Frequently Asked Questions - Howard Sports
"SportsZone" Policies
Q: Why do you not close when the weather is bad?
Our policy is to remain open in all but the most dramatic weather conditions. There are lots of teams that can make it to our facility, while others from farther away cannot always get here at the appointed time. We wish to emphasize that it is the responsibility of the team or its individual players to make the final decision whether or not to travel here to play. We don't want to encourage people to risk an accident just to come to "SportsZone" to play a game. We will post cancellations on the front page of this web site. We will also put an announcement on our answer machine (282-4005).
Q: Do you have a lost and found?
We do. It is full of stuff that the thousands of visitors to Howard Sports have left in our building. We don't guarantee we will have your lost item. Howard Sports strongly suggests that you leave anything of value at home or in your car. The best policy is to leave your valuables at home. Our lost and found box is emptied on a regular basis and items not claimed are taken to Goodwill after about a month.
Playing at "SportsZone"
What type of shoes work best on your sports surfaces?
Generally speaking, turf shoes or sneakers work well on the artificial grass at the SportsZone.. We suggest that for your first visit you bring both and see what works best for you. Athletes can wear their outdoor cleats, as long as they do NOT have metal studs.
Q: How many players play on the field at one time?
We play soccer with seven players on the field at a time; six on the field and one goalie. You must have at least SIX of your originally rostered players to begin a game.
Q: What equipment is required to play soccer at Howard Sports?
All soccer players in every level are required to wear shin guards, with socks over them. We strongly recommend that you wear a mouth guard as well. We sell shin guards and mouth guards in the office.
We recommend that players or teams bring their own soccer balls. If you or your team does bring its own balls please make sure that they are clearly marked with names AND telephone numbers. Occasionally soccer balls become lost, or stuck in our rafters. If and when we retrieve the ball we can return it to its rightful owner if we know how to contact them. We make no guarantees of returning soccer balls or any other items left at Howard Sports.
Q: How much does it cost to play at the SportsZone?
Please see our current leagues for updated details on schedules and costs.
This league fees for your team can be offset by obtaining a sponsor, getting money from your local soccer club, or by dividing the fee among the players. If your team has 12 players on the roster then the cost is only about $55 per player. The sessions last 8 weeks and include seven weeks of league play with a final week of league playoffs. (U-10 and U-11 do not have playoffs, they play an 8 week schedule). T-shirts are awarded to the league champions.
Q: How long are the soccer sessions and games at "SportsZone"?
Each soccer session is eight weeks long. The session consists of seven weeks of league play and one week of league playoffs(except U-10 and U-11 They play an 8 week schedule with no playoffs). Each game is made up of two 25-minute halves. The playoff games are 25 minutes long and the tournament is single elimination (if your team looses, they're finished).
Q: Why do some referees let play become aggressive, while others blow the whistle every 30 seconds for a violation?
Like the rest of our society, differences exist between officials. Some allow teams to play more aggressively and keep the flow of the game moving, while others feel it is necessary to keep a tight rein on the play. It really is up to the players and teams to get a sense for the style of any particular referee and play accordingly. Some officials like to see a more physical game. This does not mean that they condone dirty play or violence, but it does mean that some amount of pushing and jockeying for position is allowable. Other refs prefer to let the players know from the opening whistle that they will not tolerate any aggressive play.
As long as the referees follow the rules of indoor soccer, and do not put a player's safety in jeopardy, we will not make an attempt to change any official's style. We expect the coaches to control the style of play of their team and keep them from becoming too forceful on the field. Any coach who allows his team to play in a rough manner is, after a verbal warning from the official, subject to a red card and ejection from that game as well as the next one.
Leagues and Teams
Q: When is the best time to register a team?
Please see our current leagues for updated details on schedules and costs.
Our fall season begins right after the outdoor travel season is completed, usually around the end of October. We began registering youth teams in August . We strongly urge teams to register as early as possible, and not wait until the season begins to try to get a team into one of our leagues. By registering teams earlier we should be able to provide schedules earlier and make the season run more smoothly. Also after you are registered for a session you have four weeks to reregister and be guaranteed a spot in the next session. If you fail to reregister you could get bumped out by a team in waiting.
Q: How do I go about getting on a team?
For our youth soccer programs most teams come to us fully rostered. Club teams that play out of doors typically register the same team or a portion of that team for the indoor season. One option to get on a team is to contact your local travel soccer club to see if they have any openings. A second option is to form a team of your own with players your son or daughter has played with in the past. The team fee can be divided amongst the players. The third and the least effective way is to put your name on a list at Howard Sports, you may do so on our website. Please visit the Clearing House link on the Saco Sports Homepage.
Q: Do you have any practice time available for teams at the "SportsZone"?
There is a limited amount of time available for practice/rentals, but the prices are outlined at the following site: http://www.howardsports.com/indoor-fields-saco-maine.php. Please call our office if you are interested in reserving a specific date and time.
Q: Do I (or my child) have to be on a travel team to play at the "SportsZone"?
No. Most youth travel soccer teams come to us from a soccer club or premier team, and have played together for a year or more. Travel teams and premier teams find that playing at Howard Sports enables them to play together year 'round. We have recreation league teams that have played here with varying levels of success. The club teams tend to be fairly well organized and have a parent or coach that takes care of registration. Recreation teams can certainly do the same thing.
Q: Do you allow teams to pick up players for their games?
No. All players must appear on the team's roster which is kept in the office at Howard Sports. All players must sign a waiver before playing. Players under the age of 18 must have the signature of a parent or adult guardian on the waiver.
Final rosters are due by the 4th week of play!!!
Q: Why does it take so long for us to get our league schedules?
We can have as many as 21 different soccer leagues with well over 200 teams playing at the "SportsZone". The registration process for this many teams is difficult to say the least. Because we have teams that register, drop out, re-register, drop out again, etc. setting a schedule is not always so cut and dry. To help insure that once a team is registered they will stay in the league, we require a $200.00 deposit. All teams cooperation in registering on time with complete information is essential for a smooth running league and facility. We will post the first two-three weeks, one week at a time to insure timely payment of all participating teams. We will post the full league schedule in it's entirety no later than after the thrid week of play.
Q: Should I register my team for more than one session at a time?
If your team is registered for the first session of a season (beginning in September for adults and November for youth leagues), then you can register by the fourth week in a session as long as you don't miss any sessions in between. Each registration must be accompanied by a league registration form and a $200 non-refundable deposit. Team Registration Forms, Rosters and insurance waiver Forms are due prior to the first game of each session. We recommend if your are planning on playing through out the winter, you should register for all the sessions you plan on playing in.
Q: Why can't my son/daughter play on two teams in the same division?
The reasons are many. While some players would like to play on more than one team at a time, gaining more experience and having more opportunity to play, there are many more players who would not be able to find a roster spot if a number of them are filled by more than one player. Secondly, if the two teams meet during the regular session schedule, one team will benefit from having that player while the other must suffer without them. Another reason is because if a team has a player playing with them for the regular session but must do without them in during the playoffs, that team will be put at a disadvantage. And finally, there are many kids who would like to play on two teams but couldn't because they aren't able to find a second team to take them.
This is becoming a problem and we need the coaches help in eliminating this issue. We may even have to resort to having birth certificates presented and rosters checked at the beginning of games. This will cause teams to lose time on the field while rosters are verified.