Objective: 
The Mt. Pleasant Soccer Club is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides young athletes an opportunity to hone their soccer skills through competitive travel league matches. 

How is a travel league different from recreational soccer? 
Travel teams of “select” and “premier” team offer boys and girls, ages 8 thru 19, a competitive environment to play matches against teams throughout the state of Michigan. Opponents for “select” teams typically fall within an hour-and-a-half radius and are fielded from cities such as Midland, Saginaw, Bay City, Flint, Frankenmuth, Flushing, Lansing, and Lapeer. Opponents for “premier” teams can be anywhere in the state, including as far Metro Detroit, Kalamazoo, Petoskey and Traverse City.

How are players selected? 
Select and Premier team members are chosen through a try-out process, which is typically held in mid-June. Sometimes there are supplemental try-outs in the winter to fill open spots for the spring season.

How long is the commitment? 
Select and Premier soccer is a two-season commitment and requires members to commit to playing in the fall and spring. Players must re-qualify for a roster spot each year at try-outs.

Where does the club practice & play their matches? 
Training and match play occurs at Horizon Park. The park is located at 1535 Sweeney Street and is a few blocks to the southeast of Mt Pleasant High School. The soccer fields at the 22.5-acre park are maintained by the Club and are paid for through club fees in coordination with Mt. Pleasant Public Schools and the City of Mt. Pleasant. 

Does the club play in tournaments? 
Tournaments are played above and beyond the league scheduled matches. The decision for a specific team to enter into a tournament is based the availability and interest of the players and their families. A typical entry fee per player is $30-$45 and is an added expense above club fees. Each team will enter into a variety of tournaments throughout the fall and spring cycle. Entire club participation is encouraged for the annual Petoskey tournament in June. Each player is responsible for hotel, travel, and meal expenses, as tournaments can span two to three days.

What qualifications do the coaches have?
MPSC coaches are licensed or will work towards their license for their specific age bracket. Licensing is administered through the Michigan Youth Soccer Association. All coaches, assistants, team managers and board members must pass a State of Michigan background check, complete Head’s Up Concussion training and US SafeSport certification.

How often and how long do players practice?
Official practice typically begins at the beginning of August and will occur two nights a week through the end of the season and usually last 90 minutes. Indoor winter practices can occur one night a week from mid-January through mid-March. Locations for indoor practices vary by team. There will be a crossover directly from winter practice into the spring practices and matches.

When does the season begin & when are matches played? 
The fall season typically begins with practices beginning the first week of August, with games starting the first week of September, and runs through the first week of November. The spring season will run from the first week of April through the middle of June. Matches can be scheduled for any day of the week; most games are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays. The expectation of club members is that they would be available and willing to play weekend matches for the spring and fall seasons. Coaches typically schedule games 4-6 weeks before the start of each season. To reduce out-of-town trips, it is common for teams to play multiple away matches on one day. For example, when traveling to the Flint area, a coach might look to schedule 2 matches on the same day in that area (e.g., Lapeer at 1 PM and Davison at 4 PM).

What are the costs of playing club soccer? 
Club dues for 2024-2025 are $475 for the year for select teams. This covers fall and spring league play. Half-year teams/players are $325.
*Premier team fees are higher and are calculated dependent on premier assignments.

Are there any additional costs? 
Uniforms are above and beyond the club dues. Uniform costs range from $100 to $125. Most players can wear their uniform for multiple seasons and need not buy a new one yearly. Uniforms are on a 2-year cycle by the manufacturer. Fall 2024 will be the start of a new uniform cycle. Players are assigned a number and typically carry it with them as they move from team to team. Additional cost for tournament fees and travel costs to and from games is the responsibility of families.

What are the age requirements for club soccer? 
Our club currently fields teams at the U10 thru U19 age brackets. The age bracket is determined by the player’s age on December 31 of the seasonal year. For example, for the 2024-2025 season, the players age as of December 31, 2025. Depending on the availability of players, age brackets may be combined or canceled depending on player enrollment in a given season.

When are tryouts? 
Tryouts are usually scheduled for late May and early June. Additional details regarding times will be posted to our club website and Facebook page.

Where can I get additional information? 
If you cannot find your information here, please contact us with any questions! mpsc-board@mpsoccerclub.org