Youth Programs

The Valley Youth Soccer League (VYSL) is CVUSC's community-based grassroots recreation league. It is open to all youth from U5 to U18, at every level from complete beginner to experienced player. It covers the whole Comox Valley Regional District.

• Bambinos - U5 (born 2022): one Saturday session a week, practice followed by a mini scrimmage.
• Micros - U6/U7 (born 2020/2021)
• Minis - U8/U9 (born 2018/2019)
• Juniors - U10/U11 (born 2016/2017)
• Youth - U12 to U18 (born 2009–2015). The Youth division is split into micro-divisions so U18 players are not matched against U12 players.

Soccer defines players by birth year: in the year you turn 5 you are a U5 player for the season starting the previous fall.

Soccer Tots (U4) runs in the spring season only and is a parent-participation Skill & Play program.

VYSL runs two independent seasons. Each has its own registration. Players can register for one or both.

Fall - 8 weeks with 7 games, starting the first week of September and finishing at the end of October.

• Practices start the week of September 7th
• Opening game day: Saturday, September 12th
• Last game day: Saturday, October 31st
• No practices Wednesday September 30th (National Day of Truth and Reconciliation) and no games on the Thanksgiving weekend, October 10th

Spring - 9 weeks, from the end of April to the end of June, with no sessions on the Easter and Victoria Day long weekends.

Fall registration opened Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00am and closed Sunday, August 16th at midnight.

• Invited coaches and division managers register early using the link and code they are sent.
• After the closing date fees increase by $25 per player and players are placed only if space allows.
• Once a division fills, a wait list opens in the registration portal under “Wait List - Valley Youth Soccer League (VYSL)”.
• First-time registrants must show a birth certificate or care card as proof of date of birth.

Register or check your account

• Bambinos (U5) - $150.00
• Micros through Youth (U6–U18) - $175.00 for 17 sessions (8 practices and 7 games)
• Late fee: +$25 per player after the registration deadline
• Family rate: with three or more players registered, the fourth player is free

Financial assistance is available. See the FAQ, and apply to KidSport or Jumpstart as well.

Refunds are governed by the club refund policy.

Registration includes:

• Bambinos U5, Micros U6 & U7 - jersey and socks to keep, BC Soccer registration and insurance, team picture, end of season treats, a medal and a soccer ball.
• U8 to U18 - jersey to keep, referees for games, BC Soccer registration and insurance, team picture and wind-up treats.

Players supply their own:

• Soccer cleats or running shoes
• Soccer socks
• Shin pads
• Shorts

Cleats and shin guards are mandatory. BC Soccer requires both, and a player without them cannot take part because they are not insured in the event of an accident. Shin guards must be covered by socks.

• U5 (Bambinos) - Saturdays only, with one session that is part practice and part mini scrimmage.
• U6 and up - two sessions a week, one practice scheduled Tuesday to Thursday and one game on Saturday.

U5 to U11 players train using the Canada Soccer Preferred Training Model at a VYSL Skill Centre. That is a mass-practice, station-style session at a dedicated field on a set night. Volunteer coaches lead it, working from session plans written by the club's Technical Director. U12 to U18 players train in age-specific groups.

Practice and game schedules · Field locations and status

Register through the CVUSC registration portal.

Questions about VYSL? Email our Club Registrar at registrar@cvusc.org.

The primary playing fields used are Valley View Elementary School, Highland Secondary School, Vanier Turf Field, Woodcote field or others as numbers require. Please click here to view our Field Locations & Status.

Please click here for game formats, Bambino's U5 to U18

Once registration closes, CVUSC and VYSL administrators place players into teams using bio-banding. That method is aligned with research on Relative Age Effect, so every team in a division is balanced for relative age.

Each age group has a Division Manager. These are the people who form the teams and act as a liaison between the coaches and the Club. They help form the Youth Executive and are responsible for making the decisions that affect our children. Any questions regarding your child's team should first be directed to your child's coach and then to your Division Manager. If appropriate, they may choose to forward your question to the Head Coach or the VP of Youth.

Coaches are parent volunteers. Advanced knowledge of soccer is not required. CVUSC hosts beginner and advanced coaching clinics to assist coaches in their tasks. Coaches indicate their interest by checking the appropriate box on the registration form. Coaches are requested to assist or lead one practice during the week and a game on Saturday's.

Once coaches and teams have been arranged, the coaches are given their team lists at a coaches meeting, usually one to two weeks prior to the start of the season. The coach will then email his or her players to inform them of a first practice session.