Hartford United Competitive Soccer Program
The Hartford Area Competitive Soccer Club (Hartford United) offers youths the opportunity to play competitive soccer at the U-11 thru U-19 age levels. The competitive soccer program offers to those players with the talent, commitment, and desire a higher level of coaching and competition. The teams play games in the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) or the Metro Youth Regional Soccer League (MYRSL). Games are generally played Saturday and some Sunday afternoons. Practices are held at least twice weekly. Teams compete in three tournaments each spring and fall season and may also play one or more winter indoor soccer sessions.
Not all youth soccer players are created equal in their ability or commitment to the game of soccer. In 1998 the Hartford Sideliners Soccer Club saw a need for teams to compete in the MYRSL and WYSA leagues. Due to the club's affiliation with the Kettle Moraine Soccer League (KMSL) they could not field teams in the competitive leagues. A separate club, the Hartford Area Competitive Soccer Club (Hartford United) was formed. Hartford United is a not for profit organization and holds an annual general meeting in March. Anyone with a child on a team can attend and vote. Officers are elected at this meeting. The club's current president is Jack De Selm.
What is the WYSA?
The WYSA is a State Association for the
US Youth Soccer organization. US Youth Soccer is the largest member of
the United States Soccer
Federation (USSF), the governing body for soccer in the United States.
US Youth Soccer is made up of 55 member State Associations; one in each state,
and two in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Membership is
divided into four regions, each with a Director elected to the board. The
regions are essentially East (Region I), Midwest (Region II), South (Region
III) and West (Region IV). Each State Association has a Board of Directors,
elected by delegates from their member leagues, clubs or teams. Besides
authorizing and administering the Wisconsin State Leagues, the WYSA also runs
the State Boys and Girls Olympic Development Programs (ODP) and offers USSF
Coaching Licensing Clinics. As mentioned before, US Youth Soccer is the largest
member of the USSF. The USSF is a member of the
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). FIFA is the
world governing body for soccer. Once a player, team, and club are sanctioned
by the WYSA they can potentially play anywhere in the country or world against
other USSF or FIFA sanctioned teams. There are teams from Wisconsin that have
traveled and played internationally. International youth teams occasionally
compete at WYSA sanctioned tournaments. Hartford United is Hartford's door into
the national and international youth soccer world.
What Are The Different Age Groups?
Boys and Girls teams are fielded from the U-11 thru U-19 age levels. Division eligibility is determined by the players age as follows:
| Age Division | Players Age |
| Under-11 | Under 11 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
| Under-12 | Under 12 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
| Under-13 | Under 13 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
| Under-14 | Under 14 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
| Under-15 | Under 15 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
| Under-16 | Under 16 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
| Under-17 | Under 17 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
| Under-18 | Under 18 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
| Under-19 | Under 19 prior to July 31 of the playing year |
Tryouts are held the first or second week of June. Anyone meeting the above age eligibility can attend the tryouts. The current registration fee is $275.00 for U-11 through U-14 and $150.00 for U-15 and above. Each player should wear a shirt with their name on the back to be used by evaluators in rating each player's ability. Tryouts consist of organized sessions of various drills and small sided games during which each player is graded based on their technical, tactical, and physical abilities. Players are also graded based on their attitude. Evaluators consist of coaches within and outside the club. Players are notified within a week as to their selection status.
Coaches are paid predicated on the level of license held in either the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) or National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Select coaches are required to have organized practice plans following USSF or NSCAA guidelines. All coaches are strongly encouraged to attend clinics/schools at least once a year at club cost approved ahead of time. For more details on any of the above, please contact Jack De Selm at 262-224-5052. The current Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) coaching requirements are as follows:
| Age Division | USSF Coaching License Required |
| U-11, U-12, U-13, U-14 | Level E |
| U-15 and Older Classic League | Level E |
| U-15 and Older State League | Level D |
In addition to the licensing requirements, coaches are required to register with the WYSA and complete a Risk Management Assessment.
Click here for current Hartford United coaches or here for additional coach training information.
Uniforms are included as part of player registration. Your child will receive a uniform consisting of two jerseys, shorts and socks. The uniform will be distributed to the players through the team's coach and/or manager. Parents will need to provide the children with shin guards and a soccer ball.
Parents play a major role in the success of the program and the enjoyment that their child gets out of playing soccer. The effort and time that you, as a parent or guardian, put into your child’s soccer team has a substantial affect on their enjoyment of their time playing. Volunteers are needed for everything from coaching to setting up fields prior to the games. All families will be required to participate by volunteering ten hours of their time in some form.