COMPETITIVE SOCCER FAQsCOMPETITIVE PLAY
What should we expect by choosing "Competitive" soccer play?
Competitive play is our current highest level of soccer play and the competitive level teams ranges from premier, gold, silver, bronze and Copper levels. Competitive play covers a fairly wide range of teams, players and playing opportunities.
In general, Premier and Gold level teams of an age group play at the highest levels of travel soccer available to them. This often means NorCal Premier league or NPL and participation in 1-3 tournaments annually, as well as -NorCal State Cup participation, which runs from fall into January. This requires travel to different part of Bay Area and sometimes to further distance. These teams will train two or three times a week, and often they book added training sessions. Silver and bronze teams will play SFYS Competitive League hosted by SF Youth Soccer league for U8-U12 age group. They also train twice a week, but will have most of their league games played here in San Francisco against local competition. Please note that some U8-U12 teams will play in NorCal Premier League instead of SFYS Competitive league. U13 and up (2010 and up) Silver and Bronze level teams will play on NorCal Premier league since SFYS league do not offer competitive brackets with SF Competitive league for these age group. In short: these teams are for players that have made soccer their first and priority sport, and for families that are willing to commit to games and tournaments outside of San Francisco and spending some holiday weekends at soccer tournaments. Keep in mind that all team activities are generally a combination of coach and team-driven, and it's important that the coach, the parents, and team manager (as a liaison between the two) open up regular liens of communication about what is planned, desired and expected. The ambiguity comes most for those teams that are in between--often our Black (and sometimes green) teams--who have a mix of players and families that are looking to move into more serious play and some that are happy with the game and travel commitment provided by SF Competitive League. Usually these teams decide collectively what extra soccer things they want to do. In addition, due San Francisco Glen's club model and extensive offering of additional training, camps, and clinics, and other programs; we are in a unique position to assist any player or family that wants to push on to the next level. Is there a difference between "Competitive" and "Travel"?
Yes. "Travel" is a program feature offered to a large portion of our "Competitive" Player Pools. These teams play in MLS Next, NorCal Premier league/NPL with regular opponents outside of San Francisco. SFYS Competitive teams are not considered to Competitive teams but not Travel teams.
REGISTRATION & FEESWhat does my annual registration fee include?
Your annual registration fee includes Fall league, Spring league, and Winter training (Winter League for MLS Next teams). Please visit the fee page to learn what your club fee covers.
Must I make a deposit? And will the deposit be added to the overall cost to play?
Yes, your deposit is used to secure your spot on the team level/player pool level on the offer email you have received. If the deposit is not made, the club reserves the right to give your allotted spot to a player on the wait list. Your deposit is credited toward your annual fee and is non-refundable. When you confirm your spot with your deposit that spot is gone and will be held for your player.
When is the full registration fee due to the club? And what if I can’t afford that amount?
You will have the option of choosing various payment plans including 7 monthly installment plan to help you to pay the yearly club fee. In addition, we have a financial aid program for our families most in need of assistance. Please come by the office on Judah St. so that we can sit down with you and explain our financial aid options and go over what is required from you. Please know that we do not want to see any player not play soccer due to financial hardship.
We are used to registering by season, why are we being asked to register for the full year?
Registering for the full year is not uncommon--the majority of clubs around the nation register players on year-long commitments. Also, given the size and playing level of our club, annual registrations will save everyone time and money. Added registration cycles will only drive up administration costs that we do not wish to have to pass on to players and families. And once you have registered your child and set up the payment plan, you won't have to worry about the club reaching out for additional payments.
TRAINING SCHEDULESWhen will I know my teams training schedule?
The training schedule will be released once we receive permits from SFRPD, sometime around July or August. Training location “requests” are at the discretion of the coach who often seeks input from his team manager. Please keep in mind that many teams requests the same days and locations, and there is no way of predicting if any team will be granted their first or even second choices.
TEAM ASSIGNMENTSWhat do the colors associated with a team name mean?
These carry less importance than one might think. Yes, Academy teams that play in MLS Next and NorCal Premier league and play at the highest travel levels for their age group. Black and Green teams usually play at SF Competitive league or NorCal Premier league Silver/Bronze level. But, beyond that, the distinctions become more meaningless. Other colors simply help us organize our many prep teams and are mostly for internal use only. At many of the younger age groups, we have around 80 players per birth year and there’s a need to keep everything and everyone organized.
The reason we spend so much time and care grouping players of similar abilities is so they have the proper coaching they need while being challenged in training and games without losing confidence. Our technical staff hopes that--over several playing seasons--all competitive pool players move among the various colors and eventually consolidate into 2-4 tight-knit teams of 15-17 players (for 11-a-side play). Lastly, keep in mind that it's often most difficult for a parent to judge the right skill-level placement for his or her child. Parents naturally want to (and should) advocate for their child, but we ask that you leave the placement assessment to our team of professional coaches and technical staff. Their number one goal is player development. They have many years experience in guiding players through youth soccer development, and they are far and away the best judges for suggesting a proper initial placement, coach, and playing level for your son and daughter to realize their full soccer potential. Is the placement my child received going to be his or her placement for the entire year?
Not necessarily. If a player is excelling at any level, there is a chance that the club will move that player up to continue his/her development. Similarly, if a player is having a hard time and their development has stalled because of the level they are playing at is too advanced, we will seek to place that player in an environment where they can be successful.
And it’s important to keep in mind that SF Glens follows is what we call the “club model” that allows players to play in any game with the club, at any level, so long as they have a valid player pass, meet or are below the maximum age of the event in question, and have been properly rostered for that game or event. The club model allows, over time, to build a small number of very well-constructed and competitive teams capable of playing travel soccer. COACHESHow do I learn who will be coaching my team?
The club will try out best to post the names of coaches for many of our teams our website in the team directory in April or May. For some teams, it may take longer to name a coach because SF Glens can only “estimate” the number of teams per age group and their playing level prior to tryouts AND registration. After team formation and registration, the club turns to securing contracts for all needed coaches; and, just like the tryout process, works carefully to make sure the “right” coach is placed with the “right” team.
FORMS & LINKSwHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTS DO i NEED TO REGISTER with club?
All players will need his/her photo and the copy of birth certificate or passport.
TRAVEL TEAM playing MLS Next and NorCal Premier League ONLY 1. NorCal League Registration: US Club Soccer registration form 2. SF Park and Rec Department (SFRPD)'s requirements – Upload SF Residency supporting document – ONLY SF Residents – Sign the Fall 2022 Player Commitment Form via online – Every players SFYS Competitive League Players will need to use online registration (sports affinity) managed by SFYS league to register by uploading the photo and the copy of birth document and submitting the payment by the deadline. what kind of documents do i need to submit to prove the residency?
Evidence of Residency: Each team will need to present a folder to SFRPD with residency information for each of its players that is not more than 12 months old.
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