Prairie Cities Soccer League Newsletter

Registration 2023/2024 Edition

Welcome to the registration newsletter for Prairie Cities Soccer League's Fall 2023/Spring 2024 season! PCSL is a recreational league offering soccer to children ages 4 to 18 who relies primarily on volunteers. The League is a part of FC Central Illinois and a member of the Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA). We are excited and looking forward to the next playing year! Registration for the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 season begins February 1st!

In last year’s registration newsletter, we updated you with our plans to exit the fields on Ireland Grove Rd. and reported that we had secured land at the former Sale Barn which is located at the intersection of Hamilton Rd and US 51/Main St. in South Bloomington. Our lease with CIRA ended on 12/31/2022. While we had hoped to be well underway with developing our future home at the former Sale Barn location, many factors have delayed our breaking of ground at that site. We are shovel-ready with the exception of financing. The total cost of this project increased since initially obtaining the cost estimates. As many of us are experiencing in business and personal lives, this is because of inflation, gas cost, increased labor cost, and other economic pressures.

Our Executive Board of Directors have been meeting with businesses and major community leaders on this project, emphasizing the need to support youth soccer in our community. While we are making slow strides, we are still open to any assistance from anyone who would be willing to help in this endeavor either with financial support or with being part of the team to find financial support. We are also in the process of evaluating our company and board structure to determine the roles needed to best position us for success into the future.

Beginning with the upcoming Spring 2023 season and going forward, PCSL U9 through High School matches will be played at our new home at the Sale Barn grass fields while working toward our ultimate goal of developing this location for our league. The U5/U6 programs and U7/U8 games will continue to be held at Game Time Gym.

As we continue with our path forward, we are also looking for future leaders of our organization to join our Executive Board or a working committee. We are looking for individuals that are excited about soccer and moving soccer in our community forward. Any expertise in HR, legal, construction, or finance/accounting would be a plus.

Thank you for your continued support of PCSL/FCCI programs. Although we’ve hit a few hurdles in our complex plans, it is short-term, and we are confident we will emerge stronger and more resilient going forward.

Registration for the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 season opens on February 1^st. We'd like to encourage you to register early, February 1 through March 31, to take advantage of a lower player fee. Registration fees have increased for our U7 through HS divisions for the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 playing year. Developing a new complex, the economy, and the increase in daily operating costs to run this league are all reasons for this increase.

Please read on to find out more about our upcoming Fall 2023/Spring 2024 registration…..

Registration begins February 1

U5/U6 Programs:

Full Year (Fall 2023 & Spring 2024) - $120
Fall Only 2023 / Spring Only 2024- $85

U7 through High School Divisions:

Full Year (Fall 2023 & Spring 2024) - $150
Fall Only 2023 / Spring Only 2024 - $100

Register before April 1 to take advantage of the lower player fee! Beginning April 1, $25 will be added to the registration fee.

*Scholarships for reduced registration fees are available, based on family income levels.

Getting Started

Registration is done through TeamSnap. If you are new to PCSL, you will need to create a new account, login & password. All returning players have already set up an account in TeamSnap. You can register your child and submit payment from the comfort of your own home with your debit/credit card or choose to pay directly from your bank. If you have questions when using the online registration system, need access to a computer, or would like to apply for financial assistance, please contact us at office@pcslsoccer.org or 309-451-GOAL(4625).

Registration Page

How teams are formed

PCSL forms teams for U7 - High School age divisions, to the extent possible, based on the location the player lives in. If you register your child on time, they are guaranteed a spot on a team within or as close to their location as possible. If you register your child after May 1, once team formation has begun, a space on a team and team placement in your location cannot be guaranteed.

At the U5 & U6 programs, players will attend just 1 night per week (Mon-Thurs.). Day & time will be assigned based on choices listed during registration and availability. There is a limited number of openings for each session.

PCSL's philosophy is Everyone Plays. Our program's goal is for kids to play soccer so we mandate that every player on every team must play at least 50% of every game regardless of practice or game attendance.

Fall 2023 Season

U7-High School

Practices can begin: Aug. 14
Games: Aug. 26, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct. 7

A full season consists of 6 games in the fall and 6 games in the spring. Games are played on Saturdays typically between 8am and 5pm. U9-HS games are played at the Sale Barn Fields, 401 W. Hamilton Rd, Bloomington, IL 61704. U7-U8 games are played at Game Time Gym, 404 Olympia Dr, Bloomington, IL 61704.

U5 & U6 Programs

Begin week of Aug. 21

A full season for U5 & U6 programs consists of 6 weeks in the fall and 6 weeks in the spring. Players will have a combination of training and scrimmage in each 1-hour session at Game Time Gym, 404 Olympia Dr, Bloomington, IL 61704.

Uniforms

Uniforms are required for the U7 through High School age divisions. Uniform shirts can only be purchased online through the online store. There are also other soccer essentials offered (shorts, socks, shin guards, spirit wear, ball, etc.) that can be purchased as well. All online orders will be delivered directly to your home.

Uniforms are NOT required for the U5 & U6 programs.

Required PCSL Uniform:

PCSL shirts - 1 royal blue, 1 gold (purchase online only)
Shorts - 1 royal blue (purchase online or locally)
Sock - 1 royal blue (purchase online or locally)
Shin Guards (purchase online or locally)
Soccer cleats/athletic shoes (purchase locally)

Online Store

Yellow Shirt FC Illinois Mockup_Black logos.JPG

FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? Find answers by checking out our FAQ's page.

Volunteers Needed!

Prairie Cities Soccer League is a tremendous community organization serving our youth. For the upcoming 2023/2024 season, we need you!

Volunteer coaches are needed for every PCSL team! Please consider coaching your child's team. To volunteer, please let us know by indicating it on your child's registration and by completing the volunteer coach registration for 2023/2024.

Our volunteer-based organization can only function well with help from everyone. Whether it's as a coach of a team, a few hours here and there, year-round on the board of directors, as a committee member, or as a referee, there is a place for your special talents!

Questions or to volunteer, contact us!

Visit our website

For information & links to the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 registration and for the latest on our upcoming Spring 2023 season, visit the PCSL website at www.pcslsoccer.org.