Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are my options for Support Roles as a parent? What is involved with each?
COACH. The head coach is responsible for the direct instruction and supervision of the players at both trainings and games. Coaches attend a preseason "coaches meeting" and receive all pertinent policy and game information for the season. Coaches are required to attend one coach's clinic per season, which provide age-specific instruction by our professional coaching staff. Coaches receive significant training support in the form of written curriculum, videos training techniques and multiple clinic sessions. No prior soccer knowledge or experience is required.
ASSISTANT COACH. The assistant coach provides support to the head coach at practices and games. Often times, the head coach may have conflicts that require the assistant coach to provide coverage and take on the "head coach" role. Assistant coaches must be familiar with all REAL CO policies and should review the information contained in the coach's packet. Assistant coaches are encouraged to attend the coach's clinics to become more knowledgeable regarding training tools for each age group. Only one assistant coach is allowed for U5-U8 teams. Two assistant coaches are allowed for U9 and older teams. If more people sign up for this duty it will be the responsibility of the Head Coach to pick his Assistant.
TEAM PARENT. The Team Parent role is intended to provide administrative support to the team coach. There is one Team Parent per team. The Team Parent is responsible for creating a team phone tree, snack schedule (if appropriate), copying and distributing the game schedules to parents, organizing the team party and ordering the trophies. If more than one person signs up for this duty it will be the responsibility of the Head Coach to pick his Team Parent.
U7 & U8 GAME FACILIATORS. Required to attend one free 1.5 hour class, once per year. This role is provided by home field team for each game and is a physically active position.
U9 & ABOVE GAME OFFICIAL. Required to attend free 3 hour class, once per year. This role is provided by home field coach for each game and is a physically active position. Game official includes Center Referee and Linesman.
HERITAGE PARK FIELD SUPPORT. Field Supporters are used at Heritage Park in Highlands Ranch. They are assigned a two hour time slot on game day once during the season, based on the availability they indicated on their field support sign-up form. Their role is to direct people to the correct game field, walk the fields to make sure games are started on time and running smoothly, collect lost and found, and handle miscellaneous questions at the Board Table, under the direction of the REAL CO staff present on-site. Please be aware that not all age groups have games at Heritage Park and should their child not have a game at Heritage Park, they are still committed to fulfilling the role.
REAL CO OFFICE HELP. Parents choosing office help are sent a form requesting they select a two hour time slot once for each season their child plays to assist in the REAL CO office with filing, copying, mailings etc. Please be aware that the scheduled hours are only available during the times the REAL CO office is open, not on weekends or holidays. No children are allowed in the office while parents are working. Parents should not choose this role if they work full time or are anticipating an “at home” project.
EVENT SUPPORT. Current tournaments include the Real Colorado Cup competitive soccer tournament Memorial Day weekend, and the Fall Soccer Fest. Parents are scheduled for a two hour time slot to perform such roles as food or t-shirt concession sales, field marshal, field set-up, take-down, and errand runners. If you register for Fall only, you will need to work the Fall Soccer Fest
Q. What age group does will my child play in?
A. Age Group Chart
What Happens After I Register?
- Practices – We try to place each child on a team as close to their home as possible in order to create “neighborhood teams”. Then the coach will request the practice day(s), locations and time. Practices will be assigned approximately 3 weeks before the first game. Our U5, U6, and U7 will practice once a week for about 45 minutes. The U8 developmental teams have an option of once or twice a week. U8 Juniors teams as well as U9 and older teams practice twice a week.
- Notification – You can expect a call from your child’s coach for practice information around August 20, give or take a few days. Parents also have access to practice and game schedules at that time via our website.
- Games – Our first Recreational games are scheduled to begin September 6. They will have 7 or 8 games in their season. Option 1 teams will begin August 23. This program includes 9 or 10 games per season. No games or clinics will be scheduled for Labor Day weekend. Cubbies will have a 6 week session that starts on September 20.
- Bad Weather Cancellations – If weather is a concern for game time we have several different ways to check for cancellations. First, our website is updated as soon as a decision is made. Also you can call our main office number of 303-694-6882 and choose option 1 for our Field Hotline. Makeup schedule is generally 8 days later, on a Sunday on the same field at the same time the game was originally scheduled. This will be adjusted if the makeup date falls on a major holiday or is the last game of the season.
- Grocery Store Coupons – Real Colorado offers financial assistance to all of our members in the way of Grocery Store Coupons. These coupons are good for King Soopers, Chili’s and Tony’s Meat Market. We offer a 3% voucher for King Soopers and 5% voucher for Chili’s and Tony’s orders. These vouchers are good towards the player’s next registration. Please call the office for more information. (Most Safeway’s also accept the King Soopers coupons but check your local store for their policy.)
- Team Formation – How did my child get placed on that team? Without getting too complicated, we first set a deadline for returning players to get back on their same teams and for special requests. If no requests were made or the deadline wasn’t made, we separate by the area in which you live, or the school closest to your house. Finally we place our waitlist players on teams that need kids. We are never able to honor practice requests for certain days or times, as coaches don’t make their choices until a few weeks before the season begins.
- Refund Policy – Real CO refunds registration fees only if you move out of Douglas County prior to the start of the season or if the child is unable to participate due to injury or illness as documented by a physician. *No refunds, credits or fee transfers will be allowed for any other reasons. Refunds granted are subject to a $25.00 handling fee. If we are unable to honor a special request, there will be no refund. Conflicts with practice schedules are not grounds for refunds. If Real Colorado is unable to place your child on a team, a full refund will be issued. No refunds will be granted after the third scheduled game of the season. - Refund requests due to injury must be made in writing within 2 weeks of injury or illness and must have a doctor’s note included.
- Uniforms - Your child's new soccer uniform can be purchased at Soccer Stop located in the Festival Shopping Center on University and County Line Road . (Phone number 303-740-9300) There are two different versions to choose from depending on the age group your child is playing in. They will be able to help you with all of your soccer uniform questions.