Select/Travel FAQ
Introduction
Greenbelt Soccer Alliance supports selected teams playing in National Capital Soccer League and the Anne Arundel Youth Soccer Association. Both of these options involve tryouts, higher costs than our recreational soccer and is the next step up the US Youth Soccer Association ladder if a player desires greater challenge and is ready to make more of a commitment to soccer. Any player who is selected for one of these teams and makes a good effort during practices will receive at least 50% playing time in the games since we follow the recommendations of the USSF that emphasize that at these age levels it is more important to focus on individual player development than winning games.
What teams do you have that players can try out for?
Please see our team pages for the current list of teams. Selected teams work very differently than recreational soccer. In recreational soccer the sponsoring organization finds coaches, organizes practices, registers the teams, etc. In select/travel soccer, there is a team manager that takes on many of these responsibilities for the team. So to start a new travel team, a core of committed parents typically comes together and approaches the sponsoring club with the desire to start a new travel team. The team manages the tryouts and chooses a coach. Greenbelt SA will sponsor Greenbelt based teams starting at the U11 age level. We recommend at least one season playing in the 5th/6th grade division of the PGSI small-sided soccer program as preparation for moving to the selected environment.
What are the dates used to determine the age of a player?
Since 2016, USSF mandated that player age boundaries be determined by the calendar year. So the U age groups now start on Jan 1 of a given year. It is confusing so please contact us if you have questions.
How are players selected for these teams?
Players on our current recreational teams have the opportunity to be evaluated during the season for a spot on the selected/travel teams. Any remaining spaces on the team will be filled by tryouts. The tryouts will consist of the new player participating in one or more of our recreational team's practices lead by the travel coach. Additional coaches will be present to help with the evaluation. By having the tryout occur in a normal practice, we hope to relieve some of the pressure associated with tryouts.
How do I know when the tryouts will be and how do I register for them?
Registration for tryouts has begun. After registering for tryouts, you will be contacted with information about the next tryout session. Preference for participation on these team is given to Greenbelt residents. Tryout information is maintained here.
When will I know if I made the team?
We will inform you as quickly as we can, typically within just a couple of days after the tryout although it could take a couple of weeks if there are later tryouts planned for the same age group. Once your player is informed they have made the team we will require payment typically within 2 weeks to hold your spot on the team.
What will it cost?
There is no cost to tryout for one of our teams. Our selected teams offer a full year of activity as shown below. The annual budget, including custom uniform varies by team but is in the range of $600- $900. These costs are paid incrementally during the year.
What does the cost include?
The cost of registration includes the following items:
What is the BBSL performance bond and how does it work?
To help ensure that all games are played as scheduled, BBSL requires a $500 check from the sponsoring club. Games are forfeited if a team does not show up on time or cannot field a sufficient number of players within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time of the game. If a team forfeits a game, this check will be cashed and the team will have to pay $500 to Greenbelt SA, who is then responsible for posting another performance bond, before they can play their next game. If a team forfeits two games in a season, they are put on probation by the league. The moral is: Don't forfeit games!
Where and when will the games be?
NSCL
We sponsor teams in NCSL by working with other clubs. Currently our teams play through either Takoma Soccer or ASA. The fields used are ones available to those organizations.
BBSL
The BBSL fall season starts in early September and extends into November for a total of 8 games. Most games in BBSL occur on Sunday afternoons although a couple Saturday games (or very infrequently another day) may also be scheduled. When we register a team with BBSL we declare a home field for the team. Half of the games will be scheduled at our home field which will be at Schrom Hills Park for the U12 age group and Heurich field for U13 and above (here are the Greenbelt Soccer Alliance field locations). The other half of the games will generally be within 30 - 60 minutes of Greenbelt. We will arrange carpooling to help with transportation to away games. BBSL creates divisions using teams from the same region as much as possible to minimize the distance between participating teams. Here is a list of the fields used in BBSL.
AAYSA
Games in AAYSA are held on a variety of fields in Anne Arundel County ranging in distance from Greenbelt from 15-45 minutes. Games are usually held on weekends although some groups play under the lights on Friday nights.
What can my player do to improve their game?
Yes, that's right, selected/travel soccer involves a significant increase in the level of challenge over recreational soccer and players need to work on their games more in order to have the most fun. Think of a coach as a guide and facilitator; no coach ever made a great player. Great players, with guidance, make themselves because they love the game and want to improve. So players should be working on their game outside of the scheduled practices. Most coaches will ask for a minimum of 100 touches, done at home, in between the practices. Another thing that helps players improve is to watch quality soccer on TV or the computer. So please encourage your player to watch games or videos of soccer and see if they can challenge themselves to do some of the moves that they see.
What can I do to help? Be a team manager!
Participation in a travel league such as NCSL or BBSL requires a higher level of team organization than recreational soccer. The coach has plenty of responsibilities so cannot be expected to handle these additional things. Therefore, each selected team needs a dedicated parent or set of parents to serve as team manager. The team manager's main responsibility includes collecting the team information that is needed for the initial registration packet and for doing the same if there are any changes to the team roster. (NCSL, BBSL and AAYSA are all flexible in this respect to the benefit of the teams; roster changes are permitted for all or part of the season). The team manager will also handle the money to pay the referees on the field prior to the start of each game. We collect the fees during registration and will distribute to the team managers prior to the beginning of games. Please consider volunteering to perform these functions for your team!
Greenbelt Soccer Alliance supports selected teams playing in National Capital Soccer League and the Anne Arundel Youth Soccer Association. Both of these options involve tryouts, higher costs than our recreational soccer and is the next step up the US Youth Soccer Association ladder if a player desires greater challenge and is ready to make more of a commitment to soccer. Any player who is selected for one of these teams and makes a good effort during practices will receive at least 50% playing time in the games since we follow the recommendations of the USSF that emphasize that at these age levels it is more important to focus on individual player development than winning games.
What teams do you have that players can try out for?
Please see our team pages for the current list of teams. Selected teams work very differently than recreational soccer. In recreational soccer the sponsoring organization finds coaches, organizes practices, registers the teams, etc. In select/travel soccer, there is a team manager that takes on many of these responsibilities for the team. So to start a new travel team, a core of committed parents typically comes together and approaches the sponsoring club with the desire to start a new travel team. The team manages the tryouts and chooses a coach. Greenbelt SA will sponsor Greenbelt based teams starting at the U11 age level. We recommend at least one season playing in the 5th/6th grade division of the PGSI small-sided soccer program as preparation for moving to the selected environment.
What are the dates used to determine the age of a player?
Since 2016, USSF mandated that player age boundaries be determined by the calendar year. So the U age groups now start on Jan 1 of a given year. It is confusing so please contact us if you have questions.
How are players selected for these teams?
Players on our current recreational teams have the opportunity to be evaluated during the season for a spot on the selected/travel teams. Any remaining spaces on the team will be filled by tryouts. The tryouts will consist of the new player participating in one or more of our recreational team's practices lead by the travel coach. Additional coaches will be present to help with the evaluation. By having the tryout occur in a normal practice, we hope to relieve some of the pressure associated with tryouts.
How do I know when the tryouts will be and how do I register for them?
Registration for tryouts has begun. After registering for tryouts, you will be contacted with information about the next tryout session. Preference for participation on these team is given to Greenbelt residents. Tryout information is maintained here.
When will I know if I made the team?
We will inform you as quickly as we can, typically within just a couple of days after the tryout although it could take a couple of weeks if there are later tryouts planned for the same age group. Once your player is informed they have made the team we will require payment typically within 2 weeks to hold your spot on the team.
What will it cost?
There is no cost to tryout for one of our teams. Our selected teams offer a full year of activity as shown below. The annual budget, including custom uniform varies by team but is in the range of $600- $900. These costs are paid incrementally during the year.
What does the cost include?
The cost of registration includes the following items:
- Registration fees to Greenbelt Soccer Alliance that cover equipment and other club expenses
- Affiliation fees for Maryland State Youth Soccer Association, which brings the MSYSA medical, dental, liability player insurance
- Registration in our Summer Soccer intramural program
- Registration in either Baltimore Beltway Soccer League of Anne Arundel Youth Soccer Association
- All practices sessions and games (8-BBSL or 10-AAYSA during the season) led by a MSYSA or USSF licensed coach.
- A paid coach, supplemental professional training supplied by SoccerSource360 or a combination of the two.
- Fall and Spring seasons in either BBSL or AAYSA
- Fall and Spring tournaments, either carded or recreational, as appropriate for the team
- Participation in an indoor winter league
What is the BBSL performance bond and how does it work?
To help ensure that all games are played as scheduled, BBSL requires a $500 check from the sponsoring club. Games are forfeited if a team does not show up on time or cannot field a sufficient number of players within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time of the game. If a team forfeits a game, this check will be cashed and the team will have to pay $500 to Greenbelt SA, who is then responsible for posting another performance bond, before they can play their next game. If a team forfeits two games in a season, they are put on probation by the league. The moral is: Don't forfeit games!
Where and when will the games be?
NSCL
We sponsor teams in NCSL by working with other clubs. Currently our teams play through either Takoma Soccer or ASA. The fields used are ones available to those organizations.
BBSL
The BBSL fall season starts in early September and extends into November for a total of 8 games. Most games in BBSL occur on Sunday afternoons although a couple Saturday games (or very infrequently another day) may also be scheduled. When we register a team with BBSL we declare a home field for the team. Half of the games will be scheduled at our home field which will be at Schrom Hills Park for the U12 age group and Heurich field for U13 and above (here are the Greenbelt Soccer Alliance field locations). The other half of the games will generally be within 30 - 60 minutes of Greenbelt. We will arrange carpooling to help with transportation to away games. BBSL creates divisions using teams from the same region as much as possible to minimize the distance between participating teams. Here is a list of the fields used in BBSL.
AAYSA
Games in AAYSA are held on a variety of fields in Anne Arundel County ranging in distance from Greenbelt from 15-45 minutes. Games are usually held on weekends although some groups play under the lights on Friday nights.
What can my player do to improve their game?
Yes, that's right, selected/travel soccer involves a significant increase in the level of challenge over recreational soccer and players need to work on their games more in order to have the most fun. Think of a coach as a guide and facilitator; no coach ever made a great player. Great players, with guidance, make themselves because they love the game and want to improve. So players should be working on their game outside of the scheduled practices. Most coaches will ask for a minimum of 100 touches, done at home, in between the practices. Another thing that helps players improve is to watch quality soccer on TV or the computer. So please encourage your player to watch games or videos of soccer and see if they can challenge themselves to do some of the moves that they see.
What can I do to help? Be a team manager!
Participation in a travel league such as NCSL or BBSL requires a higher level of team organization than recreational soccer. The coach has plenty of responsibilities so cannot be expected to handle these additional things. Therefore, each selected team needs a dedicated parent or set of parents to serve as team manager. The team manager's main responsibility includes collecting the team information that is needed for the initial registration packet and for doing the same if there are any changes to the team roster. (NCSL, BBSL and AAYSA are all flexible in this respect to the benefit of the teams; roster changes are permitted for all or part of the season). The team manager will also handle the money to pay the referees on the field prior to the start of each game. We collect the fees during registration and will distribute to the team managers prior to the beginning of games. Please consider volunteering to perform these functions for your team!