When will the games and practices be?
Please review your team page on http://rusc.org. You can also communicate with your coach/team from your team page.
What equipment do I need?
Shin guards, water, cleats/sneakers and a ball (Size #3 for micro players, size #4 for grades 3/4 and 5/6, size #5 for grades 7/8).
When does the season start?
Fall - Early September
Spring - Early April
When does the season end?
Fall - Early November
Spring - Mid June
What is ITL (In-Town League) vs Travel for Grades 3 & 4 ?
ITL is a mixture of Grade 3&4 players with a focus on development in a controlled game setting.
Games are typically Saturday afternoons - probably after 2pm but ending by 5:30pm
ITL teams get two practices in the week (same as travel teams).
ITL teams get specific training from pro staff at both practices on weekdays (in comparison, travel teams get 1 Pro-Coach led training session & 1 volunteer coach session)
Our staff works with ITL players during Saturday games because it’s a developmental league rather than travel league (travel tends to be more focused on the competitive side).
Travel teams play as far away as Waltham/Westford or as close as Stoneham.
There is no specific fixed time frame for travel games each week, it varies week to week. Travel games could begin as early as 9 am or as late as 5pm.
Should I register for ITL (In-Town League) or Travel for Grades 3 & 4 ?
If you register for ITL we assume that you would prefer this program due to its development structure and predictable schedule.
If you register for travel then you are open to the variability of the schedule and the competitive nature of the league.
All players (ITL/Travel) should attend Player Evaluations so we can build balance teams.
But, just because you registered for Travel does not mean you are automatically on a travel team. The number of travel teams are limited at this level as they player in higher divisions. The results of Player Evaluations and Coach feedback could recommend that your player should play on ITL. We will transfer them through the system.
When will my child have the chance to play Travel soccer?
All RUSC players play on travel teams once they reach 5th grade. Some select players in Grades 2, 3, and 4 play on travel teams in the U10 Division (Grades 3 and 4) of the Middlesex Youth Soccer League.
Players in Grade 2 are identified for candidacy for a Travel team by the pro coaching staff, as well as the volunteer coaches. Parents of advanced players in Grade 2 may request that their child “play up” in the Grades 3/4 division, and such requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the RUSC Board. Not all players in Grades 2, 3, and 4 travel. Most play in the ITL program. Players then partake in the Player Evaluation process (see below)
Players in Grades 3 and 4 partake in the Player Evaluation process (see below)
What are Player Evaluations?
These are NOT considered try outs, but a process where we evaluate all players for correct placement in a travel team for the upcoming season. Teams are normally stacked (Team 1 has the best ability players, Team 2 has the next best ability players, etc.). Player Evaluations, performed by trained evaluators that are not the current coaches, allow for an external perspective. Players are moved around fields, scores are captured with objective to see how each player compares. These scores are collected and collated.
Who Should Attend Player Evaluations?
All players in the travel or ITL program, returning or not returning, should attend. This allows the evaluators to compare players so we understand the range of abilities. This provides information for the Placement Committee to stack the travel teams and balance the ITL teams.
What does "Rising Grade" mean?
This is the grade your player WILL BE in at school in the following September. If your player is in 5th grade in the spring, then their rising grade is Grade 6.
How are Travel teams selected?
Travel teams are selected by a placement committee comprised of the Placement Evaluators, RUSC Board Members, ITL and Travel coaches, and the RUSC pro coaching staff that reviews all players to create competitive teams based on each player’s relative ability. Input for these placement meetings is provided from the volunteer coaches, pro coaches, and field evaluators at the different Player Evaluation sessions that are held prior to each Fall and Spring season.
Travel teams are built for each season, using the above process. This means players could potentially move up and down teams from one season to the next to ensure all players are given fair opportunity. We take into account players performance at games AND practices.
Can I Request a Coach a or a Teammate for My Player?
Unfortunately we cannot honor any requests due to the size of the program, the number of volunteers and the automated way the system builds some of the teams. Logistically, we just do not have a way.