In this group everyone practices as a pool team, end practice with a scrimmage with their fellow program attendees.  There are no scheduled games and our practice drills/games teach children the skills they will need to play as they grow.

What will kids do?

For this age level, we offer a low-key program aimed at developing soccer skills and introducing age- appropriate levels of competition. Kids participate in one or more practices each week and play games on Saturday mornings. For most age divisions, coaches will choose up teams at the field on Saturday mornings, keeping the atmosphere less formal and less competitive.

When and where do they play?

Our program runs in fall and spring. The fall season starts in early September and goes to early November. The spring season runs from early April to mid-June. Normally, kids register in the fall and automatically are eligible to play in the spring. If you receive financial aid, you pay once in the fall and once in the spring.

Each week during the season, we will offer “clinics” according to a schedule found on our website. These are practice sessions in which kids can work on fundamental skills for 60 minutes. Kids may attend as many clinic sessions as they wish (or as parents are able to transport them to!)

Please note that there are no requirements for attendance or participation. It is normal for kids to miss some games and practices because of school and family commitments, as well as other activities. We do ask that families tell coaches if they expect to miss a game, so that the coach can plan accordingly.

What should they bring?

For practices and games, kids should wear soccer shoes with rubber or plastic studs (no metal!!) and shin guards under long socks. Each child should also bring a water bottle and a ball (size 3 for U7/U8, size 4 for U10/U12, size 5 for U14). Please put your child’s name on balls, water bottles, and any outerwear.

How do clinics work?

At the clinic, one of our professional coaches will lead participants in a variety of games and drills designed to develop fundamental skills. Usually these will involve dividing kids into small groups, to maximize each child’s time on the ball. To make clinics work effectively, we ask parents to bring their kids on time, to supervise behavior as needed, and to help out as needed with making the clinic run smoothly. (Depending on the age of the kids, this may involve retrieving balls or helping kids to understand the drills.)

What happens in the event of bad weather?

We hold practices even in drizzle or light rain. If there is heavy rain, however – and definitely if there are thunderstorms – we will generally cancel activities. We also cancel when field conditions are poor (e.g., muddy, snowy, or waterlogged) and when the City of New Haven or our other hosts (e.g., schools) tell us that fields are closed. This can sometimes occur after heavy rains, even though the sun is shining; playing on fields in these conditions can cause long-term damage to the grass.   Everyone is encouraged to check our website www.NHYS.Soccer for current field status updates in real time.