For the many parents who are new to Travel Soccer have questions about how Travel works within WWPSA and what they should expect from the experience, we created this Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQ") page to help explain how it all works. Click one of the questions below to automatically navigate to the answer. Don’t see your question below? Click here to e-mail our Director of Travel Soccer directly and he will respond promptly.

Questions:

1. Where and when do Travel teams play?
2. How far should I expect to drive each week?
3. What is a "League" and "Flight"?
4. What is the time commitment during the week?
5. What types of Travel teams does WWPSA offer?
6. What qualifications do the coaches have?
7. How do tryouts work?
8. How are Travel teams formed?
9. Do teams stay the same from year to year?
10. How much does Travel soccer cost?
11. What can I do if I need financial assistance for my child to play Travel soccer?
12. Can my child play Travel soccer at the same time as other sports?

 Answers:

1. Where and when do Travel teams play? WWPSA Travel teams play league games throughout New Jersey in the fall and spring. Roughly half of each season’s games are played in West Windsor or Plainsboro, while the other half are played depending on the team’s assigned League and Flight. Most Travel teams also participate in Winter Indoor league play at Mercer County Community College or elsewhere to stay in shape and maintain their skills between the outdoor seasons.
   
   WWPSA Travel teams are also expected to participate in tournament play to improve their skills against tougher competition. Most tournaments are located within reasonable driving distance of WWP, including the annual Sunburst Tournament, sponsored by the WWPSA in early June each year; however, some teams choose to participate in out-of-state tournaments that may require an overnight stay in a local hotel. Back to top
   
   
2. How far should I expect to drive each week? Most WWPSA teams play within the Mid-New Jersey Youth Soccer Association ("MNJYSA"), so most games are located within one hour of WWP. Other teams play in the MAPS or JAGS leagues, which are more competitive and may require drives of longer than one hour each way. Since teams form for one-year terms, many parents coordinate carpools for longer trips or where conflicts arise. Back to top
   
   
3. What is a "League" and "Flight"? Leagues are organizations that coordinate the schedules of teams. Teams are each assigned a "Flight" or division to group teams of similar ability and skill to promote healthy competition and development. The lower the Flight number, the higher the level of competition. Back to top
   
   
4. What is the time commitment during the week? All Travel teams practice at least one, and most often two afternoons or evenings during the week. All practices are held within West Windsor and Plainsboro, weather and field conditions permitting. Teams may also practice at alternate nearby locations, such as Mercer County Community College, when weather or field conditions prevent practicing on WWP fields. Parents are expected to attend practices to meet the requirements of at least two adults at every activity; however many teams create a rotating schedule where each parent takes a turn attending a practice to make sure their team adheres to this policy. Back to top
   
   
5. What types of Travel teams does WWPSA offer? WWPSA has three levels within its Travel program: Academy, Premier and Club. The Academy teams may not be formed any earlier than U-11 and require the highest level of commitment and skill to qualify; Premier teams may include talented players who may not wish to commit to the requirements of Academy or may not possess the skills required to compete at that level; Club players are skilled players who wish to participate in a higher level of competition than Recreational soccer but who lack either the interest or the skill to compete at a higher level. Back to top
   
   
6. What qualifications do coaches have? Many Travel teams are run by volunteer coaches whose child has qualified for that level team. All Travel coaches must possess an F License issued by the New Jersey Youth Soccer Association, but all coaches are encouraged to continue their education to obtain higher-level certification. All Travel teams exmploy a professional trainer to run at least one practice a week; these trainers are highly certified to coach age-appropriate soccer. Some teams are led by professional trainers who are paid to act as the Head Coach and run practices and games. These teams generally include those aspiring to play a higher level of soccer and are more expensive due to the higher fees paid to the professional trainer. Back to top
   
   
7. How do tryouts work? Tryouts are held in early May of each year to evaluate and rank all players within each particular age group by ability and, where applicable, by position. Tryouts are held within West Windsor or Plainsboro and are divided by those teams that play on small-sided ("SS") fields (U-08 through U-10) and those teams that play on full-sided ("FS") fields (U-11 through U-18). The SS tryouts are conducted by professional trainers, at least one of who is familiar with the kids through their role as the trainer for their particular team, with at least one other trainer acting as an independent, objective observer.
   
   One all players within a particular age group are ranked, the Travel Executive Committee meets to review the ratings and compare them to the ratings submitted by each team’s Team Manager / Head Coach, Assistant Coach and Trainer (who should attend the tryouts as an evaluator). Any significant discrepancies between the tryout rating and the ratings submitted by the coaches / trainer are then reviewed and rectified. Once the final ratings for an age group are set, coaches are selected based on those who submitted applications and the coach of the "A" team is notified that they were selected and given the roster of the first players who are on the team based on their rating from the tryouts. The coach then calls each player, extends an offer to play and waits to hear their response.
   
   Once the team is formed with the appropriate number of players (usually 12 for small-sided teams or 16 for full-sided teams), the coach notifies the Tryout Coordinator, who then notifies the "B" team coach and the process continues from there. It is possible to have all teams in an age group form their teams in a matter of days, but the process usually can take a few weeks due to delays in responses to offers or other reasons. Click here for a more detailed explanation of the Travel Tryout Process. Back to top
   
   
8. How are Travel teams formed? Tryouts last two days and the trainers submit joint evaluations of all players to the SS Tryout Coordinator for presentation and discussion with the Travel Executive Committee, who then reviews the results against the evaluations submitted by all coaches at that age group. Any inconsistencies are investigated and resolved and then a coach is chosen for the Premier team from among the top half of the highest-ranking players. That coach is presented with the highest-raking players and they then contact the players in decending order to extend offers to join the Premier team. Once the roster of the Premier team is set, any other teams within that age group are similarly formed until all teams are formed.
   
   Tryouts for FS teams in the U-11 through U-13 age groups are run similarly to those for the SS teams; however older FS teams hold individual team tryouts, rather than full age-group tryouts due to the reduced number of players at that level. Back to top
   
   
9. Do teams stay the same from year to year? At the small-sided level (U-08 through U-10) teams should expect to have some players move between teams, usually up to 5. Once players get older and play full-sided games, fewer players are likely to change teams as the talent and training differences become more apparent between Academy, Premier and Club teams at the same age group. Also, players are more likely to begin playing Travel soccer at the younger age groups than at the older age groups, so parents should expect higher turnover at the small-sided levels. Back to top
   
   
10. How much does Travel soccer cost?Fees to play Travel soccer are separated into three components: registration fee, uniform kit cost and team fees. (Click here to read a more detailed breakdown of what each player receives for their registration and team fees.)
    
    
    • Registration fee: fee to cover WWPSA expenses, including facilities; $110 for the 2007-08 year payable once per year during registration for Travel soccer
    • Uniform kit cost: pays for standard uniform; cost is $110 for the 2007-08 year and is paid during registration. Uniforms are purchased to last three years but individual components may be replaced during that time, as necessary.
    • Team fees: fee to cover each player’s share of professional trainer fees, league registration fees, tournament fees, practice facility fees (if not using WWPSA-permitted fields) and out-of-town travel costs, if applicable; fees usually range between $400 and $1,600 depending on the level of participation of the professional trainer and the number of out-of-state tournaments. Team fees are generally paid to the Team Treasurer once the team is formed and a Treasurer is chosen.
    • The initial fees are, therefore, $350 for 2007-08. Parents will have to pay any additional team fees that will likely be assessed per player once teams have completed their annual budget. During the 2006-07 Travel year, most Travel players paid between $400 and $600 per year at the small-sided level and between $700 and $1,600 at the full-sided level. The discrepancy is based on each team's reliance on a professional trainer to run practices or games, indoor gym practice time and the number of out-of-state or high-level tournaments. Back to top
      
      
11. What can I do if I need financial assistance for my child to play Travel soccer? We never want money to interfere with a child’s ability to enjoy soccer, so we accept applications for financial assistance from any family who wishes to apply. All applications are kept strictly confidential and are discussed in detail between only the Dir. of Travel Soccer and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Click here to e-mail the Dir. of Travel Soccer for an application and further guidance. Back to top
    
    
12. Can my child play Travel soccer at the same time as other sports? Absolutely. Many Travel soccer players, particularly at the younger ages, play two sports during the same season, including baseball, football or lacrosse. Any players who anticipate scheduling conflicts should make their coach aware of the conflict before the season begins or as soon as possible so that the coach can plan practice or game schedules accordingly. However, those players who wish to play at either the Academy or Premier levels should seriously consider their interest in playing other sports during the soccer season as these teams generally expect a stronger level of commitment to soccer due to the higher expectations at that skill level. The coach and the skill level of the players on the team, as well as their relative level of interest will determine the level of competition for each Travel team at all levels.  Back to top