Richmond Kickers

The RKYSC Travel Program provides a venue for players to improve their skills and develop their game to the highest possible level by training and playing in a challenging and competitive environment with like-minded players. The Richmond Kickers Travel Program consists of U.S. Soccer Development Academy, Elite, Classic and Advanced Development Soccer League (ADSL) teams.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy is U.S. Soccer’s national team program. Competition is held in U15/16 and U17/18 Boys age groups only. The Development Academy concept is a comprehensive program providing more than just improved competition in the development of players. It involves the training of players, coaches and referees, scouting by U.S. National Team and college coaches, and the sharing of the latest information and concepts on performance training and expertise development. To maintain a focus on training, Development Academy teams do not play in any other leagues, tournaments or State Cup competitions. Additionally, players are only allowed to compete on their designated Academy team, with only two exceptions: high school soccer and national team duty.

Beginning in the Fall 2009, RKYSC will be offering a U14 Development Academy program. The U14 Academy pool will consist of the existing U13, U14 and U15 Richmond Kickers players born in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Players will be invited to participate in the U14 Academy program by the Richmond Kickers Technical Staff and will participate in additional training sessions and games throughout 2009 – 2010 seasonal year. The exact structure of the program will be released on the Richmond Kickers website at www.richmondkickers.com shortly.

Elite teams represent the most competitive teams within the RKYSC structure. These teams may be comprised of players from all RKYSC geographic areas with the intent of fielding the strongest possible team. The Elite team will select the top players in each age group beginning at the U11 age group. Accordingly, there is only ONE Elite team in each age group. Our Elite teams compete in the Super Y League, VCCL and several prestigious tournaments. The vast majority of our Elite teams have a nationally licensed coach and practice 2-3 times per week with a game on the weekend. Membership fee includes a Kickers Pro Pass, which entitles holder access to all Richmond Kickers Pro and Destiny regular season home games.

Classic teams are generally comprised of U13-U18 players from a single RKYSC geographic location. The Classic Travel program provides a competitive environment that falls between that of the Elite Travel and Recreational Programs. The purpose of these teams is to provide a forum for player development and competitive play. Teams practice twice per week with a game on the weekend. Our Classic programs are offered throughout the Greater Richmond area and depending on the number of players available at tryouts, there maybe more than one classic team at a single geographic location. Membership fee includes a Pro Pass, which entitles the holder access to all Richmond kickers Pro and Destiny regular season home games.

ADSL teams are generally comprised of U9-U12 players from a single RKYSC geographic location. The ADSL program emphasizes technical and physical development while encouraging individual creativity and expression. The program’s focus is not on winning but on developing each player to his or her fullest potential, preparing the players for success in the future. The program also includes Advanced Skills and Goalkeeper clinics and age specific pool training. Membership fee includes a Pro Pass, which entitles the holder access to all Richmond Kickers Pro and Destiny regular season home games.

Central (City of Richmond / Henrico County)
Collegiate (Goochland / Robins Campus)
South (Chesterfield County)
North (Ashland and Hanover County)

Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club travel teams currently compete in four different leagues depending on players’ age and level of play.

RKYSC U15/16 and U17/U18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams play in the U.S. Soccer Development academy league. RKYSC Academy teams play 30 games per year during the 8-month season against other conference, cross-conference and national Academy teams. More information about the US Soccer Development Academy can be found at http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/acad/index.jsp.html

RKYSC U11-U18 Elite Boys and Girls teams play in the Virginia Club Champions League (VCCL) against other Elite teams from the following clubs throughout Virginia: Richmond Strikers, FC Richmond, SOCA, Williamsburg, Virginia Rush, Beach FC, and Roanoke Star. VCCL is the most competitive league in the State of Virginia. More info about VCCL can be found at www.vcclsoccer.com.

RKYSC U13-U18 Classic teams play in the Virginia Soccer League Inc (VSLi) and compete against other Classic level teams from various clubs in the greater Richmond area as well as Southeast and Northern Virginia. More info about VSLI can be found at www.vsli.org

RKYSC U9 – U12 ADSL teams compete in the Advanced Development Soccer League (ADSL). All games are played in the greater Richmond area and require very little travel on the part of players and parents. ADSL does not keep standings and the league’s focus is on player development setting the stage for their future success. More info about ADSL can be found at http://www.adslsoccer.com/

The Super Y league is a national system designed for talented youth players destined for college, professional and international careers. Competition for Super Y league is only between ages U13 and U18. The league is a perfect compliment to the Richmond Kickers vision of providing superior training and highly competitive games for our elite players. The Super Y season usually consists of 11-13 games. The majority of games are played during the summer (June-August) and the National Finals are held every November. All Richmond Kickers Elite players are strongly encouraged to participate in the Super Y competition.

RKYSC will also offer Super Y Developmental Program for boys and girls in the under 9 through under 12 age groups. These players will be afforded top quality training during the summer plus festival type competition.

Coaches Salaries (Our relationship with the Kickers Pro Club provides us with an unique and invaluable resource for a lot of our Coaches as well it allows us to attract other high quality licensed coaches who want to be part of a high caliber and impacting Club.)
Coaches Travel expenses (minimum of 2 “out of town” tournaments per year – additional support provided based on age and level of team)
Technical Director Fee
Assistant Technical Director Fee
Continued Coaching Education (We continually provide resources to our Coaches to improve or enhance their coaching education thereby improving our programs for our children.)
Coaches training equipment
Additional Skills training (Pool Training, Advanced Skills & Goal Keeper)
College Guidance Program
Tournament, State Cup and Showcase events (allocations range from $2,000 to $3,500 per year, based on age and level of team)
League and governing organizational fees (ADSL, VCCL, VSLi, VYSA, US Club Soccer)
Background checks on all coaches and volunteers through the Virginia Youth Soccer Association.
Insurance Fees
On-line registration
Referee fees
Office operations
Municipality Field set-up and maintenance fees
Ukrop Park set up and maintenance fees
Scholarship Fund (This fund is specifically setup each year as a resource pool to help our less fortunate children whom want the opportunity to play and grow)
Capital Improvement Fund ($15 per season) (This fund is specifically setup for capital improvements such as future fields and/or future office space for the Youth Club as well as emergency equipment acquisitions.)
Pro Pass Membership, which entitles holder access to all Kickers Pro, and Destiny regular season home games. Plus, take advantage of great sponsor offers from Ukrop’s and Arby’s.
Community based projects (Top Soccer, Positive Coaching Alliance, community outreach programs)

Optional outerwear and equipment items will be available at discounted rates when the acceptance is made. Items offered include the adidas Terra Pass pro soccer ball, the adidas Velocity II backpack, the grey training t-shirt with the Richmond Kickers Logo is red across the chest, the new Richmond Kickers car magnet, the adidas 3/4 Tiro Training pant and sibling passes for the Pro games. All payments for uniforms are expected at time the order is placed. Uniform items for unpaid players will not be ordered until full payment is received.

Financial Assistance and Payment Arrangements:

The Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club offers financial assistance to those families that qualify. Families will need to download the application to be found on the "forms" page and provide the necessary documentation to our Financial Assistance committee. All provided paperwork will be destroyed once a determination has been made.

Payment arrangements are also available to all families if needed. You would need to download the form found on the "forms" page and submit it to our office for approval.

Player Commitments and Playing Time

Players are required to attend 3 training sessions per week, all league and tournament games. Supplemental training sessions and games may be added. U.S. Soccer Development Academy league has instituted specific technical requirements as it pertains to playing time of the league participants. While each academy player must start a minimum of 30% of the games, he is never guaranteed playing time in each particular game. Substitutions are made according to FIFA rules with no reentry permitted at any time during the game. Playing time may be more or less than that of another player on the team and will be determined by the coach.

Players are required to attend two – three (1hr 30min) training sessions a week, all league and tournament games. Supplemental training sessions and games may be added. Playing time on an Elite team is never guaranteed. Playing time may be more or less than that of another player on the team and will be determined by the coach. Playing time is based on attendance, attitude, commitment and ability.

U13-U18 Classic Teams

Players are required to attend two (1hr 30min) training sessions a week, all league and tournament games. Supplemental training sessions and games may be added. If a player regularly attends both training sessions, displays good attitude and effort to learn and improve, he/she will get playing time in league games. Playing time may be more or less than that of another player on the team and will be determined by the coach. Playing time in tournaments is never guaranteed. Playing time is based on attendance, attitude, commitment and ability.

Players are required to attend two (1hr – 1hr 30min) training sessions a week, all league and tournament games. Supplemental training sessions and games may be added. If a player regularly attends both training sessions, displays good attitude and effort to learn and improve, he/she will get playing time in both league and tournament games. Playing time may be more or less than that of another player on the team and will be determined by the coach. Playing time is based on attendance, attitude, commitment and ability.

• to represent myself, my team, my club and my family to the best of my abilities
• to commit to soccer as my primary sport or activity and to give priority to soccer whenever conflicts arise
• to work hard at practice and games
• to be punctual to all team and club functions
• to respect all coaches and game officials and to accept their decisions without question
• to respect my teammates, opponents and the laws of the game
• to demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times- in practice, in games, on and off the field
• to abide by my coach’s decision regarding playing time and position on the field
• to approach the coach with any personal soccer related problems
• to learn the rules, policies and procedures of the Team & Club
• never leave a game or practice without my coach’s permission
• never threaten, taunt nor deliberately attempt to injure another player
• never use profane or vulgar language
• never use drugs, tobacco products or alcoholic beverage

Long-term player development is the number one goal of the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club. RKYSC player development program is divided into three stages:

Developmental stage – U9-U12 age groups
Transitional stage – U13-U15 age groups
Competitive stage – U16-U18 age groups

Furthermore, RKYSC player development program encompasses Technical, Tactical, Physical and Psychological aspects of the game that are specific to each stage and each age group and that ensure adequate player development and progress over the entire course of the program.

The goal of this stage is to provide ample opportunities for players to build a solid foundation that will ensure their future success. While teams always compete to win games, results are not important. During training sessions players work on learning soccer fundamentals and are, then, encouraged to try them in league and tournament play. During games players are encouraged to take risks, to try out different things and to play with emotional freedom without undue pressure of winning games from coaches and parents.

During this stage the pace of player development quickens due to the acceleration of physical and mental maturation. Main emphases are on the development of individual skills under pressure of time, space and an opponent. During training sessions and games, players are encouraged to solve various problems (decision making) within the context of the game or a particular situation on the field. Team tactics and various systems of play are introduced into the training program. The game should remain fun and enjoyable and players should have a passion for the game.

This stage of player development is characterized by demanding and challenging training sessions and competitive matches. All individual skills are practiced, for the most part, at match speed and under match conditions. Coaches demand excellence from players in all aspects of individual skills while understanding that mistakes will happen. Training sessions involve technical functional and tactical functional training and a great deal of coaching is within 9 v 9 or 11 v 11 situations.

The start of seasonal practices is restricted by field openings, which are determined by the respective city or county locality. In general, practices begin as soon as fields are made available for play, which typically occurs 2-3 weeks prior to the first game, and ends with the final game, which is also restricted by locality determining field availability.

Attempts are made to schedule practices as conveniently as possible for each team based on where the respective players reside. Practice schedules for a given team may involve multiple locations and are restricted by the availability and locations of fields as assigned by the city or county locality.

Practices are conducted between Monday and Friday, starting no earlier than 4:00pm and ending no later than 9:30pm, with practices after 8pm restricted to U15 and older age groups. Practices may be scheduled on a weekend or during other days and times than the regular training schedule as mutually determined by the coach and team members. Tournament only teams during the spring season will typically conduct practices on Sunday after 1:00pm or Saturday at times and locations mutually determined by the coach and the team members.

U15/U16 and U17/U18 U.S. Soccer Academy teams will train at least three (3) times per week.

Elite teams will conduct two (2) or three (3) practice sessions each week, 1hour 30 min per session, as determined by the coach and Technical Director, prior to each season. It is recommended that Elite teams train three (3) times a week during the season in which they participate in the State Cup: U12-U14 teams in the spring and U15-U18 teams in the fall.

Classic teams will conduct two (2) practice sessions each week, 1 hour and 30 min. per session.

ADSL teams will conduct two (2) practice sessions each week, 1 hour - 1 hour and 30 min. per session.

Practices shall be cancelled under conditions of dangerous weather or other conditions as necessary to help ensure the safety of the player. In case of inclement weather, please call our weather hotline at 804.644.5425 then dial 2 for the youth club and dial 2 again for the weather hotline. Practices cancelled due to weather may be made up at the discretion of the coach and depending on field availability. .

The RKYSC open tryout process shall typically be held during April / May of each year to select players for the following playing year (Fall/Spring). A limited open tryout may be held at the discretion of the RKYSC Technical Director and affected coaches between the fall and spring seasons.

The RKYSC tryout process shall be open to all players and shall give equal consideration to each player without regard to race, religion, ethnic or social background, or economic status.

Prospective players wishing to tryout after the team roster has been established may be considered if there are open position(s) on the roster and after being evaluated by, at a minimum, the team coach.

Players may be added to a team at any time during the seasonal year provided that there are open spots on the roster.

Teams will be grouped according to player birth-date. Players born between August 1st of a given year and July 31st of the following year will constitute a single age group. There may be occasions where it is warranted to combine two age groups to ensure a sufficient number and caliber of players – typically in the older age groups. When this is done, the teams are defined by the older age group. Thus, a U17 and U18 combined team is considered to be a U18 team.

Note: Unlike all other teams, U15/U16 and U17/U18 U.S. Soccer Academy teams are grouped by the January 1st birth-date.

Age Group	Born on or After
U9	08/01/00
U10	08/01/99
U11	08/01/98
U12	08/01/97
U13	08/01/96
U14	08/01/95
U15	08/01/94
U16	08/01/93
U17	08/01/93
U18	08/01/91
U19*	08/01/90

Teams will only be formed if there are a sufficient number of players trying out to ensure adequate team depth. All teams U13 and older shall have a minimum of 15 players on their roster.

Age Group	# Players on Field	Maximum Roster Size
U9 - U10	7 v 7	12
U11 - U12	8 v 8	14
U13 - U15	11 v 11	18
U16 - U18	11 v 11	22*
U.S. Soccer Academy Teams	11 v 11	unlimited

*A team may have 22 players but can only declare 18 of those 22 players eligible on a game day for a match roster.

Players may be allowed to play in a higher age division “play up” if it is clearly in the best interest of the player involved and if the following conditions are met:

1. Upon approval of the Technical Director
2. The player in question will likely a) be able to earn significant amount of playing time on the older age group team b) be able to maintain this level of play throughout the entire season without an adverse effect on the player’s development and growth.
3. The only option for the player is to play on an older age group team since there is no team in his/her own age group that a player can play on.

The RKYSC Travel program is guided by the club’s Technical Director, Ihor Dotsenko. In addition, to ensure that all technical goals of the club are achieved, the club employs the following directors of coaching:

Name	Title	Qualifications
Ihor Dotsenko	Technical Director	UEFA A, USSF A, USSF Youth
Andy McIntosh	Classic Director (U13 - U18 Classic)	USSF A
Mike Burke	Advanced Development Soccer League Director (U9 - U12 ADSL)	USSF B
Summers Hambrick	MYSL Player Development	USSF D
Mark Murphey	Goalkeeping Director	University of Richmond Goal Keeping Coach
Jesse Myers	College Guidance Director	NSCAA Premier

Each Director has detailed responsibilities specified in his contract to ensure that all RKYSC teams, coaches and players receive sufficient support from the club’s Technical Staff.

RKYSC places high priority on hiring a highly qualified, licensed and knowledgeable coaching staff. The club provides strong support for the coaches by:

• Promoting and funding continuing education and other avenues for coaching development
• Providing competitive pay scales based upon coaching experience, licensing and performance.
• Providing a professional, supportive environment.

All RKYSC Coaches shall strictly follow RKYSC Coaches Commitments. All RKYSC Coaches shall:

RKYSC Technical Director will provide a list of recommended tournaments for all travel teams. Coaches wishing to participate in tournaments not on this list must first obtain approval from the Technical Director. Coaches shall work with the Technical Director to ensure that their selected tournaments are consistent with their team objectives and capabilities. All Academy and Classic teams (U9-U18) must participate in the Richmond Kickers Columbus Day Tournament during the Columbus Day weekend and the Colonial Cup during the Memorial Day weekend. Likewise, Elite teams may be required to attend certain tournaments as is deemed necessary by the Technical Director. As a general rule, the following guidelines will be followed for tournament selection:

Richmond Kickers youth soccer players are provided with additional developmental opportunities thru Pool Training, Advanced Skills, Football Fridays and GK training sessions. Players are encouraged to take advantage of these programs in order to further develop their soccer skills and knowledge of the game.

Richmond Kickers youth soccer players are encouraged to participate in the Winter Indoor programs that are provided by the club. While players are allowed to participate in the indoor play outside that organized by RKYSC, we believe that players will benefit more from participating in indoor activities conducted by highly knowledgeable and qualified RKYSC coaching staff.

Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club supports State, Regional, National and Super Y League ODP programs. While involved in ODP training activities the following guidelines have to be adhered to:

1. If there is a conflict between a club game and an ODP practice, the priority is the club.
2. If there is a conflict between a club practice and an ODP practice, the priority is ODP.
3. If there is a conflict between a club game and an ODP game, the priority should be decided by the club coach depending on the importance of the club game.
4. Players are not allowed to miss any club activities due to a conflict with District ODP tryouts, practice, game or other events.

Players wishing to transfer from one RKYSC team to a different RKYSC team at any time during a seasonal year (Fall/Spring) must notify their current coach and the Technical Director. Approval of the transfer is contingent upon the following criteria:

• The transfer is approved by the Technical Director, the head coaches for both teams and the player’s parents
• The transfer will not be unduly disruptive for either team
• The transfer is realistically viewed as a “permanent” transfer and not simply meeting a short term need.

Players wishing to transfer from an RKYSC team to a team affiliated with a different club shall notify the Technical Director in writing (email is acceptable) stating the reason for the transfer. Players will NOT be allowed to transfer from an RKYSC team to a team affiliated with a VCCL Club (currently FC Richmond and Richmond Strikers) at any time during a seasonal year.

A Richmond Kickers player is not allowed to play against any other Richmond Kickers teams while guest playing for a non-Richmond Kickers team.

Members of the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club who desire to play collegiate soccer have the opportunity to be guided by the RKYSC College Guidance Director, Professional Assistant Coach and a former Richmond Kickers Destiny (W-League) Head Coach, Jesse Myers. Coach Myers, who has been a college or professional coach for 16 years, has developed a program to introduce sophomores, juniors, and seniors in High School to the college recruiting process. His comprehensive program includes PowerPoint presentations and individual meetings for players/families interested in the college recruiting process.