It is mandatory for ALL players to attend their age group evaluation to be eligible for travel soccer.

Important Updates to our Travel Program:

All players entering 4th grade in the fall will have the option to participate in MYSA’s G4 travel program. In other words, every player that attends the G4 travel evaluation will be placed on a travel team. This is a change to our travel program that was approved by our Members last month. Players entering 4th grade may also choose to opt out from the travel program and participate in our intramural program instead.

MYSA is partnering with Mass Youth Soccer to bring in professional coaches to conduct the player evaluations for our travel program. MYSA ran a pilot program with Mass Youth Soccer this past fall for the G4 age group travel evaluations, and it received very positive feedback from our coaches, parents and players. As a result, coaches from Mass Youth Soccer will be conducting the evaluations for all age groups starting this spring.

The format of the player evaluations will be different from what MYSA has traditionally done in the past. Instead of having the players participate in a variety of drills (e.g. passing, dribbling, shooting) they will be evaluated while playing in a series of small-sided games as recommended by Mass Youth Soccer. The format of the evaluation is predicated on ALL players being in attendance which is why MYSA is holding a single, mandatory evaluation for each age group for the full (Fall + Spring) 2019-2020 season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the travel evaluation the only evaluation tool? No. Coaches’ evaluations along with practice and game participation are also considered.

How many travel teams are there? There is no limit on the number of G4 and G8 travel teams. The number of teams will depend on how many players register to participate in the travel program. There are two (2) G6 travel teams per gender in the fall. MYSA also offers a G6 Intramural program in the fall highlighted by the end of season Cook Cup tournament.

What level of commitment is required? The travel season consists of 8 Saturday games. Each travel team will have 4 home games and 4 away games within Essex County. There will be 2 weekday practices per week. Please consider the time commitment travel soccer will require, and make sure your child is prepared to make the commitment.

When will I know my child’s team placement? All players will receive a notification electronically in mid-June (for Fall) or November (for Spring).

Please direct any questions to your child’s age group coordinator(s) which are listed below:

G4 Boys – Jason Faust: faust.j@mac.com
G6 Boys – Zach Halpern: zhalpern@halperntravel.com and Jason Faust: faust.j@mac.com
G8 Boys – Lisa Wales: lisapwales@yahoo.com and Declan Murtagh: murtaghd@hotmail.com
G4 Girls – Rob Day: rmcday@gmail.com
G6 Girls – Dan Blander: danblander@hotmail.com and Rob Day: rmcday@gmail.com
G8 Girls – Mia Grubor: mia.grubor@gmail.com and Jim Machado: jmachado17@yahoo.com