Alexander Soccer Club - Youth Summer Soccer Program Information
2010 Registration Form and Information - Click HERE for Instructional Soccer Click HERE for 10 and Under Coed
Instructional Soccer - Ages 4 through 7 (Scroll down for Ages 8 - 10 program)
The Basics
During the summer we run a 4 week (8 play dates) youth instructional league for players ages 4 through 7. This is an instructional and fun league for these players which is run by our varsity coaching staff (Chad Flint and Lisa Atkinson) and is assisted by other members of our coaching staff (Danielle Koers, Alyssa Hinkson) as well as members of our varsity and JV players.
The dates for this summer are as follows: Friday July 9th, Monday July 12th, Friday July 16th, Tuesday July 20th, Friday July 23rd, Tuesday July 27th, Tuesday August 3rd, and Thursday August 5th. Each date we meet from 5:45pm to 6:45pm behind the elementary school (occasionally at the field of dreams, if we are at the field of dreams a sign will be placed at the elementary school).
The cost for each player is $15 and includes a T-shirt or soccer ball at the end of the summer.
Our Goal
The goal behind our instructional league is that young players learn individual skills (kicking with both feet, trapping, shooting, passing, heading) and that they learn to love the game of soccer. It is our opinion that the most important things that a young player can learn is to love the game and some basic skills. Too often players come into the travel program without the ability to use both of their feet or with other bad habits that they have learned in leagues that focus on putting the players on teams and having them play games with little actual skill instruction. These players are at a disadvantage to the players that have been given small group instruction and been able to spend a lot of time with the ball at their feet.
The Difference Between Our Program and Other Programs
Our instructional leagues meet for 60 minutes a session and the players have the ball at their feet for nearly the entire 60 minutes. When players are formed into teams and play games they typically play a game that is 60 minutes long and are on a field with at least 9 other players meaning they have to share and battle for the ball. The best players in those games will have the ball at their feet for 20 minutes in a game, the less skilled players may have the ball at their feet for less than 5. While there is a winning team and a losing team at the end of the game really all of the kids are losing out on valuable time with the ball.
Practices in other leagues also often place a single coach (or in the best situations 2 or 3 coaches) in charge of 12-20 kids meaning that each kid is not getting individual attention. Our sessions have a minimum of two certified coaches and 7 to 10 varsity level players who have come through the program working with the kids. Nearly every session there are two players to every one coach or assistant coach meaning they get very individualized instruction.
An Example Session
A typical instructional league session is 60 minutes long. Upon arrival each player will get a ball and will participate in a 5 minute warmup where they will dribble and keep the ball away from the coaches and assistant coaches. Stretching will be done as the players are dribbling.
Each Session will focus on a specific skill (such as dribbling, passing, trapping, etc) and the next 20-30 minutes will be spent on demonstrations and small group activities where 2 or 3 players work with a coach or an assistant coach on the skill. We always focus on doing the skill with both feet and players are assisted and guided at every step of the process. Depending on the skill there will be small group games that focus on the desired skill as well.
For the final 25 to 30 minutes of each session the players will play in very small games (2 players against one coach, 1 player versus 1 player, 2 players versus 2 players).
We have many different activities we will do depending on the skill we focus on. We try to vary the activities each session as much as possible so that the players are always doing something new.
Parents are always encouraged to participate in all areas of the program and we love to see parents get involved with the kids in the sessions. Whether you have played soccer in the past or have no experience with a ball at your feet we encourage you to come down onto the field and work with the kids to help them (and possibly you) learn about the sport.
10 and under Coed Soccer - Ages 8 through 10
This summer we are growing our program to include a 10 and under league that will practice 4 times, have 6 scrimmages/games, and 1 "festival" day which is at Alexander. We will be playing against Alexander teams as well as teams from some of the local towns (Attica, Pavilion, Batavia, Bergen, etc). Teams will have a maximum of 1 away game.
Teams will be composed of 10-12 players and will play games with 6 players and a goalie on the field. Emphasis is placed on fun and learning and not keeping score and winning.
Players will meet for 90 minutes each time (practice or scrimmage) with the exception of the festival day on Saturday July 24th which will be in the late morning and early afternoon.
Dates for this summer are as follows: Friday June 25th, Tuesday June 29th, Thursday July 1st, Tuesday July 6th, Friday July 9th, Monday July 12th, Friday July 16th, Saturday July 24th, Tuesday July 27th, Tuesday August 3rd, and Thursday August 5th. Practices/Scrimmages will be held either behind the elementary school or at the field of dreams depending on the day. There will be a sign at the elementary school indicating where we are for that session.
We will be looking for parent volunteers to help out with the coaching, if you are interested please let me know. If there are any questions please let me know that as well.
Questions
If you have any questions please contact me (Chad Flint) through email (coach@alexandersoccer.com) or by phone @ 585-259-2968 any time. We normally register for the instructional leagues during February March and April so look for more information at that time.