Q:  What is Advanced Soccer?

A: Advanced Soccer at the local club level is a step up from recreational soccer.  The purpose of Advanced Soccer is to offer a more challenging environment for players that seek to develop a higher level of skill.

Q:  How do I know if my son/daughter is good enough to play in Advanced Soccer?

A: If your son/daughter is better than half the recreation team players they play with, they should consider trying out for a Advanced Soccer Team in their age group.  If they try out and don’t make a Advanced soccer team, the coach will tell you what they need to work on to increase their chances of making a team next season.

Q:  Does Advanced Soccer cost a lot of money?

A:  Most coaches for the Aptos Soccer Club are volunteers, so fees are collected only to offset direct costs to the team. They average $200 to $300 per year, depending on what activities each team participates in. Uniforms and warm-ups are purchased every three years, and cost about $150 to $200 for the full set, and about $75 for the essential components (jerseys, shorts, socks). Annual costs include league registration, tournaments, extracurricular team activities, equipment, and registration for additional seasons of play (winter indoor and/or spring). Many teams also hire a professional trainer for a specified period to augment the coaching performed by the volunteer staff. Fundraising and sponsorships can significantly reduce per family costs.

Q:  How far do teams have to travel for games?

A:  Out of a 10 game season, 5 games are played in Aptos.  Out of the remaining 5 games, 2 or 3 will usually be played in Santa Cruz County, and the remaining 2 or 3 are played in adjacent counties (Monterey, Santa Clara and San Benito).   All home games are either played at the Polo Grounds, Aptos High artificial turf field, Valencia Elementary, or Aptos Jr. High, depending on the age group and field availabaility .

Q:  What if my son/daughter doesn’t like being on a Advanced Soccer team?

A: We encourage soccer players to finish the season with their Advanced Soccer team.  However, if a player is truly unhappy with the team/coach, he/she can be placed on a recreation team if requested.

Q:  How often does a Advanced Soccer team practice?

A: Most teams practice 2 times per week.  Practices usually begin in late June or early July. 

Q:  When are Advanced Soccer try-outs and do I have to be invited?

A: Fall Soccer tryouts are held in April.  There are no tryouts for spring soccer, as it is largely a continuation of the roster from the previous fall.  Anyone who has a desire to play at a higher level than recreational soccer is welcome to participate in Advanced Soccer Tryouts. You can check the Aptos Soccer web site for information specific to the team.

Q:  What’s the difference between spring and fall soccer?

A: The League of record for Advanced Soccer is in the fall, coincident with the Recreational season. Many teams also play in spring to help accelerate player and team development, but spring results are not used in seeding for Fall league.  Spring league is 8-10 weeks long and begins around April 1.