Frequently Asked Questions

ASA offers two leagues: recreation and travel. The recreation league stresses teaching and participation. Any child may play, regardless of experience, and many of our youngest players have had no experience at all. Most ASA players are Alexandria City residents, but non-city residents are welcome to register also. (An additional $25.00 non-resident fee is assessed to non-resident players each season.)

The recreation league (rec league) consists of two seasons: Spring and Fall. Registration for the Spring season occurs early January to early February with practices beginning in early March. Registration for the Fall season occurs mid-August through early September with practices beginning mid-September. The entire team usually stays together from Spring to Fall, depending on whether the coach continues or not. Some teams have stayed together from U5 through U19!

2. Where do Recreation League teams play?

Games: For each season, each age-group is assigned a specific game field within the City of Alexandria. Each scheduled game is played at that assigned field, although start times may vary from game to game. Games are scheduled for Saturday mornings with first games starting at 9:00 AM and the following games starting through mid-day. Rescheduled make-up games are scheduled for Sunday afternoons with first games starting at noon. Game times are arranged by the age-group coordinators, and during the seasons most teams will have varied start times each Saturday. Games usually last about an hour.

Practices: All rec coaches are volunteers and are typically parents or guardians of a player on that team. Coaches have the opportunity to choose their practice field location and times of practice through a practice field coordinator. Practice fields are located across the City of Alexandria, often on school grounds, and are assigned to ASA each season by Alexandria’s Department of Parks and Recreation. As ASA tries to group players on teams near where they live, practice fields are often within easy driving distance of home. Teams usually practice for 1 hour two times per week, although U5’s often practice only once per week. ASA encourages parents and guardians of our young players to be present throughout each practice.

3. How long is the season?

Practices for the spring season begin in early to mid-March, with the first of 8 games scheduled for the end of March to early April, and the last game scheduled for mid-May. In the spring season our youngest age-group of U5’s play a shortened season of 7 games in order to give them an extra week of practice.

Practices for the fall season begin in mid-September, with the first of 8 games scheduled for the end of September and the last game scheduled for early November.

See the current season’s calendar located at the "Recreation" drop-down menu tab at the top of the main page.

4. How are teams formed?

ASA makes every attempt to form teams by neighborhood. That is why we ask to know the closest Alexandria City Public School school, whether your child attends it or not. Depending on how many players register, different neighborhoods will have different numbers of teams. Age-group coordinators work hard to place children as close as possible to their home neighborhoods. Coordinators also match volunteer parent-coaches with their neighborhood, and always place the coach’s child on that team.

5. What about playing time?

One of our goals is for each child to participate in at least half of every game. That is why we limit the size of teams.

6. How much does it cost to register?

Registration is done each season for that season only.

Player fees for Spring season are as follows:

Description

Fee

U5-U12:

$75.00

OR

U13-U19:

$85.00

City of Alexandria non-resident fee:

(Zipcodes other than 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, 22312, 22313 and 22314 must pay this fee, however PLEASE NOTE that some of these listed zipcodes are members of the Alexandria section of Fairfax County and therefore NOT within the City of Alexandria, and must also pay the non-resident fee).

$25.00

Late fee (applications completed after the season deadline):

$25.00

City-Mandated Youth Sport Participant Fee (included in the above U5-U19 fees) $10.00

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7. Does my child need a uniform or other equipment, and if so what are the fees?

Yes. A uniform is required to play in any U5-U12 ASA game. You may order and pay for your uniform items along with your registration fees. You may also register by the deadline, and then later visit the ASA office during regular office hours to choose and pay for your uniform items.

Either way you will have to come to the office to claim your uniform items, and you may exchange sizes at any time as long as the item has not been worn or washed. The office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 am to 12:00. It is closed to the public on Mondays and Fridays. Each season the office is also open for three nights from 6:00-8:00 pm during the last week of registration. If you are unable to visit the office during any of these times, please call us and we can make other arrangements for uniform pickup.

The set of red and blue tee shirts is only available for purchase through ASA. You may purchase the other uniform items elsewhere, but we offer them for sale in the office for your convenience. All players should have a soccer ball to bring to practices. Coaches will supply the game ball for the team.

U13/14-U19 teams organize their own uniform purchases and should NOT purchase uniforms (excluding soccer balls) from the ASA office.

For any age group, shin guards are mandatory at practice and games.

Description Fee

SHIRTS (U5-U12):

(Set of 2 tees: red and blue)
$ 15.00

SHORTS (black): $ 10.00

SOCKS (black): $ 5.00

SHIN GUARDS: $ 5.00

BALL: $ 15.00

Ball sizes: U5-U7 Size 3; U8-U11/U12 Size 4; U13/14-U19 Size 5

ASA Car Magnet: $5.00

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8. What does U5 or U6 or "U"any other number" mean?

The "U" designation refers to an age-group. For example, for Spring 2012, U5 refers to those players born on or between August 1, 2006 and July 31, 2007. Each Spring a new age-group of U5’s is added, making up ASA’s youngest players. Each Fall these newest U5 age-group players advance to U6, but their age-group dates will remain the same (born on or between 8/1/06 and 7/31/07) as they were for the previous Spring season. Likewise, in the Fall the U6-U11 age-groups advance to U7-U12, but their age-group dates remain the same as they were for the previous Spring season.

See item 16 below for an explanation of what happens when co-ed U6 teams advance to all-boy or all-girl U7 teams.

In Fall the previous Spring’s U12 age-group usually advances to the Suburban Friendship League and is designated U13 or U14. The SFL is still part of ASA’s recreation league, but gives players the opportunity to be matched against SFL teams from nearby areas such as Arlington and Falls Church. Half of the season’s games are played within Alexandria, and half in nearby areas. Teams are larger, field size is larger, rules may change somewhat, but our SFL players thrive with the changes. SFL comprises the U13/14 age-groups up through U19.

The current season’s age-groups and their coordinators are located at the "Recreation"drop-down menu tab at the top of the main page.

9. Are there any age restrictions?

Yes. Recreation league age-groups are structured by date of birth, NOT by grade in school. A list of all current age-groups and their coordinators is located at the "Recreation" drop-down menu tab at the top of the main page.

10. Can I request my child be placed on a specific team or with specific friends?

No. Please do NOT request new players to be placed on specific teams or with specific friends. Every attempt is made by our age-group coordinators to form teams by neighborhood, and each neighborhood may have multiple teams. Specific team placement can not be guaranteed for everyone, therefore no requests are accepted for anyone. Requests written with the registration form will be ignored.

11. How can I help my child’s team?

Each team needs a coach and an assistant coach. In addition, a parent usually volunteers as a team manager to schedule snacks, orange slices and take charge of the end-of-season party. Each season coaches have the opportunity to choose their practice field location and times of practice through a practice field coordinator.

If you are interested in volunteering as coach or assistant coach of your child’s team, you may do so on-line as you register your player. Each coach and assistant coach must submit a completed "Kid Safe form" to the ASA office prior to the start of that season. This document is used to run a background check in accordance with regulations from ASA’s guiding group, the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA). You can complete the Kidsafe form on-line as you volunteer, or the ASA office can email this form to coaches. The forms will also be available at the Coaches Meetings in both spring and fall seasons. No coach or assistant coach may attend a practice or game without first submitting a completed Kid Safe form to the ASA office.

Coaches of each age-group work with an age-group coordinator, who is also a volunteer and usually a parent or guardian of a player in that age-group. The age-group coordinator places players on teams, places coaches with teams and sets up the game schedule.

12. How do I register?

There are three ways to register:

If at all possible, please register on-line as it saves paper and elliminates many hours of database entry and check processing.

1. On-line at www.alexandria-soccer.com with a Master Card, Discovery Card or Visa. Click on the Registration Link. Spring season on-line registration is available starting 1/03/2012 and ends 2/02/2012. To complete your on-line registration, birth certificates must be sent (and received in the office by 2/02/2012) by email, fax or mailed to ASA, PO Box 25996, Alexandria, VA 22313. If the birth certificate is not received in the office by 2/2/12 the registration will be considered a Late Registration incurring an additional $25 late fee, with the player being placed on a team ONLY if there is space available.

2. By mail with a check or money order. Print form and instructions from the website at www.alexandria-soccer.com. Mail-in registration is available starting 1/3/12. Mail to ASA, PO Box 25996, Alexandria, VA 22313.

3. In person at the office with cash, check or money order. Print forms at home or come to the office and fill them out there.

Please note: Credit cards are not accepted in the office.

The office opens 1/3/12 for the Spring Season, for regular hours of 9:15am to 12:00 noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The office will also be open from 6:00pm-8:00pm on 3/31/12, 2/1/12 and 2/2/12. The office is closed to the public on Mondays and Fridays.

13. What is the deadline for registration?

The deadline for completed registrations is Thursday, FEBRUARY 2, 2012.

"Complete" registrations include the registration form, birth certificate or passport, and payment. Whether mailed, delivered or filled out on-line, the "complete" registration must be received in the office (not post-marked) by 2/02/12. Any registration not "complete" by 2/02/12 will be considered a Late Registration.

Please note that the Birth Certificate or Passport copy is due to the office by February 2nd, at the same time as the Registration Form. If the Registration Form is turned in and the Birth Certificate is NOT turned in, it will be considered a Late Registration incurring an additional $25 late fee, with the player being placed on a team ONLY if theres is space available.

Late Registrations will be accepted both on-line and in-person on 2/7, 2/8 and 2/9/2012 with an additional $25.00 late fee. Late registrants, whether continuing players or new players, will only be placed on a team if there is a need for additional players in an age-group.

Please keep in mind that age-group coordinators (NOT coaches) determine if there is a need for additional players.

14. What is the policy on refunds?

ASA will make refunds before the first game of the season.

15. Does ASA offer financial aid?

Financial aid is available for both registration and uniform fees. (Financial aid is not available for the City Field Fee or Non-Resident Fee.) Our aid program is based on the same criteria as the Alexandria City Public School Lunch Program. A copy of your player’s enrollment in the lunch program is required for aid consideration.

Please note that registrants applying for financial aid may complete their household information on-line, but must submit a printed Registration Form, birth certificate or passport, and payment, directly to the office. The on-line registration site is not able to process financial aid.

Once the player’s Alexandria City Public School Free Lunch program enrollment letter is received in the ASA office, the financial aid available is:

$45 registration fee for Spring season 2012 (this includes the City Field Fee).

Uniform items are additional, at half the full-fee price listed on the Registration Form.

16. When do teams change from being co-ed teams to being all boy or all girl teams?

In the Fall of each year, the U6 Spring co-ed teams advance to U7Boy or U7Girl teams. As each U6 co-ed team separates into same sex teams, there is a need for new coaches. If your female child’s U6 team coach was the parent of a boy on the team, (got that??), then the girls on that U6 team will either need a new coach to stay together, or will be separated and placed on other U7Girl teams. Conversely, if your male child’s U6 team coach was the parent of a girl on the team, then the boys on that U6 team will either need a new coach to stay together, or will be separated and placed on other U7Boy teams. Either way, the Fall season for new U7 teams is a time of opportunity for parents to volunteer to coach (or become the coordinator of the "vacant" new age-group).