Our Divisional program spans the U11 to U18 age groups. Here, players join a team they’ll play with through the entirety of the season. Within each age group there are divisions: Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3, which will be detailed more below.

The Divisional season runs from September until March – or later if teams have reached the later stages of cup play, with a winter break taking place from mid-December through early January. Boys teams will typically play their games on Saturdays, while girls play their games on Sundays.

For the 2025-26 Fall/Winter season, the U11 to U18 age group will be for players born in 2015 to 2008. Please view the table below to find the age group that lines up with your birth year.

Leagues

When players get to U11 they leave the in-house VanU league we run at lower age groups and most enter the BC Coastal Soccer League (BCCSL). The BCCSL is for Divisional boys and girls teams playing from U11 to U18,. BCCSL consists of teams from all seven Districts in the Lower Mainland: VYSA, Burnaby District Youth Soccer, North Shore Youth Soccer Association, North Fraser Youth Soccer Association, South Fraser District Association, Fraser Valley Youth Soccer Association, and Richmond District Association. More info on the BCCSL can be found here.

Divisions

As mentioned above each age group has three different levels or “divisions”. These are called Division 1, 2, and 3. There are important distinctions between these divisions. 

Each division and age group has different commitments as part of their programming and registration fee structure, which will be detailed below.

Division 3: This is a more recreational division. Players are provided with one practice per week (the day of the week will depend on which team they’re placed on), and a game on the weekend, both of which are volunteer-led with club support from staff coaches provided at some training sessions. The price for this program is $580, and all players are provided with two jerseys, a pair of socks, and shorts which are theirs to keep.

Division 2: This a higher level of play compared to Division 3. Players at this level are provided with one practice per week (the day of the week will depend on which team they’re placed on) and a game on the weekend, both of which are volunteer-led. The price for this program is $580, and all players are provided with two jerseys, a pair of socks, and shorts. Teams have the option to request a second weekly training time at an additional cost if there is strong support on the team to do so.

Division 1: This is the highest level of play in our Divisional program. The commitments and registration fees for Division 1 are different depending on their age group:

U11/U12 Division 1 (VanU Plus)

This program begins in April and runs to the following March. VanU Plus players will have three training sessions per week – training at VanU Academy once per week, training with Van U/Whitecaps program once per week, and one training session with their staff coach. There is a spring component once a week (8-10 weeks) with a staff coach that players are expected to attend.

There is optional participation in Cascadia Spring League. Other games and tournaments are also optional. Attendance at tournaments is to be decided by the team themselves, and teams will need to cover the costs for any tournaments they choose to attend.

Please note that the Academy sessions are on Mondays and the VanU Plus boys teams train with the Whitecaps on Tuesdays and the girls on Thursdays. Attendance is mandatory at the Academy sessions in the Fall and Winter. The price for this program differs depending on the age group and whether you are part of Division 1A or 1B. Regardless, registration fees will include the full team kit (jersey, a pair of socks and shorts), as well as the registration for Academy and the Academy kit.

U13 Division 1

Players are asked to attend three practice sessions run by professional staff and a game on the weekend which is also led by staff and a volunteer coach. There is a spring component once a week (8-10 weeks) that players should attend. All players are provided with their standard team kit (jerseys, a pair of socks and shorts).

U14 Division 1

Players are asked to attend three practice sessions, two of which are run by volunteer staff and one is run by a staff coach, and a game on the weekend which is also led by a volunteer coach. All players are provided with their standard team kit (jerseys, a pair of socks and shorts).

U15 – U18 Division 1

Players are asked to attend two practice sessions and a game on the weekend, all of which are run by a volunteer coach. All players are provided with their standard team kit (jerseys, a pair of socks and shorts).

Metro 

Heading into the 2025-2026 season, VanU’s final Metro team will be in the U18 Boys age group. We do not have a 2008 Girls team in the Metro division. The season runs September 2025 to completion of Cup and League play in 2026 with training taking place twice a week. Teams may opt in for additional academy training at extra cost.All players are provided with their standard team kit (jerseys, a pair of socks and shorts).

Age Group Considerations

All U11-U12 divisional teams play eight-a-side games on half fields. Over the past few years, the worldwide training of youth soccer players has changed from getting players into an 11-a-side format as quickly as possible to a more gradual progression through the use of small-sided games. The reasons for this are varied, but among the most important is that, in smaller sided games, players are provided with more opportunities to have “touches” on the ball. By increasing the amount of ball time per player, you improve the quality of training for your players. With this in mind, BC Soccer has mandated that all U11 and U12 teams play in 8-aside leagues.

Coaches, managers, parents and participants are reminded that 8-aside is non-competitive; teams are not playing for league titles or cups. The emphasis is on the fun and enjoyment of soccer and the full participation of all team members in every game. There are no standings kept and no Cup competition at these ages.