*** SUPER Y LEAGUE ***

What is depicted above is how the soccer being played in this area relates to the national body – U.S. Soccer. As you can see, the three governing bodies for youth soccer in this country all feed into U.S. Soccer thru different channels.

Many of the clubs in the area belong to:

AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization - http://soccer.org/) for their beginning ages – house/rec leagues.

Once these clubs decide to create travel teams, they must decide whether to stay in AYSO, or join:

MSYSA (USYSA) - http://www.msysa.net/

or a U.S. Club Soccer affiliate (http://www.usclubsoccer.com/).

Another option that has come on the scene is the 'Super Y League' (http://supery.uslsoccer.com/). This entity offers high caliber regional and national competition in the summertime. And like U.S. Club Soccer, it offers its' own ODP program (U.S. Club Soccer calls its' version 'id2'). For those of you that have an interest in such programs, it is worth your while to do your homework. Go to the different websites and do your due diligence. Note the differences in cost and how the programs operate.

Right now the majority of clubs choose to create USSF (community) teams when they first begin travel soccer, which means they get registered thru an MSYSA (Michigan State Youth Soccer Association) affiliated league which makes them a member of the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) – the largest governing body of youth soccer in the country.

By joining an MSYSA league, you have a number of things available to you. Here are just a few:

1. state cup.
2. insurance.
3. coaching education courses.

US Club Soccer is another organization that has sprung up to supply another opportunity for youth players. At the moment, here are a few things they offer:

1. more control administratively as team rosters are all taken care of by the coaches – drops, adds, etc. EVERYTHING is done by the coach or club registrar on-line.
2. no charge for playing in out of state tournaments.
3. their own championships that mirror regionals, nationals and state cup.
4. insurance.

To play in the Premier League (what used to be known as "Farmer Jack"), you must be registered thru MSYSA (have a USYSA player pass). Participation in the state sponsored Premier League begins at U13.

Regarding the Premier League, here is something to keep in mind. All the better teams – teams with national reputations, are now playing in the Regional League, sponsored by Region II AND/ OR the Super Y League. By playing in these leagues, the better teams play more competitive competition as the Regional League and the Super Y League are inter-state leagues, involve a lot more traveling and are designed for the most competitive and the most committed.

Now if your team has already had tryouts and you are on a roster, it means your team is either registered with AYSO or US Club Soccer as neither organization is bound by the June 15th tryout date.

ALL MSYSA registered teams must wait until June 15th before having tryouts.

Some of the MSYSA leagues in the state do offer the option for dual registration. That means you can be registered to two teams playing in two different MSYSA affiliated leagues - all falling under the jurisdiction of USYSA.

Dual rostering does NOT have anything to do with U.S. Club Soccer as this is a different governing body.

It's like registering to play soccer in Indiana AND Michigan. Inidana's rules do not apply to anything that happens in Michigan and vice versa. The player is bound by the rules and regulations of that particular state when they are playing there.

In essence, here in Michigan, a player could legally be on four different rosters. Here is an example:

1. an AYSO team.
2. a USSF team roster (community based team).
2. a travel team roster (a "premier club" roster).
3. a U.S. Club roster (community based or travel team).

This coming Fall, PHOENIX teams will be registered through MSYSA and play in a USYSA affiliated league as well as play in the regional Michigan Champions League, a U.S. Club Soccer affiliated league.

Competitiveness, commitment and potential will be the deciding factors when selecting a league for our teams to compete in.

AND, wherever possible, our teams will play in as many leagues and tournaments as their level of interest and schedule will allow.

WHY have we elected to play in as many competitive environments as possible? Because in order to grow, players / teams must learn how to compete and be willing to do so. A typical eight game season is not enough to challenge the talented and competitive player or team.

Hopefully, no one will allow themselves to be restricted from participating in any and all tryouts, beginning June 15th.

Should something like that occur, I think everyone is smart enough to take note and see who is causing the difficulty and then ask themselves why actions are being taken to restrict and discourage player from participating in any or all tryouts.

It’s sad to think that anyone would try to restrict a player from experiencing tryouts with every organization.

What are they afraid of? Could there be a program better suited for that player?

And when it does come time to make a commitment, very few people are bamboozled anymore when the “hidden threat” is made – “if you don’t commit now, I’ll give your spot to someone else”.

If there’s a spot and you’re the third one asked, guess who the coach really wants?

OR, maybe there’s a spot because no one else has accepted yet either.

In either case, guess who controls the situation?

That’s right – YOU.

And, remember, no commitment – verbal or written, prior to June 15th, is valid or binding.