The Ins and Outs of Competitive Soccer
The Houston Express program accepts boys and girls aged U8 and up who are ready for rigorous training and a competitive environment. If your child is aged U8 to U10, please click here for more information about the Academy program. This fall, Express will field approximately 1,100 players on 85 teams.
Houston Express teams are trained by licensed professional staff and compete in various area leagues, such as Eastern District Division 1 (EDDOA), Eastern District Super II (EDS2), Houston Youth Soccer Association (HYSA) and State Classic League (SCL).
Developing Well-Rounded Players
Houston Express has an outstanding curriculum, designed to develop well-rounded players in a positive, challenging environment. Our Club is committed to a consistent style of play across all age groups and genders. The style is implemented and enforced by our professional coaching staff, under the direction of our Director of Coaching, Mark Gibbs. The Express style of play, offensively, is a controlled ball possession game that encourages creativity, flair and confidence with the ball at our feet while taking on defenders. Defensively, we emphasize one-on-one defending and group defending tactics to pressure our opponents into giving up the ball. We like our players to defend all areas of the field. It’s the way we play the game.
Express teams play seasonal games against other Clubs in Houston and in tournaments both locally and throughout Texas and the United States. Our U13 and older teams compete in statewide and national cup competitions. Express teams have won state titles each of the last four years and have advanced to both regional and national competitions. In addition, we have teams who have traveled outside the country, most recently in Latin America and Europe.
Houston Express Team Placement
The HESC coaching staff creates teams according to level of play. All prospective players must attend semi-annual evaluations, so they can be appropriately placed. Player performance and development can fluctuate greatly from year to year, so it is not uncommon for players to move from team to team within their age group as they develop.
Our professional coaching staff (NOT parents or Team Managers) make all player placement decisions. Team formations are generally completed around 7 days after the last player evaluation session. Please respect the decisions of our coaching staff; their decisions are FINAL.
Houston Express Coaching and Games
Run by our professional coaching staff, Houston Express teams train at least twice weekly – dates and times vary. Games are played on weekends. Locations vary based upon the leagues and tournaments in which teams participate.
Levels of Express Play
The particular league in which any given team plays is determined by our professional training staff. Houston Express teams participate in one of the following:
Premier League, also known as the US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League, is a fully sanctioned US Youth Soccer competitive league designed to provide boys and girls U14-U18 with the opportunity to compete at a very high level and aid in the development of US Youth Soccer players. The region lll is currently divided into three (3) sub regions: Oklahoma, North Texas and South Texas. Premier League teams are travel teams, playing other teams in the twelve state region. Invitations to play in the leagure typically the prior years Premier League champion in an age group, the state cup finalist(s) or the champion of an instate league are potential candidates. Each governing soccer association is invited to present at least two (2) teams in each age group/gender.
State Classic League was launched in Fall 2009 and is organized and managed by STYSA. It is designed to give the top teams in the U14 through U18 age groups a level of competition beyond that offered in Division 1 play. Games are played in the South Texas region.
EDDOA – Division I encompasses ages U11-U18 and until 2009, it was the highest level of competitive play. It remains the highest level of play for ages U11-U13. It is for players who are committed to playing a full schedule in both the fall and spring seasons. Games are played on fields located 30 to 60 minutes from South Campus. Participation on a Division I team is expected to be in preference to (but not necessarily to the exclusion of) participation in other sports.
EDS2 – Super II is for players who are committed to playing a full schedule in both the fall and spring seasons. Games are played on fields located 30 to 60 minutes from South Campus. Participation on a S2 team is expected to be in preference to (but not necessarily to the exclusion of) participation in other sports.
HYSA - offers Division II and Division III competition for ages 11 to 18. Games are played on Saturdays, half at the home South Campus fields and half at fields approximately 30-45 minutes away. Many Division II and Division III players play fall and spring seasons, but some play only in the fall. This level of play allows kids who enjoy soccer but do not choose it necessarily as their primary activity.
