SPRING U9 Travel

BAYS TRAVEL SOCCER FOR 3^rd GRADE GIRLS

 

Any third grade girl who wants to play travel soccer, and who registers before the evaluation session (approximately mid-Nov), will be placed on a travel team for this spring.  NGS will use its best efforts to form travel soccer teams with like-minded players of similar soccer ability.  To do so, NGS will ask that each travel soccer player attend an evaluation session in mid-November.  Note that it's often cold for the November evaluation sessions, so please make sure to dress appropriately, in addition to shin guards and cleats, girls are welcome to wear sweatpants, hats and gloves.  Any third grade girl who wants to continue to play intramural soccer, and who registers by January 31, will be placed on an intramural team.  NGS will use its best efforts to form intramural teams that are balanced, and to honor mutual requests to be placed on a team with a friend.  No further evaluation will be required. 

 

Before registering for U9 travel or Grade 3 intramural, it is important to understand the differences between the two programs. 

 

The NGS BAYS Travel Program will give NGS players a competitive alternative to IM.  BAYS places travel teams in two divisions and numerous sections, which range from highly competitive to competitive.  We anticipate that in this program, Spring U9 NGS travel teams will be placed in the full range of BAYS’ competitive brackets.  In an effort to place like-minded players of similar ability on travel teams appropriate for those brackets, NGS will select players for these teams on the basis of both coach evaluations and evaluation results.  The travel program requires a higher level of commitment than the intramural program, if you cannot make that commitment; please register for the intramural program.  Critical components of the travel program are—

 

·         Participation throughout the BAYS ten week season from early April through late June.

·         BAYS travel teams play ten games, scheduled for Saturdays, though make-up games may be scheduled at other times during the week due to weather or very wet fields.

·         Five BAYS games will be played at home in Newton, and likely five BAYS games will be played in other BAYS communities as near as Brookline and as far away as Attleboro.

·         BAYS travel games are scheduled for both weekends of April vacations and Memorial Day weekend.  While such games may be played in advance by agreement of both teams, many teams do play as scheduled and will expect players to be available.  Coaches will accommodate important family commitments, but if you expect multiple conflicts, you should register for the intramural program.

·         Twice a week practices.

·         Practice days are chosen by the coaches.  While coaches are encouraged to seek input from players as to their availability, their own schedules may limit their choices of practice days. There are often conflicts and players are expected to adjust their schedules accordingly to attend practices.

·         The most competitive travel teams often participate in Memorial Day weekend tournaments.

 

The NGS IM program will continue to offer—

·         Approximately ten games, all played in Newton.

·         One practice per week.

·         Balanced teams consisting of players with a range of skills.

·         When possible, two girls from each school are placed on a team, and mutual friend requests honored.

 Click here to register for U9 travel

Interested in coaching?  If you would like to coach in the pilot travel program, please click here to submit a coaching application no later than November 14.  Coaching applications should include a description of the prospective coach’s soccer experience, coaching experience, soccer licenses earned, and a brief statement as to why they want to coach and their approach to coaching.

 

Finally, whether a player chooses to play in the intramural program or the U9 BAYS travel program this spring, she can choose to play in whichever program she prefers in fourth grade or U10, and beyond.  Thus, in making this choice between the two options, please note that it is for this spring only.  If you have questions about the program, please contact the U9 Age Group coordinator.

 

NGS 3rd Grade Intramural Program	NGS  U9 Travel Program-BAYS
9 or 10 games on Saturdays	10 game season on Saturdays -- Teams must make-up games cancelled due to weather, so make-up games may be played on another day
All games in Newton	5 games in Newton 5 games in other BAYS communities-- as near as Brookline and as far as Attleboro
Games are scheduled for both weekends of April vacation.  No game on Memorial Day weekend	Games played both weekends of April vacation and Memorial Day weekend (tournament or game), attendance is expected
Once a week practice in addition to Saturday game -- Coaches determine practice days based on availability, attendance is strongly encouraged	Twice a week practice in addition to Saturday game -- Coaches determine practice days based on availability, attendance is expected
Balanced Teams consisting of players with a range of skills	Leveled Teams based on coach evaluations and on-field evaluation week of November 13 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Albemarle Field
Mutual friend requests honored	No friend requests
Teams are usually made up of players from 2 or 3 nearby schools	No consideration of elementary school attended, or geography within Newton for team placement.