora Vista , Olivenhain Pioneer, Ocean Knoll, Oakcrest and Capri are our most used practice fields.
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8. How are the teams formed?
In the younger divisions (Under-10 and below), we try and form the teams around neighborhoods and schools. We strive for competitive balance in the older divisions (Under-12 and above) while still attempting to give the teams a neighborhood component. The neighborhood aspect is important for two reasons. One, rec soccer is social. School-based teams help families bond and can make the overall experience more fun. Two, our practice fields are scattered throughout the city. We like to avoid sending kids (and the parents that transport them) from OPE to practice at Capri and vice versa.
9. Can they play with their
friends?
A request can be made at time of registration, but we cannot guarantee that it will be honored. We try to comply with any requests we receive, but it is not always possible - especially in the older divisions. Youth sports are one way that children meet others from outside their immediate neighborhood. This may seem like a contradiction from answer 8 (above), but sometimes the number of players registered force us to form teams using several schools. Teams are like sausage, sometimes it’s best not to know how they’re made.
10. Do they keep score and are
there standings?
There are no formal standings at any level of play nor any league playoffs. Somehow, though, everyone knows the score and their team’s record. Our goal is no blow outs. Teams should not be winning (or losing) 7 – 0. There are many effective ways to keep games competitive and our coaches are encouraged to keep the game within a four-goal margin.
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11. Do they get uniforms?
A jersey, shorts and socks are provided by the league and are the player’s to keep. Players need to provide a ball, shin guards and soccer cleats (baseball or football cleats that have a toe cleat are not allowed). Soccer Post, Sports Authority, Play It Again Sports will have packages for younger players that will include everything they need to get started.
12. Where are the games played?
The games are played throughout Encinitas, Cardiff and Solana Beach in Divisions 4 - 6. Divisions 1 - 3 will play throughout North County. Elementary schools provide most of our fields. The fields are all marked and have goals with nets.
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