FAQ – Rec Soccer

Registration opens April 1. Register by May 23 to avoid late fees. Registration remains open until teams are filled. Some teams fill-up before the late fee deadline. Register early! REGISTER NOW
All players receive a uniform (jersey, shorts, socks) and a team and individual photo. Your coach receives team training equipment and soccer balls. Fees also pay for fields, referees, field lining, insurance, scholarships, team equipment, soccer goals, nets, and maintenance.
After registering your player and paying the player fee, go back in to the registration system and register as a volunteer. Please note the player you are volunteering to coach. All coaches are subject to Board approval. Coaches must complete a Live Scan background check. Coach FAQ

Practices and games are in Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley. Coaches select practice locations based on their preference. All teams have a mix of SV and SLV players. Some players practice outside their geographic preference.

  • U6 coed (4 & 5 yr olds) practices on Fridays with games on Sunday
  • U8 (6 & 7 yr olds) typically practices 1x per week with games mostly on Saturday
  • U10 (8 & 9 yr olds) typically practice 1-2x per week with games mostly on Saturday
  • U12 (10 & 11 yr olds) typically practice 2x per week with games mostly on Saturday
  • U15 (12, 13, & 14 yr olds) typically practice 2x per week with games mostly on Saturday
  • U19 coed (15-18 yr olds) typically practice 2x per week with games mostly on Saturday

Unfortunately, we don't know practice schedules until the end of July. Before you register, please understand that switching teams or refunds are not be permitted even if training sessions are inconvenient. Refunds are given if requested by June 1.

The program requires a bit of family flexibility. Our 800+ families commit without knowing the day, time, and location of training.

Coaches select a practice time of 3:30, 5:00, or 6:30 and the day(s) (Monday - Friday) to practice. Once selected, the team schedule is typically the same for the entire season.

Rec teams start practice around the first week of August. Some teams start later due to coach’s schedule.

Games start the weekend after Labor Day and season ends before Thanksgiving. We schedule games for 70-80 teams each weekend. U8 - U19 play on Saturdays (some Sundays) throughout the day. U6 has games Sunday afternoon.

Game schedules are posted by mid-August. U12 and older may take longer as we coordinate schedules with other county teams. U12 and older play away 3 to 5 games at other county fields in Santa Cruz, Aptos, and Soquel.

This is the most frequent question. Unfortunately, we cannot provide practice days and times before you register. Before you register, please consider that switching teams or refunds are not be permitted even if practice times are inconvenient.

The program requires a bit of family flexibility. Our 800+ families commit without knowing the day, time, and location of training. Here's why.

Your volunteer coach selects a practice slot at the end of July (after you registered) and after teams are grouped. We always have more players than coaches and are forming teams before we "find" a coach.

Coach recruitment starts in April, most coaches commit in July (after you registered). Coaches select practice slots based on their preference/schedule.

Practice slots are not selected first come, first serve.  This would discourage late coach recruitment efforts. Instead, we hold a Coaches Meeting in mid-July.  At the meeting, we give coaches their roster and coaches draw a random number to determine their order for selecting a practice slot.

Coaches can start practicing the week of August 1. However, this is based on your coaches schedule and preference and many teams start 1-2 weeks later. Coaches communicate practice information to teams. U6 will start practices in late August.
We form balanced teams based on age, skill level, years experience, and gender for coed teams. After the initial grouping, a committee examines each age group and tries to cluster players by school and neighborhoods, if possible. Coaches have their players placed on their team. There are no legacy teams.

We no longer accept buddy and schedule requests. What started as a dozen carpool requests peaked at nearly 500 special requests when we moved to online registration. The volume and nature of requests became impossible to manage with our limited volunteer staff.

To complete registration, you must "agree" to the following:
  • Registration should not be made contingent upon placement to a specific team, coach, field or time.
  • Practices (U8-U19) can start at 3:30, 5:00, or 6:30 in Scotts Valley or San Lorenzo Valley. U6 practices are at 3:30 or 4:45 in Scotts Valley.
  • If you volunteer to coach, you select a practice time and field that works for your schedule. We offer coaching classes, equipment, and support.
The Club recommends players play in their age-appropriate bracket (where a team is available). Requests are intended for players not challenged in their age group. Please complete a Play Up Request Form and submit it to registrar@nullsvslvsoccerclub.org, for a formal Board review. Players may not play down an age bracket.
Procedure: 1. Register player and pay fees in correct age group 2. Submit play-up request form (under "RESOURCES" tab) 3. If request is not accommodated, you may request a refund.
 
There are 2 reasons for this:
  1. We do not have enough coaches to place all players that registered on time.
  2. Sometimes we have only a few players waitlisted, but there are not enough to create an additional team. This is particularly true in older age groups as rosters have more players.
We make as many teams as possible. This is dependent upon the number of volunteer coaches. However, if we do not have enough volunteer coaches in your child’s age group, we start a waitlist. If we are able to place your child on a team, you are notified via email with registration information.
Coaches should notify parents by the end of July. We give rosters to coaches and ask they contact families directly. Notification times vary based on your coach's schedule. If you register after the coaches meeting on July 17 we are updating the roster and notifying the coach.
SV/SLV SC serves an area that includes both Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley. We don't not have "Scotts Valley" or "Brook Knoll" teams. We attempt to group 3-4 players from a school together so that everyone has a familiar face. However, our first priority is balanced teams by age and experience.
All rec teams have a balance of new and returning players. Players interested in a more competitive experience should consider playing comp soccer.
All players are required to wear socks and shin guards to practice. Most players also wear soccer cleats but athletic shoes are permitted. Metal cleats are not permitted. Baseball and lacrosse cleats are also not permitted due to the toe cleat.
All players are required to wear their SV/SLV SC uniform, socks and shin guards to practice. Most players also wear soccer cleats but athletic shoes are permitted. Metal cleats are not permitted. Baseball and lacrosse cleats are also not permitted due to the toe cleat.
Yes, the application is found under the "RESOURCES" tab.  Applicants do NOT complete online registration.  Some age groups fill up, please submit your application as soon as possible. The postdate on the application determines the registration date. There are times where a scholarship is approved and there is no space on a team. 
Jewelry/Earrings No jewelry of any kind (earring, watches, necklaces etc.) is permitted on the field for both practice and games for any age group. Earrings cannot be taped. Casts Players having splints or casts may be permitted to play with the permission of the referee. It is recommended that bubble wrap is used to protect the cast or splint for safety purposes. If in the opinion of the onsite referee, the splint or cast causes a safety hazard, the player is not allowed to play. Glasses Glasses are permitted. Safety straps are encouraged.