WHERE DOES MYSC GET ITS GOVERNING RULES FROM?
The Southeast District is one of seven districts that make up the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA). The CJSA is affiliated with the US Youth Soccer Association (USYSA), which is affiliated with US Soccer (the US Soccer Federation), which is in turn affiliated with the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA). Therefore, our district in Connecticut and all the clubs who register players with CJSA are all part of the great world soccer (football) family and have agreed to abide by the same rules and principles set forth by the international body.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COST OF REGISTRATION?
Registration costs cover the cost of player insurance thru CSJA and the referee expenses.
For our rec and munchkin programs, the registration fee also includes a uniform kit. This is a shirt and socks – players will need to wear black shorts to complete their uniform.
For our travel teams, uniforms will need to be purchased. Kits cost approximately $75. We will be using the same uniform for the next few years so each year, you will only need to purchase what you need to replace.
WHAT CLUBS BELONG TO SECJSA? IF MY CHILD PLAYED TRAVEL SOCCER, WHO WOULD THEY PLAY AGAINST?
The SECJSA clubs are as follows: Colchester, East Haddam, East Lyme, Griswold, Groton, Haddam/Killingworth, Ledyard, Lyme/Old Lyme, Montville, New London, Norwich, NoSto Youth, Old Saybrook, Salem, Southeast SC, Stonington, Valley Regional, Waterford, and Westbrook.
HOW DOES MY PLAYERS TEAM PARTICIPATE IN TOURNAMENTS?
For our travel teams, part of the registration cost includes participation in 2 tournaments per year. The tournaments that each team participates in is decided by the coach. MYSC typically takes part in the Maddision Tournament, Columbia Tournament, Colchester Soccer Fest and Barrington Tournament.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT DIVISION A PLAYER IS PLACED IN? WHAT IS THE NEW AGE CUT-OFF AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT WHAT AGE GROUP MY CHILD PLAYS FOR?
US Soccer determined in 2016 that they were using the Birth Year and Season Matrix (located on the Age Division Information page). Players’s ages are determined by soccer year.
“U.S. Soccer explains that birth year registration should be calculated based on the year in which the season ends. For example, if a season begins in the fall of 2017 and ends in the summer of 2018 (ex: 2017-18 seasonal year), the players would be registered based on their age in the year 2018. To simplify determining the age group, just subtract the birth year from the year the season ends.”
Year Season Ends - Birth Year = Age Group
IE. 2016-17: Seasonal Year 2017 – Birth Year 2001 = U16
IE. 2017-18: Season Year 2018 – Birth Year 2006 = U12
IE. 2017-18: Season year 2018 – Birth Year 2010 = U8
WHAT ARE THE AGE DIVISION IN REC AND TRAVEL SOCCER? WHAT ARE THEY CALLED(particularly with new age cut-offs)?
Rec Soccer divisions are co-ed and we currently have the following:
Munchkins – 4 and 5 year olds
U8 – 6 and 7 year olds
U11 – 8,9 and 10 year olds
Advanced Rec – 11, 12, 13, and 14 year olds
Travel Soccer is gender based and can run single year divisions. The Executive Board of MYSC will determine the divisions based on registration numbers prior to tryouts. The divisions can range from U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14 and U15 for each gender.
DOES U15 MEAN MY CHILD IS PLAYING AGAINST 15 YEAR OLDS?
U15 means under 15. But in the youth divisions, you can only play if you are an 8th grader during 14 that year or if you are a freshman turning 14 and not playing on a high school team. The U15 division is our old U14 division which typically consists of 7th and 8th graders.
WHAT ARE THE TRAVEL COMPETITION LEVELS CALLED?
The district has 2 levels of competition in travel – classic and recplus (not to be confused with our rec program). The classic level is a higher level of competitive play and the recplus is meant for developmental play.
WHAT IF THERE ARE 2 TEAMS IN A MYSC DIVISION?
If we are fortunate to have a high number of players in a certain division, the board will decide if they should be divided by age or by skill. In most cases, we strive to put forward the most competitive we can in the Classic division and the other team in the RecPlus division.
WHEN DOES THE FALL SEASON BEGIN?
The Fall Season begins practicing by mid August and runs to the end of October. Specific dates are available on our Events Calendar
DO I NEED TO PURCHASE UNIFORMS?
Travel players do need to purchase their uniforms. The cost is approximately $75. An online store is created at the beginning of each season so parents can order their uniforms and have them shipped directly to their homes. We will be using the same travel uniform for the next few years so after your initial purchase of the complete uniform, you will only have to order what you need to replace.
A uniform shirt and socks are provided to players in our munchkin and rec divisions.
CAN MY CHILD WEAR JEWELRY? WHAT IF THEY RECENTLY HAD THEIR EARS PIERCED?
No one is permitted to wear jewelry of any kind - watches, bracelets and piercing. This includes all kinds of piercing (nose, eyebrow, ears, cartilage, etc). It is not sufficient to be covered with tape or any other form of covering. Jewelry must be removed.