HFC United

TRAVEL VERSUS RECREATIONAL SOCCER
The travel and recreational programs follow the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) rules and guidelines. At the travel level, many more aspects of the program are dictated by MYSA. The MYSA web site is at www.mnyouthsoccer.org

At what age can a player start travel soccer?
Travel soccer starts at the u9 age group (9 years or younger) and goes through u19. The u9 age is typically 3rd graders, but 2nd graders (and sometimes motivated 1st graders) may also play but will be mixed with the older players.

Is my player ready for travel soccer?
The most important consideration is whether they enjoy soccer, and would like to play more or at a higher level than with the recreational program. The travel players tend to be have better stamina and/or athleticism, but become better players largely because they play more, and spend more time on training/practice than at the recreational level. They do NOT have to be a superstar to play travel soccer!

As players get older, there are teams at different skill levels, and players are placed accordingly. HFC United soccer holds evaluations (versus tryouts) to form balanced teams at the younger levels – typically at u9, u10 & u11. Starting at u12, tryouts are usually held to place players on higher and lower competition level teams (if there are enough players for more than one team at that age group).

TRAVEL SOCCER INFORMATION

How do the travel ages work?
The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) year runs August 1st to July 31st (like the school year). The travel age each year is that player’s age on July 31st (at the end of the season). For the 2011-2012 year, it is the player’s age on July 31, 2012. See the age group listings at the MYSA site at http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/leagues/birthyear.cfm

Note: players can always “play up” with an older age group, but cannot play with their classmates if they are older in their class (i.e., a June or July birthday). Those with August birthdays (young in their class) are age eligible to play with the grade behind, but HFC United tries to place those players with their classmates if that’s what they prefer.

Where are the travel games played?
Half the league games are played at home (at Vet’s Park) and half are away games. HFC United soccer teams are usually placed in the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) east district leagues. They play against teams from Cottage Grove, Woodbury, St Paul (Blackhawks), White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi, Hudson, River Falls, Red Wing. At some age groups (usually starting at u11 and up) there are teams from Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Menomonie (Red Cedar), New Richmond and Somerset.

Less often, HFC United soccer teams play in the south district against teams from: Farmington, Eagan, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Rochester, Faribault, Rosemount, Bloomington, Northfield, and sometimes further away places like Albert Lea, Owatonna, Winona & Mankato.

For the fall travel season, when is the season, what are game days and how many games are played?
Teams play 6 league games on Saturdays and Sundays between Labor Day and mid-October, half home and half away. U9 & U10 teams play 3 mini games one Saturday at the fall Jamboree (location varies each year). U11 to U14 teams go to playoffs that are usually over a mid-October weekend if they qualify. The actual potential league game season, Jamboree date, and playoff dates are listed in the MYSA calendar each year. They have a link on their web site at www.mnyouthsoccer.org. Teams do not usually play in tournaments during the fall travel season.

For the spring/summer travel, when is the season, what are game days and how many games are played?
Teams will have winter training opportunities starting in November. HFC United will schedule approximately 10 indoor training times per age group or team Nov to March. Teams may choose to schedule additional winter training times, or have a portion of the team play in an optional indoor soccer or futsal league or attend an optional clinic. Once conditions allow in April, teams set their own outdoor practice times and locations.

League play (through MYSA) typically starts the first week in May and runs through the 2nd week in July. U9 & U10 teams play 3 mini games one Saturday in June at the summer Jamboree (location varies each year, but was at Hasting’s Vets Park in 2009 & 2010). U11+ teams will have playoffs in July, and if they make it to the state tournament, that’s usually the last week in July. The actual potential league game season, Jamboree date, and playoff dates are listed in the MYSA calendar after about January of each year. They have a link on their web site at www.mnyouthsoccer.org.

The number of league games varies depending on the number of teams in that age group and level of play, but there are usually 10-12 games, half at home (at Vets Park) and half away. Additional games depend on the number of tournaments (usually 3-4 games per tournament), and how far a team gets in the playoffs.

The league game days are either Mon & Wed, or Tues & Thurs, depending on age group, gender and level of play. See the game day listing at MYSA at http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/leagues/playingnights.cfm

Where are the away travel game fields?
There is a fields link in the quick links section at www.mnyouthsoccer.org Fields are listed by club and field number. Your coach or team manager will be given the field numbers (and game times) for the scheduled league games. (You cannot get the field number or time for a league game at the MYSA site, but you can see the scheduled games – go to league standings under quick links, chose the age group and click on the team.)

What’s covered in the travel soccer registration fee?
The fee includes registration and passes for players and coaches needed to play in the MYSA leagues, referee costs, one tournament per team (of up to $350), team equipment, a Jamboree for u9/u10 or play-offs for u11+. The summer travel fee also includes winter training (trainers &/or reserved time at the arena) and a new uniform kit (2 jerseys, shorts & 2 pair socks) every 2 years.

What are additional possible costs for travel soccer?

• Tournaments - Teams may choose to play in more than the one tournament covered by the registration fees. Team families and coaches decide how many tournaments, and when and where their team wants to play. Each additional tournament typically costs $20-$40 per player. Younger teams typically might play in one additional tournament, and usually choose locations close to Hastings. Older or higher level teams might choose to play an additional 2-3 tournaments, and as they get older they sometimes choose a tournament where an overnight stay is necessary (so additional costs).
• Coaches – HFC United soccer currently depends solely on volunteer coaches and does not charge an additional fee. Other clubs routinely charge $100 to $1,000 additional for paid coaches. In the future, HFC United may consider using paid coaches, most likely for higher level and older teams.
• Uniforms – If a new player starts during the fall season, they will receive a uniform kit (2 jerseys, shorts & 2 pair socks) and will pay an additional $30 uniform fee.
• Optional warm ups, shirts, etc – Some teams organize getting warm-ups, etc. These are optional purchases. Tournaments usually offer t-shirts for purchase

How many players are on a travel team?

• U9 and U10 teams play 6 v 6 (including goalie) on the smaller fields at Vets and can roster up to 12 players.
• U11 and U12 play 8 v 8 (including goalie) on the medium sized fields at Vets and can roster up to 14 players.
• U13 and up teams play 11 v 22 (including goalie) on the largest fields at Vets, and can roster up to 18 (U16 and up can roster up to 22, but can dress up to 18 per game).
• The club may choose to “over roster” 1 player at the u9 to u16 levels, but that must be requested when teams are submitted to MYSA in early May, and only the normal roster size may dress for the game.

What are the travel levels of play?

• At U9 & U10 there is the Gold level (less experienced) and the Maroon level (more experienced). Clubs self-select the levels for their teams. HFC United soccer typically places u9 and u10 teams at the Gold level, and creates balanced teams (if more than one team at that age group).  Tryout evaluations are held to help create the balanced teams.
• At U11 there is Classic 3 (less experienced), Classic 2 (more experienced). Clubs self-select the levels for their teams at the U11 level. HFC United soccer typically places u11 teams at the classic 3 level, and creates balanced teams (if more than one team at that age group).  If there are 3 teams of players or more, a classic 2 and 2 classic 3 teams are considered.  Tryouts are held.
• At U12 and U13 there is Classic 3 (less experienced), Classic 2 (more experienced) and Classic 1 (most experienced). Clubs self-select the levels for their teams at the U12 & U13 levels. HFC United soccer typically places U12 & U13 teams at multiple levels if there are enough players for 2 teams at that age group. Tryouts are held.
• At U14 and older there is Classic 3 (less experienced), Classic 2 (more experienced) and Classic 1 (most experienced) and the Premiere league (best 6 teams in the state). The levels of teams are earned based on how that team played in league games the prior year. A club may self-select to have a Classic 3 team, but all higher level teams must earn that level. See the MYSA promotion and delegation rules at http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/leagues/prom_rel.cfm