Q: What nights do you play?
A: Fall teams will train on two weeknights each week and play weekend league games (6 total). Spring/Summer teams will have three contacts per week with a combination of assigned league game on a primary night with a secondary night (example Monday primary with Wednesday secondary). Teams may train on weekends for one of their three contacts based on coach/team availability. Teams may also participate in weekend tournaments in May and June (typically 2-3 agreed to by the team in a preseason meeting).
Q: Can a player play competitive soccer while participating in other activities/sports?
A: Scheduling may allow for multiple activities but depending on the skill and commitment level required by certain teams, it may be difficult. Conversations with club staff prior to team formation can help to guide that decision. As players get older and the skill level of certain teams gets higher, it’s tough for players to miss too much time.
Q: Where are games played?
A: League games are split between home games in Bloomington and an away schedule in nearby communities in the Twin Cities. Tournament games are also in nearby communities with out of town or out of state travel up to individual teams with guidance from the club.
Q: When is the main season?
A: Our main soccer season is in the spring/summer with an April start and July 1 finish. Fall league play includes a few training sessions in mid to late August with games played weekends after Labor Day and concluding the first weekend in October. Fall soccer is a condensed season with one game and practice each week once league play starts. Fall tournaments have started to pop up and would be up to the decision of the team with club guidance. Tournament fees for fall are not included in what families pay for fall soccer.
Q: Is there a uniform?
A: Each player must purchase an Adidas uniform kit through Soccer.com that costs $125 and includes a home kit and away kit of matching jersey/shorts/socks and will receive a practice shirt from a club sponsor.
Q: How much does it cost, what do fees cover?
A: See the chart at the bottom of this page for specific program costs and player fees. Player fees go to cover the cost of referees, a referee assignor, league registration and insurance, club administrative expense, tournaments and coach pay.
Q: Are there tryouts?
A: United has player identification sessions in July for U11/U12 players and a supplemental session in January for U11 players to attend. At these sessions, we identify players interested in a competitive team and evaluate their level of play to determine team placement. If players miss or are unable to attend those sessions, they simply need to register and the club will notify them of team placement.
Q: What competitive level will my player be placed at?
A: United uses player identification sessions to evaluate a player’s technical skill and ability. Once we have assembled a team, we will look at the collective roster of players and determine which of four competitive levels; National (highest), Regional, State or City we will place the team at.
Q: How does fall soccer work, can I just play fall?
A: Competitive (traveling) soccer’s main season is the spring/summer season which runs 4 months. The fall season is shorter running 6-8 weeks. The soccer year runs August 1 through July 1 so teams are formed at the end of July for the following soccer year which starts with Fall soccer in August. For those players U11 and older, we build teams that will stay together for the full soccer year. For players who want to play fall only due to participating in another activity in the spring/summer we offer a fall only option. Those fall only players may be placed on full year rosters if there is space but more than likely will be placed on rosters with other fall only players. As athletes get older and have more options, it gets harder for us to place fall only players with the total number interested in playing goes down but we will do our best to find a place for everyone.
U11/U12
COMPETITIVE SOCCER
SPRING Team Formation / Player ID / Tryouts scheduled Jan 13 and Jan 20. Intent to Play Spring registration (free) is required for U11 (birth year 2013).
New players who are U12 (birth year 2012) should email admin@bysc.org about interest.
Information and Registration via the link below in PlayMetrics. If you have questions, contact the club at admin@bysc.org
At U11 and U12, players often start to select the sport they are going to make a commitment to. Bloomington United tries to offer teams at various competitive levels to match the ability of these players looking to devote more time to soccer. Based on Twin Cities Soccer League rules, starting at U12, players commit to a club for the full year (fall – summer); however, our winter training is still optional.
Players are identified during the tryouts/player ID process in July and then play on teams that compete in the Fall and following Spring/Summer seasons with both league play and tournament games.
If there is space availability, we hold an additional tryout/ID in January for players who did not join in the Fall. Players who have already made and committed to a team in July do not tryout again in January.
We also offer two sessions of Winter training (one in late Fall and one post-Holidays) that are not required, but highly encouraged. More information coming soon.
Program Summary
U11/U12 Competitive
- Teams are coached by a paid staff coach with a parent manager who helps with team communication and planning.
- There is minimal travel for league play with all games being played in the Twin Cities area.
- At an individual team's discretion, and with guidance from the club, some teams may choose to play in tournaments outside of the Twin Cities or Minnesota.
SCHEDULING
Spring/summer teams have three contacts per week with a combination of games/practices and are assigned a game night of Mon/Weds or Tues/Th based on age and competitive level. Season starts early April and ends late June/early July. Fall teams train twice during the week and play weekend games (6 total). Season starts mid August and ends second week of October.
BIRTH YEAR
Competitive teams are comprised of players born in the same year. The soccer year starts August 1 so for 2023/24 players born in 2012 are considered U12. It is possible to play up with club approval based on roster sizes and player ability. Teams may also be based on grade level of players with the team having to play at whatever age group the oldest player on the roster represents.
COACHING
Bloomington United competitive teams are coached by experienced coaches, including some who may be parents. United coaches focus on the four pillars of soccer including technical, tactical, physical and psychological. Feedback and communication between coach/player/parent is valued.
FEES
Player fees go to cover a variety of expenses including referee fees, referee assignor fees, player insurance, club administrative and coaching fees.
- Fall Competitive Traveling $335
- Winter I Competitive Prep TBD
- Winter II Competitive Prep TBD
- Spring/Summer Competitive $785 Traveling
There is an additional $125 for the uniform kit.
Financial aid is available for players that qualify for the program and complete the required application process. See the chart below for a full list of fees or contact the club for more information on the available options for your player.
2023/24 COMPETITIVE
PROGRAM
| FALL 2023 | U11/12 Bloomington United |
| DATES | Practices start the week of August 14th and games start August 25th. Fall season ends October 8, 2023. |
| SCHEDULE | Two weeknight practices with weekend game |
| COST | 2023 Fall $335, Winter TBD (plus $125 uniform kit if not already purchased) |
| REGISTRATION DEADLINE | Before tryouts on July 29 and 31, 2023 |
| SPRING/SUMMER 2024 | U11/12 Bloomington United |
| DATES | April 1 to early July |
| SCHEDULE | Two weeknight practices with weekend game |
| COST | 2024 Spring/Summer $785 (plus $125 uniform kit if not already purchased) |
| REGISTRATION DEADLINE | January 2024 |