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 Director of Coaching and the Competitive commissioners 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 in most cases, 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 likely to change based on performances in training and games. | Based on proper level for players, as determined by Director of Coaching 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. |
| Cost | $297. Additional uniform fees possible. | $715. Additional uniform fees possible. | $1,290 (MAYSA league teams); $1,390 (WYSA State League teams). Additional uniform fees possible. |
| Practices | 60- to 90-minute sessions once or twice per week, based on coach 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- or 75-minute session (Sessions reduced to 75 minutes in late September and to 60 minutes in October, due to the reduction in daylight). One session combined with at least one other Competitive team. 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 2024, eight in Spring 2025) | 16 (Eight in Fall 2024, eight in Spring 2025). | Generally 16 (eight in Fall 2024, eight in Spring 2025), depending on league placement. The number of games is determined by the league. |
| Game locations | Half in Oregon, half in Madison-area communities. | Half in Oregon, half in Madison-area communities. | 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 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.