Frequently Asked Questions

What are the programs offered by the Thibodaux Soccer Association?

Currently the Thibodaux Soccer Associations offers five distinct soccer programs.  The following information will provide a brief overview of each program:

The Thibodaux Soccer Recreation league – this league begins at the U5 level and promotes teams through the U12 level.  This league provides the soccer player with both a recreational fall and spring session.  Typically a total of 12 to 14 games are played throughout the year.  Little commitment is required as this level of soccer is for recreational play and beginning soccer players.

The UNITED SOCCER CLUB (USC) – this soccer club was developed for those soccer players that have completed soccer through the U12 level (typically age 12 through 17) and have average to excellent soccer skills but a very busy life and schedule.  These players typically cannot commit to playing on a tournament or competitive team but want to continue playing soccer to keep their skills up so that they can step onto a high school soccer field when that season begins.  This club offers co-ed play and it provides up to 10 games during a five week season.  There is only a fall season.  The season ends a few weeks prior to local middle and high school soccer season beginning.   Training sessions will be held on a weeknight leaving most of the week days open for these players to focus on school, work, and other aspects of their life.   We will try to pick up soccer matches with local soccer associations so we may possibly play on a Saturday or Sunday. The UNITED Soccer Club promotes high level soccer play with the emphasis on maintaining skills to prepare for school soccer.   Teams are formed at each of the individual session dates and certified trainers run the practice sessions and games.    

UNITED Developmental Program:  this is a new level of soccer that started in the 2019 season.  This is an attempt to train committed players at a higher level to develop them for future TSA UNITED teams.  This program provides additional training beyond the recreational teams by certified soccer coaches.  To participate in this program, a player must be a true U10 level player as per LSA Age Marix.  The player must also be registered with TSA's U10 Recreational program.  Team(s) are formed each year based upon interest and availability.  Players participating in this program will play in at least two local jamboree/tournaments/play dates -  if/when available.  This program has been very successful in maintaining the soccer player's interest in personal development rather than the team concept of winning.  At this time the 5 week program only cost the player a one time fee of $25.  The Additional cost of play dates  and a jersey will be determined each year.  (2019/2020)

UNITED Tournament Soccer - this is a program designed for teams to play in tournaments around the state.  Teams are formed each year based upon interest and availability

The Louisiana Competitive Soccer League (LCSL) – this league represents the highest level of soccer that the Thibodaux Soccer Association offers.  This league is developed directly by the Louisiana Soccer Association (LSA).  The LCSL develops the schedules, directs the league play, and is the governing board for these types of teams.  TSA offers LCSL teams affiliation only. To learn more about this league please visit the following website:  www.lsa-soccer.org

The coach of this type of team must at a minimum hold an “E” License.

I am told that my child is assigned to the U8 age group but he/she is only 6.  Isn’t he/she to young to be in that age group?

Soccer lingo is very different than most other sports.  Age groups are described as “U levels” – An example used in this question is U8 – this means that a player at this level must be “UNDER” the age of 8 when the season begins as per the Louisiana Soccer Association State Age Matrix.  So….a U8 player is typically 6 or 7 years old.

To see where your child should be place please visit the LSA Age Matrix link on the main page of the TSA website.  Once there plug in your child’s date of birth to see the required age level.  The governing board for TSA is very strict in its policy regarding player placement based solely upon the Age Matrix.

When is registration for soccer held? 

Typically soccer registration is held two times per year.  The first registration session opens in late March and continues through June.  This registration period is for both the upcoming fall and spring season.  The second registration session opens after the fall season is completed, typically in late November through December.  This registration is for the upcoming spring season only.

Why do we have to register so early?  Most families are not even thinking about soccer in the months of May and June due to the active sport lifestyles of their kids.  May and June are typically the time for baseball and swimming so why do we have to register for soccer which doesn’t occur until fall?

Registration for soccer occurs early for several reasons: (1) the Louisiana State Soccer Association requires tournament and competitive teams to host tryouts by the start of May and through June; (2) to develop team rosters, find and team sponsors, find and assign coaches and assistant coaches; and (3) and to correctly order team uniforms that are a specific size to the player.  These tasks seem easy when the association is small with only a few hundred players but our association has grown to a much more challenging size in upwards of 600+ players.

When are the Fall and Spring Soccer Seasons?

The fall season typically begins in mid-August or early September and runs through the end of October.  The spring season typically begin in late January and ends early April or in some cases mid-May.  The spring season takes into account the Mardi- Gras holiday and potentially local school’s spring break.

What will I need to purchase for my child to play soccer?

TSA provides the uniform for the player.  Parents will need to purchase soccer cleats and soccer chin guards for their child.  If your child plays the goalie/goalkeeper position then you may need to purchase goalie gloves.  All players should have their own appropriate sized soccer ball (U5 – U8 size 3 soccer ball; U10 – U12 size 4 soccer ball; and U13+ size 5 soccer ball).

What does my registration fee pay for?

TSA incurs many expenses that are not directly visible.  The majority of the registration fee is used to purchase the player’s uniform and register them with the Louisiana State Soccer Association.  The additional monies is used to purchase soccer equipment for the coaches and referees, soccer field paint and weed killer, fees to services providers to include referees, an accounting service, and phone and website services.  Registration fees are different in cost as they are separated by age due to each age levels needs.  There is definitely a high cost for older aged players.

Why do I need to submit a birth certificate to have my child play soccer?

TSA is required by the Louisiana Soccer Association to have on file all players at the time of registration a copy of the child’s birth certification to validate the appropriate placement of the player.  As soccer becomes increasingly competitive, associations may be asked to provide proof of a particular player’s date of birth.

Why do I need to complete a LSA waiver/medical release form each year?

TSA is required by the Louisiana Soccer Association to have each player and their parent complete these forms.  Each coach is required to have immediate access to these documents in the event of injury or for any LSA sanctioned function.  TSA has informed its coaches to keep these documents in a file or folder with them at all practices and games.

Where will my kids practice and play soccer?

TSA’s main soccer location is the Andolsek Park located at 1200 North Canal Blvd. in Thibodaux.  All U5 through U8 aged players will practice and play at this site on the identified fields and open spaced areas.  Once players reach the U10 through U12 age groups their soccer “home games” are played at the Andolsek Park but their “away games” shall be played in Houma, Raceland, and St. Charles soccer parks.  Players aged U13+ play and practice at the recreational field at Nicholls State University by the Medical Plaza and NSU Stadium.  Away games for this age group incorporate the Houma, Raceland, and St. Charles parks but can incorporate Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans areas.  Finally, soccer players participating with the UNITED SOCCER CLUB (age U13+) play all soccer games at the Andolsek Park.

When/What time(s) are soccer practice and games?

TSA reserves the right to alter soccer practice and game times at any point it feels it is necessary.  With that being stated, TSA typically allows team coaches to develop practice times that are most beneficial for the majority of the team during weekdays or weekends.  Most soccer games are played on Saturday’s beginning around 8am and some games running through late afternoon.  Teams typically play one game per weekend but TSA reserves the right to schedule a team a double header (two games in one day).  TSA develops a game schedule at the onset of both the Fall and Spring seasons.  Team coaches are to follow these schedules unless given approval from the TSA Board to reschedule the game or game time.  TSA board approval must be submitted to the schedule director, referee director and board president at least one week prior to the original game.

Why do U10 and higher aged teams have to travel to play soccer in other locations?

As kids get older they tend to specialize in one or two sports.  Because of this, the number of soccer players at the U10 and up level decreases.  In addition, the number of players required to form a team increases at the older levels so more we have fewer teams.  All associations at the U10+ level travel to insure that there are enough teams to play across the season.

My child plays other sports (example:  batam football, flag football, baseball, etc..) but wants to play soccer too.  Can we do this?

The short answer is “yes” kids can play all sports.  What TSA encourages parents to consider is having the child make responsible decisions so that there will be no negative impact on their team and teammates due to their absence.  Players that don’t show up to practices or games typically let down their coaches and teammates. TSA offers two types of registration for this reason:  (1) Full registration in the late spring for the entire year of soccer (fall and spring sessions); and (2) Partial Registration held in November for the upcoming spring session only. 

TSA strongly suggest to parents that they consider both options before they register. 

My child has never played soccer before.  What will my child be expected to do and what will he/she learn?

The mission statement of TSA is to develop, promote, advance, and administer the sport of Soccer among youth and adults registered with the Association.  TSA offers a variety of opportunities for your child to learn and develop in soccer.  Youth are placed onto teams based upon their age.  Basic skill development is the focus of the early age programs U5 through U8.  Basic skills include handling the ball (dribbling, passing, shooting, and throw-ins); basic knowledge of the rules of the game; and sportsmanship.  As a players grows into the older age groups the basic skills are needed to progress to the more advanced skills.

I want my child to increase his/her skill level with soccer.  What can I do?

Each summer and sometimes during the season breaks, TSA hosts soccer camps or one day clinics with LSU, NSU, and the Challenger Sports BSC for kids to come learn and increase their skills.  Check the TSA website (www.thibodauxsoccer.org) often to see what is available.

How are team rosters selected?

Each year TSA forms new team rosters based upon the number of players enrolled and confirmed coaches and sponsorships.  TSA suggests that coaches find their own team sponsorship in an effort to select a player.  In addition, coaches are allowed to choose a coach player and one assistant coach player.  After these three players are selected, then TSA hosts either a coach draft or a blind draft to select the remaining team rosters.  TSA does alter rosters to insure that teams have equal representation of skilled players and for some age levels an equal number of males to females.  In very rare cases, the TSA board reserves the right to place players on specific teams due to confirmed transportation problems, siblings, and relatives; however, this request must be made to the TSA board for consideration.

Tournament and Competitive teams are selected through a tryout process as defined by the Louisiana Soccer Association.

I do not have much soccer knowledge but I would like to volunteer – How can I help?

If you want to help, TSA definitely needs you in some capacity.  For those persons that would like to begin to learn to coach or assist coach, TSA provides a coaches clinic each summer on the last day of the British Soccer Camp.  In addition, special trainings are offered by TSA to potential coaches at the U5 and U6 beginning levels.  The Louisiana Soccer Association also offers certification for different levels of coaching. 

TSA is always in need of volunteers to help hand out uniforms, trophies, and other minor tasks associated with the league.  If you can help, please send an email to:  [email protected] and we will contact you. Thanks in advance!

I / my child would like to begin to referee soccer games.  What do we need to do?

Each year TSA join up with the local associations to host a soccer referee certification course.  Some years TSA hosts it and on other years either Raceland or Houma will host the class.  The referee class is typically offered in late July or early August in an effort to train referees for the upcoming soccer season.  The referee certification class requires a one day class session followed by a certification test.  Participants must be in good health and have a good understanding of the game to complete the class successfully.  Once certification is granted, the referee must re-certify each year.  The cost of the class and recertification is the responsibility of the referee.  TSA provides the initial referee jersey, whistle, cards, and socks.  TSA also provides a very lucrative pay scale.  If you are interested please send an email with your contact information and request immediately to:  [email protected]