Peaks Area Soccer Association

The Peaks Area Soccer Association (PASA) is a 501(c)(3) registered "not-for-profit" soccer club governed by a Board of Directors and based in Forest, VA. PASA provides a positive soccer environment in which players can develop to their full potential and currently fields competitive boys and girls soccer teams in the Blue Ridge Soccer League (BRCL). PASA believes that soccer can, and should, be used as a mechanism for social and moral development.

Back to Top

What is the difference between Recreational Soccer and Travel Soccer?

Recreational Soccer

In recreational soccer, all registered children are assigned to a team, and will normally receive equal playing time
Soccer ability is not a factor, and all players are welcome
Coaches are typically parent volunteers who offer to coach their children and their friends

Travel Soccer

Travel soccer is fast-paced and can be highly competitive
All players attend tryouts, and some players might not be asked to join a team
Coaches are typically licensed and experienced - travel team coaches have a love of the game and an understanding of the soccer development process
Travel soccer requires a greater level commitment from the player and parents

Back to Top

Who should play Travel Soccer?

To have an enjoyable experience in travel soccer, players should show a high level of interest in soccer, and their families should recognize that a greater commitment is required. Travel soccer is not for everyone and, occasionally, a player and their family may be best served by a recreational program.

PASA travel soccer is a competitive program for players with a desire to develop their soccer abilities
PASA is dedicated to providing high quality training that focuses on player development
Boys and girls that are ready to play competitive soccer and want to learn new skills will benefit from participation in the PASA travel soccer program.

Back to Top

Why is Travel Soccer important?

Soccer is no different from any other sport: skills take literally hundreds of hours to develop & refine. There are no short-cuts, magic formulas or exercises that will produce skilled players. While players with lesser skill levels can still play travel soccer, the effort to meet the demands of a contest will appear to be based on chance as opposed to intention. Skilled players will find more enjoyment from the game because they have a sense that their actions influence the outcome.

The pool of soccer players with the technical ability to participate at each level decreases as the competition level increases. Individual technique is the key to advanced tactics, so exposure to travel-level training is the next step in player development for many recreational level soccer players.

The likelihood of a player transitioning from recreational soccer to travel soccer lessens with age, while awareness of travel soccer increases with age. Often, by the time a recreational soccer player becomes aware of the travel soccer world, the player lacks the technical abilities to make the transition.

Back to Top

How do I determine the right age group for my child?

This is the source of much confusion since the soccer age group does not always match the child's school grade. Basically, the child's age as of August 1 is used to determine the age group. For example, a player that turns 11 before August 1 of the calendar year is considered a U-12 player for the upcoming fall and spring seasons. A player that turns 11 on or after August 1 of the calendar year is considered a U-11 player for the upcoming fall and spring seasons.

An age group matrix is available for reference.

Back to Top

How does my child tryout for a PASA team?

Tryout information can be found on the PASA website. This information is usually listed by April. All interested players in an age group are encouraged to attend. Tryouts are essentially handled like a practice. Ball skills, speed, an understanding of the game, and other details are assessed by the PASA evaluators.

Back to Top

How will my child be selected for a PASA team?

PASA teams are formed each year through the tryout process. PASA runs a single open tryout event in the spring for all age groups (U11 - U19 Boys & Girls) to form teams for the following soccer year (fall and spring). All players are evaluated during the tryout by PASA evaluators, and all players that attend tryouts will be notified of their status within a few days.

Selected players are offered places on appropriate teams and are required to respond by a specified date. PASA reserves the right to offer the player's slot to another if the player does not respond by the specified date.

Back to Top

What happens if my child missed the PASA tryout?

Some PASA teams may have extra slots on their teams after the tryout, but the child must still tryout. If there is room on a team, the head coach will usually have the potential player attend a practice to evaluate the player's technical ability. In all cases, players should expect timely feedback.

Back to Top

How many players will be selected for each PASA Travel Team?

The minimum roster sizes are listed below, but coaches realize that they need more than the minimum number. At the same time, if a roster gets too large, individual player time becomes difficult to manage. PASA will form as many teams as can be fielded with qualified players from the tryout process.

Age Group	Minimum Roster Size	Maximum Roster Size	Game Format	Game Length
U-11	8	14	8 v 8	2 x 30 minute halves
U-12	8	14	8 v 8	2 x 30 minute halves
U-13	11	18	11 v 11	2 x 35 minute halves
U-14	11	18	11 v 11	2 x 35 minute halves
U-15	11	18	11 v 11	2 x 40 minute halves
U-16	11	22	11 v 11	2 x 40 minute halves
U-17	11	22	11 v 11	2 x 45 minute halves
U-18	11	22	11 v 11	2 x 45 minute halves
U-19	11	22	11 v 11	2 x 45 minute halves

Back to Top

How are the coaches selected for PASA Travel Teams?

The PASA Board of Directors selects head and assistant coaches for each team. PASA coaches are expected to share common goals, work with other coaches, be goal setters, have a positive relationships with parents, believe in the importance the long term development process, be willing to share their expertise and experience with other coaches at both the travel and recreational levels, be strong in fundamentals of the game, be able to approach each player individually (recognizing that every player is different), and regard the mental aspects of the game as high or higher than the physical aspects (and will coach both at the same time).

PASA coaches are under the supervision of the PASA Board of Directors and the PASA Director of Coaching and Player Development. The coaches work for PASA and are assigned to teams to benefit the development of each player. The PASA coaching staff is evaluated annually and may be rotated among the teams for maximum player development benefits.

Back to Top

What level of time and travel commitment is required?

Time

PASA Travel Teams play in two seasons per year (high school aged players will only play the fall season). The fall season lasts from September into November, and the spring season lasts from March into May. Teams will typically play 8 - 10 games per season, and games are usually played on weekends. Most teams will begin practicing 3 - 4 weeks prior to each season. Practice sessions will typically last from 1.5 to 2 hours per session and take place twice a week. Travel soccer requires a commitment to play in league and tournament competitions in the fall and spring seasons. Travel players are expected to attend all team practices and games for both the fall and spring seasons.

Travel

Games are typically played against teams in locations limited to Southwest Virginia. Normally, half of the games will be played "at home" on fields in the Bedford area. All PASA teams are encouraged to attend tournaments. Tournaments comprise an integral part of the travel soccer experience, and the players generally love them. Some of the tournaments may not be local, however, and regional travel may be required (e.g. Richmond, Greensboro, Winston-Salem). Each team manager is responsible for holding a pre-season meeting in which tournament attendance will be discussed.

Back to Top

Where do PASA Travel Teams practice?

PASA has practice fields in Bedford and Forest. Occasionally, teams will have to practice on fields other than there "home" field. Again, travel teams generally practice twice a week during the season. Other programs for player development are also available to players within PASA.

Back to Top

In which league do the PASA teams compete?

All PASA teams compete in the Blue Ridge Soccer League (BRCL). The BRCL is a Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) member league.

Back to Top

Is it alright for my child to participate in other activities?

Many travel soccer players participate in activities outside of Travel Soccer. PASA Coaches understand this and can often work around scheduling issues. It is up to the head coach to determine if a player's extracurricular activities become a distraction to the team, however.

Back to Top

How much does PASA Travel Soccer cost?

Each player pays a 'player fee' to play in the PASA. This player fee covers membership fees for VYSA, liability insurance, equipment, supplies, referees, uniforms, tournament entry fees, and many other expenses. The 'player fee' is set annually by the PASA Board of Directors, and detailed on the tryout registration form.

PASA believes that financial status should not prevent players from participating in soccer, so PASA offers financial assistance for families in need. Many PASA teams also do fundraising activities to offset the costs. Please contact any of the PASA Board Members for details.