General Information

Welcome to OBGC Soccer Academy and congratulations on your selection to play on one of our travel teams for the upcoming year. 

 

OBGC Soccer Academy is a premier travel program based in Montgomery County, Maryland affiliated with the Olney Boys and Girls Club (OBGC). OBGC Soccer Academy has boys’ and girls’ teams from ages U8 through U19 that compete in the National Capital Soccer League (NCSL) or the Elite Development Program (EDP) League. League selection for a given team is based on the right level of competition to maximize player development and enjoyment.  Many of our players have gone on to have successful high school, collegiate, and professional careers. We are more than a collection of age groups and teams, but a family club with members, where we are all together as one club, with a single identity for all players, parents, and coaches to be proud to be a member of. 

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We are committed to providing a long-term development plan for players of all levels. Our goal is to positively impact the development of youth players in our community by providing soccer and life-enriching opportunities to young players of all ages and playing abilities and to create a lifelong passion for the sport of soccer. We will strive to play an active role in the leadership, development, and personal growth of our players and coaches with our ultimate goal as a club and as a soccer program being to encourage, inspire, and empower each player and coach to reach the highest level possible within the game and in life while helping create leaders and individuals that will inspire others to do the same. 

As a club and an organization, we strive to reach the highest level of success for the players and our teams. Success is not promoted in just simply winning, but in the development of the players both on and off the field and in all aspects of life.  

 

Please visit our website https://www.olneysoccer.org to learn more about our club.  Your team head coach and manager are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.  Their contact information is kept up to date on this site.  

 

Fees and Financial Policies

Fees are determined annually and provided prior to acceptance of a roster spot on one of our teams.  Any players who join mid-season will have a prorated fee structure based on the remaining months of the year.  Included within the fees are: 

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• OBGC Soccer Academy coaching and administration  

• League registration for the league which your team is participating in (NCSL or EDP) 

• Fall, Winter, and Spring training sessions 2 to 3 times per week at local schools, parks, or sports facilities 

• Game field permits and referee payments 

• TeamSnap mobile app for team scheduling and communications 

 

Fees do not include player uniforms, warm-up kits, practice jerseys, bags, or costs related to travel to games, tournaments, or practices.  Every 2 years, OBGC Soccer Academy teams purchase new uniforms, warm-up kits, practice jerseys, and bags, and MSYSA Registration fee.  These fees are determined at the time of purchase and are paid directly to the vendor. 

 

All fees shall be paid in full when they are due. Fees are paid in three (3) installments (August, December, and March) and are due prior to the 15th of the month the installment is due. Arrangements may be made to pay fees in more than three (3) installments, but the agreement and payment plan shall be requested in writing and approved via written consent from the Club. The Club may suspend Player’s during any period they are not in compliance with the above payment terms and may terminate the Player’s membership in the Club if the Player is out of compliance for more than 30 days. No refunds are available upon termination. 

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Playing for a Club team is an annual 10-month commitment (August through June) to the team that you accept a roster spot on. Players may ask to be released from their team according to the guidelines, rules, and regulations of their team’s league and in accordance with Maryland State Youth Soccer Association policies. ALL FEES FOR THE SEASONAL YEAR MUST BE PAID IN FULL TO BE CONSIDERED IN GOOD STANDING UPON RELEASE. THOSE THAT DO NOT FULFILL THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE STATE ASSOCIATION AS IN BAD STANDING. This refund policy applies to players who voluntarily request a release from a team prior to the completion of the year (August through July). As a policy, the Club does not grant refunds, but will consider refund requests that are received prior to February 1st each year that are a result of extenuating circumstances associated with a season-ending injury or family relocation. Release requests shall be submitted to the coach and team manager according to the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association’s rules. 

 

Player Registration and Carding 

Once a player accepts a roster spot with one of our teams, have made their initial club fee payment, and have purchased their uniforms, they are required to be registered and carded with the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association as an OBGC Soccer Academy player.  To complete this registration: 

• Go to https://system.gotsport.com/programs/8Q6656790?reg_role=player  

• Login to existing account or create a new account if it is your first time registering 

• Follow instructions for registering your child for MSYSA either as a Returning Player or New Player 

• For New Players Only, complete the ITC questionnaire 

 

Players and Parents agree that they will disclose in writing to their head coach, any other club team they participate with as a “double-carded player.” No Player shall guest or permanently play for any other club without the prior written consent of their head coach. 

 

Scheduling and Team Communications 

Practice schedules are released by the team head coach and manager prior to the start of the Fall, Winter, and Spring training seasons.  Game schedules are released by the team head coach and manager prior to Fall and Spring season league play as soon as the schedule is released by the league that the team is playing in. 

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For home games and practices, we follow the Montgomery County Parks Department and Montgomery County Public Schools inclement weather policies.  For away games, we adhere to the team inclement weather policies for the team we are playing against.  In all cases, team head coaches and managers will notify players and parents of cancellations as they occur.  All cancelled games are rescheduled for a later date to maintain the total number of games for a given season.  For cancelled practices, the club strives to work around player, parent, and coach schedules to offer makeup practices, but recognizes that is not always possible due to availability limitations. 

 

The club uses TeamSnap for all team scheduling, communications, roster information, and player/parent contact information details.  After accepting a roster spot on one of our teams, you will receive an invitation to your provided email to join Team Snap for their team. For those not familiar, TeamSnap is a mobile app (or can be accessed via web) which manages the team roster, schedule, communications, and contact information. Please accept the invite when it is received and update your players profile information.  Additional email addresses and phone numbers can be added based on your contact preferences for team communications.  Once practice and game schedules are uploaded into TeamSnap by the team manager, players and parents can export the event information into local phone/desktop calendars.  The app is available for free on the Apple and Google app stores for download  

 

Social Media Policy

Players and Parents consent to the Club’s use of Player’s photos or videos captured during training or games for Club promotional, marketing, and/or informational purposes. Only team name, age group, location, and award information will be included. Club will obtain written permission from Player’s legal guardian prior to attaching names or any other personally identifiable information associated with the Player. 

Code of Conduct 

Players and Parents agree to comply fully with the OBGC Code of Conduct, this OBGC Soccer Academy (hereafter referred to as “Club”) Code of Conduct, all Codes of Conduct for the league in which the Player participates, and all requirements/regulations associated with all governing soccer associations: 
OBGC Code of Conduct 

US Youth Soccer Association Bylaws, Policies, and Guidelines 

Maryland State Youth Soccer Association Policies and Guidelines 
NCSL Rules and Procedures 

NCSL Codes of Conduct (Leader's, Player's, and Parent's 

Elite Development Program Rules and Policies 

 

Upon any Code of Conduct violation that results in dismissal from the Club, all annual fees must be paid in full.  The Code of Conduct prohibits the possession and/or use of alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances, unless prescribed specifically for a Player by a licensed physician.  Destruction of property or violation of State, Federal, International, Country-specific, or other law is cause for dismissal.  Players and Parents waive all claims against and release the Club and its related persons from all liability for personal injury or property damage arising from participation in Club activities.  Players and Parents agree to the Club’s Concussion Policy, which prohibits any player who has suffered any apparent brain trauma from returning to play without a doctor’s release and return to play plan. 

 

As a parent or player, I understand that Club activities are for the benefit of children and agree to conduct myself in a manner consistent with creating a positive experience for children and their families. As a Parent or Guardian of a child registered with the Club, I am also responsible for the conduct of my guests. The Club will not tolerate a parent or player yelling at or belittling another player, official, coach or spectator in any way. Any and all violations of the Code of Conduct will result in sanctions and may lead to the immediate expulsion from an event and other Club activities.  I agree to the following: 

• I will remember that all players participate to have fun first and that games are for youths, not adults. 

• I will be a positive role model and strive to reach the highest levels of sportsmanship and to play by the rules. I will be respectful and courteous of others, and will encourage players, officials, and coaches through my positive actions and attitude. 

• I will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike behavior with an official, coach, player, or parent such as arguing, booing, taunting or using profane language or gestures. 

• I will treat other players, coaches and officials with respect regardless of age, race, creed, color, gender or ability. 

• I promise to refrain from cursing, verbal, and physical abuse of any kind.  I will not be aggressive or hostile towards another individual and will resolve conflicts without resorting to violence or argument. 

• I will not ridicule or yell at any player, coach, or official for making a mistake and will not hold a specific individual responsible for losing a competition. 

• I will respect and support the officials and coaches authority during games and will never argue with, question, discuss, or confront officials or coaches. 

• I will do my best to make youth sports fun for all involved