Club soccer is about experiencing the game of soccer.
The Club program (also known as travel soccer) is designed to provide youth soccer players with the opportunity to experience a healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment to learn and love the game of soccer. Competitions, or matches against other club teams, are part of club soccer—after all, soccer is a sport—but the emphasis is on learning, growing, and enjoyment in a gender and age-appropriate setting. This means that beginners as well as elite players have a place to play in their community.

What's the commitment?
The commitment necessary for club soccer depends on the experience and development level of the team. Younger age groups (U8-U12) usually practice twice a week for 60-90 minutes per session and play league games on the weekend. Teams may also participate in one or two tournaments each season. Higher level or older teams may train more often and play more games. Especially for youth players, AFC believes that players should have the opportunity to experience other activities, commit to their schoolwork, and try new things.

What’s the appeal of club soccer?
Club soccer is age appropriate and designed to foster a developmentally appropriate environment to allow players to learn the game, improve their skills, and continue to grow as individuals.  As a result, players will develop as teammates on the field and friends off the field. Club soccer also offers recruiting opportunities for high school players through regional soccer leagues and tournaments provide the most likely recruiting opportunities for high school and college coaches.
 
Club soccer is different than (Middle/High) school soccer.
Public school and parochial school soccer experiences are not designed to teach the game or promote individual growth of players – they are designed to select the most skilled players from the enrolled students and field a competitive team. In middle or high school there are generally limited opportunities to play organized soccer. Players who are not selected to their school team will have no opportunity to play soccer for their school. There is likely a Varsity team and possibly a junior varsity (sometimes even a freshman) team which will roster a limited number of students to the team. Players will likely be competing for playing opportunities with classmates who are 2, 3 and sometimes 4 years older.