Welcome to the WCSC Select Program Main Page!

The Select program offers U10-U16 players a lower level of commitment and shorter season than our Competitive program, while providing a challenging level of play that exceeds what they can expect in the club’s Recreation program.

Select consists of separate Fall and Winter seasons, which allows players with diverse interests an opportunity to dedicate only a part of their year to soccer.

Players tryout for Select prior to each season.  Please visit the Tryout Registration page in order to sign up for Fall Select tryouts.  

Teams are coached by experienced volunteers that are aligned with the program’s purpose and the club’s player development philosophy. Interested in Coaching in our Select program - click HERE and complete the short google interest form.

For more information, please visit the General Information page(updated in progress, check back soon).

If you have any questions, please contact selectprogram@wcsc.org.

The Select program offers players a lower level of commitment and shorter season than our Competitive program, while providing a challenging level of play that exceeds what they can expect in the club’s Recreation program.

Select consists of separate Fall and Winter seasons, which allows players with diverse interests an opportunity to dedicate only a part of their year to soccer.

Players tryout for Select prior to each season.

Ages Served

Similar to our competitive program, player age groups are based on birth year, which is different from our Recreational Program. Birth year age groups readjust with each fall season.

The Fall Select program offers teams at the U10 (2015), U12 (2014/2013), U14 (2012/2011), and U16 (2010/2009) age groups. When possible, given appropriate number of players and available, qualified, volunteer coaches, our fall playing league can allow “age pure teams” based on birth year.  However, it is most common to form teams of blended ages.

The Winter Select program extends our U10 age group offering to those born in 2016 after successfully completing their first season of 7v7 soccer in our Fall Recreational program. Our winter playing league however does not allow for age pure teams and all teams formed will be blended ages. U16 ages do not play in the Winter Select program as older age groups pause for the high school soccer season.

League Play

Fall Select teams participate in the same NorCal Premier Leagues as our Competitive program with games typically running from August through mid-November.  NorCal Premier offers balanced competition against other clubs located in the East Bay.  Travel is required with most away games less than an hour's drive from Walnut Creek. Most Fall Select teams will participate in 1-2  tournaments each season.

Winter Select teams will start their team training following tryouts and have league games in January, February and possibly March.  League schedule will include approximately 8+/- games against opponents tbd.  League play usually consists of one league game on weekends and teams may participate in tournaments.

Player Expectations

A higher level of commitment is expected from both the players and parents who participate in the Select program when compared to Recreation. Select participation is for players who want to develop as soccer players and compete against equally motivated and talented opponents. In order to maximize development as a player, participants are expected to regularly attend training sessions and matches. Participation in other sports or activities during the Select season is not advised if it will significantly impact participation and commitment to the Select program. 

Training

Team training (aka practice) usually consists of 2 sessions per week based on available fields and schedules are coordinated by the club.  Training days may include weekends and are sometimes prior to games.  More information on team training and schedule will be provided by the Head Coach in a pre-season team parent meeting.  

While we strive to create as consistent a schedule as possible, training times may need to vary across the course of the season, particularly during winter months, as the club and teams navigate various field closures and scheduled maintenance. Flexibility is appreciated.

Tryouts and Team Formation

Tryouts are held twice a year prior to the beginning of each Select season - typically in late May or early June and mid-November.  Tryouts are carried out by the club’s professional trainers.

Play-ups are not allowed in the Select program and every player must try out with the age group that corresponds to their birth year.

Previous selection on a team is not a guarantee of future team placement in subsequent seasons.  Players on Competitive teams in the Fall are NOT eligible to play on Select teams in the same calendar year.

Participation in Winter Select tryouts is limited to players who played in either the previous WCSC Fall Select or Recreational fall season.

Please visit the Registration page for more information about this year’s tryouts status.

Cost

2024 Fall Select - The cost of registration for the Fall Select program is $725.00.

2024/25 Winter Select - The cost of registration for the Winter Select program is TBD.

Registration Fees are required once a player has accepted placement on a team.  This fee offsets the cost of league registration, field rentals, referees, training equipment, player training shirts, coach education, a select number of training sessions with the club’s professional coaching staff, and club operations.

Registration does not include uniforms, which must be purchased separately. Please see our Uniforms page for more information.

Tournament costs (including travel and lodging if applicable) are in addition to registration fees. Tournament costs vary based on the type and number of tournaments a team decides to play in.

Coaches

Select teams are coached by volunteers who meet the club’s expectations regarding qualifications, coaching experience and alignment to the club’s development philosophy.

Please visit the Coaching Information page for more information regarding volunteer coaching opportunities in the Select program.

FAQ

What is the difference between the Recreation, Select and Competitive Programs?

Recreation

• Intended for players where fun and exercise are the priority

• Accepts all players regardless of their skill level or playing experience

• All games played locally against other teams in the Club's Recreation program

• Season runs August through early November

• Rosters formed with the intention to balance all teams in the same Age Group

Please visit the Recreation page for more information.

Select 

• Provides a more challenging and development oriented environment compared to the Recreation program while requiring a lower degree of commitment than the Competitive program

• Players are selected through a try-out process, which is completely separate from the Comp program tryout

• Games played both locally and away against other clubs, primarily in the East Bay

• Separate seasons run from July-November (Fall Select) and November - February* (Winter)

• Rosters formed in order balance the skill level of multiple teams within each age group so long as every team meets the minimum standard for Select

Competitive

• For players with a commitment to soccer who desire the highest level of competition and training the club offers

• Players are selected through a try-out process, which is completely separate from the Select program tryout.

• Games played both locally and away against other clubs across the greater Bay Area, State and Nation.

• Season is nearly year-round from June to May

• Rosters formed in order to form teams that can compete at the highest level possible

Please visit the Competitive page for more information.

Can a player tryout for Select without registering for the Recreation program?

Yes, a player may try out for Fall Select without registering for our recreation program.  However, since teams are formed based on tryouts, we encourage players to consider their options if they do not get selected for a Fall Select team.  Players that register for our Recreation program and are selected for a Fall Select team will receive a refund for their Recreation registration per its refund policy.  Players will then separately register for the Select program as a part of accepting the offer.

For Winter Select, a player must have been registered in either Fall Recreation or Select programs.  

If a player does not make a select team, can they still play in the Recreation program? 

Yes, provided that at the time of the player’s Recreation registration there was still available space in the appropriate age group, players will be placed on a Recreation team at the conclusion of the Select tryouts.  If your player is new to soccer or not sure of their abilities, we suggest registering for our Recreation program.

Can a player play on both a Select and a Recreation or Competitive team at the same time? 

No, players are not permitted to participate in different programs at the same time.  Additionally, players who played Competitive in the fall are not eligible to play Winter Select in the same season.  Players from other NorCal clubs are also not permitted to play in our Select program.

If my child cannot make the tryout date, how does that affect their chances of making a Select team? 

Players are strongly encouraged to attend at least one of the tryout dates. 

Several children attended tryouts, yet only 1 or 2 teams were formed. Why can’t more teams be formed? 

The Select program’s leagues are much more competitive than recreation play. Therefore, when forming teams we need to make sure they are able to compete at a sufficiently high skill level. In addition, we are significantly limited with field space during the year and need to make tough decisions when it comes to forming teams and selecting players.

Additional Questions

If you have any questions, please contact the club’s Select Operations team at selectprogram@wcsc.org. 

*2025 winter select season ending is subject to field project construction at Heather Farm Park, fields #1&#2 scheduled to start March 2025.