It’s time! Registration is open for SBYSL’s Fall 2025 season. We’re back with coed and girls-only options, clinic-style training and games for our youngest players, and more fun than a barrel full of monkeys.
The registration window is now through Sunday, June 15th. After that, we’ll close the registration page, finalize our divisions, and then re-open to fill any remaining spots. This process ensures that we right-size teams and divisions.
As an incentive to register early, everyone who registers by Wednesday, May 28 can claim 4 free tickets to see a USL2 (semi-pro) game right in our backyard. Christos FC will be playing Lionsbridge FC at The Stadium @ The House – Under Armour’s flagship space on Baltimore Peninsula. Your discount code will be provided in the registration confirmation email.
Lots of information about the season can be found in the FAQ, below. If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Just message us through the website and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
*** FAQ ***
Who can register?
Any child born in 2007 - 2022 can register. Players born in 2007 must be enrolled in high school.
There are no geographical restrictions but please note that we expect practices and games will be in South Baltimore (Latrobe Park and Swann Park, primarily).
Is there a girls-only option?
Yes! Our girls-only divisions have grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years, and it's an opportunity we're proud to offer. During the registration process, players who are in the age range in which we are offering girls-only teams and select “female” gender will have the option to choose either the coed or girls-only division.
How do I register?
What does the league cost?
Players born 9/1/2020 through 12/31/2022 (U4 and U5)
Players born 8/31/2020 or earlier
What do the fees pay for?
Your fees pay for uniforms, team and league equipment, referees, field rentals and maintenance, grounds crew, insurance, and administrative costs. All coaches and SYBSL Board members are unpaid volunteers.
Can I get financial assistance?
Thanks to our generous donors, YES! Just email sbysl.treasurer[at]gmail.com with your request, including how much you are willing to pay. We ask that you pay a minimum $25 per player if at all possible. You will receive a personal discount code via email, which you can apply on the checkout page on the registration form.
Please submit your financial assistance request by Friday, June 13th so that we have time to get the code to you before the registration deadline.
What shirt size should I order?
We will be ordering jerseys from Rebel Sports, as we did for the Winter 2024-’25 session. Here’s their size chart:
When does the season begin?
Practices will begin the week of August 25. Games will begin on Saturday, September 6.
** No games Labor Day weekend. Yes, we will play on Saturday, Oct. 11. **
When does the season end?
Games will end on November 1st or 8th, depending on weather.
When will my child's team practice?
Practices will be on weekday evenings, typically in the 5:30-8:00 range. We aim for 60- to 90-minute sessions, depending on the age group (and daylight, weather, and permits).
Most divisions will have group practices, meaning all teams in the division will practice on the same day and time. Some coaches may offer additional training opportunities.
We hope to finalize the practice schedule by early August, depending on when we receive our final permits from the city.
Where are practices and games?
Pending final permit approval by the city, we expect all practices and games to be at Latrobe Park and Swann Park.
Can I request teammates?
In the registration form, there is a question that prompts you to share what will make the season a success. Please indicate your teammate requests there. We do our best to pair up friends in our Pre-K divisions. As the kids get older, it is harder to accommodate these requests and maintain competitive balance in the league.
When will I know which team my child is on and who their coach is?
We are aiming to complete team formation by early August.
How will the league and coaches communicate with us?
League-wide communications generally come by email. Be sure to whitelist info@stonealley.com, because that's the address used by our email system.
Coaches will communicate through the GameChanger app. Please download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. It's free!
Be sure to register on GameChanger with the same email address you use to register your child – it's the only way we know how to contact you!
What is the game schedule?
Our youngest players will have a once-per-week clinic (think Soccer Shots). During their hour-long time slot, they will enjoy athletic and soccer skill development exercises, plus a small-sided game (4v4, no goalies). These divisions will play first thing on Saturday morning.
Players in Kindergarten through 8th grade should expect one practice per week, plus a game on Saturday. Games will be 4v4, 5v5, 7v7, or 9v9, depending on the division. We aim to ensure that the format is appropriate for the age and stage of development. Game times will be spread across the day, although each division typically has a window when their games are scheduled for the season. We aim to have the windows set in early August, pending final permit approvals by the city.
High school players will play games only. It will be run “pick-up” style: Each week, we will form 11v11 teams based on who arrives at the field. Typically, due to school and work commitments, our high school attendance has been hit-or-miss, and establishing season-long teams has not worked.
How are players grouped for divisions?
This is our biggest challenge every year. We do our best to balance appropriate team sizes, optimum player development and enjoyment, and competitive play, based on the number of players registered in each grade level. Often, we group in two-year increments (e.g., 4th and 5th graders).
While we will not have a final answer on this question until we’ve seen the registration numbers for Fall 2025, our tentative groupings are:
Coed
U4 (Sept 2021-Dec2022)
U5 (Sept 2020-Aug2021)
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd - 3rd Grade
4th - 5th Grade
6th - 8th Grade
9th-12th Grade
Girls only
1st - 2nd Grade
3rd - 5th Grade
6th - 8th Grade
What if I can't make every game?
No sweat. Many players have other commitments, get sick, or just can't make a game. Please let your coach know as soon as possible so they can arrange for a “pool player” to fill in if necessary.
How do I get involved?
We are a 100% volunteer-run organization and grateful for our many volunteers. We need coaches, referees, field marshals, help with setup and cleanup, help with lining fields, help with fundraising, and more.
Click here to learn more about training requirements for all volunteers.
Click here to let us know you're interested. You can also note your interest in coaching when you go to register your child in Stone Alley.
What are the expectations for coaches?
First and foremost, coaches must understand SBYSL’s vision, which is, to put it simply, create a positive environment for kids to enjoy time with their friends and develop soccer skills.
Coaches should also be committed to being present for all (or nearly all) practices and games.
All SBYSL coaches are highly encouraged to to take the US Soccer Federation’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching course (free, 20 minutes) and the appropriate online Grassroots Coaching training course for their age group (i.e., 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11) ($26, 2 hours). The courses provide a lot of great information and tools. SBYSL will reimburse the cost of the online course. Simply email the league Treasurer to get your reimbursement.
All coaches MUST complete a background check and safety training courses. Information is available on our website.
Who can referee?
We are proud of our homegrown referee program, which creates a pathway for kids as young as sixth grade to gain experience officiating a game. Our youngest participants start as Assistant Referees (sideline refs) and can work their way up to being the head referee with a couple of years of experience, showing aptitude and responsibility.
We highly encourage everyone who is eligible (13 and older) to become a licensed referee. You can find out how to do that through this link.
If you or your child is interested in being part of our homegrown referee program, please click here to register your interest.