Club & Rec Soccer Guide

Stronger players often join Club soccer teams between 6-8 years old but it is important to remember that you don’t have to pay for Club soccer (which can be expensive) at young ages. AYSO and other Recreational soccer programs can also be good options but if your child is very comfortable with the ball by the time they are 6 or 7 years old, they might want something more competitive than Recreational soccer or AYSO.

Here’s a quick guide to the two main options:

Club Soccer

Club soccer coaches tend to be more experienced than AYSO and Recreational coaches but it is more expensive to put your child on a Club team. The commitment in terms of training sessions tends to be a bit more than AYSO and Rec; usually Club soccer teams train twice per week and play a game or two on weekends.

Although abilities between players can vary, it is more likely that you will have players of similar ability on a Club team in comparison to AYSO or Rec soccer.

In Club soccer, it is important to understand that playing time in games is not guaranteed. Most coaches will ensure that every player gets to play but the amount of time your son or daughter gets on the field in games can vary depending on the level of the team and how the coach operates.

Club Average Cost: $1500-$3000 per year

AYSO (and other Recreational Programs)

Most areas in the U.S. have an AYSO program. Coaches are almost always volunteers and so their knowledge of soccer is more hit and miss but the costs of AYSO are usually much less than Club. AYSO and Rec programs usually train once per week, with a game on the weekend.

You are more likely to have players of vastly different abilities on an AYSO or Rec team but a certain amount of playing time on the field during games is usually guaranteed. AYSO actually has an “Everyone Plays” policy whereby all players get to play at least two of the four quarters in games, so they play at least half of the total game time.

AYSO/Rec Average Cost: $200-$500 per year

Playing with similar level players

It’s important to have your child playing with and against players of a similar ability. Playing against children of less ability might not provide enough challenge and playing against those that are at a much higher standard will mean less touches of the ball and less development for your child.

Your son or daughter will let you know if it’s too easy or too difficult, so even if you don’t have any experience with soccer, you can still help them find the right fit in terms of the team and coach.

Choosing a coach/team

Choosing a coach is a case of attending some training sessions and seeing how the coach interacts with players. Again, don’t rush or be pressured into joining a team after one training session; keep your options open and explore to find the right fit. Ask yourself these questions when you watch a training session:

• Is the coach supportive?
• Do they hold players accountable?
• Are the players challenged and do they enjoy the training?

You want a coach who is firm, fair and supportive. Of course, it is helpful if they have an experienced soccer background but the personality of the coach is more important than extensive soccer knowledge, especially at younger ages.

Travel

Generally speaking, the higher level team your child plays on, the more travel will be required. At the younger ages (6-10 years old), traveling long distances to play games seems crazy and for the most part, it is. If you can find a team of similar ability players where travel is not hours every weekend (or even worse, out of state), that is ideal. There should be no need to travel long distances at the youngest ages.

As your son or daughter gets older (and if they move on to higher level teams), additional travel becomes a bit more necessary unless you are in an area where there is a heavy concentration of high-level teams in a fairly ‘local’ geographical area (Southern California for example).

Ultimately, you need to balance the requirement for travel with the level of player development for your child. No player ever got better at soccer by sitting in a car! If you can find a team where travel is minimized but your son or daughter are challenged and continue to improve, don’t get pressured into joining an ‘elite’ team just for the sake of it. This is an individual decision for every family.

Club soccer different levels

There are so many levels and leagues in youth club soccer that it’s easy to get confused or ‘sold’ a lie by coaches and clubs. The most important thing as a parent is to make sure your son or daughter has a competent, supportive coach and that teammates are of a similar ability level.

Leagues vary between states but below are some of the most well-known competitions:

MLS Next: This is the top level of play for boys and the standard is high. Leagues are split into different regions of the country but there is still a fair amount of travel involved for teams, both in-state and out-of-state. This league gets the most exposure to college coaches and scouts from professional clubs in other countries.

GA (Girls Academy): This is supposed to be the top level of play for girls but in reality, it is probably equal with ECNL. This may change over time but that’s certainly how things stand right now. Like MLS Next, travel for teams is fairly extensive with in-state and out-of-state games. GA teams/players get lots of exposure to college coaches.

ECNL: Elite Clubs National League has both boys and girls divisions throughout the country. On the girls side, it is probably equal with GA in terms of the level of play. On the boys side, while the top ECNL teams are competitive with MLS Next, generally speaking MLS Next is considered a stronger league and higher level than ECNL. For both boys and girls, travel for teams in ECNL divisions is extensive, with in-state and out-of-state games. ECNL teams/players get some exposure to college coaches, particularly at showcase or playoff events.

ECRL: Elite Clubs Regional League is for boys and girls and as the name explains, it is more ‘regionalized’ than ECNL, so travel is less. ECRL is like the baby brother/sister of ECNL so you can look at it as the division or level ‘below’ ECNL. Players on ECRL teams are often looking to get moved up to an ECNL team at the same club.

Regional Leagues: Most states have regional leagues with multiple divisions/levels to cater for players of all standards. These leagues have different names and some are better than others in terms of organization and professionalism. The travel is usually less than some of the ‘bigger’ named leagues because divisions are organized into smaller areas/regions. There is usually no out-of-state travel for these leagues, except for national playoffs.