OUR PROGRAMS

PORTAGE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION

FALL/SPRING SOCCER

PYSA offers 2 programs: In-house U6-U8 and Recreational U9-U14 Soccer based on the child’s birth year.

OUR PROGRAMS

RECREATIONAL
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Recreational:  U9-U14:  Boys, girls, and coed teams.  Games are scheduled and managed by Madison Area Youth Soccer Association (maysa.org). There are typically 8 games consisting of 4-home and 4-away.  Teams usually practice 2 to 3 times per week, as determined by the coaches, and games are played on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays.

IN-HOUSE
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In-House:  U6-U8:  Coed teams.  Practices and Scrimmages are scheduled and managed by Portage Youth Soccer Association and volunteer coaches. Teams practice 2 times per week, Tuesday and Thursdays from 5-6. Fields are next to the concession stand and the program runs 5 weeks.  Parents are encouraged to sign up as coaches/helpers.

FAQs – Please Sort by Program

How do I register?

Registration and payment is only done through the PlayMetrics Platform.  You will need to create an account and pay via credit card here: PlayMetrics Login. Once logged in you can update your household information, add another child, or even volunteer. If you do not see any season available when you try to register, then it is likely the seasons are closed.

How do I volunteer?

Since Portage Youth Soccer is run by volunteers, we are always looking for parents to help promote and continue this popular sport for our Portage youth.  You can volunteer to be a manager of a team, an assistant coach or even the main coach.  Coaches normally consist of parents of children for their age group, so you stay with your child as you move up through the age groups. Background checks and certified courses will be required before coaching a team. You can signup when you register your child through PlayMetrics.  Please keep in mind that the PYSA Organization is always looking for parents to help out on the board of directors.

If Coaching or Board responsibilities seems too much, we request our families to consider volunteering to help the club with maintenance, concessions, and equipment. There are many ways to get involved and support the organization.  Contact one of our coaches or board members to get started.

How do you determine what U team my child will be on?

“U” Stands for Under.  Your child will be placed on a team based on his/her birth year.  Age groupings stay the same for a soccer year (fall of one year through spring of the next–like a school year). We always use the Spring Year – which is the second year – and deduct that from the birth year to determine the proper U Age Group.  So in the 2022 fall – 2023 spring season, a child born in 2012, means he/she will be on a U11 (under 11) team for both the fall and spring season.  (2023-2012=11).  It does not matter if he/she is born in January or in December.  Placement is based on age and not by skill.  Keep in mind a player can always play up a level, but usually never down.  Here is the US Soccer chart for reference: Birth Year Chart. Or you can use the calculator below.

BirthYear

"*" indicates required fields

The upcoming seasons are:
2022 Fall and 2023 Spring
2023 Fall and 2024 Spring
2024 Fall and 2025 Spring.

Please enter a number from 2000 to 2050.
e.g. the 2022 fall and 2023 spring season, you would enter 2023.
Please enter a number from 2000 to 2020.

Since we are a small community, we need to join age groups together. We normally join U9/U10, U11/U12, U13/U14. U6-U8 is our in-house soccer program.

 

 

I want to be a referee!

The New Grassroots Referee training course is a 16 hour course with half of the time spent online and the other half in the classroom. It is designed to provide entry level referee skills and information through classroom and field training for candidates. Emphasis is on preparing for Grassroots program participation – including recreational and competitive games. Field emphasis is on practice of specific procedures.

Participants must be at least 13 years old at the beginning of clinic to attend a New Grassroots Referee course. Individuals over the age of 18 will be required to complete the SafeSport certification and successfully pass a background check.

There are costs associated with becoming a referee – you should budget for approximately $100-$125. Referees can quickly earn that back after officiating their first few games. A course fee of approximately $25-$35 (depending on area) covers the costs associated with attending the course. A registration fee of $40 covers your registration with the United States Soccer Federation. You’ll also need a new uniform. Entry level starter uniform kits start around $37 (Source: http://officialsports.com/off-field-apparel/starter-kits/).

What are the game formats?

WYSA/MAYSA GAME FORMATS

Roster, field, ball, goal sizes for all age groups:

  • U5, U6, U7 & U8 – PYSA In-House Program

Players on field: 4 V 4 no goal keepers

Field: L (25‐35y) X W (15-25y)

Ball:  Size 3

Goals: 4’ X 6’ (hockey goals or flag goals)

Roster: Up to 6 recommended for single field or 12 for side‐by‐side fields format.

Playing time:  4 quarters of 8 minutes each.

 

  • U9 & U10 – PYSA Traveling Teams

Players on field: 7 V 7 including a goalkeeper

Field: L (55-65y) X W (35-45y)

Ball:  Size 4

Goals: 6’ X 18’

Playing time:  2 halves of 25 minutes each

Roster: Up to 14

  • U11 & U12 – PYSA Traveling Teams

Players on field: 9 V 9 including a goalkeeper

Field: L (70-80y) X W (45-55y)

Goals: 7’ x 21’ are recommended, but 6’x18’ are acceptable

Ball:  Size 4

Playing time:  2 halves of 30 minutes each

Roster: Up to 16

  • U13 & U14  (U15 if in 8th Grade) – PYSA Traveling Teams

Numbers: 11 V 11 including a goalkeeper

Field: L (100-120y) X W(60-80y).  100-105y long x 60-65y wide recommended.

Goals: 8’ x 24’

Ball:  Size 5

Playing time:  2 halves of 35 minutes each

Roster: 22 maximum; no more than 18 can “suit up” per game

What does my child need for practices and games?

Recreational Soccer

FOR PRACTICE: Your child will need to bring a water bottle or other forms of hydration, soccer cleats and shin guards.  Your child will need SOCCER CLEATS (not football or baseball cleats), shin guards to protect the shins and ankles from kicks. Here is a recommended type of shin guard that protects both shins and ankles: Adidas X Youth Shin Guards

FOR GAMES: Your child will need to bring a water bottle or other forms of hydration, PYSA Jersey, PYSA Black Shorts, PYSA Striped black socks, soccer cleats and shin guards.

Practice balls are provided, however, we do recommend they have a ball to practice with at home and at the field before practices and games start.

What happens if a team is full?

If you register and the U team for your child’s age is not showing and you see an option for waitlisting or you see registration for a U team above your child’s age group, that means the team for your child’s birth year is full.  Per MAYSA and US soccer rules, only a certain number of players can suit up for a game.  You can wait and see if someone drops out, or your child can play up a level if that option is available in your registration.  Registration is first come first serve, no exceptions.

What is included in the Registration Fee (U6-U8)?

Approximate fees per player: $60 registration Fee

MAYSA (Madison Area Youth Soccer Association) Club fees and insurance: $16.25/player
WYSA (Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association) Fees:$3.00
Fields, line markings and lawn maintenance fee: $20/player
Jersey Costs: $10/player
PYSA Fees (5 weeks/10 sessions/10 Hours): $10/player

Personal Soccer Equipment such as shin guards and shoes are not included.

What is included in the Registration Fee (U9-U14)?

Approximate fees per player: $115-$145

In the fall, we offer a $40 discount for those that register for a full school year (Fall and Spring).  Registrations must be done in Fall and the spring season must be added on when checking out. This does not apply if registering separately for both seasons.

MAYSA (Madison Area Youth Soccer Association) Club fees, Play Metrics licensing and insurance: $40.00/player
WYSA (Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association) Fees:$3.00
Fields, concessions, line markings and lawn maintenance fee: $20/player
Equipment Costs: $20/player
PYSA Fees: $25/player
Referee Fees: $10-$18/player depending on age bracket

Tournament fees (if any), Uniforms/Personal Equipment are not included.

 

When are games?

For traveling teams, games are normally played on the weekends.  If the weather in spring is snowy and rainy like it usually is, sometimes there are doubleheaders or back to back games on Saturday and Sunday.  Sometimes games may need to be played on a weekday.  Most coaches do not want to have games go past Memorial Day in the Spring and past October in the Fall, but may have to if weather does not cooperate.

When are practices?

Practice schedules are at the sole discretion of the Coaching Volunteers.  As the season approaches, the coach will put together a practice schedule that can accommodate field availability with other teams and his her own personal schedule.  This might be 2 or 3 times a week.  Any questions on the scheduling of games and practice please contact your coach.  Please remember these coaches are all volunteers and donate their time and knowledge to the organization.

When is the Fall Season?

For recreational/traveling soccer U9-U14, the fall season games usually start early September and go through till mid/end-October.  Practice usually starts mid to late August depending on the coach.

For in-house U6-U8 soccer, practices/scrimmages are twice a week usually Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5-6 next to the concession stand.  This program usually runs for 5 weeks starting end of August to the end of September.

When is the Spring Season?

For recreational/traveling teams in U9-U14, the spring season usually starts late March/Early April for practices and the first game in mid-April.  This is very dependant on the weather and field conditions.  Games typically go to mid-June, but most coaches try not to go past Memorial Day.

For in-house U6-U8 soccer, practices/scrimmages are twice a week normally Tuesday and Thursday, from 5-6 next to the concession stand.  Depending on the weather it runs 5 weeks usually end of April into the end of May.

Where can I get Jerseys/Shorts/Socks?

We require our U9-U14 players to wear matching PYSA uniforms for games and tournaments.  Uniforms consist of Sublimated PYSA Jersey, Sublimated PYSA Shorts, and a pair of Striped socks.  Uniforms can be ordered through Design1 Apparel of Portage and require a 4-week lead time.  PYSA will provide player numbers to avoid duplicates on teams.  The total uniform cost is around $65-$75.  These items ARE REQUIRED to be worn at all games and tournaments with no exceptions. Uniform ordering instructions will be sent to you in a separate email. Uniforms are handed out at practice prior to the first game.

U6-U8 players will receive a color coded jersey for their age group .  We do ask that they wear black shorts and black socks for uniformity.

Why is my child on a coed team?

If your child is placed on a coed team, it is likely we did not have enough registrations for either the boys or girls team in his/her age group. This is common as sometimes children play different sports in the fall or spring. Sometimes we receive too many requests for registration and we need to open up another team and combine boys and girls so that we can allow more players.

AFFILIATIONS

PYSA PARTNERS WITH

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