Bloomington Youth Soccer Club

"How old do you have to be to play for Bloomington Youth Soccer Club?"

Minnesota Youth Soccer Association [MYSA] has set the youth soccer age year from August 1 to July 31 of the following year. For more information, go to Birthyear Guidelines. For example, for next summer season, the player must be 9 or younger by July 31 of that year. The youngest age bracket is U9. However, there can be several players that are 8 years old (using the formula above) that could play on a U9 team. It is possible that an entire team consist of all U8 players if registration numbers allow. A player that begins as a U8 on a U9 team will give him/her a great head start in developing their soccer skills.


"What are the different levels of play within the U9-U10 age groups?"

U9 and U10 have two levels of play. The “Maroon” level is for more experienced players. The “Gold” level is for the less experienced, or players new to the sport. Players will be assessed by the director of coaching before being placed on a summer team. This assessment will be done at U9-U10 Player Evaluations which take place in January preceding the summer season.


"How much "travel" is involved at the younger age levels?"

At the U9 and U10 age levels, BYSC opponents are from surrounding communities (i.e., Eagan, Burnsville, Prior Lake, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Farmington, etc.) Occasionally, there will be an opponent in your district from Rochester, Albert Lea, Mankato or other cities outside the metro which would require traveling to a scheduled away game. Schedules are set by MYSA for all teams at all age levels. The schedules will vary depending on the number of registered teams and their level of play (Maroon or Gold.)


"What are the benefits of switching from In-house to Traveling soccer?"

BYSC U9 and U10 coaches typically receive more training than most in-house coaches. BYSC coaches are encouraged to participate in MYSA sponsored coaches training. The BYSC Director of Coaching and Player Development also conducts additional training sessions for the coaches, especially at the younger age levels.


"What's the difference between In-house and Traveling soccer?

With In-house programs, the younger age levels will typically have a few practices at the beginning of the season. Then it becomes primarily games throughout the rest of the season with very few additional practices. Traveling soccer is more involved in three areas:
    •League Games — During the summer season, a BYSC traveling team will play approximately 10-12 weekday league games from mid-May through early July. Fall season is a shorter league with six-weekend games and the opportunity to participate in fall tournaments or Jamborees.
    •Tournaments — For both summer and fall league, tournaments are optional. Most tournaments are scheduled on weekends. The coaches and the team will decide together which tournaments, if any, the team will participate in. Tournament fees are divided by the number of rostered players. U9 and U10 teams typically participate in 2 or 3 weekend tournaments in the summer, and perhaps one Jamboree in the fall. 
    •Outdoor practices — begin mid-April and may be two times a week until league play begins. At that point, there are typically 1 to 2 practices a week depending on the team’s game and tournament schedule. With more practices during the season, the player's skills will improve.


"What is the Fall soccer season?"

Fall teams are formed without tryouts, only registration and payment of the fee is required. Fall is a shorter and more relaxed season. This is a great time to join BYSC, especially if there are concerns about how a player will adjust and if the parents are concerned about the commitment level of a traveling sport. The fall season runs from September through mid-October with six weekend games. The team may practice a couple of times a week beginning in mid-August until the season begins. Practices are usually once a week after league play begins.


"What size ball is used at the U9-U10 age level?"

U9 and U10 players use a size 4 soccer ball. Each player will provide their own #4 ball for practices and pre-game warm-up.


"How many players are rostered on these younger teams?"

The U9 and U10 roster size is a minimum of 8 players and a max. of 12 players. The format is 6v6, which includes a goalkeeper.


"When are Summer tryouts for the U9-U10 age groups?"

Player Evaluations are held in January. Dates for boys and girls evaluations are posted at: www.bysc.org. 


"What if I have a question that is not addressed here?"

For further information on BYSC Soccer Club and its programs, please send us an e-mail at info@bysc.org with any questions you may have.