The US Youth Soccer Association provides definitions for different levels of team play in the world of youth soccer. Today’s growing soccer world now includes more than just the two basic levels of teams (recreational and travel teams). (As a side note, the words ‘recreational’ and ‘house’ typically refer to the same type of team; and, the words ‘club,’ ‘travel,’ or ‘select’ refer to the same type of team as well. The difference between the two is that a travel team is a more competitive team that travels to play other teams of its level).
The USYSA defines the many different levels of teams as follows:
State Select Teams
State Select Teams are the official club or “select” teams of the State Youth Soccer Associations. These players are chosen from state club or “select” teams and will represent the states in national competitions.
Tournament Teams
Tournament Teams are travel or competitive teams put together by coaches for the sole purpose of playing in a tournament or other sanctioned competition. A tournament team can be a club team with guest players.
League Select Team
A League Select Team is an official “select” team of a league, chosen on a league-wide basis from its club teams.
Club Team
A Club Team (also called travel or select team) is a travel, competitive team composed of players who are listed on the team’s roster for team play and does not include guest players for tournament teams.
Recreational All-Star Team
A Recreational All-Star Team is composed of players selected from a group of teams which participates in a Recreational, House, or Intramural program for a Club, League, or Association.
Recreational Team
A team that participates in a Recreational, House, or Intramural program for a Club, League, or Association.
