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Cockeysville Girls Soccer
(Since 1985)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: At what age may my daughter begin participating?
A: Eligibility for any age group is your daughter's age as of July 31st of the current calendar year.  Our youngest age group is Clinic (5-6 year olds). On occasion we do allow players younger than 5 years old to begin participating in our Clinic division; however, this is dependent on their ability and maturity.  The player must be able to keep up with other age-group participants.  Parents desiring early participation for their daughter should recognize that children younger than five years old will play with and against other 5 and 6 year-olds.  Parents should also recognize there may be increased risk of injury to their daughter if she contests a play with a larger, age-eligible player. [Back to top]

Q: How long is the season?
A: In house age groups play from the beginning of September until the end of October. Travel age groups start 1 - 2 weeks earlier and continue playing until mid-November.
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Q: What equipment is needed to participate?
A: All players must were shin guards.  Players should also have their own ball and something to drink at each practice or game.  Soccer shoes (cleats) are recommended but not required. [Back to top]

Q: What size ball should my child be using?
A: Clinic uses size #3; Junior, Lightning, U8, U10 and U12 Travel all use size #4; U14 Travel uses a size #5 ball. [Back to top]

Q: When will I hear about team rosters, practice dates and times?
A: For in-house age groups, due to the large number of late registrations, you will hear from coaches toward the end of August. In-house schedules should be released shortly before opening day in early September. For travel players, evaluations take place in early June. Evaluation dates will be posted once they are finalized and should be listed on this website by mid-May. After the evaluations, it will take another 2-4 weeks to finalize travel teams and get word out to the participants. [Back to top]

Q: What's the difference between Travel and In-house? [complete Travel Information - FAQ]
A: Travel teams are chosen based on player's ability whereas in-house teams are more balanced, so that there is team parity in a given league. Travel players will be paired with other similarly talented players and play against comparable travel teams. Travel is generally geared towards more competitive play, although there are travel teams at all levels and we attempt to place travel teams in appropriately competitive leagues. Travel teams play half their games AWAY, meaning we travel to other fields, usually 15-20 minutes either side of the Beltway (I-695). Travel teams play games only on weekends and may participate in one or more tournaments each season. In-house games take place weekdays and/or weekends. [Back to top]

Q: What equipment is provided by the program?
A: All in-house age groups (Clinic; Junior and Lightning) receive a uniform which consists of shirt; shorts and socks.  Players keep this equipment at the end of the season.  Travel participants receive jersey; shorts and socks, however they only keep the socks after the season.  The travel uniforms are of more durable quality and cost more, so the program re-uses them for several years.  Travel participants must turn in their jerseys and shorts after the season. [Back to top]

Q: Where will practices/games take place?
A: All Clinic sessions take place at Warren Park Place (on York Road, about 300 yards north of Warren Road, behind the senior center.  Juniors have weekday sessions at Warren Park Place and Saturday sessions at Warren Elementary School.  Lightning has all sessions at Warren Elementary School.  For travel teams, U10 home games are played at Warren Elementary School; U12 home games are played either at Warren Elementary or Mays Chapel Park, and U14 home games are played either at Mays Chapel Park, Dulaney HS or Meadowood Park, depending on field availability. [Back to top]

Q: What days does my daughter have soccer?
A: In-house:  Clinic plays either Monday or Wednesday evening, and Saturday morning.  Junior plays either Tuesday or Thursday evening, and Saturday morning.  Lightning plays Monday and Wednesday evening, and Saturday around mid-day.
Travel: Travel teams usually practices two weeknights and play games on Sunday afternoons.  Some travel teams may opt to enter a second league and therefore will also have games on Saturdays.  Practice nights are arranged depending on coach/team preference and field availability. [Back to top]

Q: What time does soccer begin and how long is each session?
A: In-house sessions are between 60-75 minutes duration. The season starts with weekday sessions beginning at 6:00pm. As we move into fall, the start time will gradually move up so that weekday sessions begin by 5:45pm (early October) and 5:30pm for the last 2-3 weeks. Saturday sessions for Clinic and Junior start at 8:45 and 10:15am (two sessions for each age group so all teams may play). Lightning sessions start after the second Junior session; usually around 11:30am.
Travel team weekday practices last 75-90 minutes and begin between 6:00 and 7:00pm early in season. As we move into the season, session start times will adjust commensurate with In-house. Because the travel season is longer than In-house, Travel teams usually move to a lighted field by mid-October. Scheduling at the lighted fields is shared among several programs; therefore practice times (and dates) may change.  Weekend practices may be scheduled at coaches' discretion, however games are scheduling by the leagues we play in. Sunday games start between 12 noon and 4:30pm.  If travel teams also participate in a Saturday league, games may be any time. [Back to top]

Q: Is there any other advice for parents and players?
A: All parents, coaches and participants should be mindful of the parental code of conduct signed at registration and the general rules of fair sportsmanship. As players (and their parents) climb the ladder of competitive soccer, please be sure to keep ambitions in line with spirit of the game.

Remember that each participant must wear shin guards to all practices and games. Rules also forbid hard jewelry of any type. This covers, but is not limited to: earrings, necklaces, armbands, hair beads and watches. IF your daughter is contemplating pierced ears, please get them after the season. Otherwise, because earrings must be kept in newly pierced ears for several weeks without removal, your child faces having to sit out games, or (at the travel level) receiving a yellow-card for disobeying safety rules referees are required to enforce. [Back to top]