Background - Competitive Soccer
The United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA)
is broken into 51 state organizations. We are in the California
Youth Soccer Association (CYSA) - North. Northern California is,
quite sensibly, in a different soccer "state" than Southern
California. CYSA is comprised of nine districts. Our district, District
IV, ranges from Vallejo to the north, Castro Valley to the south,
and Brentwood to the east. Within District IV are about 20 leagues.
Our league, the Jack London Youth Soccer League (JLYSL) is composed
of six clubs: Oakland, Rockridge, Piedmont, Montclair, Bay Oaks,
and the Alameda Soccer Club (ASC).
The vast majority of kids in the Alameda Soccer
Club play on "recreational" or "house" teams.
These are technically known as "Class 4" teams and are
the lowest rung on the competitive soccer ladder. Recreational teams
are open to all children, regardless of experience or ability. The
Club places kids on teams based upon parental requests (for a particular
coach or teammate), school, via a coaches draft, and/or randomly.
The next step up is "Select" or "Class
3" teams. These are typically formed by each club, beginning
at the Under-10 or Under-12 age group. Teams are formed by tryouts
and represent their club. The next step up is "Select" or "Class 3" teams. These are typically formed by each club, beginning at the Under-10 or Under-12 age group. Generally, the Alameda Soccer Club fields teams in U10 through U19 age groups for boys and girls. If there are a large number of candidates at tryouts additional teams may be formed from the remainder of the players who attend the tryouts but do not make the Select team. These teams are only formed on a case-by-case basis depending on the potential strength of the team, individual talent, coaching availability and impact on other teams in the age group and must be approved by the Board of Directors. To be eligible for any additional team that may be formed, players must have participated in their age group selection tryouts for that season. Coaches apply to the club’s Select Coordinator and are selected by the Board of Directors.
Coaches apply to the Club and are selected
by the Board of Directors.
There is no "Class 2". "Class 1"
teams typically represent an entire league. Unlike Class 3 and Class
4 teams, which are multi-year, Class 1 teams are "age pure".
There are separate teams for Under-11 and Under-12, etc. In the
Jack London Youth Soccer League, the Bay Oaks Club is responsible
for fielding all Class 1 teams. Bay Oaks tryouts are prior to the
clubs' Class 3 tryouts and are held in March and April for the teams
which begin play in the summer. Note that Bay Oaks may also field
some "Class 3" teams for age groups where many more kids
tried out than could be accommodated. These teams are equivalent
to club-based Class 3 teams and compete against them in league and
tournament play. Bay Oaks is committed to focusing entirely on Class
1, phasing out their Class 3 teams.
At the Under-15 and older age groups, all players
may try out for the District's Olympic Development Plan (ODP) Team.
ODP players may be selected to play on the CYSA State Team and the
Western Regional Team. National teams exist at older youth levels.
These teams represent the US in international competitions.
High School Soccer teams lie entirely outside of
the CYSA/USYSA umbrella. The High School soccer season in California
is in the winter, after the CYSA fall season ends. Kids tryout for
these teams too.
As you can see, there is plenty of opportunity for
growth for talented players. Some of these may receive college scholarships
based upon their soccer ability. But you and I are more likely
to be struck by a meteor than have our kids win a soccer scholarship.
Kids who are pushed into competitive soccer get little joy from
it. The kids who will become the next generation of great players
are the ones who truly love to play the game. The Alameda Soccer
Club tries to offer its competitive and recreational players all
the encouragement, support, training and experience we can, and
just enjoy the ride.
The Club's view is that kids should be provided
with the opportunity to pursue things that they are good at and/or
enjoy doing. Kids who love to play soccer and are good at it should
be able to play at a higher level. When talented kids play with
and against other talented kids and get better coaching, they will
improve. They will also learn the value of hard work, the rewards
of succeeding as a team, and the self-confidence that comes with
doing something well. This is the experience we hope to give each
child who plays on an Alameda United Select team.
|
