Dates below are for the Spring 2024 season

Player and Coach Registration – Deadline: Saturday November 4th, 2023
           * Tryout registration is free. Program fees to be paid upon acceptance to a team.
           * Registration is not complete until you e-sign your player's form and checkout!
           * You should receive a confirmation email from Region 109 with your order number.

Tryouts at Willow Oaks - Sunday, November 5th, 2023 (Google Map)
           * Players must be registered prior to tryouts. Walk-ups will NOT be accepted.
           * Players are strongly encouraged to attend both tryout dates to ensure fair evaluation.
           * Arrive 15 min early to check in. Find our table under the AYSO Region 109 canopy.
           * Come prepared to play. Soccer cleats and shin guards required. Bring a water bottle.

* Please read below for program details, and see the FAQs. Email the Spring Select Commissioner with any questions.

ABOUT SPRING SELECT
Spring Select is a competitive AYSO soccer program where teams from Region 109 play teams from other neighboring regions. The season runs from February through May, and teams participate in both regular league games and occasional weekend-long tournaments. The program is open to all players, 9U thru 14U, who participated in AYSO during the preceding Fall season, regardless of Region. While all qualified players are welcome to tryout, Select is geared toward motivated and enthusiastic players and a high level of commitment is expected. By providing a more competitive program for our players, we hope to develop player skills to a level not always possible through our Regional Fall program.

Even though Spring Select is a more competitive soccer program, it is still part of AYSO and is therefore guided by the same core philosophies as our Fall program. Players, coaches and their families all find it to be a very rewarding experience.

COACHES
Coaching a Spring Select team is a significant time commitment, much more than the Fall season. On top of actual coaching activities, Select coaches are involved in player evaluation, team formation, league and tournament applications, etc. Much of the preparation work occurs Nov-Jan, so there is little break for a Select coach from Fall to Spring.

To qualify, coaches must have volunteered in AYSO during the preceding Fall season. Coaches must meet all training requirements, and be certified to coach at the appropriate level. Certification at least one level higher is strongly desired (e.g. 12U certification for a 10U Select coach). It is also expected that all coaches remember their coaching PIE (positive, instructional, encouraging) and that they are representing Region 109 at all times.

TEAM FORMATION
Players are first evaluated at Select tryouts (by out-of-division AYSO and UK coaches), then at their regular Fall games during the last two weeks of the season. In some cases, their Fall coaches are also consulted regarding things like positional preferences, coachability, and attendance… things not so easily measured at a tryout. Once all evaluations are completed, teams will be formed based on the standard calendar-year divisions. The number of teams is not fixed, and will depend on both the number of qualified coaches that volunteer, and the number and skill level of players that apply and tryout. Ideally, we would field at least one team per calendar year, so that we can maintain a certain level of continuity from one year to the next.

** We aim to announce teams by December 1 **

PRACTICES
Most teams practice twice per week, just like the in the regular Fall season. Some older teams will opt for 3 practices per week, a decision that is up to the coaches. The practices are an essential part of building a strong team and players are expected to be at practices. Teams will generally start practicing by mid-February, some as early as mid-January. Again, this is a decision left to the coaches.

LEAGUE GAMES
Menlo Park Select teams compete in the Pacific Coast Spring Soccer League (PCSSL) in an 8 game season (4 home, 4 away). Teams in PCSSL are primarily from the Peninsula, from Daly City and Pacifica in the north, to West San Jose and Saratoga in the south. There’s also the occasional team from the East Bay (e.g. Pleasant Hill, Concord). All league games are on Sundays.

Within each PCSSL division (e.g. 10U Boys) teams are divided into flights based on their age and ability. This is done to keep games as competitive as possible and not have too many lopsided results. One-sided games are no fun, and do little to develop players on either team.

TOURNAMENTS
Most Select teams play between 2-4 tournaments throughout the season in addition to the league games. This is decided on a team-by-team basis. In the past several years, Menlo Park teams have participated in some of the following tournaments:

Surf ‘n Turf, San Luis Obispo – February
Paso Robles Grape Crush, Paso Robles – February
President's Cup, San Jose – February
Pleasant Hill Soccerfest, Pleasant Hill – March
El Palo Alto, Palo Alto – April
Pacifica Fog Classic, Pacifica – April
Concord Cup, Concord – May
Davis World Cup, Davis – May
Santa Barbara Splash, Santa Barbara – June
Come Up For Air, Tahoe – June

ELIGIBILITY
Players (and coaches) must meet all eligibility requirements. Players must be registered for the Spring Select program through ayso109.org. Players must have played on an AYSO team during the preceding Fall season, division 9U and above, and played in at least 70% of the games. Under special circumstances (e.g. illness, injury, relocation) the Fall play requirement may be waived. Please contact the Spring Select Commissioner at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Players from other regions are welcome to tryout in Region 109 if their own Region does not offer a Spring Select program (e.g. Region 25). Because the teams are more competitive, players are advised to try out in the appropriate age category. Those that “played up” in the Fall may tryout for the division corresponding to their age (e.g. play up in 12U during the fall, but tryout for Select at the 10U level.) Players will only be considered for the age category or categories in which they try out.

COSTS
The financial commitment for players on a Spring Select team varies. There is a base registration fee of $300 which covers fields, league play and two tournaments. Uniforms must be purchased separately (instructions will be provided), at a cost of roughly $50. Additional tournaments will require additional fees, and participation in those (if any) will be determined by each team's coaches in coordination with team parents. Tournament travel is the responsibility of each family. Region 109 is committed to making Select soccer accessible to all players; need-based financial assistance is available -- email [email protected] for more information.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHAT IF MY PLAYER CANNOT MAKE THE SCHEDULED TRYOUT DATE?
Question: "My player has a conflict with the scheduled tryout for their division (or is injured or ill). Is there a makeup date?" We will schedule a makeup tryout only in the case of a total rain-out. For players who cannot attend tryouts at their scheduled date and time, they will be evaluated by coaches at one of their final two regular season fall games. These evaluations are often done as a matter of course in making the best possible team selections, so rest assured that your player will be evaluated.

PLAYING TWO SPORTS?
Question: “My player usually does another sport in the spring (e.g. baseball, lacrosse, club soccer), but really likes AYSO. Can they do both?” Yes, provided they make Spring Select the priority. Many players tryout for Select, and we don’t want to cut a player who is 100% committed for a player that will split time between two sports. If you’re unsure, apply, tryout, and see if your player makes a team. Then have an honest discussion with your Select coach and decide if it’s right for your player and your family.

NON-COMPETITIVE SPRING SOCCER?
Question: "My player loves soccer, but isn't quite at the Select level. Are there non-competitive spring soccer options?" Yes! Our neighbors in Palo Alto, AYSO Region 26, run a Spring Instructional program, very similar to our regular fall program. Registration typically runs from Nov-Mar. Visit their website for more information.