How to Join a Recreation Soccer League

Playing soccer is an excellent way to stay fit, and some people are content practicing on their own and simply kicking the ball around with friends. However, if you're looking to partake in more formal games with referees and complete teams, you might want to join a recreation soccer league.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Research the leagues that service your area or your area of interest. Many recreational soccer leagues are defined by region, but others are defined by other qualifications such as age or game experience. Approaching the proper league for your membership will be one of the major determinations of whether you will be accepted or not. You can find players and teams in your area by entering your zip code at SportsVite.com (see Resources below).
2. Submit your application during the appropriate time period. Smaller leagues will usually only accept new applications to join their recreation league during the pre-season. Generally teams will be forming and training will begin in the late winter or very early spring, so leagues will also accept membership applications during this time.
3. Offer the recreation soccer league permission to do a background check if necessary, especially if you are planning on volunteering as a coach, trainer or other position that will work with young members of the league. Though not all leagues will ask for this permission, most of the larger leagues have developed partnerships with the state or regional police force to provide detailed background checks on new members.
4. Consider joining a team in your local area prior to looking into joining a recreation soccer league. Some recreation soccer leagues will only accept full teams into the league as opposed to individuals. Also, if you join with a team, then you will have the help of the coaches, trainers and more experienced players who may have some helpful knowledge about which league to join, or some insider information on how to apply.
5. Pay your membership fees and keep up to date on your dues. Though some may be free to join, most recreation soccer leagues will have some kind of registration fee and yearly or seasonal dues. These fees cover the cost of uniforms, player gear, field equipment, field maintenance, refreshments and transportation.

Tips & Warnings

• Recreational league soccer is mostly run by volunteers, so if you're looking for paid positions as a coach or trainer, you'll need to look into competitive soccer leagues instead.
• Take good care of your uniforms. You'll be able to save on your registration fees each year by using your old uniform since most leagues will deduct the price of the uniform if you don't need one.