Frequently ASKED
Questions

On This Page

How Do I Register My Child For Soccer?

Parents and guardians must register their children for soccer with WDMSC using a secure sports management system called PlayMetrics.  Please click the "register here" button below to access the system.  If you do not have an existing account, you may create a new account from the login page, or login using your Google or Facebook accounts.

Where Can I Learn More About WDMSC Programs?

You can learn more about our programs by selecting one of the options below.  Our program pages will help you understand the player pathway and provide more information about our program offerings. 

frequently asked questions

How do I manage my member account?

Your member account can be managed through either PlayMetric's web or mobile applications. PlayMetrics is youth soccer's first all-in-one Club Operating System, unifying your entire club management workflow in one easy-to-manage hub. JUSC will be utilizing 

Managing PlayMetrics Account


Login & Access


PlayMetrics App

New PlayMetrics Mobile App now supports Account Management.  The PlayMetrics Mobile App is available on the Apple Apps Store or Google Play.  Once you have installed the app on your phone log in with the same credentials used for registration.

Additional Assistance

For additional help, you may contact PlayMetrics directly or submit your support request.

How will WDMSC communicate with me?

Email Communication

WDMSC uses PlayMetrics to facilitate email communication to families with children registered in our programs for club-wide communications based on the email associated with your profile.  Team coaches will also be provided emails of parents and guardians.

Mobile App

To further facilitate communication at the club and team level, we highly encourage you to add the PlayMetrics Mobile App is available on the Apple Apps Store or Google Play.  Once you have installed the app on your phone, log in with the same credentials used for registration.

Social Media

We also post relevant club information on our social media accounts, which you are invited to follow: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Can I make a special team placement request for my child?

If you have a special team placement request, please let us know when registering your child to play soccer or contact us.  You may request your child play on the same team as a friend and/or ask to placed on a specific volunteer coach's team.  However, you must complete registration before any special team request is considered.  Registering early helps, special team placement requests are more difficult to honor as team rosters fill up.  While we will do our best to honor requests made, we cannot guarantee they can be fulfilled. 

What age group should my child be playing this season?

Per U.S. Soccer requirements, in Fall 2024 & Spring 2025, all age groups are based on the calendar year in which your child was born:

Can my child play in an older age group?

To facilitate player development and provide a positive experience, we highly recommend your child play within their true age group based on their birth year.   However, we understand there may be instances where a child's maturity, athleticism, and soccer technical skills support playing with and against older players, in longer games and training sessions, and on bigger fields.    If you believe your child would benefit from playing in an older age group, please contact us.  While we are considering your request, please register your child in the age group associated with their birth year AND complete the PlayUP waiver during the registration process.

What will my child need for uniforms and equipment?

All players will need to purchase a jersey (except U4-U6 age group), shorts, and socks.  You will need to supply shin guards, water bottle, and soccer ball (except U4-U6 age group).  Soccer cleats are not mandatory although they are recommended especially on days when the fields may be wet.  More details on what uniforms are required (including how to order) for your child's age group, and other needed and allowable equipment are available on the Uniform & Equipment page. 

When will I learn what time my child's team trains?

Training sessions for 7U-8U Discovery, and 9U-19U recreational teams will be scheduled by your child's team's coach.  Generally, training sessions will begin two weeks prior to your child's first weekend of games.  We encourage coaches to let parents know days and times for training as soon as possible.  They are also encouraged to find times that work for the player's families.

When are my child's game schedules typically available?

Game schedules are generally published one to two weeks before the first weekend of games. 

Where can I find my child's game schedule?

Game schedules are accessible through the PlayMetrics web application or via the mobile App using your login credentials used for registration.  The PlayMetrics Mobile App is available on the Apple Apps Store or Google Play.

See Program Details for general game times:

What is covered in the cost of my registration?

WDMSC is a non-profit organization. The registration fee includes registration, medical insurance, referee fees, player cards, field maintenance and equipment, games shirts and soccer balls for 4U-6U players, and participation in eight (8) games.  

Do you accept late registrations?

All late registrations will be accepted for two weeks after end of registration closes. Participation on a team or program will be on a first come first serve basis and will only be granted if we have available space on a roster. Late registrations that are not accepted will be refunded the full amount. 

What is the refund policy?

Refund requests must be submitted through Contact page. Full refunds will be offered if we are unable to place your child on a team. Our refund policy can be found on our Governance Resource page which constitutes the fees and timeline restrictions.  

Other Info

Do Board Members get paid?

The West Des Moines Soccer Club Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers. 

Can I drop my child off at the field to run errands durng the practices and/or games?

We strongly recommend that a parent/guardian be present with their child during the time they are at the soccer field, in case there are any problems during the session. If there is a need to leave to pick up another child, please let the coach know when you will be leaving and when you will return. Be sure the coach has your contact information. Also, reach out to a team parent to help watch your player's activity.  

Why am I not receiving any WDMSC emails?

First thing first, please create an entry in your email address book called "WDMSC" or WDM Soccer Club" and add the following the email addresses:

This is to help keep our emails out of the spam folder. If you happen to receive our emails in your spam folder, please mark it "safe" and send the communication back to your email provider.

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We will do our best to respond to your email with 24-48 hours. These times may be longer at the start of each season as we have higher volume as these times.


Still not receiving our emails? Do a check on the following:


What are your players safety regulations?

SafeSport

The United States Congress passed, and the President signed in to law, the SafeSport Act. This law requires all adults who have regular interaction with minors in youth sports to be mandatory reporters and to take training to understand that role. Iowa Soccer is providing a 90-minute web-based training from the Center for SafeSport free of charge to all coaches and other adults that require it. When coaches suspect or hear about possible sexual abuse, they are now required by Federal Law to report it to the Center for SafeSport.​


Additionally, we are required to provide parents information that you can share with your children to help them understand and identify potential abuse. A link to the SafeSport Parent Toolkit with age specific information can be found on our website here. We strongly encourage you to review it with your children. Additionally, you can learn more about the SafeSport Act at uscenterforsafesport.org and about US Soccer's initiatives at www.safesoccer.com


Concussion Education

Understanding concussions, the symptoms, and the treatment is very important as we learn more about the brain. While not new, Iowa Soccer is continuing the requirement that every coach takes the CDC concussion education training designed for coaches. This 30-minute webinar must be renewed every other year. It is not possible to have a certified athletic trainer or other health care professional at every practice or event, so we want to ensure that coaches have the education needed to properly identify the symptoms and then act in an appropriate manner with the impacted players. We will continue to staff our competitions with certified athletic trainers who will perform concussion checks any time a head injury occurs, and if a concussion is suspected, per Iowa Soccer policy players will not be able to return to play until cleared by a medical professional.


Background Checks

While coaches have been required to pass background checks in previous years, this year we are doing a more in-depth check and extending the requirement to any adult that has regular interaction with minors, which now includes checks of all club board members. This deep-dive check meets the standards that have been put forth by the National Council of Youth Sports by looking at federal, state, and local records for all counties in which the individual has lived for the last five years.


Every child, and his/her parents, should expect to have a safe soccer experience. In today's society, that means a lot of people behind the scenes are submitting to extra training and in-depth checks in order to comply with laws, requirements, and policies of various organizations and ultimately contribute to a safe environment.


You can be assured that every coach we clear has had an extensive background check, has taken a 30-minute training on concussion education, and a 90-minute training on his or her role as a mandatory reporter for abuse.

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So, as we launch another soccer season, please make sure to thank our coaches especially, and also thank our staff to ensuring player safety is our #1 priority! They have invested the time to make your child's experience in soccer as enjoyable and safe as it possibly can be. And finally, please consider volunteering to coach or fill a role in our club…the soccer community as a whole needs help expanding its volunteer base so we don't continue to rely on the same group of people who raise their hands and say "I'll help!"