FAQ for Traveling Soccer
What is the difference between Recreation and Travel
The Recreation Program is designed for players of all abilities ages U6-U12 (or K-6th grade). The teams are formed by players signing up and being assigned by LSC Staff. Teams play each other within the program at fields in Lakeville. Coaches are made up of parent volunteers.
The Travel program is for players that wish to have the experience of traveling around the metro to play other teams outside of Lakeville as well as travel to tournaments (most also local, though some teams choose to travel out of state). The traveling program also has teams for players of all difference abilities with our Academy, Select, and Competitive teams.. Players attend evaluations to be placed on a team appropriate for their skill level and development.
Please see our Recreation and Travel pages for more information on both programs.
What is the difference between Select Travel, Competitive Travel, and Developmental Travel?
Tiered Team System
U8-U12
Tier 1 - Academy - 1 & 2
Tier 2 - Competitive - Gold, Black, Red, White, Yellow, Turquoise
U13+
Tier 1 - Select - 1 & 2
Tier 2 - Competitive - Gold, Black
Tier 3 - Competitive - Red, White
Academy U8-U12 are our highest level teams in those age groups. Academy teams are formed at our October tryouts and train 2x/week starting in January. Training consists of 1x/week Academy training + 1x/week team training. Academy teams have paid coaches and may do winter scrimmages/leagues (dependent on the coach preference).
Competitive U8-U12 are our tier 2 level teams in those age groups. Competitive level teams are tiered based on ability and formed at both July and October tryouts. Head Coaches are typically volunteer coaches, but teams have the option to go with a paid coach if interested. The Fall season typically consists of 2x/week training, 1 league game, and 2 tournaments. Winter team training is 1x/week beginning in January - players can also register for additional training through Winter Academy.
Select U13+ travel is the highest level of play beginning at U13. Our Select teams carry the highest level of commitment among our travel teams. Select teams have paid licensed coaches and are expected to train twice per week along with scrimmages throughout the off season of November-April. They will participate in National Premier League and also compete in US Club MN Cup in April/May along with 3-4 other tournaments throughout the year. Teams can expect to travel out of state 1-2 times.
Competitive U13+ is comprised of three different tiers. Gold and Black teams will train twice per week beginning in January. Red & White teams will train 1x/week starting as early as January. Additional training is optional and determined by the team. Teams will participate in the Lakeville Father's Day Cup and can expect to also participate in an additional two tournaments during the season. Travel will be determined by the team with guidance from Lakeville SC staff.
There are two sets of tryouts for U9/10 only, one for the Fall and one for the Spring.
*Please visit our Travel tab pages to learn more about each of these programs.
What if the player can not attend tryouts?
Players are offered a roster spot based upon tryout results and prior season coach evaluations. It is very important that tryout evaluators and staff are able to observe players competing against all of the players within the age-group. For those players who are unable to attend tryouts, every effort will be made to place them on a team. Not attending tryouts, however, may make proper team placement a challenge.
If you know your child can not attend tryouts, you should still sign them up in your LSC account, pay the evaluation/admin fee, and fill in the Tryout Absence Form located on the tryout description page.
What does the tryout fee cover?
The fee covers costs incurred with hosting multiple days of tryouts; staff and trained/qualified/independent evaluators, city field usage, equipment, bibs, as well as registration and team formation administration.
What should the player wear to tryouts and what can they expect upon arrival?
Players should come wearing soccer shorts, plain colored socks, shin guards, cleats, and a top they can easily fit a bib over. Tryout shirts are provided at check-in as you arrive. If there are two days of tryouts, players are expected to wear the same shirt to both days. Players should bring their ball and plenty of water.
Players must be registered for tryouts by midnight of the day prior to their first evaluation. Check in for tryouts will begin 30 minutes prior to start time. Players will be directed by staff of where they need to be.
The staff expect that parents, spectators, friends, or other club players from the same or other age brackets refrain from staying on site to observe tryouts. Parents should plan to leave after check in and pick their player(s) up at the end of their evaluation period. The use of binoculars from the parking lots and buildings are highly discouraged as they can be a distraction to the players.
What happens at tryouts and how are teams decided?
Teams are formed based upon performance at tryouts, Directors' discretion, and prior season coach evaluations. Tryouts include small-sided games and full-field games. Players are evaluated on their technical, tactical, physical and psycho-social strengths by trained staff as well as independent evaluators.
Will the player be guaranteed a team?
We will make every effort to place every child on a roster. For age groups that have full rosters, we will offer to place extra players on a wait list. We are often able to add players throughout the winter to fill short rosters. If we do not have a roster spot for our wait listed players by August 14th (Fall) or February 28 (Spring), they will be released and offered a full refund of their first installment.
What does it mean to be bound to the club?
Players can try out for LSC without being committed to the club. However, once a player accepts a spot on a roster, they are bound to LSC after the completion of the TCSL Tryout Window. This means they can not play for another club. As per TCSL policy, players are considered members of a club when they have finalized the following:
1. Signed the club registration form, electronic, or otherwise
2. Paid a commitment fee to register for the upcoming season
Tryout fees do not register a player to a club, this is merely a fee to tryout
Is there Financial Aid and what does it cover?
LSC offers financial aid that covers a portion of registration fees. There is no financial aid for tryout fees. Please see our website for more information regarding Financial Aid and what is required with the applications. All financial aid requests need to be submitted at the time of registration for a team.
Are there refunds if a player drops from a team after acceptance to the roster?
Please see our Registration and Fees page for information on refunds. After accepting and registering for a team, refunds are not guaranteed past the league provided tryout window.
How much do travel teams train over the winter?
U8-U12 Academy Teams - 1x/week Academy training + 1x/week team training beginning in January
U8-U12 Competitive Teams - 1x/week team training
U13+ Select teams - 2x/week November-April
U13+ Competitive Gold/Black - 2x/week January-April
U13+ Competitive Red/White - 1x/week January-April
During the Fall/Spring season, how often do teams practice and play games?
Most teams will practice twice a week and play one or two games per week. For the Spring/Summer season all games are play between May - mid-July and are originally scheduled on a Mon/Wed or Tue/Thu depending upon age and gender.
For the Fall season, games are played on weekends and run for a 6 week period between September-October.
What if I want my child to compete at an older age-group ("play up")?
It is strongly encouraged that players compete in their own age-group for long-term social and overall player development. However, if players ages U13 and older wish to try out for a Select team (top team in age group) one age group above, they may do so. If the player still wishes to also be considered for placement in their "true" age group, they must attend both age group tryouts, a total of 4 sessions. Note this may result in 2 tryouts in one day and there is a fee associated with both sets of tryouts. If a player is invited to "play up" to the Select team above their age and also tried out for their "true" age group, they will be offered both spots via a phone call prior to team posting and then only posted on one roster.
How far do teams travel during the season for league games?
League assignments are posted through Twin Cities Soccer Leagues - www.tcslsoccer.com
Occasionally there will be a team from outside the south metro included. For TCSL, teams will travel within a 30 mile radius of St. Paul. Teams in both leagues typically have one home game and one away game with each other team.