Penfield Rangers Soccer Club

Our fee structure is re-evaluated every year, and can vary.  For the 2009-2010 season, the player registration fee is $375 per player for players on teams U9 through U17.  The fee for U8 is $300 (with one tournament stipend given), and the fee for U19 is $225. There is a multiple player family discount available: $375 for first player, $350 for the second player, $325 for third player, $300 for fourth player within each family. This covers the cost of uniforms, league registration, player insurance, tournament play where appropriate, referee fees, field fees, and all club administration expenses. 

Immediately upon selection for a team, you must do the following. No player will be placed on a team until their medical release and a copy of their birth certificate is supplied.

1. Pay the Penfield Rangers Soccer Club registration fee (checks made out to Penfield Rangers Soccer Club). 
2. Provide a recent photograph of the player, no larger than 1 inch x 1 inch in size.
3. Read and sign the Parent Zero Tolerance Form.
4. Complete the Risk Management Form (only required for adults who are volunteering in some capacity to assist the club).
5. Deliver the above items to your son’s Team Manager within 1 week of being selected for a team.

NOTE: Forms can be downloaded from the FORMS page.

If in doubt, go larger. Children grow and uniforms are not returnable. Loose clothing allows heat to escape.

Children are growing and last year’s shorts/socks may not fit. It is virtually impossible to ensure each child on a team will have a unique number if uniforms are recycled. Therefore, the club policy is to not recycle uniforms. We have found from experience that the players look forward to new uniforms each year.

September through March: Participation in Ranger practices, games, tournaments, and leagues is optional. However, active participation is strongly recommended in order for the player and team to develop to its fullest potential.

April through End of Season: It is expected that each player will be able to commit to 3 to 4 days per week (covering games and practices). For tournament weeks, the commitment may be higher. Typically teams play 2-3 weekend tournaments during the outdoor season.

Interscholastic sports take priority over club practice and games, but every effort must be made to avoid conflict.

During the outdoor season, players are expected to be available for games and practices FOR THE FULL SEASON (April through July). If a player expects to have conflicting sports or activities that may cause him to miss significant numbers of games and practices, then travel soccer may not be appropriate for him. Where conflicts exist, we expect the player to plan a schedule in advance with his soccer coach to attend at least fifty percent of the Rangers games and practices. Consistent unannounced absenteeism will result in loss of playing time.

Be at games and practices on time. It’s not fair to the rest of the team if someone is consistently late. Consistent tardiness will likely result in lost playing time.

What is the Kicks for Kids Tournament? Annually, the Penfield Rangers sponsor a friendly, single day charity tournament for a community based benefit organization. Each team in the Penfield Rangers Soccer Club is expected to support this tournament by participating in some or all of the following activities. · Inviting a local travel team to play against in a friendly match at the tournament.  · Solicit prizes for the raffle from local business. · Assist with planning and coordination of the tournament.

Final outdoor schedules become available from the RDYSL in late April or early May. Behavior Expectations? Players are expected to come to practices and games ready to focus on soccer. Respect to their teammates and their coaches is important.

Soccer shoes/turf shoes provide safe traction on damp grass and are highly recommended. Cleats should be molded plastic or rubber. Metal or hard plastic cleats are not permitted. All children MUST have SHINGUARDS or they will NOT be permitted to play or practice.

It is recommended that your child should have plastic lenses or ‘sport’ high-impact glasses with retaining straps.

Mouth guards are not required but are recommended for all children. Many area dentists provide custom mouth guards for free or at cost in a variety of bright colors. Off-the-shelf mouth guards may also be used.

Jewelry is not permitted at practices or games for safety reasons. If Medic Alert or religious necklaces must be worn, they must be taped down to the skin before the practice or games.

Players must bring a water bottle (with cold water or Gatorade, not soda) to games and practices. All children MUST bring a ball of their own to indoor and outdoor practices.

Only knit caps are permissible. Baseball caps are not permitted at any time. What other equipment will I need? Children must bring a water bottle (with cold water or Gatorade, not soda) to games and practices. All children MUST bring a ball of their own to outdoor practices. Balls will be provided for indoor practices.

Age 10-12: Size 4 Age 13 and older: Size 5

Play-Up is a sensitive issue to parents, players and Clubs. Because of this it is important

that everyone involved follows the play-up process exactly as stated. The Club must

show they follow a consistent and documented process. There are two situations that may

be considered for Penfield Rangers players who want to play up.

1. Grade Appropriate: Players born between August 1 and December 1 are in the

same grade as players born between January 1 and July 31 of the same year.

2. Exceptional Player: Highly skilled player who may be more challenged at a

higher level.

Guidelines for playing-up:

1. The Exceptional Player:

a. Only players U13 and up will be allowed to request to “play-up” in the

exceptional player category.

b. Players can only play up a single year higher than their defined age group.

c. A written request to “play-up” must be submitted to the Club Registrar at

least 2 weeks before tryouts. Letters received within the last two weeks

before tryouts may result in denying a request to play up.

d. Players requesting to play-up must attend all tryouts for both their age

appropriate team and the team they are trying to play on to. If a tryout is

missed the player will not be considered for the play up request.

e. At tryouts the player must be ranked within the top 25% (top 5) of the top

18 players on the highest-level team fielded in the older age group.

f. Following the tryouts, the coaches from both age groups must consult and

provide their recommendations to the Club President, who will then

review them with the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will

provide the final vote for approval of all play up requests. The vote can be

handled via email so a team can set their roster in a more timely manner.

g. Players can only play up, as an exceptional player, on the top level team in

an age group

.

h. If the player makes the older team it only ensures that player a roster spot

on that team for that season. The process must be followed each season.

2. The Grade Appropriate Player:

a. A player at any age group may request to play up in the “grade

appropriate” category.

b. A written request to “play-up” must be submitted to the Club Registrar at

least 2 weeks before tryouts. Letters received within the last two weeks

before tryouts may result in denying a request to play up.

Team managers will contact parents to arrange for snacks after practices and/or games. It is up to the individual teams to determine type and frequency of snacks. Popsicles or other cold treats are the best bet. Please ensure all trash is picked up following the practice or game.

Our governing bodies, US Youth Soccer, NYSWYSA, and RDYSL, determine the age cut-off dates. We are obligated to abide by those rules to ensure that teams from all areas operate consistently. The club evaluates players according to demonstrated skill levels at the tryouts. Players are placed on teams according to those evaluations.

The club does not provide medical service. Coaching and other services are provided by volunteers, not licensed providers. In case of a medical event, our volunteers are instructed to call 911 for trained medical providers.

Limited coverage is provided for registered players and volunteers by the New York West Youth Soccer Association (NYSWYSA). For details of the coverage provided, please check the NYSWYSA web site at www.nyswysa.org.

Portable toilets are provided at some sites, but not all.

Coaches determine if practice is cancelled. Referees determine if games are cancelled. Games that are stopped at halftime or later are not re-scheduled. In these instances, the score at the time of cancellation stands. Lightning will stop play, but games may be re-started if lightning has not been seen for 20 minutes. Parents, of course, may withdraw their child from play if they are uncomfortable with safety issues. Soccer is traditionally played under fairly poor conditions including rain, cold, snow, and wind so be prepared or plan to wait it out in the car!

Be a good sport. Set an example for the children. Many of the referees, especially for the younger age groups are new, still learning the ropes and are doing their best. Spectators are encouraged to watch the games but are NOT permitted to "participate" by making negative comments to anyone at any time. This is considered verbal abuse and will not be tolerated. Such activity will result in ejection of the offender and/or forfeit of the game.

Positive comments (e.g. Great play, good hustle, etc.) are terrific motivators for players. Please refrain from providing tactical directions to players. It distracts the players, and you may be giving them directions that conflict with what the coach wants them to do.

RDYSL rules require that the team and it’s associated parents/fans, be on one side of the field, while the opposing team and their parents/fans are on the opposite side of the field. This rule is designed to keep the opposing parents separated. During the game, please do not sit right next to your son’s team. And, please do not call him over to you during the game or during play stoppage. This distracts the players and makes it difficult for the coach to work with his team. Neither parents or coaches can be stationed at numerous points around the field to coach their players.

Field cleanliness and maintenance is everyone's responsibility.. Pick up trash on your way off the fields.

Tasks are shared by the schools and towns free-of-charge. As we use more fields in other areas of town each year the task grows. Everyone is doing their best.

Once late registration ends, rosters are sent to New York State West Youth Soccer Association and closed. There are no late entries or substitutions allowed for teams. No un-registered and un-insured participation is allowed. If you cannot attend the majority of practices and games, please re-consider your registration.

The club sponsors "picture day" when all players are offered the opportunity to have pictures taken. Team photographs are also taken at this time. No one is required to purchase pictures but please come to the photo session so that a complete team picture can be taken. Picture day will be announced. Parents are encouraged to take action photographs during practices and games. Of course, please use care so as not to disrupt the team or the game.

All of our coaches, managers, board members, etc. are volunteers. The club has many opportunities for additional volunteers. And, we can really use the assistance! Tasks needing attending to include equipment manager, maintaining and replenishing first aid kits, helping to coordinate our annual Kicks for Kids Tournament, making copies of information to be distributed, among many other things. Please let us know if you are able to assist in any way.