FAQs

Please see below for FAQs:

Registration
General information
Travel Soccer (grades 3-12)
Sandlot Soccer (grades K-2)
Pre-K Soccer (ages 3-5)
TOPS Soccer (all ages)

Have a question that isn't answered below or elsewhere on our site? Please email us!

Information - Registration

How do I register my child for your programs?

Please visit Blue Sombrero (our registration system to register your player for any of our programs. If this is your first time registering, you will need to create an account at Blue Sombrero before registering your player.

Please note that all Travel players interested in playing in the Fall Travel program must register in the Spring so they can participate in Placements which are held the last week of June. Players must attend placements to be placed on a Fall Travel team .

Are there deadlines for registration?

Yes. Because we need to register our teams with BAYS, get coaches, and ensure we have field space, we have registration deadlines. These are publicized both through our newsletters and online. If your child is not registered by the deadline, unfortunately we cannot guarantee your child a spot on a team.

I registered my child, but we changed our mind. Can you refund our registration fee?

Refunds are allowed on a sliding scale, depending on when the refund is requested. Please see the appropriate program page for details.

Registration is not showing my child's appropriate age group. Can you help?

Absolutely! Our registration system uses birth dates to place players and unfortunately, at times, that placement is incorrect because Winchester Soccer Club places players in the Sandlot and Travel programs by grade level. If our registration system shows the incorrect program/grade level for your child, please register your player for the session that appears, and then email us at communications@winchestersoccer.net. We will get your player switched to the correct program.

General FAQs

I have a question about the program. Who should I contact?

Questions specific to your program should be directed to your Age Group Coordinator.

My child's coach is the best! How can I let you know?

Every year, Winchester Soccer Club is proud to recognize our best coaches. The Carl Ockerbloom award is given out annually to a travel girls coach and a travel boys coach who has been nominated by parents and/or players. If your coach is amazing, please nominate them here!

What is the difference between Winchester Soccer Club (WSC) and SFC New England?

Winchester Soccer Club is our town program, open to all players. Previous experience is not required at any level.

SFC New England is a premier tryout-based club team. SFC provides advanced players the opportunity to play at the highest levels of competitive soccer. If you know a player who is motivated and skilled, please visit the SFC New England website to learn more!

Winchester Community Park - what is it?

Winchester Community Park is a state of the art sports complex on Cross Street in Winchester. WSC purchased the land and built several fields and a field house to provide more field space and athletic opportunities for WSC and the entire Winchester community.

Ryan Connolly Field, an 11 v 11 turf field opened in 2017. A grass 9 v 9 field opened in 2020. The field house, containing an indoor 11 v 11 field, will open in 2021!

If you would like to learn more about the project, buy a brick for our brick park, or donate to the field house, please visit the Winchester Community Park website.

Program Information - Travel

What league is Winchester Soccer Club a member of?

WSC is part of the BAYS (Boston Area Youth Soccer) League. We play teams from all over the Boston area.

What equipment does my child need to play travel soccer?

Your child should have cleats, shin guards, soccer socks that cover the shin guards, black shorts, and the official WSC game jersey. Information about where and when to purchase game jerseys will be announced soon.

When will I find out about team assignments and practice times?

Your head coach will email you about a week before the season starts. While we understand this may seem late, we need to work with the town on securing field space for all teams - a Herculean effort!

What is the general structure of Travel soccer?

In general, travel teams practice twice a week, and play matches on Saturdays. Practice length and match length vary by age level. Practice times are determined by field availability, and should stay consistent throughout the season.

Can I request for my child to be on a team with a friend?

Sorry, we cannot take requests for team assignments. Team assignments are based on several factors, including placement sessions and coach input.

Registration is not showing my child's appropriate age group. Can you help?

Absolutely! Our registration system uses birth dates to place players and unfortunately, at times, that placement is incorrect because Winchester Soccer Club places players in the Sandlot and Travel programs by grade level. If our registration system shows the incorrect program/grade level for your child, please register your player for the session that appears, and then email us at communications@winchestersoccer.net. We will get your player switched to the correct program.

What are placements?

Each Spring, all travel players must attend placements. Placements allow evaluators to assess the skill level of each player, which helps in assuring each player is placed on an appropriate team. Placements take place in late May/June each year.

Do players change teams for the Spring season?

Yes - some players may change teams from the Fall to the Spring season, based on the number of teams we have at each age group, as well as player performance.

Program Information - Sandlot

What equipment does my child need to play Sandlot soccer?

Your child should have cleats, shin guards, soccer socks that cover the shin guards, black shorts, and the a Sandlot jersey. If this is your child's first Sandlot season, this jersey is free of charge. Information about where and when to pick up a game jersey will be announced soon.

When will I find out about team assignments and game times?

What is the general structure of Sandlot soccer?

Sandlot soccer is designed to be a fun, non-competitive learning environment, for players in grades K-2. Players play once a week on Saturdays. They will practice for the first half of their session, and then play games against other Sandlot teams. All Sandlot games are held at Mullen Field.

Can I request for my child to be on a team with a friend?

Sandlot teams are created with elementary school assignments in mind. Your child will most likely know several players on his/her team, and will make many other friends throughout the season!

Registration is not showing my child's appropriate age group. Can you help?

Program Information - Sandlot Pre-K

What equipment does my child need to play Sandlot Pre-K soccer?

Your child should have sneakers or some other kind of athletic shoe, a water bottle with their name on it, and a size 3 soccer ball. Cleats and shinguards are *not* required. All players will receive a special Sandlot Pre-K shirt at their first session! If you'd like to purchase WSC SWAG, you can do so at our online store.

What is the general structure of Sandlot Pre-K soccer?

Sandlot soccer is designed to be a fun, non-competitive learning environment, for players ages 3-4. Players play once a week on Fridays. They will have fun games and drills to introduce the sport.

Registration is not showing my child's appropriate age group. Can you help?

Absolutely! Winchester Soccer Club places players in the Pre-K Soccer program by age (3-5). If our registration system shows the incorrect program for your child, please register your player for the session that appears, and then email us at communications@winchestersoccer.net. We will get your player switched to the correct program.

Program Information - TOPS

How does the program work?

The program works simply by matching each session a junior coach volunteer with a player. While we incorporate a few formal activities to encourage learning of soccer and basketball, that is not the focus. The goal of each session is for the coach and player to make a connection and simply have fun for the hour in any way the player wants to. For some children, it may be a very active hour of running around and for some it may be just sitting and talking or quietly playing.

When and where do the sessions happen?

Each year we will have two sessions around soccer with one starting in the spring (usually late April start) and one starting in the fall (usually late September start). We also have a basketball session which starts early in January. Each session typically runs from 6-8 weeks and occurs on Sundays with times to be announced. The soccer program has been played at Knowlton Field and basketball at Lincoln Elementary school gym, both in Winchester.

How do I register and stay connected?

For soccer, the sessions are free and require no registration. For basketball, there is a small registration fee and link to registration will be on winchesterbasketball.net.

Given the informality of the program, I ask those who are interested to join the Winchester TOPS group page on Facebook to stay connected as I make announcements and updates to the program through that site.

Who is eligible as an athlete?

While there is no specific age limit, we welcome all athletes generally between the ages of 5 and teenagers. If you child is outside this range, please contact me to discuss.

Who is eligible as a junior coach volunteer?

Generally, we are looking for volunteers in grades 8-12. While no specific training is required, I ask that the volunteer view this as more than getting volunteer credit and as a great opportunity to connect with an athlete to allow them to participate in an athletic activity and have fun for that session. It may require a significant amount of patience depending on the disability the child is paired with. I and other coaches will be there to help.

If your child is younger than the above range and feel is mature enough, please contact me to discuss.