New – NSC Adds 3rd BAYS Travel Team to 5th Grade Age Group!

The Needham Soccer Club (NSC) is excited to announce the addition of a third BAYS (Boston Area Youth Soccer) Travel Team to its 5th-grade age group for the Fall 2024… View Article

The Needham Soccer Club (NSC) is excited to announce the addition of a third BAYS (Boston Area Youth Soccer) Travel Team to its 5th-grade age group for the Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 season for both boys and girls. This expansion is a strategic decision made after careful consideration of several factors:

Growing number of participants: The number of players in the 3rd and 4th grade age group has been steadily increasing in recent years.
Growing number of tryout participants: Additionally, the number of players participating in tryouts for the NSC’s BAYS Travel Teams has also been increasing, indicating a strong interest in competitive soccer among Needham youth.
Increased feedback of demand for competitive soccer: Engagement with our coaches, parents and players has continued to point to a growing demand for more competitive soccer opportunities for both boys and girls in the Needham area
Quality of support available to NSC teams: The NSC has a team of experienced and dedicated coaches who are committed to providing a positive and challenging environment for young athletes. Our staff and board are better positioned to provide a high level of support to its teams to help maintain a high level and standard of play to compete in the top divisions of BAYS.
Knowledge of players: Investments in player evaluations systems are enabling the club to better sort and store information to track player development at an individual and grade based level to allow for more informed decision making based on better understanding of the players and coaches.
Number of teams in our NSCCL (rec) league: The NSC is committed to improving the experience of our NSCCL league and views it as a foundational piece of our player development pathway that is responsible for fostering a love of the sport. Ensuring this league stays healthy and vibrant is always a top priority of the club.

The NSC believes that the addition of a third BAYS Travel Team to the 5th-grade age group will provide more opportunities for boys and girls to play competitive soccer at a high level. The club is committed to providing a positive and rewarding soccer experience for all of its players.

Adding a third travel team to the 5th-grade age group will offer several benefits to players. For starters it provides more opportunities for passionate players to compete at a higher level exposing more players with the benefits of playing in a more focused and challenging environment. Additionally, it offers opportunities for more players to flourish in our NSCCL (in-town rec league), to further advance and develop their skills. It may even help players to identify their athletic goals by providing a more appropriate environment for skill development, and increase the likelihood of continued NSC participation throughout their youth. Finally, it enhances the flexibility for coaches to better address the developmental needs of players to move up and down teams based on what is in the best interest of their long-term individual development, ensuring that all players are challenged and supported in their growth.

The new team will be led by parent volunteer coaches who will go through the same application and vetting process that is standard across all of our select teams to ensure the teams have experienced and dedicated coaches who are committed to providing a positive and challenging environment for young athletes.

Tryouts for the new team are scheduled for the Girls on Thursday May 30th and Boys on Sunday June 2nd. Interested players and coaches MUST register on the NSC website by the tryout deadline of Wednesday May 22nd!

Follow the links below for more information on our Travel Team Selection Process & to Register today!

Travel Team Creation/Selection Process!