Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Milton Travel Soccer and how is it different from Milton Youth Soccer (i.e., Town Soccer)?

2. What is the Youth Development League?

3. Who is eligible to play on Milton Travel Soccer?

4. Is Travel Soccer Competitive?

5. Do you have to "try-out" to play Travel Soccer?

6. How far is the travel?

1. What is Milton Travel Soccer and how is it different from Milton Youth Soccer (i.e.,Town Soccer)?

Milton Travel Soccer (MTS) is a non-profit organization separate from Milton Youth Soccer (or the "in town" Soccer) program. Milton Travel Soccer is comprised of approximately 25 teams (both boys and girls) from 8 to 18 years of age. For children under 8, MTS hosts an "in-town" Youth Development League (which is outlined in response to another FAQ question below).

MTS is a member of the Boston Area Youth Soccer (BAYS) League. The BAYS League is comprised of over 1500 teams in eastern Massachusetts. The level of competitive play increases from Town to Travel soccer but is not considered as competitive as the next level, or Club soccer (which would be equivalent to AAU in other sports). In Travel Soccer, most coaches are former players and many have passed coach certification courses. The games are also officiated by registered referees according to FIFA rules. U10 and below teams play a 6 v 6 format, U11 and U12 teams play a 8 v 8 format and U14 and above teams play a 11 v 11 format.

Milton Travel Soccer plays a 10 week fall season beginning usually the first Saturday after Labor Day, as well as, a 10 week Spring Season beginning the second Saturday in April. For the 14 year old and under teams, games are played on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For 16 and 18 year old teams, games are played on Sunday afternoon.

2. What is the Youth Development League?

If you child will be NOT be 8 years old before 7/31, the Milton Travel Soccer Program offers a Youth Development League (YDL). The YDL is intended for children who are not old enough for the Milton Travel Soccer Under-9 League and who are entering grades K, 1, 2 or 3 in the Fall. To play in the YDL league you must be 5 years old by 8/31 which is the age cutoff for entering kindergarten in the Milton Public Schools. The YDL program is played on Sundays for eight weeks in the Fall and Spring. YDL is about FUN and fundamentals. Teams are mixed gender and only play other teams from Milton. There is no travel outside of Milton. The format usually includes a team practice followed by a scrimmage against another YDL team.

3. Who is eligible to play on Milton Travel Soccer?

All boys and girls who are residents of Milton are eligible to play. Exceptions for non-residents are evaluated on a case by case basis. The teams are separated by gender. To determine the appropriate age bracket, refer to the chart below:

Age Divisions	Eligibility
Youth Development League (YDL)	Must be 5 years old by 8/31 but not yet 8 years old by 7/31
Under 9 (U9) 3rd Grade	Must be 8 years old but not yet 9 years old by 7/31
Under 10 (U10) 4th Grade	Must be 9 years old but not yet 10 years old by 7/31
Under 11 (U11) 5th Grade	Must be 10 years old but not yet 11 years old by 7/31
Under 12 (U12) 6th Grade	Must be 11 years old but not yet 12 years old by 7/31
Under 14 (U14) 7th and 8th Grade	Must be 12 years old but not yet 14 years old by 7/31
Under 16 (U16) 9th and 10th Grade	Must be 14 years old but not yet 16 years old by 7/31
Under 18 (U18) 11th and 12th Grade	Must be 16 years old but not yet 18 years old by 7/31

4. Is Travel Soccer Competitive?

Milton plays in the BAYS League which has over 1500 teams. It can be competitive. However, in Milton, we don't level our players until 11 years old. So for U-9 and U-10 teams, your son/daughter will be placed on a team. That team is placed in one of four divisions (each with sub-divisions) by the BAYS League according to ability (generally prior season performance or, in the case of a new team, in a lower division). As the children grow and progress, their team, if successful, will move up in the divisions. If not, they will stay at the same level. So the competition is level and all players receive equal playing time. It's about fundamentals!

5. Do you have to "try-out" to play Travel Soccer?

No. All children can play. For U11 and older teams, players are evaluated and leveled each spring. For U9 and U10 teams, your child will be placed on a team without an evaluation.

6. How far is the travel?

Each season, Fall and Spring, there are 10 games. Five of the games are played away and five are home games which are played in Milton. Home games are usually at Milton Health Care (sometimes called Flatley), Brooks Field (at the high school) or Houghton's Pond. Travel is generally no more than 40 minutes in the worst case (Attleboro or Sherborne Dover for example). In many cases, it's close - Dorchester, Randolph and Canton.