Details regarding the 2020 Outdoor House League are below. Please scroll down to read important information on the 2020 Outdoor House League PRIOR to registering for the program. 

What is the Outdoor House League?
Our Outdoor House League is a 2 1/2 month recreational co-ed program for children ages 3-16. However, a child's age group is ultimately decided by his or her birth year. This two-day-a-week program (one day a week for our U4 groups) runs from May through July and takes place at The Nike Base, 2800 Lakeview Road, Lake View, NY 14085.  

The program is designed to teach children the basics of soccer while also having fun. Our main goal is to help develop basic skills through instruction and activities. Coaches should focus on development, teaching the game, sportsmanship, and making sure players are having a positive experience.  This league is not win/loss based. 

For our U4-U8 groups, the first 30 minutes are dedicated to the technical aspect of the game (foot skills) and soccer related activities (22 minutes for U4).  The second 30 minutes are for small-sided soccer games(23 minutes for U4). The players on each team are randomly divided into 2 smaller groups each week to play the competing team. This allows coaches to even out teams and players as needed. This is based on USYSA recommendations.

For our U10-U16 groups, the first 2 weeks are dedicated to practices only. After the first 2 weeks, teams practice for 10-15 minutes and then play a full field soccer game against the competing team. Games will be 40 min (two 20 min halves) with a 5-10 minute half time.

Continuing into the 2020 season, any parent who volunteers and is officially selected (name must appear on the 2020 roster) by the club to be the head coach or co-coach of their child’s team will receive a refund of the registration fee on their last scheduled night of soccer. Any changes in coaches must be communicated to us for refund purposes prior to July to be eligible for a refund.  

Head coaches will receive a full refund of the registration fee while co-coaches (2 per team) will receive a half refund of the registration fee. The refund check must be picked up at the Nike Base fields one of the last three nights of House League. If the check is misplaced within two weeks after the pick-up date, it can be re-issued but administrative costs may be taken out. Any changes of the official coaches or co-coaches (for refund purposes) should be communicated to us prior to July 1st. 

In order to receive the refund, the following conditions must be met: 

1. Only a total of $96 ($82 for U4) will be refunded per each house league team. 
2. Coaches must attend our mandatory Spring Coaches Meeting & training session. Date TBD. 
3. Coaches must be present at all team practices/games or find a suitable replacement on no more than 3 occasions. 
4. Coaches must end the season with their team. If a replacement must be found at any time, you are no longer eligible for the refund. 

All coaches will also get to coach his or her own child (unless they request otherwise) in addition to getting 1 additional player request for the team they are coaching. No requests may be made after registration ends and requests to move players to different age groups cannot be honored. 

Scroll down to our "COACHES" section to read more about being a volunteer coach. 

When does registration begin/end? 
Registration begins February 17, 2020 and closes April 20, 2020. The league runs from mid May through the end of July. We recommend registering early as we go on a waitlist for several groups each year. 

Please email [email protected] if you would like to register after the close date. Priority is given to those who are able to coach.

How do I register for the program? 
To register online, please log in or create an account (in the upper right corner of the homepage). Select the "Register Now" button to sign up for the Outdoor House League Season. The computer system will walk you through the registration process and payment section.

How do I know which age group to register for? 
Based on new regulations by New York State West, age groups are determined ONLY by your child's birth year. The computer will direct you to the age group your child is eligible to participate in. Some age groups/days tend to fill up quickly. If you do not see the day you want  upon registration, please email Caitlin at [email protected]. Our Outdoor House League includes the  following age brackets:
U4 (born in 2016)
U6 (born in 2014 OR 2015 )
U8 (born in 2012 OR 2013)
U10 (born in 2010 OR 2011)
U13 (born in 2007 OR 2008 OR 2009)
U16 (born in 2004 OR 2005 OR 2006 OR Aug 2003-Dec 2003). 

What if the group I want to register for is full? 
We will place players on a waiting list if the group they want to register for is full. Players on the waiting list will be contacted if/when a spot opens up to accept the position. You can be added to the waitlist during the registration process. 

What's next? 
All players must be registered on the website and paid in full before April 20, 2020 to be eligible to play in the league. After registration ends, teams will be picked and team placement/schedules will be emailed to parents and placed on the website. 

On the first night of soccer, please report to your child's scheduled field 10-15 minutes prior to your scheduled time. Your child will meet their coach and teammates and coaches will hand out uniforms at the field. Please confirm your child's team and field placement for the night prior to arriving at The Nike Base.

When will I play?   
This two-day-a-week program runs from May through July. Teams play two times per week (aside from our U4 teams) and will play on the same predetermined nights from week to week. 

What are the available days for each age group?  
U4 (Four & Under)- Monday OR Wednesday - once a week - EITHER May 18 OR May 20 - July 27 OR 29 
U6 (Six & Under)- Monday/Wednesday - twice a week - May 18- July 29 
U6 (Six & Under)- Tuesday/Thursday -  twice a week -  May 19- July 30
U8 (Eight & Under)- Monday/Wednesday - twice a week - May 18- July 29
U8 (Eight & Under)-  Tuesday/Thursday - twice a week -  May 19- July 30
U10 (Ten and Under)- Monday/Wednesday - twice a week -  May 18- July 29
U10 (Ten and Under)- Tuesday/Thursday - twice a week -  May 19 - July 30
U13 (Thirteen & Under)-  Tuesday/Thursday - twice a week -  May 19 - July 30
U16 (Sixteen & Under)-  Monday/Wednesday- twice a week -  May 18- July 29 

***NEW IN THE 2020 SEASON: All U4 teams will play once per week on either a Monday or a Wednesday. Teams cannot choose which day each week as it will change each week to allow each U4 team to play against one another. 

One Saturday game will also be scheduled for each team on our Hamburg Soccer Club Fun Day date TBD. 

What time will I play?
Practice/game times for teams (U4-U16) will be scheduled for either 6pm-7pm or 7:30pm-8:30pm.

All leagues (U4-U16) will run on an alternating schedule. Teams will play at either 6:00pm-7:00pm or 7:30pm-8:30pm. This means that some nights your child may play at 6:00pm while other nights they may play at 7:30pm. We will ensure that all teams play at both times during the season but we can't guarantee an equal breakdown of 6:00pm and 7:30pm start times for each team. 

Your child's exact schedule will be created after registration ends.

When won't we have soccer? 
There will be no soccer scheduled for the following days:
Memorial Day- Monday, May 25, 2020
The week after Independence Day- July 6, 2020 - July 9, 2020 

 

What is the cost of the program? 
Our U4 groups are $82 per player while our U6-U16 groups are $96 per player 

You may pay online with credit/debit card or mail in a check made out to Hamburg Soccer Club (after you register online), P.O. BOX 2388, Blasdell, NY 14219. We prefer all online payments as they are processed quicker and easier to track.

We, unfortunately, cannot reserve your space until full payment is received. ALL Payments must be received by April 20, 2020. Any unpaid orders will be cancelled at this time.  

What does the cost include? 
The cost includes registration, league, & payment processing fees, insurance, a full uniform, games/practices, field and equipment maintenance, referees, etc. Payment also includes end of the year medals (which are delivered to each team on the last night of soccer) and pizza (which is available under the tent on the last night of soccer). 

Do you offer refunds?
Payments are final and nonrefundable. If you have what you believe to be an extenuating circumstance, you may email the Board of Directors at [email protected] for review. No refunds after teams and schedules are made will be considered. 

What team will my child be on? 
After registration ends in April, players will be randomly divided into co-ed teams. Once teams are created, parents will be notified of their child's team placement and that team's schedule. This information will be emailed to all participants and placed on the website.

Can I request to be on a certain team/with a certain coach? 
Due to the high amount of requests we receive for players to be on the same team and in an effort to make teams as even as possible, players may not request to be on the same team as another player or particular coach. As everyone plays in one common location, requests to play with friends/cousins or for carpooling reasons cannot be honored.

Are there any exceptions to this rule?
Yes, there are a couple of exceptions. Siblings may request to be on the same team IF they fall within the same age group. Coaches will also get to coach their own child(ren) along with ONE other player request. No requests may be made after registration ends on April 22.  If you are interested in your child being on the same team as another child, please sign up to coach when you register your child. 

Can my child play up or down an age group?
Per NYSW regulations, all players must play in their correct age group.

Where will I play?
Soccer takes place at The Nike Base, 2800 Lakeview Road, Lake View, NY 14085. 

Nike Base Safety Information

1. All people entering the Nike Base should obey all traffic signs (including the "STOP" sign upon entrance to the Nike Base, all "No Parking" signs, and "Handicapped Parking" signs.

2. The Nike Base parking lot speed limit is 10 Mph.

3. People may not make u-turns near the front of the lot- they must circle around. 

4. Children are only to be dropped off or picked up at the back of the lot on the side in which they are playing-please utilize your blinkers when doing so and watch for children crossing. 

5. Dropping players off or pulling over near the snack shack is not allowed. 

6. The parking by the Nike Base shed is reserved for board members, workers, travel coaches, and those with a handicap sticker (only if all other handicap spots are taken).

7. No smoking or dogs allowed per Town of Hamburg policy. 

*Anyone not in compliance with these rules will be subject to disciplinary action per the Hamburg Soccer Club Board of Directors and possibly the Town of Hamburg Police Department. 

CLICK HERE FOR Field Map  and Map to the Fields    

Will I receive a uniform? 
All players will receive a full uniform kit consisting of a jersey, shorts, and socks. The uniform cost is included in the price. Uniforms will be ordered in national sizing chart kits that contain smalls, mediums, and larges based on the national average. Specific sizes will not be ordered for specific players. We can not guarantee that any registration/payment submitted after April 1st will have a uniform on the first day of the league.  We will receive late registration uniforms throughout the summer. 

What should I bring to soccer each night?

• Shin-guards (mandatory for playing)
• Proper footwear (sneakers or cleats)
• Water
• Soccer ball 
  • size 3 ball for U4-U6
  • size 4 ball for U8-U10
  • size 5 for U13-U16

What if soccer is cancelled due to inclement weather?
If there is thunder/lightning at the Nike Base fields OR in extreme weather conditions/if the fields are unplayable, all Outdoor House league activities will be cancelled for that night. We do not cancel for rain unless the above conditions are present as well (thunder/lightning, extreme conditions, or unplayable fields).

We will post on the website homepage, update our Facebook account, and e-mail participants if soccer is cancelled. However, if it is a last minute cancellation due to a fast moving storm, we may not have access to the website and e-mails at the fields. In that case, we will let parents know at the fields and put up signage. 

There will not be any make up days for soccer cancellation due to inclement weather. If, at any point, you believe it is unsafe to travel (due to weather conditions), please refrain from bringing your child to soccer for the night.

What do we do the first night of soccer? 
Hamburg Soccer Club's Outdoor House League begins the week of May 18, 2020 at The Nike Base, 2800 Lakeview Road.

On the first night of soccer, please report directly to your child's field at their scheduled time. 

Please confirm your child's team, schedule and which field they are playing on prior to arriving at the Nike Base. Team placements, schedules, and a map of the fields can be found at the top of this webpage. 

Coaches will pick up their team uniforms from our Nike Base shed at the beginning of practice. They will bring uniforms to their field to hand out to players.

All players should bring shin guards, soccer cleats or sneakers, water, and a soccer ball each night.

What do we do the last night of soccer? 

On the last night of soccer, your child's team will end 25 minutes early. Each coach will be delivered the team medals to hand out at the field. Afterward all teams will have a pizza party under the tent behind field #1. 

New coaching benefit!!!
Any parent who volunteers and is officially selected (name must appear on the 2020 roster) by the club to be the head coach or co-coach of their child’s team will receive a refund of the registration fee on their last scheduled night of soccer.  Head coaches will receive a full refund of the registration fee while co-coaches (2 per team) will receive a half refund of the registration fee. Teams will either have a coach or 2 co-coaches. The refund check must be picked up at the Nike Base fields one of the last three nights of House League. If the check is misplaced within two weeks after the pick-up date, it can be re-issued but administrative costs may be taken out. Any changes of the official coaches or co-coaches (for refund purposes) should be communicated to us prior to July 1st.

In order to receive the refund, the following conditions must be met: 

1. Only a total of $96 ($82 for U4) will be refunded per each house league team. 
2. Coaches must attend our mandatory Spring Coaches Meeting and training session.
3. Coaches must be present at all team practices/games or find a suitable replacement on no more than 3 occasions. 
4. Coaches must end the season with their team. If a replacement must be found at any time, you are no longer eligible for the refund. 

Who coaches each team?
As a non-profit soccer club, we rely on our dedicated volunteers to coach each soccer team. Our House League, will again, depend on parents who volunteer to coach/co-coach these teams.  All teams will need a either a head coach or two co-coaches per team for the league to work.  

Each coach will get to coach his/her own children (unless they wish otherwise) and will get to request ONE other player to be on his/her team. No requests may be made after registration ends on April 20 and requests to move players to different age groups cannot be honored. 

What is required to be a head coach / co-coach?
No soccer or coaching experience is required to become a coach in our Outdoor House League.

Prior to the start of the season, we will provide a mandatory free training session for all coaches in the Hamburg High School Cafeteria on Saturday 4/27/19 from 10am - 12pm. The time and date of the 2020 meeting is TBD. If at any point (prior to or during the season) a coach wishes to have more training in running a soccer session, we will provide that to you.

Coaches are only required to be at the Nike Base fields 2 hours per week on the scheduled nights they signed up for (1 hour for U4). They will coach from 6pm - 7pm or 7:30pm  - 8:30pm  depending on the schedule.  

All U4- U8 coaches will also be given an easy-to-follow curriculum with fun soccer-related games and drills they can use during the season. We strive to give each volunteer coach all of the skills and competencies they need to have a fun and successful year of coaching! 

How do I sign up to be a coach / co-coach?
If interested in coaching, please click that option when registering your child or email Caitlin at [email protected]. Please also email [email protected] to make the request for your child/children to be on your team and to make your ONE player request on the team you are coaching. No requests may be made after registration ends on April 20. 

What are "small-sided games" for U4-U8 teams?
These are soccer games with fewer players competing on a smaller sized field. These are fun games that get players more involved as there are fewer players sharing one ball. Our U4-U8 Teams play small sides games. 

All ages can play "Small Sided Games", but it has a definite developmental impact on our younger soccer players. U.S. Youth Soccer recommendations for "number of players" at the various age groups are as follows:

U4 | 3 against 3 no goalkeepers
U6 | 3 against 3 no goalkeepers
U8 | 4 against 4 no goalkeepers
U10 | 6 against 6 with goalkeepers (7v7)
U13+ | 10 against 10 with goalkeepers (11v11)

Why play "small-sided games"? 
Because we want our young soccer players to: 
...touch the soccer ball more often and become more skillful with it! (Individual technical development) 
...make more, less-complicated decisions during the game! (Tactical development) 
...be more physically efficient in the field space they are playing in! (Reduced field size) 
...have more individual teaching time with the coach! Less players on the field and less players on the team will guarantee this!
...have more, involved playing time in the game! (More opportunity to solve problems that only the game presents) 
...have more opportunity to play on both sides of the ball! (More exposure to attacking and defending situations) 
...have more opportunities to score goals!(Pure excitement and building confidence)

These are the reasons why we adults must foster "Small-Sided Games" in our youth soccer programs. The "Small-Sided" environment is a FUN and developmentally appropriate environment for our young soccer players.

CLICK HERE  for the 2019 Outdoor House League Rosters/Team Placements and Schedules &
the 2019 Fun Day Game/Picture Schedule.

The 2020 information to be posted at the end of April.