What is Travel Soccer at CAYS?
Carlisle Area Youth Soccer (CAYS) Travel Teams are sponsored by the Carlisle Family YMCA and HD Clear Orthodontics to offer competitive play for U9 and up players by participating in the Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League (CPYSL), a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA).
Many parents worry a travel program will be too competitive, demanding and driven by a “winning is everything attitude.” This is not the case at CAYS. Our goal at CAYS is to teach our soccer players to love the game, but also to foster personal growth on and off the field. We strive to provide a positive, but challenging, environment that allows our players to develop their physical, physiological, technical and tactical soccer potential. This is accomplished while also contributing to the personal development of good sportsmanship. Our coaches promote fairness, equity and good sportsmanship in pursuing the above objectives. We know healthy competition teaches kids about good sportsmanship; how to set, pursue, and accomplish a goal; and how to accept both victory and defeat. At CAYS, we offer all degrees of competitive travel soccer for beginners to elite players within CPYSL divisions.
Travel soccer is for players interested in developing their abilities beyond recreational play, as travel soccer requires a greater level of commitment. Players are expected to dedicate the time and effort to continue to improve their skills while contributing to their team. CAYS travel teams practice twice a week for a total of 180 minutes per week. Games are on the weekends, usually with younger age groups playing on Saturday and older age groups playing on Sunday.
Travel soccer matches are within the team’s CPYSL division with home matches at the George B. Stuart Fields and away matches at other clubs in the Central Pennsylvania area. For the most part, away games are within a 45-minute drive, although there are a few exceptions as the CPYSL league extends from Williamsport to the Maryland line. Teams also have the option to travel to local, regional or out-of-state tournaments depending on the interests of the parents, players and coaches.
Travel Tryouts and Fees
We require all players wanting to play travel soccer to register for Travel Soccer on the CAYS website and to attend tryouts for their age group. During tryouts, CAYS coaches and staff complete evaluations on each player to form teams and help place teams in a CPYSL division.
If players do not make a team, they are encouraged to continue to develop their soccer skills through the CAYS Rec Soccer Program, Harrisburg Heat Clinics and YMCA training programs.
Those players who make a team will need to purchase a uniform kit (home and away jerseys, shorts and socks) for an additional cost. A fundraiser also is required to help improve and maintain our soccer program. Families may opt out of the fundraiser by paying a fee. Additional fees may be required for team training, tournaments, etc. Additionally, all travel players will need cleats, shin guards and a ball for practices.
The fundraiser is REQUIRED for all participants and the fee will be collected at the time of registration. This fee can be refunded upon completion of the fundraiser. Additional fees (i.e. uniforms, team training, tournament fees) also may be required.
A late fee will be added April 18, 2022. Refunds will be given in full up until August 10, 2022.
In order to help keep registration fees reasonable and to help cover costs associated with running a large youth sports program, we have a fundraiser every season.
Learn MorePlease read the following as it contains the goals of CAYS, Non-discrimination, code of conduct and other policies regarding the CAYS program.
Learn Moreto Hilton-Diminick Orthodontic Associates for sponsoring CAYS this season!
Ages: Boys and girls ages 7-15
Member Fee: U9-U11 = $105 / U12 & up = $120 (prices go up $25 beginning 1/28/2022)
Non-Member Fee: U9-U11 = $125 / U12 & up = $140 (prices go up $25 beginning 1/28/2022)
Location: Practices - George B. Stuart Athletics Fields / Games - Various Locations
The age groups are determined by your child’s birth year. For the 2021/22 soccer year the groups are as follows:
Yes, all players are required to try out before being considered for placement on a travel team.
Following the tryouts, the CAYS Executive Committee and current coaches of the team meet to finalize the roster for each team. The following criteria are used for team selection:
If a child makes the team for the fall season, he/she is guaranteed a roster spot in the spring season.
If your child is not selected for a travel team, he/she can be transferred to our rec program if within the age range for the program. The difference in registration rates will be refunded to you. You also may choose to have your full registration refunded to you. Refund is the only option for any child that is too old for our rec program. NO refunds are offered once teams have been established.
Fall Season
Practices begin as early as mid-July depending on the team/coach. Games run from September through the beginning of November; skipping Labor Day (depending when it falls) and Columbus Day weekends. Tournaments are available both weekends.
Spring Season
Practices begin in mid-March. Games run from April through beginning of June; skipping Easter (depending on when it falls) and Memorial Day weekends. Tournaments are available Memorial Day weekend.
The CPYSL fall season consists of 8 games (normally 4 home, 4 away). The CPYSL spring season usually consists of 7 games. Teams also may choose to participate in tournaments in addition to the league games.
CAYS is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League, which is a member of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association.
Practices are held twice a week between Monday-Thursday and the hours of 5:30-8pm for about 1½ hours. Make-up practices are scheduled as needed. The game schedule, once posted by the league, can be found here. This is available in public view mode.
All practices and HOME games are held at the George B. Stuart Athletic Fields, located at 1213 Rockledge Drive, Carlisle, PA 17015.
The average travel time is 30-45 minutes; however some games may be up to an hour or more.
Shin guards are mandatory for all practices and games. Your child should bring a soccer ball to practice (see below for correct size). Soccer cleats are strongly recommended over sneakers (baseball cleats are NOT allowed). Players are encouraged to bring a water bottle to practices and games. A uniform (additional purchase) is needed for games.
The registration fee includes player, team, club and insurance fees paid to CPYSL and EPYSA, administration fees, fundraiser fee, referee fees, equipment, and field maintenance/upkeep/lining fees.
The fundraiser fee is collected at registration for all participants. The fees are $30 for the first child, $15 for the second child and $0 for any others.
Yes, you can. If you complete the minimum requirement for selling sandwiches your fundraiser fee will be refunded to you.
Yes, you will be required to purchase a uniform and pay for any tournaments or team training/activities your team decides to participate in.
Click the button below to see an updated schedule for all CAYS Travel Soccer Games.
ScheduleKelly Tyrrell
Sports Director
ktyrrell@carlislefamilyymca.org
717-243-2525 ext. 225
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