A Program for All Ability Levels
West U Rec (“Rec”) is the recreational program within Houston Express Soccer Club (HESC). Despite its name, there is no residency requirement for this program. The West U Rec program accepts players, ages 4 to 12, of all ability levels, from all Houston neighborhoods. Games are played against other West U Rec teams in a fun, positive, developmental environment.
West U Rec Team Placement
U5 and U6 teams: U5 teams are co-ed, while U6 teams are gender specific. West U Rec volunteer age group coordinators assign U5 and U6 players to teams. U5 and U6 teams usually carry six players. At these youngest age groups, placement requests are accommodated whenever possible. Playing with a friend can often make playing a new sport less daunting, but it is not necessary. Many players start on teams without “old” friends but they leave with new friends!
U7 and above: U7 – U12 teams are gender specific. For West U Rec U7 and older, players will participate in player evaluations and team drafting. Volunteer coordinators and parent coaches will draft evenly skilled teams to support the club’s fun, positive philosophy.
West U Rec Training and Games
West U Rec games are approximately 24 – 32 minutes for U5 players and approximately 40 – 60 minutes for U6 to U12. The rules of the recreational game are different based upon the age group. For more details, see the RULES OF PLAY within this section. All games and training are at HESC fields.
The games and practice schedule are different in the fall and spring.
Fall Season
U5 teams: U5 teams have practice once a week with sessions facilitated by parent coaches. Games are on Friday nights or Saturday mornings.
U6 to U12 teams: U6 to U12 Rec teams have one practice session per week with their team – led by the parent coach – and one skills training session per week with their entire age group – led by an HESC trainer. Games are primarily on Friday nights or Saturday mornings.
Spring Season
The spring Rec soccer program is structured a little differently than the fall program in order to help accommodate players playing other sports.
U5 teams: U5 teams have practice once a week with sessions facilitated by parent coaches. Games are on Saturday mornings.
U6 to U12 teams: In the spring, U7 and U8 players are combined together to form teams. There are no player evaluations in the spring season. U6 – U12 players have one skills training session per week with their age group – led by an HESC trainer – and no team-only practice sessions. All games are played on Sunday afternoons.
