FAQ

For the Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 season the following age groups apply:

Since "birth year registration" splits up players who are in the same grade we will allow players to try out for the next higher age group (e.g. a player with a 2011 birthday can try out for 14U).  However, the club suggests that families think carefully before doing this since a player that “plays up” will potentially be playing against children that are more than a year older. In general our recommendation is that most players should play for the age group listed in the table above (with the exception of players entering 8^th grade who we discuss in detail below), Please note that in general to play up, a player is expected to be one of the top players in that (older) age group.  Also the club may entertain requests or even ask players to play up if it helps make equitable roster sizes across the two age groups. If you have been playing up in this current season, it is still recommended to register with your age group.

A player that wants to play up should register and attend the tryout for the higher age group.

No, this would create too much additional load on the tryout process.  Each player must make a decision regarding the age group they want to play for and they should try out for that age group only.  (As mentioned above, the club recommends that most players should try out for their regular age group.)

This is a possibility but we cannot guarantee it. If a player is worried about the tryout process at the higher age group, we suggest that they try out for the regular age group instead.

This is an issue that is faced by all clubs.  We may address it by asking younger players to play on a 15U team.

We will have combined tryouts and registration for the 14U and 15U age groups.

No. The High School soccer program operates on a different schedule and so we cannot accept registrations from rising 9^th graders at this time.

Other than for the 15U issue described above, we hope to avoid this since for most players we believe it is better if they play with their regular age group.  However, due to the complications created by birth year registration, the club reserves the right to ask a player to play up even if they tried out for their regular age group.

For Travel soccer this is not possible.  New Jersey Youth Soccer strictly prohibits Travel players from playing down to a lower age group. There are no exceptions to this rule.

The 8U TDP has a single roster and players rotate among teams from week to week.  We expect the 7v7 age groups (9U-10U) to have rosters of size 12-14, the 9v9 age groups (11U-12U) to have rosters of size 13-16 and the 11v11 age groups (13U-15U) to have rosters of size 16-18.

This depends on final registration numbers and on negotiations with the town (since we have to make sure there is enough field space for practices/games).  However, for 9U-12U we expect to form 3 teams per gender in each age group. For 13U-15U the roster sizes are larger and we typically form 1-2 teams per gender in each age group.

We expect to announce 10U-15U rosters in early-mid June and 9U rosters in mid May.

The registration fee collected by the Club is $345.  Additional team fees of between $600-$950 (amount varies based on factors such as how many practices, number of tournaments, number of players, etc.) will be collected by the club over the course of the year. Since our Club is a non-profit we can charge significantly less than for-profit soccer clubs (for-profit soccer clubs generally charge amounts between $3,000-5,000 for the season).

Playing for an in-town non-profit club is cheaper than playing for an outside club for the following reasons.

• We have no need to generate a profit.
• Club and team organization is carried out by many volunteers who collectively donate 1000's of hours to the club. At for-profit clubs much of the organization is carried out by paid staff.
• We can use the many fields in Chatham for a nominal fee per player.

Please note that the price differential does not reflect a difference in training.  We hire professional trainers with the same licenses as the outside clubs.

• • A full refund will be issued if a child registers then chooses not to attend tryouts, and informs Chatham United in writing 7 days before the first day of tryouts.   If notification is less than 7 days, a refund minus the $40 tryout fee will be given.
  • A full refund of the registration fee (less the $40 tryout fee) will be issued in the event that a child attends tryouts but is either (A) not offered membership or (B) chooses to withdraw from consideration for membership before the refund deadline.
  • No refunds will be issued for any portions of fees after the refund deadline other than for medical reasons or relocation prior to the start of the fall season (as documented in writing to the Membership Committee) or in the case that the child is not offered membership.
  • The refund deadline for 9U is May 1, 2023 for the 9U age group and the refund deadline for 10U-15U is May 15, 2023. These may be extended by the Club if tryouts/team formation is delayed.
  • Fees are non-refundable in any portion, once the fall season commences, as defined by the first practice (usually held in the final week of August or the week preceding Labor Day).
  • Refunds will not be considered as a result of changes in the team placement of your child from the prior year or changes in trainers/training organizations from the prior year.

  Refund requests may be sent to  chathamunitedreg@gmail.com  We would like to stress that the refund deadlines are for player-initiated withdrawal from the program. Any player that tries out but is not placed on a team will receive a refund of the registration fee (minus the $40 tryout fee), even though team announcements are after the refund deadline.

Please see the detailed registration instructions for this information.

Since 9U & 10U are critically important in the development process we have a more specific structured program at these young ages. A detailed description of what 9U & 10U players and parents can expect can be found here.

For players new to CU, the tryout provides an opportunity for skill assessment versus other players in their age group, and will form the sole basis for assessing their skill and potential. The tryout results are compared against the evaluations of the other players, including those already playing with CU, to determine if he/she qualifies for a CU team.

Tryout evaluators are independent professionals, who are licensed to train soccer.  Typically, the trainers hold licenses from US Soccer, or recognized English and Dutch training organizations. CU will make best efforts to ensure that these evaluators are not already affiliated with the club/age group, so as to prevent potential bias in the process.  Children will be identified only by number during the tryout process.

If necessary, the membership committee reserves the right to call back players they would like to have reevaluated.  This may or may not involve having the player attend practice with a current Chatham United team. This is more common for placement on our highest-flighted teams. This may be more prevalent on our EDP teams also (11U-15U highest-flighted teams).

For current Chatham United Travel players entering 10U-15U, a formula based on Current Trainer Evaluation (50%), Tryout Score (40%) and Current Parent Manager Feedback (10%) will be used to rank players and develop the teams.  (The Tryout Score is also used to calibrate across different trainers and PMs.) For current 8U TDP players entering 9U, a formula based on Current Trainer Evaluation (60%) and Tryout Score (40%) will be used.  For new players the Tryout Score will count for 100%.

For the consideration of all the players attending the tryouts, all parents must remain away from the fields while the tryout sessions are being conducted. Parental observation/involvement in any way during the tryout process may result in confusion for all children who are trying out and potential disruption for the tryout evaluators. At the indoor tryouts in Randolph parents may stay at the facility as long as they stay away from the field and do not watch the proceedings.  For the outdoor tryouts we ask parents to drop off their child and then return at the end of the session.

No walk-ins will be accepted on tryout day.

Please do not wear Chatham United or any other team uniform for the tryout.  Cleats and shinguards are required.  Bring a waterbottle.  Do not bring a soccer ball, they will be provided.

In line with the refund policy outlined above, if a player is not placed on a team after tryouts we refund the registration fee minus a $40 tryout fee.

Chatham United is committed to player and team development. In order for each child to realize his/her full potential as a player and member of a team, commitment is required from both players and parents.

Player development and improved team play cannot occur if players and parents are not committed to participate in the activities of the team. If players miss practices, then team concepts cannot be reviewed and practiced to the benefit of the team.

At the younger ages, children should play some reasonable mix of offensive and defensive positions. In order for players to develop, CU does not want players below the 12U level constantly playing the same position. For the older age groups some players may start to find their best position and spend the majority of their playing time there.

For the 9U and 10U age groups CU believes that every player should spend some time in goal. For 11U and above players can try out for "designated goalkeeper" during the second tryout session. (Participation in the goalie drills at this tryout is entirely optional.) Players who are placed on a team as a designated goalkeeper should expect to spend the majority of their playing time in goal.

CU believes that developing goalkeepers is one of the best ways to improve team performance and so we offer free goalie training sessions to all our designated goalkeepers during the Fall.

Games are generally held on Sunday afternoons for ten weeks in the fall and ten weeks in the spring. In the fall, teams will typically practice twice each week; in the spring, practices once or twice a week depending on team preference.

Each team is expected to participate in at least two tournaments in the Fall season, including a Labor Day or tune-up tournament.  Labor Day or tune-up tournaments are the primary game experience used to get each team ready for Fall league play.  Teams may play in additional tournaments and state cup competitions to be agreed upon in the parent team meetings.

Players at the 10U level and below should have roughly equal playing time in games. Players at the 11U through 15U level have the reasonable expectation to play at least 33% of each game. Playing time at the 11U level and above will also be determined by participation in practices, player attitude and commitment.

This is a volunteer organization run largely by parents. You will be expected to volunteer your time to the team and the Club and it is imperative that you do so when asked.

Each team is required to have a parent manager, an assistant parent manager, a treasurer and a team administrator. Club volunteer positions can be found under About Chatham United section

When a player is placed on a youth soccer team, a card is created identifying that player as a member of the team.  “Secondary carding from outside the club” would occur if a player has a primary card for a team outside Chatham United but also has a secondary card that allows them to play games with a Chatham United team when there is no conflict with their primary team. Chatham United believes that it is inappropriate in general for a “secondary carding” player to take a roster spot away from a player that wishes to play for Chatham United only.  The club has therefore adopted the following policy regarding secondary carding:

• In line with NJYS regulations, secondary carding is not allowed at 9U and below.
• At the 10U-15U age levels, secondary carding from outside the club will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances and with prior approval of the Chatham United Board. In general this will only be allowed if an additional player is required to fill out the roster of a team (and hence no other Chatham United player is being displaced).  We anticipate that this will only happen in rare circumstances.

Please note that the above policy does not affect secondary carding within Chatham United (i.e. between two CU teams).  We shall continue to do that at 10U and above as one way to address turnout issues caused by multi-sport conflicts in the Spring.