Recreation Programs

Charlotte Junior Soccer Foundation, Inc., founded in 1974, is a 50 year old recreational soccer program located in the central Charlotte area. We offer programs in the fall and spring for children in Junior Kiindergarten (JK) through twelfth (12) grade. 

Our main purpose is to introduce and educate children so they have a lifelong love of the game of soccer. Our Division Coordinators put the teams together making note of both practice day and buddy requests. We cannot guarantee any request but we do our best.  Please let us know any special requests or special needs via email. We organize the teams every Fall season and may hold teams somewhat together in the Spring season as well as creating new teams. Team creation and player placement is totally dependent on parents volunteering to coach.

SEASON INFORMATION: Play begins in March and continues through late May for the Spring season and begins in September and continues through late November for Fall. Practices are once a week (U8-U19) in the afternoon for an hour, usually between 5 and 8 pm, depending on your coach/team/field availability. Most games are on Saturdays, between 8 am and 6 pm, for the JK to U12 divisions. Games for U14-U16-U19 are on Saturdays and/or Sundays (usually 1 game/weekend). The Junior Kindergarten (JK) and Kindergarten (K) programs practice and play in one hour segments on Saturdays and do not have another practice during the week; those start at U8. Due to field and lead coach volunteer limitations, we will cap divisions/age groups where necessary if divisions are full prior to the sign up deadline.

Club Players U8 - U19: Charlotte Junior Soccer is a soccer program reserved for the recreation level player.  A player can play on both a CJSF team and a HS school team, but not in the same season; for MS, a player can play on both a rec and school team in the same season.  We are excited and supportive of all players who decide to move to competitive soccer with the club of their choice. The two levels are distinct and offer very different experiences for players and families.  A very limited number of club players can play recreation in the U16 and U19 Divisions (check MARS.org for Eligibility Rules) and must identify their club status with CJ and their coach.  Otherwise, club players are not allowed on CJ recreation level teams. Charlotte Junior Soccer is one of the few soccer programs devoted to the recreational level player. 

FEES: Fees for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025: $180.  Fees include: uniform;  trophy/end of season memento (JK-U12); referee fees; field rental, lights and maintenance; team equipment and administrative costs. The player needs a water bottle and shin guards; cleats are not required but recommended.

NOTE: Any registrations received after July 15th (Fall) or February 1st (Spring) or above the cap will be automatically placed on a Waitlist and are not guaranteed a spot on a team. Late registrations ($10 late fee) are placed on a space available basis with very limited ability to grant requests. Refunds after a player is assigned a team and given a uniform will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Charlotte Junior Soccer offers financial assistance.  Email [email protected] to request assistance.

AGE DIVISIONS: Charlotte Junior Soccer Foundation offers the following divisions of play--based on school grade level (not age).

*If you want your child to "play up" (making your child one of the youngest in the division) in the JK or K program, you must be a Head Coach or Co-Coach.

*Exceptions on "playing down" on a case-by-case basis-please email us.

*CJ automatically adjusts players based on grade level into divisions. Prior approval by CJ HQ is needed to play up or down.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Under 14s, Under 16s and Under 19s: all girls and coed (mostly boys), per age group. The CJr teams play in the MARS league, a scheduling league made up of recreation programs throughout the county. This league is for recreation level players with specific player eligibility rules that are strictly enforced. If a team is found to have used an ineligible player, that game is declared a forfeit. This can be particularly painful for players during the End of Season Tournament - a team is not allowed to advance or play additional games if an ineligible player is used during any game in the tournament.  Check the marsoccer.org website on the Eligibility tab. 

WEATHER CANCELLATIONS: Check the Home page for the very latest information on all Charlotte Junior Soccer Foundation activities, dates, weather, and information. Game and practice cancellations will be listed on the web site as quickly as possible. For U14, U16 and U19 game cancellations, please check the MARS website. Ch Jr rents fields from Mecklenburg County. The County Park&Rec department makes the call on field closures.
 

 Click below to register for one of our Recreation programs.