Travel Soccer Info

What is Litchfield Travel Soccer?

The travel soccer program offered by the LYSL is a competitive soccer program designed to develop and improve player soccer skills at a higher competitive level than recreational soccer.  Teams generally have practice twice a week and games on the weekends.  Teams are coached by licensed volunteer coaches and trained 1 night a week by Bruno Victal or a trainer from Brazilian Arts Soccer.  Players are required to tryout for a team in their age group or a level that is competitive for them – while the LYSL travel program is not a “premier” program, it is a competitive program and cuts based on skill or maturity level can be expected.  Tryouts are held in the spring (early June) for the fall season and include the following spring season.  The travel soccer commitment is for the entire year.


 How Tryouts Work?

Tryouts are held in the spring.  There are typically multiple dates to tryout.  Each player must attend one of the tryout sessions and all are encouraged to attend as many as possible.  Rain days will be rescheduled.

Coaches evaluate players on the following skills:

  • Team play
  • Passing
  • Dribbling
  • Shooting
  • Other age appropriate soccer skills

At the end of each tryout session, player scores are reviewed and tallied by the coaches.  Rosters are selected for each team according to a player’s individual score.  If there are enough kids in one age group then multiple teams will be formed.  This is also dependent upon having qualified coaches available.  Unfortunately, there is a set roster size for all travel teams; therefore some players may not make a team.

Example: The U10 roster size is 12 therefore the top 12 individuals will fill that roster.

* Being a member of a travel team during a previous season does not assure a spot on any team now or in the future.  Teams may need to be reorganized due to player age, skill level, and/or roster availability.

Notification:  All players/parents will be notified via email as to whether or not they have been selected to play on their age specific team. Those not selected to play will be called or sent an individual email (not a group email). Please be sure to confirm your phone number and email on the registration form.

** In either case, players will be notified within 17 days if they have or have not made a team


 What Is The Time Commitment?

Players and parents should keep in mind that to develop as a soccer player it is important to get as many touches on the soccer ball as possible.  It is important that the players are dedicated to practice as well as games.  The more a player practices and plays, the better the player will become.   Coaches will work to develop the player skills as well as give some tactical advice on how the game should be played.  Most important is that the coaches will teach the kids how to play soccer and have fun.

 Players and parents should be committed to the travel program.  Please do not have a player tryout if they cannot attend practices or games.  Remember that other players may have been cut from the team that would have liked to play.  Please do everything possible to attend as many practices and games as possible.

Do not be surprised if the kids are running laps or wind sprints for long periods of time, as soccer players must be in shape to play.  The conditioning of a player is the coach’s decision and they must decide on what conditioning the team needs.

It is also recommended that the travel players attend soccer camps offered by other organizations.  Frequently there are soccer camps offered at Innes Field during the summer for all ages.  There are also several others in the area.  Ask a coach or board member for more information or refer to our website.

It is also recommended that travel players play indoor soccer in the winter.  Again this will be a coach’s decision and is usually one day a week for an hour in Derry or Bedford. The indoor season has three sessions lasting about 8 weeks each session.   There is an additional cost associated with the indoor season.


 What Is The Financial Commitment?

Playing travel soccer is more expensive than playing recreation soccer and the costs vary from team to team.  The total cost estimate for both the fall and spring seasons range from $250 – $400; with the exact cost per team determined after the roster sizes have been decided.  The cost includes: field usage fees, insurance, referee fees, NHSL fees, and fees for at least 2 tournaments.  When needed, an additional uniform (shorts, shirt, t-shirt, and socks) cost (currently $90) is also required.  Travel teams often attend optional winter session training that can cost $70+ for each session (1 to 3 depending on the team).


 What Does The Season Entail?

A player’s age group is dependent on the birth year of a player.  For example, if a player turns 10 after December 31st of the tryout year, then they are considered a U10 player.  Teams will play in the New Hampshire Soccer League.  There are 8 games per season (4 home and 4 away) which are held on Saturdays and Sundays, most frequently between 12:00 and 5:00 pm.  The length of the games will range from 25-minute halves to 45-minute halves depending on the age group. 

Teams will travel to other towns to play games.  The NHSL does its best to schedule games for the younger and lower divisions with more local towns such as Londonderry, Bedford, Hooksett, Nashua, Derry, Hudson, and Merrimack; however, it is not uncommon to travel up to an hour away and in some cases, may even need to travel to Keene, Hanover, or the Seacoast for games.

Practices are typically 2 nights per week for 1 to 1 ½ hours with one of those nights having an hour session with a paid trainer from Brazilian Arts Training.  

Travel teams typically play in 2 tournaments a year.  These consist of 3 to 4 games and are fun for the kids and parents alike.  Most tournaments are held on Memorial Day weekend in the spring and Columbus Day weekend in the fall.  Litchfield hosts a Halloween Tournament in November for teams in the U10 and under age groups.