What is the difference between the Oregon SC Recreational, Academy and Competitive programs? Here's a breakdown of the options.
Recreational: A recreational team is a team formed through random selection of registered players. If there is more than one team to be formed at an age group, families may request that their child play on the same team as some of their friends. The Oregon SC Board will try to honor such requests, but there might be circumstances where this isn't possible. In order to provide opportunities to more players, we might combine age groups to create additional teams. The Recreational commissioners will work with MAYSA to place teams in the appropriate leagues. Recreational team coaches are not paid by Oregon SC and usually are parent volunteers; the club will provide coaching education and resources at no cost. By definition, any team 10U or younger is a Recreational team, including Academy teams.
Competitive: A competitive team is a team generally formed through an open tryout process, which we call Evaluation Sessions. The Competitive commissioners and the Technical Director will work with MAYSA and/or WYSA to place teams in appropriate leagues and competitions, which can change from year to year. A competitive team has a paid, professional coach as selected by the Oregon SC Board, with appropriate licensing and prior experience coaching youth players.
| Recreational | Academy (Recreational) |
Competitive* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ages | 9U and older | 8U, 9U and 10U | 11U to 14U/15U |
| Team formation | Random selection of registered players. | Selection of registered players. Team rosters could change based on performances in training and games. | Based on proper level for players, as determined by Technical Director and professional coaches. Team rosters could change based on performances in training and games. |
| Coaches | Parents/volunteers | Paid professional trainers run practices, parent/volunteer assistants help at practices and coach all games. | Paid professional coaches. Parent assistants occasionally will be asked to run warm-ups before games. |
| Cost | $250 through June 18, $275 starting June 19. Additional uniform fees possible. | $600 through June 18, $660 starting June 19. Additional uniform fees. | $1,190 (MAYSA league teams); $1,290 (WYSA State League teams). Additional uniform fees. |
| Practices | 60- to 90-minute sessions once or twice per week, based on coach availability and team preference. | Two 90-minute practices per week. (Sessions reduced to 75 minutes in late September and to 60 minutes in October, due to the reduction in daylight.) Optional weekly training sessions for goalkeepers. | Two 90-minute practices per week and one 60-minute session (Sessions reduced to 75 minutes in late September and to 60 minutes in October, due to the reduction in daylight). Friday sessions are combined with other Competitive teams. Optional weekly training sessions for goalkeepers. |
| Level of competition | Placed in appropriate MAYSA league. | Placed in appropriate MAYSA league. | Depends on the team's level - some play in MAYSA leagues, others play in WYSA state leagues. |
| League games | 16 (Eight in Fall 2023, eight in Spring 2024) | 16 (Eight in Fall 2023, eight in Spring 2024). | Generally 16 (eight in Fall 2023, eight in Spring 2024), depending on league placement. |
| Game locations | Half in Oregon, half in Madison-area communities | Half in Oregon, half in Madison-area communities. WYSA Academy events typically are in the Milwaukee area. MAYSA Academy events are in the Madison area. | For teams in MAYSA leagues, half in Oregon and half in Madison-area communities. More travel is required for State League teams, which will play roughly half of their league games in Oregon. |
| Tournaments | At team discretion and at additional cost. | Fees include four tournaments, generally two in fall and two in spring. Also, possible WYSA and/or MAYSA Academy events, at no additional charge. | Fees include four tournaments, generally three in fall and one in spring. |
* - For 11U through 14U/15U. Please see the Fees page for specific information about high school-age girls and boys teams.