East Bay United Soccer Club

BAY OAKS PROGRAM FAQ

Q: What level of competition do Bay Oaks teams play?

A: At Bay Oaks, our 1st Teams are labelled “Gold” 2nd Teams are labelled “Blue” and 3rd Teams are labelled “White”.

Bay Oaks 1st Teams (Gold) play at the highest levels of competition, including National Premier League (NPL), NorCal State/Premier/Gold, California Regional League (CRL). In many cases, our Bay Oaks 2nd Team (Blue) will also be competing against the 1st Team of other local clubs.

If you are comparing between different clubs, look past the label of the team and find out what league and level of play the team will compete in.

EBU JUNIORS PROGRAM FAQ

Q: How many players are allowed on a U6 or U8 Team Roster?

A: The maximum roster size for our U6 and U8 Teams is 12, and that is a strict cap. Please keep this in mind if you are forming a team and outreaching to other families.

Q: When is the deadline to register?

A: There is no hard deadline to register players for EBU Juniors programs; however, the longer you wait, the greater the risk that your child will get stuck on a wait list without team or class placement. Returning players get priority placement on their former team as long as they register by June 30. The deadline to register a U6 or U8 team is Aug 31. If you wait until after that date to register your team, we may not be able to get field space for them and get their games scheduled.​

Q: I’m organizing a team—how do I set up the roster?

A: We will set up / populate all of the team rosters on Teamsnap. Each family needs to individually register their player. When they register there is space to request a team placement by putting the coach’s name, team name, or name another player that they would like their child to play with. If you are a returning team, you are welcome to provide us with a list of players that you expect to sign up, but this is not required. The maximum roster size for our U6 and U8 Teams is 12, and that is a strict cap. Please keep this in mind if you are forming a team and outreaching to other families. Returning players get priority placement on their former team as long as they register by June 30. After that we will begin adding players to rosters on a first-come, first-served basis. Coaches and Team Managers will not be added to the Teamsnap Roster until after they have registered with CalNorth and completed the background check clearance. Players will not be added to rosters until they have completed the registration process, including providing the necessary forms (Proof of Birth, CalNorth Registration Form).

Q: What is the exact class schedule (location/days/times) for Soccer School?

A: Soccer School classes are offered at various times, days, and locations each season. Please refer to the EBU Juniors program page to see the full schedule of class offerings.​

Q: What documents can I submit for “Proof of Birth” when registering my child?

• A birth certificate
• A Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (DD Form 1173) issued by the uniformed services of the United States
• A birth registration issued by an appropriate government agency
• A passport
• An alien registration card issued by the United States Government
• A certificate issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service attesting to age
• A current driver’s license
• An unexpired federal, state, or local government identification card (if documentation of date of birth is required)
• A certification of a United States citizen born abroad issued by the appropriate government agency.

Q: What equipment/gear/uniform does my child need?

A: Visit the “Uniforms” page on this website for the links and info to order uniforms for all of our soccer programs. Please visit the “EBU Juniors page for full information on required and recommend equipment and gear for your child.

EBU REC PROGRAM FAQ

Q: What is the season schedule?

A: The EBU Rec program has two seasons—Fall and and Spring. Fall runs from just after Labor Day to just before Thanksgiving. The Spring season runs from March to May. During the winter and summer, EBU Rec players are encouraged to participate in our soccer clinics and camps.

Q: When and where do EBU Rec teams practice and play their games?

A: Games are on Saturdays and Sunday during the Fall and Spring seasons, Most EBU Rec home games are played at Alameda Point Soccer Fields or ECCL. Away games are played against other local teams at fields in Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont. During the Fall, EBU Rec teams have one weekday practice per week, at either Mills College or Alameda Point. EBU Rec teams do not have a weekday practice during the spring season—just weekend games.

Q: How does my child join a team?

A: Please visit the “EBU Rec” page for full instructions on registering your child and getting them onto a team.

Q: When is the deadline to register?

A: There is no hard deadline to register a player for the EBU Rec program; however, the longer you wait, the greater the risk that your child will get stuck on a wait list without team placement. Returning players get priority placement on their former team as long as they register by June 30. The deadline to register a team is July 31. If you wait until after that date to register your team, we may not be able to enter them into the local rec soccer league and get them on the schedule.

Q: I’m organizing a team—how do I set up the roster?

A: We will set up / populate all of the team rosters on Teamsnap. Each family needs to individually register their player. When they register there is space to request a team placement by putting the coach’s name, team name, or name another player that they would like their child to play with. If you are a returning player, you are welcome to provide us with a list of players that you expect to sign up, but this is not required. The maximum roster size for our U10 (3rd & 4th Grade Teams) is 12 players. The maximum roster size for our U12 (5th & 6th Grade Teams) is 14 players. The maximum roster size for our U14-U19 teams (7th Grade & Older) is 20 players. These are strict caps—please keep this in mind if you are forming a team and outreaching to other families. Returning players get priority placement on their former team as long as they register by June 30. After that we will begin adding players to rosters on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Coaches and Team Managers will not be added to the Teamsnap Roster until after they have registered with CalNorth and completed the background check clearance. Players will not be added to rosters until they have completed the registration process, including providing the necessary forms (Proof of Birth, CalNorth Registration Form).​

Q: What documents can I submit for “Proof of Birth” when registering my child?

• A birth certificate
• A Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (DD Form 1173) issued by the uniformed services of the United States
• A birth registration issued by an appropriate government agency
• A passport
• An alien registration card issued by the United States Government
• A certificate issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service attesting to age
• A current driver’s license
• An unexpired federal, state, or local government identification card (if documentation of date of birth is required)
• A certification of a United States citizen born abroad issued by the appropriate government agency.

Q: What equipment/gear/uniform does my child need?

A: Visit the “Uniforms” page on this website for the links and info to order uniforms for all of our soccer programs. Please visit the “EBU Rec” page for full information on required and recommended equipment and gear for your child. Each team should have a volunteer Uniform Coordinator to help families organize/pick jersey numbers so that no two players have the same number on the same team.

Q: How do I know what age group my team or child should register for?

A: Our EBU Rec teams will be grouped by age. When you register you will indicate your child’s grade (3rd – 12th).

Q: What do we need in order to form a new team?

A: Please visit the “EBU Rec” page for full instructions on forming a new team.

Q: How do we set up our roster?

A: Please visit the “EBU Rec” page for full instructions on setting up your team roster.

Q: How do I become a volunteer head or assistant coach?

A: Please visit the “EBU Rec” page for full instructions to become a volunteer.

Q: What kind of support do parent volunteer coaches get from the club?

A: All volunteers get direct support on how to lead successful, fun and safe activities under the current restrictions. We can provide session plans, observe and support your practice, provide feedback and resources. Parent Volunteers will be required to complete an online safety training before hitting the field. Additional training & support for Parent Volunteers is available, including:

• US Soccer Learning Center (online courses)
• On-field support during activities
  
• SafeSport Certification
• Sideline Sports Injury Recognition Training
• Positive Coaching Alliance
• Support from our experienced EBU Staff Coaches​

Q: How many players can be on one team?

A: Our maximum roster sizes for EBU Rec Teams are:

• U10 (3rd & 4th Grade – 7v7) 14 players 
• U12 (5th & 6th Grade – 9v9) 16 players 
• U14-U19 (7th Grade & Older – 11v11) – 22 max players in which only 18 of them may be rostered per game

Q: What is the competition/game format for EBU Rec Teams?

A: EBU Rec teams compete in the Jack London Youth Soccer League against other teams from EBUSC, Alameda Soccer Club, Montclair Soccer Club, Oakland Soccer Club, and Piedmont Soccer Club. The league creates the game schedules and assigns referees for each match. Game formats are as follow

• U10; 3rd & 4th Grade; 7v7, 25 minute halves; size 4 ball
• U12; 5th and 6th Grade; 9v9; 30 minute halves; size 4 ball
• U14; 7th and 8th Grade; 11v11; 35 minute halves, size 5 ball
• U16; 9th and 10th Grade; 11v11; 40 minute halves, size 5 ball
• U19; 11th and 12th Grade; 11v11; 45 minute halves; size 5 ball

Q: How does the Team Referee Requirement work?

A: Jack London Youth Soccer League requires all participating teams to provide referees for the league. Each team needs to have/provide affiliated Team Referees. These Team Refs are normally parents of children on the team, but they may also be siblings or any other ref that is willing to affiliate with your team. Team Refs DO NOT ref the games of their own teams—they sign up to ref other games based on their availability, experience level and interest. The amount of games that each teams referees need to cover depends on the age of the team. CLICK HERE for more information on how to complete the basic online training to become a new referee, or to complete the online course for renewing you license each year. East Bay United Soccer Club will reimburse our referees for the cost of taking the online course.

Q: What if it rains?

A: On some weekends during the winter/spring we may need to close Alameda Point Fields due to heavy rain to avoid damaging the field. More than likely the League will give you a heads up on whether the games will be canceled that weekend but if you do not hear about it leading up to the game weekend, please check in with our Director of Rec and Juniors at rec@ebusoccer.org ​

EBUSC REFEREE PROGRAM FAQ​

Q: How do I become a referee or get re-certified?

A: Visit the Referee page of our website for more links and instructions on how to sign up for the online course to become a referee or to renew your license. If you have questions, contact our Referee Assignor at DOO@ebusoccer.org

Q: How do I sign up for / request match assignments?

A: If you are already on our EBUSC Referee List, you should be getting weekly emails that show the games that are available / in need of referees. If you have not be getting these updates, please email us at DOO@ebusoccer.org to be added to our referee list.

Q: What games will I be assigned to when I am a new referee?

A:  The Referee  Coordinators (“RCs”) recommend that you work up to 10-12 games during the season in this order:  

– 3-4 AR slots Rec U12;
– 3-4 center ref (CR) slots for Rec U10G (girls) and U10B (boys);
– 3-4 center ref (CR) slots for Rec U12B and U12G rec.

• As new refs, you will only be allowed to work games up to U12Rec CR. this is why the “Request” button will not be available for you for games above this level.  Once you have gained some experience and are evaluated by a mentor, then your experience ranking will go up and you can request Comp level games. 
• Center refs must be at least 2 years older than the players.  youth refs will only be able to work U12 games and under, and with experience, this would include comp games.  This is about 70% or our games, so there are very many games you can work even at 14 years old.

Q: As a referee, how do I affiliate myself with a team so that they get credit for the games I work?

A: Log into your SportLynx account and adjust your profile settings in the Referee Center.

Q: How old do you have to be to become a referee?

A: You can sign up for the new referee course if you are 13.5 years old and going to turn 14 during the current season. In other words, you need to be 14 or older to referee games, but may get trained and licensed when you are 13. All referees must be at least 2 years older than the players in the game that they are refereeing.

REFEREE SUPPORT FOR TEAM MANAGERS

• Make sure your team has affiliated referees—each team is responsible for providing referees that cover other games in the league. In general, teams are expected to provide referees for the equivalent amount of home games that they have in a season. Anyone referee with a current license may affiliate with your team so that your team gets “credit” for the games they referee. Referees can set their Team Affiliation in the Profile Settings of their SportLynx account. See the instructions above for how to get trained and certified as a new referee.
• Recruit a Team Referee Coordinator (volunteer)—their main job is to check the game schedule regularly to confirm that referees have been assigned to team’s home games (see button at top of this page to view game schedule and current referee assignments). The Team Referee Coordinator should also keep/develop of at least a few referees that they can reach out to request that they ref your home game.
• If no Center Referee has been assigned to your game by 72 hours before kickoff, your Team Referee should contact any referees they know to see if they are available. If so, that referee should request the game through their SportLynx account. Whenever possible, home teams should have parents or other potential back-up referees on standby at the games to help with referee coverage.
• If no Center Referee has been assigned to your home game by 48 hours before kickoff, please email us here to request additional support.
• At 24 hours before kickoff, if no Center Referee has been assigned to your home game, your Team Referee Coordinator or Team Manager should contact your opponent to let them know. At that point, you may invite the opponent provide their own affiliated, certified referee(s) for the match, who would still be paid by Jack London Youth Soccer League. If the visiting team will provide a referee, you should email the Ref Coordinator to let them know so that the referees are properly assigned and paid.
• The Referee Coordinators will work on assigning a Center Referee for your home game until 2 hours before kickoff. If no referee is available then the game should be called off.
• Matches other than NPL competitions may be played with a single Center Referee. If a full crew of referees is not assigned the Center Referee may work the game solo or with the help of volunteer Assistant Referees.

SOCCER CAMPS FAQ

Q: What do children need to bring to summer camp?

A: Water bottle with water, snacks, lunch, sunscreen, soccer gear (cleats & shin guards, covered with soccer socks). Children may also bring a book, playing cards, or another small activity they would like to do during breaks throughout the day.

Q: What are the facilities like at summer camp?

A: Alameda Point Soccer Fields:  3.5 full-sized grass soccer fields; 4 portable toilets that get serviced every week; 2 handwashing stations; canopies for shade, water coolers for water bottle refills

A: Bushrod Park: 2 full-sized soccer fields; portable toilets & handwashing stations; canopies for shade; water coolers for water bottle refills

Q: How early/late can I drop off/pick up my child?

A: Regular drop-off is between 8:30am and 9am. Regular pickup is between 4pm and 4:15pm. If you will need to drop off your child before 8:30am or after 4:15pm at any point during the week please register for the Early Drop-Off / Late Pickup option using this link ($100 per week). Once you register for this option, you may drop your child off as early as 8am and pick them up as late as 5pm.

Q: Can I have somebody else drop off or pick up my child?

A: Yes! Anyone can drop off your child at camp without prior arrangements. If someone other than the adults listed on your child’s Teamsnap profile will be picking them up, please email us to let us know in advance before the camp week starts. If you have a late change of plans, please call or text the Camp Administrator On-Call for that day (see Camps page).