AYSO REGION 166 - U5 - PROGRAM GUIDELINES
- In 2004, national lowered the min. age requirement for participation in AYSO to four years of age. Children must turn four years old on or prior to July 31st of the year that they are playing.
- The objective: provide young players and their parents with a “pressure free” introduction to the beautiful and simple game of soccer. Players should be exposed to soccer by playing simple, fun activities and games that require little to no practice, and a minimal time commitment.
- The program allows players to discover the game for themselves, while parents are given a foundation on which to build and grow into future AYSO coaches, referees and administrators.
- The program will not be CO-ED. Boys and Girls will have separate uniform colors and will only be separated during the game portion of the One-With-One.
- Program will run for 8 weeks
- Times/days: the U-5 program consists of Saturdays only for one-hour (from 2-3 pm) at Mendive Middle School. The one-hour period will be explained below (One-With-One). Children must arrive at least 10 minutes prior.
- Each child must be accompanied at all times by at least one parent or guardian. There are NO coaches and/or referees in the U-5 Division and parents are responsible for their own children at all times. Parents will sign themselves and their child in on the clipboard provided by the coordinator.
- All children will receive a uniform. All boys will wear one color, and girls will wear another. Uniforms consist of shorts, socks, and shirt. Parents must supply shoes, shin guards and water bottles. All must be worn every Saturday.
- Size 3 balls will be used. Several balls will be available. Players are encouraged to also bring one with them.
ONE-WITH-ONE:
10 minutes -- group warm up, exercises, and water break. The division coordinator leads this activity
and involves the participation of all children and parents.
20 minutes -- Training activity and games. The division coordinator or another board member leads this
activity. It will consist of an activity that will practice a certain skill or part of the game using explanation and demonstration. Each pair (adult/child) will observe the activity or game and then attempt the game/activity while the division coordinator provides instruction and feedback.
5 minutes ---- Team organization and water break. The Division Coordinator will determine how many
children have arrived for that day, and divide players into teams. Each team will have 3 players for a 3 v 3 game. Fields will be 30x15 yards and goals will be made using cones at the end of each field. A parent on each team will be selected as the game/team supervisors.
25 minutes --- 3 v 3 game (played in two 10 minute halves, 5 minute half-time).
All parents except team supervisors should be on one side of the field, while the team supervisors and players are on the other. All parents are encouraged to cheer positively and refrain from “coaching” from the sidelines. Team supervisors to ensure that all players are checked in (shoes, shin guards, nails, etc.). General rules of the game are as follows:
· Center field kick-offs used at start of each half and after each goal.
· Coin toss to determine which team kicks off to start the game.
· Ball is out of play and supervisors should guide restart by throw in, when it crosses the touchlines. As there are no goalkeepers, when the ball is out of play at the goal line, any player (who did not kick out) shall kick-in in font of their goal.
· Goals are awarded as in any other division. Parents and players should enthusiastically celebrate all goals.
· Stoppages and fouls should be rare in the U-5 Division. Only dangerous play should cause a stoppage. The game/team supervisors should do restarts with a kick off by any player that deserves it. All restart kicks are direct kicks (in-direct kicks are too confusing for 4 year olds).
U-5 Division Coordinator
