ABOUT
Rye Youth Soccer is a not-for-profit organization that provides a comprehensive soccer experience for more nearly 1,000 children 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 head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers. Our player pyramid consists of six stages...
Discovery Stage (U4, U5): Known as “Mini Garnets,” our pre-K program helps U4 and U5 discover the sport through soccer-based games. Our primary aim is to help children develop their creativity, self-confidence, and social skills. Coordinated by our Director of Coaching, Chris Skelton, and staffed by many of our trainers, Mini Garnets runs for 7 weeks in the fall and 7 weeks in the spring. Additionally, our Osborn Indoor skills program welcomes U4 and U5 players for 10 additional weeks of winter indoor soccer training.
Foundational Stage (U6, U7, U8): Beginning at the U6 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. Additionally, we offer multiple winter programs designed to engage our U6-U8 players, including our Osborn Indoor skills program (10 weeks in the winter for U6-U7) and our Futsal program (two 6-week sessions in the winter for U6 and older). To round out the soccer experience, our U6-U8 players can choose to participate in any or all of our three popular World Cup weeklong clinics (late August, Spring Break, and late June) and--new in 2025-26--any or all of our School Holiday one-day clinics and tournaments at Nursery Field.
Developmental "Small-Sided" Stage (U9, U10): Upon graduation from our U8 program, rising U9 players have two options. They can continue playing soccer primarily within Rye by playing one more year of Intramurals (described above in the Foundational Stage) or tryout for our U9 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) or--new in fall 2025 for our top U9 teams--the Elite Developmental Program (EDP ) league. Each team is led by a Rye Youth Soccer trainer who--new in fall 2025--will strive to attend a minimum of 80% of the team's matches, a volunteer parent head coach, and 1-2 volunteer parent assistant coaches. Our Futsal program allows U9 and U10 players to develop their individual skills during two optional 6-week winter sessions. To round out the soccer experience, our U9 and U10 players can choose to participate in any or all of our three popular World Cup weeklong clinics (late August, Spring Break, and late June) and--new in 2025-26--any or all of our School Holiday one-day clinics and tournaments at Nursery Field.
Developmental "9 v 9" Stage (U11, U12): As players move on to the U11 and U12 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. Most teams in the U11 and U12 age range participate in WYSL’s 10-week fall and spring seasons, while some of our top teams will begin to compete in EDP in fall 2025. The commitment involves a weekday training session, Saturday training session, and Sunday 9 v 9 match. Each team is led by a Rye Youth Soccer trainer who--new in fall 2025--will strive to attend a minimum of 80% of the team's matches, a volunteer parent head coach, and 1-2 volunteer parent assistant coaches. Our Futsal program allows U11 and U12 players to develop their individual skills during two optional 6-week winter sessions. To round out the soccer experience, our U11 and U12 players can choose to participate in any or all of our three popular World Cup weeklong clinics (late August, Spring Break, and late June) and--new in 2025-26--any or all of our School Holiday one-day clinics and tournaments at Nursery Field.
Competitive "11 v 11" Stage (U13, U14): The 11 v 11 format is introduced to our U13 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. Most teams in the U13 and U14 age range participate in WYSL’s 10-week fall and spring seasons, while some of our top teams will begin to compete in EDP in fall 2025. Each team is led by a Rye Youth Soccer trainer who--new in fall 2025--will strive to attend a minimum of 80% of the team's matches, a volunteer parent head coach, and 1-2 volunteer parent assistant coaches. Our Futsal program allows U13 and U14 players to develop their individual skills during two optional 6-week winter sessions. To round out the soccer experience, our U13 and U14 players can choose to participate in any or all of our three popular World Cup weeklong clinics (late August, Spring Break, and late June). Additionally, at this stage, many of our U13 and U14 players also begin to work as junior referees for our U6-U8 Intramural program on Saturday mornings.
Competitive "High School" Stage" (U15, JV, V): U15 teams continue to compete in full-length Fall and Spring seasons, while JV (U16) and Varsity (U19) solely in a full-length Spring season. Our U16 and U19 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 U6-U8 Intramural programs.
Discovery Stage (U4, U5): Known as “Mini Garnets,” our pre-K program helps U4 and U5 discover the sport through soccer-based games. Our primary aim is to help children develop their creativity, self-confidence, and social skills. Coordinated by our Director of Coaching, Chris Skelton, and staffed by many of our trainers, Mini Garnets runs for 7 weeks in the fall and 7 weeks in the spring. Additionally, our Osborn Indoor skills program welcomes U4 and U5 players for 10 additional weeks of winter indoor soccer training.
Foundational Stage (U6, U7, U8): Beginning at the U6 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. Additionally, we offer multiple winter programs designed to engage our U6-U8 players, including our Osborn Indoor skills program (10 weeks in the winter for U6-U7) and our Futsal program (two 6-week sessions in the winter for U6 and older). To round out the soccer experience, our U6-U8 players can choose to participate in any or all of our three popular World Cup weeklong clinics (late August, Spring Break, and late June) and--new in 2025-26--any or all of our School Holiday one-day clinics and tournaments at Nursery Field.
Developmental "Small-Sided" Stage (U9, U10): Upon graduation from our U8 program, rising U9 players have two options. They can continue playing soccer primarily within Rye by playing one more year of Intramurals (described above in the Foundational Stage) or tryout for our U9 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) or--new in fall 2025 for our top U9 teams--the Elite Developmental Program (EDP ) league. Each team is led by a Rye Youth Soccer trainer who--new in fall 2025--will strive to attend a minimum of 80% of the team's matches, a volunteer parent head coach, and 1-2 volunteer parent assistant coaches. Our Futsal program allows U9 and U10 players to develop their individual skills during two optional 6-week winter sessions. To round out the soccer experience, our U9 and U10 players can choose to participate in any or all of our three popular World Cup weeklong clinics (late August, Spring Break, and late June) and--new in 2025-26--any or all of our School Holiday one-day clinics and tournaments at Nursery Field.
Developmental "9 v 9" Stage (U11, U12): As players move on to the U11 and U12 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. Most teams in the U11 and U12 age range participate in WYSL’s 10-week fall and spring seasons, while some of our top teams will begin to compete in EDP in fall 2025. The commitment involves a weekday training session, Saturday training session, and Sunday 9 v 9 match. Each team is led by a Rye Youth Soccer trainer who--new in fall 2025--will strive to attend a minimum of 80% of the team's matches, a volunteer parent head coach, and 1-2 volunteer parent assistant coaches. Our Futsal program allows U11 and U12 players to develop their individual skills during two optional 6-week winter sessions. To round out the soccer experience, our U11 and U12 players can choose to participate in any or all of our three popular World Cup weeklong clinics (late August, Spring Break, and late June) and--new in 2025-26--any or all of our School Holiday one-day clinics and tournaments at Nursery Field.
Competitive "11 v 11" Stage (U13, U14): The 11 v 11 format is introduced to our U13 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. Most teams in the U13 and U14 age range participate in WYSL’s 10-week fall and spring seasons, while some of our top teams will begin to compete in EDP in fall 2025. Each team is led by a Rye Youth Soccer trainer who--new in fall 2025--will strive to attend a minimum of 80% of the team's matches, a volunteer parent head coach, and 1-2 volunteer parent assistant coaches. Our Futsal program allows U13 and U14 players to develop their individual skills during two optional 6-week winter sessions. To round out the soccer experience, our U13 and U14 players can choose to participate in any or all of our three popular World Cup weeklong clinics (late August, Spring Break, and late June). Additionally, at this stage, many of our U13 and U14 players also begin to work as junior referees for our U6-U8 Intramural program on Saturday mornings.
Competitive "High School" Stage" (U15, JV, V): U15 teams continue to compete in full-length Fall and Spring seasons, while JV (U16) and Varsity (U19) solely in a full-length Spring season. Our U16 and U19 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 U6-U8 Intramural programs.
