Tyngsboro Youth Soccer Program Overview

In-Town - U6
TYSA offers an in-town program for children ages 4 through 5 (U6). Games are played in Tyngsboro against other Tyngsboro teams though there may be exceptions when extra games are needed. Registration for the fall program runs from May through August. Registration for the Springprogram runs from October through March. Specific dates are posted on the TYSA website.

Format is 3v3 play with no goalies as suggested by the US Youth Soccer Association (why_small_sided_games_8-121.PDF). 2 games played concurrently.
(4) 10 min quarters or (2) 20 min halves
Teams meet Saturdays for combination practice/game
The co-ed U6 program focuses on having fun while learning the basics: dribbling, passing, receiving, and shooting and of course good sportsmanship
No score is kept at the games

In-Town – U8
TYSA offers an in-town program for children ages 6-7.Games are played in Tyngsboro against other Tyngsboro teams though there may be exceptions when extra games are needed. Registration for the fall program runs from May through August. Registration for the spring program runs from October through March. Specific dates are posted on the TYSA website. This is the age when referees are introduced.

Format is 4v4 play with no goalies as suggested by the US Youth Soccer Association (why_small_sided_games_8-121.PDF).
(4) 12 minute quarters or (2) 24 minute halves.
There is one practice during the week.
Games are on Saturdays.
The U8 program introduces "small sided tactics" or "team play" and begins to introduce the "Laws of the Game".
No score is kept at the games

Travel - U10
Travel soccer is for children ages 8 through 9.TYSA plays in the Nashoba Valley Youth Soccer League (NVYSL) and plays against teams from other towns. Approximately half of the games will be played in Tyngsboro. The remaining away games will require traveling to other towns. Some of the towns in this league include Pepperell, Groton/Dunstable, Littleton, Stowe, and Fitchburg. For a complete list of towns that participate in NVYSL visit the Organizations list on the NVYSL website. Registration for the Fall Travel program runs from May through June. Registration for the Spring travel program runs from October through December. Specific dates are posted on the TYSA website. The number of teams is based on the number of player registrations for the season. Due to NVYSL's maximum roster sizes we may not be able to place every player on a team. In this situation TYSA will notify players. Any players not placed on teams due to roster size will receive a full refund. See "About Travel Soccer" for more information.

Format is 6v6 (5 field players and a keeper)
A goalkeeper is added at this age level.
For competitive teams there is a two season commitment for U10 and above soccer. This is because Nashoba Valley Youth Soccer League (NVYSL) places teams in the Spring divisions based on their performance in.
(2) 25 minute halves
Practice is 2 nights / week (sometimes 1 night a week for the rec teams).
There are no play-offs, but there is an end of season tournament in the spring.
Scores are kept but are not reported on the NVYSL site. These scores are used to move teams around so that we can get to "equal" competition. And IDEAL record in U10 is something like 3-3-2 or 4 and 4.
Games are on Saturdays
The U10 Travel program is a competitive program focused on challenging players by playing against teams from surrounding towns. Players wishing to play U10 Travel must attend skill assessment in the spring to help determine their team and division placement.The U10 Spring Travel program is an all travel program open to U9 and U10 players. MYSL has regulations governing roster sizes. In the event that the number of registered players will not divide equally into teams WYSA reserves the right to drop players as necessary to ensure the correct number of players per team.

Travel - U12
Travel soccer is for children ages 10 through 11. TYSA plays in the Nashoba Valley Youth Soccer League (NVYSL) and plays against teams from other towns. Approximately half of the games will be played in Tyngsboro. The remaining away games will require traveling to other towns. Some of the towns in this league include Pepperell, Groton/Dunstable, Littleton, Stowe, and Fitchburg. For a complete list of towns that participate in NVYSL visit the Organizations list on the NVYSL website. Registration for the Fall Travel program runs from May through June. Registration for the Spring travel program runs from October through December. Specific dates are posted on the TYSA website. The number of teams is based on the number of player registrations for the season. Due to NVYSL's maximum roster sizes we may not be able to place every player on a team. In this situation TYSA will notify players. Any players not placed on teams due to roster size will receive a full refund.

Format is 8v8 (7 field players and a keeper)
(2)30 minute halves
Practice is 2 nights / week
There is a “NCUP” tournament in the spring to determine the division winner.
Division winners qualify to go to the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC).
Scores are kept and are reported on the NVYSL site.
Games are on Saturdays
The U12 program is focused on continuing player development. Players will be placed on teams based on the results of player assessments and coach’s recommendations.

Travel - U14
Travel soccer is for children ages 12 through13. TYSA plays in the Nashoba Valley Youth Soccer League (NVYSL) and plays against teams from other towns. Approximately half of the games will be played in Tyngsboro. The remaining away games will require traveling to other towns. Some of the towns in this league include Pepperell, Groton/Dunstable, Littleton, Stowe, and Fitchburg. For a complete list of towns that participate in NVYSL visit the Organizations list on the NVYSL website. Registration for the Fall Travel program runs from May through June. Registration for the Spring travel program runs from October through December. Specific dates are posted on the TYSA website. The number of teams is based on the number of player registrations for the season. Due to NVYSL's maximum roster sizes we may not be able to place every player on a team. In this situation TYSA will notify players. Any players not placed on teams due to roster size will receive a full refund.

Format is 11v11 (10 field players and a keeper)
(2)35 minute halves
Practice is 2 nights / week
There is a “NCUP” tournament in the spring to determine the division winner.
Division winners qualify to go to the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC).
Scores are kept and are reported on the NVYSL site.
Games are on Saturdays.

High School Age (U16/U18/U19)
High School age players participate in the Nashoba Valley Youth Soccer League (NVYSL) for the Fall season (HS-Age) and Middlesex Youth Soccer League for the Spring season (U16 and U18/19). See the Participating Organizations on the NVYSL website for a list of participating towns. For the Spring season games are "venue-based" to allow for more effective scheduling of officials.Tyngsboro teams may have home games that are not played in Tyngsboro. Registration for the Fall Travel program runs from May through August. Registration for the Spring travel program runs from October through December. Specific dates are posted on the TYSA website. The number of teams is based on the number of player registrations for the season. Due to NVYSL's maximum roster sizes we may not be able to place every player on a team. In this situation TYSA will notify players. Any players not placed on teams due to roster size will receive a full refund.

Note: WYSA is not affiliated with the Westford Middle School and High School programs. We encourage players who make their school teams to also play with WYSA.
In the fall the HS program plays 8v8 recreational soccer, focused on having fun and enjoying the sport. Games are played against other towns in the Nashoba Valley area (e.g. Groton-Dunstable, Acton-Boxborough, Harvard, Ayer, Northborough, etc.). TYSA does not have any competitive HS teams in the fall (this would conflict with the HS soccer team).