Norwin Soccer Club > TRAVEL PROGRAM

NSC TRAVEL PROGRAM

Norwin Soccer Club (NSC) Travel teams compete against other teams of the same age group and skill level from other local soccer clubs in the PA West Soccer Association. NSC organizes both boys and girls teams for children from the U9 through U19 age group. U9 through U14 teams are formed for one year and play games in the fall and spring seasons. Evaluations are held to to align players skill level to the appropriate level of competition. Depending on the number of players in a given age classification that register will depend on number of teams formed. There are different divisions created (4, 5, 6) to keep level of competition fair.

Following the PA West rules, U15 through U19 age teams only play games in the spring. Registration for U15 to U19 travel teams will open in the winter and, if needed, tryouts will be held in an indoor facility.

The travel league games are general scheduled on Sunday afternoons, with kickoff times typically between 12pm (noon) and 5pm. PA West will assign the number of games, which can range from 6-8 games per season. Participation in other tournaments or training/league play during the winter will be up to the individual coaches.

Travel teams typically practice one or two evenings a week at Turner Valley Soccer Complex.

PA West Travel League Division Gameplay Details

Age Group	Format	Ball Size	Game Duration
U9 - U10	7v7 (6+GK)	4	Two 25 min halves
U11 - U12	9v9 (8+GK)	4	Two 30 min halves
U13 - U14	11v11 (10+GK)	5	Two 35 min halves
U15-U16	11v11 (10+GK)	5	Two 40 min halves
U17+	11v11 (10+GK)	5	Two 45 min halves

Joining A Travel Team

#1 Registration for Evaluation

All players wishing to play on a Norwin Soccer Club travel team are required to register for our travel evaluations which are held in May (near the end of the spring season) for the upcoming Fall/Spring player season.

Registration for evaluation is free, but mandatory, and done through the NSC website.

#2 Attend Evaluations

All players desiring to play travel must attend an evaluation to be considered for the team each year. Schedule will be posted on Website and Facebook Page.

Evaluations are conducted by experienced youth soccer coaches and involve activities such as small-sided games/full field games, skills demonstration and physical fitness.

Travel Teams are formed using evaluation scores and input from coaches, to create the opportunity for children to play at a level appropriate for their skills and abilities with an emphasis on what is best for their development.

To accomplish this, teams are formed at multiple levels of competition available through the PA West leagues ranging from Division 4 (most competitive) through Division 6 (least competitive).

#3 Accept or Reject Offer

Once evaluations and team assignments are completed (early-summer), NSC send an official roster invitation for players to join a travel team and to register through the Norwin Soccer Club website for the upcoming Fall/Spring playing season.

The final number of teams depends on the number of players, the skill of the pool of players, and coach availability/volunteering .

Due to the limits of roster size and the competitive nature of the Travel League, some of the players who attend evaluations may not be placed on a travel team.

There are no requests honored to be placed on a specific travel team - all teams are formed based on results of evaluations.

Before the start of each season, NSC reassesses the composition of travel teams at each age level. It is common for children to be assigned to different teams and for teams to switch divisions, depending on their skill level. These trends are natural outcomes of children developing soccer skills at different rates and roster sizes growing in older age divisions. Children may play on a team with the same children from year to year, as the players age-up through the travel league. However, keeping children together from year to year is not the primary consideration guiding team formation.

Cost

The cost at the time of registration through the NSC Website is $300 for 2024-2025.

Breakdown of the $300 Cost - This is paid only before the start of the Fall Season.
Registration $222
Fundraiser Ticket $75
Website fee $3

***Uniforms this year will be ordered by the family and the cost is approximately $85. This uniform is used for both Fall and Spring Seasons. Additional information about how to order uniforms will be sent in an email once teams are finalized and balances are paid in full.***

The total cost to play travel for 2024-2025 is $385.

Any additional league or tournament participation are up to the individual team coaches and would be an additional cost not paid through Norwin Soccer Club.

Fundraiser Ticket
The cost of registration includes $75.00 for each player's participation in our fundraiser. Each player will receive 5 tickets to sell at $15.00 per ticket. The winning ticket will be based off the Pennsylvania Lottery Daily Number (Pick 3) evening drawing for a week TBD in the beginning of the fall season. Your child(ren) will receive these tickets at his/her first practice. Stubs will not need to be returned to the club. Winners will need to contact the number on the ticket to claim their prize and must produce winning stub to collect the money. The money you collect from selling these tickets is yours to keep and does not need to be turned in because you already paid for them at registration.

Coaching a Travel Team

Coaches for Travel Teams is as important as the Players!!

Many times additional teams can not be formed due to the lack of interested coaches.

Travel coaches are volunteers who are interested in soccer and in coaching at a more competitive level.

PA West and Norwin Soccer Club requires coaches to obtain a US Soccer Grassroots License equivalent with the age group level they are coaching or higher. This requirement is through an online course that upon completion will be reimbursed by the soccer club.

For a calendar of available coaching courses and a list of coaching resources, please check PA West or the U.S. Soccer Learning Center websites.

U9 - U10 Requires the 7V7 Grassroots Course
U11- U12 Requires the 9v9 Grassroots Course
U13-U19 Requires the 11v11 Grassroots Course

Coaches holding an "E License" certificate meet this criteria. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that coaches have the teaching skills to be able to teach players the game of soccer. Coaches, including those who have played soccer in high school, college or beyond, will also benefit from taking coaching courses/clinics.

All coaches must obtain background check clearances once every 5 years. For more details on the clearances required and guidance on obtaining them please access the PA West Risk Management page.

FAQ-

Q: Who is eligible for the Travel Program?
A: Any child who was born between 2010 and 2016 can register for evaluation.

Q: Do I have to live in the Norwin School District?
A: No, we accept players from Norwin School District and surrounding areas

Q: What exactly is the Travel Program?
A: The NSC participates in the PA West Travel League which is considered a higher level of competition than traditional recreational leagues. Teams are formed based on tryout results and player rankings. PA West dictates roster size for Travel Teams. We typically roster teams from U9 through U15.

Q: How many Travel Teams will there be?
A: Travel Teams for each age group are determined by number of players who register and is impacted by number of parents willing to coach!

Q: What are the requirements for a Travel Team?
A: #1. Register for Evaluation. #2 Attend the evaluation. There is a schedule for evaluation for each age group. Players interested must attend. If there is a conflict for your child's age group please email [email protected] and accommodations will be made

Q: What is the cost to attend an evaluation?
A: FREE - even though you are registering on our website - there is no cost! This just makes the process more organized for our team!

Q: What size soccer ball does my child need?
A: U9, U10, U11, U12 Size 4 and U13 and up size 5.

Q: How long does the travel season last for 2024-2025?
A: The travel season encompasses the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 seasons. Placement on a team guarantees your child's spot for a full year.

Q: When are Travel games?
A: Travel games are typically scheduled for Sunday's, after 12 noon.

Q: How often do travel teams practice?
A: Travel teams practice 2 nights a week for 1-1/2 hours each session.

Q: How does the player offer process work?
A: After Evaluation, players will be ranked and offers to join the travel program will be sent to the top players based on the number of available roster spots. Once an offer is sent, parents have 72 hours to accept or reject.

Q: How much does the travel program cost?
A: The registration fee is $300 per player for the full year. This includes $75 worth of fundraising tickets (which if you sale brings down the cost out of pocket to $225!!)

Q: How do we get our uniforms
A: After acceptance to a team - parents/guardians will go to soccer.com and purchase the 2024-25 uniform kit. It will be mailed directly to your house. The cost this year is approximately $85 (plus shipping). The uniform kit price includes - 2 Jerseys, 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of socks -- but with this new system you can always order additional!!

Q: When do I have to pay?
A: Payment is due when offer is accepted.

Q: What does my registration fee cover?
A: The registration fee covers the costs of the program including insurance coverage for each play through PA West. Each season consists of 6-8 games and 2 days a week of practice!

Q: What if my child isn't ready for the travel program?
A: The NSC still offers a robust In-House (Recreational) program that practices 1 day a week with games on Saturdays!!

Q: I still have some questions, who can I contact?
A: Send us an email at [email protected] and we will get back to you!

Questions?

Please contact our travel coordinator, Rob Bauer, at [email protected].

Website Manager

Norwin

Soccer Club