This page provides information about our club & program. We've tried to
provide answers to almost every conceivable question you might have
about our program on this page. If you are unable to find an answer to
your question, please contact us.
Practice & game Information for the current
and
upcoming soccer seasons can be
found on the
Spring or
Fall info pages.
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The Lancaster Youth Soccer Club is an all volunteer, non
profit organization. There are no paid employees or members, including the
president & officers. Our club is held together and completely dependant
upon member and parent involvement.
LYSC encourages all kids who are interested in playing soccer to
sign-up. A child does not have to have any experience to start playing
soccer. Your son or daughter can start playing at any age level.
By level U14 most kids know if they want to pursue soccer at the Junior
High level. For the kids who do join the school team, as a soccer club
we have helped prepare them for the challenges of playing at the Junior
High level. - For the kids who enjoy playing soccer but do not want to
join a school team, our intramural program is an excellent way for these
kids to get out there and continue playing competitive soccer, just for
the fun of it.
The soccer season runs like the school year, fall & spring soccer is
considered one season. However - your child can start playing in the
fall or spring. The fall season is when the kids move up to the next
age level (like the kids move up to the next grade level in the fall in
school). In other words, whatever age division your child is in during
the fall season, he or she will play in the same age division in the
spring.
The beginning and end of the two (half) seasons depend on how the
weeks fall year to year.
See age division "practice sections" for the approx begin & end of the
spring & fall seasons.
The number of players we are
allowed to have on each team in each age division "is set by the
league". If we do not have enough players to form another
complete team, we will start a waiting list. In the event a player or
players drop from a roster after the season begins, replacements are
selected from the waiting list, in the order the registration forms
were received.
At the instructional levels the emphasis is on learning the game &
developing skills. Scores are not kept for these games. All games
are played "in house" (against the other LYSC teams) at community park
where practices are held. The coaches are also the referees allowing
them to work with the kids on the field of play. Since the emphasis is
on learning, the rules are not strictly enforced & coaches/referees
allow a player to re-do an improper throw-in etc. as may times as it
take to insure the child learns the proper techniques.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to become involved with practice, &
may assist on the field during the games. Please let your coach know if
you would like to assist during a game, or at practice. Your help &
participation is always greatly appreciated.
INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES
(U6 & U8)
Practice
is held Mondays 6:00 - 7:30 pm &
Saturdays 1:00 - 2:30
The first few Saturdays are practices, and then games are
played on Saturdays for the rest of the season.
Please be sure your child brings plenty of drinking water to every
practice & game.
Games: are played on Saturday
afternoons at 1:00 at Lancaster Community Park. Children play at
least half a game. Coaches referee, and games are held on half field.
LYSC rules apply.
Parents will be mailed information about the program and the start
date for the spring season in April, and mid August for the fall season.
Fall Practice
usually begins in mid September and the last game is played approx the
1st Saturday in November.
Spring Practice
usually begins around the middle of April and the last game is played
approx the 1st Saturday in June.
First Practice Start Date
is posted close to the beginning of the season.
About Coed
Instructional U-6
At this level the kids are
introduced to the basics of soccer. The emphasis is on learning the game
& practicing the proper techniques such as how to trap a ball,
throw-ins, passing & dribbling.
U-6 Games: Four
players are used on each side during the games - two offensive players,
and two defensive players. Playing with 4 players per side allows the
kids a better opportunity to "play the ball" and be more involved. No
goalie is used for the U6 level.
About Coed Instructional U-8
At the U-8 (instructional) level we do not have the required number of
girls to form a separate division. We would like to see more girls
playing at this level and form a separate division in the future.
U-8 Games: are played
with 5 players per side (5 V 5). Goalies are used at this level.
The emphasis at this level is
for the kids to start playing their positions (Left & right offence &
defense) and not to chase the ball around the field. - "boy is this a
hard habit to break".
Practice: is held Monday evenings, 6:00 - 7:30
Games: are played on Saturday
afternoons at 1:00 at Lancaster Community Park. Children play at least
half a game. Coaches referee, and games are held on half field. LYSC
rules apply.
Parents will be mailed information about the program and the start
date for the spring season in April, and mid August for the fall season.
Intramural players/parents will be contacted by their
coach in mid March for the spring season, and mid-late August for the
fall season.
At the intramural
levels there are separate divisions for the boys and girls. We play
against other soccer clubs in our league (Lancaster County) and although
we do travel to away games, intramural teams are not "Travel
Teams".
Also beginning at U-10 the games are officiated by league referees.
U-10 Boys & Girls
At this level the games are
more competitive, scores are kept & referees are used. Although the
rules are enforced at this level, referees may be lenient & allow a
player a 2nd attempt to correct an improper throw-in etc. Games are
played with 6 players on each side (6 V 6). The league has decided to
play 6 players per side to allow the kids more opportunities to
play the ball, and work together as a team.
U12 Boys
Beginning Fall 06 the number
of players per side during games changed to 8, (8 V 8).
U12 Girls
Number of players per side is
11, (11 v 11).
U-14 thru U-19
Intramural Teams
Beginning at U-14, the number
of players per side during games is 11 (11 V 11). Games are played on
the large field at community park.
Practice
usually begins approx the last week in August and the last game played
approx. the first weekend in November.
Spring Practice
usually begins around the 3rd or 4th week of March and the last game is
played approx the 1st or 2nd weekend in June.
First Practice Info
is posted close to the beginning of the season.
BOYS' U10 & U12
Practice is held
Tuesday & Thursday evenings, 6:00 - 7:30. U10's practice at
community park.
The U12's might
practice at McCaskey East High School. Where the U12's practice each
season depends on how many intramural teams we have vs the field space
available at community park.
Home Games are
played on Saturday mornings at Lancaster Township Community Park.
Away Games may
be in the afternoon and can start as late as 3:00
BOYS U14
Practiceis held Tuesdays & Thursdays at McCaskey East HS, 6:00 - 7:30.
Home Games are
played Saturday mornings at Lancaster Township Community Park.
Away Games may be in the afternoon and can start as late as 3:00
GIRLS' TEAMS U10 - U12 -
U14
U10 & U12
Practice is held Tuesday & Thursday evenings, 6:00 - 7:30 at
Community Park.
U14 Practice is held Mondays & Wednesdays at Community Park,
but this is subject to change.
All Girls Home Games are played
Sunday afternoons at Lancaster Twp Community Park.
*
Travel teams will be created only if we have enough players
to fill roster.
If you register a player as
a travel player & we do not have enough players to form a team, we will
contact you and this player will have the option to play intramural. If
the player opts to play intramural, you will be refunded the difference
in the registration fee. If the player decides not play at all, you will
be refunded the entire fee.
ABOUT TRAVEL TEAMS
Travel Teams
are for advanced players. A player must "try-out" for the team. Once a
player makes the team, he or she must be registered as a "travel team"
player. Once a player is registered and "carded" as a travel team
player, he or she can not play on an intramural team for the rest of
that season. (The soccer season runs like the school year, fall & spring
soccer is considered one season). A travel player can drop from a travel
team (give up their card) then play intramural.
Practice & Game Info
will be posted if a team or teams are formed.
Home Games
are played Saturday Afternoons at McCaskey East High School.
Away Games
(Travel Distance):
Most games will be played
against
other soccer clubs in Lancaster County with a few clubs located in
surrounding counties.
Practice Days & Location
are not pre established like
the instructional & intramural teams. The practice days and locations
are determined by the number of U10-U19 teams we have each season that
need to share the fields. Although the days/locations are not "set in
stone" and are subject to change - Practice Days & Location
will most likely be, Tuesdays & Thursdays and could be at
Community Park Field, or McCaskey East H.S... OR... Wednesdays &
Fridays at Community Park.
Practice
Days & Location will be determined close to the beginning of the season
and the final info posted on the fall or spring season info page.
Travel Tournaments &
Play-Off Games
Play-off games are held in
the spring, and optional tournament(s) are available in the fall.
is strictly
volunteer. If you think you may be interested in helping out as a head
coach, or an assistant, we welcome your help! Training will be available
for new, as well as experienced coaches. If your child is just starting
out with U-6 or U-8, this is a fun & exciting level for you to get
involved. If you are not real familiar with soccer, you will learn the
game along with the kids, and have fun in the process. The time you
spend & the fun you'll have working with the kids, you will treasure
always. Just ask anyone who has coached.
What Happens If We Do Not Receive Enough Forms To
Field A Team?
INTRAMURAL (U10 - U19)
We wait up until the last possible moment for last minute
forms to be sent for the intramural divisions. If we are unable to field
a team we will notify you by phone. If your check has already been
deposited you will be refunded the registration fee. If your check has
not been deposited your check will be destroyed.
INSTRUCTIONAL (U6 & U8)
Please check the
available openings page once we are
within a few weeks of the start of the season. If we are full we can add
your child to the waiting list. If we receive your form & check after
all team rosters are full we will notify you be email or phone that your
child has been placed on the waiting list due to full rosters. We always
wait a week or two after the season gets underway to see if any players
drop from the roster. If this happens, replacement players are selected
in the order the forms were received. If we are unable to place your
child on a team your check will be destroyed.
How Do I Cancel My Registration?(Instructional & Intramural)
If the season has not yet started & your child did not
receive their uniform we will refund the registration fee. If your child
has received the uniform & the season has started, cancelations are then
handled on an individual basis.
Travel Team Registration Cancelations are handled
on an individual basis.
What To Do If Your Child Will Need To Miss a
Practice or Game
If possible let your coach know ahead of time if your
son/daughter will not be able to attend a practice or a game (especially
a game). However, it's up to each coach individually if they would like
to be notified about a missed practice/game due to illness or other
reasons so ask your coach their policy is on this matter.
If you child will need to miss
the first practice of the season, email us with your coaches
name (if you know it) and we will let the coach know.
Foul weather practice/game cancellations will be posted
on the home page for these age groups. If it's been an ugly day & the
forecast is for continued bad weather we may post the cancellation well
in advance of practice/game time. -
IMPORTANT
- Remember to refresh the home page every time you revisit it when
checking for cancellations. If you do not refresh the page, you might be
viewing the old page that is stored in your temporary internet folder
and not the updated page content. To tell if you are viewing the most
recent page, write down the hit counter number (in the left links pane)
& check the number again upon revisiting.
Instructional (U6 & U8) Make Up Games
Once games begin on Saturdays, cancelled games are
normally played the following Monday in place of practice.
Intramural Teams (U10-U14)
Playing Games In Foul Weather (Intramural Teams,
U10-U14)
The league rule concerning playing in the rain is; a game
must be cancelled or stopped early if it is Thundering/Lightning. A game
might also be cancelled due to dangerous field conditions (very soft or
muddy due to a lot of rain, or because of snow or ice on the field.
Other than these conditions, a game does not need to be cancelled and
some coaches will not cancel due to rain.
Intramural (U10-U14) Practice Cancellations
Coaches will call with the cancellations. We normally do
not post cancellations on the home page for the these age groups because
it's up to the individual coaches whether or not they will practice or
play a game in the rain so they may cancel at the last minute.
Intramural (U10-U14) Game Cancellations
Games are required "by the league" to be cancelled by the
home team (2) hours before the scheduled start time. This means you
should receive a phone call approx an hour and a half before start time.
Intramural (U10-U14) Make Up Games
If an intramural game is cancelled, the two coaches
usually try to reschedule a make up game. The make up games are normally
played during the week on a night in place of a practice.
Silent Sat/Sun
About The "Silent" Game:
The silent game is utilized
to give the kids an opportunity to play the game without any guidance
from the coaches or the fans. Parents are still encouraged to cheer
for the team. The silent only pertains to instructions & guidance
from the parents as well as the coaches.
The silent game (no
instructions given to the players) helps teach the players the
importance of talking to each other on the field. This also gives the
coaches an opportunity to evaluate how well the players work together as
a team - on their own.... And now you know the silent game was
not devised just to aggravate the parents.
