To understand competitive soccer in SASC within the California Youth Soccer Association-North (CYSA-N), first you should understand the organization of the association and how our club fits into it.  SASC is our club and is part of the Foothill Youth Soccer League (FYSL) and is composed of two clubs:  SASC and MVLA (Mountain View-Los Altos Soccer Club).  CYSA-North is composed of approximately 130 affiliated soccer "leagues" geographically, and FYSL is our geographic league.  A further grouping of the CYSA-N soccer leagues called "districts" serves as another administrative and geographic organization of the member leagues.  These districts administer local rules and most importantly, organize the local Fall and Spring playing leagues the competitive teams participate in.  CYSA-N has 9 districts and we are located in District II which is composed of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties.  Competitive Fall soccer is composed of the two playing leagues (Abronzino and Delgado) and playing levels (Division 1 and Division 3) explained below.

CYSA-North is likewise a "state"-level region (state "63" as many states are divided into more than one "state" region) of the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) in Region IV (West) which is under the national US Soccer Federation which likewise runs the national mens and womens teams, referee licensing, MLS and other youth and adult club soccer in the United States.

Division (Class) 1 ( Abronzino District II Fall League play ) is considered to be among the top level of play in California Youth Soccer Association - North, CYSA-N for players U10-U19.  Typical Division II teams typically play year round, with a considerable amount of tournament participation and travel outside the CYSA-District 2 Fall and Spring leagues.  In many cases the teams have professional coaches or trainers.  Most teams participate in the end of Fall District Cup, State Cup, as well as tournaments around the state and even country.

Premier teams are considered Division 1 teams, but are approved for play in the highest level CYSA-North playing league, the State Premier League starting at U15.

District II Abronzino has strict rules on promotion and demotion for Division 1 play (see their website for details).  After completing the U9 competitive season, teams may request to be placed in the following Fall U10 Abronzino league and promotion to Division 1 if their place and record met the criteria.  Foothill League will promote one team for each gender from each club (SASC and MVLA) if they have teams that are deemed ready at U10.

Division (Class) 3 ( Delgado District II Fall League play ) is the level between recreational play Division 4 and Division 1 for ages U9-U19.  Most Division 3 teams play in the fall, and spring leagues.  Most division 3 teams also participate in the District Cup tournament at the conclusion of the season, and many in area tournaments as well as the annual statewide Association Cup.

CYSA-North does not have a Division 2.

District II. Spring League mixes Division (Class) 1 and 3 teams, simply ordering them into league divisions by strength of team based on previous records.  Upper league divisions will be composed mostly or entirely of Division 1 teams, some middle division will be mix of Division 1 and 3 teams, and lower divisions will be composed entirely of Division 3 teams.

SASC Recreational soccer teams (either in-house or play-through) are Division 4 level soccer within CYSA-North.

Links to Information and Playing Leagues


CYSA-North Team Manual (Overall Rules and Regulations Reference)
District II. Class 3 (Delgado)
District II. Class 1 (Abronzino League)
District II. Spring League
CYSA North - Premier League


NEW Coaching and Team Formation Policy and Process

Competitive team participation is governed by the club, and teams must be approved by the board prior to formation (see the below Coaching and Team Formation Policy).  Existing teams may apply to transfer into the club from outside clubs, but must go through a Board Review at a Board Meeting well prior to the registration for the upcoming season of play.  Open tryouts are held in the late Spring for Fall play in the following season, and in early Winter for the upcoming Spring season.

SASC has a new adopted this Coaching and Team Formation Policy - please read it to understand how new teams are formed and approved.  Effective immediately -  Click here for the policy document (PDF).

Coaches and/or group of players from SASC Recreational soccer are encouraged to prepare to move into Competitive soccer, if appropriate for the children.  They are also encouraged to work with other groups of players and parents from other teams within the same age group to form new competitive teams, bringing together players of similar playing level.  Open tryouts and organization of the new teams must be coordinated with the SASC Competitive Director (see below).  While these groups are organizing into a team, coordination with the SASC Board, Recreational and Competitive Coordinators and other groups of players is critical.  Finally, when a team is about ready for final steps to formation (has "critical mass" of players and final tryouts organized), the team should be going through steps of SASC Board approval.  This should be April/May (June at the very latest) months for new Fall teams, or Dec/Jan for Spring teams.

Readiness of players based on current level of soccer play and general abilities to deal with the higher commitment level of competitive soccer should be discussed with coaches, coordinators, trainers in our recreational development program (being run by Andrew Ransome of Griffin Soccer) and any others experienced with competitive soccer, such as SASC Board members, other coaches and parents.  The personnel in the recreational training program are watching for players exhibiting readiness for competitive soccer while providing player and coach training sessions.  Likewise, parent coaches are also encouraged and will be supported in efforts to move to competitive soccer.  Our programs are put in place to build coaching abilities to move onto competitive soccer for those who wish to, as well.  Coaches should also be looking into the CYSA/USSF coach licensing classes when preparing to move into competitive coaching, as well as other resources, such as NSCAA classes, PCA, coaching clinics (CYSA, District II, universities, etc...), books, videos and software.

When finding groups of players for competitive teams, keep in mind that competitive soccer has single year age range for teams, not two years.  Players for a new competitive team should be falling into the single year or birth dates for eligibility.  While younger players can register with older teams, for good of the players going forward, it is best they are within their single one year age range, with "playing up" the rare exception.  For consistency within the team, it is better for players to start with teammates of the same age to progress with rather than later finding they need to move teams due to age differences becoming more of a factor as the children mature (mentally and physically).

Steps for moving to competitive soccer, in summary:
  1) Identify players exhibiting soccer play appropriate for competitive level of play.
  2) Identify potential coaches and parents to organize team.
  3) Individuals or groups should get into contact with recreational and competitive directors to move forward.
  4) Find additional players from other recreational teams, and general public, of same singe year age range.
  5) Informal steps toward organizing a group to become a new team should formalize into open tryouts and board approval.
  6) When team is approved, work with competitive registrar and director toward finalizing rosters and registering.

Differences in competitive soccer to keep in mind.
  A) Additional time and commitment toward training (more and longer practices) and travel (away games).
  B) Slightly higher required costs - registration fee (SASC $140 vs/ $105) and jersey kit ($50 per 1-2 years).
  C) Typically additional expenses depending on team decisions - travel, tournaments and equipment.
  C) Single year age range for competitive teams vs. typically two years for recreational.
  D) Higher level of commitment and discipline in training and games, higher attendance requirements.
  E) Generally higher level of intensity of games - speed, physical play/roughness and "professionalism".
  F) Wider range of circumstances around games, some unpleasant - field conditions, referees, spectators.
  G) Tracked volunteer hour commitments toward SASC activities and parent referee participation requirements.
  H) Coaches have required licensing requirements.

See the Competitive Teams Information section below for additional details and requirements for competitive teams.

Please contact the Competitive Director for additional information.