Registration FAQ

WSSC Registration FAQ

General Information

Why did the West Shore Soccer Club (WSSC) institute on-line registration?
There were quite a number of reasons that prompted the WSSC Board to initiate an on-line registration program. Based on a parent survey conducted in 1998, we found that many of you wanted to see us focus more of our energies on developing the soccer programs in the club. The use of on-line registration allows us to be free of a good number of administrative duties and therefore turn our attention to what we all feel is most important - a high quality soccer program. This will be possible due to the fact that the registration system handles many functions that were previously done by hand such as formatting teams, compiling lists of players in specific age groups, etc. In addition, the information will be available (via password and user ID) to those individuals who need it to conduct their programs - they will no longer need to wait for the registrar to complete data entry and compile lists - the data is available as soon as you complete your registration!

Are there any other benefits to on-line registration?
Yes. The system builds an elaborate e-mail tree by virtue of your entry of e-mail addresses during the registration process. All board members will have access to this function and can send messages to whatever group of individuals they need to communicate with. For example, for inclement weather, a message could be burst to ALL players in the database to notify them of cancelled games, or if a coaches’ meeting is coming up, reminders could be sent to all coaches and assistant coaches. This function will not only cut down significantly on mailing expenses, but also provide a means for faster and more efficient communication. In addition, the system provides us with information faster as the data is available to us immediately upon entry. The club can obtain faster counts of registrants and plan better for upcoming events and necessary equipment. Also, the accuracy of the data is greatly improved, as edits exist to avoid missing and incorrect information. No more trying to read others handwriting!

Why register so early - isn’t this for Fall soccer?
The WSSC holds only one registration session per year. It is a long and arduous process and we are hopeful that the on-line registration system will relieve some of these burdens. When you register your child with WSSC, they are registered for an entire year. The reason we need to begin the registration process in February, however, relates more to the necessity to select and register Travel Teams. Preliminary counts of teams are due to CPYSL (Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League) by June. Prior to coming up with this count, WSSC must first know how many players we will have in each age group so that we can determine the number of teams that can be formed. We also must complete the evaluation sessions so that we can determine the number and level of Travel Teams that can be formed. Due to the fact that our registration numbers usually fall around the 1000 member mark, we need to allow sufficient time to conduct evaluation sessions, beginning in April and ending by mid to late May, so that decisions can be made promptly.

Security - How can I be assured that it is safe to enter personal data about my child and financial information over the Internet?
First of all, you will see a “padlock” icon on your screen that indicates you are on a secure site. All information is encrypted using state of the art technology as it is transmitted. Click on the Privacy Policy on each registration page for more specific details relating to this process. With regard to financial transactions, the WSSC has contracted with CardService International (CSI), the largest provider of Internet credit card transactions, to provide a safe and secure connection for our E-Commerce Payment System. CSI utilizes an implementation of the industry best practices standard Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, which provides for dual 128-bit data encryption, client and server authentication and message integrity for TCP/IP connections. This system allows us to accept credit card and electronic check payments with the highest level of security.

What if the security fails with my financial transaction?
We are confident that the services provided by CSI will provide the utmost in transaction security, but even if something went wrong, any liability for payments made via credit card over the Internet would be limited to $50 under current practices, just the same liability you would have for any unauthorized use of your card.

Are there other ways that I could protect myself further?
Again, we don’t believe that additional action is necessary, but several card issuers are now offering “cyberized” credit cards. If you visit www.Capitalone.com , for example, you can obtain their “cyberized” card, which offers a 100% Fraud Protection guarantee. If you use a Capital One card online or offline, you will not be liable for any fraudulent or unauthorized charges. This policy applies to transactions anytime, anywhere. MasterCard International (www.mastercard.com) offers similar benefits for its E-wallet, which offers a Zero Liability guarantee, complete with “peace of mind that you won’t have to pay for unauthorized purchases. On the web. Or anywhere else. You’re always secure.” This generic solution is also integrated with several large card issuers (such as Citibank and Capital One), and you can easily register your existing card from one of these participating banks and obtain the Zero Liability coverage. So, if despite the assurances of a robust, industry leading E-commerce solution you remain uncomfortable, with a minimum of effort, you can take steps to completely protect your card use on the Internet.

Website Management Login

Entering Information for Registration
What if I have special requests or comments to enter?
The WSSC has adopted a policy regarding requests that can be viewed on the registration page of our web site - click here to view the Policy & Procedures. If you have comments that you feel need to be made regarding REGISTRATION, you can e-mail the registrar by clicking on the link at the bottom of the registration page. Should you need to contact any other board member, click on Contact WSSC and use the appropriate link to send your message.
What is the difference between Intramural and Recreational/Div III?
The club offers different levels of play. One of these is the intramural (or “in-house”) program. All players under age 8 will play in the club’s Intramural Program. Starting at age 8 (U-9*), players may try out for a “competitive” or “travel team” (sometimes referred to as Div 1 or Div 2). Those players in age groups U-9 and U-10 who do NOT participate in the Travel Program, will participate in the Intramural Program as well. These teams generally play against other West Shore teams, hence the “in-house” reference. At times, teams from other smaller local soccer clubs will be included in this program as a courtesy to the other clubs who may not have enough players to form several teams. Players at the U-11 through U-14 age level who do not participate in the Travel Program, play in the Recreational Program (also called Div. 3). These teams will play the same level teams in other local clubs but at a recreational (non-competitive) level of play. Due to the smaller number of registrants in these age groups, it is not possible to maintain an “in-house” program as we often have only enough players for one or two teams at each age level. *Refer to the Player Registration of this web site to view the age group chart and determine which age group your child falls into. Is my child’s Social
Security Number REALLY required? Why?
The WSSC is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League (CPYSL), Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA), United States Youth Soccer Federation (USYSF) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). Accordingly, we must abide by the rules and regulations of these organizations. All WSSC registrants must be registered with CPYSL and EPYSA. The EPYSA uses the participant’s Social Security Number (SSN) as the “Participant ID”. The use of the SSN provides a unique number that will not be duplicated by other clubs or organizations that must also report to EPYSA (and also at the National level). EPYSA will not accept registrations lacking this information and consequently, WSSC cannot accept them either. This information is treated with the utmost confidentiality at all times and is not released to other parties or organizations not related to the registration of youth soccer players. Forms and Additional Documentation
Do I need to sign any forms?
Yes. All players registered with WSSC must also be registered with the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA). We have been in contact with EPYSA regarding the initiation of on-line registration and have been informed that electronic “signatures” are not sufficient. EPYSA still requires us to submit an “ink” signature for all players. Accordingly, the on-line registration system will prompt you to print an instruction page and a Registration Form for each player, coach, assistant coach and age group coordinator. REGISTRATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED COMPLETE UNTIL THE REGISTRAR RECEIVES THESE SIGNED FORMS. In addition, all coaches, assistant coaches, team parents and age group coordinators will need to complete a Risk Management Form (also called Kid Safe or Employee/Volunteer Disclosure Form) - these forms will be provided at a later date.
How do I submit a photo and signature for my child as we have been requested to provide in prior years?
Small school size photos (approx 1 ½ in. x 2 in.) are needed to make a Player’s Pass for all players participating on a Travel Team (division 1 or 2). WSSC previously collected photos for all players old enough to participate in this program regardless of whether or not they actually ended up on a Travel Team. This allowed us to be prepared in the event that the photo was needed, but also left us with a lot of unnecessary photos. As WSSC policy requires all players who wish to participate in the Travel Program to attend at least one Placement/Evaluation session, we will collect photos and signatures at that time for those players who demonstrate an interest (as defined by presence at the evaluation session) in participating in the Travel Program. These sessions generally begin in the spring (around April through May). More information will be available closer to the time of the sessions. If you register on-line, e-mail updates will be provided to you about these and other upcoming events.
How do I submit a copy of my child’s birth certificate if needed?
A COPY of each player’s birth certificate is kept on file and utilized to prove appropriate age to participate in the specific age groups. The WSSC must provide these copies at the time that the teams are registered with CPYSL (Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League). All NEW players (who have previously not played for WSSC) must submit a copy of their birth certificate at the time of registration. If registering on-line, the instruction page will prompt you to send the copy of the birth certificate along with the signed registration form to the registrar.