Frequently Asked Questions (in general)
Please scroll down for FAQs specific to In-Town and Travel programs.
Why do I register for Fall soccer in April when Spring games have just begun?
Travel assessments are held annually in early May for team placement in the Fall season. Fall registration begins in mid April because all travel players must be registered prior to assessments. In-town players have the opportunity to register in April for the upcoming Fall season, but can wait until mid June to register (before late fees apply).
Does ASA have a safety policy?
Please click here to view our safety policy.
Who do I notify if my child decides not to play soccer and I need a refund?
In-town registration fees can be refunded prior to the second game. The amount refunded will be equal to the registration fee less all ASA expenses (insurance, field use fees, etc.). After the second game, no refunds will be provided unless there are extenuating circumstances. Late fees are non-refundable. If teams are formed, please notify your coach, the age group coordinator, and the registrar if your child is withdrawing from soccer and requesting a refund.
There are no refunds for travel registration fees after January 1st for the Spring season. There are no refunds for travel registration fees after July 1st for the Fall season. Prior to these dates, refunds will be equal to the registration fee less all ASA expenses (insurance, field use fees, etc.) Late fees are non-refundable. If teams are formed, please notify your coach, the travel director, and the registrar if your child is withdrawing from soccer and requesting a refund.
What size soccer ball does my child need?
U7 and U8: Size 3 Ball
U9, U10, U12: Size 4 Ball
U13 – Up: Size 5 Ball
I just bought tickets to an ASA event. How do I get my tickets?
You will be notified when ASA has received the tickets. Typically tickets are held at a board member’s house for pickup.
I think I can apply for a reimbursement for a training session, licensing or tournament. What is the procedure?
All license fees are 100% reimbursable through ASA – no cost for any ASA coaches! For reimbursement on training, licenses or tournaments, please forward the following to raylarney@comcast.net
Name
Address
Phone Number
Receipt
Proof of completion
In-Town Soccer FAQs
My child is interested in soccer. How many games are there? What is the time commitment?
In-town players practice once per week (depending on age, range from 1 hour to 1 ½ hours per practice) with weekly games on Saturdays. The first game in the Fall season typically starts the Saturday after school begins and ends in early November. The Spring season typically begins early/mid April and ends in mid June.
Can my 4 (or 5) year old play soccer?
Andover Soccer is available to players in 1st grade and older. Town of Andover Department of Community Services (DCS) offers soccer for younger players. Please visit www.andoverma.gov for their recent catalog.
Our family does not live in Andover, but my child attends private school in Andover. Can he/she play soccer with ASA?
Non-residents who attend schools in Andover, as well as children of Andover teachers, are welcome to play soccer with ASA.
I would like to volunteer to coach/assistant coach. How do I register?
ASA is a volunteer organization and all help is greatly appreciated. When registering your player, in the Guardian Information section, you will have the opportunity to volunteer. Click the appropriate position you wish to volunteer for. If you are already set up in the system, you do not need to do anything else. You will be contacted by the age group coordinator when teams are formed. If you are not in the system, you will receive an email from the registrar requesting your date of birth and given instructions to complete the required CORI form.
Can I request a specific coach or to have my child placed on a team with a friend?
ASA cannot honor requests for specific coaches or team placement. We honor all documented religious and medical conflicts and do our best with carpooling requests, but we cannot satisfy every schedule request.
Can I request to have my child placed on a team with other players from the same school?
One of the factors used for building the in-town teams is based on the school the child is enrolled at. Each team usually includes several players from 2 or 3 schools so that there will be some familiar faces and also the opportunity to make new friends.
Why is my child on a different team/have a different coach than last season?
Rosters are changed each year. Competitive balance is critical to the goal of a fun and safe development within the leagues. Players should have the opportunity to experience many coaches by playing under different coaching styles, as well as meet new players and make new friends.
Do I need to purchase a new shirt for my in-town player each season?
All in-town players wear gold or white to games and can wear the same shirt every season. Parents do not have to buy new uniforms. Players may also wear hand-me-down shirts, vintage ASA shirts, etc.
I went to Athletes Corner to pick up a shirt. My name is not on the reserve list. How do I get a shirt?
Shirts will be preordered and reserved for you at Athletes Corner only if you selected a shirt size AND paid for the uniform at the time of registration. If you register after the regular registration period, the preorder shirt option may not be offered. When the shipment has arrived, you will receive an email reminder that shirts are ready for pick-up.
If you did not preorder shirts, you may purchase from inventory available at Athletes Corner.
What clothing and supplies are needed for games and practices for my In-Town player?
- Shinguards – must have to play or practice
- Soccer Socks: Intown players can wear any color or style
- One pair of game shirts- white and gold
- Soccer Cleats are not required, but suggested
- Mouth Guards are recommended
- Personal Water bottles – labeled with name
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Jewelry of any kind (including watches) may not be worn during games or practices, except for Medic-Alert bracelets.
Travel Soccer FAQs
What are expectations of parents and players when playing Travel soccer?
Click here for expections.
How much do travel uniforms cost?
Travel uniforms (usually shirt, shorts, socks, and practice shirt) are included in the travel registration fee. New uniforms are issued every September to be used for the current Fall and upcoming Spring season. New players registering for Spring only will be issued new uniforms in April.
Do I need to select a uniform size for my travel player if the current uniform still fits?
Yes. Travel team rosters change from year to year and new uniforms are issued to ensure that players do not wear duplicate uniform numbers. Occasionally, uniform styles are discontinued by the manufacturer and ASA is not able to purchase the same uniforms for new players so styles may change from year to year.
U11 Travel FAQ’s – updated 10/14/09
These questions have been built based upon questions submitted via email as well as commonly asked questions within the community.
Why is ASA trying U11 travel this Spring?
A variety of reasons outlined below.
Numbers
Boys soccer in Andover has been dropping in total volume of participants almost every year while the school age population of boys per the Andover School board has actually increased. With the growth of lacrosse and continued strength of baseball for boys in particular - ASA boys spring soccer has had to morph to a 4th/5th/6th grade intown league for the last three springs.
The numbers tell the story a big part of the story:
- 4 v 4 - Fall 08 boys U7 - 135 w/14 teams; Spring 09 - 71; 8 teams
- 4 v 4 -Fall 08 boys U8 - 119 w/12 teams ; Spring 09 - 43; 6 teams
- 5 v 5 - Fall 08 boys U9 - 135 w/14 teams; Spring 09 - 51; 6 teams
- 6 v 6 Fall 08 boys U10 - 89 w/ 8 team ; Spring 09 - 55 combined with U12
- 8 v 8 Fall 08 boys U12 – 98 w/8 team; Spring 09 – 65; total of 120 combined versus fall of 187; total of 12 teams
Although the numbers are not as dramatic in the girls groups, there is a decrease in both U10 and U12 going into the spring.
Our size of the town and pool of players has allowed us to not have 5th grade travel many years, but to be clear, it existed in Andover before, from approximately 1991 to 1999.
Andover is the ONLY town in Essex Cty today that DOES not have our 5th graders eligible to play travel. Many towns in ECYSA have their 4th graders playing travel due to a lack of players and interest in the spring.
Why not do this just for the boys – that is where the numbers are so different?
The ASA board voted based upon input by parents and board members. It was said by a number of people – that providing a spring travel option only for the boys and not for the girls would be unfair. After consultation with other soccer governing bodies including Mass Youth and ECYSA, a boys-only U11 pilot soccer program could be considered providing preferential/different treatment for the boys league, and open ASA to a legal challenge.
Is this mandatory?
No, there will be intown soccer for U12 players include 6th graders whom chose to play intown, for both boys and girls. There is no requirement that you chose travel soccer.
Will there be U11 travel in the fall?
That has not yet been decided and will not be determined until May 2010.
Why?
ASA wants to see the success and or failure of the spring 2010 program, including participation, field impact, and impact on the intown leagues.
Our goal is to not reduce the number of playing opportunities but instead, increase choices.
What is travel soccer for U11?
Andover participates in the Essex County Youth Soccer Assoc. (ECYSA). This league promotes an 8 or 9 game schedule each spring – depending upon the calendar being voted on in November.
4 home games in Andover, and 4 away games in Essex County. Games are played on Saturdays – just like intown soccer.
There are 3 divisions – D1, D2, and D3. As 5th graders – our teams would be playing in the U12 age group, and would be placed based upon competitive placement into the appropriate division, most being placed in D2 or D3.
Lots of details are on this website and the ECYSA site – www.ecysa2.org
Do I need to play travel this spring to participate in the Fall travel program?
No.
Why are the 5th graders being kept together?
The current teams have been in place since July 2009. It would be unfair and close to impossible to insert players into these teams without causing significant disruption.
Is the cost different for travel vs. intown?
Yes – due to uniform costs and ECYSA fees – there is a difference in cost.
Do I need to attend evaluations?
No – if you do not attend but still want to play travel soccer, ASA will place you onto a D3 team. If you want to be considered for a D2 team, you must attend evaluations
Why is there only one night this fall but Spring has 2 nights?
Because evaluations are happening indoors, the risk of weather is eliminated.
ASA may hold one additional evaluation on a weekend as a catch-all for any players whom are unable to attend due to pre-existing conflicts.
Why did we not get more advanced notice for evaluations?
Securing turf time was not easy. We had to see when Sportsworld would open if at all. Everyone knew it was going to be late Oct, early Nov. We are also looking at an outdoor tryout in November on the HS turf field
Why not grass tryouts?
There are no lit grass fields that we have access to in Andover and there was little interest for Sunday tryouts.
What other data points are you considering for the spring teams?
All U12 coaches will be asked to submit player evaluations for the committees to review. These must be submitted by 11/1.
Are you viewing games?
ASA will few some games on 10/31 and 11/7 for additional data points if necessary. Same as with the spring evaluations – not every player is seen in the spring games.
What if my son or daughter plays club or outside of town?
Please note that on your registration submittal.
How many teams will be formed?
It is unclear until registration occurs. We know that in particular – the boys group may be impacted by players who choose to remain intown so that they can participate in baseball. You can do travel and baseball, but you would be potentially missing games as both sports play on Saturdays.