Central Coast Condors FAQs

WHO ARE THE CENTRAL COAST CONDORS?
The Central Coast Condor Soccer Club (CCCSC) provides opportunities primarily for the 5 Cities area of San Luis Obispo County. This club is more compatible for the serious soccer player who enjoys a more competitive environment. Teams are gender specific. The Condors participate in the Central Coast Soccer League. This league is comprised of teams from Santa Ynez to Paso Robles (Central Coast).

WHAT IS "CLUB SOCCER" AND WHY WOULD I WANT MY CHILD INVOLVED?
Central Coast Condor Soccer Club soccer offers you and your child involvement in a more competitive type of game and training. The difference is that 'recreational' leagues (such as local leagues and AYSO) are more for the player who is just starting out with the game and does not have the time for a year-round commitment or interest in pursuing the game on a more serious level. If your child is passionate about the game and you are both equally serious about his/her development into the best player they could possibly be, then club soccer affords your child the type of environment to help reach such goals.

HOW DO YOU GET ON A CENTRAL COAST CONDOR SOCCER TEAM?
Condor team players are chosen at Try-outs in March usually on a Saturday and Sunday. Prospective players must attend at least one try-out to be considered for a Condor Soccer team. However, you are encouraged to attend all try-out sessions.

DOES "YEAR-ROUND" REALLY MEAN 52 WEEKS OF NON-STOP SOCCER?
Not at all. No one should train and play that way. The team training and competitive game calendar follows a “cyclical” regimen. Teams, depending on age group and level of play, may typically take 3 weeks off over winter break, 7-8 weeks off in spring, and about 1-2 weeks off over the summer in June and July. Teams train hard and usually toward the goal of:
1)   “Fall League” - Weekend games; Sep.- Nov.
2)   “League Cup” - Tournament format competition in Nov.
3)   “State Cup” - Tournament format competition in the spring.
4)   “Tournament season” - Spring/summer through end of August where teams will go to tournaments selected by the coaches. Typically one per month.
Teams typically take time to “decompress” after each of the above phases. Although your child will be committed to his/her club team year-round, he/she will be actually training/playing for about 40 weeks of the year.

HOW MANY CONDOR TEAMS ARE THERE PER AGE GROUP?
The Condors try to put together as many teams as we have qualified coaches and players – typically 1 team per age group with similar skilled players together.

WHAT IF MY CHILD DOES NOT MAKE A CONDOR TEAM?
Encourage your child to continue playing soccer in the recreational soccer programs available in this area and come to try-outs again the following year. Every child develops and matures at a different rate.   Also, additional players are added to the roster each year through U12, as well as previous year players may decide not to try-out.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The Registration fee is $40.00 to be paid in August at the start the League Season. Once placed on a roster, there will be NO refunds.

WHAT KIND OF COMMITMENT IS INVOLVED?
Players are expected to be at games and practices.
Older players are expected to make their club soccer team a priority commitment. Conflicts between player participation in other sports should be discussed with the coaching staff.
Younger players: If a player has a soccer game and practice in another sport scheduled at the same time, the player is expected to be at the soccer game. Likewise, if a player has a game in another sport and soccer practice scheduled at the same time, the player should go to the game. Conflicts between player participation in CCCSC and other sports should be discussed with the coaching staff.

WHEN IS THE LEAGUE SEASON? HOW MANY GAMES AND PRACTICES ARE THERE EACH WEEK?
CCCSC teams play from first week of September through mid November. Each team plays one game a week. Practice days are at the coach’s discretion, but are usually twice a week starting in April. Coaches may decide to participate in Tournament play throughout the year. This may typically be one tournament per month. Check the specifics with your player's coach.

U10 – Friday or Saturday	U13 & U14 – Saturday or Week nite
U11 & U12 – Saturday	U15 & U16 – Saturday or Week nite

Team Managers/Coaches will pass out the League schedules when they are available.

WHERE DO THEY PLAY?
Condor Home games are played at the Soto Sports Complex in Arroyo Grande. The other games may be played at the neighboring communities of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, depending what teams are in your division.

ARE THERE ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENTS?
Tournaments are held on weekends. Each team should participate in at least one tournament per year, more if the coach and team prefer.

WHAT DO TRAVEL PLAYERS WEAR?
CCCSC Team Uniforms are approximately $100.00. (This is not included in the registration fee). Every team wears the same Central Coast Condor Soccer Club uniform. The Club tries to keep the same uniform for a few years so you don’t have to buy a new uniform every year.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DOES MY CHILD NEED?
Players must provide their own shin guards, soccer shoes or sneakers, and a ball (see ball size chart below). Players must remove all jewelry before playing. Players will receive a team shirt, shorts and socks. Balls may be purchased through the club, for cost, on the registration form or by asking your coach to put in an order to the Equipment Manager.

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD MY CHILD START PLAYING CLUB SOCCER?
The same question may be asked of having your child start piano or guitar lessons. For the right player, there's no such thing as "too early." There is only "too late."
The English FA's (Football [soccer] Association) latest research shows that there's a "Golden Age of Learning" in soccer and - in general - it's between the ages of 8-14. After the age of 14, it is almost impossible to cure technical flaws in a player. That's why there's no such thing as "too early" as some coaches will have you believe.
The only real way to find out whether or not club soccer is right for your child is to come out and train with one of teams, see for yourself the level and quality of training and play, and base any decision you make on the knowledge you gain from that experience. Also you should speak to other families who are members of our club about their experience.
The Central Coast Condors Soccer Club has teams that start at the U9 (under 9) age group.

WHAT ABOUT PLAYING OTHER SPORTS?
Young athletes are actually encouraged to play other sports because it is healthier to do so. At a young age, as athletes’ bodies are developing, it’s important to experiment and cross train. Even at that young age, however, the commitment in club is as such that multi-sport athletes are required to put club soccer first in the event of a conflict. As players approach high school age, it becomes increasingly difficult to play several sports and truly excel at any. As a result, high school age athletes must often choose between club soccer and other sports.

WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT?
The financial commitment varies from team to team and on the number of players on each team but on average, the monthly fees per player are between $40-$100. Most teams ask that you pay quarterly and in advance others require that you pay monthly. Fee structure is based on expenses, some teams will attend more tournaments. Annual club membership fee currently set at $50
Approximate New Player Fees:
Uniform $100,
Player Registration $40

WHAT ABOUT PLAYING TIME?
Players have to earn their way onto a team, earn playing time and must play in a way that will determine their level of involvement. CCCSC realize's that different players have different talents and levels of commitment.

WHAT ABOUT CUTS?
Club soccer is a competitive environment by nature. Players compete for positions on the team as well as for minutes played on the field. But each team is different. Most teams come together at first in an organic and unpredictable fashion. NO PLAYER IS CUT DURING THE SEASON OF PLAY. At the end of each season, coaches and families take the opportunity to “take stock” of each individual player’s development, performance, and contribution to the team. It is those parameters that quite often allow both families and coaches to conclude whether or not it is to the benefit of the player to continue with their existing Condor team or to find them an environment in which they may continue to develop and thrive elsewhere.
CCCSC is in this for the long term objective of Player development, Team development and Club growth. The relationship between the player, family, coach, team and club is characteristically measured in years. The typical CCCSC club player starts at 9-11 years of age and may play up to U19. In addition, some age divisions have more than one team.

WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
CCCSC would be happy to answer any questions you have on any aspect of the process. The club soccer experience involves family commitment. Go to our "TEAMS" link. Find a team that's the right age for your child. Contact the coach directly either via phone or e-mail. If a team in your child's age group does not exist or has not yet been formed, contact the Club President or Vice President (contacts found on the "BOARD & STAFF" page) directly for further information on how to proceed.

If your child is planning to attend our Condor try-outs in March, please email the coach with the players name, date of birth, and phone number so the coach can put them on their list for the upcoming try-out.