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No. Both run as full seasons of 4 to 8 weeks, so players register for the whole season.

Playing time is a development tool, not a reward or a punishment. In every competitive match, each player gets at least:

• Seed and Roots: 50%
• Rise: 40%
• Forge, Crown and Legacy: 30%

Those are minimums, and coaches give more whenever they can. If you think a minimum wasn't met, talk to the coach privately, not on the sideline or right after the game.

Indoor shoes only. Cleats aren't allowed on the court.

Every player needs the official DCXI kit before the Fall period starts: 3 match jerseys, 3 shorts, 3 pairs of socks, a training jacket, training pants and a backpack. It costs about $150 to $300 and isn't part of dues. We send ordering instructions after registration. Kits run on a two-year cycle, so returning players in year two may only need replacements. Homemade, customized or copied kits aren't allowed, and a player in the wrong kit may be held out of a match.

Scorpion League is our neighborhood league for ages 5 to 12. There's no tryout, it runs 8 weeks in the fall and spring. Elite Academy is our year-round team program, mid-August to mid-June, for players ready to make soccer their main sport. Players join through a tryout, teams play in outside leagues, and there are annual dues with payment plans and scholarships.

It's on purpose. We call it FreeForm Football: every player learns to play at least three positions, because players who understand the whole field read the game better and are harder to plan against. From the Forge stage (U13) up, positions become more defined, but players still learn every role.

Safety comes first. Our staff are trained in first aid and CPR, and most are educators too. We build in water breaks, follow injury prevention steps and supervise every activity. We also follow our weather and air quality policies. In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, we encourage vaccination and may require testing.

Elite Academy is a full-year commitment, because the club commits to coaches, fields and leagues for your player's team before the year starts. Dues can't be refunded once the Fall period begins, and the $400 acceptance fee is never refundable. This applies to players who leave for any reason, including suspension or dismissal for conduct.

The only way to get money back is optional tuition protection insurance, which you can add at registration. See "What is tuition protection insurance?"

Start with your player's head coach. Ask for a private, scheduled conversation, not a chat on the sideline or right after a game. If you don't hear back within 48 hours, email support@dcxiproject.com. Most concerns are settled with the coach.

We check the air quality index (AQI):

• Green or yellow: normal activity
• Orange: we play, with less running and more breaks
• Red or purple: all outdoor activity is canceled

Learn about AQI colors at airnow.gov (opens in a new tab).

• Never deal with a conflict in public, on the sideline or on social media.
• A formal complaint is always handled formally, never informally.
• A player's behavior is never discussed with other families.

We use your information to register players, stay in touch, track progress, take payments and meet league rules. We never sell it. We share it only with partners we need, like leagues, our registration system and payment processors. Player records are kept up to 5 years after a player's last program, and financial records for 7 years. You can ask to see, fix or delete your information, or stop marketing emails, any time: email privacy@dcxiproject.com or call 202-505-7530.

Concerns move up four steps, one at a time. Please don't skip a step.

1. Head coach: a private, scheduled conversation within 48 hours of what happened.
2. Age-group director: joins or mediates if it isn't resolved, and writes up a summary.
3. Director of Football: takes ownership. This can include a formal written notice, a family meeting or Code of Conduct action.
4. COO or CEO: formal action, such as suspension, removal from an event or dismissal from the program, with a written decision.

Abusive, threatening or profane language toward a coach, player or staff member goes straight to step 3.

We follow Parks and Recreation field closures. We also:

• Stop all outdoor activity right away for lightning. If you see lightning and hear thunder within 30 seconds, everyone moves indoors or into a hard-topped car (the 30-30 rule)
• Cancel or change plans when heavy rain makes a field unplayable (light rain, we usually play)
• Add water breaks and shade, and ease off, in extreme heat
• Cancel outdoor activity at 32°F or below

If a practice or game is canceled or changed, you'll get a PlayMetrics notification, so keep notifications on. If you haven't heard that it's on, don't head to the field, especially in lightning or extreme heat.

For every program except Elite Academy:

• 14 or more days before the start: full refund
• 7 to 13 days before: 50% of the registration fee
• Less than 7 days before: you may not be eligible for a refund

You can choose full credit toward a future program or merchandise instead. To ask for a refund, email support@dcxiproject.com.

Elite Academy is different: dues are a full-year commitment. See "Can we get Elite Academy dues back if our player leaves?"

Any player we think may have a concussion stops playing for the day. They can only come back to training with written clearance from a licensed medical professional. If your player gets a knock to the head, at practice or at home, tell the coach right away, even if they say they feel fine.

Watch for a headache that won't go away, dizziness or blurry vision, confusion or feeling foggy, nausea, sensitivity to light or noise, unusual tiredness, or not remembering what happened. If you see any of these, see a doctor before your player trains again.

Safety comes before every other step. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 first, then tell the head coach on duty right away.

Other numbers:

• DC non-emergency police: (202) 727-9099
• DC Fire and EMS: (202) 673-3320
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
• Injury at a DC Parks and Recreation field: (202) 673-7647
• Injury at a Montgomery County field: Montgomery County Recreation, (240) 777-6840
• DC Eleven general support: (202) 505-7530

Keep your emergency contacts up to date in PlayMetrics, and tell your coach if they change.