Back to the topChattanooga United Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between Rec. and Select soccer?
How are the players chosen in Chattanooga United?
Where will the teams practice?
Select soccer, sometimes referred to as travel soccer, is teams comprised of the best players in a given location for a particular age group. The age group of the team is determined by the age of the oldest player. Player’s age is determined as of August 1st of their birth year, i.e. July 31, 1999 would be U-11 for the 2009 - 2010 season and August 1, 1999 would be U-12 for the season.
What are the differences between Rec. and Select soccer?
The most important differences are given below and will be explained in greater detail.
They include:
• Player selection/tryouts
• Competition Level
• Travel
•Cost
•Player Commitment
•Training Expectations
•Length of season
How are the players chosen in Chattanooga United?
Registration for Select players does not commence until after the tryout process has been completed (typically the last weeks of June). Registration forms and fees will be handled by the coach and team manager once the team has been selected and formed. All players will be pooled in a database on the days of tryouts. These players are evaluated from a set of open tryouts open to all soccer players of the same age and gender. Evaluations of the players will be completed both by neutral evaluators and the coach(es) of the particular team. The players are reviewed for technique, tactical sense, fitness, and soccer attitude. The head coach will then select his/her team based on the evaluations, and then notify those players. Players then have the option of accepting that position or declining to play with that team. Chattanooga United endeavors to place all players who tryout on a team. Every reasonable effort will be made to form teams where there are still players un-selected after the tryout process.
Where will the teams practice?
Chattanooga United will have 3 facilities available for select teams to practice and scrimmage. Those facilities are at the North River Soccer Association, Middle Valley Youth Association complex, and Redoubt Soccer Association. Teams will be able to decide and request the training location at the beginning of each season. As long as the preferred complex has field space available on the requested days of the week and time, that is where the team will train. Chattanooga United will not dictate at what location teams must train.
For normal competitive play, the region of travel is approximately a 150 mile radius of Chattanooga, TN. Most teams will play at one tournament per month and normal travel distances include Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville, and Birmingham. Added travel may be required for some tournaments, but that is often decided by each individual team. Chattanooga United leaves the decision of tournament attendance up to each team to decide.
Basic costs – Chattanooga United registration fees, state registration fees, etc – are currently $80 for the 2009 season (August through December). Additional costs are accrued by individual teams for items such as coaching fees, uniforms, warm-ups, and tournaments. Total fees are estimated to range from $400 per player to $600 per player for a 5 month period. This amount includes Chattanooga United fees, state registration fees, coaching fees, and training at Chattanooga’s D1 facility. Uniforms and hotel rooms are not covered under these expenses. Much of this is can be offset by fundraisers that will be made available by the different participating associations. Each team determines its own level of additional expenses and fundraising.
At the select level, soccer almost becomes a year-round endeavor. Tryouts begin in June. The training for the fall season usually begins at the beginning of August unless a team chooses to start training earlier in anticipation of early season tournaments. In the case of U13+ age groups with players participating on school soccer teams, each team must determine how many players are eligible to play under the TSSAA rules.
All Select Coaches for Chattanooga United are cleared with Kidsafe as certified volunteers. Chattanooga United’s Coach’s Council, a combination of senior coaches from all participating associations, interviews and chooses their Select level coaches on the basis of training, experience, Licensure, and reputation. Chattanooga United is actively looking for coaches at all licensure and experience levels to place with teams.
Select players have to be committed players - both physically and mentally. The demands of the competition require it. All players are encouraged to play at the highest level available in order to promote their best development. Most coaches require player attendance at two 90-minute training sessions per week throughout the season.