What do club fees cover? LASC has amongst the lowest fees in the area for travel soccer, in many cases up to half of other clubs' fees. Club fees cover spring and fall leagues (either spring or fall for High School ages), two weekly practices during the fall & spring seasons, weekly training during the winter season, participation in two tournaments (two for High School ages), and a winter skills program. The fees also cover two practice jerseys given out at the beginning of the year to be worn to each practice.
What additional fees may there be? Cost of the uniform is separate so that parents may choose what kit they would like as well as any additional items they may want to purchase. The club also offers what it calls "parent paid" tournaments in which additional opportunities are offered to parents if enough players on a team wish to play additional games, but the cost of the tournament fees are covered by the parents.
How do I get uniforms? New uniforms are ordered in odd number years. For the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons, LASC has partnered with European Sports who is a local vendor and has chosen a new Adidas Kit for the new year.
What is the practice schedule? Teams practice 90 minutes, twice each week. Generally, practices are on weeknights, and are not scheduled on consecutive days. The practice schedule is determined in late summer for the fall.
When are games? Generally, boys teams play on Saturdays and girls teams on Sundays. Occasionally, games are scheduled for other days due to re-schedules, weather, or field availability. Starting times are typically between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., though may be at other times.
How many games do teams play? The regular season schedule consists of 8-10 games. Half are played at home (Lake Villa Soccer Complex or Lakes High School depending on age) and half away. In addition to the league schedule, teams will play tournaments that are generally in the local area, with some regional showcase tournament opportunities as well.
How far do teams travel? The extent of travel depends on the other teams in the division. The majority of games are within a 45 minute drive.
How is the level of competition determined? Each league creates divisions which group teams of similar competitive levels. Competitive levels are adjusted from season to season to keep the level of competition as balanced as possible. Typically, teams that finish first or second move up a division and those finishing in the lowest places move down a division.
What equipment do I need? Each player must provide their own shin guards, cleats, water bottle, and practice ball. LASC Soccer balls are available for purchase from the concessions stand for $25.
When does the season begin? The fall schedule generally begins mid-August and runs to early November. Spring Season usually runs early April - mid June.
Is there an off season winter program? LASC offers a very unique winter program. Our professional trainers run 8 indoor training sessions. Each team also competes in futsal games and other competitive games on the weekend. Some teams also participate in strength & agility sessions. We have seen our players make significant improvement during the winter getting many touches on the ball with this type of training. Both winter training and futsal are included in the registration fee.
What tournaments do we play? There are a variety of tournaments in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Tournament participation decisions are made by coaches and the board of directors.
What leagues to the teams play in? Girls teams play in the Illinois Women’s Soccer League (IWSL). Boys teams play in the Young Sportsmen’s Soccer League (YSSL).
What indoor league does the club play in? Indoor training and club futsal are the focus for winter play & development and are included in the registration fee. Winter leagues (futsal or indoor) are not included in the club fee but are encouraged to optionally participate in. Games are played at the Canlan Sports facilities in Libertyville and Barrington.
How many kids play on a team? Roster sizes vary by age. Younger teams play smaller sided (7 versus 7) and have smaller roster sizes. Ideally, the roster will include 4 or 5 substitutes beyond the number of players on the field. However, roster sizes vary based on the number of interested players, their skill level, and the level of competition.
Can my child play travel and park district? There are no rules preventing a child from playing on both travel and park district teams. However, it is very difficult to coordinate and manage commitments to both programs, and it risks burning out the child. For those reasons, the club discourages participation in the park district program and travel at the same time.
Can my child participate in other sports/activities? LASC encourages participation in a variety of sports because we have found that athletic and team skills from one sport help development in another. However, travel soccer takes commitment from September through early June as attending all training sessions is imperative to help players improve their skills and enhance team chemistry. Overlapping seasons present challenges to players and families and should be discussed in advance with both coaches/teams.
Does LASC require fundraising? No. The club emphasizes “passive” fundraising rather than asking members to actively sell merchandise. Recent ongoing passive fundraisers include designated nights at local restaurants, Chicago Fire/Red Stars game for LASC members, plus a portion of all Spiritwear purchases are refunded to the club.
Does every player who attends tryouts get placed on a team? LASC tries to find place for every player. However, sometimes too many/too few players trying out for one team impacts whether a spot is available, or in some cases if a team can be fielded at all. In these cases, parents will be notified of the situation and any available options.
When will team placement decisions be communicated? Generally within 2 days of the end of tryouts.
Should my child attend all applicable tryout sessions? Ideally, in order to be evaluated for the best potential team fit, each player should attend all tryout dates. LASC understands that conflicts exist and does not hold this against a player. Please notify the coach or trainer in advance if a tryout will be missed.
What is a "practice player?" In instances where a team roster spot is not available, a "practice player" spot may be offered at the discretion of the Head Coach. This offer includes an opportunity to train with LASC, but the player will not be rostered, and thus not be eligible for league play. The intent is to provide the player an opportunity to develop with the intent of participating in a future tryout where a roster position may be available. A lower fee structure is available for practice players.
Does the full registration cost need to be paid at one time? Ideally, yes. However, limited short term payment options are available, which many include a convenience fee added to each payment. Please refer to our LASC Player payment policy for additional details.