TRSA is a volunteer non-profit corporation, run by an elected Board of Trustees, that is affiliated with the New Jersey State Youth Soccer Association. Currently, the club consists of 75 teams and about 1,100 children. The main purpose of our Club is to provide children with a place to play soccer with quality instruction and proper training, while stressing the concepts of team play and good sportsmanship. We accomplish this through five basic programs.
The first is called our (U4 to U6) 4V4 Instructional/Clinic Program. It is designed for inexperienced children ages U4,U5 (under 5) and U6 (U6 clinic is fall only) that emphasizes (soccer) fundamentals, skills and good sportsmanship. Instructional/Clinic is a non-competitive program in which no standings are kept and, as the name implies, it’s purpose is to instruct (teach). A comprehensive training curriculum is followed each week (at Riverwood Park Toms River) by all teams for the first thirty five minutes, and for the remaining 1/2 hour, 4v4 games with a 5 minute half time are played. We feel that a child in this age group need not experience the pressures of competition while coping with physical frustrations of his/her youth. (For more information see note 1)
The second is called the (U6) 7V7 In House Rec Program. ALL games are be played on Saturday mornings during the spring season at Bea Lea Park. These games will be in house--that is a schedule of games against other U6 TRSA teams in the program. Short training sessions (25 minutes) will be held (by our professional training company--Celtic Elite) before the games. These In-House teams will move up to the Ocean County Rec League in the fall of the U7 year and play home and away games against other local club teams. (For more information see note 2)
The third program is called our (U7 to U10) 8V8 Recreational/Ocean County League Program. This program set at Bea Lea Park on Saturdays is tailored specifically for children U7 (under 7) and U8 and serves to enhance the skills taught in the Instructional/Clinic program, while introducing these children to competition. It also provides the older child, ages U9 and U10, a place to learn and play whose skills and/or experience in soccer might not be sufficiently strong enough to allow them to play in the competitive/travel league ranks. In short, the Recreational/Ocean County teams are the training ground for our travel teams. All recreational teams receive six yearly (3 fall/3spring) private training sessions from Celtic International our professional training company. (For more information see note 3)
The Fourth program is our (U8 to U19) 11V11 Competitive/Travel Program. It is here that the more skilled child can participate on a level equal to their abilities in an atmosphere of true competition. The quality of soccer in the Competitive ranks is at its best and provides a goal for the other levels to strive for. We have teams at Bea Lea Park in the highly competitive league of the Monmouth/Ocean Soccer Association (MOSA) and we have teams in the less competitive league of the Jersey Coast JCSL Soccer League for ages U8 (under 8) to U19. (For more information see note 4)
Our Fifth Program is the (U12 to U19) 11V11 TRSA Elite/pre-Elite Division Program. Set at Bea Lea Park our goal is to attract high-level players from Toms River and the Shore Area, but with no restrictions on residency. Emphasis will be on player development for those who have the desire and commitment to and for a more demanding program. Professional caliber training, and game day coaching, as well as participation in high visibility Tournaments will be stressed. The elite program teams which compete in the MAPS/Central Jersey League and generally serve 11v11 U12 to U19 teams if the talent pool is appropriate. (For more information see note 5)
The Instructional 4v4/Clinic Program
(Note 1) Our Instructional/Clinic program is a weekly, on-site, in-house instructional program, intended to teach children the basics and skills of soccer, and to enable them to enjoy playing the game in an organized way. While our older players play in competitive divisions, we try to de-emphasize the competitive element, and encourage coaches and players to have fun, to improve the skills of our coaches and the skills of the team players, and too also practice good sportsmanship.
Our instructional clinic coaches attend a 15 minute staff training session each week prior to the start of each clinic session. These sessions, given by Celtic International, one of our professional training companies, and are geared towards the skills taught that week.
The program is open to boys and girls, ages U4, U5 (under 5) and U6.
The 7v7 InHouse Rec Program
(Note 2) Our next program division is called the 7V7 In House Rec Program. This program features U6 teams. ALL games will be played during the spring of the U6 year on Saturday mornings at Bea Lea Park. These games will be in house--that is a schedule of games against other U6 TRSA teams in the program. Short training sessions will be held before or after the games. These teams will move up to the Ocean County Rec League in the fall of the U7 year and play home and away games against other local club teams. (Note--U6 teams play in the clinic during the U6 fall season).
The Recreational/Ocean County League Program
(Note 3) Our recreation program consists of teams from U7 to U10 that play in the Ocean County League. They play on Saturdays against other clubs in the Ocean County area. This program is a stepping stone to the Traveling Program.
All recreational teams receive six yearly private training sessions (3 fall/3 spring) from Celtic International our professional training company.The program is open to boys and girls who are aged U7 through U10 and starts in September for the (Fall season) and in March of the (Spring season).
(Notes 4/5) These teams play in the Monmouth-Ocean Soccer Association (MOSA), Jersey Coast League and MAPs League. The Elite Program teams compete in the MAPS League. These are all competitive leagues with emphasis on player training and development at a competitive level. Players must usually attend a tryout before being accepted onto a team, and a high level of commitment to the team, including attendance at practices and games, is expected.
All travel teams receive an allotment to offset the cost of the professional training sessions with Celtic International or other approved trainers.
TRSA has two home fields. The main field (for U7 to U19) is Bey Lea Park which is located on Bay Avenue (Rt. 571), Toms River. (U6) In-House games are also played BLP. It is behind the Toms River Township Police/Municipal Building and across from the Bey Lea Golf Course. The other is the Oak Avenue Fields. These fields are used on an as need basis for games and are primarily used for Elite Program Team training. The Oak Avenue Fields are located across from the Toms River Township Municipal Building (next to the Castle Park playground) and across from the Bey Lea Golf Course.
The (U4 to U6) Instructional/Clinic Program is held at Riverwood Park located on Riverwood Drive off of Rt. 527-Whitesville Road in Toms River.
Practices are not allowed at our main fields (Bey Lea or Oak Ave). Practice locations are Riverwood Park, North Dover Elementary, Washington Street Elementary, West Dover Elementary, Intermediate North and Walnut Street Elementary (Chestnut street entrance).
We run two seasons each year, in the Fall and the Spring. The Spring season runs from late March until early June, and the Fall season starts soon after school begins in September and ends in early November.
TRSA is a volunteer club, and we need full participation from our parents in order to be able to operate. All clinic teams are required to supply parents to staff the snack bar once or twice per year. All others may be asked to select at least one category of volunteer activity, as a condition of your child’s acceptance into the program. Most activities will only require one or two hours of your time during the season.
Most teams ask for one or two parents to take on the role of “Team Mom” (Dads are welcome too) – to help with team organization, phone calls, etc.
In 1967, the Dover Soccer Club is formed by Alex Haak. Don Sanders Sr. is also involved. Betty Kosmoski is one of the first girls team coaches.
In 1973, the Toms River United soccer club was formed by Al Scharwtz.
In 1975, the Toms River Hawks Soccer Club is formed by Alex Haak
In 1976, the Toms River American Soccer Club is formed by John D’Elea and Charles Andersch.
In 1977, the Toms River Youth Soccer Club (TRY) was formed as a result of a merger of the Toms River United Soccer Club and the Dover Soccer Club creating 3 independent clubs in Toms River. The Hawks, Americans & Youth.
In 1986, the Hawks, Americans and Youth all agree on a working relationship with all Division 1&2 players to play under the banner of the Toms River Soccer Association. All clubs were still independent but share 1/3 costs of the Association.
In 1990, the Hawks & Americans merge under the name of the Toms River American Soccer Club Inc., t/a Toms River Soccer Association. TRY declines entrance into the Association.
In 1990, the Jersey Shore BOCA Soccer Club was formed by former Youth Leader Al Schwartz and Walt Pericciuoli.
In 1993, the Toms River Independent Club (TRIC) was formed by TRY coach Rick Shaw.
For More Information...
Our mailing address is:
Toms River Soccer Association
P.O. Box 1562
Toms River, N.J. 08754-1562
