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Bruce Samlan Soccer League

Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Why does registration end so early?  While we fully understand that many parents are not thinking about soccer registration in February (for spring) or June (for fall), our Board members need to execute many functions before the parent meeting and season kickoff (preparing coaching kits, uniforms, and trophies, field maintenance, team creation, coach and referee recruitment, picture day schedules, concessions prep, player awards, and field setup, etc).  Your early enrollment gives us a good starting point to creating what you see on the field on Saturdays.  Please help us keep items on schedule and running smoothly by registering early.  We expressly created a late fee to encourage early registration and we now permit registration without immediate payment so please register sooner to help us execute later.

    We often launch the season and have parents and players contacting us to register.  This is often very hard to accommodate as we have already ordered uniforms, created teams, created a playing format for the relative division, and prepared fields.  Late registrations usually hurt teams by adding more players, which equals less playing time, so please register early to help us start finalizing our plans and preparing to execute the season.   
     
  • Do I need to buy any equipment for my player?  Uniforms (jersey, shorts, and socks)  are included with registration.  You will need to provide shin guards and a soccer ball for your player.  A soccer ball is required for practices (size 3 ball for players under 8, size 4 ball for 8-12 year olds, and size 5 ball for any players age 13+) and cleats are STRONGLY recommended. 
     
  • Can I register my 3-year-old?  Children need to be 4 years old by the first game of the season.  There are two main reasons for this rule. 

    The first reason is for safety.  Kids at this age are playing "swarm" ball and multiple times during a game will fall down in crowds.  A smaller kid is much more prone to falling or being knocked down accidentally by the other players.   

    The second reason is social/technical comprehension.  At such young ages, playing levels differ greatly as the kids grow.  Our volunteer coaches try to tailor practices to the team as a whole, helping them progress together, rather than worry about one who is lagging behind. While playing levels will always vary to a degree, we have learned from past experience that is it magnified when you add younger ages.  This impedes the soccer development of the older kids and also tends to frustrate coaches. 

    Once the season starts, we encourage you to bring your 3-year-old to the fields during games so they can see what soccer is like, and then register them when they turn 4.
     
  • When and where do the teams train? All practices are held at either Cross Park (formerly Hawes Park, 11588 Cedarbrook Road) or Kelley Myers Park (12574  Wilmington Close) in Roscoe.  Because all BSSL Coaches are unpaid volunteers, the coaches are given the flexibility to select times for their training sessions.  It is expected that the coaches choose times that are convenient for themselves as well as the players' families.  Most coaches select Monday through Friday for practice day(s).
     
  • How often do teams train? The younger divisions (4-6 year olds) usually train 1 time per week.  Ages 7 and above train 1-2 times per week.  The HYSA Board only requires coaches to train once per week, but encourages multiple training sessions per week - as long as players and families are not made to feel guilty or players discriminated against if they choose to only attend one training session per week
     
  • What is the weather policy?  BSSL games are held in all weather conditions, as long as lightning is not present.  If lightning is spotted, all games will be paused or cancelled by the BSSL Board.  One rain date is usually scheduled at the end of the game season for make up games.  Practices are determined by the coaches, so contact your coach if you're not sure if your practice is cancelled due to inclement weather.
     
  • When do the players receive their trophies?  Participation trophies or medallions are received on the day of the last game.
     
  • What divisions have playoffs and when do the playoffs occur? Playoffs are not part of a recreational league and thus are not part of BSSL regular season play.  Tournaments that offer playoff type play and competition are held locally separate from the seasons of the BSSL recreational / developmental league.  BSSL players are permitted to compete in Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) sanctioned tournaments if desired.
     
  • What division will my child be in? Divisions are determined by the calendar year age of registered players and the number of players who register. Only after registration is complete is it possible to predict the divisions of players and the number of teams in each division.  All efforts are made to field divisions inside of the players' identifiable skill levels and such that fair league play can occur.  

    A PDF reference can be found here to determine your player's playing age.   Please keep in mind that BSSL usually combines playing ages (U10 includes U9, U12 includes U11, etc.)
     
  • How many teams are created per division?  Are they coed?  These options are determined by the number of players who register in any given age group, the gender count of the players who register, the field sizing, and the field availability for scheduling of games, and maintaining parity between teams.  It is more common to have coed teams during the fall season.
     
  • How are teams formed?  Teams are formed by the BSSL Board of Directors.  Sibling requests are honored first and then available players in the division are assigned to teams such that balanced rosters exist relative to players' ages, gender, seasons of experience. and known skill level.  For team formation, two particular goals are pertinent.  First, to attempt to maintain as much balance in the league as possible.  And second, to attempt to provide equal opportunity, development and fun for all players in the league.  The BSSL Board makes every effort to maintain parity in the league, by paying careful attention to the ages and abilities of players within the division to balance out the teams.
     
  • Is there a same team option, sibling option, buddy option or same coach option?  Because teams are determined based on the above criteria, there is no way to guarantee the same team/coach between different seasons. We also cannot maintain a buddy option because of the difficulty in maintaining balance across the league.  BSSL DOES honor requests for siblings to play on the same team but we are only able to do this if children's ages fall into the same division (i.e., U10, U12, etc.).  One of the positives to new teams each season is all of the players get to make a new set of friends and learn from different coaches.
     
  • ​​​​Does my child have to stay with the same coach or be teammates with certain players?  No.  The options to request to NOT have the same coach, or to NOT be teammates with certain players, are always considered and are honored wherever possible. This must be requested at registration. 
     
  • Are existing teams able to join or come into the league as a team?  No, this is to prevent an existing team from coming in and destroying what parity exists in the league.  However, the players from existing external teams are welcome to join the league individually and be placed on rosters just like all other BSSL players.
     
  • Is there parity/balance in the league?  The BSSL Board continuously strives for parity and does its best to achieve and maintain parity in the league.  This is difficult to do without tryouts or a draft, but we do our best.
     

  • Where does the BSSL stand on competition and competitiveness?  BSSL believes that for 4 to 6 year old players, the game is the best teacher, the focus is on having fun, developing skills, and promoting physical fitness.  BSSL believes that for players 7 years old and above, competition can be a healthy part of training and game play.  BSSL uses small-sided soccer formats (smaller teams, more individual touches on the ball by each player) to improve player development.  BSSL does not tolerate among its volunteers, coaches, parents, or players the level of competition that involves attitude of "win at all costs," as this often hurts player growth.  A team may certainly have the goal of winning all of its games, but this overall goal must not come at the expense of any one team member.  BSSL does not tolerate putting competitiveness ahead of sportsmanship or maintaining a safe and developmental environment.  BSSL believes that player development is best when the league provides opportunities for each individual player to learn the game, make tactical decisions on the field and working with teammates in a competitive game against other league teams. 

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