U-11 to U-14 Classics Program - 2009 season

Introduction
Bridlemile Soccer Club (BSC) began offering classic teams in 1998 in response to requests from a growing number of Central/West Portland families who wanted a “local” neighborhood classic option. In the beginning, the club offered a limited number of teams, and players for the program primarily came from the Central & West Portland area, including Vista, Foothills, Bridlemile, Forest Heights, West Sylvan, Hillside, Jackson and Washington County. The club has now grown so that it offers a full range of youth and high school teams, and it has attracted players from the entire Portland metropolitan area, including Tigard, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Clackamas, Gresham and southwest Washington in addition to the areas which were the traditional source of players.

This year, BSC will field both boys and girls teams at the U-11 (5th grade) through U-14 (8th grade) levels in the fall of 2009 and at the U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels in the winter/spring of 2009/10 (more information will be available in July). The club also offers a pre-classic U 10 developmental program.

Philosophy
BSC offers opportunities for both the highly motivated player who wants to focus exclusively on soccer, as well for the player who includes soccer as one of their extracurricular interests. In either case, our
focus is on improving the individual player’s technical skills, tactical understanding and concentration level needed to succeed in competitive soccer. The club believes that soccer should be used as a tool to teach life skills and to enhance social skills. At the same time we recognize that we are a soccer club, and we strive to give our players the skills and understanding to enable them to play at higher
levels during high school years and potentially to assist in the college admission process.

BSC recognizes that different children develop at different times and that they will lose interest if they are not given a meaningful opportunity to play in games. Therefore, our philosophy is to give all players an opportunity to play a significant portion of each game.

While we do not take a “win at all costs” approach, the club has produced teams competitive with the strongest programs in the area and the state. In fact we believe that we have one of the very few teams
in the state that has ever won a US Club Soccer regional tournament and gone on to the national tournament.

Commitment for U11-U14
Teams normally practice 2-3 times a week starting in June and leading up to the Qualifying Tournaments (U12-U14 only) July 31-Aug. 2 or Aug. 7-9. Each team will participate in a week-long team camp in June or July and 2-4 tournaments (one of which may involve out-of-area travel) during the summer, depending on coach and parental input. The fall season begins shortly after school starts and involves two practices a week, with games on the weekend (primarily Saturdays). One or two of those games may require travel to central, eastern or southern Oregon.

For those teams that make a Premier division, the season is divided into the Fall (8 games, Sept-Nov) and Spring (6 games, Feb-March), followed by the State Cup in April.  For teams in other divisions, the Fall season is 12 games in September and October, usually followed by the President's Cup in November (although some teams may choose to play instead in the State Cup in April).  A spring league of 8 games in March - April is optional (but normally entered) for non-Premier teams.  Some teams may play indoor or futsal in the winter (December-January or February).

Fees and Costs - 2009 season - U11-U14
The club registration fee for the summer/fall season is $800. This fee pays for OYSA/PYSA league, team and player fees, field costs, coaches' compensation, equipment costs and scholarships.  Players on teams that make Premier are committing to an additional fee (estimated at $300 and collected in the Spring) for the Spring and State Cup. Players on non-Premier teams pay $200 if they play in the optional spring season.

Uniforms cost approximately $85 and warm-ups / gear bags are $115. Tournament costs vary by team, but average $150 for summer and fall tournaments. We anticipate that team camps will cost about $100 per player. Each team handles its own tournament fees and travel costs as well as any costs associated with indoor/futsal. Payment plans and full or partial scholarships based on financial need are available - please contact Steve Asakawa, 297-4067 or stevea@spiritone.com, if you have questions.