If you think your child might be ready for a more competitive soccer team, check out the soccer club websites below. There are several club teams available in the Kansas City and Lawrence area.

Also, check out the F.A.Q. regarding competitive soccer written by BLSA parents. These are opinions and answers based on BLSA member experiences, we are not responsible for changes or alterations made by individual clubs.

COMPETITIVE SOCCER- FAQ

What is Premier/Competitive Soccer?

o Offers more competitive play than recreational level
o Players have to try out to get on a team
o Clubs charge coaching, tournaments, and traveling fees in addition to registration fees and uniform fees
o Coaches are paid and considered professional
o Players can get exposure to college coaches
o Some Clubs hold college showcases specifically for college coaches to come and see players
o In some cases coaches and clubs assist you in your college recruitment
o All competitive teams are part of a club
o There are local clubs and local clubs with national affiliations

Why would I play Competitive soccer?

o You want to play at a more competitive level
o You are thinking of playing soccer in college
o You would like better coaching to improve soccer skills
o You would like to play soccer year round

When are tryouts for club teams?

o Open tryouts are held in June. (Different clubs vary.)
o Don’t wait until then to check out teams.
o Register to try out for selected clubs.
o Many clubs want you to register by early June.
o Go to see teams play in spring leagues at Heritage Park.
o Try to meet the coach at a game. You might want to call ahead to ask them when would be a good time to talk with them.
o Talk with other parents at spring season games to learn about positives and negatives with the team and coaching staff.
o Some players may be added later that the open tryout time if there is room on roster.
o High School age, if you do not want to get on a team in July and play the winter indoor you can try to get on a team later but your chances will be much less if you wait.
o High School age, for kids who play basketball/wrestling in winter and can’t play the winter soccer, players/parents need to discuss this with coaches and see if they will excuse them from winter play. (Payment might be required even if a player doesn’t play in winter.)

How do I choose a good competitive team?

o Do research on clubs that are in your area (KC/Leavenworth/Lawrence/Johnson County) Visit websites, Look up team record from previous season at www.Heartlandsoccer.net.
o Look up national and state rankings at www.GotSoccer.com to find rankings. Teams that are ranked are the better teams even if they are low in rankings. Many local teams are not ranked at all on a national level.
o Talk to others you know who are on competitive teams
o The younger you start the easier it is to get on a team. Once a player is on a team they typically will not bump him/her off to make room for another player. (Clubs vary on this.)
o You should try out for more than one team because you will need to find a team looking to fill positions your child can play
o Investigate what division of play the teams participate in. (Ex: Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV and Regional) Division I teams are going to be the best teams.
o Attend camps sponsored by the clubs you are interested in. Some clubs will only accept players on their teams who have attended their camp.

What questions do I ask when choosing a competitive team?

o Who is the coach?
o In which Division do they play? (go to www.KansasYouthSoccer.com for club website addresses)
o What was their record in regular season and how did they do in tournaments? Go to individual club web site. You might have to call a coach.
o Did many kids leave the team last year and why?
o How many places are they looking to fill?
o What positions are they looking to fill?
o How many players will be on the team?
o Where do they practice during off season and during regular season?
o How many practices a week?
o Where are the games played?
o How many tournaments do they attend?
o Where are the tournaments played?
o Is the team ranked?

When should I start playing Competitive soccer?

o When you decide that playing soccer is important enough to you to devote more time, money and energy to reach your potential
o If you think you would like to play soccer in college, it is good to join a competitive team. (the younger the better)
o To get onto a good team, you will likely need to begin at age 10 or 11.
o The sooner you start, the easier it will be to get on a good team. It is best to start playing on a competitive team in elementary school.

What are Division I, Division II and Regional teams? (specific categories can change.)

o Each team is a Division I, Division II, or Division III team.
o Division I is more competitive that Division II. There are some Division III teams, they are less competitive than Division I and II but more competitive than recreational soccer.
o National Clubs have teams in multiple states. Often, these clubs offer opportunities for the best players to form a regional team and compete together in tournaments across the country. These tournaments are often college showcases and attract coaches from colleges looking for new recruits.
o The players, who are on regional teams, also play locally on a Division I or II team.
o Division I teams also have college showcases but Regional teams and Division 1-A teams tend to travel longer distances for tournaments and compete in more competitive tournaments.
o Not all competitive clubs have regional teams or split their Division I teams into A and B teams.

When is Competitive Soccer played?

o Boys play in Spring (U15 & up) Others spring and fall
o Girls play in Fall (U15 & up) Others spring and fall
o High School teams can have no more than 6 players on the same premier team per KS High School rules. (This begins after playing together as freshman.)
o Competitive soccer is not played during the high school season
o Many teams play winter Futsal or indoor soccer during winter. This is usually just for practice and not necessarily games scheduled for official competition. It is for players to find continuity with one another, stay in shape and improve skills.
o Most competitive teams expect you to play winter Futsal or indoor soccer and the coaching fees do apply during this time in addition to the Competitive season.

How much does it cost?

o Coaching fees $50-$100 a month from Year round or High School age: November – July
o Uniform fees $100-$200 (usually every other season)
o Tournament fees will vary
o Traveling Fees: Hotel room, food for 2 days and transportation there and back.
o This can get quite expensive. Some teams offer fund raising opportunities.
o BLSA offers fundraiser opportunites.
o Clubs are often hesitant to list fees on websites. You will likely need to ask coaches, staff or other parents for realistic fees paid.

What is the time commitment?

o Practices 2-4 days a week about 2 hours
o Games 1-2 games a week
o Tournaments 3-6 a year – this will vary.
o Travel 3-6 times a year