TRAVEL SOCCER INFORMATION

Travel soccer registration is now CLOSED. Travel tryouts for the Fall 2024 thru Spring 2025 seasons have been completed and rosters have been finalized. Thank you for participating. 

If you are interested in trying out for one of next year's travel teams, please read below.

Tryouts for next year's BJSA travel soccer teams forming for the Fall 2024 thru Spring 2025 seasons will be held during the first two weeks of June 2024. The travel soccer tryout schedule will be posted below in May 2024. Two tryouts will be held for each team.

- All players must be registered for the Fall 2024 season before the first tryout
- All players must upload an ID-style photo and a copy of their birth certificate during the registration process
- Players must arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of tryouts to get checked in
- All players should bring a soccer ball to tryouts
- Players who are already members of a travel team are not allowed to wear any part of their BJSA uniform
- In the event of rain, please check back here for updates

*recent changes are highlighted above in red

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHAT IS TRAVEL SOCCER?

Travel Soccer is a competitive alternative to Rec Soccer played in a league environment, open to both boys and girls. Games are played via an organized, competitive soccer league, sanctioned by the CJSA. League and non-league games are played against various towns within the Central/North Central Connecticut District, hence the name ’Travel Soccer’. Examples of a few district towns are Avon, Glastonbury, Cromwell, Newington, Suffield, East Windsor, etc.

HOW ARE TEAMS FORMED?

Selection to a travel team is based on a competitive tryout. Players are assessed and selected based on soccer talent by the head coach and at least two independent evaluators. Two tryouts per age group are held in the Spring of each year and the results of those tryouts are used to form teams for the following Fall through Spring seasons. When a player joins a travel team, a full Fall thru Spring commitment is required.

WHAT ARE THE AGE GROUPS?

Beginning with the Fall 2016 season, travel soccer players were registered according to birth-year (January 1 to December 31) instead of their school-year age (August 1 to July 31). For example, for Fall 2024, players eligible for U9 (Under 9) must have been born in the year 2016. In other words, players should attend the appropriate tryout based on their year of birth.

U9 is the youngest travel team that can be formed. Teams can form from U9 thru U18. Boys and girls play on separate teams. Beginning with the Fall 2017 season, the U9 & U10 age groups will play 7v7 while U11 & U12 will play 9v9. U13 and older will play 11v11.

CAN MY CHILD “PLAY UP”?

Players should attend tryouts for their appropriate age group as defined above.  Playing up is only allowed under the following conditions:

1) For new U9 teams, a travel team may select up to two underage players, but only if they score higher in the tryouts than a majority of other available, age-appropriate Burlington players. However, BJSA will require that these underage players “drop down” and play with their own age group the following year.

2) If there is no age appropriate BJSA team, players can play up without BJSA board approval. In this situation, the team under age player limit is waived.

All underage player requests must be approved by the Travel Soccer Coordinator.

HOW IS PLAYING TIME DETERMINED?

At the younger ages (U9 & U10), it is strongly recommended that the coaches allow every player equal playing time, within reason. As the kids get older, playing time is at the discretion of the coaches.

HOW LONG ARE THE GAMES?

U9, U10, U11 & U12 will play 30 minute halves
U13 & U14 will play 35 minute halves
U15 & U16 will play 40 minute halves
U17 and older play 45 minute halves

WHEN/HOW OFTEN ARE PRACTICES?

Practices for travel teams are typically twice a week, on a weeknight, at a local soccer field. Particular practice nights are determined by the coaches/team.

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I AM INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING TO BE A COACH OR ASSISTANT?

In addition to indicating your interest on your child’s registration form, please contact the Travel Coordinator or any member of the BJSA board.

HOW MANY/HOW OFTEN ARE THE GAMES?

The total number of games (home and away) can vary, typically between 10 and 15 per season. Games can be scheduled on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons. The minimum number of games is determined by the number of teams in your league/division and your coach’s ability to schedule ‘friendly’ (non-league) games.

HOW FAR DO THE TEAMS “TRAVEL”?

In any given season, you may have 5-7 home games and 5-7 away games. This will vary depending on your coach, your league schedule or who & where you might have played in the previous season. Travel time to away games may range from 20 minutes (Avon, Farmington, etc) to 45 minutes or sometimes more (Suffield, Enfield, etc). Parents are encouraged to carpool when needed to save on costs and ensure that all kids can make it to the games.

DO TEAMS PLAY IN TOURNAMENTS?

During the Fall season, most leagues are off for Columbus Day weekend. This is normally a big tournament weekend and many teams participate in a local or regional tournament. Some teams elect to participate in pre-season tournaments in August or end-of-season tournaments in June or November. Labor Day weekend and Memorial Day weekend are also popular tournament weekends. Although it will depend on your particular coach, most travel teams will usually choose to play in one tournament each season (Spring and Fall). As teams get older (U11 and up), they may also choose to enter the CT Cup tournament.

IF MY CHILD IS SELECTED ON A TRAVEL TEAM, WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF MY CHILD?

When players are selected to join a travel team, they are making a commitment to participate in both the Fall and Spring seasons. Your child is expected to attend all scheduled practices and games, ready and on time. In addition, a respectful, considerate, positive attitude is expected, all conducted within a team environment. In return, you and your child can expect to play on a team that develops individual and team soccer skills within a competitive team/league environment.

CAN MY CHILD PLAY TRAVEL SOCCER AT THE SAME TIME AS OTHER SPORTS?

Yes, your child can play other sports. Although travel soccer does require a Fall through Spring commitment, playing other sports or involvement in other activities is very important in the development of a child and many travel soccer players, particularly at the younger ages, play two sports during the same season, including baseball, softball, football and lacrosse. We do ask, though, that you let your coach know about potential conflicts in advance.

HOW DOES TRAVEL SOCCER COMPARE TO REC SOCCER?

Travel soccer is a more competitive style of soccer. Due to the organization and competitive atmosphere, a higher level of commitment and time is usually required. A youth who is interested in playing at a higher level of competition is a candidate for travel soccer. Travel soccer is not for everyone. Travel soccer is not better or worse than Rec soccer, it’s just an alternative.

WHAT ARE THE FEES?

Travel Soccer requires additional fees as compared with Rec soccer. Travel uniforms (home/away shirts with name and logo/number, shorts and two pairs of socks) are required. These costs are the responsibility of the parents (approximately $100). Typically, the uniforms last 2 to 3 years. In addition, tournament fees and other team expenses (referee fees, etc) are sometimes required. These fees might run $40 to $50 per player per season. And finally, some travel teams may also choose to hire outside professional trainers at an additional cost to assist with practices.

WHO ARE THE CURRENT TRAVEL TEAM COACHES?

Please click HERE.

TRAVEL SOCCER UNIFORM ORDERS:

BJSA orders uniforms from Capelli Sport. Parents will receive uniform ordering instructions from their coach shortly after tryouts.

BJSA will be holding uniform fitting nights on the following dates: TBD

COACHES:

To view the BJSA Game Grid, please click on the following link: BJSA FIELD SCHEDULE

To open the BJSA Field Request Form, please click on the following link: BJSA FIELD REQUEST FORM

To view the BJSA Practice Grid, please click on the following link: BJSA PRACTICE SCHEDULE

To View the Lewis Mills Ball Boy/Girl Schedule click here: LSM BALL BOYS/GIRLS

To view the Central/North Central Travel League schedules, please click on the following link: TRAVEL LEAGUE SCHEDULES

To enter your Travel League scores, please click on the following link: TRAVEL LEAGUE SCORES

To complete your CJSA Coaches Registration and Background Check, please click here: REGISTER NOW