Information for Parents

What is SWYSC?
SWYSC is South Whidbey's place for youth soccer, for ages 4 1/2 - 19. The Club has been in existence for over 20 years, and has grown to over 300 players every season in that time. Many of the coaches have many years experience; some coach high school and middle school teams; many play themselves. However, most of our coaches are just parents introduced to the sport each year after signing up a young player, and find they enjoy the experience well enough to continue in their role for many years.
How is the Club run?
The Club is administered by a Board of Directors, who meet monthly on the fourth Monday of the month. Meetings are open to all Club members. Check the Calendar for specific times and locations.
When does the Club play, and what kind of soccer do you play?
We have two seasons: Fall, and Spring. In the Fall, the Club teams are divided into two basic groups: those for players aged 9 and below, and those for players aged 10 and above. The latter play full-field soccer against other teams in our District, travelling to the mainland for half their games. The former play other SWYSC Club teams in their division in reduced-size teams on small fields, a game called "Mod Soccer". The number of players on the field starts as low as 3v3 for U6 ("under 6") teams all the way to 7v7 for some U10 teams. In the Spring, U10 and higher play in an all-Island league with teams from Central and North Whidbey.
Where can I find more information about soccer?
Parents of new players are often new to the sport themselves. For those interested, there's a useful pamphlet entitled "So This Is Soccer"; click here to view or print it (you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader for this, which you can get here if you don't have it). The focus for our players is predominantly on having a fun time, while developing some individual skill in the sport and learning how to work in a team.
Does my kid need to have played soccer before to join?
No. We encourage beginners of all ages to join. Our coaching is oriented toward new players at all levels, not just the youngest.
What does my kid need to play?
The only equipment required is a set of shinguards. These are inserted inside the socks, and protect players' shins from injury when kicked. Boots (cleats) are optional, but on our fields it's hard to stay on your feet unless you have them. A ball (size 3 for U6, size 4 for U8 and U10, size 5 for older kids) is useful, although the Club provides these for practices and games. Players generally wear shorts and long socks.
Both boots and shinguards are available at Webb's department store on the South End, and large chain sporting goods stores on the North End and off the island. Good Cheer often has used boots available for not much money. As a last resort, ask the Club: we often have a residue of used equipment that's been left on the field available for reuse.
How do I sign up my kid?
Registration for the coming season generally starts a couple of months before opening day. We announce registration in the local paper, on this website (of course) and through the schools, so stay tuned. For more information on registration for the current or upcoming season, check out the Registration page.
How can I help?
For young teams, we often ask parents to coach who feel they may not have enough knowledge to assume that responsibility. You should know, though, that (especially for U6 teams) the requirements aren't particularly onerous: sessions consist mostly of having kids run around with a ball with their parents, having a good time. We post useful information for coaches on the For Coaches page.

If you'd rather not coach, there's lots of volunteer jobs involved in running the Club. See the Volunteer page for jobs that need filling. Your kid's team probably needs a Team Manager, a Transport Coordinator (if they're travelling for away games), a team Photo person, someone to make sure there's water at the games, ... talk to the coach.

Let us know if there's things you don't see covered here. Thanks, and have a good season.