Making the Decision to Move into the Comp/Select Program
How do parents know when their child is ready to move into the comp/select program?
-The player has a high interest level in soccer and practices on his or her own or with friends
-The players is the best or one of the best on his or her team, and starts to seem bored with the recreational competition level
-The player sees higher-level players and wants to be like them
-The player is mature enough to commit to more frequent practices and more strenuous training
-The player likes competition

The rule of thumb is, let your child guide you. Don’t push him or her into trying out for a comp team just because you want it. Some players are ready at age 8 and some aren’t ready to move up until age 13 or 14. Talk to your child and gauge his or her feelings about tryouts. There is always a risk that the player won’t make the team; is the response, “If I don’t make the team, I’ll quit” or is it, “I like to play soccer so I’ll find another team if I don’t make it”? Find out what your child’s commitment level is.

The child should also understand that it is he or she alone who is trying out. The best buddy may not make the team. In addition, sometimes a whole team or a significant part of a team wants to move up together. Some players may not be ready but move up because their friends are doing it. They would not have tried out for the comp team otherwise. Sometimes this situation results in an unproductive and frustrating experience for the players and the parents.

What will be asked of the player and the parents when the child is chosen for a comp or select team?
-Regular attendance at all practices and games. If a player cannot attend, he or she or the parents must notify the coach as soon as possible. Players need to arrive ON TIME.
-If playing multiple sports, the player should prioritize soccer above other sports when conflicts occur, especially in fall, soccer’s primary season.
-Proper attire. Higher level soccer players must dress accordingly.
-Responsibility for equipment and uniforms. Players should learn to take care of their equipment and uniforms and bring them when required.
-Financial responsibility. Parents should budget in the extra costs and take care of expenses in a timely manner. Most teams present a list of costs to their teams at the time of registration (usually April/May/June), at team meetings.
-Maintain standards of behavior. Players and parents must control their actions and words. The level of play in comp/select becomes more physical as players move through the age groups and skill levels. Players must learn to keep their play and their emotions under control on the field. Parents must remain quiet and allow the coaches to address any issues with players and referees.
-Help in team organization and other tasks. Running a comp or select team is more complex than a recreational team. Many teams break tasks down to spread out to 4 or 5 parents. It is usually completely overwhelming for one person to do anything -- coaching, organization, attending meetings, etc. Coaches always need help.
***IF THESE COMMITMENTS CANNOT BE MET, THE PLAYER SHOULD CONSIDER STAYING AT THE RECREATIONAL LEVEL***

Typical costs for Class I/III players
-League Registration- includes CYSA and league registration fees and insurance, training/coaching fees, uniforms, tournament/jamboree fees, referee and field fees, and team photo.
-Optional items
--team bags
--warm-ups
--travel costs and lodging for tournaments and jamborees
--team equipment such as balls, cones, nets, flags, training aids, goals, etc.
Parents can also expect increased interest on their child’s part in wearing premium brand equipment and clothing

Parents’ Timeline for Comp/Select Teams
Jan/Feb/March/April: Tryouts take place, Select will often begin after State Cup
Feb/March: Practices may begin, especially if the team is playing spring league
April: Spring league begins
June: Spring soccer ends. Some teams continue practicing.
July: Some teams begin summer practices.
August: Teams begin the tournament season. All teams are practicing by this time. Scrimmage games and camps are ongoing.
September: Abronzino and C3PL league play begins; games are held on both Saturdays and Sundays. Tournament weekend is the last weekend of the month.
October: League play continues on Saturdays and Sundays. Tournament weekend is the last weekend of the month. District Cup held the first weekend for U14-U19
November: League play concludes for U14 and older no later than Nov. 15. League play continues for U9-U13. District Cup held the weekend before Thanksgiving for U11-U13
December: League play concludes for U9-U13. Teams that choose to play indoor soccer begin the season. District Cup Jamboree held the first weekend for U9-U10
January: Play begins for U12-U14 Association Cup and U11-U13 State Cup.
February: Later rounds for U11-U13 State Cup. U14 and older club teams begin practicing for Association and State Cups.
March/April/May: State Cup U11-U13 finals are held. U14-U19 State and Association Cups begin play and conclude in April (Assn. Cup) and May (State Cup).

Information on Comp/Select Tryouts
Tryouts will be held beginning January/February by age group. Consult the tryout page for information. Once tryouts are complete, contact the manager listed for the age group/teams for a trial review.

CYSA and District II Programs Beyond The Recreational Level
Class III
Often referred to as competitive, or comp. Also referred to as Delgado, or C3PL. It is a development program for players who want to proceed beyond recreational. Tryouts are held to determine players. Players at this level often choose soccer as their primary sport although they may continue to do other sports throughout the year. Most Class III players were among the best players on their recreational teams. They have a high interest level in developing their soccer skills. In District II, the playing league for Class III teams is called C3PL. Games may be played from Salinas to Half Moon Bay, although most teams are in Santa Clara County .

Class I
Often referred to as select, or Abronzino. This is the highest level of play in District II. Tryouts are held to determine players. All players must be allowed 50% play time overall for games until U10, at which time the coach can dictate play time. Players at this level often choose soccer as their only sport and may participate in year-round soccer training and programs. Most Class I players were among the best players on their Class III teams. They have a high level of commitment to their teams and training. They often practice on their own and/or spend time watching pro and college games, and tend to be familiar with the international soccer scene. In District II, the playing league for Class I teams is called Abronzino (named after a soccer pioneer in the community). Games may be played from Salinas to San Francisco .

ODP
Tryouts for the Olympic Development Program are open to all players, including recreational, but it is primarily Class I and some Class III players who try out. ODP is a type of all-star program. On the District level, it grooms players to be selected for the State team tryouts. Likewise, the State team develops players for selection for the Regional team camp, and the Regional team is the development program for the National team.
The first step, the District ODP tryouts, are usually held the first two weekends of May each year. Practices usually begin in June and the program ends with the second “playday” in October. Invitations to State team tryouts are sent in November. The State team tryouts are in March; Regional team tryouts are in July; and the National “camp” is usually in August.
The District ODP program works with the players’ club teams. Players can miss ODP activities if they are called to club games or tournaments. Otherwise, they are expected to be at all ODP activities. At the State level and above, however, players’ club team activities are secondary. Players cannot miss State/Regional/National practices or games (except for illness, injury, etc.) or they will be asked to leave the program.

Tournaments
CYSA leagues offer a number of tournaments throughout the year for Class I and Class III teams. Teams play in their own class and do not mix. Class III teams that try to play in CYSA Class I tournaments are automatically reclassified and may not play in any more Class III games.
Official, CYSA “sanctioned” tournaments are listed in the CYSA Team Manual. The deadline for entering CYSA tournaments is 8 weeks before the tournament date. Some tournaments do accept late entries if brackets are not filled.
Class III tournaments usually offer U12, U14, U16 and U19 brackets. They usually do not offer single-year, “age-pure” groups, although a few may occasionally do that. Class I tournaments usually offer single-year brackets.
The next seasonal year’s tournament calendar usually comes out in April of each year, and is posted on the CYSA web site. Teams must follow the specific entry instructions on both the CYSA (www.cysanorth.org) and the District II (www.cysadistrict2.org) websites. Tournament entries will not be accepted by the District Tournament Coordinator until May 1 of each year.
In addition, Class I and Class III teams may choose to enter state-wide post-season tournaments: the Chevrolet Association Cup for Class III teams, and the Snickers State Cup for Class I teams. Both are held in Jan./Feb./March for teams younger than U14, and in March/April/May for teams U14 and older. Teams that win State Cup in U12 and older are invited to the Regional Championships in June; Regional winners in U14 and older groups play for the National Championships in July. Class III teams may enter State Cup but they will be reclassified as a Class I team as soon as they play their first State Cup game.

District Cup
Disctrict II holds Cup tournaments that are “age-pure” for District II teams. All teams within District II are eligible to enter, but must do so by the deadline, announced on www.cysadistrict2.org. Each age group is hosted by a District II league, and so may be played any where within the Class I or Class III region.