CLUB SOCCER FAQ's

SMU & CLUB SOCCER FAQ’s

* WHAT IS "CLUB SOCCER" AND WHY WOULD I WANT MY CHILD INVOLVED?

Club soccer offers you and your child involvement in a more competitive type of game and training. The difference is that 'recreational' leagues (such as local leagues and AYSO) are more for the player who is just starting out with the game and does not have the time for a year-round commitment or interest in pursuing the game on a more serious level. If your child is passionate about the game and you are both equally serious about his/her development into the best player they could possibly be, then club soccer affords your child the type of environment to help reach such goals.

* AT WHAT AGE SHOULD MY CHILD START PLAYING CLUB SOCCER?

The same question may be asked of having your child start piano or guitar lessons. For the right player, there's no such thing as "too early." There is only "too late."

The English FA's (Football [soccer] Association) latest research shows that there's a "Golden Age of Learning" in soccer and - in general - it's between the ages of 8-14. After the age of 14, it is almost impossible to cure technical flaws in a player. That's why there's no such thing as "too early" as some coaches will have you believe.

The only real way to find out whether or not club soccer is right for your child is to come out and train with one of teams, see for yourself the level and quality of training and play, and base any decision you make on the knowledge you gain from that experience. Also you should speak to other families who are members of our club about their experience.

At SMU, as do many highly competitive programs/teams in Orange County, the Inland Empire, Ventura County, and the San Fernando Valley, we have teams that start at the U9 (under 9) age group.

* DOES "YEAR-ROUND" REALLY MEAN 52 WEEKS OF NON-STOP SOCCER?

Not at all. No one should train and play that way. The team training and competitive game calendar follows a “cyclical” regimen. Teams, depending on age group and level of play, may typically take 3 weeks off over winter break, 1-2 weeks off in spring, and about 7-8 weeks off over the summer in June and July. Teams train hard and usually toward the goal of:

1 “Fall League” - Weekend games; Sep.- Dec.

2 “League Cup” - Tournament format competition in Nov.

3 “State Cup” - Tournament format competition in the spring.

4 “Tournament season” - Spring/summer through end of May where teams will go to an average of 2 tournaments per month plus some scrimmages.

Most teams will go to a maximum of 8 tournaments in an entire year ... usually 2 in August, 2 in January (NON high school players), 2 in March, and 2 in May.

Teams typically take time to “decompress” after each of the above phases. Although your child will be committed to his/her club team year-round, he/she will be actually training/playing for about 40 weeks of the year.

* MY CHILD IS A MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE. WHAT ABOUT PLAYING OTHER SPORTS?

Young athletes are actually encouraged to play other sports because it is healthier to do so. At a young age, as athletes’ bodies are developing, it’s important to experiment and cross train. Even at that young age, however, the commitment in club is as such that multi-sport athletes are required to put club soccer first in the event of a conflict. As players approach high school age, it becomes increasingly difficult to play several sports and truly excel at any. As a result, high school age athletes must often choose between club soccer and other sports.

* WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?

Your commitment to the club soccer season begins on (or around) August 1st - the start of mandatory preseason training. Ironically, the club season is no bigger a commitment than say an AYSO all-star program. In fact, and by design, it is quite often more manageable.

Typically, teams practice twice a week with games on weekends. Most weekends, games will be either on Saturday or Sunday. On some weekends there will be games on both Saturday and Sunday. Game schedules for fall league are usually posted 6-8 weeks in advance. Most teams will have a calendar for the entire year available around which families may plan their activities. When teams travel, it’s usually not more than 45-60 minutes away. Although substantial, the time commitment is extremely manageable with good planning.

If your child is invited to join a Santa Monica United team and you accept the invitation, you are accepting to commit to the following:

1 Preseason - all players must report to training on August 1st

2 Typically, two 2-hour practices per week (depending on age group)

3 Preseason tournaments - 2 in mid/late August

4 Fall league and League Cup season - September through early December

5 State Cup - January/February (non high school players)

6 Spring/summer tournament season - March through May (on average, going to 2 tournaments a month)

* WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT?

The financial commitment varies from team to team and on the number of players on each team but on average, the monthly fees per player are between $120-$140. Most teams ask that you pay quarterly and in advance others require that you pay monthly.

There are additional startup fees for new players (uniform $200, team registration $40) and an annual club membership/player registration fee currently set at $100.

There are some limited opportunities for need-based financial aid.

* WHAT ABOUT PLAYING TIME?

Club soccer has paid coaches and is a meritocracy; players have to earn their way onto a team, earn playing time - and must play in a way that will determine their level of involvement. We realize that different players have different talents and levels of commitment.

* WHAT ABOUT CUTS?

Club soccer is a competitive environment by nature. Players compete for positions on the team as well as for minutes played on the field. But each team is different. Most teams come together at first in an organic and unpredictable fashion. NO PLAYER IS CUT DURING THE SEAON OF PLAY. At the end of each season, coaches and families take the opportunity to “take stock” of each individual player’s development, performance, and contribution to the team. It is those parameters that quite often allow both families and coaches to conclude whether or not it is to benefit of the player to continue with their existing SMU team or to find them an environment in which they may continue to develop and thrive elsewhere.

SMU is in this for the long haul and the relationship between the player, family, coach, team and club is characteristically measured in years. The typical club player starts at 9-11 year of age and plays for 5 years. The age range of players at SMU is from U9-U19.

* WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A TEAM IS A "BRONZE", "SILVER" OR "GOLD" TEAM?

Club teams have 5 levels of play, with each level representation showing their competitiveness. Teams typically start at a BRONZE level and work their way up via a promotion system - it is usually a winning record that determines the advancing up the levels, and vice versa. The levels are bronze (lowest level) - silver - silver elite - gold - premier (highest level). Premier players quite often aspire to and often go on to play at the collegiate and professional level.

If you think your child has the interest to play in a serious league, then perhaps club soccer is worthy of serious consideration.

We would be happy to answer any questions you have on any aspect of the process. The club soccer experience involves family commitment. There are usually two practices a week as well as a good number of regular league and tournament games held through southern California.

* HOW CAN I GET MY CHILD INVOLVED?

Go to our "TEAMS" link. Find a team that's the right age for your child. Contact the coach directly either via phone or e-mail. If a team in your child's age group does not exist or has not yet been formed, contact the Club President or Vice President (contacts found on the "BOARD & STAFF" page) directly for further information on how to proceed.