Soccer Information

 

Soccer is a two season sport that starts with the fall season and then follows up in the spring.  You may register for both seasons at the start of the fall or skip the fall and play in the spring only.   The age adjustments and moving up of players happens in the off season, the summer.   

 

LEAGUE INFORMATION

U6 and U8   (Under 6 and Under 8)

In this league, individual players register at 4 Ridge Rd. and the City forms the teams that represent Pleasant Ridge in the league with Ferndale, Oak Park and Hazel Park.  Games are played on Saturday mornings (with one or two weeknight games as the schedule needs), in Ferndale.   The fall season begins in September and usually consists of 6 games, in a 4 or 5 week span.  The spring season starts mid -April, running to mid or end of May. 

 

U10 AND UP, South Oakland Soccer Association (SOSA)

This is a parent run league that originated in Berkley.  Almost all of the south Oakland cities have teams represented in the SOSA league.  The City of Pleasant Ridge refers our U10 and older teams to this league--we do not register the  players or handle any part of the administration of this league.  All registration is done thru the SOSA registrar.   Please look over their registration dates and information.  Often, the U8 team will move as a team and if the team registers on time, the team can stay together as a Pleasant Ridge team. 

 

 

REGISTRATION

Soccer registration can be confusing due to the two-season format.   Spring soccer often draws more players and teams than the fall, however it is really the second half of the soccer year.  For registration purposes, this means that spring spaces are much more limited as most fall players have secured their spring spots.  Depending on how many new registrations we get (and how early players register) will determine if there is enough players for a new spring team.   Waiting till the neighbors kids are practicing with their team, is usually too late.  Spring registration is continuous from the fall so we can add kids at any point from fall to spring--it does require some anticipation from parents as  it isn't till warm spring weather hits when the kids show their interest in the sport.   And that can be too late.  I encourage parents to plan ahead and sign up their child way in advance.    It is better to drop than to have the disappointment of not getting on a team. 

 

Last minute registration work only when we have the available space on a team.   Team sizes are firm to ensure ample playing time is available to all players.  Coaches are not able to add players to a full team. 

 

AGE DIVISIONS

Age divisions can also be confusing because of the fall-spring season.  The age cut off dates are important and ensure that all children are in the correct divisions.  Each division is set up for two years of play (or 4 seasons), for those that play continuously.  The cutoff date to know is August 1. 

 

 

U6, (under 6) 

At the start of the fall season, all players must have turned 4 by August 1 of that year and also not be older than 6 by August 1st.  As the season progresses, and we move into the next calendar year, players will be turning 5 and 6 and the same age dates from the fall, apply to the spring season.  In other words, in spring, the youngest players should all be 5 by July 31st and the oldest should be 6 thru July 31st of that year. 

 

U8 (under 8)

At the start of the fall season, all players must have turned 6 by August 1 of that year and also not be older than 8 as of August 1st.  As the season progresses, players will naturally be turning 7 and 8.  The same cut off dates apply for the spring season.  In other words, the youngest players should all by 7 July 31st and the oldest should be 8years old thru July 31st of that year. 

 

 

Pre-K is a division for those young players that don't meet the U6 age requirements.  Pleasant Ridge has not traditionally had enough for a team, so we encourage you to register with Ferndale or inquire with them regarding  exact ages.    

 

U6 exceptions

For players that just miss the U6 cut off date, we have sometimes allowed a 'playing up' in the spring.  season.  As long as parents understand the risks and are aware of the fact that they will play 5 seasons in the same division, we can allow this.  However, too many young players playing up on one team is something we try to avoid.  Some teams have players that are their 4th season.   Getting clobbered can be discouraging and a young child's interest in the sport can be squashed very quickly.  We do encourage getting players into the correct age division from the beginning so that they are starting off within the right division.  The age divisions are very strict in the other cities and once the players move up beyond U8, the divisions are firm and actual birth certificates are used to assure everyone is where they should be. 

SOSA link