Frequently Asked Questions
common questions about the Recreational League
Rec Registration FAQs
You've signed your child up for a fun season of soccer, now what happens?
Approximately a week and a half before the first game you will receive an email from your child's coach. This email should have information on the practice and game schedule. See below for a few times on what to do if your child's team does not have a coach.
ASA creates Rec teams based on registrations and requests, two – four weeks before the season kicks off. Two weeks before the first game you can log into your account to see which team your child has been placed on.
If you register after the early deadline has passed your child may be on a waitlist and may not be placed onto a team until closer to the first game.
If your child’s team does not yet have a volunteer coach please know that ASA staff are actively working to recruit someone to coach the team.
The league relies on volunteers to coach teams. We provide training, equipment and weekly support to coaches throughout the season. Soccer experience is not required! You can read about Coach Hank and Coach Veronica’s amazing coaching experiences as an example of parents stepping in to coach.
If your child’s team does not have a coach by the first game of the season we will provide a staff member to coach for opening weekend. Please note that your child will not have a practice before the first game.
You can see in your Household Account that your child’s team does have a coach but you have not heard from them…. now what?
Please note that coaches will email you using the email address you used to register your child for the season. Rec Coaches are instructed to reach out to their teams a week before the first game to introduce themselves and provide information about the season. If your coach has not reached out it is likely that he or she is solidifying the weekly practice schedule and is waiting to email the team until confirmed.
There is a chance the coach has your email address incorrect. If you haven’t heard from your coach by Wednesday before the first game you can reach out to ASA to double check your contact info and our staff can confirm whether or not the coach has reached out.
THANK YOU! We love our volunteer coaches and want to ensure you have a great experience.
Once you volunteer to coach the Rec Director will reach out to secure information from you (so we can run a background check) and ask about your availability and preference for practices. We try to accommodate location, day and time requests of our coaches to make it convenient for your schedule.
Once the practice schedule is solidified we will provide you with equipment, email templates and your team roster. We will also host a pre-season coaches clinic for anyone interested in learning more!
General Rec League FAQs
ASA's Recreational League is a volunteer based, inclusive soccer program for kids of all abilities and experience levels, ages 4-19. The league is all about fun, fitness and friendships. Teams practice once a week and play games on Saturdays in Alexandria (high school teams sometimes opt to practice twice per week). This Fall (2020) we're offering an in-house 9v9 league for U13+.
The Rec League is an all inclusive soccer league open to any and all children, regardless of experience and ability. Many players are new to soccer! The Rec League is open to players in Alexandria and beyond. Practices and games take place in Alexandria but the league includes participants from all over the DMV area.
The Rec League is offered in the Fall and Spring. Registration for the Fall season (or for the full year!) begins in May and ends in early September. Registration for the Spring season begins in November and ends in March.
Games are played on Saturdays in Alexandria (at schools and city fields). The game location for younger teams (PreK-6th) will stay the same throughout a season although game times will change. Practices are also held in the City of Alexandria at schools, parks and recreation centers. ASA works closely with the City to secure field permits and space for teams to use.
The Suburban Friendship League (SFL) U13-U19 games are played in both Alexandria and around the Northern Virginia area. These teams will have Home and Away game during the season, played on Saturday and/or Sunday. Practices for these teams are in Alexandria City.
The season is seven weeks long in the fall and eight weeks long in the spring. Practices for the fall begin in mid-September and the season ends in early November. Practices for the spring begin in late March and the season ends in early June.
ASA makes every attempt to form teams by neighborhood. When registering your child for the league you may select the Alexandria school that is nearest to your home (whether your child attends the school or not!). ASA will place your child on a team that practices in or near that neighborhood (ASA cannot guarantee neighborhood choices to late registrants).
ASA aims for each child to participate in at least half of every game. Roster sizes are limited to help with this goal.
Yes. Players need both a red jersey and a blue jersey (purchased from ASA). You are given the opportunity to order jerseys online through our Capelli online store or you may purchase them from our office. ASA also sells optional gear such as black shorts, black socks, shin guards and soccer balls. (Shin guards are required to play but can be purchased elsewhere).
Prior to each season ASA offers evening office hours for uniform pickup. Otherwise, the office is open Monday – Friday from 9-4pm for pickup and registration needs.
Participants must be 4.5 years old to join the PreK Rec League division or must be 4 years old and have completed two sessions of Tots soccer with ASA.
Until 7th grade Rec League teams are organized by school grade. At U13+ (7th – 12th grade), kids are roughly organized by birth year as opposed to grade in school.
- U9 and U10 Academy players are eligible to participate in the recreational league as well as Academy
Absolutely! ASA makes every effort to group kids together when requested (you can make this request during registration). Grouping cannot be guaranteed during late registration period.
Each team needs a coach and an assistant coach. In addition, a parent usually volunteers as a team manager to schedule snacks and take charge of the end-of-season party. If you are interested in volunteering as a coach or assistant coach of your child’s team you may do so online when you register your player.
- Online (preferred!)
- Over the phone — give us a call (703-684-5425)
- In person — the office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00.
ASA will process refund requests before the first game of the season. You will receive the amount you paid minus a $15 administrative fee (to cover credit card fees, administrative and software costs). No refunds will be given after the first weekend of games has been played.
Financial aid is available to Rec League players who qualify for the Alexandria City Public School (ACPS) Free or Reduced Lunch Program. A copy of a child’s enrollment in the lunch program is required for aid consideration. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the office at 703-684-5425 or email [email protected].
After registering your child he or she will be placed on a team. Approximately two weeks before the season begins your coach will reach out with information about practice and games.