About/FAQ

Belmont United Soccer Club (“BUSC”) plays “competitive” soccer in both the NorCal and CalNorth/CYSA organized leagues. Our club is based on a player development model; we aim to provide an individual player a nurturing environment to learn the game and develop their skills. We aim to place players at a playing level where they can be challenged but also be successful – this is the zone of optimal development (and enjoyment). We can offer multiple teams at each age group (both boys and girls). We recognize that winning is important but not at the expense of their development. Players should play different positions at the young ages and playing time should be a minimum of 50% over the season games. We believe that ‘technique is freedom’ i.e. that a good technical skill base will allow a player the freedom to play soccer at a competitive level for as long as they desire.

Up to and including the U13 age group, players are guaranteed a minimum of 50% playing time over the course of a season. U14 players and above earn their playing time based on their attendance, work ethic, ability, being a good teammate, and focus.

Club soccer tends to be more competitive and selective than AYSO. Club teams play opponents of comparable skill and experience from other Bay Area cities as scheduled by their league. Our club coaches are professional and highly trained. Parent volunteers make up the board members and team managers and are essential to the successful running of both the club and individual teams.

Most teams participate in two playing league seasons (Spring and Fall).  During each season we typically play 1 game a weekend (Saturday and Sunday). On some weekends a team may have no games or a game on both days. Most teams play 1 tournament each season, subsidized  by the club. Tournaments generally consist of 3-4 (slightly shorter) games over a weekend at a single location.

Practices are held twice a week on weekday afternoons in Belmont and Redwood Shores (generally Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday). 11v11 teams may have a 3rd weekly practice. Most teams are scheduled from 4-5:30pm or 5:30-7pm; U12 and older teams may practice 7:00-8:30. In the fall, due to daylight savings, some practices may shift to 3:45pm.

Home games are mainly played in Belmont and Redwood Shores. Most games are played in the Bay Area in nearby cities (SF to Morgan Hill).

The cost for the fall and spring season together is $1850 (plus TeamSnap transaction fees). This includes all league registration costs, coaching fees, referee fees, 1 or 2 tournaments per year, and a goalkeeper clinic. If you join between Fall and Spring seasons, the cost for the Spring season is $925. Club players are responsible for uniforms at an additional cost ($130-$175). A new uniform is not required every season and can last from 2-3 years (dependent on player growth). Each family may also contribute to team fees which are an additional cost (approximately $60-100) per family per season; team fees may include things like purchasing a team bench, team canopy, goalkeeper gloves, game balls, etc. Teams can choose to attend additional tournaments on the agreement of the DoC and all families, manager, coach – this is an additional cost to families.

If you have questions about financial aid, please contact belmont.united@gmail.com

At each calendar year age group we may have multiple teams playing at an appropriate level for players’ development. An appropriate level is where a player is challenged but can also have success (the zone of optimal development and enjoyment).  See more below for 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11 age groups.

Our club Director of Coaching (DoC) and professional coaching staff assess players on 4 areas of the game – technical, tactical, psychological and physical. Generally we are interested in players that want to play at a more competitive level, are focused, willing to learn and want to improve.

The club hosts tryouts for new players twice a year: mid-May for any player interested in joining, and mid-November for just new (not affiliated with another club) players. Players who are invited to play for Belmont United are either added to current teams or new teams are created.

We guarantee any player that makes a Belmont United team a spot on a team in the club the following season, unless there is a serious breach of the club’s Code of Conduct, as long as the player registers by the stated deadline. If a player takes a season off they will be required to tryout again the following season. 

Unfortunately it is impossible to accommodate friend and/or carpool requests. We encourage you to reach out to members on your team to arrange rides etc.

 If a player is aged between 5 and 10 and does not make a Belmont United team we recommend attending the Belmont United Junior Academy to continue developing their skills and increase their familiarity with the club, our coaches and our training curriculum. A player may also be offered a position as a ‘practice player’.

A practice player is a player that practices with a team and is eligible to attend Belmont United clinics but is not yet registered to play in games.The player may not quite be at the skill level required for club soccer but is close and has been recommended to practice with the team to continue their development. A fee for a practice player is 50% of the total registration fee.

Our Junior Academy program begins at 5 years old. Our teams begin at the U8 age group (in 2024/25 this age has a birth year of 2017). Players have the opportunity to play all the way up until they are U19 and graduate High School.

Our U8’s mainly play ‘In-house.’ This is a slight increase in commitment and level from the Junior Academy program. They will practice twice a week with an optional 3rd practice/pick-up soccer session and goalkeeper clinic per week during the season. On weekend’s they play small sided games against each other. Occasionally we will organize play dates with other clubs and we will enter a tournament each season. Small-sided games e.g. 2v2/3v3/4v4/5v5 promote more touches on the ball in game like situations – this is vitally important for player development, particularly at the younger ages.

Our U9’s and U10’s play 7v7 in the NorCal league against other clubs within our region (Mainly SF – Palo Alto). At these age groups we prefer to balance our teams in term of ability. We feel this is beneficial for all players at the age group. The focus here is mainly 90% technical and 10% tactical. Players should play all positions.

At these ages our players begin playing 9v9 still in the NorCal league. At this stage we prefer to tier our teams so players can play consistently at a level where they can be challenged but be successful. After the U10 age group we will evaluate the whole group for team placements at U11. The focus at these ages is 60% Technical 40% tactical. Players should play multiple positions.

At this age the players begin to play the big game, 11v11. We continue with tiered teams and we evaluate at the end of each season to ensure players can be placed at a level where they can be challenged but be successful. The focus here is 40% technical 60% tactical. Players will begin to have one primary position and at least one secondary position.

These are purchased from SoccerPost via the club’s MyUniform page. There are required and also optional uniform items; and SpiritWear can be found at the lower section of the page. The store will contact you once the items are ready for pickup at 1121 Industrial Rd, Suite 300, San Carlos. To access our SoccerPost “MyUniform” page please click here. Buying SpiritWear for players, families, and friends earns money for Belmont United; family and friends can purchase SpiritWear without logging in at the Belmont United SpiritWear page

Our main focus as a club is to keep players playing as long as possible. This is in order to provide players with all the benefits of playing this great game; teamwork, sportsmanship, being present, friendship, health benefits both physical and mental and hopefully an activity and sport they can enjoy for life. As a club we our passionate about the culture we create surrounding the players, parents and coach’s. We aim to relieve anxiety and stress on the players (the game itself already provides plenty of this), we aim to educate parents on how to be a supportive sport’s parent (‘I love watching you play’, no coaching from the sideline – no verbs) and an understanding from our parents and coaches that youth soccer is not professional soccer. Mistakes will happen and are positive teaching moments. Winning is important but not at the detriment of the growth of a team or an individual. Please make sure to review the Belmont United Way; this is how you will experience and contribute to youth soccer on a daily basis if you join the club.