SYA Soccer provides for a need-based player financial assistance program for travel players.  Players on Red, White and Black level teams are eligible for financial assistance consideration.  All award decisions are made at the sole discretion of the SYA Soccer Financial Aid Committee and the SYA Soccer President. The application information will be kept confidential within the SYA Financial Aid Committee.

Financial assistance is for SYA travel club dues and that the award amount offered is non-negotiable.

Financial Aid provided by the club DOES NOT include team fees, uniform kit or optional attire, camps, clinics, travel costs or additional costs determined by the team and not budgeted for in advance. Players receiving financial assistance will be responsible for all team fees, uniform kit, camps, clinics travel costs or additional costs determined by the team.

Applications

Click here for the financial aid application.  All required supporting documentation and the $150 application fee needs to be mailed to SYA Travel Soccer, PO Box 471, Centreville, VA  20122, dropped off at the SYA office at 5950 Centreville Crest Lane, Centreville, VA 20121, or sent to admin@syasoccer.org by July 1.  If emailing, the $150 application fee needs to be received by the Jul 1 deadline.  Incomplete applications may result in disqualification for aid.

Application deadline is July 1, 2020 for the 2020-2021 soccer year.

Financial Aid Criteria

Scholarships will be awarded based on qualification criteria set annually by the Scholarship Committee. These criteria will generally track published Federal poverty guidelines based on verified family income.   Other factors such as unemployment or other financial hardships may be considered by the Financial Aid Committee.   Scholarship awards will be determined by the applicant’s level of qualification, the total number of qualified applications, and the amount of funds available for scholarships.

Application Process

Completed online applications, along with all supporting documentation, a $150 application fee (to be credited to dues should be submitted to the SYA Soccer Administrator prior to July 1, 2019.  A signed copy of the most recent Federal tax return on Form 1040 (or applicable form) for both parents of the applicant (supporting schedules and attachments are not required unless requested) must be filed with the financial aid application. Applicants must register the player in the SYA Soccer travel registration system on a timely basis. All SYA Soccer travel club fees must be paid in full (by aid award or otherwise) on a timely basis for the player to be eligible to play for or train with their SYA travel team. Annual awards will be credited in equal amounts at the beginning of each season subject to applicant’s re-registration and confirmation of continuing need in the spring season.

Applications will be evaluated by the Financial Aid Committee. The Committee shall present the proposed aid awards to the President of the SYA Soccer Board for approval. Notification of aid awards shall be sent via email to each applicant.

If the scholarship application is denied, an additional $150 to complete the $300 nonrefundable, nontransferable registration fee must be paid within 48 hours of the notification. The applicant will then owe regular dues payment as set forth in the player/parent contract in order to remain on the team.

Anyone who was deemed delinquent by missing two payments in a scholarship award year will not be eligible for a scholarship the following season.

Financial Aid and Co-Payments

Financial aid will be applied towards the dues for the upcoming year. Aid will cover a portion of the player’s annual dues, with the remainder to be paid by player’s family (co-payment). This amount will be communicated in writing to the applicant. The player’s co-payment will be divided into five equal payments due on the regular club schedule of payments listed on the financial agreement ($150 application fee will be considered July 1 payment.) The SYA Soccer Financial Aid Committee and the SYA Soccer Commissioner shall determine the amount of the financial aid available for a season; however, there is no obligation to award all/any of the award pool. Based on the amount of the award pool and the amount of requests for financial aid, awards will be made on a sliding scale based on verified family income.

Families of travel applicants receiving aid will be required to volunteer to 20 hours volunteer service to SYA Soccer each season. Those applicants that do not fulfill this requirement for a season may be ineligible for future aid awards.

 Late Co-Payments

Payments are considered late if they are not received by the ten days after the due date in which they are due and a $50 late fee will be added to your account. Checks returned for insufficient funds or a declined credit card payment will be charged a $25 fee.  Scholarship players who are over 10 days late twice during the 2017-2018 season will forfeit the scholarship award and will be required to pay the regular dues payments in order to continue with the team.

Eligibility

Players on Red, White and Black level teams are eligible for financial assistance consideration.  All applicants and their parents/guardians must sign the SYA Financial Assistance form in order for the application to be considered. This agreement states that the recipient and their family agree to participate in fundraising, training, games, and other regular team activities.

Recipient’s families will be required to volunteer for service to SYA Soccer, such as working on the Board, or at SYA Soccer event or tournament. We also recommend that all scholarship recipients seek a referee license so that they can earn funds for soccer expenses by refereeing games. Please see www.syasoccer.org for more information on obtaining a referee license.

Each player U14 – U18 who is awarded a scholarship will be required to work 20 volunteer hours for SYA each season. These volunteer hours will be administered by the club.

Travel Financial Assistance Application

Questions – Questions about financial aid for travel players may be directed to the SYA Soccer Administrator at admin@syasoccer.org.