Wakefield Soccer Association

Fall Travel

2023 Fall Soccer for Grades 3 - 8

Both Travel and Intramural soccer programs are offered in the fall for Grades 3- 8. To learn more about the committment for the travel program, please review the Travel Basics section below.

For players and families that are not interested in the commitment level of the travel program, an intramural program for Grades 3, 4 and 5 is also offered in the fall. More information can be found Grade 3/4/5 Town League (Registration for intramural will become available at a later date.)

Those interested in Travel soccer will need to take part in travel evaluations and must register prior to participating in evaluations.
Register before June 4 to avoid a $20 late fee per player.

Travel Evaluation Information

Players are encouraged to attend both evaluation sessions as that provides us with the most data, allowing for the most accurate placement. Attendance at both sessions in NOT mandatory. If a player attends only one session we'll do our best to place them appropriately with the data we have.

WSA has operated as a ‘no cut’ program in recent years, and will continue to do so, as long as numbers can be made to work within the roster limits defined by Essex County Youth Soccer Association.

Evaluation Schedule

All evaluation sessions will be held at Mullen Field near the Galvin Middle School.
Players need to check in at the red garage in the Galvin parking lot.

Girls evaluations will be on May 30 and June 5

- Grade 3 & 4: Check-in: 5:00pm, Evaluation: 5:30 - 6:30pm
- Grade 5 & 6: Check-in: 6:15pm, Evaluation: 6:45 - 7:45pm
- Grade 7 & 8: Check-in: 7:30pm, Evaluation: 8:00 - 9:00pm

Boys evaluations on June 1

- Grade 3 & 4: Check-in: 5:00pm, Evaluation: 5:30 - 6:30pm
- Grade 5 & 6: Check-in: 6:15pm, Evaluation: 6:45 - 7:45pm
- Grade 7 & 8: Check-in: 8:00pm, Evaluation: 8:30 -9:30pm * later start due to school event

Boys evaluations on June 8

- Grade 3 & 4: Check-in: 5:00pm, Evaluation: 5:30 - 6:30pm
- Grade 5 & 6: Check-in: 6:15pm, Evaluation: 6:45 - 7:45pm
- Grade 7 & 8: Check-in: 7:30pm, Evaluation: 8:00 - 9:00pm

Evaluation Drills

Teams will be encouraged to go through the evaluation session at practices leading up to evaluations so players know what to expect. If players would like to work on portions of the evaluation at home here are the session plans:

G4 Evaluation Session
G6 Evaluation Session
G8 Evaluation Session

Team Assignment Notification

It takes some time to work through the evaluation process data. Assignments will go out to participants around July 4.

Fall Practices

Practice days and times will depend on a team's coaches and field availability. Schedules will be determined mid-August.

Uniforms

Fall 2023 is the start of a 2-year uniform cycle. Ordering details will be provided after team assignments are announced.

Registration

Volunteer to Coach

To be considered for a travel coaching position, please click VOLUNTEER and review the coaching prerequisites.

Volunteer

Questions

For questions, email our Director of Travel, [email protected]

Travel Soccer Basics

The WSA Travel Program is a competitive soccer program for players Grade 3 to 12. Teams participate in the Essex Country Youth Soccer Association (ECYSA) league.

Grades 3 to 8 (Fall & Spring)

The Travel program is for kids that want to participate in a more competitive, multi-town league. Teams are primarily grade-based and are meant to compete in divisions made up of teams of similar abilities.

Players need to commit to a two-season schedule with twice-a-week practices followed by games on Saturdays, half of which are in Wakefield and the other half in surrounding towns. Players must attend tryouts to be eligible for placement on a team.

The Fall season runs September theough November, and the Spring Season runs April through mid-June.

All G4 teams participate in a ECYSA jamboree at the end of the season.

Grades 9 to 12 / PG (Spring Only)

The High School Travel program is for kids that want to participate in a competitive, multi-town league in the spring only – so that it does not interfere with the fall high school soccer programs. There are only 7 games which are played on Sundays, half of which are in Wakefield and the other half in surrounding towns. Kids must attend tryouts to be eligible for placement on a team.

Spring Season (April – June ) is the competitive season where team standings determine which teams participate in the ECYSA Championship Tournament or Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC).

Practices

Travel teams practice twice a week for 60 – 90 minutes per session. Practices are usually held between the hours of 5:00 & 9:00 PM depending on field and coach availability and schedules. Younger teams (grades 3 & 4) tend to practice in earlier time slots, while older teams (grades 7 & 8) are more likely to practice in the later time slots.

Games

Regularly scheduled travel games for the G4, G6, and G8 age groups are on Saturdays. Games for Grade 9/10 and 11/12 are on Sundays. Makeup games may be scheduled for any day of the week and are arranged by the coaches.

Team Formation

The travel program has separate boys and girls leagues and teams. Players are placed into age groups based on their grade and age, and teams are formed with players of similar ability. Players must attend tryouts to be eligible for placement on a travel team. Tryouts and team assignments occur in May/June for the following Fall and Spring seasons.

Uniforms

WSA uses SOCCER.COM to supply team uniforms. Fall 2023 is the start of a new 2-yr cycle, and players will need two new jerseys (Home and Away) and socks, at minimum. Details will be communicated during team placement announcements.