**
President's Award **
The 2011 President's award goes to one of our volunteer coaches, Dan Gratton. Dan has been a
coach in our club for several years. He has coached his daughters, coached with his daughter, Andrea, and coached his
own team without any family connections. Dan has always made himself available to help out with tryouts and clinics
and has been an advocate of player development, on and off the field. Thank you Dan for your efforts and contribution
to our club!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Essex United Soccer Club?
Essex United Soccer Club (EUSC) is an organization that offers competitive
soccer to boys and girls ages 5 to 16. EUSC players are registered with the Vermont State Soccer Association and compete in
the Vermont Soccer League.
When
does the season run?
Practices for the outdoor season typically start in April and are held twice a week (the exact days
are determined by coaches in November/December). Games
begin in early May and run through late-June. Games are scheduled on weekends, Friday evening through Sunday.
How much travel
is involved?
EUSC home games are played at the Tree Farm Recreational Facility in Essex
but teams could travel as far as one hour for away games. A few of the older teams competing at the Division I level may travel
up to two hours for away games.
Is indoor/winter training available?
Many
teams choose to practice or compete in indoor leagues held at the Nordic Spirit Soccer Center at the Fairgrounds. These sessions
are optional for all teams and players and do require additional fees. in addition, EUSC provides training sessions througout
the winter for all age groups at no additional cost. The schedule for these optional trainings will be posted on the website
in late Oct/early Nov.
Can you describe the U8 program for younger children?
Our U8 coed program is focused on skill development and FUN for our community’s younger athletes. There are no
tryouts or cuts. Spring training sessions will include activity based skill development and small sided games. The teams will
also travel and compete with the other clubs in our area. Winter training indoors may be offered pending interest.
Do the teams
participate in tournaments?
All Essex United teams are invited to play in the Essex
United Soccer Tournament which occurs in late June. In addition, most teams choose to compete in at least one other tournament,
either in-state or out-of-state. Advanced teams may also compete in championship Cup matches.
How can parents be involved?
EUSC is completely run by volunteers. We would love to have you be involved! Our board members and coaching staff are
all volunteers. Our tournament committee is comprised of volunteers. Parents can help their child’s team in a variety
of ways as well. In addition, all parents are required to give two hours of help per child to support our tournament.
How much does
Essex United cost?
The registration fee for U10 and above is $170.00 for one player in a family.
Additional players within a family receive a discounted rate ($160.00 for additional players). This covers league registration
and referee fees, a uniform (socks, shorts, a blue game jersey and a yellow t-shirt to keep), and club equipment and field
rental costs. A non-refundable $25.00 late fee will be assessed for U10 and above players registering after November 15, 2011.
U6 players pay $85.00 and U8 players pay $100.00 and do not receive blue game jerseys. As noted above, optional opportunities
including indoor soccer and travel to out-of-state tournaments do involve additional fees. Financial aid is available and
requests should be made directly to the EUSC President.
Who coaches the teams?
Essex United prides itself in maintaining an active, experienced and educated coaching staff. All coaches are
volunteers. All coaches are exposed to training in a variety of ways, and almost all of our head coaches have obtained formal
coaching licenses from the United States Soccer Federation. Several coaches have advanced USSF Licenses. Training is available
throughout the year in collaboration with local area colleges and schools. New coaches are provided with support and training
opportunities.
Please feel free to contact any of the board members if you have further questions.
