Please refer to the age chart below to see what age group to register for:

Proof of Age

Proof of age is required for ALL players registering with LHSC for the first time. A copy of a state-issued birth certificate, passport, military ID, or alien registration card is acceptable. Hospital-issued birth certificates and baptismal certificates CANNOT be accepted as proof of age. Proof of age must be mailed to LHSC (P.O. Box 6744 Bellevue WA 98007) after online registration is completed; placement on a team will not be finalized until proof of age is received.

Playing Up/Playing Down

Playing Up: A request to "play up" to the next higher age group, based on playing ability, must be submitted in writing by the registration deadline. Granting the request will depend on the impact it would have on age appropriate players and available space on a team. No player may play up for more than one year. Players may request to play up one year under the following rules:
New Player play-ups are assigned after all the players of that age group are assigned to a team. If all the teams are full they are placed in their own age group.
New Player Play-ups are not guaranteed that they will be placed on a team in their geographical area. Their placement is based only on teams that need players.
Please note that we strongly recommend that players do not play-up. There are very few players and teams that actually benefit from having a player play up a level.

Playing Down: Players requesting to "play down" to a lower age group must submit the request in writing with documentation from the players' physician (see policies). A player that has physical and/or mental disabilities can petition the Club Board in writing providing the necessary medical forms and waivers. If Club approval is attained then Association approval and State Approval must be gained. If a player wants to receive a special consideration for disability to play down a level than they must contact the administrator and file the proper paperwork before the end of the last registration date.

General FAQ's

Q: What is the top-line Placement Policy utilized by LHSC?
A: Placement decisions are made using the following prioritized guidelines. Players are placed on teams by date of registration (registration is only considered final when payment has been received):

Gender
Age
School
Neighborhood

Q: How do you determine team composition?
A: LHSC follows the following guidelines:

Returning players from the MOD and REC programs are ONLY guaranteed placement on the same team if registered by May 31, 2008.

Returning players from the MICRO U07 program will be assigned to new teams in the MOD program with placement emphasis based on the player's elementary school, if at all possible (see Player Placement below).
Players are automatically returned to last year's team unless they state in an email to the club registrar "do not place on team from last year" with a confidential statement as to why. Players who make this request are placed on a team by placement guidelines
Teams returning with no coach are merged with teams that have a coach but need players or given players and asked for a coach. All efforts to keep the returning players of a team with no coach together are made but not guaranteed. Teams with returning coaches are not guaranteed reformation if there are not enough players to build each team in that age group to 14. The team with the most players will absorb the team with fewer players.
The previous year's roster is used to return players to last year's team.
Players are assigned by their birth date not by grade level. There is no specific guarantee that you will play with players in your grade level.
Every effort is made to assign players on the unassigned list to a team that has other schoolmates on the roster, or a team in the same geographical area of the player. Most teams are a mixture of 1-2 schools maximum. If no teams are available with schoolmates and in the same geographical area then players are assigned to the next closest geographical team that needs a player.
Players who sign up late will be placed on teams that need players. No primary consideration is made of school or geographical area.
Teams are built evenly. One team in a U-level will not have 16 while another has 13.

Q: How do coaches influence team composition?
A: Coaches are not part of the team formation process. Coaches cannot request or approve new players on their roster. This is recreational soccer where teams, coaches and players are all treated equally and with the same consideration. Recreational players and coaches cannot select the teams that they play on. In addition coaches cannot request a 17th player to accommodate a late addition or a request. Any additional players will be taken in order from the wait list.

Q: How do you handle late registrations?
A: Late registrations are placed on a wait list as they are received. No space is reserved on any team until payment is received. Late players that have played the year before do not have priority on the wait list. Late registrations are anyone who has not registered by the registration deadline. Registrations lost in the mail, out of town or forgetfulness does not excuse a late registration. .
Q: What is the policy for player additions?
A: After signed rosters are handed to coaches at the end of August no new players will be added unless that team has less than the minimum number of roster spots for the age group in question. Additionally:
No new players will be added until payment and registration forms are submitted.
LHSC registrars must approve the addition of the player and the Administrator must file the paperwork after proper and reasonable notification
Players on the waiting list have priority over any other unrostered players. If a coach finds a player they must contact LHSC Registration immediately to be placed. They are not guaranteed placement over any players that call before them or that are on the wait list or who have paid.

Q: Are coaches or parents allowed to "recruit" a player to play for them?
A: Recreational coaches may not ask a new player to play for them, request their team or let them attend practices. No coach (select or recreational) may ask a player that is 'actively' playing for another team to play for them. A player is considered 'actively' playing for their team as of September 1st. Additionally:
If a player should leave a select team prior to September 1st, a player who was in the try-outs and missed by a narrow margin may replace them. Consent of the player and their coach must be obtained.
After September 1st rosters are closed to transfers. The only players that may be added to teams between September 1st and October 30th will be unrostered players. Only teams in dire need of players will be allowed to have additions during this time period.
After September 1st, if a Select team is short players then they can advertise an open try-out on the association website and select a new player from that open try-out if the following conditions are met:
o The player in question was not specifically notified to attend the try-out (i.e. no activity involving that player is viewed as recruiting.)
o Team Formation concludes that the team that player is leaving will not be adversely affected (roster size & team placement in league are two important factors).
o If there was no recruiting and no negative effects to the team then that player may transfer. Prior approval must be gained from team formation before the player is notified. The refund policy is in effect and the player will have to register late and pay the late fee. The previous registration will not transfer.

Q: Is it possible to have my son/daughter register and play on two different WSYSA soccer teams?
A: No player can register and play on two different Washington State Youth Soccer Teams (Parks and Recreation, Indoor and high school teams are exempt). No player can register to play on two recreational teams in two clubs, a select team and a recreational team, two teams of different age groups, two teams in different leagues or divisions.