MEDINA RANGERS FAQ’s
F.A.Q.’s
Who are the Medina Rangers?
The Medina Rangers are the boys travel (Club) soccer program of the Medina Soccer Association. The Rangers field teams starting in Fall each season in the Ohio Travel Soccer League (OHTSL) and compete in tournaments in the state of Ohio. The program is for boys U8 through U15 and offers player development and skills based learning above and beyond the Recreation soccer offered through MSA.
What is a typical travel soccer season like?
The fall and spring seasons consist of 8 games (usually one per week) and two practices per week. Games are usually played on Sunday afternoons but there might be 2 or 3 played on a weeknight. We are a year round club. We train at our own indoor futsal facility “The HIVE” during the winter months as well. The commitment to the Club is a year long choice. A typical fall season goes from the first week of August – Mid October. Winter begins the week after Thanksgiving and carries right to the first week of April when we go back outdoors for our Spring season. We will typically wrap up our year the first week or two of June and “Tryouts” and Evaluation for Fall Placement occur in that last two weeks of the season. We are “Off” for the balance of June/July.
How much travel is involved?
Each season (Fall and Spring) teams play 4 home and 4 away games in their league. The home games are played at either Huffman or Cunningham Fields. The away games are played in other communities in and around Northeast Ohio. There are games that can travel as far east as Mentor, south to Wooster and West to Norwalk or Sandusky. Teams will also participate in one to two tournaments per season picked by the coach or Rangers staff. These tournaments can be all over Ohio or in neighboring states and may require overnight stays.
How are teams selected?
Players are assigned teams based on evaluations at tryouts and with input from the head coach of the players current travel team. Our Professional Staff, which is among the best is NE Ohio, are employed to help evaluate our players and determine the appropriate team and play level to which a child is best suited. Generally we have a minimum of 3 teams per age group depending on the number who tryout. Some ages currently have as many as 4 or 5 teams.
How is playing time during games handled?
There is no guaranteed playing time in any age group but head coaches are directed to distribute playing time fairly and try to even out game to game variations over the season. Playing time is generally more equal in “League” games as Development of players in those games is our primary objective. Tournament playing time is earned and competitive.
What type of commitment is required?
It is expected that your child will arrive on time for all practices, games and tournaments unless you have notified the head coach in advance. If a child has a schedule conflict with practices on a consistent basis it is expected that parents will adjust the conflicting schedule so at least one practice each week can be attended. The commitment to Medina Soccer is a year of play. We create a roster spot and in some cases we have “Cut” another player to make room for your child so the expectation is such that you will play out the year long season with the club.
How much does the Rangers program cost?
The exact cost varies from year to year depending on league fees, ref fees, and various other costs. The cost for a full soccer year is $500. There are 3 seasons to one soccer year (Fall, Winter, Spring).
Who trains the team?
It is the goal of the Rangers program to use Professional Trainers to train every age group. We have what we feel is the best staff in NE Ohio and are always striving to provide the best training and knowledge available in any Club setting. In some cases these trainers will also act as the head coach. We also use parents as head coaches as long as they have attended and received a US Youth Soccer or equivalent youth soccer coaching license. The trainers are experienced soccer players and coaches that have played, coached or both at various levels of the game. All our trainers have played a minimum of high school and/or college soccer and all have achieved a state or national coaching license for travel soccer or higher. The club will have one assigned trainer per age group, and will have coverage from other trainers for any practice if a conflict arises.