Tournament Teams

[BBJ]

Does anyone have any experience organizing or managing a Tournament Team?
I’m looking to break away from club soccer and form a tournament team (Not affiliated with a club). It would be a group of ~16 kids currently playing at the NPL level in NorCal, that will train with a private coach 3 times a week and play three or four tournaments each season, adding futsal in winter and beach soccer in summer.

I‘m trying to understand how to get player passes that are accepted for tournament participation. Can this be done without affiliating with a club? Do I need to form a non-profit? Would a team without any club affiliation or game track record be accepted by tournaments? What other considerations should I be aware of?

I’d appreciate learning from anyone here who has experience with tournament teams.

 

[Jar!23]

I don’t know of any way to get CYSA, USClub, AYSO, etc. pass without being part of a club. There are insurance issues to think about. Also, wouldn’t the kids you want already be playing with a club? If you are in Norcal, you can’t just find a random field to practice on. Clubs here survive or don’t primarily based on what fields they have access to. What area are you trying to do this? There are some tournaments (like beach soccer) where you just need birth certificates to prove age. If you are thinking of forming an organization, maybe just think about joining a club that is flexible.

 

[BBJ]

I don’t know of any way to get CYSA, USClub, AYSO, etc. pass without being part of a club. There are insurance issues to think about. Also, wouldn’t the kids you want already be playing with a club? If you are in Norcal, you can’t just find a random field to practice on. Clubs here survive or don’t primarily based on what fields they have access to. What area are you trying to do this? There are some tournaments (like beach soccer) where you just need birth certificates to prove age. If you are thinking of forming an organization, maybe just think about joining a club that is flexible.

Thanks for your response. I hear you about field space. I believe I have a coach and field for training three times a week - but, I don’t have field space to host league games etc. which is why I’m going the tournament-only route. There are ample local tournaments to get 3 or 4 per season.

Good point about the insurance. I think the player pass if I can get them, would provide some insurance. But not sure what is covered or what else might be needed.

Regarding the kids already playing with club. In my very small soccer circle, I know of 7 players from four different clubs who have recently walked away from the sport or are about to. I believe the club environment is not serving these kids and I am convinced there is a way to keep them playing the sport they have loved for so many years. So yes, I still need more players … but I think I can get there. If you are in the South Bay and have an 06 to 08 boy playing NPL level and is looking for an alternative to Club Soccer but still wants to commit to a good solid training environment with high-quality coaching, good teammates, a customized variety of training and game opportunities, and a handful of fun tournaments a year - let me know. Oh and yes .. player can still play for their high school

That said, you are right that there may be another way. I’m curious about your comment “think about joining a club that is flexible” — I’m not aware of such a club …. do you have a suggestion?

Thanks again, I appreciate the response.

 

[Messi>CR7]

Thanks for your response. I hear you about field space. I believe I have a coach and field for training three times a week - but, I don’t have field space to host league games etc. which is why I’m going the tournament-only route. There are ample local tournaments to get 3 or 4 per season.

Good point about the insurance. I think the player pass if I can get them, would provide some insurance. But not sure what is covered or what else might be needed.

Regarding the kids already playing with club. In my very small soccer circle, I know of 7 players from four different clubs who have recently walked away from the sport or are about to. I believe the club environment is not serving these kids and I am convinced there is a way to keep them playing the sport they have loved for so many years. So yes, I still need more players … but I think I can get there. If you are in the South Bay and have an 06 to 08 boy playing NPL level and is looking for an alternative to Club Soccer but still wants to commit to a good solid training environment with high-quality coaching, good teammates, a customized variety of training and game opportunities, and a handful of fun tournaments a year - let me know. Oh and yes .. player can still play for their high school

That said, you are right that there may be another way. I’m curious about your comment “think about joining a club that is flexible” — I’m not aware of such a club …. do you have a suggestion?

Thanks again, I appreciate the response.

My nephew was on a recreational extra team with a dad coach. The dad coach took the team to join a local club, but he did not take a salary, so they had a much lower club fee.

I think this is similar to what you're trying to do. Ask the local clubs if you can bring a team at a reduced fee since the club does not need to pay your coach. In return the club provides fields, insurance, etc.

 

[Jar!23]

Thanks for your response. I hear you about field space. I believe I have a coach and field for training three times a week - but, I don’t have field space to host league games etc. which is why I’m going the tournament-only route. There are ample local tournaments to get 3 or 4 per season.

Good point about the insurance. I think the player pass if I can get them, would provide some insurance. But not sure what is covered or what else might be needed.

Regarding the kids already playing with club. In my very small soccer circle, I know of 7 players from four different clubs who have recently walked away from the sport or are about to. I believe the club environment is not serving these kids and I am convinced there is a way to keep them playing the sport they have loved for so many years. So yes, I still need more players … but I think I can get there. If you are in the South Bay and have an 06 to 08 boy playing NPL level and is looking for an alternative to Club Soccer but still wants to commit to a good solid training environment with high-quality coaching, good teammates, a customized variety of training and game opportunities, and a handful of fun tournaments a year - let me know. Oh and yes .. player can still play for their high school

That said, you are right that there may be another way. I’m curious about your comment “think about joining a club that is flexible” — I’m not aware of such a club …. do you have a suggestion?

Thanks again, I appreciate the response.

Agree with Messi. You should look for a club that is open to your own coach, players, basically your own little kingdom but under their umbrella. I guess there is no function to direct message here. If you have an email address you want to post here, I’ll send you a contact.

 

[Messi>CR7]

Agree with Messi. You should look for a club that is open to your own coach, players, basically your own little kingdom but under their umbrella. I guess there is no function to direct message here. If you have an email address you want to post here, I’ll send you a contact.

Yes, you can DM here. Click on the email icon next to your name in the upper right hand corner (from a PC browser in this case), and click on "Start a new conversation".

 

[dad4]

Thanks for your response. I hear you about field space. I believe I have a coach and field for training three times a week - but, I don’t have field space to host league games etc. which is why I’m going the tournament-only route. There are ample local tournaments to get 3 or 4 per season.

Good point about the insurance. I think the player pass if I can get them, would provide some insurance. But not sure what is covered or what else might be needed.

Regarding the kids already playing with club. In my very small soccer circle, I know of 7 players from four different clubs who have recently walked away from the sport or are about to. I believe the club environment is not serving these kids and I am convinced there is a way to keep them playing the sport they have loved for so many years. So yes, I still need more players … but I think I can get there. If you are in the South Bay and have an 06 to 08 boy playing NPL level and is looking for an alternative to Club Soccer but still wants to commit to a good solid training environment with high-quality coaching, good teammates, a customized variety of training and game opportunities, and a handful of fun tournaments a year - let me know. Oh and yes .. player can still play for their high school

That said, you are right that there may be another way. I’m curious about your comment “think about joining a club that is flexible” — I’m not aware of such a club …. do you have a suggestion?

Thanks again, I appreciate the response.

My son’s team scrimmaged a tournament only club from east San Jose a while back. They were nowhere near NPL level, but it can be done.

Might check with AYSO United East Bay to see if they can point in the right direction. Might even be able to run under the AYSO banner and insurance if you’re willing to have tryouts.

 

[Messi0918]

Does anyone have any experience organizing or managing a Tournament Team?
I’m looking to break away from club soccer and form a tournament team (Not affiliated with a club). It would be a group of ~16 kids currently playing at the NPL level in NorCal, that will train with a private coach 3 times a week and play three or four tournaments each season, adding futsal in winter and beach soccer in summer.

I‘m trying to understand how to get player passes that are accepted for tournament participation. Can this be done without affiliating with a club? Do I need to form a non-profit? Would a team without any club affiliation or game track record be accepted by tournaments? What other considerations should I be aware of?

I’d appreciate learning from anyone here who has experience with tournament teams.

Considerations?
you want to deal with “poaching” complaints. Doc drama. Board members crying and looking to file reports. Illegal recruiting accusations. Kids getting threatened by coaches and directors.
you forget that this youth soccer- a business controlled by select few and dentists and office people making decisions about soccer- led by directors they chose or are chummy with who will do whatever they’re told to do.
Stay away from doing anything fun for kids or forming a team. You’re only gonna get accused of things and the kids that play with You- will feel like they’re being threatened by their home club. STAY AWAY!

 

[dad4]

Considerations?
you want to deal with “poaching” complaints. Doc drama. Board members crying and looking to file reports. Illegal recruiting accusations. Kids getting threatened by coaches and directors.
you forget that this youth soccer- a business controlled by select few and dentists and office people making decisions about soccer- led by directors they chose or are chummy with who will do whatever they’re told to do.
Stay away from doing anything fun for kids or forming a team. You’re only gonna get accused of things and the kids that play with You- will feel like they’re being threatened by their home club. STAY AWAY!

Norcal can only regulate recruiting from one norcal club to another. If he isn’t doing norcal cards, I don’t think he has a problem with “illegal recruiting”. Norcal doesn’t any jurisdiction over how cal north or ayso bring in players.

 

[Messi0918]

Norcal can only regulate recruiting from one norcal club to another. If he isn’t doing norcal cards, I don’t think he has a problem with “illegal recruiting”. Norcal doesn’t any jurisdiction over how cal north or ayso bring in players.

They have their hands on everything. Everything is trespassing. Territory. Clubs complain about who invaded their field. On and on and it goes. That’s why - best bet. Don’t get in a mess. It’s not about the kids. It’s about $$$$ and what potential loss might be inflicted.

 

[BBJ]

Considerations?
you want to deal with “poaching” complaints. Doc drama. Board members crying and looking to file reports. Illegal recruiting accusations. Kids getting threatened by coaches and directors.
you forget that this youth soccer- a business controlled by select few and dentists and office people making decisions about soccer- led by directors they chose or are chummy with who will do whatever they’re told to do.
Stay away from doing anything fun for kids or forming a team. You’re only gonna get accused of things and the kids that play with You- will feel like they’re being threatened by their home club. STAY AWAY!

Considerations?
you want to deal with “poaching” complaints. Doc drama. Board members crying and looking to file reports. Illegal recruiting accusations. Kids getting threatened by coaches and directors.
you forget that this youth soccer- a business controlled by select few and dentists and office people making decisions about soccer- led by directors they chose or are chummy with who will do whatever they’re told to do.
Stay away from doing anything fun for kids or forming a team. You’re only gonna get accused of things and the kids that play with You- will feel like they’re being threatened by their home club. STAY AWAY!

Those all sound like arguments in favor of an independent tournrament team to me! No doc, no board members, no league, no club that pretends to own rights over players. One important clarification is that the kids would not also play club at the same time,. There will be no threatening home club. And we are not poaching mid-season (would start Fall 22).

 

[Unmeggable]

First post, so forgive me if I’m not doing this right. You can sign up for insurance through USSSA to get player cards for your tournament team. I recently did this for a tournament team and we successfully played in a Nor Cal tournament. It won’t work for leagues of course, but as long as the tournaments are US Club, USYS, etc then the USSSA cards are all that’s needed. Depending on how you register for the tournament, you may need to create your team in GotSport which isn’t difficult.

 

[BestOFtheRest]

First post, so forgive me if I’m not doing this right. You can sign up for insurance through USSSA to get player cards for your tournament team. I recently did this for a tournament team and we successfully played in a Nor Cal tournament. It won’t work for leagues of course, but as long as the tournaments are US Club, USYS, etc then the USSSA cards are all that’s needed. Depending on how you register for the tournament, you may need to create your team in GotSport which isn’t difficult.

Agree. We did this during Covid to play in tournaments. Its really easy to sign up with minimal fees.

 

[Messi0918]

Those all sound like arguments in favor of an independent tournrament team to me! No doc, no board members, no league, no club that pretends to own rights over players. One important clarification is that the kids would not also play club at the same time,. There will be no threatening home club. And we are not poaching mid-season (would start Fall 22).

See if the kids are unattached then yes.
If they’re attached then- it’s just asking for all the club whiners to cry and go to theirs friends who are authorities. They pretend they own kids and families. Honestly it’s time for more of this “anarchy” just sign teams up to play- they’re all free to leave whenever. They should all be free to apply for a league without “approval”
If there are kids that want to play with you - so be it.