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Q |
What are the eligibility
requirements to play in Mansfield Soccer Association? |
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A |
As a general rule
your child must be eligible to go to a Mansfield public school.
They do not actually have to attend one (private school, home
school, pre-kindergarten children for example) they just have to
be eligible to attend MISD. We also allow some surrounding
school district to be eligible, for example children living in
Burleson (but attend MISD), Kennedale and Venus may
also register without a release form. |
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Q |
What is a
release form? |
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A |
If you live outside
of MISD and you want to play with us you must be
released from your home association. If you need more
information on this please contact the soccer office. |
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Q |
What is the minimum
age that a child must be before they can play? |
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A |
Eligibility is determined in the
Fall as of July 31st, whether a child played in the Fall season
or not. Just like a school year MSA uses a Fall/Spring
soccer year. Therefore, a child must by 3 years old on or
before July 31st that proceeds any Fall season and
they are eligible for the First Touches Samba Soccer. A
child must be 4 years old on or before July 31st that proceeds
any Fall to join the regular league. |
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Q |
When does the soccer
season begin? |
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A |
The first game of the Fall season is
usually the first or second weekend in September and for the Spring season is
the first or second weekend in March. Practice can begin after the coaches
meeting has been completed. |
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Q |
When is Registration for Soccer? |
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A |
On-line registration for the Fall is
the entire month of July and for the Spring is the entire month
of January. If you prefer to not register online you can stop in
at the soccer office during office ours and register in person.
Please check the Contact Page for office hours and location.
Please
keep in mind that when school is out I am not in the office –
also I do occasionally have to run errands so you might want to
call the office first to make sure I am in. Office
817.473.1177 |
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Q |
Where are the Mansfield Soccer
Association offices located? |
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A |
We are located on the south bound
service road of Hwy 287 between Turner Warnell and Callender
Road. The physical address is 2363 Hwy 287. The building is a
brown/grey building with 2 big blue/grey stripes. Turn in to
the parking lot right before the baseball fields – I am in suite
206. |
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Q |
What is the soccer office phone
number? |
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A |
The number at the office is
817-473-1177. The fax number is 817.473.7786. However, for rain out information try the city
line at 817-453-1467. |
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Q |
How are the age group divided? |
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A |
Each child is placed into an age
group based upon their age as of July 31st. This child would stay in this age group for an entire
Fall/Spring season even though in the Spring this child will be
5 years old. |
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Q |
What is the cost per season for a
child to play soccer in Mansfield? |
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A |
-The amount that a child pays per
season is based on which age group they are in.
- First Touches Samba Soccer U4 children pay $60 registration fee
plus $20 for the uniform (short, jersey, socks)
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Children that are U5/U6 will pay $55 per season - plus $20 for
the uniform - they are only required to purchase this once
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Children that are U7/U8 will pay $65.00 per season to
register - plus $30 for the uniform (which only needs to
be purchased once (if you stay on the same team) the
same uniform is worn for U7 and U8 so 4 season (fall/spring -
fall/spring
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Children that are U9 through U12 will pay $70.00 per season
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U13 and above will pay $75.00 per season.
(these prices are subject to change)
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Q |
What does that registration amount
include? |
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A |
For
all children that amount includes supplemental insurance though
North Texas State Soccer Association, field usage fees, referee
fees, and a patch. For children that are U8 and below this fee
also includes a trophy that is given to the children by their
coach at the end of the season and for U9 and above this
includes trophies given to the first and second place teams
only. |
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Q |
What about
uniforms? |
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A |
The U4
children's uniform is included in their registration fee and
includes a jersey, shorts and socks.
The U5 and U6 children are required to wear the
uniform that we provide. It is a
reversible shirt and matching socks. (Parents must
provide black soccer shorts.) You can purchase
this uniform when you register your child and the cost
is $20.
If your child has an older sibling or you have a uniform
from another source you are not required to purchase one
from us. Once you have the uniform you do not have
to purchase one every year. Uniforms are given to
the coaches and then they get them to you before the
first game.
The U7 age group the players will wear the uniform select by
MSA, however since the uniforms are specific to the team, once
the coaches have their meeting they will contact you and let you
know how to purchase these kits.
For the U8 the teams will wear uniform kits approved by
MSA once the child is placed on a team the coach will give the
parent ordering information, the cost will be $30.00. The uniform kits will be given
to the coach and the coach will deliver the kits to the parents
For our older children U10 and Up – The team is allowed to
purchase what ever uniform that they wish. Generally the cost
is not more than $50.00 and generally teams use their uniforms
for more that one season. |
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Q |
What else is my child required to
have? |
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A |
All children are required to have
age and size appropriate shin guards. A soccer ball and cleats
are highly recommended. For U4 though U8 a size #3 soccer ball
is needed, from U9 though U13 a size #4 soccer ball is needed
and from U14 and up a size #5 soccer ball is needed.
As far as cleats go
they must be soccer cleats and not football or baseball cleats –
baseball cleats have a front toe cleat that is dangerous if used
in a soccer game and football cleats have a side flared cleats
(the cleats flare out from the side beyond the sole
construction) that are equally as dangerous. Also, cleats, due
to their construction are generally easier to clean when they
get muddy. Tennis shoes or sneakers have too much fabric thus
making them harder to get clean. |
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Q |
How often do the children practice? |
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A |
The First Touches
Samba Soccer league does not have practice during the week -
they only meet once a week on Saturdays from 3 pm to 4:15
For the rest of the leagues a coach can practice
up to twice a week. Generally, MSA’s philosophy is
three (3) soccer events per week, two practices sessions and one
game |
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Q |
Where do the
children practice? |
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A |
Generally the
younger age groups practice at Philip Thompson park
(please go to the map section of this web site for a
map) the older children generally practice at Hardy Almon park (please go to
the map section of this web site for a map). However, we also
have agreements with MISD and so your child regardless of age may
practice at one of the local schools that MISD allow us to use. |
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Q |
When are the games? |
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A |
The First Touches
Samba Soccer League will meet on Saturdays from 3 pm to 4:15 pm they
will have skills and then play their games.
The majority of our
games are played on Saturday, however, the older age
groups sometimes have games on Tuesday and/or Thursdays
or even very occasionally on a Sunday afternoon.
For our older children (U13 and above) Mansfield Soccer
Association registers these teams in the Arlington Soccer
Unlimited league. This allows the older children the
opportunity to play against other teams in the area (Arlington
and Grand Prairie). However, this means that they will also
play in these other areas. Arlington Soccer Association makes
up these schedules and so the time frames may differ slightly as
far as season starting and ending dates are concerned. |
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Q |
How many games are
in a season? |
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A |
First Touches Samba
Soccer League meet for 5 weeks
We attempt to play a
9 week season with one week generally added for a make up game
due to weather. In the Spring we are generally unable to add a
weather make up dates due to the number of breaks that we
already have to take (spring break and Easter). Therefore,
realistically 8 to 9 games make up a soccer season. |
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Q |
How do I register my
child? |
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A |
You may register
your child on-line. When you return to the home page if
you click on the “registration” page it will take you to our
secure on-line link. You may pay with credit card or with
check. You can also choose to come to the
soccer office during published office hours. The
office hours are posted on this web site or you can call
the soccer office at 817-473-1177 and the hours are
posted on our answering machine. |
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Q |
Can I choose which
team my child plays on? |
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A |
For children who are
new to MSA and are U8 and below we do honor "friend" requests in
a limited manner. According to NTSSA, our parent
organization, we can allow children to be placed on a specific
team with a specific "friend", and therefore avoid the draft, IF
they have NEVER played for a NTSSA organization. A
"friend" request must come to the registrar
(registrar@mansfieldsoccer.org) - once the verification process
has been completed then that child will be placed on the roster.
"Friend of a Friend" can be used to create a new team provided
the requirements are met for each friend - ie each friend has
NEVER played with a NTSSA organization.
Once a child is on a roster they can choose to return to that
roster each season.
We also allow
exceptions for siblings. We do not allow
exceptions for ride sharing, assistant coaching and most
other reasons. |
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Q |
The “draft” does my
child have to try out for a team? |
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A |
No, your child does
not try out for a team. The draft is the way we
try to insure that Mansfield Soccer Association remains
recreational in nature. Each child that does not
have a team will be assigned a number and then the
commissioner of that age group will see which teams need
players and how many players that team needs - the
commissioner will then draw a number and the child
assigned that number will be assigned to that team. Our
goal in doing it this was is so that we do not have
coaches “stacking” teams. |
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Q |
Is
my child required to return to the draft each year or can he
stay on the same team? |
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A |
Once your child is placed on a team
– each subsequent season your child can choose to either a:)
return to his team or b:) return to the draft. If you child
chooses to return to his team he will be automatically placed on
the last team that he was registered to.
We will allow a
child to sit out a season (for example some children choose to
play soccer in the fall and baseball in the spring) and then
return to team if there is room on the last team he was register
to. If, however, the team was full the season your child choose
to sit out and all of the players return – your child will have
to go to the draft – we will not remove a player from a team to
make room for your child. |
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Q |
Since
your coaches are volunteers –do you screen them in any way? |
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A |
Yes, all
coaches, volunteers, and board members are required to
submit to a back ground check every year. This is done
through North Texas Soccer Association and the program
that they use currently checks 47 states for any red
flags. Mansfield Soccer Association also requires that
any vender that works with us, such as the individuals
that we contract to run our concession stand or to take
pictures, must submit to an annual back ground check. |
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Q |
Do
all of the children play on the same size field with the same
number of players? |
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A |
No,
Mansfield Soccer Association has chosen to play what is called
“small sided soccer”. The advantages of small sided soccer are
as follows: By reducing the number of children on the field at
a time there is a greater likelihood that all of the children
will be involved in the play, the field sizes are proportional
to the children’s size and gradually increase as our children
grow, because of the smaller sized fields it is important that
the child learn control, and for our littlest ones it helps to
avoid the confusion that can happen when you are telling them to
not touch the ball with their hands but then you tell them o.k.
pick up the ball and throw it in, to help with the confusion
small sided waits until the children are older to introduce goal
keepers and throw-ins.
Small Sided Games Shape Up As Follows:
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U5 |
3 on 3 |
max roster 6 |
kick-in |
20x25 field |
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U6 |
3 on 3 |
max roster 6 |
kick-in |
20x25 field |
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U7 |
4 on 4 |
max roster 8 |
kick-in |
30x50 field |
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U8 |
5 on
5 |
max roster 10 |
throw-in |
30x50 field |
Keeper |
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U9 |
7 on
7 |
rec. roster 10 |
throw-in |
40x50 field |
Keeper |
Offside |
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U10 |
7 on
7 |
rec. roster 10 |
throw-in |
40x50 field |
Keeper |
Offside |
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U11 |
9 on
9 |
rec. roster 12 |
throw-in |
50 x 70 field |
Keeper |
Offside |
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U12 and up |
11 on 11 |
rec. roster 16 |
throw-in |
70x120 field |
keeper |
offside |
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Q |
If my child chooses to not play how
do I remove him/her from the team; and do we get a
refund? |
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A |
To remove your
child from a team please contact the registrar and she
can help you with this. A refund will be issued if the
child quits before the 2nd week of the season. A portion
of your registration fee will not be refunded for cost
of registration and processing fees. After the 2nd week
of the season refunds are granted on an individual basis
and at the discretion of the board. |
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Q |
My
child is new at the game I am afraid they will not get enough
play time. Is this addressed in Mansfield Soccer Association? |
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A |
Each child is guaranteed to play at
least half of a game as is addressed in the MSA’s Rules and
Regulations in the Coaches Handbook. |
