What is the Spokane Shadow?
The Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club is proud to offer Premier, Select and Developmental soccer for the City of Spokane and the Inland Empire Youth Soccer Association.  We participate in the most competitive leagues offered in Washington Youth Soccer Association and have achieved a #6 state ranking.  Spokane Shadow is the only Inland Empire member of the Regional Club League (RCL).

What is Shadow’s mission?
The Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club serves youth soccer players by striving to achieve the highest standards of development - training, instruction and competition - by focusing on player development in an atmosphere of teamwork, respect, and professionalism.

Where does Shadow fit in Spokane’s youth soccer community?

 
 
 
What is the difference between U10 Junior Program, Select and Premier Soccer?
Most Competitive = Premier (U11-U18 Boys and Girls):  Describes teams competing in the highest-level league offered by the Washington Youth Soccer Association(WYS).  For the 2011-2012 season, the State’s top league is referred to as the Regional Club League (RCL). Shadow is the only Inland Empire member of the Regional Club League!  Shadow Premier teams from U12 through U18 will compete in the RCL. 

Premier soccer is a full year commitment with the guidance of professional, licensed, paid coaches.  Shadow is extremely proud of its coaching staff, who are committed to “giving back” to our community their love of and passion for the game of soccer.  All are former high school and college soccer players and coaches with a wide range of knowledge, licenses, and experiences.  Some are former college All-American players, Olympic Development Program (ODP) players, and coaches.  Many are involved in teaching professions.
 
Players practice 2-3 times per week for 1 to 1½ hours each, play in 2-5 tournaments per year and travel state-wide.  It is an expectation that when playing premier soccer, you will consider it a sport that you are committed to giving your best.

Competitive = Select (U11-U18 Boys and Girls):  Considered more competitive than entry-level recreational soccer, Shadow Select competes in the WYS District 6 league.  This league features teams in Spokane and other Eastern Washington locations.  Shadow United FC provides competitive Select soccer opportunities for boys and girls ages 10-18.  We serve players living in the North Central, Rogers, Shadle Park High Schools; Shaw, Salk, Glover,  Lakeside & Garry Middle School neighborhoods.  Our mission is to provide the youth in our community the opportunity to compete, develop and advance in all levels, but most of all to enjoy this fantastic game. 

Developmental = U10 Program (Boys and Girls)
Spokane Shadow focuses on what is developmentally and age appropriate for the player.  When players are partnered with and against players of similar abilities, true enjoyment and development occurs.  Our goal at the U10 age (9 year olds) is to produce better soccer players so they can enjoy playing the game even more; winning is secondary at this age.  We want to build soccer players for life—fans of the game for life.  More importantly, we want to provide an opportunity to learn in a friendly, educated, and enjoyable environment.  We want kids to smile; we want kids to grow; we want kids to develop healthy habits; and we want them to have fun!  Our U10 Program welcomes all interested players.  There is no tryout, there are no “cuts."

Players attend ID/Evaluation Nights and are formed into groups of "like" ability. Our goal is to have 3-4 groups per gender that number 12-24 in size.
  Players are organized by ability level into groups.  This forms their training/practice and game groups for the season, though groups can change from week to week if appropriate.

• Fall and Spring seasons:  Each game day (Saturdays) players are formed into new “teams,” but within their ability group.
  
• Summer:  In June, 1-2 opportunities to “play” before school gets out.  July is Off; enjoy the summer!
• Late August:  Fall sessions begin. 1 or 2 local “festival” opportunities provided where the emphasis is on playing.
• Winter:  Off

Practices are lead by Kevin Moon, Director of Coaching-Juniors, or his designee from the Shadow senior staff, and occur twice per week (Monday and Fridays, for example) at Dwight Merkel Complex during Fall and Spring seasons.  The Fall session is 8 weeks and the Spring session is 6 weeks.  Academy-style training focuses on skill development and playing opportunities.  The organization and instruction is unmatched by any program in the state!


Games are conducted in the Fall and the Spring seasons.  In their groups, players compete in a 6v6 format per US Soccer guidelines (developed by the top coaches at the highest levels in our country).

  Creativity, enjoyment, sportsmanship and a positive atmosphere are the emphasis.

What does the title “Premier” really mean from club to club? 
The title of “Premier soccer” has been thrown around for many years.  About five years ago there was really only one way to justify calling yourself a “Premier Team” or “Premier Club” and that was to go through the Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) League Placement Tournament at U14.  There were 4 levels of Premier soccer, Division 1, 2, 3 & Developmental (or Division 4).  To truly be a Premier team you had to play in one of those “State Premier Leagues,” which is where the name originated. 

Now the soccer landscape in the state of Washington has changed and the title of “Premier Soccer” has no real meaning as there is no unifying league that can help validate that title.  Clubs, including our own, still use the “Premier” label as it is a way to convey a more competitive level of soccer. 

However, if players are looking to play in the most competitive leagues in the state then all you need to do is look at where the most successful clubs are competing.  The Regional Club League (RCL) consists of the 21 most competitive, well organized clubs in the state.  Clubs that are in the RCL must meet certain criteria as a club in order to even be considered for membership.  The standards are high and require a focus of player development over anything else.  Once becoming a RCL Club, its teams are placed based on performance and evaluation by the club. 

It is always our intent to place teams in leagues that will both present the players with a challenge as well as allow them to see some success.  The Spokane Shadow is the ONLY RCL club from Spokane and is only one of three RCL clubs in all of Eastern Washington (Yakima and Tri- Cities the others).  Crossfire, Eastside, Northwest Nationals, Washington Premier and Seattle United are some of the clubs from the west side that compete alongside us in the RCL.

All other clubs that use the “Premier Soccer” label do not participate in the most competitive leagues as a club regardless of what the Premier title may imply.  Many of them do not even participate in leagues run by Washington Youth Soccer and are actually participating in leagues run by US Club Soccer.  Washington Youth Soccer is the only soccer organization directly affiliated with US Youth Soccer which is the largest member of US Soccer.  If you were to rank the available leagues in Washington by the club strength that participate in each, then the RCL would be the highest competitive league available to Washington youth soccer players.

What does the “U” in the age description mean?

Teams in the state of Washington compete based on the player’s age, not their grade in school.  The “U” means “under” and the player’s age must be under the number on August 1st.  If a player was born on July 30, 1996, they would try out for a U16 team in 2011.  If a player was born on August 1, 1996, they would try out for a U15 team in 2011.

When do Shadow teams play?
Summer:    
Teams hold evening practices during weeknights and compete in two to four summer tournaments, depending on their age, interest, and level of play. 

Fall:       
The fall leagues begin the weekend following Labor Day and end prior to Thanksgiving. 
U10 Boys & Girls Shadow Junior Program:  8 weeks of practices (two nights per week) and games in one centralized location at the same time each Saturday.
Shadow Select Teams & U11 Boys & Girls Premier Teams:  8 weeks of practices (two nights per week) and Saturday games sponsored by Washington Youth Soccer District 6 Fall Inter-League. (Depending on developmental level, some teams may “play up” one year)
U12 - U14 Boys & Girls and U15 - U18 Boys Premier teams:  10 weeks of practices (two nights per week) and weekend Fall league games sponsored by Washington Youth Soccer Regional Club League (RCL).
U15 - U18 Girls Premier teams:  Take a break from Shadow soccer in order to participate in high school fall sports.

Early Winter: 
U10 Boys & Girls Shadow Junior Program: Take a break from Shadow soccer.
U11 - U14 Boys and Girls Premier teams:  Take a break from Shadow soccer; indoor futsal or soccer is optional.  Team practices resume in January.
U15 - U18 Girls Premier teams:  Resume Shadow team practices in late November, once the high school soccer season has finished. 
U15 - U18 Boys Premier teams:  Compete in the USYS Washington Championship Cup or Challenge Cup Tournament held January-March.  At the conclusion of those tournaments, tryouts are held for these teams in late February.

Late Winter/Spring: 
Spring league play runs April/May for our U10 Program and our Shadow Select teams.  Premier teams begin in late January/early February through March and compete in the State Cup Tournaments in April.
U10 Boys & Girls Shadow Junior Program:  6 weeks of practices (two nights per week) and games in one centralized location at the same time each Saturday (April/May).  At the conclusion of the season, tryouts are held for the U11 Shadow Select and Shadow Premier teams in late April.
Shadow Select Teams & U11 Boys & Girls Premier Teams:  Washington Youth Soccer District 6 Spring Inter-League (April/May). (Depending on developmental level, some teams may “play up” one year).  At the conclusion of the season, tryouts are held in late April/early May.
U12 - U14 Boys & Girls and U15 - U18 Girls Premier teams:  Regional Club League (RCL) Spring League (late January/March).  After league play is over, these teams compete in the USYS Washington Championship Cup and Challenge Cup Tournaments (April/May).  At the conclusion of those tournaments, tryouts are held (late April/May).  Practices for these teams begin soon after tryouts.
U15 - U18 Boys Premier teams:  Once their participation in the USYA Washington State Cup Tournament is over, these teams tryout in late February for the next season ahead.  They then take a break from Shadow soccer in order to participate in high school spring sports.  Team practices resume once the high school soccer season has finished.

How much travel is involved with Premier soccer?
For Shadow U12 and older Premier teams, league travel is determined by the location of teams securing a spot in their division of Regional Club League.  The typical league schedule is based on travel partners and will have a Spokane team traveling to the west side of the state two or three times during the season. Ideally, on each of these trips the team will play a game on both Saturday and Sunday, staying one to two nights in a hotel depending on the distance of travel.  Summer travel will usually consist of a minimum of two out of town tournaments for teams U12 and above, which run Friday through Sunday.

Can my child still play other sports?
Yes!  The vast majority of our players at the younger age groups participate in multiple sports.  We expect our players to make a full commitment to the schedule of games and training that has been established, and most importantly, to their teammates. Our program is designed to assist players striving to improve at the game we love. If players choose not to take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to them then progress will be restricted. While we understand that soccer is not the most important thing in life, we also recognize that as players get older, they will begin to gravitate toward one sport or another. As an example, some are able to strike a balance between soccer and basketball and remain competitive at both.

Our job is to encourage talent when we see it, to make you aware of the opportunities available to those that could go far within this game. The only sport which is a direct conflict with premier soccer is boys high school football. Usually, this problem takes care of itself as few players compete in both. However, this is one case where a player may have to choose one or the other due to direct scheduling conflicts in the fall.

What is the Club’s philosophy regarding Premier team playing time?
For age groups U13 and below, each player will receive a minimum of 20 minutes playing time in games. While some players will play more, substantial playing time will occur for everyone on the roster. At the conclusion of the fall season, any U13 teams participating in State Cup will be treated at U14+ in regards to playing time.

For age groups U14 and above the club will commit to you a spot on the roster, the rest is up to you. A player is selected because we believe they can add value to the team, while reaping benefits from being a part of the group. Our club places an extreme importance on the time spent in the training/practice environment. This is where players and coaches will spend the majority of their time with the club. A player adds value by making the team better in training first, games second. The player reaps benefits by being in a better training environment. This is what must be of utmost importance to players, coaches, and parents.

Our club is based on player development, which comes from training, instruction and competition. The majority of instruction and competition comes within the training environment…the game is the reward! The amount of game contributions a player is able to make to the team will be based on many factors, with the main factor being what the player makes of the training opportunities provided to them. In other words, “how” they do at training, how often they do it, and their attitude in doing so.

There can be game or tournament situations where results are paramount. During those times, it is possible that players may not play due to the circumstances dictated by the game. Playing time decisions will always be based on the best interest of the team in mind:  evaluating training habits, individual abilities, attitude, prior contributions, strength of opponent, among other factors.

Again, it is important that our players, parents and coaches remember that the most critical part of the development process takes place during training/practice time. While competition is one component, paying club dues does not mean paying for a specific amount of playing time. We understand that every player wants to play. As former players ourselves, we also know how much satisfaction comes from knowing that you have earned it!

Where are the practices held?
Team training locations will vary from time to time depending on the time of year.  Please note that these places can change as opportunities or situations arise.

How expensive is Shadow soccer? 
Premier soccer is more expensive than Developmental and Select programs because our players train and play year round with a high quality, paid coaching staff that must meet standards set forth by the Technical Director.  Premier Club dues covers the coaches salary, insurance, coaching education, membership expenses, equipment, and administrative expenses.  Over the course of the year, each Shadow player will participate in 60 to 70 team practices (1½ hours long), plus tournament and league games - an incredible value of between $6-8 per hour for high caliber, experienced coaching.

Shadow Club Dues for the 2011-2012 season will be:

• U11 Premier:  $825
• U12-U18 Premier:  $925
• U11-U18 Select:  $75
• U10 Junior Program:  $250

A registration fee will be collected from each player from the Inland Empire Youth Soccer Association; our sponsoring association to Washington Youth Soccer Association.  Training and game uniforms are purchased every two years and average $100 to $200 depending on what each player elects to purchase.  Last, team expenses are collected throughout the year to cover costs for tournament registrations (average of $25 per family, per tournament), travel expenses/per diem for coaches travel outside of Spokane, and any field rental/lighting expenses.

Is financial aid available?
The Club has a limited amount of need-based financial aid available.  Parents may apply for financial aid, which will cover all or part of the Club dues for an individual player.  The application is available as part of the club online registration process.

Players and their families may also seek financial sponsorships from individuals or businesses through the Shadow Player Sponsorship Program.  Any donations you seek and obtain will help offset YOUR Club Dues. 

Who makes the decisions?  Do parents have a say in the decisions?
Our Technical Director Sean Bushéy is in charge of carrying out the mission, philosophy, and purpose of the Club.  All decisions relating to the direction of the Club are the responsibility of the Technical Director.  The Director is held accountable by the Spokane Shadow Board of Directors; volunteer members and non-members who are elected by the parents of the Club.  The Club values the input of all members.

Decisions made about league schedules – from tryout dates to championship tournaments – are determined based on scheduling decisions made by the Washington Youth Soccer Association.  Changes that occur in WYS scheduling over the course of a year may impact Shadow schedules.  Every effort is made to communicate schedules as far in advance as possible.  The Shadow organization is filled with busy members, and we recognize the need for families to plan ahead.

What is the Shadow Tournament Policy?
Shadow works diligently to plan and advertise all team tournaments for the year ahead prior to tryouts.  Shadow requires all players to pay their fair share of tournament registration fees and coaches travel expenses for those tournaments advertised at the time of tryouts.  Players with prior commitments who cannot attend a pre-advertised tournament are not responsible for their share of tournament expenses, providing they notify their coach and team manager within one week of accepting a spot on their team roster. 

If a team chooses to add a tournament to their schedule and a player has prior conflicts and cannot attend, they are not required to pay their share of tournament registration fees and coaches travel expenses.

If guest players are added to the roster to replace missing players for a tournament, the guest players are required to pay their fair share of team expenses.

If a Shadow player has a conflict with an Elite Player Development (EDP) or Olympic Development Program (ODP) event (tournament, game, camp, etc.), that player will not be required to pay their fair share of Shadow team tournament expenses, whether that tournament was scheduled prior to tryouts or added later in the season.