Parent Information

 

STANDARD Refund/Voucher:

If paid in full, and season canceled or i chose not to participate, for named individual(s) FFPS will provide a 100% VOUCHER to any future FFPS League in the future (if partial games played FFPS will determine if pro-rated amount applies).

If I had a '2 payment plan', and season canceled or i chose not to participate, for named individual(s), FFPS will provide a 50% VOUCHER to any FFPS League in the future (if partial games played FFPS will determine if pro-rated amount applies).

If I choose to not obtain a Credit Credit by the deadline FFPS will assume I prefer to donate my fee to FFPS Financial Scholarship Fund to help others. Thank you for your generosity.

No credit or refund for those who already received a scholarship.

Voucher and Refund Exception Policy:

FFPS provides 100% Voucher if requested before the first game and 50% if from the 1st game to the 4th game. Must submit request at www.ffps.org/Refund or Contact Kathy Savell at 800-828-PLAY(7529) ext 917.
Sorry, refund requests cannot be honored if you contact anyone else.

Exceptions for 100% full refunds (See details in "Terms Of Use"):

1. If moved away more than 30 miles from any FFPS location and my child misses Up To 50% Of Games.
2. If sick or injured and my child misses up to 50% of games:
3. If no opening after teams formed and placed on "Wait List".
4. If received email from FFPS that your child(ren) is "4 or more years of birth older than youngest player".
5. If too old or too young according to FFPS age policy.
6. If have an immediate and severe financial need, submit FFPS Scholarship Form by March 15 (Spring) / Sept. 15 (Fall) at www.FFPS.org/Scholarship.

All decisions are final. No appeals allowed.

Note: FFPS does not provide refunds for practice conflicts or if cannot "Change Teams" or for any delays in communications with your coach. Also, friend requests can be denied. No guarantee. FFPS is an All-Volunteer program and parents are expected to get involved to help the kids. Additional refund provisions may apply when an area is under Presidential Disaster. See "Terms Of Use" for more details.

GENERAL Refund Policies:

There are no refunds for any other reasons including dissatisfied team assignment, friend request denied, age of teams (too old or too young), practice or game conflicts, or any delays in communicating with your Coach, or if your team has no coach yet. If my coach does not contacted you by the 'latest coach call date' (see season schedule) I am obligated and responsible to locate contact information and contact my coach call the FFPS Hotline at 281-347-5425 (KICK) x913 or x911 to locate my coach for my child. I understand FFPS is a volunteer program locally so, i have a responsibility to help the team in any way i can, even if my team has no coach yet.

Presidential Disaster Declaration:

When there is a Presidential Disaster Declaration, or Presidential Declared National Emergency, or State Declared Declaration, or State Declared Emergency, Refund requests will be accepted but not considered until FFPS’s financial viability is determined". FFPS may adjust its Refund Policy at that time to ensure its financial viability. We would appreciate your understanding when this occurs.

How to Request a Refund

Submit a refund request at www.ffps.org/Refund or Contact Kathy Savell at 800-828-PLAY(7529) ext 917.
Sorry, refund requests cannot be honored if you contact anyone else.

Full refund requests submitted before the 1st game may be available if you move 30 miles or more from any FFPS League or if FFPS is unable to place child on a team.

Note: FFPS does not provide refunds for: practice conflicts, if online system disallows Team Change, or for any delays in communications with your coach. Additional refund provisions may apply when an area is under Presidential Disaster, see our terms for more details.

Coach Calls By

All players should be contacted by Monday, October 7th by their coach. However, for whatever reason, if you did not receive a call from your coach, immediately call your league Registration Director (see "Head Volunteer Contacts") on the Contact Us page.

Opening Day/Parade Day

Kids LOVE parades, which is why our first game is preceded by a parade in your local area. The parade instructions are provided to your coach so if you have questions, contact your coach for the details!

Grandparent Day

We treasure grandparents so FFPS asks you to invite grandparents out to the field on Grandparent Day. Typically, this is the second week of the season. Chat with your coach about the event details!

Picture Day/Sponsors Due

FFPS takes team and individual pictures mid-season! Pictures are an optional cost, and are not included as a part of the FFPS fee. We offer a variety of picture packages starting with our "Value package" all the way up to our Premier packages. Picture dates vary by league so please check the Picture Schedule for your location, date, and time once the Game and Picture Schedules are published (about a week before Opening Day). Don't forget, sponsor fees are due prior to pictures. Please see your Coach and/or Team Manager for Picture forms and any Sponsor fees due. See more on our Sponsor Information page.

World Cup Day

Did you know that over 3 billion people (1/2 of the world) watch the World Cup? Well, on FFPS's World Cup Day, players (and parents) will experience what the biggest event in the world is like! The kids will select a country and learn about the players, traditions, uniforms, flag, customs, and more! We will make up and demonstrate songs, cheers, chants, and dances like the wild fans at the actual World Cup! Players can get even more into the spirit of the World Cup by dying their hair, wearing crazy hats or painting their faces. Parents can become "crazy fans" like the World Cup fans by getting really excited in a positive FFPS way. Support the kids on World Cup Day by dying your hair, wearing a crazy hat or painting your face too!

Last Game/Award Day

Every child is a winner in our book, which is why each and every player receives a trophy at the last game! We award a free, quality trophy to each player in order to show them how valuable they are and to serve as a reminder of their FFPS experience. We truly value our volunteers as well, so FFPS provides a plaque with a team picture to all Head Coaches and a gift to every Team Manager.

Make Up Day

Coaches will attempt to make up a cancelled game during the week. However, if the game cannot be coordinated during the week, Make-Up Day is the Saturday after the last game.

Games

Games are played between 9 AM and 5:30 PM. Games are always played at your local game site on Saturdays (unless there is a special event or a weather issue). Our local game sites can be found on our Area Map. Schedules are published about a week before the first game.

Coaches can make 2 schedule requests per team coached. If you are interested in coaching, you can find out more about coaching on our Volunteer page. Sorry, but we are unable to accommodate schedules requests unless you decide to coach a team.

Practices

Practices are held once a week usually during the week in the evening or on Sundays, and for approximately one hour at area schools and parks. Many teams will use our game site for practices or some may use area schools or parks for a convenient location.

The coach will call by Monday, October 7th and discuss the practice time and location details (FFPS does not schedule practice locations, times or dates). Since the coach has first priority on setting practice time and location, we recommend you volunteer to become a coach to obtain the practice date/time you prefer. Find out more about coaching on our Volunteer page.

Friend Request Policy

• Only one (1) player connected to any other one (1) player - 1 to 1. This includes Siblings, Family Members (anyone signed up in your account) (more below).
• Requests that place 3 or more players together are not allowed.
• FFPS will provide the "odds" of your request being met. Read more about the Odds of Your Friend Request.

Note: Friend Requests can be denied if we are not able to balance teams by our balance rules. Our balance rules include balancing by ability, age, grade, height, weight and experience. We will do our best to tell you the probability of your friend request being allowed when you make a request. If the probability is low we recommend you consider a new friend request. If we feel your request prevents FFPS from balancing teams we will deny your request.

Siblings and Family Members

• FFPS does not automatically place family members (or anyone signed up in your account) on the same team.
• If you wish to request siblings or other family members (or anyone signed up in your account) to be on the same team, you must follow the "Friend Request Policy" above.

Note: Friend Requests within a family can be denied if we are not able to balance teams by our balance rules. Our balance rules include balancing by ability, age, grade, height, weight and experience. FFPS is not obligated to notify you if your request is denied.

Odds of Your Friend Request

The odds are better for your Friend Request when:

• Friends are in same year of birth or meet our Play Up/Play Down Age rules.
• Friends are in the same division (same age group).
• FFPS rules for balancing teams are met.

How to Request a Friend

First, ask the parent/guardian of your friend for their Player ID Number. Player ID Numbers are assigned to players after registration and can be located in My Account. Then, you can request your friend:

• During "Sign Up" - Enter your friend's Player ID Number.
• After "Sign Up" - Login to "My Account" and click "Friend Request".

Deadline: "Friend Requests" should be completed by 9/27/2024. After 9/27/2024 teams are mostly full and odds are 0% or almost 0% of meeting your "Friend Request".

Note: If you sign up by mail and include a friend request, your friend must already be signed up. So please communicate with your friend prior to mailing your application.

FFPS Provides

• Full Uniform - Shirt, shorts, socks
• Quality trophy to every player!

Required Equipment (Parents Must Purchase)

• Shin Guards - Required for all practices and games
• Soccer Ball - Required for all practices. The least expensive balls work fine. Size 3 or 4 is great!
• Water Bottle - Required

Most local sporting goods / retail stores sell shin pads for $5-$10, balls for $10-$15.

Optional Equipment

• Soccer Shoes (Optional) - Below age 9 regular sneakers work fine, and special soccer shoes are not recommended. If you do decide to buy a soccer shoe, purchase a "turf" type shoe which has many small studs on the bottom. Shoes and cleats can be found at local sporting goods and retail stores.
• Eyewear (Optional) - Children who must wear corrective lenses should purchase safe, sturdy eyewear meant for sports activities.

Not Allowed at Fields (Safety concerns)

• Jewelry - No watches, earrings, or hard objects in hair during play
• Other - No dogs, tents or canopies (only small hand held umbrellas allowed), or smoking allowed at any soccer events

How Teams Are Formed

FFPS has developed a "Balanced Team System", using a custom proprietary computer program to ensure all FFPS teams are balanced (evenly-matched) each season. Balancing teams is a core value and principle of FFPS. We believe that balanced teams make it more fun 'for the kids' to play their game as both teams will be able to get the ball more equally. So, games in which one team dominates - goes against our core value of balanced teams. We feel this is unfair and, thus, we try to prevent this. All teams are balanced by ability (first priority), then by age, grade, gender and size, and lastly, by area (school and zip code). Teams are re-balanced every season giving each team an equal opportunity for fun. This way, everyone meets many new friends and parents each season - and it is Fair.

Age Groups of Teams

Teams are formed by year of birth (I.E. 2005's, 2006's, etc.), rather than by grade. When we have an adequate number players, we will assemble teams by single ages of birth (I.E. All 2005's, All 2006's). If there are not enough players in a single year of birth to form teams, teams will be formed with other age groups (I.E. 2005's and 2006's). If you would like to play in a year of birth other than yours, please review the "Play Up / Play Down Age Groups Policy" below.