Maldenyouth soccer
Fall /SPRING
Malden Youth Soccer participates in the Middlesex Youth Soccer League. We have competitive soccer seasons in Fall and Spring. Kids between 4 years old and 2nd grade can participate in our intown program, where Malden teams practice and play together in Malden Parks. Kids between grade 3 and 12+ play in the Travel program. High school ages only play with us in the Spring.
The information in this page is subject to change, but this reflects a typical year
INTOWN
Intown players, from Age 4 thru second grade.
-
The PreK - K group will play on Saturday mornings at Amerige Park
-
The Grade 1-2 group will play on Sunday mornings at Pine Banks
-
The Grade 1-2 group usually offers COED and girls-only options
TRAVEL
Travel players, from grade 3 thru 8.
-
Players are assigned to teams based on skill. There are 5 skill based divisions in our league.
-
Age groups include: Grade 3/4 (7v7 small field), Grade 5/6 (9v9 medium field), Grade 7/8 (11v11 large field)
-
There are normally about 9 games in a season, usually played on Saturdays with some games on weekday evenings.
-
Teams play half of their games in Malden, and the other half in other towns within Middlesex County
HIGH SCHOOL
High school-aged players can play with us in the Spring. Teams are formed based on age, skill, and gender. There are 2 competitive divisions at the highschool level.
TOPS
TOPSoccer (The Outreach for Soccer) is a nationwide program that provides soccer-based activities for players with physical or mental disabilities who are between 4 and 20 years of age. TOPS athletes meet at Devir park on Saturday mornings during the spring and fall.
FAQ’s
When are the seasons?
The fall season usually runs from Mid September though early November. Pre-season practices may begin in mid August depending on the coach’s availability. There is no postseason play in the Fall.
The spring season usually runs from Early April through early July. Pre-season practices may begin in mid March depending on the coach’s availability and weather. The Spring season includes post-season championship play for teams who qualify against other teams in Middlesex and Massachusetts.
What equipment do I need?
All players must have the following equipment for games and practices
-
Properly fitting soccer shin guards - IMPORTANT
-
Water bottle
-
Proper shoes. When outdoors, soccer cleats are highly recommended, especially at travel ages. Cleats from other sports are not permitted.
-
Every player should have their own correctly sized ball. PreK-K need a size 3. Grades 1-6 need size 4. Grades 7 and up need a size 5.
-
Players will be provided with uniforms: Jersey, socks, and shorts for use only on game days. Players will need to dress properly for the weather with layers that can be worn under the uniforms.
What flexibility is there to move between age groups?
The rules are somewhat complicated, but it is sometimes possible to switch between designated age/grade groups. In most cases, it is best for players to stay with their group, but exceptions are permitted on a case-by-case basis. It is rarely permitted to allow players to “play down” in a lower age group. Players may “play up” one grade level depending on birth date, and only upon league approval which would consider skill and athletic ability.
How far do travel teams travel?
Travel teams practice twice a week on Malden fields and play a mixture of home and away games on Saturdays. Teams travel throughout Middlesex county, with the furthest games being in towns such as Lowell, Westford, Chelmsford, and Tewksbury. Expect a maximum of 2 games in these distant locations. Most games will be in Malden and surrounding towns.
What if I’m not ready to travel?
All 3rd and 4th graders may play travel soccer, regardless of experience! There is an a division for anyone who puts some effort into playing.
What is the level of competition in travel soccer?
Each gender/age group has 5 divisions of skill levels in the league. Division 1 is the highest skill & competition level. Division 5 is appropriate for new or developing players who are still working on basic skills, game awareness, or athleticism. We do our best to place players with similarly skilled players, but there are a lot of considerations and imperfections with placement.
How are players placed on teams?
Players are placed on teams by the administrators of Malden Youth Soccer using a combination of skill level evaluation in tryouts, coach evaluations, team history, and player request. It is not possible to satisfy all criteria for every player, but we try to embrace the diversity that emerges from the imperfect process.
COVID?
We follow the ever-changing guidelines provided by Mass Youth Soccer. We will communicate the specific obligations to Coaches, Players, and Care Takers each season as they are known. For the younger players, we will adjust our policies based on coaches' abilities to manage behavior.