So theres an automatic futbol culture. This new partnership reinforces Surfs recently announced 3- Year Plan and investment to create the premier youth development environment for girls in the U.S. This is all about thinking differently to improve our commitment to our mission and impact the game in the U.S. Extended supervision is available 8-9AM & 3-6PM at some sites. The best youth soccer clubs in Southern California are very strong and consistently top 25 in America. Below are the top 5 soccer clubs in Southern California from my research following boys and girls soccer all ages. 19 (23) Portland Thorns Academy - Portland Thorns Academy. Over the years, our new club acceptance process has evolved into a vigorous review which sees about 50 percent of the applicants not accepted. Your first step in the road to the US Youth Soccer National Championships! Directions, Competitive Soccer, Soccer Camps, Soccer Training, Rocklin Soccer, Roseville Soccer, Lincoln Soccer, Placer Soccer, Loomis Soccer. L.A. has most of the top ranked teams in the region, mainly because of the larger population. Nationally, (joining NorCal Premier Soccer) aligns our program with other Rush Soccer branches around the United States, enabling us to participate in the same programs/tournaments/leagues that best challenge our young athletes.. NUTRITION FOR SOCCER PLAYERS: IS SALT GOOD FOR ATHLETES? As members have stated, the positive feedback and energy is a movement for change in Southern California youth soccer., What we at SOCAL are doing is so important, the clubs see it and want to be part of it.. Bay Areas MLS NEXT boys program will continue to successfully developed players for their local MLS Academy. Which youth soccer league is best for you - Global Futbol Training They haven't seen a player go from from 5, 6, 7, 8 years of age all the way through to the first team., Napa United have found success bringing together players of diverse backgrounds in one of the country's wealthiest regions. Today, there are over 250 youth soccer clubs in NorCal alone. College commits: 50 75 signees each year. Greenhaven Soccer Club Sacramento Ebbetts Pass Gold FC Murphys 49er Youth Soccer League Auburn Revolution FC Brentwood Scotts Valley San Lorenzo Valley Youth Soccer Club Scotts Valley Santa Cruz Mid-County Youth Soccer Club Soquel Contra Costa Youth Soccer Club An A-licensed coach and director with experience at youth clubs across the Bay Area, Cervantes arrived at the DSAL soccer program in Ashland, California several years ago and was impressed with the talent he saw in the recreational league, a loosely-organized competition providing opportunities to play for more than 1,000 children per season, most of them from working-class environments in this unincorporated area of Alameda County plagued by poverty and the many ills that accompany it. Founder & Oakland Director, Soccer Without Borders. Lincoln Youth Soccer Club Numerous teams ranked in the top 10 in northern CA. This means open doors for the whole East Palo Alto community.. The Center Referee must retain a copy of the Game Card, butdoes not take the player passof a player sent off or a coach that is dismissed. I am a former professional soccer player who's produced collegiate & pro standouts, I have students ranked in the top 25 in the Nation in high school, committed to BIG 12 & PAC 10 schools as Freshmen & more. Many former professional colleagues & teammates as well as athletes from other sports have been through this program since 2011 & now its offered online. This goes back many years with the San Jose Earthquakes and since 2020 with FC Bay Area. San Jose Surf and Monterey Surf will continue to develop talent in their geographies and welcome LFC IA Bay Area in partnership. District IX covers the counties of Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity. By affiliating with Cal North you join a team of soccer leaders and innovators with a passion for the game ready to help you succeed. He was right. Our heritage of preparing players for college, professional, and international soccer is unmatched. Suite 2, #438 Our goal is to help members of our organization by creating streamlined and flexible solutions. Our main goal is to continue developing playersbeing part of a strong and competitive league such as NorCal will give our players the chance to play with other local teams and have the exposure to a competitive environment, helping with their growth and development as players.. Some of the most talented kids are on smaller clubs for different reasons. If you want to be the best soccer player you can be, you have to put in the right work at the proper time. We have become pretty close on the field and have wanted to collaborate for some time, said Piper. Our club is focused on getting better, not bigger, meaning that our focus is to improve the players experience first before we grow the program, Clifton said. We are the complete soccer club. As a club we also want to educate our coaches, players, and parents. Before the game, theyre playing, and their parents are watching it, etc. Its unprecedented to bring two of the Nations top programs together from NorCal and SoCal at this scale., This is an amazing opportunity for our players, said Heath Piper, Academy DirectorBay Area Surf. As NorCal Premier Soccer pursues expanding its membership, one of the more underserved areas as of late has been clubs towards the Northernmost end of the state, making FC Cornings entry a boon to youth soccer in that area. Scavuzzo started covering soccer in 2010 and has published over 6,000 articles on the beautiful game. Franchising is not my style but I do teach how to start your own sports-based company in my Elite Sports Business Academy. Parents are asking people for directions about what their kids should do, from coaches and technical directors and directors of coaching [who] don't know that journey. YOUTH SOCCER NEWS: Surf has announced the launch of its newest Surf Nation partnership, Bay Area Surf. Surf Soccer Club has announced the launch of its newest partnership, Bay Area Surf, which combines the efforts of six Northern California youth clubs. All rights reserved. NO league fee! While some clubs have been around for years while participating in other organizations, others are new clubs formed in areas previously without club soccer in their communities. That is pretty neat., This is a unified vision of ftbol-first and that is so important., The impact well have here in the Bay will be incredible and will continue to provide our players with unprecedented opportunities, said Juan Porras,Peninsula Surf. Creating this new structure, adding new player pathways, and providing Monterey County players access to all levels of soccer, from Grassroots to Elite programming, means our players now have access to all soccer levels, said John Licea, General ManagerMonterey Surf We welcome Bay Area Surf and our new member clubs to the Surf Family and cant wait to share everything we have been working on these past few months with our families., For us, we are in a small market on the Peninsula, said Licea. 7. THE TRUE GIFT OF YOUTH SOCCER WHY IS WINNING MORE IMPORTANT THAN . Best soccer clubs near me in Sacramento, California. Both Taylor and Cervantes speak positively of the work of Fred Lipka and Gordon Bengtson, MLSs point people on the new youth league, and see the potential for real progress away from the cutthroat, backbiting norms of competitive youth soccer in the US. Just over five weeks ago, SOCAL had an approximately 38,000 competitive youth soccer players. Soccer development programs, but adopt concepts and procedures that are provided by NorCal throughout many of its development programs, De Souza said. Adding the international opportunities just takes the program to another level. Heath Piper, Academy Director Bay Area Surf, Together we are stronger, and unifying the greater Bay Area will maximize resources, expand player pools and give more opportunity for players. SOCCER PLAYERS: CAN PERFORMANCE PROBIOTICS MAKE YOU RUN FASTER? Some of the best players Ive seen who went on to play college soccer didnt get into extra training until ages 10. FRISCO, Texas (September 30, 2009) - Today, Soccer America magazine named the Top 40 boys and girls youth soccer clubs in America. Players in the CCSL Best XI teams will have increased opportunities of exposure to college coaches. Please remember I am speaking to a national audience, so I'll touch on most levels and ages from 6-17. To create an elite environment committed to the development of their community's youth soccer players. Top 10 Best Youth Soccer in Los Angeles, CA - Yelp It provides us an opportunity to give the best soccer experience for our community and members. Whether we have two teams or twenty, we are focusing on building quality players with a desire for success.. For over 20 years, the De Anza Force Soccer Club has created a pathway of success for every level player from our 5-year-old Force Futures and leading all the way to High School, Youth National Team, Collegiate athletes, National Team, and Professional players. One of the few truly new clubs to join NorCal Premier Soccer are Sonoma County Premier, a North Bay-area club that recently amicably split from established club North Coast FC. North Carolina. Soccer Camps in California - Soccer Training Info DALLAS SURF KICKS OFF THIS YEAR CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTH TEXAS, SURF PARTNERS WITH SAN DIEGO SOCCER CLUB AND BECOMES SDSC SURF, SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE GAME: ELITE ACADEMY (EA) LEAGUE EXPANDS NATIONALLY, NYUS KIM WYANT ON THE VALUE OF COLLEGIATE SOCCER, BAY AREA SURF BRINGS TOGETHER ELITE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA YOUTH SOCCER CLUBS, EINTRACHT FRANKFURTS ARMIN KRAAZ ON DONT RELY ON TALENT BE RESILIENT, HECTOR TRUJILLO INTERVIEW WITH 1904 FCS OZZIE RAMOS, HECTOR TRUJILLO INTERVIEW WITH FORMER SD LOYAL NOW OAKLANDS TAREK MORAD, EINTRACHT FRANKFURTS ARMIN KRAAZ ON WHAT AMERICAN YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, A TIME TO RISE: THE REASONS WE NEED A SECOND LEVEL WOMENS PRO SOCCER LEAGUE, AS DALLAS CUP RETURNS TO PLAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDY SWIFT SPEAKS OUT. Below are the top 5 soccer clubs in Southern California from my research following boys and girls soccer all ages. East County Surf Soccer Club (La Mesa, CA) LA Bulls Soccer Club (Los Angeles, CA) Poway Vaqueros Soccer Club (Poway, CA) Rangers FC (Fullerton, CA) Rebels SC (Chula Vista, CA) San Diego Force FC (San Diego, CA) San Diego Real Madrid Elite (Chula Vista, CA) San Diego Soccer Club Surf (SDSC Surf - San Diego, CA) San Diego Surf (San Diego, CA) We welcome Star Academy, Barcelona Bay Area, LFC IA Bay Area, and F.C. ODP provides players enhanced training and the opportunity to compete in quality competitions against other state association ODP teams, exposing players to college coaches, and regional/national team coaches for further advancement. AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYER JOE JOE RICHARDSON SIGNS AGAIN WITH GREIFSWALDER FC, JOHN GALLUCCI ON SOCCER PLAYERS: THE COLD FACTS ON WHEN TO ICE, Victory For FC SESA LEGENDS At Platinum Challenge Cup, DAN ABRAHAMS: DEALING WITH THE UNCOACHABLE PLAYER. US Club Soccer has stringent requirements for allstaff registration/eligibilityand also provides a variety of safety-related resources to members. According to rankings on Gotsoccer.com, the Phoenix metro area has four of the best youth soccer clubs in the nation. If people really work together a little better, I truly feel like for the kids sake the kids would benefit. It doesnt hurt that the state is one of the biggest and has several major cities. When one of our players plays a Surf kid from another state, there is a certain bond through Surf. Our programming is designed to help you find the right opportunities for the players in your soccer community. Despite fielding only about a dozen teams with some 170 players small potatoes in the multi-billion-dollar industry of North American youth soccer the little club from one of the Bays most marginalized areas is now part of whats expected to be the top competition in the country. Read and watch these drills for competitive players. It's free to our families. LFC IA Bay Area will continue operating under their current brand and in partnership with San Jose Surf and Monterey Surf will continue to develop talent in their geographies. If you would like to add your tournament to the database please contact your State Association regarding the proper notification to US Youth Soccer of your event. Northern Virginia Soccer Club | Home Listen, I have a huge belief on this one: The talent here up to 12, 13 years of age is no less than anywhere I've seen in Europe and I've been blessed to kind of go all over Europe with our teams and tournaments, he said. Diane Scavuzzo is the Editor in Chief and loves her work, family, and soccer not necessarily in that order. College commits: 30 35 signees each year. Partnering with local NPSL (fourth-tier semi-professional) club Napa Valley 1839 FC, Napa United keep their player dues as low as possible Taylor estimates theyre half what some other Northern California youth clubs charge and rely on donors, fundraisers and other revenue sources to fund need-based scholarships. Additionally, Bay Area Surf will create a unique partnership with San Diego Surf, bridging the best players from NorCal and SoCal for development and international competition. Phoenix is strongly making its case as the best place for youth soccer in the United States. Sheriffs FC, the competitive club launched out of the DSAL rec league just three years ago, are thriving winning games and trophies with quality soccer, and changing lives for the better. NorCal Welcomes 12 New Clubs to the Fold | NorCal Premier To create an elite environment committed to the development of their communitys youth soccer players. FREE US Soccer Grassroots license courses (12 coaches for every 500 players registered rec or comp), FREE access to MOJO curriculum for coaches, Players and coaches must be registered under US Youth Soccer and coaches must be Cal North approved, FREE player registration software with GotSport (GotSport charges $3/ player), Player passes are $18 for competitive and $11.25 for recreational, Each Cal North district will have it's own division (Gold, Silver, Bronze & Copper), Club-based division will begin with U8 (more if clubs agree in year 1, and club must meet standards), Club standards include coaching license program, referee program, Sideline Behavior Program, Soccer Parenting Program, participation in Cal North ODP program, Pathway to USYS Cal North regional conference league (CNPC), In 2022/2023, four clubs will be selected and approved, Clubs meet standards including coach license program, referee program and sideline behavior program, Team and club division winners play-off for 1st place overall U12- U17 play for advancement into USYS CNPC league for upcoming fall season, Teams will play 8-10 games in the fall and spring season, Include a High School break for the U15-U19 age groups. The females had 4 teams in the top 6 in California. Cal North is a member of a much larger soccer community, and as a member, you are also a member of this world community. We have 25 players playing in the National and California Surf Select Program who would otherwise not be able to get these opportunities., There are a lot of communities in the Bay Area that Surf will bring together from Monterey to San Francisco and the broader Bay Area., My favorite part of being a youth soccer coach is being able to interact daily with players. We have Zumba classes, Cervantes explained to MLSsoccer.com over the weekend. It is exciting to see that Surf has recognized all of the partners, presenting a plan for developing not only the Bay Area but all of Californian youth soccer. Coming from a small town near Redding, FC Corning have anything but a small-town mentality as they prepare for their first season with NorCal. We want to become a place that our youth grows up in and our community can look up to and rely on for their guidance towards athletic success. There's a boxing gym; we hold Gold Glove events for the last three years. This provides a pathway to elite soccer. The home of youth soccer in Northern California | CalNorth District IX Each year, Cal North will provide requirements that clubs who apply to the club-based division must adhere to each year. Travel Soccer (U9 - U19) Super Y League (U11 - U19) CCL PRO23. Solar FC* North Texas. Cal North is a. That Players First philosophy is supported by best-in-class partners and resources, including LaLiga, and is anchored by five pillars: Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education, and Player Health & Safety. Pateadores players will find two things at every level of our club: a fun, challenging, nurturing environment to enjoy the game, and the opportunity to become the very best player they can. A DAY IN THE LIFE: WHATS IT LIKE AS A 19-YEAR-OLD WHO TURNS PRO IN EUROPE? Eastern Pennsylvania. SOCAL had initially welcomed 15 "All-In" youth soccer clubs in early March including Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks, San Diego Surf, San Diego Soccer Club, Rebels SC, Rangers FC, Santa Monica Surf, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club and Poway Vaqueros Soccer Club. Find out more information about this event . The team as a whole is more important than any individual player and when you succeed we all succeed. Soccer America announces top 30 boys and girls youth soccer clubs in America for 2009 US Youth Soccer continues common thread of America's Best . Soccer Wire recently ranked Surf girls #5 in America. And if it's one or two and we have a hand in that, and it helps boost the image of the community, those kids come back and give back, then our jobs done. Cal North State Cup is the designated state-level qualifier for the US Youth Soccer Far West Regionals and the first step on the road to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. Where kids live, finances, parents travel ability all play roles. We are a smaller club but work very hard for our members and are willing to put in the work and go the extra mile in order to develop players to their maximum potential, he added. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. There was a serious injury requiring medical attention or transport. Read: DALLAS SURF KICKS OFF THIS YEAR CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTH TEXAS. Effective immediately, San Jose Surf,. So we sit in a different market traveling into Napa is easier than traveling out of Napa. Rocklin, CA 95765 | Courtesy of Sheriffs FC. And, to help them to do something they love. College commits: 20 30 signees each year. Which is critically important, because like its recreational counterpart, Sheriffs FC costs nothing to those who participate. We are the complete soccer club. Founded 17 years ago, United began with just four teams, but has expanded all the way up to the current amount of 15 with hopes to continue to increase the size of the club. Soccer America's Top 40 Youth Clubs Named Bay Area, LFC IA Bay Area, Barcelona Bay Area, Star Academy, and Monterey Surf, have joined as one to create the Northern California Bay Area Surf. Surfs Girls Technical Director Andrs Deza, along with Surfs CEO Brian Enge and Surfs Director of Coaching Josh Henderson led the effort to create a cohesive development pathway in Northern California that will focus on creating the best experiences and opportunities through soccer along the Peninsula. Cervantes admits now that he pushed the envelope in launching the program, but the positive results both on the field and off have impressed the sheriff's department and led to further grants and donations. Enter game scores and get coaches and Referee crew signatures on all game cards. Our vision, motivation and determination to be the top club in Northern California is second to none. You can revoke your consent any time using the Revoke consent button. A team sometimes only has two or three good players. Overlapping runs in soccer [creating space & chances] , The differences in girls and boys soccer development, Best youth soccer states see rankings here, Best youth soccer clubs in Southern California. De Anza Force honors 43 college soccer commits at annual College Signing Night. Our aspirations as a club are to develop our teams to be able to compete against the Elite Clubs in Northern California.. By far one of the best soccer clubs in Southern California and arguably most popular nationwide. Bay Area had already begun this process months ago, looking to provide an elite pathway for their membership. Players from 4-19 may participate with the season running from August to November for most teams. It wasn't like there's anything different in the water, its just culturally, it's what they're doing, said Cervantes, whose teams often play at small-sided fields DSAL built themselves in an unused lot next to a liquor store. Theres a cost associated with everything, said Cervantes, who last year won the Positive Coaching Alliances National Double-Goal Coach Award. 11+ Best Soccer Academies in the USA | 2023 (FAQs) - School & Travel We are thrilled you want to join our 250,000 subscribers and get our news delivered to your inbox. Whether you are a local grassroots recreational team or pursuing a national championship, we have the right competition for your teams. The reason? Bay Area, LFC IA Bay Area, Barcelona Bay Area, Star Academy, and Monterey Surf will begin collaborating within the new Bay Area Surf brand. To Create a playing league that serves the needs of ALL levels of competition while focusing on the experience of the players and their parents! Effective immediately, San Jose Surf, F.C. All that may be true. 3031 Stanford Ranch Road Both girls and boys have strong youth soccer clubs in SoCal. CASL. For over 50 years, the CCSL has been Northern California's top level of competition in youth soccer. Schulz Soccer Academy. LOCATION. I feel for our club to grow, we needed to look at how our coaching was structured and how that directly affected player development, said President Michael Paris Trayler. We are beyond excited to be able to give the Audax players the opportunity to play in the best league in Northern California, Carrijo said. On the girls side, F.C. Therefore spend time at home practicing or with a private trainer in 1:1 or small group lessons. Star Academy will re-brand as Peninsula Surf and will serve the San Francisco region. Its most successful club in the rankings, Tuzos SC, is affiliated with Club Pachuca of Liga MX. There are creative ways to figure out manners kids can play for free or for low cost, even. Top Drawer ranks each age group by standing, while Soccer Wire ranked them as a whole club. Our mission is to provide top-quality coaching and competition to all players in our community regardless of their financial means, and every . If they only had a chance to compete against the travel soccer teams up the road in places like Silicon Valley, he reckoned, they could hold their own and then some. Youth National Team players and has won a U.S. National Championship. FC Delco. But so is this: MLS got the new format wrong. CLUB NAME. Michigan Wolves* Michigan. Recently ranked #25 in America by Soccer Wire. Our shared values, respect for the game, and our democratic structure ensures that you have a voice in the decision-making process. 12. 11. Despite a lack of access to the coaching and facilities that those in wealthier areas enjoy, many of the kids he saw were ballers, immersed in the sport from an early age as members of ethnic communities where the game is an overriding passion. TeamSnap Partners With California Youth Soccer Association (Cal North The league will attempt to create specific district divisions, to minimize travel. Six Northern California youth clubs join forces to create - SoccerWire Joining NorCal Premier are Ajax East Bay, Alliance Soccer Academy, Audax Soccer Club, FC Corning, Pacifica United, Ravenswood Junior SC, Rayados Yuba City FC, Revolution SC, FC Royale, Rush Soccer Peninsula, Santos FC, and Sonoma County Premier. Bay Area Surf will create a unique partnership with San Diego Surf, bridging the best players from NorCal and SoCal for development and international competition. CHATTANOOGA FC ADDS TWO PLAYERS AHEAD OF NISA LEGENDS CUP, NYUS KIM WYANT ON THE VALUE OF COLLEGIATE SOCCER, BAY AREA SURF BRINGS TOGETHER ELITE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA YOUTH SOCCER CLUBS, EINTRACHT FRANKFURTS ARMIN KRAAZ ON DONT RELY ON TALENT BE RESILIENT, HECTOR TRUJILLO INTERVIEW WITH 1904 FCS OZZIE RAMOS, HECTOR TRUJILLO INTERVIEW WITH FORMER SD LOYAL NOW OAKLANDS TAREK MORAD, EINTRACHT FRANKFURTS ARMIN KRAAZ ON WHAT AMERICAN YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, A TIME TO RISE: THE REASONS WE NEED A SECOND LEVEL WOMENS PRO SOCCER LEAGUE, AS DALLAS CUP RETURNS TO PLAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDY SWIFT SPEAKS OUT. With over 200 affiliated member leagues and clubs, we offer a democratic structure for affiliated members to directly engage and drive the evolution and success of our organization. And it doesn't matter what nationality it is, if its a footballing country or culture, that's just how it is.. Understanding which youth soccer league is best for you in each age group is important. We are excited to collaborate and continue our mission as a top club in the Bay Area having a pathway for our boys and girls. Jean Pierre Mujica, Director of Coaching LFC IA Bay Area, Our focus has always been the development of technique and transitioning that technique into skill. Recently Soccer Wire ranked them #27 best girls soccer club in America. They're going for the ones we've got a true commitment to player development. Players are required to maintain good grades in school and do volunteer work in their community. Clubs continue to reach out interested in joining the SOCAL movement because of everything we have put together for the future, said Michelle Chesters, SOCALs Director of Operations. (MLS). We are very excited to invite the new clubs into NorCal Premier Soccer for 2019, said NorCal Premier Soccer President Benjamin Ziemer. Elk Grove Youth Soccer League. Another goal for Alliance is to help improve the quality of coaching at its club after all, better coaches make better players. If you talk about traffic patterns, to get to any of our major [professional] clubs, to get to Sac or to San Jose, is anywhere from a two- to four-hour each-way journey for most of the players in the Bay Area. TOP TEN FOODS TO EAT GOODNUTRITION FOR SOCCER PLAYERS, OATMEAL FOR SOCCER: Nutrition Info for Competitive Players, SMART HEART HEALTHY CHOICES: Nutrition Info for Soccer Players, NUTRITION FOR SOCCER PLAYERS: TOP TEN FOODS TO AVOID, Nutrition Info for Competitive Soccer Players. Adult Recreational. We have an urban farm. The stated goal of Sonoma County Premier is to focus on the area of Windsor and bring another competitive club to the area. This is based on an overall ranking of all ages. This year the girls side has 2 teams (U13 and U14) ranked #1 in California. For over 20 years, the De Anza Force Soccer Club has createda pathway of success for every level player from our 5-year-old ForceFutures and leading all the way to High School, Youth National Team, Collegiate athletes, National Team, and Professional players. USMNT players will be coming from the cities and metro areas on this list, N.C. State Player Scores Ridiculous Bicycle Kick, Champions League panic rankings: How each team's feeling before second legs, After viral indoor goal, Dutch phenom knocks Bara out of UEFA Youth League with another stunner, Remember World Cup stoppage time? Creating this new structure, adding new player pathways, and providing Monterey County players access to all levels of soccer, from Grassroots to Elite programming, means our players now have access to all soccer levels. Florida. 1) Slammers Established 1994 The Slammers were recently ranked #1 in Southern California and in America for girls soccer via Soccer Wire . We wish these clubs the best of luck as they enter into NorCal Premier Soccer.. The addition of the newest members to SOCAL really reinforces that we are doing something quite extraordinary in our market.. It's actually a pretty good central hub for players to travel into, said Taylor. The Best Youth Soccer Clubs In The United States They do good marketing and part of it has to do with the Surf Cup Tournament where they hold many of the best youth teams in the country. Now, this estimate has increased to an even bigger number 45,000+. Find a local program near you. For starters, it waters down the importance of the regular season since nearly two-thirds of the teams will make the playoffs .