Youth Competitive
The Goulbourn Soccer Club youth competitive program offers players the opportunity to play soccer at the highest level in the region. In 2010 teams will be formed at the Division 1, Premier and Regional levels. The majority of the players are from Goulbourn, but players from outside Goulbourn are welcome to tryout for any team. Player placement on a team is based solely on tryout performance - we do not have a quota of Goulbourn players for each team.
Competitive teams in the U9 - U21 divisions play in the ERSL.
Competitive Commitment
Playing competitive soccer involves a higher level of commitment than playing recreational soccer. To clearly set the club's expectations of all competitive players, you will be required to sign the GSC Competitive Player Agreement as a condition of playing for Goulbourn competitive team.
Competitive Teams for 2008 Outdoor Season
The teams we will plan to enter in 2010 are listed here. Factors in the final team placement decision include:
- The estimated 2009 performance level of the team based on last year's performance, and known player changes (e.g. players who have moved out of the Ottawa area),
- Team/division allocations from the East Region Soccer League, which promotes and relegates teams based on the standings from the previous year, and
- The skill level of the players who come out to tryouts, to ensure there a reasonable match between the placement of the team and the abilities of the players.
What age groups play youth competitive soccer?
Each year the Club enters a number of youth competitive (representative) teams in the Under-9 through Under-21 age categories.
Why do you run a competitive program at U9?
By this age some players have played soccer for 4 or 5 years, and the players have started to differentiate. To ensure each player receives a level of competition suitable to their abilities, in past years Goulbourn has selected a U9 team through tryouts and entered the teams into a higher level of competition.
Do I have to enter the competitive program at U9? or U10?
No. The Club holds tryouts each spring. All interested players are welcome to attend. The decision on this year's roster is made at the tryouts, and players from last year are not "grandfathered" (they do not have a spot reserved for them on the team because they played competitive last year). We have had players play recreational soccer up to U15, then join their first competitive team at U16.
However, because competitive players have a higher level of competition, and they usually practice twice per week (recreational teams usually practice once), the difference in the skill level between competitive and recreational players increases with age, and switching streams becomes more difficult over the years. Most players start playing competitive at U9-U12.
When does the season start?
Each league sets the specific date for the start of the season. Games typically start within one week after May 15th.
How long does the season last?
The regular season continues into early September. The competitive Youth Cup is played throughout the season concurrent with the regular game schedule.
How often are games and practices?
Competitive teams will have one game per week, and at least one practice per week. Most competitive teams practice twice per week - once during a weeknight, and a second time on the weekend.
How many levels of competition are there? How much travel is involved?
The highest level of competition in which Goulbourn participates is "Regional", followed by "Premier" and "Division 1".
Regional and Premier teams will travel the full East Region, which stretches from Belleville to the Quebec border, and north to Pembroke. The distance a team will travel depends on the location of opponents - most are from the Ottawa area. You should expect to travel to each opponent once per season. Games at a very long distance (e.g., Belleville) will be played on weekends.
In Division 1, the East Region Soccer League (ERSL) will divide the region into three geographic areas, assuming sufficient numbers of teams are entered into an age category, resulting in less travel. We are in the West division. Typically, Goulbourn teams will travel east to Nepean, south to the Osgoode-Rideau area, west to Carleton Place, and north to Renfrew (possibly Pembroke and Deep River, if they enter teams).
Are there any additional costs to play competitive?
Yes, there are several extra or higher costs, as compared to recreational soccer:
- Each player will pay a $60 try-out fee - this is used to rent the Oz Dome and school gymnasiums for the tryout sessions.
- Player registration costs are higher for competitive, as the leagues charge a per-team entry fee, there is a higher cost for referees, indoor time is rented for pre-season indoor practices, and the provincial registration fee is higher for a competitive player.
- Some players/teams may decide to purchase team-wear, such as track-suits, jackets or sports bags. This decision is up to each individual player.
- Competitive teams typically enter two or three tournaments during the season, which will incur a per-team entrance fee. The teams will decide whether these tournaments will be in-town, or if they will travel out of town for one or more of their tournaments (which require travel and lodging). The fee for these tournaments is collected from the player by each team manager, and is in addition to the player registration fee paid to the club.
Competitive Tryouts
For more information see the Tryout FAQ page.
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