Page Contents
Recreational Leagues
- The goal of the co-ed recreational leagues is to provide a safe and fun environment for the student athletes at all ages. The right touch of skill development, teamwork and competition makes the recreational leagues the perfect choice no matter the situation.
- Athletes range from 3 to 17 years of age with varying degrees of skills and experience.
- The coaches volunteer their time to teach the student athlete the game of soccer. The typical recreational coach has their child on the team, so we know they have the best interest of the team.
- The referees are paid for their services and are instructed to offer “teachable” moments during games.
- Weekly 1-hour practice.
- Weekly game.
- Players are guaranteed to play a minimum 50 percent of the game.
- Players receive team uniform which includes jersey, shorts and socks.
- 8 guaranteed games (7 regular-season games, plus at least one playoff game) but can play up to 10 depending on playoff success.
- Seasons include fall, winter and spring. Their are additional indoor soccer seasons in the summer and over winter break.
- Player statistics are not recorded, but team results are recorded (season record and goals scored)
Below is a breakdown of our soccer age groups and what you can expect your child to learn in each age group as well as a practice and game schedule.
As you read the details of each age group, a progressive individual and team skills are developed with age. Class Athletes who begin their youth soccer careers early and consistently will have a definite advantage over players who get a late start or inconsistent participation. Players also will develop a sense of how important, powerful, and fun the team concept can be. Parents and coaches will have fun watching their child grow and develop into a skilled and confident person while doing what kids do best, have fun!
More information about youth soccer age group determination can be found by clicking here
U4 age group
- Players between the ages 3 and 4.
- Your child will learn to interact with teammates by sharing the soccer ball, learning to pass and shoot the ball with the proper part of the foot.
- Practice on Saturday morning for a 30 minutes, immediately followed by a game against another team.
- Games are played on a smaller field with 10 players per team. Click here for reasons why we don’t use a full size youth soccer field.
- Games consist of four 7 ½ minute quarters.
- Because most children are new to the game, we do not adhere to out of bounds and try to let the soccer players bring the ball back on to the fields.
- We do not keep score or use a goalie.
- Coaches from both teams supervise the play on the field.
- Safety is very important to us, so coaches will blow the whistle and re-set the ball if a child is in danger of getting hurt.
- Soccer ball size is 3.
U6 age group
- Players between the ages 5 and 6.
- Players will begin to learn basic field zone concepts of offense and defense.
- Players are introduced to basic soccer game situations such as out of bounds, throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks.
- Practice on Saturday morning for a 30 minutes, immediately followed by a game against another team.
- Games are played on a smaller field with 10 players per team. Click here for reasons why we don’t use a full size youth soccer field.
- Games consist of four 8-minute quarters.
- We do not keep score or use a goalie.
- Coaches from both teams supervise the play on the field.
- Safety is very important to us, so coaches will blow the whistle and re-set the ball if a child is in danger of getting hurt.
- Soccer ball size is 4.
U8 age group
- Players between the ages of 7 and 8.
- Players continue to develop individual skills such as dribbling, passing and shooting.
- Your child will be introduced to field spacing and zones (offense, defense, mid-field).
- The team will be introduced the various positions such as goalie, fullback, sweeper, midfielder, forward and striker.
- Practice is one night per week for 1 hour.
- Games will be held on a smaller field with 9 players per team on the field. Click here for reasons why we don’t use a full size youth soccer field.
- Games consist of two 20-minute halves.
- At this age group we become a little more organized and competitive by keeping score and introduce the goalie position.
- We also introduce standings and a playoff system which identifies a first-place winner.
- Players will be introduced to the penalty kick and it’s importance.
- The players will be introduced to team captains who represent their team for the coin flip.
- One paid official who referees fair play and offer teachable moments to players during the game.
- All scores and standings are recorded which determine playoff matches.
- Soccer ball size is 4.
U10 age group
- Players between the ages of 9 and 10.
- Players will continue to develop individual skills such as dribbling, passing, trapping, heading and shooting.
- An emphasis on position spacing, responsibilities and the importance of team tactics.
- Your child will be introduced to basic set plays on offense and defense.
- Practice is one night of the week for 1 hour.
- Games consist of two 22.5-minute halves.
- Games will be held on a smaller field with 9 players per team on the field. More information about why we don’t use a full size youth soccer field, click here
- At this age group we introduce the offsides rule of soccer.
- Team captains who represent their team for the coin flip.
- One paid official who referees fair play.
- All scores and standings are recorded which determine playoff matches.
- Soccer ball size is 4.
U12 age group
- Players between the ages of 11 and 12.
- Players will continue to develop skills that essential in soccer.
- We get more advanced with practice techniques and drills.
- Spacing, positioning and tactics are emphasized as we continue to get our student athletes ready for full-field soccer.
- Practice is one night of the week for 1 hour.
- Games consist of two 25-minute halves.
- Because children are bigger in this age group, fewer players on the field during games.
- One paid official who referees fair play.
- All scores and standings are recorded which determine playoff matches.
- Soccer ball size is 4.
U14 age group
- Players between the ages of 13 and 14.
- We get more advanced with practice techniques and drills.
- Most of the players at this level have played some level of soccer before.
- Here we will continue to teach them soccer skills but want to also focus on leadership skills and becoming a great teammate.
- Skills to apply on and off the field. Practice is one night of the week for 1 hour.
- Games consist of two 25-minute halves.
- Full field, 11 vs. 11 games are introduced.
- Two paid officials who referee fair play.
- All scores and standings are recorded which determine playoff matches.
- Soccer ball size is 5.
U17 age group
- Players between the ages of 15 and 17.
- We get more advanced with practice techniques and drills.
- Most of the players at this level have played a significant level of soccer before.
- Here we will continue to teach them soccer skills but want to also focus on leadership skills and becoming a great teammate.
- Skills to apply on and off the field.
- Practice is one night of the week for 1 hour.
- Games consist of two 25-minute halves.
- Full field, 11 vs. 11 games.
- Two paid officials who referee fair play.
- All scores and standings are recorded which determine playoff matches.
- Soccer ball size is 5.
Competitive Youth Soccer Program:
U12 age group only
Our Competitive Soccer program is a new venture for Class Athlete, as it will be moving into its third season at the outset of the Spring 2014 season. We wanted to provide the opportunity for more of our skilled players to play at a higher, more competitive level. As of now we only offer Competitive Soccer at the U12 age group. The goal here is to be more technical and allow youth soccer players a competitive level of play where everyone on the team has several seasons of experience.
- Players are expected to be proficient at individual youth soccer skills such as dribble, pass, headers, trapping, proper spacing, and position responsibilities.
- Higher level of competition and play that will prepare them for high school and college competition.
- Practices are 2 nights a week.
- Games are played at a single location significantly reducing travel time and expense compared to typical traveling competitive youth soccer programs, saving families on travel and hotel expenses associated with typical competitive youth soccer programs.
- Games are longer than the recreational leagues, playing 30-minute halves.
- The field dimensions are larger than that of recreational leagues.
- Small-sided game approach.
- Coaches will select game starters based on ability, determination and participation demonstrated during games and practices.
- No minimum guaranteed play-time rule applied at this level.
- A full officiating team consisting of a center referee, 2 assistants referees and a substitution/sideline assistant is used during all games.