2026 Arsenal Travel Soccer TRYOUT Registration is Open. There is NO FEE for tryouts and you must be registered for tryouts to be placed on a team.

Travel Fee:  $260.00 (note that registration paid online by credit card or debit card are charged a $3.00 fee;  Payment can also be made by check in the amount of $220.00 payable to Aurora Arsenal Soccer Club, Inc., PO Box 132, East Aurora, NY 14052)

·       Registration Fee Includes All Winter Training, uniform kit (jersey, shorts, socks, and one (1) Tournament Fee

Winter Practices begin indoors in for some teams in January 2026, however it is up to the Coaches of each team to determine practice times and dates.  Practices will be held at indoor facilities such as Sahlen’s or local school gyms. 

Aurora Arsenal plays in the Buffalo & Western New York Junior Soccer League (BWNYJSL).  BWNYJSL sets the schedules.  Games typically begin in early May for U12 and under and in mid May for U13 and over and the league season typically ends in late July.   Games are typically one week night per team.  If you team is playing in one or more tournaments, that typically occurs on the weekends.  Game nights are posted on the BWNYJSL website and Season Schedules will be posted on the BWNYJSL website typically in early Spring before the season.  For more information, see BWNYJSL website at bwnyjsl.org.   The game days posted on the BWNYJSL website are as follows but are subject to change occasionally:

Boys:                                                                       Girls:

08U - Wednesday                                                    08U - Wednesday
10U - Friday                                                            10U - Friday
11U - Tuesday                                                         11U - Wednesday
12U - Thursday                                                        12U - Monday
13U - Monday                                                          13U - Tuesday
14U - Wednesday                                                    14U - Thursday
15U - Thursday                                                        15U - Wednesday
16U - Tuesday                                                         16U - Monday
17U - Wednesday                                                    17U - Thursday
19U - Monday                                                          19U - Tuesday

Aurora Arsenal Soccer Club

                                                            Affiliated with Buffalo & W.N.Y. Junior Soccer League – Youth Division of United States Soccer Federation

Dear Arsenal Family,                                                                                                                                                                     September 23, 2025

It is that time of year again to start thinking about the 2026 Travel season. The following information contains details regarding our Travel Program and the formation of teams for the 2026 season.

You may also visit our website at www.auroraarsenal.org, which is updated regularly with news, announcements and other timely information and updates about our Travel Program. Additional information about the Buffalo & Western New York Junior Soccer League can be found on their website at www.bwnyjsl.org.

We would like to congratulate all of the Arsenal teams on a great 2025 season.  As we prepare for 2026, we are looking to build upon the competitive environment we have created and give players the opportunity for more training with the primary focus of player development.  Our focus is not going to necessarily be on more games…it will be on more practice, more training, more skills.  That is how kids will improve.  Getting quicker, getting stronger, getting faster, improving individual skills, and team tactics.  These improvements don’t happen in games. They happen with an increased volume of focused training.  Games are to test and evaluate growth as players and our improvement as a team.  We saw great growth this year with our players and teams…and we want to continue this improvement by offering more training opportunities, more focus on individual speed/agility/skill development, with our evaluation (games) coming against stronger competition. 

Our goal is to have travel teams of both genders at every age level from U10 thru U19 participating in the Buffalo & Western New York Junior Soccer League. The younger age groups (U10-U12) are a natural next step for those players that have spent a year or two in our well-established House League program and are looking to take their soccer skills to the next level. For U10 through U12 we strive to have multiple teams per age group with a balance between competitive teams and development teams. The number of teams we have per age group depend on the number of kids registered for tryouts and their ability to compete at the travel level

Our ability to do this depends on several key factors:

• The availability of a willing and competent coach
• Sufficient registration numbers in an age division to form a team
• A minimum player skill level, determined through the tryout process, to compete in the League
• If we have sufficient numbers for two teams, we will form teams based on the results of the tryout process to create a competitive team and a developmental team

Vision

Our vision is to offer a year-round “program” of soccer in East Aurora through increased coordination and cohesion between Arsenal travel and EA school soccer. There will be an increased focus on Winter Training which will help to link the two programs, allowing players to train together over a longer period and in greater overall volume…if they desire. Again, the concept is to offer our players the opportunity to challenge themselves, improve their skills, get faster, get stronger, if that is something they want. Until now, that opportunity has not been available.

TRAVEL COMMITMENT - Please consider this commitment before registering your child for our Program.

 Participation in the Travel Program requires a commitment from coaches, players and parents.

• Winter Training program from January to April. Many of our teams take advantage of this time for practice and/or play indoor leagues during the winter months.
• The outdoor season extends from mid April into early August and consists of 10-14 matches depending on the age group. During this time teams typically practice twice per week and play a league match one weeknight each week. The game night for each age group is listed below – please consider any conflicts that may exist with your match night. Many teams also participate in one or more local weekend tournaments during the season.
• We cannot stress enough the importance of each player’s, as well as the family’s commitment to their team. Travel soccer, at least during the outdoor season, is not something you participate in just when it’s convenient. Players are expected to attend every practice and match during the season. It is not fair to your coaches and teammates, who put in numerous hours preparing and practicing, if you and your child cannot commit to the same level of participation.

Winter Practices begin indoors for some teams in January 2026, however it is up to the Coaches of each team to determine practice times and dates.  Practices will be held at indoor facilities such as Sahlen’s or local gyms.

All registrations must be done using our on-line registration.

Once tryout’s are competed and your child has made a team, you may register on-line. Please go to our website at www.auroraarsenal.org  and click on the registration link.

To register on-line please go to our website at www.auroraarsenal.org  and click on the registration link.

Fee:  $260.00 (note that registration paid online by credit card or debit card will be charged a $3.00 processing fee; Payment can also be made by check in the amount of $220.00 payable to Aurora Arsenal Soccer Club, Inc., and mailed to P.O. Box 132, East Aurora, NY 14052)

·       Registration Fee Includes all Winter Training in 2026, participation in the 2026 BWNYJSL summer league, one tournament, and a uniform kit (jersey, shorts, socks).

If you are unable to pay the full registration fee  you must still register and make a request for a deferred payment. Please select pay by check at end of registration and email our administration at [email protected]

Please contact our League Administrator, Katie Maslanka, via email at [email protected] if you need to make any financial arrangements.

In the event that your child does not qualify for a team, or teams are not formed in a particular age group, your registration fee will be refunded, less any late registration fees. Once your child has accepted placement on an Arsenal team, refunds will only be considered if we receive written notification that your child will not be playing for that team. Non-recoverable expenses incurred by the Arsenal organization will not be refunded. Please read the policy covering registration fees, late fees and refunds, which can be accessed through the Club’s website at www.auroraarsenal.org.

Player eligibility is determined by the player's birth year. Eligibility in 2026 will be by CALENDAR year. Players may be allowed to play "up" an age division, based on ability and at the discretion of the Travel Committee. Players are not allowed to play "down" an age division. The table below lists birth date guidelines:

House League

For those who do not qualify for,  or choose not to play on a Travel team we have our House Program that runs during May and June. While not as competitive as the Travel Program, there is a wealth of player and coaching talent within the league. All children ages 5 through 18 may participate in the House Program. House registration is held in February 2026.

Refereeing House League Games

Travel players 12 and older can register to referee our House League games. There is a box to check on the registration form to indicate a player’s interest in refereeing. Please understand that checking this box does not guarantee you a spot in the referee rotation for 2026. We have a large pool of veteran refs as well as a waiting list. Your name will be added to the list and you will be contacted when a position is available. 

Volunteer Opportunities

We are always in need of volunteers to help us with coaching, field set-up / maintenance and those willing to serve on our Board of Directors. If you are interested in assisting our organization in any way please select coaching or volunteer help during registration.

Regards,

Aurora Arsenal Soccer Club