How did you come with the club mascot? The Great Blue Heron is one of the most majestic birds in the State of Washington, often seen standing motionlessly at the edge of a wetland pond or the coastal shore spotting for prey. Once in flight, the Great Blue Heron expands its large, broad wings and strikes like lightning to sn**ch up fishes or gophers. In 2003, the Seattle City Council adopted the Gr
eat Blue Heron as the official city bird. FC Bellevue offers soccer to youth in the Bellevue community as means to promote physical fitness, sportsmanship and leadership. We aim to develop youth into confident and proactive adults, much like the image of the Heron. We are a soccer based club at this time. As opportunities arise in the future, we would welcome teams of other sports to join us on this mission.
2. Can you tell me more about the soccer curriculum of FC Bellevue? Empoli FC academy is the most successful soccer developmental program in Europe. The success of this program has been demonstrated by the numerous academy victories and talent transfers to the Series A football clubs throughout Europe. The Empoli FC Academy Curriculum applies the basic philosophy of “from simple to complex,” starting from simple practices to more complex game situations. Progression through the curriculum builds on basic technical skills of ball handling, passing, receiving, defense and possession to more advanced tactical and strategic skills. Additionally Empoli FC Curriculum adds training to develop explosion, coordination, agility and speed-the other attributes needed for a successful soccer player.
3. Are not all licensed coaches the same? Youth soccer is about player development. At FC Bellevue, our philosophy is to offer consistent and professional coaching for all of our players. There are six levels of national coaching licensure, from level F (lowest) to level A (highest). With each level of training, coaches gain expertise to teach theoretical and practical knowledge. A level D coach is considered the minimum required for “professional” coaching at any level. Heron’s coaching staff consists of some of the most qualified coaches at any level in the State of Washington.
4. What association and league is FC Bellevue affiliated with? FC Bellevue is affiliated with U.S. Club Soccer, a national organization that promotes organized soccer. FC Bellevue teams will initially play in the Puget Sound Premier League (PSPL). In time, we hope to develop team to play in the Washington Premier League (WPL) or even compete in the National Premier League (NPL)
5. Why is FC Bellevue so committed to playing in the PSPL and the U.S. Club Soccer Programs? Both PSPL and U.S. Club Soccer provide the best soccer value to our member teams. The PSPL and U.S. Club programs are also considered “open” programs. Unlike some programs which over-regulate clubs based on boundaries and other rules detrimental to player development, U.S. Club programs promotes flexibility and offers strong soccer system to allow its member clubs to flourish.
6. What are the colors and brand of the FC Bellevue team uniform? Our select and premier uniforms will be Nike orange and blue (the same color combination as the Netherlands national team).
7. Where will FC Bellevue teams train and play games? FC Bellevue is based in Bellevue, Washington. Our practice and game fields will be located in this region: Newport Hills Park, Tyee Middle School, International School, Robinswood Park fields, Lewis Creek Park and Wilburton Park. Other fields in this area may occasionally be added if scheduling conflicts arise.
8. What will my fee cover? How are FC Bellevue's prices compared with others? The annual fees pay for the salary of the coaching staff, rental of the field, field equipment, referees, insurances, administration costs and registration fee to PSPL. We are a non-profit club and all board members are volunteers. FC Bellevue's prices are extremely competitive in comparison to other premier and select soccer clubs. In most instances, we offer more training and games than other teams. Our prices include summer tournaments games and PSPL offers full (12 games) fall and spring seasons. Please check our website for the prices and schedules for specific programs.
9. Do you offer a “rec” program? At this time, FC Bellevue is a select and premier soccer program aimed to develop players who aspire to reach their goals of playing competitive soccer at club, high school or college levels. FC Bellevue programs emphasize on professional coaching. We do not offer a rec soccer program. For players ages 4-10, we do offer academy trainings during various times of the year to improve the skill of your child. This is a great way to explore your player’s interest in playing more competitive soccer. Please register your email with us or check back on our websites for additional information.
10. Which fall-league age should I register my player for? The Puget Sound Premier League offers two age options for league play. For the 2015-2016 season, all girls teams follow the traditional Aug. 1 to July 31 Seasonal Age Chart (See link below). The U-13 and under boys also will follow the August 1 to July 31 Seasonal Age Chart. U14 and older boys have the option to follow the Birth Year Age Chart. PSPL Age Chart Link: http://www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com/home/838169.html
11. Can my child “play up” or “play down?”
PSPL has a strict policy against playing down. No player in FC Bellevue will be playing below his/her age group (based on the PSPL Age Chart-see question 10 link). If your child has advanced skill and can benefit from playing up for his/her development, please inform our coaching staff. The placements of selected players in age group above their natural level are at the discretion of the Director of Coaching.
12. In PSPL how much travel is required? Most teams in PSPL are located within the greater Seattle area
13. Can an entire team move over to FC Bellevue from another club? FC Bellevue understands the rapid changing environment of club soccer. We welcome teams that want to join us as a result of changes in club management, club mergers, or closures. However, FC Bellevue is dedicated to offer the most competitive teams in our select and premier programs. We expect all teams to accept our “open” tryout policy so that players and teams can be placed into appropriate levels of competition.
14. Do we have to attend both tryout sessions? It is highly recommended that your player attends both sessions. In case of extreme schedule conflict, please inform the coach ahead of the time so that your player would receive proper evaluation.
15. How many players per team will be selected for each level? Age US Club Soccer recommended Play Number of players per team
U-9 8 v 8 9-11
U-10 9 v 9 12-14
U-12 11 v 11 15-16
U-13 and above 11 v 11 15-16
16. If my son or daughter misses tryouts, how can we still join your club? If your player cannot make either dates of the tryout, please email our Director of Coaching. A date for a makeup tryout may be announced or a personalized evaluation may be arranged. You must still register your player for the tryout. Due to space limitations for specific teams, we cannot guarantee a spot for your player.
17. Do I have to sign a contract for the year? Accepting a spot on a team in FC Bellevue constitutes a commitment for a year (from tryout to end of the following spring season). The amount of commitment from players in our select programs is 8 months (minus the spring season) and in our premier programs is 11 months. Please pick the program most suitable for your child.
18. What is your refund policy? At the time of accepting a spot on a team in FC Bellevue, you will be asked to submit a non-refundable deposit of $500. You are obligated to make the rest of the payments after selecting one of our payment options. If your child is forced to withdraw from the team in the middle of the year due to family move or hardship, a partial refund will be considered but not guaranteed by the Board of FC Bellevue based on a case-by-case review. Transfer to an outside club in the middle of the year constitutes forfeiture of your annual fee.
19. Does the club offer scholarships and how is that determined? FC Bellevue is a community based organization. It is our intention to support our community and offer scholarships to families who need financial assistance. We are in the process of partnership with U.S. Soccer Foundation to offer scholarships. As FC Bellevue is starting out in 2015, for the 2015-2016 season, requests for scholarships will be considered on case by case basis.
