About PDP

Who can participate in the PDP (player development program)?  The Player Development Program is open to all youth in the second, third and fourth grade with above average skills or that has the interest in taking their skills to the next level. Those players in the first and second will generally only be able to participate in the individual training sessions and not the team training sessions unless invited to the team by the PDP Director.

When are the training sessions?: Teams will usually train twice per week and individuals will train once per week, however, the exact amount of training is subject to the season and field availability.  Watch the website for full training details as the schedule will be posted.

When do games occur?  Summer tournaments typically run Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Fall league games occur on Sundays in September and October. The Spring league occurs in March and April and will generally last four to five weeks with games each Saturday and Sunday (except Easter and spring break).

Where will games be played at?  The fall league games will be played at Cook Park in September and October.  Spring league games will occur at the host club’s fields, or they may be scheduled throughout the metro area.  Summer tournament games will occur wherever the tournament is being hosted.

What if I miss practices or games?  We understand this will happen, however, fees are not waived or pro-rated if a player misses practices or games.  If you are a member of one of the PDP teams and there are team expenses associated with the tournament (team equipment, coach reimbursements, etc.), you will need to pay those whether you participate or not.

Who will be coaching my son or daughter? Teams will generally be coached by licensed and experienced competitive coaches from our competitive program.  Every effort will be made to assign a coach that will be with the team for the ‘season’.

How are teams formed?  Teams will be formed by Southside’s PDP Director “primarily, but not strictly” based on a player’s ability and developmental needs. Players may be shifted from roster to roster during the season based on developmental needs

What if I pay the team fees and my son or daughter is not placed on a team?  Every effort will be made to create teams for all interested players.  However, as teams need to have a minimum number of players, this may not always be possible.  In those rare cases, the difference between the team fees and the individual fees will be refunded for that season.

How do I obtain a player card?  Player cards will be issued by the club you are registered to play with for the fall soccer season. You will need to contact their office to get the player card. All players must have a VALID OYSA player card. If it spring or summer and you did not play with a club in the previous fall soccer season, then Southside can get you a player card for $20. Please contact the office if there are any questions about player cards as you may not participate in any PDP activity without one.

Is there an official PDP uniform?  Yes.  We want the players to experience the pride of belonging to a team.  When all players dress alike, they feel part of the team.  When you are playing as a team, players are required to purchase the Southside Recreational Nike Uniform.  This includes a blue jersey (home team), a white jersey (away team), blue shorts and blue socks.  These items can be purchased from the club office.

Do I have to wear cleats?  No.  But we do recommend them as they provide better traction.  If you do wear cleats, the shoes cannot have a toe cleat.  Those cleats are not approved for soccer.

Can I wear earrings or can I put tape over them?  No.  Soccer is a physical sport and players bump into each other.  If a player were to have their ear bumped, the earring could puncture the skin.  Earrings may NEVER be worn to practices or games and they may NEVER be taped over.  This includes earrings, nose rings, brow rings, etc.

Can I wear jewelry?  No.  Soccer is a physical sport and players bump into each other.  Jewelry can snag other players’ clothes or tangle in hair or scratch skin.

My child has a cast on their arm, can they still play?  No.  Plaster casts, metal casts, or metal braces may NEVER be worn for practices or games.  Soft wraps worn for support are ok.

How much does it cost for training, to join a team and for a uniform?  Please see the Web site link under PDP fees for current fees.

Do I have to join a PDP team or can I just do the training sessions?  Participants can choose to attend the individual training sessions only.  Generally, players will only be added to the teams at the start of each ‘season’ after the observation sessions.

Do I have to do the training sessions or can I just join a PDP team? Players wishing to participate on the teams will need to make every effort to attend every team practice and game.  Failure to be a regular contributor to the team may cause the player to lose their spot.  Players may be added to a team during the course of a season at the sole discretion of the PDP Director and by paying the additional fees.

How do I get Registered-up? Please visit our PDP Home page on the website and follow the links to the registration page.  You may also contact the office and have a registration form e-mailed to you.