FAQ's
Q: Why did Kouts Youth Soccer League change their name to Kouts Soccer Club and what does this mean?
A: We are a small town and times are changing. To play against other teams there are certain insurances that must align. All our neighbors in NWI have evolved to a "club status". Being independent, like we have been for many years, means due to insurance reasons we wouldn't be able to provide games for our kids to play unless we embraced the change surrounding us. We would only be able to play games against our own team within our own league. Being a small town, the number of teams (especially in our older divisions) would not provide for enough variation of teams to play. Change is good! Our kids are going to learn, have fun, and grow!
Q: Will my child get a medal at the end of season?
A: ONLY U6 and U8 kids will receive a participation medal from Kouts Soccer Club. U10 and up will have the chance to EARN a 1st or 2nd place medal in the skill division from the NWISL. All NWISL medals will arrive when the season ends and the tournament is over. We will let you know when it is available to pick up.
Q: How will games work, and where will they be?
A: The teams in the Kouts Soccer Club will compete against teams from other clubs throughout Northwest Indiana with the NWISL. A list of NWISL clubs can be found here. Our 8 game season will consist of 4 games at home and 4 games away. Away games can be played at any of the clubs that are part of the NWISL in Lake and/or Porter County. The game schedule will be created by the NWISL. Games will be played on Sundays but occasional Saturdays are possible. Games will start at 12:00pm or later. We may have your coach ask your team if they are ok with moving up start times for certain games depending on the needs of the NWISL, amount of teams, and timing of daylight. All U14 home games will be at Kouts High School on the field in the middle of the track.
Q: When and where are practices?
A: Practices start approximately 2-3 weeks before the first game of the season. They are held 1-2 times a week, Monday-Saturday. Days and times will be decided by your child’s coach. Coaches will reach out to their teams to discuss this information. U6-U12 practices will be at the Kouts Soccer Fields on their specific division field. U14 will be held at the Kouts High School track field AND at the Kouts Soccer Fields on the U12 field. U14 coaches will decide on the locations and the days. Days available to practice will vary when using the Kouts High School field. Remember, we are guests at the school so be sure to clean up after yourself or we will lose the privilege of using this space!
Q. What size ball does my child need?
A: U6-U8: Size 3
U10-12: Size 4
U14: Size 5
Q: What gear does my child need?
A: The Registration fee does include the player’s game jersey. The player is responsible for a ball (see sizing above), soccer cleats (NO FRONT CLEAT), shin guards that must be worn under socks, and a water bottle. This is required for every game and practice! Make sure your child is dressed appropriately if they want to participate. No jewelry of any kind is allowed on the fields per the SAY Soccer and NWISL rules.
Q: When do the Fall and Spring seasons start and end?
A: The Fall season begins mid August and ends early October. The Spring season would start around March/April through May with a tournament in June. These are estimations and subject to change.
Spring registration will depend on interest. If you get an email with a survey, please fill it out. This is the only way to make a Spring season possible.
The game schedule is made by the NWISL, so when it will be released is not in our control. You will be notified when it is available.
Q: What age group/division will my player be placed in?
A: Age divisions are broken down into skill level and gender. Building of the teams will reflect this criteria. This allows for the NWISL to appropriately match teams for fair games. They do require proof of age via birth certificate to ensure this. Your child's correct age division will auto-populate based on their birth date during the online registration process. Eligibility for age groups shall be determined by a player’s age on August 1 of the seasonal year. A seasonal year is Fall followed by Spring. Please see our age Matrix.
Q: What are the profile picture requirements?
A: The profile picture on your account is required and will be used for your child’s player's card. The referees need to be able to identify that your player is who the card says they are.
The profile picture must be a headshot, a good example is a "driver's license photo".
The requirements for the profile picture are as stated:
* No other family members or pets in the photo
* No sunglasses
* No hats
* Forward Facing (No side angles)
Q: What does the “U” mean in the age divisions?
A: The “U” means under. Since youth soccer has changed from calendar year to seasonal year, think of it as:
U8 means under 8 before August 1st
8U means 8 and under, as long as the child turns 8 on or after August 1st
Either way you look at it, both of these terms mean 8 year olds are in the division, but only those that have turned 8 on or after August 1st.
Q: How much is the Registration fee?
A: The registration fee for U8-U14 is $150 and U6 (in-house) $80. The registration fee includes the player's jersey in all divisions.
Siblings that live in the same household may receive a sibling discount. The first child is full price, the second will have a $10 discount, and three children or more will have a $20 discount.
*Please note: We use the same jerseys for the Spring season. If you lose your jersey, you are required to buy a replacement at your own expense.
Q: What if I ordered the wrong size jersey or it gets lost?
A: All single or late ordered jerseys after our bulk order has been placed has fees that we can not accommodate. If you need a new jersey please contact us and we will provide you with the store information so you can order and purchase a new one on your own.
Q: Can I register if I don't live in Kouts?
A: Yes! Anyone can register. The Kouts Soccer Club does not have any residency restrictions or out-of-district fees.
Q: If I have a special request, where do I notify the club about it?
A: When registering your child you can type this in the boxes titled "Special Requests/Comments". Due to the overwhelming amount of requests and for the purpose of appropriately placing players where they will thrive, we are no longer taking requests on teams, coaches, practice dates, etc. Requests for siblings living in the same household who are in the same age and gender divisions will be accommodated. You may email us with any special conditions/situations, however, this does not mean we will be able to accommodate them. Wanting to be on a friends team, car pooling, and convenience are not special conditions.
Q: I missed the registration deadline, can you make an exception?
A: Unfortunately, no. The preparation and process after registration is lengthy, and we have strict deadlines to meet with the NWISL. Our club is a non-profit organization ran by volunteer board members and we need time to do all of the background work before the season begins. We will advertise a lot so keep an eye on our Facebook page and website!
Q: Why is there a waitlist?
A: We cap registration at a certain number, based on averages, to ensure we have the right amount of players per team. A waitlist will allow you to register but not pay at that time. When we get enough players to fill a team, the waitlisted players will be notified and you will then be able proceed with your payment.
Q: What is the refund policy?
A: There are no refunds after registration closes. If you need a refund before it closes, there will be a $10 processing fee. No exceptions!
Q: The site says there are no available programs for my child, what do I do now?
A: This means that registration has closed or that your son/daughter is not eligible to participate based on the birth date or gender requirements set by the organization. This will also happen if your cart has a program in it from a previous attempt. You can look at your account page and check your cart to see if there are any items in it.
*Please Note: Sometimes this will happen if the child's birth date is set incorrectly. You can always check this by going to your account screen and clicking on “My Account”. Click on “Edit Player Info” next to your child's name. See "How can I edit any of my account or participant information?" for more info.
Q: How do I register my player for Kouts Soccer Club?
A: Kouts Soccer Club registration is completed through an online registration process where you must make an account. You will need a copy of your child's birth certificate and a current photo of your child from the shoulders up, to where you can clearly see them. Please do not use photos with multiple people or pets in them, and do not use photos of players that have on sunglasses or hats. This should be a driver's license/passport style photo. A traditional school photo can work if it meets these requirements.
Q: How much time is involved with volunteering?
A: The time commitment related to volunteering for our club is entirely up to you and the tasks you take on. Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches are always needed. You do not need experience in coaching as we have resources to help teach you. This sort of volunteering would require a few hours each week during the normal soccer season. However, volunteering to serve on our board can require several hours each week, even during the off season.
Q: Can my child play up a division?
A: We do not move players up a division based on requests or skill level. Our first priority is placing players within their appropriate age division, as this provides the best foundation for individual development and helps maintain the strength and balance of the divisions across the club. We will follow all recommendations from SAY Soccer and the NWISL. Our goal is to build teams with like skill level for proper placement within the NWISL to ensure all players are challenged appropriately. This will also be impacted by registration numbers.
In rare cases, if a move up is warranted due to the next age group needing another player to fill a team and ONLY if the rightful age group does not need said player then a formal request may be submitted by the club to the aren't for permission to move the player up. These requests will be reviewed by the NWISL and SAY Soccer for approval. The final decision rests solely with the NWISL and not Kouts Soccer Club or our coaches.
Q: What is a ball chaser?
A: Ball chasers are players from our club that volunteer to go to the Kouts High School soccer HOME GAMES to help their soccer teams by replacing balls that go out of bounds during a game. As a community, we support our schools, and our schools support us. This is a fun experience for our players by getting to help the high school teams during their games. Players can learn from the high school kids, build excitement, and help all at the same time! The high school sponsors our youth league night, allows us to use one of their fields for our U14 teams, and provides support and advice as we grow their future athletes. This will be a requirement and coaches will assign ball chasers per their availability when the high school schedule is released. We have many eager kids and not many high school games so not everyone will get a chance to ball chase, but when your coach asks please consider the impact this truly makes and pick a day you can take your child for fun.
A ball chaser and 1 parent will receive free admission since they are volunteering.
Q: How do I sign up to coach a team?
A: To coach a team you need to register yourself as a volunteer. Kouts Soccer Club is always in need of both head and assistant coaches. Our club is ran by volunteers! Coaching is a rewarding and positive experience. The goal is to create lasting memories with your child!
Everyone is a volunteer and does not get paid for putting in many hours behind the scenes to keep this organization operating for your child to play soccer. If you have questions, suggestions, or are interested in getting involved with the club please do not hesitate to contact us by email at: [email protected]
Weather Policy
If ANY lightning is sighted, thunder is heard, or sirens go off the fields must be cleared immediately!
If the game was stopped in the first half: We will start a timer for a 30 minute wait period. Even if the all clear siren goes off you must still wait 30 minutes. Each time thunder is heard or lightning is sighted during this first wait period, the 30 minute timer will restart. The total time of a weather delay must not exceed 60 minutes. If conditions exist whereby the delay would exceed 60 minutes, then the game is abandoned immediately. Rescheduling the game is the responsibility of the NWISL, not the referee.
If the game is stopped after the first half, during half time, or during the second half: The game ends, the score is final, and the game will not be replayed. The home club representatives can close a field due to field conditions. If that happens the field is closed for the rest of the day and no games are to be played on the field.