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Frequently
Asked Questions
Q. When was AJAX F. C.
Chicago founded?
A. The Club was
founded in August 1996, by the Director of Coaching, Dragan
Pavlovic. AJAX started with just 2 Boys teams and now has 15
teams, 12 boys' teams and 3 girls' teams. The Girls Program
began in Spring 2000. Dragan started the Club to offer
talented, committed players an opportunity to join a premier
Club in the Western Suburbs of Chicago.
Q. What makes AJAX
unique?
A. AJAX uses
professional, licensed coaches and trainers on all teams,
giving the teams a consistent style of play. Parents are
involved exclusively in administrative roles.
Q. What is the Club's
style of play?
A. AJAX teams
play possession or ball control soccer, utilizing passing as
the key to successful tactical execution. Our Coaches
utilize a positive coaching style to maximize player
development.
Q. What is expected of
the AJAX player?
A. Players make
a full year commitment to AJAX and their teams. Players are
expected to attend all practices, both outdoor and indoor,
have a positive attitude, and work hard.
Q. Where are practices
held?
A. AJAX leases
its playing fields from the Naperville Park District which
assigns fields at the beginning of every season. The fields
are located throughout Naperville and are subject to change
every season. The club announces field locations as soon as
they are available.
Q. How long are
practices and what does a typical practice consist of?
A. Teams train
2-3 times per week, each session lasting 1-1.5 hours. The
practice schedule for each team does not change during a
playing season, unless canceled for weather reasons or a
rescheduled game. Training sessions consist of a warm-up,
skill work, tactical work, shooting, scrimmaging, and
conditioning.
Q. When/where are the
games played?
A. League games
are played on Saturdays or Sundays, depending on the league.
The Naperville Park District assigns the AJAX home field
site and home field locations vary by season. Away games may
be as close as another Naperville location or as far away as
1-1.5 hours.
Q. What Leagues do the
teams play in?
A. AJAX seeks to
place its teams in competitively compatible leagues and
playing divisions. Boys' teams play in either NISL or YSSL
while the Girls' Teams play in the IWSL. AJAX teams play in
the highest divisions of all three leagues.
Q. How much are Club
Fees?
A. AJAX fees are
all inclusive, annual fees. Fees vary by team and every team
is self-funding. Team costs are calculated and amortized
over the number of rostered players. Fees include
Administrative Costs (19%), Training and Coaching Costs
(50%) and Team Costs (31%). Fees cover Outdoor and Indoor
Seasons and Tournament entry costs. Fees are
nonrefundable.
Q. When will I have to
pay the fees?
A. Once players
receive an offer, they are given a 7-day acceptance period,
at which time parents are asked to make a financial
commitment to the Club. The fee balance is spread over a 4-6
month period for which parents sign an automatic credit card deduction agreement.
Q. Do the fees include
uniform costs?
A. No. The
uniform package includes 1 pair of Adidas shorts, 2 Adidas jerseys, 2 practice
T-shirts and 1 pair of socks. Uniform costs vary from
$80 for the youth teams, and $155 for high school boys. Optional uniform and spirit wear items
can be purchased.
Q. What is the Indoor
Program?
A. All teams
train 2 times per week indoors at various area school gyms
and/or the Odeum. Teams also play in competitively
compatible indoor leagues. Player fees include indoor
training and league costs, and players are expected to
participate.
Q. Does the Club offer
Summer activities?
A. Players are
given the month of July to participate in soccer activities
of their choice. Some teams play in summer tournaments. All
teams participate in mandatory summer team camps in late July/early August to prepare for the
start of the Fall Season.
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