Spring Travel Soccer Overview
What is the Spring Travel Soccer Program?
The Chenango Soccer Club is a member of the Broome County Youth Soccer Association that organizes and submits teams for players in Chenango County and the surrounding area to play competitive travel soccer. The Chenango Soccer Club relies on volunteers to coach, register and promote the program.
How many games are there in a season?
Teams will play an 8‑game season with the season usually ending in early July. There are no games for the U8 bracket.
Where are games played?
Home games are played in Oxford, NY at the Emerson Sport Complex. Away games are played throughout the Southern Tier and a fair amount of travel is involved. Games are usually played on the weekends beginning in mid‑April for 8 weeks/games. A few games may be played during the week.
Why is the U8 format different from other age groups?
The U8 4v4 (no goalie) game format is a purposeful decision that is meant to focus on the best type of development for children of this age. Key benefits are:
Increased touches on the ball
Simplified game environment
Encourages creativity
Promotes teamwork
Age‑appropriate challenges
This article provides more depth: Benefits of 4v4 Youth Soccer
How many players are on the field at a time?
U8: 4v4, without a goalkeeper
U10: 7v7, including the goalkeeper
U12: 9v9, including the goalkeeper
U14–U19: 11v11, including the goalkeeper
Further information can be found on the BCSA website
Season Schedule & Commitments
When do practices begin?
Practices often start at the indoor soccer center during the month of March
(depending on facility availability).
Outdoor practices begin in April.
What is the practice schedule like?
The frequency and location of practices are at the coach’s discretion. Usually, teams will practice twice a week and play one game per week when the game season begins. Playing other sports at the same time is difficult and would result in missing significant portions of the season.
When will the game schedule be released?
Finalized game schedules are typically released by the Broome County Soccer Association in mid‑April. Coaches will receive the schedules and each coach has the option to change game dates and times if mutually agreed upon by each coach.
Registration, Costs & Refunds
How do I register my child?
The Chenango Soccer Club has transitioned registration to another platform called GotSport. This is the site that the club uses to roster each player to create player passes. We have transitioned to try to streamline the process. GotSport has detailed registration instructions.
When is the full cost of registration due?
Program costs are requested to be paid in full by March 1st.
Are uniform costs included with the price of registration?
Uniforms cost extra. We do this because players are not required to purchase new jerseys each year. Jerseys cost roughly $40. Black shorts and white socks are also required and can be purchased anywhere.
What is your refund policy?
The deposit to register is non‑refundable. If you decide not to play before the rosters are submitted to the league, you will be refunded the balance of the full registration. Once a team roster has been submitted and league fess have been paid, we are not able to refund the registration price.
Playing Up Requests & Considerations
Can my son or daughter play up an age level?
We understand that families sometimes request to have a younger player “play up” to an older age group, often for convenience, such as having siblings on the same team. While we try to be supportive, convenience alone cannot determine placement. Any play‑up request must still make sense for the player and for both teams involved.
Parents may request consideration, but play‑up decisions are made by the coaches in consultation with club leadership. These decisions are based on player development, team needs, and safety. If either coach determines that the move is not in the best interest of the player or the team, the player will remain in their birth‑year age group. The club fully supports the coaches’ judgment in these decisions.
What considerations are made when determining playing‑up status?
A play‑up request may be considered when all of the following conditions are met:
Roster capacity: The older team has room and will not become over‑rostered.
Younger team stability: Moving the player up will not leave the younger team short on players.
Coach agreement: Both coaches agree the placement is workable and will not negatively affect either team.
Player readiness: The younger player can safely and comfortably participate at the older age level.
Approval is not guaranteed even when these conditions are met. The club’s priority is always the long‑term development and safety of the player.
What happens if there are not enough kids to field a team?
If a team does not have enough players, we will first work to find a slot for players on other teams — including the possibility of playing up when appropriate. If we cannot place a player on another team, your registration fees and deposit will be refunded.
Forms & Contact Information
If your child has been approved to play up, a parental waiver is required to be completed through BCSA and can be found here.
Please send the completed form to chenangochargers@gmail.com.