The following table (Table 1) summarizes the options for team oriented soccer in the Haslett Community. In general, opportunities are divided into “recreational” and “select” teams.
Recreational Teams: Recreational teams are less competitive, open to all players (i.e., no tryouts) and run by volunteer coaches. Haslett has two different recreational opportunities for children K-8th (although there is some overlap between the two programs and the 2nd-3rd grade levels):
Select Teams: For players seeking a more competitive level of play, the Haslett Soccer Club oversees enrollment of teams in the Capital Area Soccer League. These are “select” teams, meaning that they are formed via a tryout process held in June of each year. As with the HYRA and Eastside teams, the “CASL” teams are run by volunteer coaches.
For players seeking a highly competitive, professionally coached team, there are for-profit clubs in the Lansing area, and many others on the East and West side of the state that play highly competitive soccer throughout Michigan.
| Organizations & Leagues | Ages | Levels of Play & Team Composition | Seasons, Practices, Games, Tournaments | Competition | Cost** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haslett Youth Recreational Association (aka “HYRA”)/Meridian Parks & Rec | K-1st | Recreational/No Tryout; Equal playing time/Volunteer coaches/All players are placed on teams which are primarily school-based | Seasons: Fall Only (Sep-Oct)/Practices: 1 practice per week/Games: 1 game per week; ~4-6 games per season; no referees/Tournaments: None | Low | <$75** |
| Eastside Soccer Club (aka “Eastside”)/Eastside Soccer League | 2nd-8th | Recreational/No Tryout; Equal playing time/Volunteer coaches/All players are placed on teams which are primarily school-based | Seasons: Fall (Sep-Oct) and Spring (Apr-May)/Practices: Two 1.5 hr practices per week/Games: 1 game per week; ~6 games per season; paid referees/Tournaments: None | Low | <$100** |
| Haslett Soccer Club/Capital Area Soccer League | U10-U19 | Select/Tryout; Playing time at coaches discretion/Volunteer coaches/Teams are selected via a tryout and are primarily school-based teams. | Season: Fall (Late Aug-Oct) & Spring (Late Mar-Early June)/Practices: 2-3 practices per week/Games: 1-2 games per week; ~8 games per season; certified, paid referees/Tournaments: Optional 1-2 tournaments | Medium | ~$150-$300** |
| Nationals, Capital Area Rush, Cap City/Leagues: WSSL MSDSL, MSPSL, MRL | U8-U19 | Select/Tryout; Playing time at coaches discretion/Paid coaches/Teams are selected via a tryout and are composed of players from throughout the region. | Season: 8-10 months per year, including outdoor and indoor seasons/Practices: 2-3 practices per week/Games: 1-2 games per week; ~8 games per season; certified, paid referees/Tournaments: 2-4 tournaments per year | High-Very High | ~$750-$2000+** |
| **Costs are approximate and include registration, referee fees, team equipment, field fees and uniforms. Costs do not include tournaments, individual equipment or travel. Some financial assistance is available. |
