U14
8/1/94 - 7/31/96

U12
8/1/96 - 7/31/98

U10
8/1/98 - 7/31/00

U8
8/1/00 - 7/31/02

U6
8/1/02 - 7/31/03

U5
8/1/03 - 7/31/04

Divisions U6 through U14 typically play eight games in the fall and eight games in the spring, but there may be more or fewer games depending on holidays. U5 typically ends one week earlier in the fall and starts one week later in the spring. U8 & older teams usually practice one evening per week during the season, U5 and U6 teams have a Saturday-only session of combined skills training and games. Divisions U10 and above play in an intramural tournament on the last weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of the spring season.

 

Please hover over a title on the left to see the position's description.
Coach
Assistant Coach
Referee
Youth Referee
Team Parent
Division Administrator
Field Management
Registration
Data Management
Special Events
Equipment Management
Newsletter
Tournament Management
Uniform Management
Statistician

Coach Time commitment: ~50 hrs/yr. A coach participates on game days, holds team practices, teaches game fundamentals to the players, and helps players develop good sportsmanship. Attends fall division meeting, spring coach meeting, coach training, and weekly practices and games. You don't need to have played soccer or know much about it in order to coach. Particularly at the lower levels, many coaches learn the game along with their kids.

Assistant Coach Time commitment: 2-3 hrs/wk during season. The assistant coach assists the coach at practices and games and stands in for the coach when necessary. Attends coach training, fall division meeting, spring coach meeting, and weekly practices and games.

Referee Time commitment: 1-3 hours on game day. The referee arbitrates games, helping players understand why an infraction or penalty is called. At younger levels, referees may show the proper way to do throw-ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks, etc. Attends referee training and one annual referee meeting.

Youth Referee Same duties as referee. Youth referees are players or youth age 12 and up. Can use this experience to meet school community service requirements.

Team Parent Time commitment: 1½ hrs/wk during season. The team parent coordinates the snack schedule and otherwise assists the coach and assistant coach, e.g., distributing uniforms, picking up trophies or picture orders, etc.

Division Administrator Time commitment: ~60 hrs/yr. The division administrator is the board liaison to the coaches, is involved in the team balancing and team formation process; assigns and oversees coaches; organizes the fall division meeting; works with coaches on uniforms, training, game schedules, and other division tasks as necessary. Attends staff training (1x), monthly board meeting, spring coach meeting, annual section meeting.

Field Management Time commitment: 3+ hours each season. Help plan field layout in late summer; stripe fields before season begins; refresh lines in early AM on game days.

Registration Time commitment: 3-4 hours in April, May or June. Tasks include:

Planning/preparation. Help prepare for annual registration, including making signs; preparing handouts; purchasing supplies, materials, and equipment; distributing publicity; and recruiting or coordinating volunteers.

Registration Day. Assist at annual registration, late registration or wait list registration, e.g., greet parents, distribute forms, check information, process fees, sort and organize forms.

Post-registration work. Assist with follow ups as needed; prepare forms for database entry; manage records.

Data Management Time commitment: 3-4 hours in May or June. Assist with entering, checking and reconciling data in office database. Allied with post-registration day work.

Special Events Volunteers assist with:

Photo Day. Time commitment: Two Saturday mornings at the field, Photo Day plus prior week. Make sure information about Photo Day procedures is disseminated to coaches and parents.

Trophy Day. Time commitment: 2-4 hours in early June. Help sort and organize team trophies, distribute to teams.

Equipment Management Time commitment: 3-4 hours in August, November, April, or June. Retrieve goals and other equipment from storage at the beginning of each season; return to storage at end of season; take inventory of equipment as needed.

Newsletter Time commitment: 3-5 hours in February or August. Assist in publication of regional newsletter - conduct interviews, write articles, edit copy.

Tournament Administration Time commitment: 3-5 hours in early June. Help prepare for tournament weekend; enter and track team information and game standings on tournament days.

Uniform Management Time Commitment: 8-10 hours during July/August. 3-4 hours/month during months of play. Requirements: Regular/consistent Internet access. The time to answer/address frequent requests from players/families. Ability to negotiate new agreements with vendors. Ability to create and maintain a spreadsheet representing the complete regional uniform order. Ability to manage vendor (Score), distribution partner (Chicago Soccer), and interface with division administrators, coaches and parents. Verify invoices.

This position is best handled by one person, and a relatively turn-key system exists.

Statistician Time commitment: 1½ hrs/wk during season. Collect weekly games cards and input game data used by division administrators for team balancing and game scheduling. Work with data management volunteers.