When We Play
We run two ten-week outdoor soccer seasons each year, in the fall and the spring.
The Spring season runs from early April until mid-June, and the Fall season starts in early September and ends in November.
Team practices usually begin about two weeks before the start of the season; we follow the season with an awards event.
Each team plays one game a week, either on Friday evening or Saturday morning, and we publish a full schedule about two weeks before the start of each season. Until we have published the schedule we cannot guarantee that a particular team will play on a given day or at a particular time, and for most divisions it will vary from week to week. Occasionally we have to schedule evening make-up games on other days of the week.
The Under-4, Under-5 and Challenger programs are always scheduled on Saturday mornings (never on Fridays), although if Saturday games are rained out they may have the opportunity to play a mid-week makeup game.
You’ll find some more-detailed guidelines about the schedule for each division on our General Q&A page.
Team Assignments
Players are assigned to teams according to a strict policy, intended to ensure fairness and balance.
In our youngest divisions (Under-4 to Under-7) we try to keep players together, and with the same coach, in successive seasons. In these divisions we also allow parents to request team assignments – either to be with a specific coach or with a friend. We cannot guarantee that we’ll be able to honor your request, but we’ll do our best and we’re mostly able to help.
In divisions for players aged 7 and older players are assigned to teams by a computer drafting process, attempting to produce teams that are balanced in age, sex and ability. The coaches’ and assistant coaches’ children are pre-assigned to their teams; all others are assigned by the computer draft. We do not accept assignment requests, either from parents or from coaches. Once assigned, we do not allow players to switch teams.
Under-4 Introductory Program
Our Under-4 (U4) program is open to children who are younger than four years old on the season cut-off date, and aims to give them an early introduction to soccer skills and the fun of playing with other children. There is no lower age limit, although players must be out of diapers. This group plays for one hour on Saturday mornings.
Click here for details of the U4 program
Under-5 Division
Teams in the Under-5 (U5) division have a one-hour session each Saturday, comprising 30 minutes of instruction followed by a 30-minute game. There are no separate practices.
Click here for details of the U5 program.
Co-Ed and All-Girl Divisions
We offer both co-ed and all-girl divisions in most age-groups, depending on the number of girls registering in a particular age-group each season. Girls of all ages have the option of playing on co-ed teams.
Boys and girls aged 5 and under play together (i.e. no all-girl teams in this age-group), and recently we haven’t been able to offer all-girl teams for girls 15 or older. This means that if your daughter is 15 or older on the season cut-off date she will play in the co-ed Under-18 division. Typically about one-third of the players in U18 are girls.
Coaches
Each team is assigned one coach and at least one assistant coach. Our coaches are volunteers—most became involved with the Club when their children began playing. Soccer experience is not required, and we regularly offer classes to enable coaches to acquire soccer coaching licenses.
Every season we’re short of coach volunteers, especially in the younger age-groups, and we have to restrict player registrations as a result. We hate to do this – our objective is to let children play, not prevent them from doing so! So please take the opportunity to help your own child and many others by signing up to coach with us! We’ll make sure you have any help and support you need.
If you’re interested in becoming a coach or assistant, please read our Coaching Q&A page and complete the coach registration page when you register your child.
Practices
Teams hold weekly practices at the various local schools. Practice places and times are set by individual coaches; the club does not organize or control practices. We cannot assign players to teams on the basis of practice location.
Teams in the Under-4 and Under-5 divisions do not hold separate practices.
Our program is a teaching program, and players should attend practice if they can, so that their coaches can give them the necessary instruction. However, we understand that it’s not always possible for every child to practice at the team’s regular time, and coaches often cannot accommodate every parent’s schedule. If your child can’t make your own team’s practice please let us know, and we’ll put you in touch with other coaches in the division so that you can join their practice instead. Please note, however, that we cannot assign players to teams based on practice logistics, and players cannot switch teams once assignments are made.
What You Need
To participate in our program your child will need:
- Soccer cleats. These must have round rubber or plastic cleats; other shapes or materials are not permitted. Sneakers are acceptable, but not advised
- Black shorts. Non-black shorts are not acceptable for games.
- Long, plain black socks. Short socks are not acceptable, as shin guards must be covered.
- Shin guards. These are essential for protection against kicks. Shin guards must be completely covered by the player’s socks.
- A soccer ball. Most coaches ask players to bring a ball to practice, and your child will also need a ball to practice with at home. You will not need to bring the ball to games. Different age groups use different sizes, so ask your coach which is the correct size for your child. Please make sure that your ball carries your phone number, clearly visible in several places.
- Team shirt. This is provided by the club, and must be worn for games.
For safety reasons, players must not wear watches, jewelry, earrings, studs, or other hard items such as beads or hair barrettes, or chew gum while playing.