ABOUT
Rye Youth Soccer is a not-for-profit organization that provides a comprehensive soccer experience for more than 1,000 boys and girls ranging from pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. Rye Youth Soccer is run by a sporting and administrative staff and advised by a Board of Directors. As with most community sports organizations, Rye Youth Soccer is anchored by a large and loyal group of parents who volunteer as age group coordinators, head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers.
Our player pyramid consists of six stages...
Pre-Foundational Stage (4U, 5U): Known as “Mini Garnets,” this program for pre-K players (4U, 5U) is run in conjunction with the Rye Recreation Department. Coordinated by our Director of Coaching Chris Skelton and staffed by several of our most experienced trainers, Mini Garnets runs for 7 weeks in the fall, 6 weeks in the winter, and 7 weeks in the spring.
Foundational Stage (6U, 7U, 8U): Beginning at the 6U level, players are eligible to participate in our Intramural program. The program consists of weekday training led by RYS trainers and Saturday games coached by volunteer parent coaches. Our 6U, 7U, and 8U programs run for 7 weeks in the fall, 6 weeks in the winter, and 7 weeks in the spring.
Developmental "Small-Sided" Stage (9U, 10U): Upon graduation from our 8U program, rising 9U players have two options. They can continue playing soccer primarily within Rye by playing one more year of Intramurals (the 8U/9U Intramural program described above) or tryout for our 9U travel teams. The Travel Program runs for 10 weeks in the fall and spring and consists of a weekday training session, Saturday training session, and Sunday 7 v 7 match in the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL).
Developmental "9 v 9" Stage (11U, 12U): As players move on to the 11U and 12U levels, they are introduced to larger fields and a 9 v 9 format. Game length increases, and coaches begin to introduce more advanced tactical considerations to their players. Each team in this division participates in WYSL’s 10-week fall and spring seasons. The commitment involves a weekday training session, Saturday training session, and Sunday 9 v 9 match.
Competitive "11 v 11" Stage (13U, 14U): The 11 v 11 format is introduced to our 13U players, many of whom now also participate on middle school soccer teams. Game length continues to increase, and weekday and Saturday training sessions begin to involve additional tactical and physical training. Teams in this age division continue to compete in WYSL’s fall and spring seasons. At this stage, many of our 13U and 14U players also begin to work as junior referees at our 6U-8U programs on Saturday mornings.
Competitive "High School" Stage" (15U, JV, V): 15U teams continue to compete in full-length Fall and Spring seasons, while JV (16U) and Varsity (19U) teams compete in a November mini-season and full-length Spring season. Our 16U and 19U players also participate in a winter futsal program, and many play for their high school soccer teams. In 2023, RYS has more than 80 players competing on four teams at the 15U-19U levels. Many of these players also volunteer as counselors at RYS World Cup Summer Clinics and work as referees for our 6U-8U programs.
Our player pyramid consists of six stages...
Pre-Foundational Stage (4U, 5U): Known as “Mini Garnets,” this program for pre-K players (4U, 5U) is run in conjunction with the Rye Recreation Department. Coordinated by our Director of Coaching Chris Skelton and staffed by several of our most experienced trainers, Mini Garnets runs for 7 weeks in the fall, 6 weeks in the winter, and 7 weeks in the spring.
Foundational Stage (6U, 7U, 8U): Beginning at the 6U level, players are eligible to participate in our Intramural program. The program consists of weekday training led by RYS trainers and Saturday games coached by volunteer parent coaches. Our 6U, 7U, and 8U programs run for 7 weeks in the fall, 6 weeks in the winter, and 7 weeks in the spring.
Developmental "Small-Sided" Stage (9U, 10U): Upon graduation from our 8U program, rising 9U players have two options. They can continue playing soccer primarily within Rye by playing one more year of Intramurals (the 8U/9U Intramural program described above) or tryout for our 9U travel teams. The Travel Program runs for 10 weeks in the fall and spring and consists of a weekday training session, Saturday training session, and Sunday 7 v 7 match in the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL).
Developmental "9 v 9" Stage (11U, 12U): As players move on to the 11U and 12U levels, they are introduced to larger fields and a 9 v 9 format. Game length increases, and coaches begin to introduce more advanced tactical considerations to their players. Each team in this division participates in WYSL’s 10-week fall and spring seasons. The commitment involves a weekday training session, Saturday training session, and Sunday 9 v 9 match.
Competitive "11 v 11" Stage (13U, 14U): The 11 v 11 format is introduced to our 13U players, many of whom now also participate on middle school soccer teams. Game length continues to increase, and weekday and Saturday training sessions begin to involve additional tactical and physical training. Teams in this age division continue to compete in WYSL’s fall and spring seasons. At this stage, many of our 13U and 14U players also begin to work as junior referees at our 6U-8U programs on Saturday mornings.
Competitive "High School" Stage" (15U, JV, V): 15U teams continue to compete in full-length Fall and Spring seasons, while JV (16U) and Varsity (19U) teams compete in a November mini-season and full-length Spring season. Our 16U and 19U players also participate in a winter futsal program, and many play for their high school soccer teams. In 2023, RYS has more than 80 players competing on four teams at the 15U-19U levels. Many of these players also volunteer as counselors at RYS World Cup Summer Clinics and work as referees for our 6U-8U programs.
