Frequently Asked Questions

Please review our FAQs, if you still need specific questions answered contact us through the website or email us. 

Is my child old enough to play soccer? 

Your child must turn 4 during the school year to play at DDSC. Reference the age matrix to see if your child is eligible. We encourage parents to bring the kids out as soon as possible to learn the game, just keep in mind that it may be difficult for the young kids to stay focused during practice and games so keep your expectations low and your encouragement POSITIVE! 

What age group will my child be placed in? NEW FOR 26/27 SEASON

DDSC must follow the age-group rules used by the league, RCYSL. RCYSL currently uses the US Soccer recommended age grouping for players, which is based on school year (no longer birth year) for the 26/27 season and moving forward. The “U” designation (e.g. U6, U8, etc…), means the player must be under this age for the current school year. A player cannot “play down”, meaning play in an age group where they are older than the age range (i.e. play in a younger age group) Play downs are not permitted per RCYSL. A player may “play up” if they request it (during registration, note the player “play up” request), meaning they can play with older kids. Note that RCYSL only has “even-year” age groups, i.e. U6, U8, U10, U12, U14, etc… 

If your child’s birth-year falls in an “odd-year” age group i.e. U7, U9, U11, U13, etc.., then they will be grouped with the next, higher age group. Example: U7 will play U8, U9 will play U10. 

Please see this age matrix for more details: Age-Matrix. 

Must I complete registration online?

Yes. All registration must be completed online.

Do I need to email a birth certificate every year? 

No. Just upload if you are a NEW player at time of registration. Do I need to submit a photo? Yes. Please upload a photo of your child/yourself for use on identification badges and cards online when you register, note the size requirements. The photo should be a recent likeness (taken within the past 6 months) a head and shoulder only (like a school photo) shot, a clear image, in color, and with a full front view of your face. Hats, sunglasses, and head covering are not allowed. No goofy faces.

I want my child to be on the same team as last year, or play on the same team with a friend. How can I request that?

During online registration, you will be asked if you have a team/player preference. The club will strive to honor player and team requests but must always defer to the best interests of the club. In short, we will try, but there are no guarantees. 

What about Play Up requests? 

You must complete a player-up request during your online registration. Players should register for the age appropriate level and check the play up request option. Play up requests will be evaluated on an individual basis, based on team space availability. A play up request will not take the place of an age appropriate player. Decisions will be made AFTER registration closes in June, when teams are formed.

What are the uniform requirements?

All players must wear Del Dayo Soccer Club uniforms, including shin guards and cleats. Uniforms can be purchased by accessing the link on the Registration page. Do not contact the registrar about uniforms. 

When and where are practices? 

Official practices start August 1st each year. Practice times and locations vary by team. In general, all U12 and below practice at Del Dayo School. All U14 and above practice at Ashton Park. Typically teams practice twice a week – most commonly Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs.

Why is my team practicing on a field we don't play games on?

One of the most difficult things to do every year is to fit all the various teams into the fields we have. We try to be accommodating to our volunteer coach’s schedules, which means we will have times that a team will practice on a field that is a different field size than what they play games on. That being said – it doesn’t matter. We encourage our coaches to follow recommended guidelines for how to conduct practices which typically start with individual skill drills, small-sided games, then large-sided games. None of these techniques require the use of a full field so where the team is practicing should have no impact on how they develop. 

When and where are the games? 

All U6 games are played at Del Dayo School on Friday nights. For U6, we play our internal DDSC teams so this leads to a great atmosphere with everyone out on the fields a the same time playing games. For U8/U10 teams, they will play home (Del Dayo school) and road games during the season. Approximately 5 home games and 5 road games. The road games for U8/U10 will be within our River City Soccer League which include: Arden Park, Sierra Oaks, Rosemont, BAC, and St. Ignatius. Essentially all games are within 5-6 miles of Del Dayo School. 

For U12/U14 teams, they will play home (Del Dayo school/Ashton Park) and road games during the season, but their travel will be a bit larger. For U12/U14 we play not only our River City Soccer League teams but also teams from Capital Valley Soccer League. Capital Valley includes teams from Carmichael, Citrus Heights, La Sierra, Del Campo, Mission Camino, North Highlands, and St. Johns. However, with the addition of more teams to play, there are typically more divisions of play. Once the teams are seeded into their divisions, there is no guarantee you will have teams from every location in your league. There are typically 6-8 teams in a Division so you are likely to have some combination of 5-6 clubs to play against. 

How do I become a referee? How does my child become a referee? 

The easiest way is to sign up our website. DDSC will have information available at Opening Day each year about being a referee. There are online and in-person training, the level of which will vary depending on the age you will be working with. More referee information.

How much will my son/daughter get to play?

Del Dayo is a recreational soccer club and follows the guideline that each child should play a minimum of half the game each game. That being said, there could be special circumstances due to injuries, a player not arriving to the game on time, etc. that may prevent that from happening. As far as the balance of playing time for each player, that is solely up to the discretion of the head coach and will often be dependent on a variety of factors such as participation in practices, behavior, performance, position on the field among other things. There is no expectation that all players will play the same amount of time each game. 

What are the heat safety guidelines for RCYSL? 

DDSC does not have an official policy regarding practices during high temperatures. However, our league (RCYSL) provides recommendations, which you can view here: RCYSL Heat Guidelines.

These are league guidelines, they are not exact measurements for decision making. If heat is a factor the club will send an email to coaches the day in question to advise on how to handle practice/games. These club level decisions are made last minute as the weather doesn't always follow what the weather channel expects.

Safety always comes first. Coaches should use caution and common sense:

  • A younger team practicing in direct sun at 4:00 pm may wish to cancel.

  • An older team in shaded areas at 6:00 pm may safely continue.
    For teams that do practice:

  • Take frequent water breaks and emphasize hydration.

  • Keep practices low-effort and focus on shade whenever possible.

  • Reach out to the DDSC Board with any concerns or for guidance.

Alternate Practice Ideas
If it’s too hot for strenuous outdoor activity, consider alternatives such as:

  • Position discipline drills (naming/understanding positions with light passing).

  • Long passing drills with minimal movement to build accuracy and muscle memory.

  • Team-building activities that don’t require intense effort.

Heat Illness Awareness
Please watch for signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion in kids:

  • Elevated body temperature

  • Cool, clammy skin (even in heat)

  • Goose bumps

  • Fainting/dizziness

  • Headache

  • Excessive sweating

  • Increased thirst

  • Muscle cramps

  • Nausea or vomiting
    More info: Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke in Kids