About
Us
Team Formation/Player Placement
Constitution & By-Laws
| Philosophy | History | League Structure | Team Formation/Player Placement | Participation of Families |
| Intra-City | Intra-City | |||
| Inter-City Travel Teams | Inter-City Travel Teams |
The objective of the SYSL is to provide an opportunity for youth to participate in the sport of soccer as part of an organization comprising players, parents, volunteers and corporate sponsors. The SYSL is devoted to providing training in the rules and regulations of the sport, encouraging the development of individual skills, promoting physical fitness, and fostering teamwork and fair play. Winning is fun and exciting but, most important, we want to teach our children that striving to do their personal best is what really matters most.
In this spirit, all
member teams, coaches, managers, parents and players shall conduct
themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and shall cooperate fully
with the letter and the intent of the SYSL constitution and its
bylaws and any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of
Directors.
The Somerville Youth Soccer League is a volunteer organization founded in the Fall of 1990 by a small group of parents working with the Somerville Recreation Commission. At the time, Somerville had no organized program for youth soccer. Many Somerville children were registered to play in Medford, Cambridge, and Arlington. By the Fall of 1991 a formal Board of Directors with officers was established. The League’s by-laws and constitution were adopted in January of 1992.
There
are two divisions within the SYSL: 1) the Intra-city League
(co-ed) which includes the Under-6 and Under 8-Year-Old Divisions
and 2) the Inter-City Travel League of Boys and Girls 10 Years and
Older.
The SYSL fields a minimum of
four co-ed teams in each age group, which play against each other
on a revolving schedule on Saturdays. Each team plays one game per
week. Practice schedules are determined by the coaches, but are
typically held one afternoon or early evening per week at a field
in Somerville.
The SYSL will field travel
teams in the Middlesex Youth Soccer League for the Fall and Spring
seasons. MYSL games are typically held on Saturday mornings and/or
afternoons either in Somerville or at the opposing team’s field,
which can geographically range widely (e.g. from Medford to
Westford, and from Waltham to Lowell). Practice sessions are
scheduled by the team coach and are typically held two afternoons
or early evenings per week.
The Spring season is ten
weeks long, usually beginning in early April, if field conditions
allow. The Fall season is eight weeks long, usually
beginning in early September. Games will be played each weekend
except for Memorial Day weekend.
The Spring season is ten
weeks long with the first games played in early April, if the
fields are in adequate condition. Games will be played every
weekend except for holiday weekends. (Games slated for Memorial
and Columbus Day weekends will be rescheduled during the week to
allow for family travel and/or optional tournament play during the
long weekend.) The Fall season begins the weekend after Labor Day
and is an eight-week season.
Intra-City
Division: $50 - players receive a full uniform.
Parents MUST acquire shin guards separately; cleats are optional,
but strongly recommended. (Registration fee for returning players
with uniform is $30.)
Inter-City Travel
Division
Checks
and money orders should be payable to Somerville Youth Soccer
League or SYSL.
Late Registrations
Registrations received after the deadlines will be accepted on
a first-come basis to complete rosters as needed and may be
subject to a non-refundable $15.00 late fee. There is no guarantee
of placement for late registrations. (Note: SYSL has no
control over registration dates, which are determined by the
Middlesex Youth Soccer League.)
Past Accounts Due
Players with past accounts due may not be allowed to
register until balance is paid in full.
Refunds
For administrative reasons, all refund requests must be made
in writing prior to the start of the season. A $10.00 processing
fee will be deducted per registration.
Scholarships
SYSL intends that no local child is denied the opportunity to
play soccer due to financial inability. The Board therefore may
waive fees in special situations. Individual requests for
scholarships must be presented in writing.
Transportation
Traveling team players should arrive a half hour before game
time for warm-up. For away games, some teams will meet at a
predetermined place and time to travel as a “caravan.”
Your child’s coach will provide directions to the away games
during practice prior to each game.
It is the responsibility of
each family to provide transportation for their child to practices
and games, both home and away. We suggest you get to know the
parents of children on your child’s team and make car pooling
arrangements. Also, ask your child’s coach for suggestions if
transportation is a problem for you.
Practices
Practice times are determined by the team coach, and are
usually held twice a week. If your child has a major commitment
(such as Little League, First Communion, etc.) that may conflict
with a practice time, please inform your child’s coach. He or
she will try to choose times that benefit the majority of the team
members.
Make
Child Safety a Priority: Sometimes a practice or
game may end sooner than anticipated due to inclement weather and
you need to plan ahead for this possibility. If you
plan to drop your child off at a field for practice or game, be
sure to ask a specific person - someone you know well - to watch
him or her. Do not leave your child and assume the coach or other
parent will know they are supposed to be watching your child.
Also, do not leave the field with someone else’s child if you
have not been asked to do so. If a child appears to be
stranded stay with him or her and send someone else to phone the
parents. If you cannot stay with the stranded child, find
someone else from SYSL who you know can watch the child
until the parent arrives.
Attendance
Players are encouraged to attend as many practices and games
as possible and are responsible for calling their coach in advance
if they are unable to attend. Regular attendance is important for
children to develop a strong sense of commitment and team spirit,
to learn that other people are counting on them, and to enhance
their ability to play well and play safely. We ask parents to
encourage their children to fulfill their commitment to their
team, which we believe will give each child a greater sense of
satisfaction and accomplishment. Feeling counted on by their
teammates and coaches can be a terrific esteem-building
opportunity for a child - one that can last a lifetime.
Weather Conditions
Players and parents will be informed by their child’s coach
of any cancellations of practices and games due to inclement
weather. Each coach will have his or her own “rain rules” for
practices, although generally anything more than a light rain will
justify cancellation. Games are less likely to be canceled. Unless
you are notified by your child’s coach, assume the game is on!
Equipment
Shin guards are mandatory at all practices and games and must
be worn under stockings. Mouth guards are strongly encouraged for
all children, but are optional. The traveling team referees can
and will remove your child from a game for not wearing the proper
equipment and uniform. We have seen referees request
children to put their socks on top of shin guards and even warned
they could be removed from the game for wearing pants under the
soccer shorts that are not a matching color! No jewelry, hats,
hair barrettes or any item that the referee determines is
dangerous, such as a hard cast, are permitted.
Tip: Label your child’s
equipment and uniform.
Team Pictures and
Trophies
A photographer will be commissioned to take team and
individual pictures during one season each year. Photos can
be voluntarily purchased at your own discretion and cost.
Trophies will be
distributed to all SYSL team members one season each year.
The cost will be paid by SYSL.
Families are encouraged to
participate in all aspects of Somerville Youth Soccer and we
welcome your feedback, comments and support. You can make a
big difference with just a little bit of your time and your kid(s)
will love having you participate in their soccer program!
You Get As Much as You Put In.
“I don’t know
anything about soccer.” Most families feel this way. One
great way to learn is by coaching an Under-6 or Under-8
team. No experience is necessary! SYSL will even help get
you started. We have training manuals with coaching tips to loan
you or come to one of our free coaching clinics. You can
also serve as your team’s reporter and write a paragraph for the
local newspaper. We have guidelines to make it simple and
straight-forward. How about refereeing? We’ll show you
how. There are also clinics for Travel Team referees if you wish
to be paid. How about setting up nets, lining fields, or
representing the SYSL at community events, such as the Home First
Charity Fair? There are lots of ways you can participate to
make soccer a more enjoyable experience for you and your
child(ren).
Volunteer To Be A Coach or Referee! These are two areas where we always need help, especially since we continue to grow each year. Please contact a Board member today to see how you can keep the League healthy and strong.