Programs – General
Programs – 3rd and 4th grades
Registration
Schedules
Equipment
Fields
Staff
Programs – General
What is the difference between In-Town Soccer and Travel Soccer?
The primary difference is in the game opponent:
- With the 3rd & 4th-Grade In-Town Program, all opponents are LUSC teams here in Lexington or occasionally some teams in Arlington.
- For 3rd/4th-8th Grade Travel Soccer, games are against non-LUSC teams in the Boston Area Youth Soccer (BAYS) league, which includes teams from 60+ towns in Eastern Massachusetts. Half of the games are home in Lexington, and the other half are away in nearby towns.
Another difference is that Travel Soccer teams are grouped by skill level, so the travel team will tend to have players of similar skill and play against similarly composed teams. In-Town Soccer teams are balanced and may have a wider range of skills.
The game format and the number of meetings a week is the same.
When does travel become an option?
Travel becomes an option in the spring of third grade, at the U9 level.
Does LUSC organize indoor teams during the winter?
While LUSC offers clinics during the winter, it does not organize any indoor teams (the exception is LPDA, which is a year-long commitment). On the other hand, various Lexington teams are formed and typically play at Acton Teamworks (Massachusetts Futsal Association is another possibility). These teams are often organized by LUSC coaches, but can be organized by any interested parent, and need not be limited to players who are registered with LUSC. The team formation process is totally under the control of the organizing party.
Programs – 3rd and 4th grades (U9 and U10)
How old are the players on the team for 3rd and 4th grades?
For in-town teams, U9 and U10 are combined, so there will be some 3rd and some 4th graders. U9 travel teams are just 3rd graders, and U10 travel teams are just 4th graders. Precise age guidelines can be found here.
How many times a week do teams meet at U9 and above?
For in-town and travel it’s the same. There are typically three meetings a week: two practices and a game.
When do teams meet, and what is the format, for U9 and above?
The practices are usually at night and the game is usually on Saturday. There is a pro clinic where all teams within the division practice on the same field (similar to U6-U8 practices). There is also a second team practice that is scheduled by each team. An example schedule might be Pro Clinic (Mon 5:30-7:00), Team Practice (Thu 5:30-7:00), Game (Sat 10:30-12:00).
What are the changes to game format in moving from K-2 at Diamond, to U9?
There are several changes to the game format that move it closer to the adult game. Games are now 7v7 including a goalie. The soccer goal is a smaller version of the full-sized goal. Goal kicks, corner kicks, throw-ins, kickoffs, and substitutions are now run more like the adult version. Games consist of two 30-minute halves. A referee will enforce the rules of the game.
When and how are evaluations conducted for U9 spring travel?
There is a special evaluation for U9 players late in the fall in the October/November time frame (older players perform evaluations in the spring). Please have your child participate if they are considering spring travel. An objective panel of observers (i.e., not the coaches/parents) evaluates the players for placement on a travel team. Note that this is not a tryout; all players who register for travel will be placed on a team. The purpose of the evaluation is to make sure they are placed on an appropriate team. More information on team formation can be found here.
Registration
How do I know if my child is registered?
If you don’t remember if you registered, log in to your account. If you forget your password, click on the “lost password” link and follow the steps. Use the email you registered with.
How do I log in to my account?
Starting with the Fall 2023 season we are using AdminSports for registration.
What team is my child on?
Your child’s coach will contact you. Due to scheduling restraints sometimes it may be as late as the Monday or Tuesday before the first game.
LUSC follows the BAYS residency requirements for both in-town and travel soccer. Generally, a child must live or go to school in Lexington in order to play with LUSC. There are a few exceptions noted in the BAYS Rule Book, as well as an exception for Hanscom Air Force Base residents.
Can residents of Hanscom Air Force Base play with LUSC?
LUSC follows the BAYS residency requirements for both in-town and travel soccer. These requirement are as follows for travel soccer (3rd grade and up):
- Up to 8th grade, players residing on Hanscom Air Force Base may register with any of the four town clubs in the Hanscom communities, including LUSC. The others are Bedford Youth Soccer, Concord-Carlisle Youth Soccer, and Lincoln Youth Soccer.
- Players in Grades 9-12 residing on Hanscom Air Force Base who attend high school in Bedford should be registered with Bedford Youth Soccer.
For all other programs (for example, in-town soccer for K-4 and clinics), Hanscom residents are welcome to register with LUSC.
What happens if volunteer coaches cannot be found for my child’s team?
LUSC will do its utmost to identify volunteer coaches for every in-town and travel team. LUSC offers training for coaches, ready-made lesson plans, and professional guidance to ease parent volunteers into the coaching role. However, if a volunteer coach for a team cannot be found, then LUSC may be forced to cancel a team and refund the registrations of the players on the team, even if those players registered before the registration deadline. Fortunately, LUSC has never had to cancel a team.
Schedules
When are my child’s practices?
Your child’s coach will coordinate the practice times and locations and will let you know within a week before the first game.
Equipment
Does my child need to purchase a uniform?
If your child is on a travel team they will need to purchase a uniform through our website during registration. If they have a travel uniform from last season they do not need to buy a new one. In-town players grades 3-4 do not need to purchase a uniform. A team-specific color T-shirt will be provided. See the LUSC Uniform Information page for more information.
How do I obtain the reversible jersey used for in-town play?
In-town players K-2 need to purchase a reversible mesh jersey from Tricon Sports. See the LUSC Uniform Information page for more information.
Can my child use baseball or softball cleats?
No. Baseball or softball cleats have a different design that is considered unsafe for use in soccer.
Fields
Where are the fields?
Go to our Fields page for directions to all the town’s fields.
Staff
How do I contact the Pro-Coach?
The pro-coach assignments and contact info will be listed on the Schedules page as soon as they are available.
