Welcome to my Soccer Website !                         

This site is a soccer site that reflects my interest in Cal North, recreational soccer.  I also have information on this site, which reflects my interest in the past outstanding women soccer players of the Women’s National Team, and my other interests surrounding soccer.

Introduction To Soccer, The Recreational Playing League

For a new player, their introduction to soccer is playing in a recreational soccer league.  In a recreational league the atmosphere  is on learning soccer skills/rules and having fun.  Because the recreational league is a learning league, players typically get more playing time (some leagues mandate that a player must play a minimum of 50% of the game.  In addition, some leagues limit the number of players on a team, so that players get more playing time).

Recreational playing leagues are normally non-traveling leagues, which means that your games will be played in your city, at a local site.  Small leagues, which cannot field enough teams for internal play, may travel to near-by cities for playing with other leagues.  Players on recreational teams do not have to attend ‘team try-outs’, as competitive team players have to do, to get placed on a team.  You simply register to play and get placed on a team, no one gets turned away, unless the league has reached the maximum number of players that it can accept.

There are factors, such as the number of coaches available, and the number of playing fields available, that affect the number of teams that a league can have playing.  Always register early to ensure that you have a spot on a team.

 Registering To Play

Most leagues register players to play well in advance of any season.  If you are thinking of playing in the fall, in the August thru Nov./Dec. time frame, the league may do registrations in the early part of the year.  For spring playing leagues, some registrations may start in December/January.  Always check with the league that you are interested in, well in advance of when you want to play.  Check their website for registration information, or email/call them to get information on any season.

Moving Out of Recreational Play To Competitive Play

Playing on a competitive team is markedly different from playing on a recreational team.

• The team is chosen by players ‘trying out’ for a team.  The coach reviews the skills exhibited by the players and selects the best players in the try-outs.
• Competitive teams do a lot of traveling to other cities and tournaments.  The team may typically play away from the home city, for most of their schedule (unless in a small league, with fewer teams).
• Playing on competitive teams increases the out-of-pocket costs to play, due to the traveling expenses (gasoline, eating, staying in a hotel while attending an away tournament).  There is also potentially an additional cost for tournament fees, if the team cannot raise all of the money needed to pay the fee.
• There normally is no guaranteed minimum amount of time for a player to play in the game.  Those players exhibiting the most effective utilization of skills will be those that play most of the game.  There is increased pressure on a player to ‘perform’.

In Fond Memory Of

           Sheba                                                                                           M&M

DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote understanding and knowledge of soccer and soccer health related matters. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.  Soccer information is related to players playing in Cal North/CYSA soccer organizations.

Copyright © 2014, Jack Smith, All rights reserved. Information contained within this site may not be reproduced on another site, or copied into other documents, in part, or whole.