Clippers Frequently Asked Questions
Updates were made to this FAQ in March 2009.
What is the Clippers program all about?
Offering teams that extend from the Under 9/10 age level to the Under 19s, the Montclair Soccer Club’s Clippers possesses a rich program of competitive soccer. Players who love soccer should consider trying out for Clippers, a team which, in addition to helping players develop skills, offers the top level of competition in the Montclair Soccer Club by being the Club's Class III program.
The Clippers program is the Montlcair Soccer Club's Class III program. Class III is the intermediate step between Class IV (recreational) and Class I (most competitive). The Montclair Soccer Club is one of several member Clubs in the Jack London Youth Soccer League (JLYSL). Clippers play other Class III teams from other Clubs and Leagues within our District (District IV). By playing with and against other skilled players and teams, Clippers players are able to improve their skills at a rapid rate.
The Clippers Program offers players an opportunity to play more soccer, learn discipline and commitment, and train with other skilled players. Clippers players enjoy the camaraderie of teammates as they travel together to tournaments and the feeling of accomplishment as they improve their skills.
What is Class III soccer?
The vast majority of players in the Montclair Soccer Club play "Class IV", or recreational soccer. The most competitive level within our League is "Class I". Our League’s "Class I" program is run by the Bay Oaks Soccer Club (www.bayoaks.net). "Class I" teams are selected from among all of the Clubs in JLYSSL via an early spring tryout process
"Class III" programs provide players competitive play at a level between "Class IV" and "Class I". To play "Class III", players must tryout for their respective age group team. Each Jack London Club ( Montclair, Rockridge, Alameda, Piedmont, etc–) fields its own "Class III" teams. The Montclair Soccer Club’s "Class III" program is called Clippers. All players, from all Clubs, are welcome to tryout for Clippers teams.
We love this game. Soccer is fun, a good source of exercise, an environment for social growth, and a place to learn friendly competitiveness and teamwork. Some youth players desire a higher level of competition than recreational (Class IV) play. The goal of the Montclair Soccer Club’s "Class III" program is to provide a higher level of competition than "Class IV"(recreational) without sacrificing fun and a positive learning environment. "Class III" soccer offers additional competition and player development without the 9-10 month travel commitment of a Class I experience.
What’s a typical season for Clippers teams? How many games do teams play?
"Class III" fall play usually begins the first weekend in September and ends in early November. Additionally, "Class III" teams may play in tournaments in the months of August thru November. The "Class III" season is largely concentrated in the Fall, but many teams continue to play into the Spring. Clippers families can expect to be active in the soccer community between five to nine months out of the year. During the Fall season, games are on Saturday and/or Sunday and the actual number of games played varies depending on the age group.
The typical Clippers year includes:
Spring Play: The Class III seasons run during Fall and Spring, on a schedule similar to Class IV (recreational) teams. Class III teams may begin informal training after teams are formed and may compete in a Spring season, depending upon the team and the coach. Spring season is much less intense than Fall. If a player is already on a Class IV team, s/he may play on his/her former Class IV team and her new Class III team as long as she obtains permission from coaches of both teams. Players selected in Spring tryouts may also opt to just play Class III with their new team, as long as the player has a valid medical release form and player pass, and is registered with MSC.
Summer Tournaments: Most Class III teams do not opt to play in summer tournaments. However, a few compete in tournaments in late July and August. In tournaments, teams typically play 3 to 4 games on a weekend. Class III teams typically use the summer months to get ready for the Fall season. Class III teams typically begin practicing during the summer months in preparation for the Fall season.
Fall Competitive Leagues: Teams compete in the Fall Class III schedule between September and November, playing about 10 games per season in the Division IV area. The Fall schedule can consists of 1 to 2 games per weekend for Class III teams. Many Clippers team teams opt to start the season by participating in the Bay Oaks Labor Day Classic tournament, a local event.
In addition to regular season play, Clippers teams may play in two tournaments in the Fall. In addition, some teams opt to compete in the Association Cup that takes place after Fall season is complete. During the regular season, tournaments generally take place the last weekend of the month.
Fall Tournaments: The last weekend of each month during the Fall season are set aside for tournaments. During the Fall season teams can expect to compete in 2 or more weekend tournaments, depending upon the team.
The coaches and team managers select the tournaments. In a typical tournament, the team will play two games on Saturday and a third game on Sunday morning. If the team is qualified in the earlier rounds, the team will advance to a final championship or consolation game Sunday afternoon. If the tournament is not in the Bay Area, participation might require an overnight stay.
The Association Cup takes place in January for the younger age groups (U4 and below), and begins in March for U16 and above. Coaches often want to hold practices in advance of these tournaments in preparation. The end of season Association Cup is a voluntary regional qualifying tournament. If the teams have elected to participate in this tournament, it could require three additional weekends of play. In the first round of the Association Cup, teams are placed in groups of four teams To advance beyond the first weekend of play in the tournament, teams need to be in first place in their first round group of four teams.
Teams typically sign up for tournaments well in advance. Clippers families usually know if their team has been accepted in a tournament a couple of months ahead of time and plan accordingly.
State Cup Tournament: Teams may compete in the tournament for the state championship tournament for Class III teams, the Association Cup.
Depending upon the team and the coach, Class III soccer can be an almost year round commitment. In addition to the Fall and Spring Seasons, some teams opt to play in either indoor and/or Futsal in the winter. While this commitment is significant, Clippers stresses the importance of doing well in school and balance with other activities. Players often play other sports. Families also set up carpools to help get players to practices and games.
How far do teams travel?
During the Fall league season, Clippers teams play in District IV, which covers most of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Clippers teams play other Class III teams within the District IV area. District IV spans from Benicia in the North, Antioch and Brentwood in the east, and Hayward in the South. Clippers teams play half their league games on JLYSSL home fields and half on opponent’s home fields. Travel time to a regular league game may be up to or exceed 45 minutes. However, 45 minute or longer travel times typically do not occur with frequency.
In addition, Class III teams can participate in several weekend tournaments held throughout northern California. Again, there are 10 regular (non-tournament) games during the Fall season, and half of those may involve travel out of town.
How frequently do teams practice?
Between July and mid-November, Clippers teams generally practice two times per week. Practice schedules the rest of the year vary depending on the team’s age and tournament schedule.
How much does it cost to play on a Clippers team?
For Fall 2009, the registration fee is $510 ($460 for the U9 development teams). Scholarships are available; contact the Montclair Soccer Club Treasurer for information about scholarships.
The Class III uniforms are different from MSC’s Class IV uniforms. Beginning Fall 2006, Clippers players are required to purchase their uniform separately from paying registration fees. Players purchase a full Class III uniform including home and away jerseys, shorts and socks. The cost of the uniform is about $110. Note that payment of Clippers uniforms as a separate item is new as of 2006. Returning Clippers players may be able to use their uniform from the prior year.
The Clippers program may also launch a club-wide fundraising program to support the Clippers budget. Individual teams may levy team fees and/or engage in fund raising efforts to pay for additional tournaments, overnight trips and other team expenses.
Who is eligible to play?
Anyone is eligible to tryout in her or his respective age group. We encourage every interested youth, regardless if s/he played previously in the Montclair Soccer Club to tryout for one of our Class III Clippers teams.
What is the tryout process?
The tryout process consists of two tryout dates. Players should try to attend both tryout dates. The team’s coach and other experienced coaches assess players with regards to athleticism, skills, effort and attitude. At the conclusion of the tryouts, the coach nominates players for the team. All age eligible JLYSSL players are invited and encouraged to attend the tryouts. Check montclairsoccer.pbwiki.com for announcements about tryouts for Clippers in February.
Tryout Checklist:
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ARRIVE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TRYOUT.
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Sign in.
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Get a tryout number (to be returned at the end of tryouts).
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Check the fields for your appropriate age group, and go to your tryout area.
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Attend all tryout times for your age group. If you cannot make the tryout, contact the coach for that team to discuss alternative arrangements.
What to bring:
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A Medical Release Form signed by your parent or guardian. (There will be extra medical release forms at the tryout fields but they must be signed by a guardian or parent in order for the player to be allowed on the field.)
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Bring one white and one dark t-shirt
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Players must wear shin guards and soccer cleats
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A soccer ball with your name on it
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Plenty of water
What kind of parent involvement is required during the season?
The Clippers is part of the Montclair Soccer Club, and is a volunteer organization. During the season, each family is required to volunteer time to support their team and the Club itself. There are many opportunities to meet this requirement. The success of our program depends entirely upon the willingness of parents to step up and assist!
How are Clippers coaches selected?
All Clippers Coaches for the Fall are approved by the MSC Board. Coaches must have an “E” license from the California Youth Soccer Association (CYSA). Coaches who have not yet obtained an “E” license are required to get their license prior to the start of the Fall season. CYSA requires that coaches have obtained their “F” license one year prior to seeking their “E” license. Assistant coaches should be licensed in the event that the head coach is not available for a match. A team cannot play in a match without a licensed coach present.
When and how will players know if they have been selected for a Clippers team?
Coaches are required to notify all players whether or not they were selected who tried out for a Clippers team within 7 days of the last tryout date. It is not acceptable for coaches to tell the players to assume they were not selected if they have not heard anything by a particular date. Coaches are required to notify all players within 7 days of the last tryout date.
All Clippers coaches must provide completed rosters to the Registrar prior to June 1st. Teams with less than the minimum number of players will be disbanded and players returned to draft pool. Exceptions to this policy may be made on an individual basis and requires formal approval from the MSC Board.
What are “development teams” in the Clippers program?
In the past Clippers teams have been formed in mostly two year increments (U10, U12, U14, U16, U19). This system serves players in their 2nd year within each age division, and but can under serve players in their “odd” years (U9, U11, U13, U15, U17) and make it difficult to keep a core group of players together over the years. In recent years the Association Cup (the State Cup tournament for Class III teams) has created more age divisions -- U11, U12, U13, U14, U16, U19 -- providing a competitive forum to support age pure teams. This year our Club is piloting creation of developmental Clippers teams. If there are a sufficient player pool at tryouts and qualified coaches, we will form up U9, U11, U13, and U17 teams in addition to U10, U12, U14, U16 and U19 teams. We are excited about the prospect of better serving our players through development teams as they move through the age divisions in Class III.