A next step in youth soccer development is that of Travel Soccer. Travel soccer is a more competitive youth soccer experience where players join teams that compete against other teams from other towns and communities. This might include travel soccer leagues or soccer tournaments. Under US Soccer, the two most prominent travel soccer associations are US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer. US Youth Soccer is an association of state-based entities that run state-wide leagues (by district), such as Utah State Soccer, Illinois State Soccer, Vermont, Virginia and in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is so large that it's broken into PA West and PA East organizations. PA West is our local travel soccer league of choice in our area. This side of the Appalachians, PA West soccer clubs compose the Mountain District (District 5). The local PA West travel club where kids can get a start in travel soccer is FC814.
Competition Levels
PA West clubs in our area offer Division 5 competition thru Division 1 with 5 being least competitive and 1 being most competitive. Programs like MCMP Rec Soccer, AYSO, PA West Division 6 are considered recreational soccer. The better the competition the further you travel to play and the more expensive it gets...divisions 5 and 4 play on Sundays. Divisions 3, 2, 1 play Saturdays.
PAWest and FC814 are well organized soccer associations and they offer leagues to play (fall and spring) and competitive state-based tournaments. From a player development point of view, PAWest also provides additional opportunities with "Olympic Development Program" (ODP). This is essentially a state all-star team. Kids from our area often tryout for ODP team around age 12-17 to compete against other state-based team, for example, "PA West" plays "NY East" or "Vermont", etc.
FC814 offers league play in fall and spring for the PAW div 5 through div 1.
Competition Levels
PAWEST / FC814
Division 6 - recreational/in house ~similar to AYSO
Division 5 - travel (sunday play, less $$, less travel, Hurricanes Club)
Division 4 - competitive (sunday play, less $$, more travel, Hurricanes Club)
Division 3 - classic (saturday play more $$, more travel, MDU club)
Division 2 - premier (saturday play more $$, more travel, MDU club)
Division 1 - elite/champions (saturday play more $$, more travel, MDU club)
Typical Child Progression in Soccer
A typical progression is to
start in MCMP Rec Soccer, AYSO ages 5-8,
play PAWest FC814 ages 8-12 Travel soccer, and
progress to PAWest Classic team ages 13-18 or other higher level opportunities.
Who plays College soccer?
Division 3, 2, 1 players are typically the players one might see at the Collegiate level and beyond.
How does my child get started in Travel Soccer?
Most clubs have their yearly registration/tryout periods in June. So, don't miss a tryout opportunity and check club websites around April / May.