Practice schedules are set according to the coach's time preference.  We cannot tell you exactly when your child's practice will be until the season's teams have been set.

VIP Please scroll down for more information about the VIP program.

5U and 6U teams are co-ed and usually have practice for only 1 hour per week.  They will play a small-sided game against themselves for the last 10-15 minutes of that practice.  They do not have scheduled games against other teams, nor will they have games with referees during the regular season.  The focus for these age groups is to have fun and build skills, not to have competitive game play.

8U level teams are co-ed and have practice twice per week, with games on Saturday mornings.  Their games are usually against other U8 teams from within the Sparta region, but may have some travel to Newaygo and Grant. 

10U - 19U level teams are usually not co-ed, and have practice twice per week, with games on Saturdays.  If there is a co-ed team, they will play in the Boys division.  Games are against other teams from outside the Sparta region, and will require some travel.  These games typically have 3 referees (one on the field, and one on each sideline), though sometimes we have to rely on parent help for sideline referee duties.

Tournaments are usually arranged at the Area level (Sparta Region 1672 plays within Area A), and are for 10U - U19 levels.  Players that are 8U age level, but that have been bumped up to 10U level for the regular season are not eligible to play in tournaments.  Tournament locations may change from year to year, based on which regions are interested and capable of handling tournament organization and execution. Team entry into a tournament is optional, and carries a separate registration fee.  There is a 4 v. 4 Tournament in the fall, and a standard tournament in the spring. To play in either tournament, players must be registered for regular play during the season in which the tournament is held. 

The AYSO VIP (Very Important Players) Program provides a quality soccer experience for children and adults whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult to successfully participate on mainstream teams. VIP players may include: blind or visually impaired, amputees or with conditions that impair mobility, mentally or emotionally challenged, autistic, down syndrome, cerebral palsy.

VIP Goals: These players are Very Important Players in AYSO. We recognize that all people need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. The VIP Program offers that acceptance and carries our philosophy of Everyone Plays® to new heights – giving everyone a chance to play.

Kids with Special Needs are estimated to make up approximately 10% of the school-aged population and approximately 20% of the United States population is identified as having some type of disability. Special schools and programs can be isolating, so the VIP Program has been structured to integrate our players into the rest of AYSO by providing a soccer season, and in some cases, using “buddies” – able bodied helpers – to assist players who need assistance, both on and off the field. Our goals for every participating player are: have fun playing soccer, understand the fundamentals of the game, learn teamwork and fair play, increase positive self-esteem, become more physically fit, meet and be comfortable with new people.

For more information: contactourVIP Administrator, Tom Fawcett at [email protected]. 

THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY PLACE YOUR CHILD IN THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION BASED ON THEIR BIRTHDATE. IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE WRONG DIVISION PLEASE CONTACT US.