FORT LOWELL SOCCER CLUB COMPETITIVE PROGRAM
Our Competitive Program is designed to further the development of players in Fort Lowell and in Tucson. It is meant to teach and challenge players in each age group.
PLAYER SELECTION
Players will be selected for the team through an open tryout process. The age group head coach, age group assistant coach, and other coaches as approved and selected by the Board of Directors will select players. Although all coaches in the selection process gives input in the selection, the age group head coach has the final decision on the players selected.
Tryout dates will occur on or after the last TUSD day of classes. The format for tryouts consists of team games and small-sided games. Goalkeepers may be selected from a different tryout held by a goalkeeping specialist. Player notification will be made within 5 days of the last tryout date for the age group. Players who are not selected may be notified in writing.
TEAM NAME
All teams will have the name Fort Lowell Soccer Club, with the only differentiation being the year of the team and the gender of the team, for example, Fort Lowell Soccer Club 90 Girls or Fort Lowell Soccer Club 92 Boys. No team can have a mascot as a name.
PLAYER TRAINING
The Board of Directors will outline the training priorities for each age group. The age group head coach will conduct the training of the players. The number of trainings per week must never put a player’s academic work at risk. Some general guidelines are for U12 to U13, 2 or 3 training days per week and 1 to 2 games per weekend (except tournaments). For U14 and above, 3 or 4 training days per week and 1 to 2 games per weekend (except tournaments).
LEAGUE PLAY
Players will play in the league that offers the best opportunity for development. In some cases, it may be PCJSL and in others, it may be a Phoenix-based league. The coach, in consultation with the Board of Directors, will make that decision.
TOURNAMENT PLAY
The coach, in consultation with the Board of Directors, decides what tournaments that the team will enter. The tournaments that are selected will be appropriate for the level of the team players and the selected tournaments must further the development of individual players and the team. One of the tournaments that teams must participate in, depending on the age group, is the Tucson Association of Realtors Shootout. Regardless, all teams must have involvement in the operation of the Shootout.
Another tournament that teams should consider is the Pima Cup. This tournament is the season ending tournament for PCJSL and the participation by Fort Lowell teams indicate our support for the local league.
The AYSA season ending tournament, whether it is the Open Cup or the State Cup, is a decision by the coach. That decision must be guided by the quality of the performances of the team throughout the playing year. Certainly, all the teams should strive to play in the State Cup.
Other tournaments may be out of state or in state. There are several fantastic tournaments for select teams that enhance the development of players. The coach will give careful consideration to these tournaments.
COSTS
The present fee for registering a player at Fort Lowell is $175 for Tier 3, $190 for Tier 2 teams and $200 for Tier 1 teams. This fee includes two shirts, a short, and a pair of socks. In addition to the registration fee, some coaches may charge a coaching fee. The fee ranges from $40 to $100 per month depending on the qualifications of the head coach and the assistant coach. Also, parents are responsible for the travel expenses of the coaches at out of town matches and out of town tournaments.
Tournament entrance fees are also an additional cost. The exact amount per player will be determined after the tournament schedule is fixed.
All fees with the exception of the Fort Lowell registration fee are paid to the team treasurer. The team treasurer is selected from among the team parents and is responsible for accounting for the team funds.
COACH TRAINING
All age group coaches are expected to attend an annual coaches symposium to be held at the beginning of the season. In addition, coaches are expected to seek and attend at least one professional development course during the year.
EVALUATION
The Board of Directors will conduct an annual evaluation of all aspects of the program. When changes are warranted, they will be submitted to the Fort Lowell Board for approval.
