For the last 10 years, teams have been formed based on the Birth Year calendar of each player; January through December.   USYS is recommending that teams should be formed aligned with players' age based on a Seasonal Year (school age) calendar; August through the following July.

CalSouth and JUSA will adopt this change beginning with the Spring 2026 season.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does "U10" mean?   What age are the kids on a team?
Every player on each team is born August 1st through July 31st of the following year, but some will be older than others during the season.

For example, on a U10 team, every player was younger than 10 years old when the season started.  As the soccer season goes on, more and more players turn 10 years old, until by next July, they all are U11!  

What levels of soccer does JUSA offer?
Beginners start in our RECREATIONAL program; to learn the game and develop their skills. Then, they can move up to SELECT,  our advanced recreational tier.  After a season or two at this mid-level, players usually advance to COMPETITIVE play, or "CLUB", level.  Some players start playing Club at younger ages; it all depends on the skill level and commitment of that player.

Everyone that signs up each season at the Recreational level will be placed on a team in the area that they live.  Select and Competitive levels have tryouts, and players are selected by coaches by skill levels.

REGISTRATION

When are the JUSA seasons?
Rec and Select Fall Soccer plays August - December and Spring Soccer plays February - May each year.  There are All-Star opportunities in the Fall Rec season that can play through January of the following year.   Fall Select season plays through State Cup in February.

What's the difference between JUSA and other local youth soccer organizations?
It is common for youth sports groups to "affiliate" with national organizations (like Boy Scouts, Little League, Pop Warner, etc.)  When JUSA was getting started in the mid-1970's, there were two youth soccer groups.  AYSO had started in Torrance in 1964, and was "going National" (here's a link to their history).   The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) had set up a regional group in California in 1974 (CalSouth) (here's a link to CalSouth history).  None of the original founders of JUSA remain active, but we have a sense that they were all familiar with USSF, which was one of the earliest members of FIFA, and they had no experience with the new AYSO.  They were also very much interested in "club soccer", which AYSO did not support at that time.   So, they chose to affiliate with USSF / CalSouth.

As soccer spread in Southern California, different groups affiliated with either AYSO or USSF as their governing body, and the result is a patch work.  Many counties have only one relationship, but lots of places have both AYSO and USSF groups in the same town.  North Orange County is mostly CalSouth, and JUSA is the largest organization by far.  South County and the South Bay are almost entirely AYSO.  

Fortunately though, the programs are more alike than they are different.  Both stress that everyone who signs up will play.  (AYSO guarantees one-half the game.  JUSA Recreation guarantees three quarters of each game for players from U6 through U10.)  Both have formal programs to ensure children's safety.  Both train and pay referees.  There are minor differences such as how many players are on the field for specific age groups.  Both depend on volunteers.

JUSA is the largest organization in our area, North Orange County, with players at all levels of soccer from age 4 to age 16.  Most of the players at our local high schools started loving soccer in JUSA when they were babies!

How are JUSA teams formed in the Fall?
Teams are formed first by city (Anaheim, Placentia, Yorba Linda) and then by a draft of players from the public school that they live closest to.   This ensures that players are on teams close to where they live and do not have to drive a long way for practices or games. 

• U5-U8 divisions are formed by an "OPEN" draft, which means the coaches can discuss who is on which team.  It doesn't matter at this age because scores are not kept.   This is the age to have kids having fun and learning the game. 
• U9-U16 divisions are formed by a "BLIND" draft, which means that the coaches do not know the player they are choosing, only the area that they come from.   Drafting teams this way for Fall keeps it fair for all teams.  Scores are kept in these divisions, and there are JUSA cup championship opportunities for all levels.

Once teams are formed, the volunteer coach from each team then chooses the days and times of the practice location for the team; usually the school or park nearest to them (another good reason to be a coach!  Make your own schedule!)

What does "U10" mean?   What age are the kids on a team?
Beginning in 2026, JUSA teams are formed by the new SEASONAL AGE matrix.   Every player on each team were born August 1st through July of the following year, but some will be older than others. For example, on a U10 team, every player was younger than 10 years old when the season starts.  As the soccer year goes on, more and more players turn 10 years old, until by next July, they all are U11!  

Can I still register a player after last day of registration?
The last day of registration is important to stick to so we can form teams, and get information and field space set for our teams as soon as possible.  It sounds early, but there is a lot to do between the end of registration and the start of practices.  We open a waitlist after registration ends so that we can place players on teams where there is room.   We are generally able to place waitlist players before the season starts.  We do not add players to teams after the season starts. 

COACHING / GAME PLAY

What equipment does my player need?
Players should have cleats, shinguards and soccer socks at every practice and game.
U5-U8 use a "Size 3" ball.
U9-U12 use a "Size 4" ball. 
U14 and older use a "Size 5" ball.  The size is stamped on the ball itself.

How can I become a coach?
There is a place within the online registration form to volunteer to coach when you register the player.  We will add you to our list and reach out to you with next steps for the Fall and Spring season.

There is a list of requirements to be a coach;  CalSouth rules state that we "Live Scan" (fingerprint) every person who has close contact with players.  Learn more in our COACHES' CORNER!

What is a "freeze"?
Each coach gets to begin team formation with some players already on the team; those players are "frozen" to a team and can't be drafted by another coach.  The number varies according to the total size of the team.  Of course, the players have to have registered (and paid) to be frozen on a team, and, their parents have to give permission.

Why do the younger games have "quarters"?
JUSA guarantees that every player under age 11 will play a minimum of three quarters of each game (unless injured, arriving late, or leaving early).  Normal soccer matches are played as two equal "halves" and the game is continuous during each half.  To monitor that kids get the required playing time, we actually stop the game approximately half way through each half (when the ball goes out of bounds, for example), and call "substitution".   Coaches are supposed to call off players and send on the new ones.  (What actually happens is all the players run to the sidelines, drink water, and the coach tries to explain all the things they should have learned at practice, and the referees tries in vain to get them back on the field.)  But, we want everyone playing; no benchwarmers here!

What are the Red and Yellow Cards?
Like any game, there might be a player that commits a foul.  When a player on a team does something especially bad (or just a regular bad thing too often), the referee will punish that player.  (In referee talk, it's a "misconduct.")  A "caution" (yellow card) means that the player is put on notice that bad behavior cannot continue.  When conduct gets worse or is intentional, the referee will "Send Off" (red card) the player.  So that the sidelines know when conduct has gone from being simply a foul to a misconduct violation, the referee holds up a yellow card to indicate Caution and a red card to mean Sending Off.   Any player or coach that receives a red card can not play or coach for 1 game after the violation.

What side of the field do teams setup on?
Home team sits on the North or West sideline. 
Away team sits on the South or East sideline
Parents and players will sit on the same side of the field, always to the left of their bench.   Parents may NEVER sit, stand or coach from behind the goals.  All coaches must stay in the “technical area” near the centerline.

How do the fields get set up?
The team with the up arrow on the game schedule sets up the goal and the team with the down arrow on the schedule is ultimately responsible for making sure that the field is put away correctly, however we encourage both teams (and their parents) to help everyone out.  If each team takes one goal, that makes it easier and faster for all.   Learn more about our fields HERE.

JUSA uses a Heat Index to determine if games will proceed or be canceled.

Recommendations for Hot Games

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate the day before the game.
• Take extra water breaks within quarters or halves. Coaches and referees should discuss and agree before the game.
• Teams can agree to play shorter games.
• Water should always be available at regular intervals, and athletes can call for water or a sub at any time.
• Bring extra ice and towels for cooling.
• Monitor all players for signs of heat-related illness.
• Once a game starts, it will be at the discretion of the Ref to cancel a match due to safety concerns.