Recreational Soccer
CSA's Recreational soccer program is open to boys and girls of all levels of ability. There are no player evaluations or tryouts - everyone who registers is placed on a team. Many players who are interested in trying out for competitive teams
begin their training by building a solid foundation in our recreational
program. Our Recreational program includes our 6U, 7U and 9U Junior Academy teams and pools, which are formed each season based on evaluations of players that show interest and aptitude for moving to our competitive program.
CSA offers Recreational Soccer in two primary regions: Charlotte/Matthews and the Cabarrus area. The Charlotte/Matthews program is our largest division, with practice locations in South Charlotte, Uptown, Matthews and the Palisades (Southwest Charlotte). The Cabarrus-based program offers three practice locations, including Mount Pleasant.
Rec soccer is offered in the Fall (August - November) and the Spring (February - May) seasons. Our youngest players (ages 2-4) participate in fun weekly sessions offered at our recreational fields through our affiliation with Soccer Shots. 6U-19U Teams practice one evening per week and typically play one game on Saturday throughout an 8-week season. We provide our volunteer coaches with coaching clinics, licensing,
structured lessons plans and assistance on the field from CSA Staff
Coaches. In addition to team practices, we offer optional, free
technical skills training sessions for ages 6U to 19U in three locations. The training sessions are run
by experienced coaches and give interested players more opportunity to develop and
improve age appropriate skills. Recreational level camps are offered in the summer and pre-season clinics are also offered (Additional fees apply.)
Please visit our CSA Recreational website at www.csarecsoccer.com for details and registration.
Youth Academy Program
CSA offers the Youth Academy program to boys and girls ages 9U and 10U that are ready to move from recreational soccer into a curriculum focused on development of skills and techniques. The program, as recommended by US Soccer and the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association, stresses player development over winning. CSA strongly believes that the Youth Academy Program is the best development option for children leaving recreational level programs. The training program is unmatched for preparing the youth player for higher level competitive programs. Interested players must participate in an evaluation process that occurs in May of each year. Once a player has accepted a position in the Youth Academy, they are committed to participate for the entire upcoming soccer year (August to May).
Youth Academy players train two nights per week and are strongly encourage to participate in the supplemental technical training session offered by CSA to its members at no additional charge. CSA Youth Academy coaches specialize in developing the youngest players and sharing their love of the game. The Youth Academy typically plays matches on Saturdays during the season against Academy teams from other clubs in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. A balance of home and away matches are played. Youth Academy teams typically participate in one CSA festival event and one other festival event per season.
Classic/Premier Soccer
CSA forms teams at several levels of competitive (travel) soccer at each of our locations based on the results of formal tryouts held in the spring of each year. All players must attend tryouts every spring to be considered for a spot on a competitive team for the following year (August through May). Following tryouts, CSA will present qualified players with an offer of a position on a competitive team based on their demonstrated level of ability. Players and families are made aware of the team's planned playing level, coach assignment and travel/tournament expectations prior to player commitment. Once the player accepts his position on the team, he is committed to CSA and that team for the entire playing year (August - May).
Competitive teams train a minimum of two nights per week. In addition, players are strongly encouraged to attend the free supplemental training sessions to further improve personal skills and to attend off-season camps offered by or endorsed by CSA. Games are primarily on Saturdays and Sundays, although mid-week evening games are possible. 11U-14U teams participate in both Fall and Spring seasons, high school age teams (15U-19U) participate only the designated off-season for NC public high schools.
Competitive teams 11U through 19U participate in leagues administered by North Carolina Youth Soccer Association. NCYSA offers several levels of competition; CSA teams participate in the Select and Classic programs as appropriate.
• The Classic league is divided into several playing levels based on team performance (Third Division, Second Division, First/Open Division, Premier) as well as geographic regions. Teams play approximately 10 games per season in their region. Premier is the highest level of Classic soccer, is offered in age groups 14U-19U only, and consists of the top 13 teams in the state based on league performance. Teams in the Premier division can expect to travel state-wide for 12 season games.
• Qualified teams in 13U-19U can apply to participate in the USYS National League (Piedmont). The USYS Leagues Program is inter-state league designed to bring together the top teams in the region for advanced competition and opportunities to advance to National competition.
CSA's Classic teams can expect to attend 2-3 tournaments per season, which includes local competitions, out-of-town tournaments and a State Cup series if appropriate. CSA's higher-level teams can expect to travel more frequently and to more distant tournaments to ensure the highest levels of competition and exposure.
Elite Clubs National League for Boys
Please click here to read about the Elite Clubs National League for Boys at CSA, part of an elite, nation-wide program for boys age 13U-19U.
US Soccer Development Academy
Please click here to read about the US Soccer Development Academy program at CSA, part of an elite, nation-wide program for boys age 12U-19U and girls age 14U-19U.