Alamo Heights Fort Sam Houston Soccer Club

Pictured below are members of '98 Fire Red with their trainer and coaches.  Congratulations on winning Western District for Division 2 and good luck at the state tournament!

AHFSH wants to congratulate the members of the '96 Fire girls team and '93 Fire girls team.  Both teams placed 3rd in the State Playoffs in early December in the Super II Division.  Great work on a great season!

Pictured above are members of the girls '96 Fire team and their trainer with their medals from the Fall 2008 State Playoffs.  Below is the '93 Fire, their trainer and coach with their Fall 2008 State Playoff medals.

Based upon feedback from our players, Fire players are now responsible for purchasing their required uniform kits (jerseys, shorts and socks) and backback directly from Soccer World; the cost of the uniform and backpack is no longer included in the registration fee.  By allowing players to purchase uniforms directly, you may order new uniforms if you need a new item for any reason, e.g., loss, under-sized, damaged, etc.

We strongly recommend that each player go to Soccer World to be correctly sized for the uniform before ordering. 

For a map to Soccer World at 7349 Fredericksburg Road, click here, or you may call 210-734-7906.

What is the Fire Club in the Alamo Heights - Fort Sam Houston Soccer League?

• AHFSH formed this select soccer club in 1999.  Although the league had competitive teams for many years prior to that date, following that date all AHFSH boys and girls competitive teams have shared the "Fire" name and uniform design.

What is the purpose of the Fire Club?

• The purpose of the AHFSH Fire Club is to provide a high quality, competitive soccer program, while promoting the league's principles of good sportsmanship, teamwork, positive coaching, physical fitness, and enjoyment of the game of soccer.

At what age does the division of players and teams between recreational and competitive levels of play start?

• The division between recreational and competitive soccer begins at the Under-11 ("U-11") age group, which for most players corresponds with their entry into the fifth grade.

What are the different levels of competition?

• There are five levels of competition for U-11 and older players: Premier, Division I ("D-1"), Super-II ("S-2"), Division II ("D-2") and Division III ("D-3").  D-3 is "recreational" play for those players who have either not been chosen to play at a "competitive" level or who have chosen not to play at that more demanding level.  The other Divisions are "select" or "competitive", with competitiveness of the divisions increasing from D-2 through Premier.  All U-10 and younger teams, including those playing in the Developmental league, are Division IV recreational.

How are teams formed at the Under-11 age level?

• Players who want and are able to play at a competitive level are selected to play on Fire teams following participation in the spring (late May or early June) or summer (late July or early August) tryouts.  All other players are assigned to recreational teams formed by the league. 

If my child is not selected for a competitive team, or does not wish to play on a select team, will recreational soccer be available for my child?

• AHFSH is strongly committed to recreational soccer.  The league typically fields recreational teams in the U-11 through U-14 (and occasionally older) age groups.  Obviously, the number of teams formed depends on the number of players who register to play at that particular age group and Division.  Some recreational teams will play small-sided (8v8) play, depending upon the the number of players who register to play within the various other leagues against whom AHFSH recreational teams play.

Who is eligible to play on an U11 Fire team in the fall 2008 and spring 2009 seasons?

• Players whose dates of birth fall within the dates identified by our parent organization as being U-11 players are eligible to try out for the U-ll Fire team; for the date range applicable to this age group, see the age chart .  In addition, players born in August or September who fall within the dates specified on the age chart as being U-10 players but who will be enrolled in the fifth grade in the fall are eligible to try out.  U-10 players who wish to play up an age group are also entitled to try out for the U-11 Fire team, but such players' parents must request that they be permitted to play in the older age group, at which time the parents will be reminded of the more rigorous training demands and style of play associated with the older age group and more competitive division, and our parent organization limits participation on any U-11 team to not more than four U-10 players.

What commitment for the seasonal year is expected from Fire team players?

• A player selected to play on a Fire team is expected to commit for a full seasonal year of soccer.  The seasonal year includes both the fall and spring seasons.  Most Fire teams will also compete in one to three invitational tournaments per year.  The teams normally practice twice a week for most of the year, with fewer practices during the break between the fall and spring seasons and summer.

How much travel is required for Under-11 and older teams?

• Approximately one-half of the regular season games will be home games, played at Fort Sam Houston.  The amount of travel is about the same for recreational and the Division II Fire teams, whose away games will usually be limited to Bexar County and the immediately surrounding counties.  The potential traveling distance for away games increases for Super-II teams, particularly in the spring season, and for Premier and Division I teams in both seasons.  Teams in these divisions may have to travel as far south as the Valley and as far north as Temple . In addition to regular season play, tournaments and playoffs may require travel for all divisions.

When will tryouts for the new U11 Fire teams be held?

• For specific information regarding tryout dates and locations, see the Fire Club tryout page. Generally, however, there are two tryouts each for boys and girls immediately following the spring season.  Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes.  Players are strongly encouraged to attend both of the scheduled sessions, as it gives the individuals involved in the selection process more opportunities to evaluate the players.  A second round of tryouts is typically held in late July and/or early August to fill any remaining openings on the teams.

How are players selected, and how many U11 Fire teams will there be?

• A selection committee will evaluate each player's skills and ability to play competitive soccer.  The number of teams formed, and the Division at which the teams will compete, will depend upon the level of participation at the tryouts and the level of skill exhibited by those trying out.  Our parent associations has established maximum roster sizes for teams.  Beginning in fall 2008, U-11 teams will play 8v8 with a maximum roster size of 15 players, and U-12 and older teams will play 11v11 with maximum roster sizes of 18 players; beginning in fall 2009 and thereafter, U-11 and U-12 will play 8v8 with a maximum roster size of 15 players, and U-13 and older will play 11v11 with an 18-player maximum roster.

When will players be notified of the tryout results?

• Players will be notified within one week of the conclusion of the tryout sessions.  Typically, players wear a numbered "pinnie" at tryouts, and player selections are noted on the website by player pinnie number so as to maintain the privacy of player identity.

What is required to reserve a selected player's membership on an U11 Fire team?

• To reserve a player's position on the team roster, players will be asked to register through the online registration system by a deadline identified to players and parents.  Roster slots for players who were selected but who do not register by this deadline will not be reserved, but players may attend the August tryouts for any vacant roster positions.

What are the costs for Fire team players?

• Registration fees are set prior to each season by the AHFSH Board, which fees are typically identified on the first page of the registration program. Registration fees are charged on a per season basis, as opposed to a "seasonal year" basis; as a result, the applicable fee must be paid for the fall season, and the applicable fee must again be paid in the spring season.  Beginning in the fall 2005 season, all newly formed Fire teams were required to use the league-approved professional trainers; as a result, players will be required to pay a registration fee that consists of the registration fee and trainer fee; as of fall 2008, players will pay uniform fees separately to the uniform vendor, which will allow players to order new uniforms more easily if uniforms are outgrown, lost or damaged.  Individual teams may also incur additional costs, such as for tournaments, playoffs, team parties, trophies and similar items.  A summary of registration fees is available on the Fees and Refunds page.

Is financial assistance available for those selected to play on a Fire team?

• Yes.  AHFSH currently offers financial assistance and payment plans for Fire players.  Request for Financial Assistance forms should be completed and forwarded to Joel Guerra, who serves as the Chairperson of the Financial Assistance Committee.  Requests for a payment plan should be directed to our Registrar, Kathi Graf, who will have to assist you when registering.