 |
What is the BAYS Travel
Program? |
Attleboro is affiliated with Boston Area Youth Soccer
(BAYS), a competitive league in which teams from other towns compete against each other on
weekends. Many of the towns we play are relatively nearby (e.g., Mansfield, North
Attleboro, Walpole, Wrenthan); and some towns are further away (e.g., Medway, Millis,
Milford, Holliston). The average driving time is 25 minutes (ranging from 15 to 60
minutes).
AYS can also enter teams into Premiere Leagues such as MAPLE and MASC.
This can be done at a fraction of the cost charged by other “club”
teams.
The BAYS Travel Program has a fall season which includes u9-u14 players
(generally 3rd grade thru 8th grade) and a spring
season for u9-u18 players.
Attleboro Youth Soccer places children on teams according to players’
ages and skills, and submits the requested teams placement to BAYS. BAYS then makes the
final decision for placement of the teams in groupings (“Divisions”) with other
teams of roughly equal ability. Each BAYS age group may have up to 5 Divisions, with
Divisions 1 and 2 being the most competitive. The Divisions are further divided into
Sections comprising 4 to 6 teams who play each other during the season.
Age groups are designated as BU-9, GU-10, BU-12, etc. GU-10, for
example, stands for Girls Under 10. Players in a U-10 age group must be under 10 years of
age on the preceding July 31.
U9 and U10 play 6v6 on smaller fields (ideally 40 yds. X 60 yds.) with
downsized goals(6x12). Teams playing 6 vs. 6 will have 9 to 12 players
per team. U11 and u12 play 8v8 on larger(50x70) fields with larger goals
(approx 7x21).Teams playing 8v8 will have 11-14 players per team. U14
and higher play 11v11and usually have 15-18(sometimes higher in the
fall) players on a team. The fall and spring seasons last for 10 weeks, with 5 away games and 5
home games. Games are played on weekends.
The Travel Program has a competitive focus, but still emphasizes fun,
skill development, and reasonable participation, especially in the
younger age groups and lower divisions (3-4). The spring season is more
competitive than the fall, as the section winners for the older age
groups receive trophies and the Divisions 1 & 2 winners play in BAYS
playoff to earn the right to go to MTOC (Massachusetts Tournament of
Champions).
