OTTAWA INTERNATIONALS SOCCER CLUB (OISC)
Development Soccer Program (DSP) 

Frequently Asked Questions
2011

 

1. Why do we need to register early?
Soccer is the largest sport in the country with nearly 20% of young people playing the game. In the last eleven years our club has grown from 600 to more than 2,400 players, which has resulted in real growth pains. As well, the city has not developed many new soccer fields especially in the former City of Ottawa. Because of our growth and the lack of new fields, we have had to set a cap for certain DSP sites since there are too many players for those locations.

2. What do I receive with the registration fee?
First, DSP has an early bird fee, which we encourage all to use since it is extremely helpful to have registrations received early so as to consolidate teams. Each player receives a new soccer ball at the first practice. There is also a team picture and individual picture included and these are taken at the first festival. The uniform kit – jerseys, shorts and socks – can be purchased using the registration form.

The player only has to supply cleats, shin pads and their own water container for each practice and game. Cleats and shin pads are mandatory since this is stated in the OSA insurance policy.

3. Are there any new fields this year?
We have added a couple of new sites for 2011 and, unfortunately, lost one of our more popular locations. This year we will offer girls U9 and boys U7 at Balena Park, Robinson and Sandy Hill, and girls and boys U7 and U9 at the newly developed Deerfield Park. However, we will not have Ottawa University this summer as they are replacing the turf on their artificial field. To facilitate those families that prefer to have one location that meets all their needs, Owl Park will now offer programs for both boys and girls for all age groups on the same night.

4. How are players assigned to teams?
Registrations must be received at the clubhouse (via mail or dropped off) with a cheque attached in order to be processed. As each registration is received and entered into our business system, the player is given a date received and a sequential number.

Players are applied to teams by their receipt date as per their site request. Players are assigned to teams along with volunteers. If a team has three coaches and a manager, we fill the team to the standard of 12 for U-7, 14 for U-9 and 16 for U-11. Our standard is to have one head coach, two assistant coaches and one manager on each team. If a team does not have a coach, we fill the team to three (3) players less than the limit and any parent/player that wishes to coach this team will skip the queue and the parent and child will be on the team.

If a team has no coaches or a very small number of registrants, we identify this as early as possible and contact the players and try to offer alternative placements.

5. What are the player ages for each group?
U5 players born in 2006
U7 players born in 2004 and 2005
U9 players born in 2002 and 2003
U11 players born in 2000 and 2001

6. Are all Site convenors and coaches assigned?
Some site convenors, coaches and managers do return from the previous season
and offer to volunteer again. However, we always require many more site convenors, coaches and managers and it is important that parents volunteer for these positions since DSP is a volunteer driven program. Last year we had over 850 players with over 220 parents who volunteered in some capacity. We are looking forward to your continued strong support so please be a volunteer.

7. Once I register, when will I hear from the club again?
Within a few weeks, you will receive an email confirmation that your registration has been received and processed. The coaches will be supplied with the player’s names by April 25th and they will contact the players. The coaches/convenors/managers will receive the team supplies on the weekend of May 7th and 8th. The season starts on May 16th, which is the first day that the field permits are valid.

8. Does DSP provide refunds to players?
All requests for refunds must be in writing (e-mail) to the VP DSP indicating the reason for such a request. Prior to April 30th, full refunds will be permitted for not being able to receive your primary site choice or moving out of the district. All other requests for refunds will be charged an administration fee of $25. Prior to July 1st, where a player suffers a season ending injury, a refund will be issued based on a prorating of time and less an administration fee of $50. No refunds will be issued after July 1st.

9. My child would like to try-out for competitive but does not want to lose the DSP site. What should we do?
The club recommends both the DSP program and the Competitive program for player development. The club ensures open and fair try-outs for DSP players at the U-9, U-10, and U-11 competitive levels. For a DSP player that is interested in trying out for competitive, the DSP program recommends that your child register with DSP and indicate on the registration form that you wish to be called for the competitive program. This will ensure that the player is contacted for the competitive try-outs and will also hold the DSP spot at your site until the competitive teams are selected. If you return to DSP, you have a preassigned spot on a team. If you are selected for competitive, your entire DSP fee will be applied to you competitive fee and you will simply have to pay the difference. Please note that the competitive try-outs start in early March, therefore early registration is important.

10. Who referees the DSP festival games?
We use qualified and trained referees for the festivals. One of the goals of the program is to train and develop young referees and our club runs referee training courses each spring. Since most of these referees are recent graduates, the club has an absolute zero policy on abuse, ridicule or any demeaning conduct towards our referees by coaches, players or parents.

11. What are the basic duties of a team manager?

• Work with the coaches so as to contact all the players concerning team information. Be the link between the site convenor and the coaches.
• Pick up or arrange for pick up of equipment and uniforms at the clubhouse in early May.
• Organize a parents meeting at the first practice for the coaches and parents. One coach will usually work with the players while the other coaches attend and run the meeting.
• Make sure that each team member has submitted a complete health and consent form and that the coaches must have read them and know of any concerns.
• Distribute equipment and uniforms at first practice (remember to bring pump and black marker for balls).
• Pick up photo information forms at equipment distribution. Pictures will be taken at the first festival in June. Make sure parents have completed forms and that they understand how the process works (i.e. team photo and one individual photo are "free" in that they are paid for by DSP. All additional photos have to be paid by parents).
• Confirm who will be participating in each festival and let the site convenor know two weeks in advance if the team will not be able to attend.

12. What are the basic duties of a Site Convenor?

• Attend a few meetings to facilitate communication between the Executive and the site.
• Answers questions from coaches, managers and parents as a first-line resolution process.
• Forward questions or situations to the DSP VP or the DSP Administrator as appropriate.
• Inform coaches of relevant changes, upcoming training or meetings etc.
• Confirm teams and numbers for festivals.
• Assist the VP and Administrator that each team has a proper complement of coaches and a workable number of players with parental support and that the teams are set-up in a fair manner.

Administrative organization
Work with the team managers to:

• Coordinate distribution of uniforms, equipment and soccer balls at the start of the season and during the season
• Ensure that all players have been contacted and that each team has a start of season parents meeting
• Coordinate the best use of the site with a practice organization plan
• Ensure that each team has prepared their photo forms and are prepared for the photo shoot
• Prepare an emergency action plan for the information/use of all site teams.
• Ensure that each manager has collected a health and consent form from each player and made the results known to the coaches.
• Ensure that each team is prepared for each festival and that the managers have provided you with the team attendance in advance and any special requests.

13. What are the attendance commitments for a player?
All players should inform the team manager of their availability both for practices and festivals. For the U11 group, it is also very important to inform the manager of their availability for the interlocking game schedule.

14. When do practices start?
The City of Ottawa field permits start on May 16th and the program runs until the end of August with the last festival the weekend after the September long weekend. With the exception of U-5, all teams run on either a Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday schedule. The weekday permits start each night at 6:00 PM. We ask the coaches to try and start practices between 6:00 and 6:30, although sometimes coach availability may affect this as well as limited field time such as at Brantwood forces us to have 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM shifts at this location.

15. When and where are the festivals?
There are four festivals starting with the June 11th and 12th weekend. Each age group only plays one day at the festivals.

June 11-12		Festival- Leitrum Park (Saturday U-7 & 11; Sunday U-5 & 9)
July 9-10		Brewer Park (Saturday U-9; Sunday U-7 & 11)
August 6-7		Brewer Park (Saturday U-7 & 11; Sunday U-9)
September 10-11		Rideau High School (Saturday U-5 & 9; Sunday U-7 & 11)

16. DSP Uniforms
DSP and REC have had the same uniforms for the last 10 years. A full uniform kit consists of a pair of black shorts, a pair of socks and two jerseys, one red and one white. When games are played in festivals or during the U11 interlocking games, the home team wears Red and the visiting team wears White. We encourage members to reuse and recycle these uniforms. Below is a conversion chart for the jersey sizes.

YS – same as size 6X-7
YM – same as 8-10
YL – same as 12-14
AS – same as 16-18

17. Gently used soccer equipment
DSP collects gently used soccer equipment and uniforms and provides these to needy groups. If you wish to donate, we collect these at all the DSP festivals at the information tent or you can drop them off at the clubhouse.

18. Will I be able to get a Children's Fitness Tax Credit?
Your DSP registration does qualify against the $500 Children's Fitness Tax Credit. To reduce the administrative burden to the club, we issue these receipts in January of the following year.