Youth Soccer Competition Levels
 

There are four levels of youth soccer competition in Connecticut:

1.  'Recreational League' soccer (Rec Soccer) is a level of competition where a league is formed within a Town and all teams that compete in the Rec League are from the same soccer club in the same town.  It is usually for younger players, and emphasizes learning soccer skills, sportsmanship, and having fun.  It is the basic level of youth soccer competition.
2.  'Travel League' soccer (Travel) is the next level up of youth soccer competition.  Travel League soccer is formed within each of Connecticut's soccer "districts", and Travel Teams of varying abilities ("A" teams, "B" teams and so on) represent their town soccer club in competition against the soccer clubs of other towns.  Most town soccer clubs hold tryouts to determine the appropriate team for a player to be assigned to, with the goal of fielding the best possible team at the most competitive level, the "A" level.  Travel team age-brackets are usually "multi-year", such as U-10, U12, U14 and so on.
3.  'Premier League' soccer (Premier) is the next very competitive, demanding level of youth soccer offered.  The Premier League is also known as the 'State League'.  This is generally the highest level of club youth soccer offered.  Players selected at tryouts will compete against teams throughout the entire State of Connecticut.  Premier age brackets are year-to-year.  
4.  A few select youth soccer players are selected to participate in the State of Connecticut 'Olympic Development Program' (ODP).  Those selected represent the Connecticut in very high level competition against other Region 1 states, nationally, and internationally.