Youth Sports FAQ for Parents and Coaches

I registered my child for a sport, but I haven't heard anything. When will I be contacted with further information and by whom?

After the registration deadline ends, depending on age and sport there may be a coaches' draft or skills evaluation which must be completed before teams are assembled. Also, if there are not enough participants registered, staff may extend the registration deadline or open up a registration waitlist for additional participants. Please be patient. Teams must be assembled and coaches assigned and it could take up to 4 weeks after registration closes. You will be contacted by a coach regarding the first practice and practice schedule - coaches set their own practice schedules. If you are not contacted by two weeks before the season begins, please call 757-382-6411.

I missed the registration deadline. Can I still sign my child up?

If you missed the registration deadline, go to the Parks, Recreation and Tourism home web page and look for an announcement that the deadline has been extended or a wait list has been created, or you may call 757-382-6411 for information. If openings become available, wait list participants will be contacted by the athletic staff in the order that they registered on the wait list. Late registrations will be addressed within the youth team assignment deadline periods. Additional players will not be accepted after the registration deadline unless there is a deadline extension or waitlist.

Can my children be on the same team? 

If they are in the same league and age group and meet all criteria, athletic staff will try to accommodate requests. 

Can my child be placed on the same team as his/her best friend/neighbor/school mate? 

Players will not be placed on teams or switched to another team for carpool, transportation, schedule or other reasons.

Can I request that my child be placed on a specific team?

Specific team placement requests will not be granted for any reason.

My child/family has other obligations during the week. Can I request that my child be placed on a team that doesn't practice or play on certain nights or days?

Specific team placement or schedule requests will not be granted. Players will not be placed on teams or switched to another team for carpool, transportation, schedule or other reasons.

Does the registration fee include uniforms? What does the registration fee include? What about cheer uniforms?

The registration fee typically includes a game jersey and other required equipment for the sport such as a helmet and pads for tackle football. Additional equipment may be recommended for players to wear or bring on their own. Cheer uniforms are not included in the registration fee. Cheer coaches will inform parents about the uniforms (ordering, fees, etc.) For more detailed information, please go to the Youth Sports registration information page and click on each specific sport.  

When is the skills evaluation day? When are the dates and times posted and where? 

Information on skills evaluation dates will appear on your registration receipt. Evaluation dates and times will also be posted on our website so look for sport-specific links on the Youth Game and Evaluation Schedules page. Evaluations are only for children 9 years and older, and for players who have actually registered and paid.

How about information on Tackle football registration and weigh-ins? Where are the dates, times and locations posted? Where are the age and weight charts?

Due to weight requirements, registration for Tackle football must be completed in person - online registrations are not permitted. Guardian and child must be present at registration and weigh-in. Weigh-in dates, times and locations will be posted on our website when registration opens so look for the Flag & Tackle Football heading on the Youth Sports registration page and click to open. Review age and weight eligibility chart and policies.

My child is under the minimum required age listed for the sport. Can exceptions be made for age?

No. All participants must meet the specific age criteria listed for each sport on the Youth Sports registration web page. Visit the Youth Sports home page and then click on the specific sport for age and birthday deadlines. A birth certificate or legal proof of age must be presented at registration.

How many practices and games will there be per week? 

Only two to three "outings" per week are permitted depending on age and sport according to the athletic rules. These "outings" will usually consist of one or two practices during the week and one game, although occasionally there might be two games and only one or no practice.

When are the games? 

Games are usually on Saturdays, but depending on how many teams there are and availability of fields/facilities, games may have to be scheduled during the week.

Where can I find practice and game schedules? 

The coaches set the practice schedules and will provide both practice and game schedules to parents. Game schedules will also be posted online prior to the first game. Visit the Youth Game and Evaluation Schedules page to see schedules for each sport once they are posted.

Where are practices and games held? 

Basketball - at community centers and school gyms. Coaches will notify parents of locations.

Football/Cheer and Soccer - Coaches will notify parents of locations.

Volleyball - at community centers. Coaches will notify parents of any change in location.

Will I be required to travel outside of Chesapeake for practices or games? 

No. All practices and games will be held in Chesapeake. In addition, we make every effort to schedule practices and games within the area you signed your child up in, however, occasionally facility limitations might make it necessary to schedule practices and/or games outside of your area.

Where do I find out whether a game will be canceled due to inclement weather? 

For daily game cancellation information, please call the Athletics Hotline after 4:30 p.m. at 757-382-6400 and press #1.

 Links for general rules and rules for each sport can be found by visiting the Department Rules and Policies page.

Where can I find information on sports that are not offered through City recreation programs? 

We have posted a number of private association links and contact information for sports such as youth baseball, girl's fast-pitch softball, tennis, and soccer as well as sports clubs/commissions.  

What is the policy on refunds? 

The registration fee refund policy is as follows: A parent must request a refund by contacting the athletic office at 757-382-6411 prior to skills evaluation day. No refunds will be made after the skills evaluation date for each sport. Refunds may be partially approved due to special circumstances of injury, illness or family relocation, however, no refunds will be considered after the first day of a particular sport season. A $10 processing fee will be applied to all refund requests for activities not canceled by Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Refunds will be processed if there is no team or league due to insufficient registrations. Refunds may take 3-4 weeks to process after request. (No refunds of any credit card fees or internet processing fees, if paid online.)

I/my child would like to provide feedback or voice a concern. What is the process for this? 

The first contact person should always be the coach who is expected to address concerns and pass along any feedback received. If you would like to speak directly to athletic staff, they may be contacted at 757-382-6411.

How can I apply to be a coach? 

For more information and volunteer coaches forms, see our Volunteer Coaches Info page.

I've coached in the past. Do I need to be fingerprinted again? 

All coaches will initially be required to submit to fingerprinting conducted by athletic staff in order to obtain criminal history record information through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to submit to a search of the Virginia State Department of Social Service Child Protective Services Central Registry. Returning coaches who have been initially screened by the National FBI Central Criminal Records Exchange will receive an annual criminal history records search through the Virginia State Police. All coaches must have completed results from the FBI search on file to return to coach.

If I volunteer to coach, will my child be assigned to my team? 

Yes, as long as you are coaching in their league and age group, and they meet all criteria. Although rarely requested, we can also accommodate any desire for your child to be placed on a team other than the one you are coaching.