Financial Aid and Payment Policy and Procedure
1. POLICY and PRACTICE: It shall be the Policy of the Homewood Soccer Club to assist families of players, desiring to participate on Homewood Soccer Club (HWSC) teams to do so in spite of financial status or need. In order to allow HWSC to accurately assess need and to make decisions that are fair to both the requestor and to all HWSC members, requestors are expected to provide honest and candid information as necessary. All information gathered in the implementation of this Policy and Practice (P&P) shall be maintained in the most confidential manner. All requests under this P&P are subject to review by the HWSC Scholarship Committee. All decisions made under this P&P shall be based solely on assessed need without regard to race, religion, national origin or city of residence.
2. COVERED COSTS: The following costs can be covered by financial aid:
• Registration Fee
• Non-Homewood Resident Fee
• Blue Team Fee (As appropriate)
• Uniform Fee (If part of registration)
3. NON COVERED COSTS: The following types of costs will not be eligible for financial aid:
• Uniform and equipment costs not included in registration fees.
• Travel expenses to practices or games.
4. EVALUATION OF NEED CRITERIA: The evaluation of need will be very subjective. This P&P does not contemplate requiring the presentation of documentation of financial status. An expectation of honesty and trust must be developed. Violations of that expectation can be expected to result in denial of the benefits of this P&P.
5. PAYMENT PLANS: HWSC will offer payment plans to allow payment during the season of full or financial aid reduced fee amounts on the following basis:
a. The requestor states that there is a financial need to extend payments over time.
b. An initial payment is required at registration.
c. A maximum of three additional payments will be allowed.
d. A schedule of payment dates and amounts will be submitted with the plan request.
6. FAMILY DISCOUNTS: HWSC will allow a family discount of $10.00 for each additional member of a family, after the initial member, which registers for a season without any maximum. A family for this purpose is defined as those that regularly reside in the same home.
7. APPLICATION PROCESS FOR FININCIAL AID, PAYMENT PLANS AND FAMILY DISCOUNTS: The Internet registration system does not adequately support the programs covered by this P&P. If the parent intends to apply for any of the three covered programs, then at the point in the registration process when the parent is requested to pick the payment method he/she must select payment by check. The parent will then complete the rest of the registration process.
8. COMPLETION AND REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION: The parent must complete the application form (see links below) and immediately submit it by mail or by email to the Soccer Director. All applications are subject to review by the Scholarship Committee. If additional information is required the Committee will have wide freedom to determine how to gather enough information to make a well-informed decision on the request. Because of the sensitive nature of these requests the committee is encouraged to operate in an informal and friendly manner.
The application is available in two versions for your convenience:
Application.doc Application.pdf
9. NOTIFICATION: Upon completion of the review the decision will be documented and the parent notified. The registrar will also be notified who will track implementation of the decision in the registration system to insure the player is full registered and any agreed to payments are made.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A player is not completely registered until any application for financial aid or payment plan is approved.
Mail completed application forms to:
Homewood Soccer Club
2236 Royal Crest Drive
Birmingham, Al 35216