Age Specific Information
Our Middle School League is an option for all children attending one of the several Middle Schools in New Haven. Players can choose to play with their classmates, or join a team that is composed of players who live in New Haven but may not attend the same school as them.
The teams follow a schedule made in the beginning of the season and play approximately five games per season. Games are held every Saturday morning at the Boulevard Fields.
NHYS Middle School League Useful Information
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 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.