Shenango Valley United travel teams

To register for one of our teams go to the player registration page, print out the registration form, complete it (with guardian's signature) and mail the form and payment to the club registrar (the address is on the form). See the age chart at this page bottom for team eligibility.

Scores and standings will be posted on our district web site www.pawest-lake.org.

PURPOSE: As soccer players progress in their skill development they often benefit by practicing and competing with players at or above their level of play. Soccer players learn as much or more from each other as they do from adult coaches. Travel teams provide a format for players to continue their growth through practices and competition against players from other communities. Our club pools the best players in an age group into teams that represent the Shenango Valley's best. When the opportunity presents to field more than one team in an age group, attempts will be made to stratify the teams, to allow one team to play up to a higher skill division.

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY: Pa West and USYSA strictly regulate age eligibility for the travel team leagues by birthday cutoffs. With permission, players may register up no more than two age-year groups (example; a U12 may move up no higher than U14). They will not let players register down an age group---no exceptions. Ohio residents are welcome to register to play on our travel teams, but there is an extra registration step involved; obtaining a release from Ohio Youth Soccer Assoc. North to play in Pa (contact our registrar for this process).

Effective August 1, 2005 Pa West has removed the lower age limit for the travel team division. Therefore, u10 players may now play up to u12, and u9 players may play on a u10 or u12 team. However, this requires a notarized consent, as indicated on the player registration form.

2009-2010 PA WEST age groups

U10: 8/1/1999 - 7/31/2000

U11: 8/1/1998- 7/31/1999

U12: 8/1/1997 - 7/31/1998

U13: 8/1/1996- 7/31/1997

U14: 8/1/1995 - 7/31/1996

U15: 8/1/1994 - 7/31/1995

U16: 8/1/1993- 7/31/1994

U17: 8/1/1992 - 7/31/1993

U18: 8/1/1991 - 7/31/1992

U19: 8/1/1990 - 7/31/1991

LEAGUE STRUCTURE: Pa West provides up to six leagues for each age group based on skill levels for both boys and girls. The top three skill level leagues are Classic B, Classic A and Premier. These teams compete on Saturdays, and are generally sponsored by larger clubs from the Erie and Pittsburgh areas. There are perhaps 3 or 4 players per age group from our county that pursue these programs. The majority of players from our county play in the Sunday travel league. Pa West nomenclature for these leagues are: boys 4,3,2,1 and girls C, B, A. Our club generally registers a team in U12 division 3 (u11 & u12 players), U14 division 3 (u13 & u14 players), U16 division 2 (u15 & u16 players), and U19 division 2 (u17, u18, & u19 players). Girls teams will be formed if there are adequate numbers. Girls can also elect to play on a boys team.

Pa West is divided into 7 districts. We belong to the Lake District. This stretches from Interstate 80 northward to Lake Erie, and from the Ohio border eastward to Warren, Pa. Accordingly, since each team should have 4 home and 4 away league games, usually two of the away games are 1.5 hour drive each direction, the other two can be as close as Mercer or Greenville.

TEAM SIZE: The minimum number of players needed to roster a team is 12 players. The ideal team size is 16 players. Pa West will allow up to 23 players to be rostered on a team, but only 18 can dress for any given game. Effective 2006 Pa West is formatting u12 to an 9 vs 9 competition, which reduces the maximum roster size for this age group.

MULTIPLE TEAMS IN AN AGE GROUP: If the registrar receives 32 or more applications in an age group by February 26, the board can authorize hosting two teams in that age group. The board has adopted a tryout policy based on tryouts and skill based point scores for the players involved. The teams will be split by tiers, with the more advanced of the teams to be registered in a higher skill division or an older age group. If there are 31-23 applications received, team spots will be allocated by the date the complete application package is received by the registrar, on a first come, first served basis.

SEASONS: There is an 8 week fall season for U10 to U14 teams, with competitions through September and October. The 8 week spring season includes U10 to U19 leagues, with competitions running throughout April and May. The soccer year runs from August 1 to July 31 of the following year. Therefore the spring 2008 season is actually part of the 2007 soccer year, for example.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Specific registration deadlines will be posted for each session. Generally speaking July 15 is the target deadline for the fall registration and February 15 is the target deadline for the spring session. There are Pa West registration deadlines that create these dates for us. The club MUST HAVE a photocopy of the player's birth certificate to keep on file, a 1" x 1" photo showing a view of the face, and the last 6 digits of their social security number, which functions as their Pa West ID number. The player registration form can be downloaded from Player registration.

CLUB FEES: For the 2009- 2010 soccer year the fee for travel team participation is $72.00 per player per session. Uniform costs are extra. These fees are a break even cost for the club. We are required to hire 3 referees for each game, and there are mandated fees to Pa West for each player and team. The balance goes to field maintenance costs and equipment.

UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT: The club colors are black and gold. The standard club gold jersey is purchased from the club, and can be re-used from year to year. The jersey price is in the $20 range. The club provides black socks. The player is to provide shinguards and black trunks. The standard policy for practice is BYOB (bring your own ball).

PRACTICES: Registered players are expected to attend weekly practices. Coaches are to schedule a minimum of a one hour practice twice per week.

TRANSPORTATION: Transportation to and from practices and games are the responsibility of the player's family. Written directions are to be provided to away games by the team coach. Many parents car pool to away events.

HOME GAME FIELD: For Spring 2010 we plan to use our primary game field at Mc Cullough Run Community Park.

Shenango Valley UNITED travel teams

where the valley's best play and coach.

To register for one of our teams go to the player registration page, print out the registration form, complete it (with guardian's signature) and mail the form and payment to the club registrar (the address is on the form). See the age chart at this page bottom for team eligibility.

Scores and standings will be posted on our district web site www.pawest-lake.org.