NorCal firmly believes that having a love for soccer, the willingness to follow the Club and team rules, and working hard to learn and improve is all that a young player should need to be a member of a - some - NorCal Club.
Players might be on the first team or the 5th team, but they are on a "Soccer Team" and members of a Club that are serious about helping develop the skills of the players. 
Soccer is not a game only for "elite" athletes! In fact, it is a very democratic sport that takes long and rewarding years to master - with the young person who loves the game soon surpassing part-time players who are not fully committed.
 
Athlete Name: Lionel Messi
Olympic Event: Men’s Football (Record Medal Holder: Hungary with 3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Olympic team: Argentina
Height/Weight: 5’6" / 147 lbs
2008 Beijing Olympics Expectation: Gold
About Lionel Messi: At the age of just 21 Lionel Messi is already regarded as one of the best football players in the world and is expected to shine at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His style has seen him dubbed by many as ‘the new Diego Maradona’ and his scintillating form for football club Barcelona has ensured that he has been a permanent fixture in Argentina’s national squad since 2005. Having missed out on the 2004 Athens Gold medal won by Argentina at the last Olympics, Messi was the star of the show at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2005, scoring twice in the final against Nigeria. Shortly after this success he made a disastrous debut for the full national side, receiving a red card against Hungary within minutes of coming off the bench. However he managed to put this setback behind him and has achieved much in his short career, including two La Liga titles and a Champions League victory with Barcelona, and a runner-up medal with Argentina in the 2007 Copa America.

    More and more Clubs are taking an interest in the grass roots - and the future of American soccer.  Many Clubs are forming multiple teams and have decided not to "cut" players who love soccer.
    Last year, two Marin Clubs combined two groups of players from each Club into one team and avoided having to "cut" players. Another Club formed 5 teams in one age/gender with all of the teams having a similar learning program - although the teams were ranked by their present skill and playing level.
    The number of young players who can be members of a Club and a team that is serious about helping young players develop their soccer skills is limited only by the number of players who love the game and are willing to follow the team and Club practice and game regimen.
     Players who love the game and are willing to follow the club policies should not be "cut" from the program or placed in Class 3 programs.
     Imagine, at teacher "cutting" a student from a class he or she loves because other students were learning some material more rapidly - perhaps while even working less hard.
     Limiting a young persons opportunities to learn in an area they love and are willing to work hard to improve is not necessary at the younger ages - and not respectful.  Furthermore, from the perspective of the soccer community it is short-sighted and perhaps explains the high drop out numbers as the players approach Middle School.
     If a young person and family decide they would like to play in a Class 3 program - that is a personal choice made by the player involved. If a young person loves soccer, but is not willing or able to follow the Club and team policies - they should expect to make other choices.
     However, if that young person wishes to be part of a program that provides the best training to all players who love soccer - that player should not be "cut" from the Class 1 program and forced into a Class 3 program that is demonstrably inferior in developing skilled players.