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.