History/Affiliation

In the November 1971, the first soccer season kicked off under the auspices of the Stockton Parks and Recreation Department with the assistance of a steering committee of 13 local citizens, with games for five teams of boys in the 4th grade. In 1972, the Stockton Police Youth Activities (SPYA) Soccer League was founded and immediately affiliated with the California Youth Soccer Association, and provided a spring soccer program for the children of Stockton, while the Stockton Parks and Recreation Department continued to provide the fall soccer program. In the fall of 1976, the SPYA Soccer League assumed responsibility for administering both fall and spring youth soccer programs in Stockton. Due to the expansive growth of the program over a handful of years, the Stockton Youth Soccer Association was formed in 1979 to take on both the administrative and liability responsibilities for youth soccer in Stockton. SYSA continues to be the only program in the City of Stockton affiliated with the California Youth Soccer Association and the United States Youth Soccer Association, which allows us to provide soccer opportunities all youth from the under-4 (U-4) to under-19 (U-19). With nearly 130 teams and over 2100 players during the 2007 soccer season, the SYSA continues to provide soccer opportunities to all youth in our community.

Mission

The mission of the Stockton Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) is to foster physical, mental, and emotional growth through the sport of soccer for the all children in the City of Stockton.  In all decisions, the SYSA focuses on putting the children’s interests first.

Organization

The Stockton Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) is s non-profit, volunteer-based organization that provides gender-pure play in all age brackets, and provide four divisions of play depending on the age of the player: recreational, Upper House, Competitive, and TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer).

Recreational (Division IV)

Recreation soccer is available for children ages 3 – 18. The teams are gender and age specific.  Girls of the same age group play girl teams of the same age group and boys of the same age group play boy teams of the same age group.  Everyone that is eligible is accepted in the Recreation program and no tryouts are held.  All games are played in Stockton (one game per Saturday).  SYSA has a 50% playing rule for all players.

Bill Meyer League:  This is a winter league for U9 – U14 recreation players.  The season is from January through mid March.  Players are from the current recreational program and tryout for the Bill Meyer team(s) in their current age group.  Teams play one game each Saturday with an end of the season Tournament.  The games are played in District 8, the same geographical area as the Upper House and Competitive program.  SYSA has a 50% playing rule for all players.

Jim FrazierLeague: Is a winter league for the U15-U19 Boys and Girls. Only requirement is that the player must be a High School Freshman. Season starts in December and ends with a End of Season Tournament in February. The teams play one Saturday game each week. The games are played in District 8, the same geographical area as the Upper House and Competitive program.  SYSA has a 50% playing rule for all players.

Upper House (Division III)

Upper House teams are formed by tryouts (minimum age is 10 by July 31st).  The teams are gender and age specific.  Players usually demonstrate skills that are beyond the Recreation level but not at the Competitive level.  Teams play one game each Saturday within our district (Galt to Sonora to Merced to Tracy).   They also participate in weekend tournaments that are mostly played on the last weekend of the month.  The coaching focus is to enhance each player’s skills so that if they desire they can tryout and make a competitive team.  Teams are of two-year age groupings like the recreation program.  SYSA has a 50% playing rule for all players. This Division of play is also governed by District 8 Playing Rules for Upper House and Competitive levels.

Competitive (Division I)

Competitive teams are a step up in seriousness and ability from Recreation and Upper House programs.  Teams are formed by tryouts (minimum age is 9 by July 31st).  The teams are gender and age specific.  Teams are age pure (single age).  The teams compete in the same geographical area as the Upper House program.  Teams play one game each Saturday, as well as participating in weekend Jamborees (U10), Tournaments (U11 – U19).  This Division of play is also governed by District 8 Playing Rules for Upper House and Competitive levels.

SYSA lead District VIII in forming a TOPSoccer league for children that face physical and mental challenges. This program plays during the fall recreational program, with activities and games held on Friday evenings. This program has been developed under the auspices of US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer.

This variety of programs provides opportunities for children to succeed and develop where their skill level and desires fit best, both as an individual and within a team context. Children that seek to achieve even higher levels of competition and additional opportunities may tryout for the District VIII Olympic Development Program.