FAQ
This page has general information on playing soccer with EMSA West. For more specific information on registration or coaching, please click on the links below.
What equipment does my child need to play soccer?
Shorts, socks, athletic shoes (indoor or outdoor cleats at your discretion), and shin pads are mandatory.
Where do you find your schedule?
Indoor:
U4 – U5: see the EMSA West website
U7 – U19: see the EMSA Main website
Outdoor:
U4 – U11: see the EMSA West website
U13 – U19: see the EMSA Main Website
The season has started and I have some concerns about the way my child’s coach speaks to the kids. Is there anything I can do?
EMSA West strives to have the best coaches for our players. Please remember all coaches are volunteers. We have several hundred coaches, assistant coaches and team managers, each with their own personalities, which may occasionally lead to conflict. Please report all concerns to the EMSA West office.
My child’s coach is not playing my child as much as the other players. I don’t think this is fair. Is there anything I can do about this?
Yes. The first thing you should do is approach the coach in a respectful manner and discuss your concerns with him/her. If you are not satisfied with the coach’s response or if the situation does not change, please talk to your community coordinator.
Our policy, philosophy and bylaws state that each child must and shall play equally. In other words, “you pay the same, you play the same”. It is our position that not playing a player equally is detrimental to the child’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
There are exceptions to this rule, including, but not limited to, injury/sickness, a discipline issue, or the team only having one designated goalkeeper (in this case, the Coach is allowed to keep this player in goal the entire game).
Player/Coach Cards. Who needs one, and where do you get one?
Card information can be found on the EMSA Main website.
How much does a community league membership cost?
Memberships vary based on the community. Visit the Edmonton Federation of Community League website for further information.
I always thought that soccer would be such a cheap game to play. After all, you only need a ball. Where does my registration fee go?
It would be nice if you only needed a ball. Unfortunately, there is much more to running a comprehensive soccer program for community and competitive soccer. Besides purchasing soccer balls (10-16 per team), your registration money also goes toward:
- Equipment: bags, nets, flags, cones, first-aid kits, player jerseys, field marking, field paint, medals, trophies, referee fees, team photos,
- Office management: photocopying, computer and office equipment, website, email, office overhead, salary for full-time staff
- Other: coach training/ASA course for volunteers, insurance, Edmonton Minor Soccer Association, Alberta Soccer Association and Canada Soccer Association fees.
Our Executive Board is responsible for ensuring that registration fees are kept to a minimum and that all expenditures are justified.
We are a not-for-profit registered society governed by the Societies Act, and our books are audited each year.
How can I volunteer?
Our program is volunteer-based; without volunteers, we cannot run it. Our teams require coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers. Without these people, children would not play.
We are always looking for volunteers for our Tournaments and Fun Day Events. This can include sorting medals in our office, field marshalling at the Tournaments, or making cotton candy at Fun Days. If this interests you, call our office for more information.
Is EMSA West a for-profit organization?
EMSA West is a not-for-profit organization run by a volunteer board of directors.
Not-for-profit organizations (NFPOs) do not earn profit for their owners. All money earned through pursuing business activities or through donations goes right back into running the organization.
What is EMSA West’s primary source of income?
EMSA West runs two tournaments each year: the Slush Cup (February) and the Spring Challenge (June). The income from these tournaments covers staff wages and helps subsidize programs.
Why am I charged an Admin Fee this season when asking to cancel my registration before the season starts?
The Zone has fixed costs, and this fee covers the credit card fee charged by our provider.