We are reaching out to explore the level of interest in establishing a youth travel soccer program through Sherrills Ford Optimist. 
 
Over the past few years, many families have expressed a growing interest in competitive sports opportunities for their children beyond recreational leagues. A youth travel soccer program would offer our young athletes the chance to play at a higher level of competition, develop their skills further, build lasting friendships, and represent our community with pride at regional and state-level tournaments. 
 
Before taking the next steps, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a parent of a potential player, a coach, or a supporter of youth sports, your input is invaluable. This is purely exploratory at this point to check the interest level. 

We’re excited about the possibilities and believe this program could become a cornerstone of youth development in our area—with your support.
 
Thank you for taking the time to help us shape a new opportunity for our young athletes.

Fall Sports
Registrations open earl to mid-May (before school lets out)
Football, Soccer, Fall Volleyball, Cheer, Fall Baseball, Fall Softball

Winter Sports
Registrations open mid-September
Basketball

Spring Sports
Registrations open mid-January
Baseball, Softball, Tee-ball, Spring Volleyball

Please Read Prior To Registration

As a parent / guardian, you agree to the participation rules set forth in this document. Please make sure you read and understand them prior to registering for a Sherrills Ford Optimist activity. 

Volunteer Requirements
Due to the complexity and time to run a sport the size of soccer, we will be requiring each family to provide two hours of volunteer time per player. If this is not a possibility, you can pay a $60 fee to opt out. The $60 fee will be used to pay someone to do the work a volunteer would normally do. 

Age Brackets
Soccer is open to ages 3 through 12.  Except for Academy and U6, playing ages are determined by the player's age as of August 31. Players are allowed to play up an age bracket (and only upon approval by the soccer director), but never down. All ages are co-ed.

If you see that your age level has a wait list, please complete the form. We are usually able to accommodate all players, but we don't want to be in a position where we have partial teams. 

Academy: 3 to 4.5
U6: ages 4.5 - 5
U8: ages 6 and 7   
U10: ages 8 and 9  WAIT LIST - PLEASE COMPLETE FORM
U13: ages 10, 11, 12  

Please note, U13 teams are set up as age-based, not specifically skill-based. Teams are created by age at this level to allow players to play and practice together longer in preparation to try out for middle school teams. For clarity, there are teams that are mostly 12, 11, or 10-years-old. We generally field three to four teams at U13. Accommodations are made to allow siblings to be on the same team within the same age group. History shows that the longer a group of players are together, the better chemistry they can create. 

Academy and U6 Registration:
Cost: $85
Registration closes 8/8/2025
Includes a soccer t-shirt and socks. Players play games using the green and gold U6 jerseys.

U8, U10, U13 Registration:
Early Bird: $95 closes 6/27/2025
Regular Registration:  $125 closes 7/25/2025
NO LATE REGISTRATIONS EXCEPT TO COMPLETE A TEAM
Registration includes a team jersey and matching socks.

Practices:
There will be no mandatory practices this summer. There will be open practice dates for anyone interested, dates TBD.  All regular season practices are at SFO unless otherwise noted. 

Mandatory Evaluations / Team Practices
Mandatory Skills Evaluations for U8, U10, and U13 will be the week of August 4th. There are no evaluations for Academy or U6. Team practices will begin the week of August 18th. There are typically two practices per week. Unless otherwise stated, all practices will be held at SFO.

Season Schedule
Games will run from September 6 to mid November. The U10 and U13 age groups play in the Catawba Cup League. Travel to other locations for games is required. U10 and U13 have an end-of-year tournament, November 6 - 9. A fee to get into the tournament will be collected to cover the costs of running the tournament, such as medals and additional referees. 

Soccer Ball Sizes
Age 3 - 7:  Size 3
Age 8 - 12:  Size 4
Coaches will have some extra balls but it is highly encouraged for players to have their own.

Required Equipment:
Shin guards are REQUIRED for all practices and games. Soccer cleats are recommended for all age groups and are required for U8 and above.
A jersey and socks are provided for U8, U10, and U13. Players provide black shorts to wear with the uniform. 

We offer four levels of football:

All ages are as of 8/31/2025
● Flag: ages 5 and 6
● Pee-Wee: ages 7 and 8
● Junior Varsity: ages 9 and 10
● Varsity: ages 11 and 12

Registration Fees:

Flag:
● $60: Open from May 1 to July 31
● Includes Jersey
● Mouthguard is required, cleats recommended

Pee-Wee, JV, Varsity:
● $125:  Open May 1 to July 31
● Includes Jersey, Helmet, Pants and Shoulder Pads
● Mouthguard is required, cleats recommended

First Practice
● The first official tackle practice will be July 26, 2025.
● The first official flag practice will be August 5, 2025.

*First official practice may change due to field availability, weather and league rules. Communication will be sent out with additional details.
*Registrations may end early due to size of teams and available coaching staff.

Volleyball is for GIRLS in grades 3 through 12. 

Registration opens: first week of May
Registration closes: August 1, 2025

Registration will close early if spots are filled. Due to gym space limitations, we are limiting registration in each age group. DO NOT DELAY IN REGISTERING!

Early bird registration: $90 (ends July 18)
Regular registration: $100 (ends August 1)
Included in the cost of registration: volleyball jersey
NOT INCLUDED: shorts, shoes, knee pads, or camp fees

Age Groups:
Junior Varsity: grades 3 - 6 (50 slots)
Varsity: grades 7 - 12:   (70 slots) 

There is a $60 non-volunteer fee that will be charged to your family account if you do not volunteer the required 2 hours. You can pay that upfront when you register if you do not plan to volunteer. Volunteering includes scorekeeping and line judging. 

Important Dates:
Evaluations: August 11, 12, 14, 15 (JV: 6:30pm – 7:30pm, Varsity 7:30pm – 8:30pm)
Practices Start: August 18
Camp with Coach Cheznee: August 16 (tentatively)
Games Start: September 5
Tournament Week: November 17 – 22
Banquets: November 24 (JV: 6-8pm), November 25 (Varsity: 6-8pm)

Important Notes: 

Gate Fee: once games begin, a nominal gate fee is charged to help cover the costs of facility rental. It is charged at every game. 

Teams will get 1-2 practices per week, depending on the number of teams.  

Games will be every Friday night and Saturday morning. Our goal is to have JV and Varsity teams alternate every other Friday night for games, depending on scheduling conflicts. 

Practices will tentatively start the week of August 4th. Practice will be held twice weekly on a combination of Monday, Tuesday and/or Thursday.  This will be set once coaches are finalized, and we hope to have this information by the end of May.  If you have conflicts on any of these days please reach out to the cheerleading chair prior to registering.  We expect everyone to be at all practices like any other sports team.

Game season for peewee, JV, and varsity typically starts the weekend after Labor Day and finishes the second or third weekend of November.  Most games are on Saturdays at local high school stadiums and times vary from morning to late afternoon.  There are occasional games on Tuesday evenings.

Game season for flag typically starts late September and ends in early to mid-November.  In the past, these games are played on weeknights-usually Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings at 6 and 7 pm. This is subject to change based on the decision of the football program.

Registration fee:  $50
Registration Closes:  July 14th

Uniform fee: $110
The uniform fee will be collected at your fitting date. The uniform includes cheer top, skirt, briefs, pink socks for October, two bows (one uniform colors and one pink for October), and a cheer sweatshirt. Uniform fee does not include low-cut white socks for September and November games or white cheer shoes/white tennis shoes. Pom poms provided by organization for use at practices and games

Uniform fitting dates:  June 25th, July 9th, and July 16th.  You must attend one of these fitting dates as uniforms will be ordered on July 17th.

Age Groups:  age as of 8/31/2025

Flag:  Age 5 and 6 

Peewee:  Age 7 and 8

JV:  Age 9 and 10

Varsity:  Age 11 and 12

Our age groups may vary by one year only in order to fill team rosters.  Requests for a different age group will only be considered by the same criteria.  This will also apply if you have a son playing football.  We will only shift by one year so we may not be able to put a cheerleader with the same team as a football player.  If you have a child playing football, be sure to indicate that out on the registration form.

It is possible that registrations will close prior to July 14th if we reach our capacity for each team.

After receiving input from the community, Sherrills Ford Optimist is planning to offer baseball this fall (2025).  Our goal is to field a SINGLE team in each age group with no less than 10 players and no more than 13 players per team. 

These are the baseball age group ranges:

• 8U: boys born between 5/1/2016 and 4/30/2018
• 10U: boys born between 5/1/2014 and 4/30/2016  
• 12U: boys born between 5/1/2012 and 4/30/2014 

If you see that your age level has a wait list, please complete the form. We are usually able to accommodate all players, but we don't want to be in a position where we have partial teams. 

Format:

• 8U: coach pitch - WAIT LIST - PLEASE COMPLETE FORM
• 10U: kid pitch
• 12U: kid pitch

All players are required to show a birth certificate in order to participate this year.   You may upload upon registration into sports engine or you may show your child's original birth certificate to a member of the Softball/Baseball Committee for sign off.  Your child is ineligible to play if he/she does not receive sign off from a Softball/Baseball Committee Member.  This cannot be done by the coach.

NOTE: Registrations WILL close once a team reaches 13 players. A waiting list will be established and announced if this happens.
 

Registration Fees include the following:

• jersey
• one pair of pants
• one pair of socks
• belt
• hat

Baseball Registration Fees

• EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CLOSES 6/27/2025: $125
• STANDARD REGISTRATION CLOSES 7/31/2025 at midnight: $150

After receiving input from the community, Sherrills Ford Optimist is planning to offer softball this fall (2025).  Our goal is to field a SINGLE team in each age group with no less than 10 players and no more than 13 players per team. 

These are the baseball age group ranges:

• 8U: girls born between 1/1/2016 - 12/31/2017 
• 10U: girls born between 1/1/2014 - 12/31/2015

Format:

• 8U: coach pitch
• 10U: kid pitch

All players are required to show a birth certificate in order to participate this year.   You may upload upon registration into sports engine or you may show your child's original birth certificate to a member of the Softball/Baseball Committee for sign off.  Your child is ineligible to play if he/she does not receive sign off from a Softball/Baseball Committee Member.  This cannot be done by the coach.

NOTE: Registrations WILL close once a team reaches 13 players. A waiting list will be established and announced if this happens.
 

Registration Fees include the following:

• jersey
• one pair of pants
• one pair of socks
• belt
• hat

Baseball Registration Fees

• EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CLOSES 6/27/2025: $125
• STANDARD REGISTRATION CLOSES 7/31/2025 at midnight: $150

Sherrills Ford Optimist is actively recruiting companies, groups, churches, and/or individuals to be sponsors for our Park. Please visit the Sponsorship page to see the levels available and to see the benefits of each level.  There is also a link to a form on that page where you select a sponsorship package, provide your company information, and pay all in one simple step. 

Sherrills Ford Optimist is a 501 (c)(3) organization and all donations are tax-deductible. We welcome all donations and a receipt can be provided to you upon request. 

Use the "Donate" button below to donate via Paypal or send a check made out to Sherrills Ford Optimist to: 

Sherrills Ford Optimist

P.O. Box  32

Sherrills Ford, NC 28673

Questions about donations?  Send an email to info@sfoptimist.org

Sherrills Ford Optimist is the place for youth sports in Eastern Catawba County. We have been serving the youth and families of our area since 1975. For full details on the sports we offer, check out the sections below divided by sports season.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to receive notifications when registrations open!

Our park is operated 100% through volunteers, and we rely on fundraisers and sponsorships to keep our park operating for the youth in our community. Please see below if you are interested in donating to the park. For volunteer opportunities, please click here. 

For more information about ways to get involved, or to send an idea to our Board of Directors, please email info@SFOptimist.org.

More than 1,200 youth participate in our athletic activities each year.