AFC Team Formation (2020)

Dear AFC Families,

This email contains important information about team formation, registration, and fees for the 2020-21 season -- please read the entire message!

The AFC Board of Directors and 24/7 staff have been working non-stop to prepare for our upcoming soccer season. Like all of you, we are looking forward to getting back on the field as soon as possible and as safe as possible.

Based on the latest public health advisories and State and Alameda County orders, we are hopefully optimistic that we can start playing again in July. To get ready -- and with a clear focus on creating safe play -- we are making plans that align with an expected set of initial limitations, including challenging non-contact drills for small groups of players. We will continue working directly with NorCal to ensure that our programs expand safely and comply with evolving state and regional public health requirements.

In that spirit, we want to update you on our 2020/21 plans for team formation, fees, and next steps. Highlights are below. For more information, please find attached our FAQ document and visit our FAQ.

TEAM FORMATION

NorCal tentatively set a tryout window for Northern California to start June 6th, but per evolving regional guidelines, we do not see being able to hold in-person tryouts during that time. Given this, the AFC Board voted to use last year’s teams as the basis to form our 2020-21 rosters, with some exceptions per coach input. Our priority is to find a spot for all returning AFC players who want to play this season. The more players we bring back, the more likely all interested kids will find a spot, so please help us rally your friends & teammates to play in 2020/21. To help secure your spot with AFC in 2020/21, please register your player before Tuesday, May 26. This step is free and lets us know that you intend to play next season.

1) Returning player registration

• Coaches will contact returning players beginning the week of June 1st to offer them a roster spot. Families will have 48 hours to accept their spot, complete the registration, and make an initial $250 payment. Appreciating the uncertainties around us, if the season is cancelled, AFC will refund your initial payment minus $50 (non-refundable, to cover our administrative costs).
• Our goal is to create the best experience for all players. As such, 2020/21 rosters may be selectively adjusted, with oversight and direction by the Director of Coaching, to ensure that players are on the right team and level of play.
• Financial Aid may be available to qualifying families. We will offer what we can to help in these very challenging times, see bottom of email for more information. For families who have the means to help, please consider donating to AFC’s financial aid fund by clicking on this link me/u/x3r696

2) Tryouts/registration for new players

• For players born in 2008:
  AFC will form our rising U13 teams per discussions among DOCs and Coaches from AFC’s partner clubs (CVSC, MSC, PSC)
• For other potential new players:
  Please register for AFC here: To register, please use this link https://associationfootballclub.sportngin.com/register/form/308462172. This step is free.
  Per Norcal guidelines, we cannot offer roster spots to any new player until our tryout window opens in June. We are working on how to facilitate on-field evaluations and will be in touch with more soon about potential roster spots.

PLAYER FEES

AFC 2020-21 Competitive Program fees are below. These fees are set assuming a normal, full year of soccer (July-May), including practices, camps, and Fall and Spring competitions. Given the uncertainty about the upcoming season, we may adjust our fees downward if COVID-19 restrictions limit our programming. For example, the season may be delayed, or practices might be allowed while competition might not. Please bear with us as we navigate these uncertain times. We will be working closely with our coaches at 24/7 to provide the best soccer program we can while complying with public health requirements.

AFC Program Fees (U13-U19)

Our fees above (assuming full programming) reflect increases in select direct costs, namely fields, coaching, and league fees, and are in line with the planned 2020/21 player fees of nearby clubs.

PAYMENT STRUCTURE
Given the uncertainties of how and when we get back on the field, our registration payments will be structured differently this year. Last year, most families paid 20% of the total fee upfront to accept a roster spot, and the remainder as a lump sum. Our other families paid the balance over four installments.

This season, given the current unknowns, we are reducing the upfront payment and pushing the first of five installments until beyond when we hope to retake the field. Our intent with this approach is to connect your installments with our actually playing soccer. Along those lines, there is the unwanted potential that public health guidelines may impact our programs mid season. To simplify our making any potential program-wide changes to fees or payments, we are asking all families to sign up for our installment plan.

Other important fine print…

• When you accept a roster spot for the 2020-21 season, you’ll have 48 hours to register and submit the initial $250 payment towards the overall fee for the player child (see timetable below).
• If the season never starts, we will refund your initial payment minus $50 (non refundable) to cover AFC administrative costs.
• To support our full year program, please appreciate that joining our Club commits your player for the entire year (Fall & Spring).
• Our overall refund policy will continue and applies to all AFC players who accept their 2020/21 roster spot.

Families with pending financial aid requests will be given additional time to complete the process. Please submit these requests ASAP - see below.

FINANCIAL AID

For information about our Financial Aid programs, please visit downloads/AFC_Finanical_Aid-2020.pdf

For specific questions, please email AFC’s Financial Aid Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We appreciate that the need for financial aid will be greater this year due to the abnormal circumstances our economy faces, and we will do what we can to help with our limited financial aid budget.

For families who have the means to also help, please consider donating to AFC’s financial aid fund by clicking gf.me/u/x3r696.  All donations will directly benefit one or more qualifying families.

TEAM FORMATION TIMELINES

If you have any questions regarding tryouts or team formations, please contact Lourdes Navarrete at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We look forward to another fantastic soccer season.  

GO AFC!

Here is the Summer Camp information for the different age groups and teams:

• Academy teams will receive three team camps as part of their fees
• Non-academy teams will receive one team and one code to sign up for an additional camp as part of their fees

AFC_Summer_Team_Camps_-_2020.xlsx