Play Recreation

Our governing authority, U.S. Soccer, has implemented a national change to the way teams are structured.   Children now play on teams that are aligned with their calendar year birth.   With a limited exception as explained hereafter, if your child has enjoyed the team he or she has played on in the past, players can stay together with their coach.  Where we have teams made up of players with different birth years, those teams can remain together so long as those in a younger birth year are comfortable playing up to the older birth year.   For instance, children born in 2007 can choose to remain with those born in 2006.  An older player born in 2006, however, cannot play down if the team elects to compete in the 2007 (younger) age group; in other words, a player cannot play “down” to a younger age group team– only up to an older age group.  Of course, it all hinges on how registrations come in, and your ability to register early before the existing team fills up with existing or new players.  

We allow our players to stay with the same coach each year. Again, it all depends upon who registers timely.  Players who register late will be placed on teams that have space.  One of the exceptions would be if your team in the past, was a mixed of younger and older players, and your coach decides to coach the younger age group.  The older age children could not play with that team because they would be too old.  Players can play up, but they cannot play down into a younger age group.

Yes. Elk Grove Soccer this year will create teams in all age groups, without skipping years.  We hope this will avoid the concerns about players playing up an age group.  U6, U7, U8 U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, and U15 will all be created within each of our territory clubs.  Ages U16 and up will play with our Elk Grove Recreation Community Club. The only exception will be is those instances in which we don’t have enough diverse teams in one age group; it may force us to push teams to the higher age group as we have in the past.  Given the number of teams we have, however, that is not anticipated.

Each year, it’s not usual for a coach not to return for a variety of reasons.  The players, however can stay together if they so desire.  Our club managers and coaching coordinators are working diligently to find coaches to replace those coaches who are not returning. 

We have a wonderful club for our older recreation players called the Elk Grove Capital League.  Our older players from each of our territory clubs come together at the age of U16 to play in this centralized club.  They have the fun of playing neighboring clubs, such as Sacramento, Natomas, and Folsom.  It’s a great experience and opens players up to competing against teams they may never have met.

You only have to buy a uniform if your uniform from last year doesn’t fit.  We created what we believe to be an efficient and cost effective registration, by bringing prices down to $99 and including a uniform in the first year.  Our players can use that uniform until they outgrow it. They can buy a new one from us or trade with their friends easily due to the fact that we have branded our uniforms and logo throughout Elk Grove with the same home and away kits.  

Yes we do.  Our program is called TOPS Soccer.  It’s for children with disabilities, including those with physical supports and wheelchairs.  Teams are put together based on ability, not by age.  It’s a wonderful program.  We provided players with Buddies, who help them play the game.