PARENT FAQ
What is the difference between In-House, Travel, and Select?
In-House Teams (U5-U8) play in Ludington, at the local soccer fields.
Rec Travel (GLCSL) is a place for players who love to play soccer with their friends, have fun, and develop their skills. (No tryouts.) In rare cases these teams may be coed. Their competition is made up of teams from Manistee, Hart, Shelby, Muskegon, and Coopersville.
Select (GVSA) is a higher level of competition where players are required to tryout. The top players are chosen by a group of coaches and evaluators. Competition is made up of quality teams from Cadillac, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon. Cost is higher due to higher league fees.
What does my child need to play soccer?
Every player must wear a uniform, soccer cleats, shin guards, and socks to cover the shin guards. All players should bring the correct size soccer ball to practice and games. Uniforms are ordered during registration. Players should always bring a ball and water to every practice.
U5-U8 have a reversible orange/white jersey and can wear any color shorts and socks. Sweatshirts or sweats can be worn but jersey must be visible.
U9-U19 must wear the WSW Uniform. Cold weather gear can be worn underneath but must be the same color as uniform or black.
Please note: No jewelry can be worn during games. Earrings must be removed, not taped.
Do I need to order a new uniform each season?
All players must order a new uniform for Fall 2022. Uniforms can be worn for multiple seasons. New uniform pieces can be ordered if your child out grows them.
When is registration and how do I sign up my child?
For registration dates, check out our calendar. Registration is done online. We accept credit or debit cards. You can mail a check to:
West Shore Waves
PO Box 455
Ludington, MI 49431
I missed registration. Can my child still play?
Late registrations are accepted only if there is space on a roster. Once rosters are sent to the governing leagues, no players may be added. A $25 late fee will be charged for registrations beyond the deadline.
Can I coach?
Yes! We are always in need of coaches as our program grows. You can sign up to coach during your child’s registration process. All head and assistant coaches must pass a background check every year. Head coaches are reimbursed for their child’s registration fee.
How long is the season?
Select teams follow the GVSA calendar and play 8 games and a tournament (gvsoccer.org).
In-House (U5-U8) has a 6 week season
Rec Travel has a 6 week season
Parent Referees
For the U5 & U6 games we use parent referees instead of certified referees. If you are asked to be a Parent Referee by your child’s coach, here is some helpful information for you!
When the ball goes out of bounds, the other team does a throw in. Please ensure the child keeps both feet on the ground and that the ball goes completely behind their head. All throw ins should be done from the side lines, none from the goal lines. There are no penalty or corner kicks in U5 & U6. Since we want everyone to have a fun soccer experience, please try to keep the kids from pulling on each other, using their hands, and/or pushing. Thank you for being willing to help!
Is there financial assisance?
At West Shore Waves we want EVERYONE to be able to play the level of soccer that best suits them. If you need help paying for your child’s registration fee, please let us know. We have scholarships available for all programs and ages. We strive to never let money stop a child from experiencing the great game of soccer! To apply for a scholarship please download our application form and either mail it or email it back to us.
How do I get involved?
West Shore Waves is a volunteer organization and is always looking for parents, grandparents, and community volunteers. Volunteers can be coaches, fund raisers, board members, or team managers. Contact the club by emailing [email protected]
I haven’t heard from my coach. When should he/she be contacting us about practice?
You should typically hear from you child’s coach within 2 weeks after our coach meeting. Contact our Facebook page or email us at [email protected] if you do not hear from your child’s coach.
How often do teams practice and when?
Practices are held 1-2 times a week depending on the age group and the coach’s availability. U5-U8 teams typically practice 1-2 times a week for an hour. U9-U19 teams typically practice 2-3 times a week for 1-2 hours. Days and times depend on the coach. Every coach is a volunteer and they schedule the days and times based on their availability.
My child does other activities during soccer season. Can he/she play soccer also?
We do what we can to accommodate players with multiple activities. Our coaches are volunteers and make their own practice schedule, so there may be conflicts with practices. If there is a conflict, please work with your child’s coach to come up with a solution. Games are usually on Saturdays but can be on Sundays or week nights.
May my child play up or down an age group?
Players may play “up” an age group if a more challenging skill level is desired. NO players are allow to play down an age level, per MSYSA rules.
I have a concern about my child’s coach, who do I contact?
Please contact [email protected]. Leave a detailed email with your contact information and we will do our best to contact you with in 48 hours.