Welcome to the premier soccer club of Montana -- Magic City Soccer!  Our club has been playing soccer in Montana since 1978. The goal of the Magic City Soccer Club is to enhance players' skill levels, technical abilities, and tactical awareness, both as individuals and as team members. With training provided by some of the finest coaches in Montana, Magic offers players a high-quality, competitive, and enjoyable soccer experience. We are concerned not only for the soccer well-being of our players but also for their development as well-rounded individuals.  We offer Micro soccer (rec plus soccer with little travel) for ages 8 to 12 and competitive traveling soccer for ages 11 to 18.

Location and Office Hours

Our office is located at 2222 Broadwater Avenue (in the basement of the Red Terrace building). Go to the back of the building and down the steps. The mailing address is:  P.O. Box 22522, Billings, MT 59104. Our Website is magiccitysoccer.net .

The office is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.  You can always call and leave a message at 294-9480. Forms and brochures for camps, etc. are located in wall racks outside the office door and are available anytime the building is open (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). Slide registrations, payments, contracts, etc. in envelopes addressed to ‘Magic City Soccer’ under the door, if the office is closed. 

Soccer Offerings

Micro Magic:  Micro soccer is a recreational division of Magic City Soccer Club with limited travel for Under 8 to Under 12 boys and girls. Micro players do not attend evaluations and are assigned to a team on a first come, first serve basis, starting in September. Micro registration closes November 30. Team formation is usually by gender and age groupings (U8/U9/U10 and U11/U12) but is dependent on the total number and type of registrations received. To learn more about Micro, please visit Micro Magic Soccer.

A competitive player (U11 and above) will be evaluated or try-out for the age level (NOT GRADE IN SCHOOL) that corresponds to his or her birthday. See the Age Matrix below to determine your player’s eligibility:

MYSA AGE MATRIX
For all Magic soccer programs 2009 - 2010

U18 8/1/91 to 7/31/92

U17 8/1/92 to 7/31/93

U16 8/1/93 to 7/31/94

U15 8/1/94 to 7/31/95

U14 8/1/95 to 7/31/96

U13 8/1/96 to 7/31/97

U12 8/1/97 to 7/31/98

U11 8/1/98 to 7/31/99

U10 8/1/99 to 7/31/00

U09 8/1/00 to 7/31/01

U08 8/1/01 to 7/31/02 
 

Evaluations for competitive players in the U11 and U12 bracket and try-outs for competitive players in the U13 and U14 age brackets take place at the end of August at Amend Park for spring play in the following year.  Players in the U15 and above age bracket will try-out in early November after the high school soccer season is completed.  Please watch the calendar for specific times and dates.

U11 & U12 (Magic 8's):  Magic City Soccer Club sponsors teams in an 8v8 league at ages Under 11 and Under 12 for boys and girls. These teams travel throughout April, May, and June to Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, and Miles City. In an eight week season, you can reasonably expect to play in Billings twice. This league is considered a developmental league between Micro and Competitive.

Magic 8’s is a developmental league sanctioned by Montana Youth Soccer and the Magic City Soccer Club.
League Format – 8v8 with keeper
Roster Size – approximately 12 players

U13 & U14:  The purpose of the Under 13 and Under 14 competitive division is to enable youth soccer players, their families and coaches to enjoy the game of soccer at a competitive club team level. This experience is expected to be a step toward upper division play. These teams travel throughout April, May, and June to cities such as Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, and Miles City. In an eight week season, you can reasonably expect to play in Billings twice. Depending on the ability of the players and commitment of parents, these teams may travel to Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Denver, San Diego, etc. for higher level tournaments.

Magic City Soccer Under 13 and Under 14 division is a competitive league sanctioned by Montana Youth Soccer and the Magic City Soccer Club.
League Format – 11 v11 with keeper
Roster Size – approximately 16 players

U15 & Above:  The purpose of the Under 15 & Above competitive division is to enable youth soccer players, their families and coaches to enjoy the game of soccer at a competitive club team level. This experience is expected to be a step toward upper division play. These teams travel throughout April, May and June to cities such as Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, and Miles City. In an eight week season, you can reasonably expect to play in Billings twice. Depending on the ability of the players and commitment of parents, these teams may travel to Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Denver, San Diego, etc. for higher level tournaments.

Magic City Soccer Under 15 & Above division is a competitive league sanctioned by Montana Youth Soccer and the Magic City Soccer Club.
League Format – 11 v11 with keeper
Roster Size – 18 players

The Registration Process

Competitive registrations must be received before the first day of try-outs, in order for the player to be properly listed in the try-out roster and insured. Competitive 2010 U11-U14 registrations received after August 19, 2009 will be charged a late fee. Competitive 2010 U15 and Above registrations received after October 31, 2009 will be charge a late fee. DO NOT REGISTER ON THE DAY OF TRY-OUTS!!  Registering on the day of try-outs slows the whole try-out process down.

The office starts accepting Micro registrations on September 1 and until November 30 and places Micro players on teams on a first come, first serve basis. Micro registrations received after the due date will be charged a late fee, wait-listed, and not guaranteed placement and will be charged a late fee.  Incomplete registrations will be returned. Please see the ONLINE registration instructions under the 'News' items on this Website's home page.

By submitting a hard copy of your ONLINE registration form and attending the evaluation or try-out, parents/guardians are asking Magic to put their player on a competitive (‘AA’ or ‘A’) or a Micro team and will abide by any team placement made and/or team formation decisions made by the Director of Coaching or the Magic board. Depending on try-out turnout numbers, player/team playing ability, and coach availability, or state team formation rules, some age groups may be combined. No refunds will be made to players that drop after evaluations and try-outs. Before submitting this registration, please be sure to speak with Magic personnel regarding any questions or concerns that you may have.

- Do registration ONLINE by completing a 'Player Account' at Gotsport.com and registering/paying at 'Club Registration' on the club home page.  Be sure to notarize a hard copy of your ONLINE registration and return it to the office.

- Complete and fill out a 'Financial Commitment & Expectations' form (located on the 'Forms' tab). Be sure to check your player type (Micro or competitive) at the top of the form.  Also, include a signature and date and how payment was made at the bottom of the form and and return to the office. 

            - A check for the $85.00 nonrefundable registration fee made out to ‘Magic City Soccer Club’ must be included with the registration if payment was not made with MC/VISA. Fundraising discount cards, available in February, and scholarships, for those who qualify, are available to assist with fees.

- A copy of the player's certified birth certificate is required for all new players. Returning players' birth certificates are kept on file.

- If you are registering after the deadline, enclose a CHECK for $25.
 

Financial Commitments

The following is approximate, may change, and is a quote for a new club member:

- Total competitive player fees for Magic 8’s (U11 and U12) and competitive players U13 will be announced in August, 2009.  In 2009, competitive registration fees werre $395. The club expects the registration fee to increase by at least 5% to cover anticipated increases in tournament registration increases, referee fees/fines made by the state, and gas prices that affect coach's travel. The initial registration fee (about $85) is due with the registration form before August 19 and will be applied to the total registration fee.  Players with outstanding balances from the previous spring soccer season will not be allowed to try-out until their balances are paid. The balance is due with the club contract two weeks after the spring roster is sent out. No bill will be sent. Players that do not pay their balances in a timely manner will have their player cards withheld or could be dropped from the club.

- The uniform fee for competitive players is approximately $65, paid to our uniform vendor in January. We do not anticipate buying new uniforms for 2010.

- Competitive players will be responsible for significant travel expenses for regular season away play, away tournaments (two days in length), and the state tournament (three days) and regional tournament (four days).

- Teams that are given permission to practice at Amend Park will pay a user fee. 

- Depending on a coach’s license and amount of preseason practice, if a player is in a competitive U13 or above age level, the coach will be compensated by the team. Download Coach Compensation (.doc) here.

- There are substantial fines levied by MYSA and Magic on teams that do not register the appropriate number of referees before their state tournaments.

- Each team is responsible for obtaining advertising for the Stockman Bank / Magic City Classic Tournament in March; target ad amounts not made by a team are divided among the families on that team.

- Teams that do not show up for a scheduled league game, for reasons other than MYSA game cancellation due to weather, will be fined $300 by MYSA and the club and forfeit their league playing bond.

           - There are no refunds for league game cancellations due to weather or Classic game cancellations due to lack of outside team registrations.
 

To help offset these expenses, the club offers fundraising in the form of local merchant discount card sales in the winter and Yellowbook phone delivery in the summer or winter, when available.

Scholarships are also available to players who qualify. If financial aid is needed, the office must be contacted immediately, and aid forms must be obtained from the office by December 15 and submitted every year that aid is requested, no later than February 1. Download the 2010 Financial Aid Letter, Financial Aid Info, and Financial Aid Request here after October 31, 2009.

Club Expenses

Magic City Soccer Club is a nonprofit organization that attempts to keep costs at a minimum. Compared to other clubs in the state, Magic club registration is one of the lowest in the state. Total player fees pay for:

- MYSA registration

- Evaluations

- Micro tournament and competitive tournaments--state tournament, Magic City Classic, and one other tournament

- Coach expenses (not compensation):  travel, licensing, and educational clinics

- Equipment:  goals, balls, cones, pennies, field striping equipment, field paint, and a portion of the maintenance of Amend Park

- Office expenses:  office rental, phone, postage, printing, office supplies, insurance, and a small stipend for the registrar and office administrator

- Club Director of Coaching

- Referee reimbursement, fines for teams lacking refs for State Cup

- Uniforms (Micro only)

Player/Family Expectations

Besides the financial responsibilities of members and their families, the club also expects all families to volunteer their time towards their team and club. All families are expected to volunteer for at least 10 hours (5 hours for Micro) for their player’s team or forfeit $100 ($50 for Micro). All teams are expected to provide an assistant coach, a team manager, a team rep, two certified referees, a field marshal, three field and equipment personnel, a tournament ad manager, and a tournament helper. These positions are filled at the first parent meeting. If you can not attend the first parent meeting or volunteer or adequately complete the job that you signed up for, please do not register your child in this club.

If you sign up to be a referee, you are expected to watch the Website for training dates, attend and complete the training, referee league games, and signup and referee at your player’s state cup.

All Magic City Soccer Club coaches, players, parents and administrators are expected to be informed about and to abide by the MYSA ‘ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY’ covering verbal and physical abuse directed toward any player, administrator, coach, referee, volunteer, parent, or anyone else.

The Evaluation and Try-out Process

Micro players do not try-out. In order to obtain a fair evaluation, attendance by all competitive players at all sessions is necessary. If a player is sick or injured, contact the office immediately. The office will try to make arrangements to evaluate the player at another time. Be aware that a player who is absent from try-outs might not make an ‘AA’ team. If a try-out day is shortened because of inclement weather or if the evaluator needs more time, some or all players may be called back. 

Be sure to preregister ONLINE! Practice and attend soccer camps during the summer. Be physically fit; the tryouts are demanding. Arrive at least thirty minutes before the beginning of try-outs. Be dressed and ready to play. Wear a white t-shirt; do not wear club jerseys. Bring shin guards, soccer socks, a ball, and a water bottle. Check in at your age level table and get a number. The club uses numbers, instead of full names, to give the players anonymity, in order to make try-outs fair and impartial. After receiving a number, find your age level and stretch out.

Evaluators will begin the try-out once all players have been checked in, and they have received their try-out rosters. Roll will be called. It is the player’s responsibility to try-out in the correct age group; please speak with your evaluator if you are not sure if you are in the correct age group! Family members are asked to leave the fields after check-in and not watch try-outs, so that players are not distracted and may concentrate on their performance. The try-out will run about one and a half hours; parents are asked to return a half hour early, in case the try-out ends early. Player should meet their parents in a prearranged spot. Players should keep their numbers for the second day of try-outs and report directly to the field and evaluator that they had previously, where roll will be taken again. After the final day, all numbers are to be returned to the check-in area.

Team Formation for the U11 and U12 Brackets

Teams of 11 to 12 players will be formed with relatively equal skill levels, based on the player evaluations. The number of teams formed depends upon the number of players for the age bracket and the number of available licensed coaches. Players not put on a competitive U11 or U12 team will have first priority placement on a Micro team.

Team Formation for the U13 and Above Brackets

The most competitive ‘AA’ team possible will be formed, based on player try-out information, for U13 and above. The ‘AA’ teams will roster approximately 16 to 18 players, and the ‘A’ teams will roster approximately 18 players. The number of teams formed in an age level, the type (‘AA Select,’ ‘ AA,’ or ‘A’) of teams rostered, or any age level combination (i.e. U17/U18) made is a function of the number of players registered for each age bracket, the depth of talent of the players, past commitment of players and parents, and the coach availability.  Be aware that Montana Youth Soccer Association is considering combining U17 and U18 age groups as U18. 

Team Notification

Competitive rosters will be issued as soon as possible. If a player drops after team selection and rostering, he or she may not be allowed to register and play with the club in the future. Significant work and time is spent in forming these teams. It is a major problem to reorganize the affected teams. After a player receives notification of placement on a competitive team, a signed contract and the remainder of club fees will be due in the office within two weeks. At this time also, a color picture of the competitive player must be uploaded to their 'Player Account' at Gotsport.com.

Other Important Soccer Dates

Parent team meetings will be scheduled in the Magic office with at least one board member in attendance, as soon as the rosters are put out and a coach is recruited. Do not miss your first parent team meeting! Team volunteer jobs are chosen, and the team’s league schedule and other team business are discussed.

Parents need to check the Website regularly, especially in late December for uniform try-on schedules (usually the first or second weekend in January) and the Micro Parent Meeting and Annual General Meeting (later in January at Rocky Fortin Center). Do not miss either of these events! The required Micro parent organization meeting is held on the same night as the Annual General Meeting. At this meeting, parents receive their player’s roster, meet the coach, and choose volunteer positions.

Competitive and Micro teams need to start obtaining ads for the Magic Classic tournament booklet in early March.

Practice for the new season will follow in early March. The first game will be the first Saturday in April for U13 and above. Micro and Magic 8’s play will begin the second or third Saturday in April.

The competitive season closes June 30. ALL Magic 8's and competitive teams are required to attend the Stockman Bank / Magic City Classic the first weekend in May. The 'AA' State Cup date and time and place TBA.  The MT Cup Div I (state 'A') tournament is in June, time and place TBA. The state Division II (U11 & U12) Showcase is late June, time and place TBA. The Regional tournament will be in mid June in Albuquerque, NM.  State Cup winners must attend Regionals or forfeit a $1000 bond! 

Other Magic Soccer Programs

The club offers the Fall Academy that runs from the middle of September to the middle of October, twice a week. Winter indoor soccer will be offered, if there is enough interest. Please watch the Website calendar for more information.