Travel
Since the travel teams play the teams of neighboring towns,
Longmeadow participates in the
Pioneer Valley
Junior Soccer League (www.pvjsl.com), who coordinates
and schedules our games.
Although play in the travel league is usually more
competitive than the in-town league, the philosophy of the LSA
board remains the same: our role is to promote fitness, fun and
the development personal and team skills.
Assignment/Team Problems
If parents or travel coaches have any problems with team assignments
or other issues, please contact the LSA Travel coordinator at
LsaTravel@LongmeadowSoccer.com.
Travel Program
All players who attended travel tryouts in May are mailed a
post card in early June with evaluation results. Players selected
for a travel team must complete the travel registration process
during one of the mid-June registration sessions at the Community
House, where you:
- pay additional travel fee of $90 (cash or check)
- bring small player photo, 1" by 1" [not needed for U-10]
- bring copy of birth certificate, if the child has not played travel before
- sign player pass card
The process takes only a few minutes. Parents can bring the
materials and sign the pass card if the player is not available
on these evenings.
Players who are not selected for a travel team will automatically
be assigned to an in-town team. Players are selected for travel
teams based on evaluations by licensed professionals from out of town.
Players must attend at least one of the two evaluation sessions to
be considered for a travel team. (See evaluation times below.)
Players will run through the same set of drills in both sessions.
Players must be either AGE APPROPRIATE or GRADE APPROPRIATE to try out.
Divisions for travel teams are based on a child's date of birth and the
grade he or she will enter in the fall.
Age Appropriate
Under 10 8/1/98 - 7/31/99
Under 11 8/1/97 - 7/31/98
Under 12 8/1/96 - 7/31/97
Under 13 8/1/95 - 7/31/96
Under 14 8/1/94 - 7/31/95
|
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
|
Grade Appropriate
4th Grade and born after 7/31/98
5th Grade and born after 7/31/97
6th Grade and born after 7/31/96
7th Grade and born after 7/31/95
8th Grade
|
3rd graders are not eligible for travel unless they were born before 7/31/99.
(Players born after 7/31/99 must be in 4th grade to try out.)
All 8th graders are eligible for the U-14 division.
No 9th graders are eligible, regardless of age.
Players may be eligible to try out for more than one age group, based on
their grade and date of birth. However, a player must attend the evaluations
for both age groups to be considered for both teams. Ultimately, a child
can play for only one team.
Player Evaluations
Travel evaluations are held in May at Russell Field (on the
corner of Blueberry Hill and Bliss, across from the High School).
All participants must come prepared with shinguards and water.
Please do not bring a soccer ball to the tryouts.
Players can check a box on the registration forms indicating
interest in attending the travel evaluations. However, eligible
players can change their mind after registration and attend
evaluations, even if they did not check the box.
If a player has not registered prior to the evaluation dates,
he or she will still be permitted to try out. However, the
player must subsequently register at the Community House during
normal business hours in order to receive evaluation results.
The LSA Board is well aware that no evaluation is perfect. Even the
best players can have a bad day and may not make a travel team
every year. If you don't make a travel team, don't give up. There
are two evaluation sessions a week apart. Players are encouraged
to come to both sessions. Your better "score" will be used for
selection.
Players will be contacted by coaches in August with practice information.
Travel players should check this website for Travel Program updates.
Game Schedules, Field Maps and Conditions
All travel schedules are published by the Pioneer Valley Junior
Soccer League on their web site at
www.pvjsl.com/Schedules/Schedule.asp. Select the division you're
interested in from the pull-down menu. Our divisions are:
10BR - Under 10 Boys, Division "R"
10GR - Under 10 Girls, Division "R"
11B2 - Under 11 Boys, Division "2"...
11G2
12B1
|
12G2
13B2
13G2
14B2
14G2
|
PVJSL has maps on their web site of the area around each of the fields
to help you find them at
pvjsl.com/fields/MapIndex.asp.
They also have a field conditions page that tells of any field changes or
closures at
pvjsl.com/fields/Conditions.asp.
Tournaments
Columbus Day weekend
Longmeadow participated in the Dalton tournament in 2007 and a return
to this tournament is currently planned for 2008. More information will
be posted here as soon as it is avaialable.
Training/Practice in August
Optional training sessions for all age groups will be coordinated
by the LSA Soccer Board and the Directors of Coaching. Travel
players can get some pre-season training, and coaches can
participate or observe. The sessions are not mandatory for players
or coaches.
For the Fall 2008 season, In-Town Coaching Director Richard Yam has
organised training for in-town and travel coaches. Please see the
"In The News" item on the Home page.
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