Can my child "play up'" an age group on a Travel Team?

It all depends on the kid - is he assertive enough that he will still take on bigger kids 1v1? Kids who start passing the ball all the time stunt their development as a player. As the level of competition increases, kids will fail more often until they learn how to make quicker decisions and cleaner technique. How does a child react to failure? Sometime the younger kids go into a shell.

Finally, a tie in ability at the tryout goes to the older player because that older player doesn't have another team to try out for, and the younger player can try out in his age group.

How does Travel Team or competitive soccer differ from recreational soccer?

Being part of a Travel Team requires a significantly greater commitment of time and dedication on the part of the players, family members, coaches and volunteers. Travel Teams practice several times a week, compete more than six months a year, and are often referred to as "traveling teams" as they play games and tournaments outside of San Francisco.

What is the difference between Travel and Upper House ("UH") teams?

• Games. Travel teams typically play their fall league games against teams from the peninsula as far away as San Jose. Half the games will be at home and half will be away. UH teams play most of their league games in SF with a small possibility that one or more games could be in Pacifica or South San Francisco.
• Tournaments. Travel teams participate in two to four tournaments per year, typically in August, September or October, January and the spring. The locations of these tournaments vary all over Northern California. The UH teams will participate in one or two tournaments per year, generally in the Bay Area.
• Costs. The costs for the travel and UH teams are relatively similar: approximately $90-$100 per player per month (10 months). The additional tournaments for the travel teams adds to the per player costs - each tournament costs about $400-$500 (about $30 per player) plus travel expenses.
• Tryouts. The travel teams will hold open tryouts every year and a player could be cut from the travel team (annual open tryouts are a requirement of the City of San Francisco). The UH teams are likely to hold tryouts each year, but a player is not likely to be cut if he/she makes a minimum of 75% of the practices and games, and is not disruptive to the group. If a player is in danger of being asked to leave the UH program because of failing to attend a minimum number of practices/games or disruptive behavior, the parents will be given a written notice and an opportunity to correct the situation.
• Winter and spring seasons. Both travel and UH teams play in the winter futsal league run by the SF Recreation & Park Department. Both teams play in spring soccer leagues similar to the fall leagues.
• Coaches. Both travel and UH teams will have a coach with a minimum of an E/D license and emphasize player development. Within an age group, the travel and UH coaches will coordinate their development plans, work with each other including joint practices on occasion and be familiar to and with all players.
• Practices. Both travel and UH teams will practice twice a week.