SCUSC Programs

Space Coast United Soccer Club offers a number of programs appropriate to a wide variety of skill levels. Our youngest players can begin participating in our Mini-Kickers program at 4 years old. New to SCUSC for Fall 2008 is a Youth Development Program for our U6 through U10 members. Many of our U12 and older club members participate in our Recreational Program. For those players enthusiastic about soccer, the club offers a developmental/competitive program starting at the under 10 age group. Finally, for those players who wish to keep their skills sharp over the winter, SCUSC offers a 4v4 program during January and February.

SCUSC Recreational Program

The club's recreational program is designed for kids to learn the game of soccer, improve their soccer skills, and (most importantly) to have fun. Participants in the recreational program range from first-time players gaining their first experience to the game all the way to players who have participated for many seasons.

Practices are typically held once a week at a time and place of the coaches choosing. Practices typically last from 60 to 90 minutes. For the U12 and older ages, our teams play against recreational teams from other clubs in the Brevard Youth Soccer League, so some travel within the county is required.

Generally speaking, registration for the fall season takes place in June, the season begins in late August and runs through October. Spring season registration occurs in January, and games occur from March through May. Specific details regarding the current season dates can be found on the registration page.

The age group for your child is determined by their age on August 1, 2008 for both the fall 2008 and spring 2009 soccer seasons. For example, if your child is 6 years old on August 1, 2008, then the child is designated to be in the 8 and under age group, commonly referred to as "U8". An online soccer age calculator can be found here. In the recreational divisions, the age groups are set at even numbers (e.g., U12. U14) which is different from the competitive divisions, which are delineated in yearly increments (e.g., U10, U11, U12). Please note that it is permissible for advanced players to play with an older age group (known as "playing up"), however, playing at a younger age group, even for those players who are lesser-skilled, is not allowed per Florida Youth Soccer regulations.

Your child should have their own soccer ball (with their name and phone number on it) that they will bring to every practice. The U12 ages play with a size 4 ball, and players older than U12 will play with a size 5 ball. Each player is required to wear shin guards to every practice and game. The shinguards need to be covered by a pair of soccer socks. While not required, a pair of soccer cleats is highly recommended for each player. All of these items can be purchased in the sporting goods sections of local department stores.

SCUSC Developmental Program

Our mission for the developmental/competitive soccer program is to provide progressive technical soccer training for enthusiastic young players (U10-U12) that will develop the "whole" person/athlete in an age appropriate context.

Typical practices and game schedules are very similar to recreational soccer, though developmental teams will generally practice two nights during the week instead of the more typical one night a week in the recreational program. At least twice per month they will practice with the second developmental team in their age group during one of their regularly scheduled practices.

The games (8-10 per season) are generally held on Saturday and occasionally on a Sunday as in the recreational program. Half of the games will be at home (Viera Regional Park), and the other half will be at other fields generally within Brevard County, most within a 30-45 minute drive or less from home. Occasionally Brevard Youth Soccer League (BYSL) allows a team outside of Brevard County to participate in our league, which, of course, will involve a longer drive.

The one major difference between recreational and developmental soccer is the commitment expected from the parents and players. The developmental players are expected to commit to playing both fall and spring seasons with the team once they are selected during the tryouts. They can play other sports during the soccer year, but we would hope soccer games would be the priority when deciding what to attend when schedule conflicts arise. Many of our players have played both basketball and baseball during the soccer seasons and very few conflicts arose. Practices will generally be held between seasons as well to keep in “soccer” shape all year round. The players will also be expected to attend tournaments that the coach plans to attend (one or two each season – either local or in other venues around the state). This information should be provided in advance so that plans can be made for participating.

The other commitment for the parents is a financial one. The parents will generally spend more money for uniforms (higher quality home and away jerseys/socks), professional trainers, and tournaments. You will likely spend $500 - $900 per child per year (front loaded), although team sponsorships or fundraisers can offset some of these costs. In addition, staying in hotels at an out of town tournament will cost the family an additional expense, though some children stay with a teammate’s family when parents cannot attend. As you can tell there is a larger commitment for the developmental player and parents, but we really think its well worth it if your child is enthusiastic about the game of soccer.