AYSO or Club Soccer? What’s Best for Your Child?
Our 7 year-old son excitedly told us that two of his classmates were joining a club soccer team. “Club Soccer!”, he yelled. It was as if his classmates were going pro. If you have a child who loves soccer as much as our son, at some point, you may be wondering whether to enroll them in AYSO or a club soccer team. Both options have their pros and cons, and the best choice depends on your child’s goals, skills, and personality. Our family took a deep dive into the club soccer world in Southern California. In making our decision for our son, we found that there are large differences between AYSO and club soccer, namely time commitment, costs, quality of coaching, and players’ skill levels.
Time Commitment
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) is a recreational soccer program that aims to provide a fun and positive experience for all players, regardless of their ability. AYSO typically has one or two practices per week, and one game on the weekend. The season usually lasts for a few months in the fall or spring, depending on the region. AYSO is a good option for children who want to play soccer casually, without too much pressure or competition.
Club soccer is a more competitive and demanding soccer program that requires a higher level of commitment and dedication from the players and their families. Club soccer teams usually practice two or three times per week, and play one or two games on the weekend. In addition, club players often take private lessons to improve their individual skills. The season can last for up to 10 months, with tournaments and travel involved. Club soccer is a good option for children who want to play soccer seriously, with the goal of improving their skills and advancing to higher levels.
Costs
AYSO is a relatively affordable soccer program that charges a registration fee that covers the uniform, equipment, insurance, and referee fees. The registration fee varies by region, but it is usually around $100 to $200 per season. AYSO also relies on volunteers to coach, manage, and organize the teams and the league, which helps to keep the costs low.
Club soccer is a more expensive soccer program that charges seasonal and team fees that covers the coaching, training, league, and tournament fees. The fees vary by club, but it can range from $1000 to $3000 per year. Club soccer also requires additional costs for travel, hotels, meals, and uniforms, which can add up to thousands of dollars per year. Private lessons would be an additional expense.
Quality of Coaching
AYSO is a soccer program that emphasizes player development, fair play, and fun. AYSO coaches are mostly parents or volunteers who have some soccer knowledge and experience, but are not necessarily experienced in professional coaching. AYSO provides training and education for its coaches, but the quality of coaching can vary widely depending on the coach’s background, skills, and motivation.
Club soccer is a soccer program that emphasizes player performance, competition, and excellence. Club soccer coaches are usually professionals who have soccer certifications and licenses, and have played or coached at high levels. Club soccer provides consistent and structured coaching for its players, but the quality of coaching can also vary depending on the club’s philosophy, culture, and reputation. For example, our family was considering a club team that was coached by former professional players and also had coaches instructing at local colleges.
Players’ Skill Levels
AYSO is a soccer program that welcomes players of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. AYSO follows the motto of “Everyone Plays”, which means that every player gets game time, regardless of their ability. AYSO also tries to balance the teams and the divisions based on the players’ age and skill level, but there can still be a wide range of abilities within each team and each game.
Club soccer is a soccer program that attracts players of high skill levels, from intermediate to elite. Club soccer follows the principle of “Meritocracy”, which means that the players earn their playing time and their position based on their ability and performance. Most club soccer teams require the player to try out and qualify for the team. Many kids tryout and do not make the team. Club soccer also tries to match the teams and the leagues based on the players’ age and skill level, but there can still be a significant gap between the top and the bottom teams and players. The clubs in our region are a part of the Coast Soccer League (https://www.coastsoccer.com/), which is the oldest and most successful competitive soccer league in Southern California.
Our Family’s Decision
AYSO and club soccer are both great options for children who love soccer, but they have different advantages and disadvantages depending on what you and your child are looking for. AYSO is a good option for children who want to play soccer for fun, without too much stress or expense. Club soccer is a good option for children who want to play soccer at the highest local level, with the aim of improving their skills and reaching their highest potential. Ultimately, the best choice is the one that suits your family’s time and budget, and most importantly your child’s goals, skills, and personality.
Our son had a passion for soccer although admittedly he was not at the skill level normally of club players his age. We decided that we would let him tryout for a local club and surprisingly he made the team for his birth year but on a conditional basis. The coaches were concerned with his skill level. In addition to the regularly scheduled club practices, we agreed that he would take private lessons to improve his skills. The deciding factor, of course, was our son. There was no doubt in his mind. He wanted to be a part of the club and made a commitment to us that he would work hard to be the best player he could be. So, yes, we opened our Venmo app, paid the fees, and joined club life.
For the next three years, we rearranged our work and social schedules for the frequent practices, private lessons, weekend games, and travel to multi-day tournaments many times under extreme heat and torrential rains. In turn, our son has given literally his blood, sweat, and tears to become a better player. Before our eyes, he dramatically improved his game making courageous tackles, key passes, and crowd pleasing goals. His participation as a club player became a large part of his self-identity. It has instilled him with confidence, taught him invaluable life lessons during intense game situations, and overall been a huge part of his development as an athlete and young boy. Having him compete and even thrive at a high level has been a tremendous joy for our family and, most importantly, for him. Joining club soccer was the right choice for us.
