Looking to Start a Team with LNUSC?

LNUSC is always looking to get more travel teams started. If you are interested in starting a team, please contact our travel director for additional information at [email protected] and must apply at https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/178550

There is help available to you for getting started in all aspects of the team. Understand taking on a travel soccer team is a multi-year yearlong commitment which requires a vast amount of time devoted to the players, team, and Club. To be eligible to coach a travel soccer team, you need to have at a minimum the grassroots licenses for your perspective age group prior to submitting your travel coach application, be in good standing with LNUSC, and then finally be approved by the LNUSC Board.

(Note: Just because you may have been a select coach during the previous Fall season does not guarantee you a travel coach position – this was clarified in the code of conduct you digitally signed during your Teamsnap Travel/Select Coach application).

EPYSA provides online (and onsite) grassroot licensing classes, to see which classes are available, please visit this site (create a login to view/register for classes)  https://www.epysa.org/us-soccer-grassroots-coaching-licenses-courses/

If you are selected you will be asked to attend a Club meeting which meets the 1st Monday of each month – details will be provided.

 

Things to know and plan for once approved:

1: Get registered as a coach - US Soccer connect – Background checks and required state certifications. If you or your assistants / managers have not gone through your checks and certifications these tasks will require completion before any coach/manager steps onto any practice or game field with children - https://langhornesoccer.org/background-check-process/

2: Playing Early – 1st Spring - Option to play the first Spring season for a newly created team over the winter; this will require you to move fast and to have players/parents willing and able to go – Rock Spring League is your best bet. Reach out to the assistant travel director for uniform guidelines - [email protected]

3: Teamsnap – you will need a team name (provide this to [email protected]) and then you will be provided with a Teamsnap team account within the LNUSC umbrella, primarily all team and club communications will be through Teamsnap. This is also where you will schedule all your team events.

4: Create a got Soccer account https://www.gotsport.com/asp/teams/login.asp and report login and password to [email protected]. This is where you will register for tournaments; it is encouraged for a team to play at a minimum of two tournaments per year.

5: Know the rules - Be aware of the Club’s bylaws, code of conduct, and age policy (NOTE: U9 – U10 players must be age pure for their perspective age group).

6: Budget – making a yearly budget and breaking down quarterly payments is key. Having a knowledgeable and willing team manager will go a long way. A travel season typically starts July/August (some new teams opt to start in the Spring) and runs through the entire year till June of the following year – That’s Summer/Fall, Winter, Spring. Understand that travel soccer is expensive and time consuming, it is important that you explain the meaning of commitment to players and parents. Provide a copy of your yearly budget to your tryout prospects.

Below is a list of must have items in your budget (front load your first quarter payment to cover any unexpected increases / missed payments from players):

  1. Annual yearly LNUSC travel player registration fee - typically $200 - $250.
  2. Uniform fee – typically two kits around $150 per player (optional 3rd kit available added cost)
  3. Equipment – you will need various training bibs, cones, and team balls
  4. Fall ICSL league fees are covered by LNUSC (EDP fee is covered equal to amount of ICSL)
  5. Fall league referee fees (10 games) these must be paid each game in cash to referees
    http://www.icslsoccer.org/referee-fees--amp--information/youth-game-referee-fee-schedule
    https://www.edpsoccer.com/leagueprocedures
  6. Training costs – Each U13 and under team is required to have at least 8 weeks of professional training by a LNUSC approved trainer – costs typically run around $75 - $100 per hour (not required if you are D licenses or higher coach)
  7. Tournaments - search via Gotsoccer for events and their costs (min 2 per year)
  8. Winter League fees – there are many options in the area (some require ref fees)
    - https://www.bobsmithsoccer.net/
    - https://www.rocketsports.com/
    - https://centercourtacademy.com/locations/lawrence/
    - https://www.sofive.com/sofiveelkinspark
  9. Spring League fees – Rock league and or additional EPYSA CUPs
    https://www.fcbucks.com/rock-spring-league/
  10. https://www.epysa.org/eastern-pennsylvania-challenge-cup/
  11. Spring referee fees per league, ROCK, EDP, and or EPYSA CUPs
    https://www.epysa.org/referee-fees/
    https://www.edpsoccer.com/leagueprocedures
  12. Miscellaneous expenses – keep an extra $100 - $200 budgeted for unexpected costs
  13. Break out fundraising options to help keep costs down

 

7: Tryouts – You will need to schedule tryouts and reach out to player prospects. LNUSC will post and provide an optimal tryout window.  Have a coaching philosophy and be prepared to explain your plans to parents and players. Reach out to our player/coach development director for guidance or help with tryouts - [email protected]. Direct tryout prospects to our free tryout registration on our registration page - these players that register for your team’s tryouts will then be assigned to your Teamsnap roster

8: Practice schedules - Request a set of preferred practice nights from [email protected]. The norm is two times a week either Mon/Wed or Tues/Thursday for 1.5 hours each night. During the Spring/Summer we do not have lights, so your start time is flexible – during the Fall there are set start/end times; which are 6pm – 7:30pm and 7:30pm to 9pm. Have some basic practice plans set - https://www.epysa.org/training-plans/

9: Player registration - Direct your new players to register and pay their LNUSC registration fee. For teams shooting to get an early start with the 1st Spring travel season they will need to have players register and pay the prorated travel registration for that season. Visit the registration page to find the appropriate registration form. An email will come out when registration opens for the following season.

10: Team bank account – create a team bank account (never keep team money in your personal account). It would be best to get a non-profit EIN # from the IRS.gov site; as this will help with fundraising event.

11: Player cards – Once you have selected your roster from tryout prospects you will need to inform those who made the team and those who did not. From there after each player has registered with LNUSC and paid their travel registration fee then each player will need to be entered into US Soccer Connect for League registration and carding. Additional instructions and help will be provided at this time for player cards.