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Needham Soccer Programs

NSCCL U9 & U10 (3rd grade and 4th grade mixed age single gender teams) NON-Travel
In-town 6v6 NSCCL recreational league
Balanced teams with a focus on fun, learning and development
Saturday OR Sunday games IN NEEDHAM

practice during week

All coaches and assistants must be registered ONLINE with Needham Soccer Club
Skills Clinics for players by MPS Coaches on Saturdays
Registration via online system ONLY - deadline is  6/4/2010; after that date a $100 late fee is assessed After 6/30 registration is closed for fall soccer - no exceptions.

Team Placement Requests: age group coordinators try to set up teams with at least two players from a school together. Teams are mixed with at least 2 schools per team. Requests cannot be made to be placed with a specific friend or coach. Head and assistant coaches can make a request to be paired together. For U9/10 NSCCL, teams are picked in a round robin fashion by the coaches with the goal of making equally skilled teams. While they try to pick players to have school mates, it is not always possible. Families cannot select their practice nights. 

Late registrations are very time consuming and disruptive to teams and coaches. Please sign up on time in order to be assured a place on a team. A player must be registered in order to be placed on a team.
Typically teams stay together from fall to spring seasons, however there may be changes to coaching staff and roster based on enrollment.  Team rosters will have at least 10 players but no more than 13 at this age.

BAYS U9 3rd grade TRAVEL (Spring ONLY)
BAYS travel league -6v6 format
Saturday games-- 5 home games; 5 away games
2 practices during week

All coaches and assistants must be registered ONLINE with Needham Soccer and have a valid BAYS passcard (fall and spring)
Registration via online system ONLY - deadline is prior to tryouts and no players are eligible for the travel team if they register after that date.
Team Selection Philosophy
The primary objectives with team selection and player placement include:
• Every player shall be given the opportunity to tryout for any travel team in their age group
• No player is guaranteed a position on the travel teams
• All teams will be newly selected over the summer for the upcoming fall season
• Spring tryouts will be open to all players interested in playing on the travel teams. These tryouts are voluntary and only players interested in playing on travel teams need to attend.
• Every player interested in playing on the travel teams must register for BAYS travel league program.  A player must be registered in order to attend tryouts and/or to be placed on a team.
Teams
The policy of NSC is to have one team selected in this age group for spring. All players not selected for the travel teams will play on balanced NSCCL teams.  Team is selected by the coach from the group of registered players.  Players are ranked based on tryout results as well as written coaches evaluations as well as verbal input from coaches in a round table discussion monitored by Board Members as well as division directors.
Note that the number of players on each team will have at least 10 players but no more than 12.

 

BAYS U10 4th grade TRAVEL
BAYS travel league -6v6 format
Saturday games-- 5 home games; 5 away games
2 practices during week

All coaches and assistants must be registered ONLINE with Needham Soccer and have a valid BAYS passcard (fall and spring)
Registration via online system ONLY - All players should be registered prior to tryouts.  Deadline for online registration is June 4, 2010 after that date a $100 late fee is assessed until 6/30 when registration for fall soccer is CLOSED - no exceptions
Team Selection Philosophy
The primary objectives with team selection and player placement include:
• Every player shall be given the opportunity to tryout for any travel team in their age group
• No player is guaranteed a position on the travel teams
• All teams will be newly selected over the summer for the upcoming fall season
• Spring tryouts will be open to all players interested in playing on the travel teams. These tryouts are voluntary and only players interested in playing on travel teams need to attend.
• Every player interested in playing on the travel teams must register for BAYS travel league program
Late registrations are very time consuming and disruptive to teams and coaches. Please sign up on time in order to be assured a place on a team. A player must be registered in order to attend tryouts and/or to be placed on a team.
BAYS teams rosters remain the same from fall to spring, but slight changes may occur at the discretion of the boys and/or girls Directors.
Teams
The policy of NSC is to have no more than two selected travel teams per age group U10 to U12. All players not selected for the travel teams will play on balanced NSCCL teams.
• First  team – Team is selected by the coach from the group of registered players.  Players are ranked based on tryout results as well as written coaches evaluations as well as verbal input from coaches in a round table discussion monitored by Board Members and division directors.
• Second team --next group of top-rated players (based on above criteria) as selected by the coach
Note that the number of players on each team will have at least 10 players but no more than 12.

 

NSCCL U11 & U12 (5th grade and 6th grade mixed age single gender teams) NON-Travel
In-town 8v8 NSCCL recreational league
Balanced teams with a focus on fun, learning and development
Saturday OR Sunday games IN NEEDHAM
practice during week

All coaches and assistants must be registered ONLINE with Needham Soccer Club
Skills Clinics for players by MPS Coaches on Saturdays
Registration via online system ONLY - deadline is 6/4/2010 after that date a $100 late fee is assessed
Team Placement Requests: age group coordinators try to set up teams with at least two players from a school together. Teams are mixed with at least 2 schools per team. Requests cannot be made to be placed with a specific friend or coach. Head and assistant coaches can make a request to be paired together. For U11/12 NSCCL, teams are picked in a round robin fashion by the coaches with the goal of making equally skilled teams. While they try to pick players to have school mates, it is not always possible. Families cannot select specific practice nights.
Late registrations are very time consuming and disruptive to teams and coaches. Please sign up on time in order to be assured a place on a team. A player must be registered in order to be placed on a team.

 

BAYS U11 5th grade TRAVEL
BAYS travel league -8v8 format
Saturday games-- 5 home games; 5 away games
2 practices during week

All coaches and assistants must be registered ONLINE with Needham Soccer and have a valid BAYS passcard (fall and spring)
Registration via online system ONLY - deadline is 6/4 for online registration.  We require that all players who want to be considered for a travel team register online PRIOR to the tryou. After 6/4 a $100 late fee is assessed.
Team Selection Philosophy
The primary objectives with team selection and player placement include:
• Every player shall be given the opportunity to tryout for any travel team in their age group
• No player is guaranteed a position on the travel teams
• All teams will be newly selected over the summer for the upcoming fall season
• Spring tryouts will be open to all players interested in playing on the travel teams. These tryouts are voluntary and only players interested in playing on travel teams need to attend.
• Every player interested in playing on the travel teams must register for BAYS travel league program
Late registrations are very time consuming and disruptive to teams and coaches. Please sign up on time in order to be assured a place on a team. A player must be registered in order to attend tryouts and/or to be placed on a team.
BAYS teams rosters remain the same from fall to spring, but slight changes may occur at the discretion of the boys and/or girls Directors.
Teams
The policy of NSC is to have no more than two selected travel teams per age group U10 to U12. All players not selected for the travel teams will play on balanced NSCCL teams.
• First  team – Team is selected by the coach from the group of registered players.  Players are ranked based on tryout results as well as written coaches evaluations as well as verbal input from coaches in a round table discussion monitored by Board Members and division directors.
• Second team --next group of top-rated players (based on above criteria) as selected by the coach
Note that the number of players on each team will have at least 13 players but not more than 15.

BAYS U12 6th grade TRAVEL
BAYS travel league -8v8 format
Saturday games-- 5 home games; 5 away games
2 practices during week

All coaches and assistants must be registered ONLINE with Needham Soccer and have a valid BAYS passcard (fall and spring)

Teams playing in BAYS league Division 1 or 2 in spring (MTOC eligible) MUST have valid player passcards for EVERY player for EVERY game. (Spring ONLY)
Registration via online system ONLY - deadline is June 4th for online registration.  We require that all players who want to be considered for a travel team be registered prior to the tryout.  After June 4th a $100 late fee is assessed
Team Selection Philosophy
The primary objectives with team selection and player placement include:
• Every player shall be given the opportunity to tryout for any travel team in their age group
• No player is guaranteed a position on the travel teams
• All teams will be newly selected over the summer for the upcoming fall season
• Spring tryouts will be open to all players interested in playing on the travel teams. These tryouts are voluntary and only players interested in playing on travel teams need to attend.
• Every player interested in playing on the travel teams must register for BAYS travel league program
Late registrations are very time consuming and disruptive to teams and coaches. Please sign up on time in order to be assured a place on a team. A player must be registered in order to attend tryouts and/or to be placed on a team.
BAYS teams rosters remain the same from fall to spring, but slight changes may occur at the discretion of the boys and/or girls Directors.
Teams
The policy of NSC is to have no more than two selected travel teams per age group U10 to U12. All players not selected for the travel teams will play on balanced NSCCL teams.
• First  team – Team is selected by the coach from the group of registered players.  Players are ranked based on tryout results as well as written coaches evaluations as well as verbal input from coaches in a round table discussion monitored by Board Members and division directors.
• Second team --next group of top-rated players (based on above criteria) as selected by the coach
Note that the number of players on each team will have at least 13 players but not more than 15. 

BAYS U14 7th & 8th TRAVEL
BAYS travel league -11v11 format.  EVERYONE PLAYS TRAVEL. There is NO Recreational league (non-travel) at this age. EVERYONE who signs up gets placed on a team.  There are NO CUTS.  There are typically 6 or 7 teams in each gender in this age group
Saturday games-- 5 home games; 5 away games
2 practices during week

All coaches and assistants must be registered ONLINE with Needham Soccer and have a valid BAYS passcard (fall and spring)
Registration via online system ONLY - deadline is June 4th for fall soccer after that date a $100 late fee is assessed; deadline is June 30th
Player passcards are REQUIRED for spring teams playing in BAYS Division 1 or 2 (MTOC eligible teams)
Team Selection Philosophy
The primary objectives with team selection and player placement include:
• Every player shall be given the opportunity to tryout for any travel team in their age group
• No player is guaranteed a position on any of the travel teams
• All teams will be newly selected over the summer for the upcoming fall season
• Tryouts will be open to all players interested in playing on the travel teams. These tryouts are voluntary
• Every player interested in playing on the travel teams must register for BAYS travel league program
Late registrations are very time consuming and disruptive to teams and coaches. Please sign up on time in order to be assured a place on a team. A player must be registered in order to attend tryouts and/or to be placed on a team.
BAYS teams rosters remain the same from fall to spring, but slight changes may occur at the discretion of the boys and/or girls Directors based on enrollment.
Teams
• First  team – Team is selected by the coach from the group of registered players.  Players are ranked based on tryout results as well as written coaches evaluations as well as verbal input from coaches in a round table discussion monitored by Board Members and division directors.
• Second team --next group of top-rated players (based on above criteria) as selected by the coach.  The selection process continues until ALL players who are registered are placed on a team.  We make NO CUTS.  Note that the number of players on each team will have at least 18 players but not more than 22.!

 

BAYS U15-U18 TRAVEL (Spring ONLY)

BAYS travel league -11v11 format
Sunday games—starting April 25, 2010 for 7 consecutive Sundays (BAYS determines the start date)

some home games in Needham and some away games in other towns
U18 games are 90 minutes long; U16 games are 40 minute halves
1 practice during week

All coaches and assistants must be registered ONLINE with Needham Soccer and have a valid BAYS passcard
Player passcards are REQUIRED for spring teams playing in BAYS U18
Adidas travel uniforms provided by the NSC (jersey, shorts & sox)
Registration via online system ONLY - deadline is February 15th after that date a $100 late fee is assessed
Late registrations are very time consuming and disruptive to the club. Please sign up on time in order to be assured a place on a team. A player must be registered online to be placed on a team.
Note that the number of players on each team in this age group is 18 for MTOC eligible teams and 22 for those teams NOT eligible for MTOC Competition.
Pilot Programs
In an effort to provide improved training for its members, the NSC has engaged in several pilot programs. These programs include a GU18 team participation in the MPS High School Prep League and, beginning this season, the GU14 PAC team.  Such programs will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.

Overview
1.  MPS High School Prep League
U18 teams have traditionally played in the BAYS league.  In the spring of 2009, one of the GU18 teams participated in the MPS High School Prep League in an attempt to place the team in a local league with appropriate competition.  The league has grown and the NSC plans to enter a GU18 team in the league this spring.  The league is adding a boys division and the NSC may consider it as a possible alternative for a boys team.
 
2.  GU14 PAC Team
The GU14 PAC team is taking part in a pilot program this spring.  The goal is to improve player development by selecting the most competitive players, including players that are also eligible to play in the U12 age group, and to have them commit to generally train three times per week.
 
NSC has never in recent history allowed U12 players to participate in the U14 BAYS league based solely on ability.  Younger players in this pilot were given a choice to play up only if they:
     1.  demonstrated abilities superior to others and
     2.  were chosen by the coach.

The NSC has no current policy against playing up based on ability and is interested in improving the training programs.  The NSC supported this program as a pilot provided that the selection process, summarized below, was followed as closely as possible and with certain other conditions.
 
The program will be reviewed again at the end of the season to evaluate its merits, benefits and costs for both boys and girls.  Under consideration will be player development and other social interests of the players.  The club is creating a policy to define the parameters of "playing up"to include this circumstance.  They are reviewing our current policies and possible constitutional changes and/or clarifications.
 
 
Additional Information
Playing Up and Playing Down
In the NSC, certain players have limited choices regarding the age group in which they participate:
 
1.  Players that are young for their grade have a choice to play up an age group if they would like to play with their grade.  In this case, for example, a U12 player born in late summer after July 31st cutoff date, may request to play up with other 7th graders on a U14 team, provided they satisfy all the requirements of the registrar.
 
2.  If players are young for their grade, they generally play with their age group, but may request to play up with their schoolmates.  For example, a 6th grader with a late summer birthday is always placed with their own age group of U12 players.  However if their parent requests to "play up with their grade" and satisfies all of the paperwork including proof of school grade and an age waiver form, then they may be allowed to play on a U14 team primarily comprised of 7th and 8th graders.
 
It is required for players that are considered old for their grade to play up with their age group.  In this case, for example, a 6th grader would generally be required to join a U14 team.  MYSA guidelines are always adhered to in order to participate in the BAYs league.
 
Most leagues, including BAYS, and tournaments classify age groups by maximum age.  For example, U14 is defined as 14 years of age and under.  Therefore, younger players may be allowed to play with older age groups.

Player Information and Team Selection
The Needham Soccer Club, Inc. (NSC) has procedures in place to collect data about players and to have coaches select teams to play in the BAYS travel league.  Collected data includes: 
  1.  coaches evaluations,
  2.  tryout data,
  3. coaches observations and
  4. discussion/comments from coaches. 
 
It is hoped that a large amount of data is available to help coaches properly select players for teams.  Instances arise whereby one of the data categories is unavailable and, in that case, only the other data sources are considered.  The player is not penalized if a category of data is missing.  However, if no data in any category is available, it is obviously more difficult to assess proper placement of players. 
 
The team selection process attempts to make use of all available information.  The club provides all such data to the coaches and the respective head coaches are ultimately responsible to choose the players. The NSC administers the process to ensure that the coach has considered the data in making decisions.
Winter Soccer

"Winter Soccer" (November - March) ~ The Needham Soccer Club does not offer a winter season. However, we do encourage individual coaches to recruit a team to play indoor soccer leagues at the many indoor facilities located nearby.  These teams are:

  • Free to use any age appropriate players to build a team and compete in these leagues.
  • Free to use Needham Soccer Club uniforms or their own.
  • Needham Soccer Club does not pay for winter tournaments.

Local indoor facilities for indoor leagues and indoor tournament websites:

  • Newton Indoor  (Newton) 15 minutes away.  New Synthetic Turf/Boarded
  • ForeKicks (Norfolk) 25 minutes away.  New Synthetic Turf/Boarded/Non-Boarded/Futsal
  • ForeKicks II (Marlboro) 25 minutes away.  New Synthetic Turf/Boarded/Non-Boarded/Futsal
  • InSoccer Futsal Park School in Newton and other venues. Basketball Courts.
Tournaments



The Needham Memorial Day Invitational Tournament is the one of the oldest and largest soccer tournaments in the country.  Teams travel as faraway as Calgary, Canada to play in our tournament.  Referees come as far away as California, Michigan and Virginia.

In 2008 we partnered with Mass Premier Soccer to create a College Showcase which was very successfull and attracted teams and college coaches from all over the northeast.

Needham Division I and II teams ages U11 - U19 play in our tournament.

Needham Travel and NSCCl teams not eligible for the Needham Memorial Day Tournament are encouraged to play in other local tournaments.  The NSC will reimburse teams for their registration.

Needham teams are also encouraged to play in fall tournaments. Again the NSC will reimburse tournament registrations. 

FEE REIMBURSEMENT:     Please contact the Treasurer of the club: Don Himmelsbach to be reimbursed for the tournament you are entering.  If you have already paid fees and would like to be reimbursed, please send a copy of your cancelled check or a receipt from the tournament to NSC at PO Box 920580 in Needham, MA  02492.   Please indicate your address and what tournament and which team it was for.

PATCHES:  Some tournaments require patches to exchange after every match.  Please contact admin@needhamsoccer.com to arrange pickup. Typically 100 patches will do for each team participating.

                                      
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