Youth FAQs

When we began back in 1977, we were incorporated “to promote the growth of an appreciation for the game of soccer by providing opportunities for youth to learn the game, its rules and to participate in organized programs of soccer.” That mission remains true today even as the organization has expanded. Today we offer three distinct programs: Youth Recreational, TOPSoccer for players with disabilities and LYSA Adult.

LYSA is a volunteer, not-for-profit, self-supporting organization. The organization is run by volunteers mostly comprised of parents.

There are two ways to register. Please remember that regardless of the method, proof of age is required for new players. A copy of a birth certificate is best. Passports or valid driver’s licenses are also acceptable.

1. Use our online registration system found on lysa.org and click the “Registration” tab. This is the preferred and easiest method – credit card only.
2. Print a copy of our registration form and mail it to us. You can download the form from the website lysa.org; click on the “Registration” tab or email office@lysa.org and request one. Checks may be mailed.

*Uniform is not included in the registration fee and costs about $35-40. You will order your uniform directly from The Locker Room (739 Lane Allen Rd) after you are assigned to a tea6

Your registration fee helps us cover the cost of field maintenance, field construction, league equipment, referee fees and administrative costs. LYSA is entirely self-supporting and we depend on registration fees and parent volunteers to keep us going. We are a non-profit organization and do our best to keep fees as low as possible.

Registration for fall season is generally May 1–July 10; spring season is Dec. 1–Feb 15. After those dates, we will continue to place children if there is space available. Please check the web site for updates during this period. As age groups fill up, we will close online registration and move to a paper waiting list registration. A $10 early bird discount is available through June 15 for fall and January 15 for spring. Late fee of $10 will be added to registrations received after July 15 (fall) or Feb. 15 (spring).

Players move up to the next age group for the fall season only. They continue in the same age group for the following spring.

See the chart in the paragraph below explaining “Which Age Group is My Child In.” The age categories remain the same for the fall and spring seasons.

Move-up is determined specifically by year of birth.

If your child does not move up in age and played with us in spring, he or she will remain on the same team unless you request a change.

If you register online, you must pay with a debit/credit card.

If you choose to print off the paper form through the website, you pay with a check mailed to the address at the top of the form.

If your child is not assigned to a team, your fee will be refunded. Otherwise no refunds are given.

Age groups are determined each year in the fall and continue unchanged through the spring season.

We must have proof of age for all new players or players that have not played with LYSA. We prefer a copy of your child’s birth certificate; however a copy of a passport or other government issued ID are also accepted.

In order to complete registration you will be required to upload your child’s birth certificate directly into the online registration when prompted. If you have problems, please contact our registrar, Lois Stephens, at registrar@lysa.org for assistance. Your child will NOT be placed on a team without it.

The specific weekends of play will be listed on the LYSA website.

Games for our 8U19–U age groups will be played primarily on Saturdays and Sundays; however there may be some weeknight games, including Friday evenings.

Games for our 4U, 5U and 6U age groups will be played primarily on Saturdays.

We reserve the right to reschedule games if necessary for weather situations. We will do everything we can to be sure all games are played.

The actual game schedule will vary each week. Typically games begin on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and on Sundays at 1 p.m.

We make every attempt to form teams geographically within Fayette County and surrounding areas. This does not necessarily mean that your child will be assigned to a team that practices right in your neighborhood.

We take the following into account when we form teams:

• First priority is given to players returning to a team. As long as the child is registered before the registration deadline, they will be placed on the same team they played on the previous season provided they are not moving up in age group and do not request to be placed on a different team.
• All new players and players changing age groups will be placed in the unassigned player pool and randomly assigned to teams based on their home addresses, or the location chosen when registering online.
• In age groups that span more than one birth year, we also try to maintain an even split between younger and older players.

If you registered your child before the registration deadline, you will be assigned to a team. Once the team is approved by the registrar, you will receive an email that specifies your team, coach and coach’s contact info. You should then receive a follow-up communication from the coach within a week of this initial contact. If you don’t hear from a coach within the week following the initial informational email, please feel free to initiate contact with the coach. If you do not receive an informational email within two weeks before the season, please contact us at registrar@lysa.org.

Although we do not take requests for specific team placements or specific coaches, we do offer a program that allows your child to play with one friend. On the registration form you may put the name of a friend or neighbor you would like your child to play with. We added this option because we realize that to small children it is sometimes comforting to know you will have at least one person you know on the team. Also, we realize that parents are busy and having a buddy to carpool with is sometimes necessary. The following conditions apply:

• Friends need to be in the same age group.
• You may not move up or down in an age group in order to play with a friend.
• Because we try to form teams geographically, it will be best if friends reside in the same area of town.
• Chains will not be honored.
• Make sure the friend you request also requests to play with you. This must be a reciprocal request.
• We cannot guarantee that your request will be honored but we will make our best effort.

LYSA does not take requests for team placement. The one exception to this rule is with coaches and their assistants. We will allow each coach volunteer to designate one assistant coach. The coach’s child and assistant coach’s child will be placed on the same team provided they are in the same age group.

Siblings in the same age group will be placed on the same team if requested and when possible.

If your child played during our previous season, he or she will be placed back on the same team unless he or she moves up or you request a change. Children only move up to the next age group in the fall season. See above in the “Registration” info for more specifics.

4U, 5U and 6U age groups: All teams are co-ed (boys and girls).

8U–14U age groups: We offer an all-girls league and a mixed (boys) league. The mixed league tends to be composed mostly of boys, but girls who prefer to play on boys’ teams may register for the mixed league.

16U–19U: Offered for our high school age players. We do not offer an all-girls league in these age groups.

Practice locations and times are determined by the coach. Recreational teams U8 and above may practice no more than twice a week for no more than a total of five hours. Teams may practice anywhere they can find space. Teams may not practice on any LYSA field used for games.

5U and 6U teams may practice no more than twice a week for no more than a total of two hour prior to the start of the season. After the season begins, no more than one practice a week for one hour may be held.

All of our LYSA recreational coaches are volunteers. In most cases, the coaches are parents of players. Coaching clinics are held each season to prepare the coaches to work with the children.

LYSA depends on parent volunteers to keep us going. Coaching is our most important volunteer position, but we depend on parent volunteers in many areas.

If you choose not to participate in our volunteer program, you may opt out by paying an additional $50 per child.

LYSA relies on parent volunteers to coach teams, assign players to teams, track scores, help with advertising, referee games for younger teams, assist with tournaments, line fields and anything else that crops up. Without parent volunteers, LYSA could not succeed.

Head coach: You will be the head coach of a youth team. No soccer experience necessary; just a willingness to work with kids. You will be coaching your own child’s team. Time commitment: 4-8 hours per week.

Assistant coach: Assist the head coach with your team. Time commitment: 4-8 hours per week.

Co-coach: Share duties with another parent on the team. Time commitment: 4-8 hours per week.

TOPSoccer Buddy: Individual must be at least 12 years; can be a soccer player or someone who works with special needs children or adults. Soccer experience is not necessary; just the strong desire to enable children to have fun. Time commitment: 1 hour per week on Sundays.

LYSA committee positions: If you are interested in exploring the opportunities available within LYSA and you feel your experience or background could help in these areas, please e-mail office@lysa.org. 

Team parent: Assist the Coach with team communications and make refreshment schedule for your team.

Masterson Station Park are the home fields for LYSA. Most divisions will play most of their games here.

12U, 14U, 16U and 19U divisions also play teams from Woodford, Scott and Jessamine counties. You will have some games that will be played in other counties.

All children on recreational soccer teams will play at least half of every game.

Shin guards are required for all players. A ball and rubber-cleated shoes are recommended but not required. Cleats must be soccer style (no toe cleat).

Ball sizes are different for each age group. Players should have the proper ball size.

LYSA offers three different programs: 

1. Youth Recreational: The foundation of our organization. Teams are formed for age groups 4U to 19U. Following the guidelines of the U.S. Youth Soccer Association, our teams are formed on a random, geographical basis by the child’s age.
2. TOPSoccer: The Outreach Program for Soccer is a community-based soccer program designed to meet the needs of athletes ages 4 and up with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. The program is geared toward player development, and athletes are placed on teams according to ability. 
3. LYSA Adult: The adults like to have fun too. This league is geared for players 18 and above who want to want to continue to play the game. The league offers competitive, recreational and over-40 divisions.

All kids are welcome. No experience is necessary to play in our LYSA Youth Recreational League. Our program has room for kids from beginners to those who have played for years. Through practice and games, kids who have never played before will catch on quickly and hopefully grow to love the game of soccer. Our Youth program is for any child who wants to learn to play the game of soccer. Absolutely no experience is necessary to play.

This league was designed to introduce your little one to the game of soccer. Soccer Tots will be presented in an academy style with all players meeting at the same time and breaking up into groups to learn. These training sessions will all be led by Todd Bretz, grassroots director at LYSA/ Soccer Tots parents who volunteer to be a coach will be assist Mr. Bretz in running sessions throughout the spring.

Soccer Tots will consist of training sessions where they’ll learn the basics of soccer, like not using your hands, running and dribbling the ball. As they learn, scrimmages will be included.

• Games are played mostly on Saturdays.
• This age group is allowed to practice up to two hours per week prior to the start of the season.
• Each team will be comprised of approximately eight players. 5U and 6U plays 4v4. Every child is guaranteed to play half of each game.
• Games have four 10-minute quarters with a five-minute half-time. We do not keep score during the games. Everyone wins.
• Coaches are the referees.
• We want our players and families to have fun and learn the basics of soccer without being concerned about the score of the game.

No, this not true. Our goal in our youth league is for players to have fun while learning soccer. Players of all skill levels play in each age group. Children who have never played and those that have played for years can participate in our Youth leagues. Soccer is a true team sport and there is room for everyone.

LYSA is affiliated with the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association which gives our teams the opportunity to participate in state wide recreational soccer events if they choose to do so. This is one of the things that set us apart from other leagues in town.

For those players that want a more competitive experience, there are clubs in Lexington that offer a tryout-based format. We are not that. 

If you have general questions about how the league works, please email office@lysa.org or call 859.223.5632.

If you need assistance with registration, please email registrar@lysa.org.