Competitive Soccer News: Spring Tryouts 2025!

Spring Tryouts for competitive soccer at SC United will occur through the month of May 2025. For more details, visit https://www.scunited.org/tryouts25 or email info@scunited.org.

The benefits of this new club include:

• The ability to have a larger pool of players at each age group, creating opportunities to align players with teams that fit their skill level and making each team more competitive in their respective league brackets 

• A better environment for players of all levels to develop and grow

• A clear pathway for players to advance from recreational soccer through to the highest competitive levels available in our area, providing more opportunities for kids to play club soccer through to college age

• More options for competitive players to choose from, depending on their commitment to soccer

• A way to bring the Santa Cruz soccer community closer together and competing at an even higher level than was previously possible

How will the new club work?

Players will have the opportunity to play year-round competitive soccer through ten-month programs. Alternatively, players may select to play seasonal competitive soccer through a six-month program played during Fall and Spring. The two-tiered approach allows the players more choices based on time commitment, cost, level and geographic area they want to play in. 

Because there will be multiple teams at each age group, players will also have the opportunity to guest play and move more fluidly between levels for new experiences and challenges as they develop or their interest levels change over time. With the combined programs, there is a clear player pathway from recreational soccer through to some of the most elite competition in the state; Academy on the Girls’ side and NorCal Premier on the Boys’ side and a place for all players of all skill levels in between.

How does the new club impact existing volunteer coaches?

Volunteer coaches at Aptos Soccer Club are encouraged to continue coaching competitive soccer as their children progress into the competitive environment. The new club aims to eventually support volunteer coaches with coaching education and guidance, session plans, and soccer curriculum, and to provide guidance by professional coaches. This will help develop the soccer program to allow players to be coached and trained in a more uniform manner allowing them to advance more quickly as well as provide opportunities for coaches to further their soccer and coaching education.

We believe this is an exciting new venture for players, families, coaches and administrators, and we look forward to how this will benefit the entire Santa Cruz competitive soccer community. More information about Santa Cruz United FC can be found at scunited.org