Recreational Program (U-6/U-8)

Section 1 – General Philosophy

The purpose of youth soccer training at ages 4 through 7 is based upon the philosophy that the “Game is in the Child.” The ultimate goal of US Youth Soccer, the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, and the Chesapeake Soccer Club is to unlock the game within each child to enable each child to reach their full soccer potential. Using the Player Development Model, the attributes and qualities of both player and coach are combined with a positive culture and context, learning opportunities, and playing to enhance the total game experience for each child.

Coaching and developing children at these ages is significantly different from the same endeavor for older children. In order to properly provide the most positive soccer experience for these children, one must first understand some of their basic characteristics. For the U-6 player, some considerations/characteristics are:

· Use of the movement education approach

· The differences between genders are minimal

· Weight range is approximately 30-50 lbs.

· Heights range from 35” to 45”

· Progress in motor development starts with the head and moves downward to the feet and from the center of the body outward

· Segments of the body grow and develop at different rates

· Easy fatigue, but rapid recovery with an average heart rate of 90 bpm

· Emphasis to be placed upon fundamental movement skills (locomotor-walking, running, leaping, jumping, hopping; non-locomotor-bending, stretching, twisting, pulling, pushing, reaching; basic manipulative-throwing, catching, striking with the feet)

· Desire to explore possibilities with the ball

· Game play consists of a high degree of imagination and pretend activities

· Rudimentary use of symbology to represent objects in their environment

· Usually only capable of performing one task at a time when problem solving

· Can only process small bits of information at one time, instructions and rules therefore must be simple

· They have a limited understanding of time, space, and boundary relationships

· Short attention spans – must remain active to feel challenged

· Ego-centric (they all want the ball and to get touches on it)

· Require generous praise and play without pressure

· Might say “team” but really lacks understanding of group or collective play

For the U-8 player, many of the aforementioned characteristics are beginning to improve. In addition, the following characteristics/considerations come into play as well:

· Heart rates are not as efficient as adult’s; rate peaks sooner and takes longer to recover

· Temperature regulation is also less efficient

· Improvement in pace and coordination from the U-6 player can be seen

· Limited ability to attend to more than one task at a time; the act of controlling the ball consumes most of the attention span, thereby limiting the ability to make tactical decisions

· Concepts of time, space, and boundaries are beginning to develop

· Improvement in personal evaluation: effort is synonymous with performance (i.e. if I try hard, then I perform well), irrespective of actual performance

· Great need for approval from adults, negative comments carry considerable weight

· Think soccer is “fun”

· Team and collaborative play are developing

· Strong desire for social acceptance

The Recreation Program for these age groups capitalizes on these characteristics and concerns by providing a positive soccer experience through small-sided games and teams comprised of no more than 10 players. In addition, each coach shall possess a valid USSF F-License prior to coaching any team in this group. This program is a pay-for-play program which means that it is open to any player that desires to participate.

Section 2 – Registration Policy

Team formation at this level will be conducted annually in June. The Club will advertise a time and place for registration and will establish fees. Parents desiring to have their children participate in the program must bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate for inspection (for proper age group placement) and fill out the Club’s application form. As part of that process, parents will sign a Medical Release Form, a Volunteer data sheet and, if desired, submit an application to coach a team.

No more than 10 players shall be placed on any team. In addition, there will be one Head Coach and one Assistant Coach. The coaches shall appoint a Team Manager (sometimes referred to as a “Team Mom”) and ensure that at least one member of the team leadership is accessible via e-mail. The child must have turned a minimum of four years of age by 31 July. Younger children may be considered for participation in the U-6 program on a case basis by the Board of Directors.

The Club will form teams on the basis of age, number of applicants, and number of available coaches. Teams will be Co-ed. Teams shall remain together for one soccer year (fall and spring playing seasons) after which they shall be disbanded. New teams shall be re-formed at the next annual registration in June. With prior approval of the Board of Directors, based upon a favorable recommendation by the Director of Training and Assessments, teams within the same program may remain together until they progress to an older age program. For example, a U-6 team is formed in June and desires to remain together after their initial soccer year. Provided the team remains at the U-6 level AND their petition to remain together is approved, they may remain together for the additional year. Once that team progresses to the U-8 level, a new team will be formed. Coaches shall have their own children assigned to their teams. The Club will provide playing schedules in sufficient time to facilitate family planning. All matches will be played within the limits of the City of Chesapeake.

Section 3 – U-6 Playing Rules

As with all matches, the U-6 playing rules are based upon the FIFA Laws of the Game. Matches will be conducted in accordance with the following modifications to the Laws of the Game:

Field Size: 20 x 30 yds (a game is played on two side-by-side fields); Radius of the Center Circle will be 3 yds. No goal area.
Goal Size: 4 x 6 ft
Ball Size: 3
Number of players: The match is played on a 3 v 3 basis. There will be two simultaneous matches played against the opposing team on adjacent fields. One Head Coach and the Opposing Assistant Coach shall administer each field. No Referees will be used, the coaches serve in that capacity. Substitutions are made on the fly by placing the substitute at the center line, outside the touchline with the coach calling players on/off. Teams switch at halftime so that they are playing different players. With a 10-player roster, 5 players will be on each field (3 active players, 2 substitutes).
Player’s Equipment: Conform to FIFA standards; Sneakers, soccer shoes or cleats are acceptable; shin guards are MANDATORY.
Duration of the Match: match is played in four quarters of 8 minutes duration, with a two minute break between quarters and a five minute halftime. Clock is maintained by the coaches on the field and shall be continuous.
Match is started with a kick-off from the center line; opposing players must be 3 yards away from the ball. Other restarts are conducted by the coaches who roll the ball toward one team or the other.
Goal scoring: conform to FIFA Law 10; although each team should try to score on an opponent’s goal, a goal will be awarded in the event a team scores at its own goal; no record of goals is retained upon conclusion of the match; no standings shall be kept.
Fouls and misconduct: All infractions of the Laws of the Game shall be explained to all players.
No offside, no Penalty Kicks; no Corner Kicks; all Free Kicks (in the event that there is one) are INDIRECT.
No goalkeepers are used. Further, it shall be illegal to place a player in front of the goal in an effort to protect it.
Players are not assigned actual positions for the game; Coaches/parents shall provide positive encouragement but should let the children play. Coaches should refrain from “coaching” their teams during matches. Rather, they should note strengths and weaknesses and plan subsequent practice sessions that focus upon these observations.
The minimum age for participation shall be four years of age.

Section 4 – U-8 Playing Rules

As with all matches, the U-8 playing rules are based upon the FIFA Laws of the Game. Matches will be conducted in accordance with the following modifications to the Laws of the Game:

LAW 1 – The Field: Field size will be 30 x 50 yds; A Center Circle with a radius of 5 yds will be used; A Goal Area of will be used: 3 yds from each goal post and 3 yards into the field of play joined by a line parallel to the goal line; Goal size is 6 x 12 ft.
LAW 2 – The Ball: Size 3
LAW 3 – The Players: The game is played on a 4 v 4 basis on a single field; No goalkeeper is used; It shall be illegal to place a player in front of the goal for the sole purpose of defending it; players can be assigned positions (e.g. attacker/defender); Substitutions are made on the fly by placing the substitute at the midfield line, just outside of the touch line; the coach shall call the players on/off.
LAW 4 – The Player’s Equipment: Conform to FIFA standards; Sneakers, soccer shoes or cleats are acceptable; shin guards are MANDATORY.
LAW 5 – Referee. Each team’s coach (Head Coach or Assistant Coach) shall evenly split the officiating duties with one person in the center; During the Spring season, a USSF-Certified Referee shall be assigned to one match to call the match and to provide a Laws of the Game seminar to the players in preparation for their transition into Challenge League play.
LAW 6 – Assistant Referee. Each team shall provide one volunteer parent to act as a Club Linesman.
LAW 7 – Duration of the Match: The match shall be played in four equal quarters of 12 minutes duration with a 2 minute break between quarters and a 5 minute halftime; Clock will be maintained by the Center Referee (coach) on the field and shall be continuous.
LAW 8 – The Start of Play: The Center Referee shall conduct a coin-toss with team captains prior to the match. The winner of the coin-toss shall choose which goal to attack, the other team shall have the kick-off. Teams shall switch sides of the field after halftime.
LAW 9 – The Ball In and Out of Play: The restart for a ball crossing the touchline will be a throw-in. The restart for balls crossing the goal line between the goal posts is the kick-off. The restart for balls crossing the goal line and not scoring will be the goal kick if the attacking player last touched the ball, or a corner kick if the defender last touched the ball.
LAW 10 – Method of Scoring: A ball which crosses the goal line underneath the top of the goal and between the goalposts scores one goal for the attacking team.
LAW 11 – Offside: There will be no offside called during these matches.
LAW 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: All fouls and infractions shall be fully explained to all players. The issuance of cautions or send offs is neither required nor desired.
LAW 13 – Free Kicks: All free kicks are INDIRECT. No kicks shall be taken by the attacking team within the defending team’s goal area. All fouls shall result in an indirect free kick with the opponent being at least 5 yards away.
LAW 14 – Penalty Kicks: No penalty kicks shall be awarded or taken during these matches.
LAW 15 – Throw-In: A second throw will be allowed if the player conducting the throw-in commits an infraction (e.g. lifts one foot, does not place ball behind head, etc.).
LAW 16 – Goal Kick: Goal kick may be taken from anywhere within the defending team’s goal area. Opposing players must be at least 5 yards away. All goal kicks are INDIRECT.
LAW 17 – Corner Kicks: Corner kicks are taken from the corner arc nearest to where the ball crossed the goal line. Opponents must be at least 5 yards away from the kick. All corner kicks are INDIRECT.
“LAW 18” – Common Sense: Coaches/parents shall provide positive encouragement but should let the children play. Coaches should refrain from “coaching” their teams during matches. Rather, they should note strengths and weaknesses and plan subsequent practice sessions that focus upon these observations.

Section 5 – Program Administrative Guidelines

Each coach shall have a parents meeting either prior to or subsequent to the first practice session of the season. At this meeting, the coach should specify his/her objectives for the team during the upcoming season and anticipated goals to be set for the team as a whole and the players individually. It is important to express what the parents can expect from you as a coach and what you expect from them in terms of team support and sideline behavior.

Coaches shall schedule no more than 2 practice sessions per week for no more than 1 hour per session. Coaches shall develop a practice plan prior to walking onto the pitch and make it clear to players and parents what the emphasis of the particular session will be. Prior to departure, the coach should debrief the players on their performance and to tell them whether the goals and objectives that were set out at the beginning of the session were met. Sample practice session activities are included in the appendices to this manual.

Player uniforms shall be purchased through the Club Equipment Manager. Players shall receive a colored jersey and a white jersey (individual numbers emblazoned on the back), blue shorts, and blue socks. The designated home team shall wear the “white” jersey and provide the game ball(s). There is no prohibition to placing individual player names on the backs of the uniforms, but that shall be an individual team’s responsibility.

The Club will provide a season playing schedule. Teams will play an 8 match schedule per season. All matches shall be played on Saturdays. In the event of inclement weather forecast 24 to 48 hours in advance, the Club will issue a decision on match cancellation through its Hot Line and Web Site. In the event of inclement weather on game day, the two coaches involved shall make a mutual decision to terminate the match. Any rescheduling of matches will be under the purview of the Club.

There will be situations whereby the Board will be required to modify some of these rules to fit non-routine circumstances. In such instances, the best interests of the program will be considered but in no case shall any rule modification under these rules be considered a precedent for future operations. Nominally these rules shall be promulgated on a one-time, necessity basis only.