Region 10 offered it’s inaugural U5 soccer program in the Fall 2005 season
and it was an unqualified success. 185 kids signed up to play on eight
consecutive Saturdays and most of the players and their families attended
closing ceremonies on the final Saturday when trophies were awarded and the
kids played in one of the biggest games in Region 10 history (50 on 50 with 6
soccer balls!). Check out some of the pictures from closing day.
For those of you who may be considering this program for your child, this
document will explain this program to you. Region 10’s U5 program is being
conducted in accordance with the AYSO National U-5 Program Guidelines. A
complete copy of these guidelines can be found at
www.soccer.org. We have separate girls and
boys divisions and we offer the Jamboree One with One format described in the
AYSO program guidelines.
Jamboree One with One is the combination of two different formats that, put
together, provide the best possible introduction to soccer for our youngest
players. In AYSO soccer, a jamboree means that the teams are formed on a weekly
basis depending upon how many players attend a given session. One with One
refers to the concept that each player will have a parent (or other adult or
mature sibling) working with them on the field.
Two “Master Coaches” lead each session. The Master Coaches introduce a game or
activity that will practice a certain skill or part of the game using
explanation and demonstration. Each pair (player/parent) then attempt the
activity while the Master Coaches circulate between the pairs providing
specific help or suggestions so that the activities are performed as intended.
After a suitable amount of time, the Master Coaches bring the players and
parents back together as a group and recap what they have done before
introducing the next activity.
Each Jamboree One with One session ends with a 20 minute short sided game with
three to five players on each side. The game allows the players to play with
little coaching as this experience is designed to expose them to soccer, not to
begin developing them. The two goals of the program are to allow the players to
enjoy the activities and to let the game be the teacher.
Region 10 is very fortunate in that our Master Coaches are Major League Soccer
Camp instructors. These instructors are current and former college or
semiprofessional soccer players from the United Kingdom who have done extensive
training in jamboree style soccer instruction while running soccer camps
throughout the United States. Each MLS instructor has years of formal player
development training and experience with children as young as four years of
age. In addition, several experienced AYSO certified coach instructors also
participate in the program. By all accounts, the level of instruction in the
Fall 2005 program was phenomenal.
Each player in the U-5 division receives a uniform (jersey, shorts and socks)
and their own size three soccer ball. Parents provide shin guards and
appropriate footwear (cleats or tennis shoes are acceptable). All uniforms are
identical, other than the numbering, since part of the fun of soccer is getting
dressed up for the “big game.” Each week before the game portion of the day
begins, players are divided up into groups of 3 to 5 and then play will
commence on one of the six to eight fields that we will set up for each
session. One team on each field will wear pinnies (colored vests). The kids are
encouraged to play with different teammates and against different opponents
each week although we organize the teams in accordance with the players’
preferences.
Each week, two or three parents supervise each field in order to keep the game
moving. The game supervisors for the week determine when the ball is out of
play and guide restarts, interfering as little as possible. All other parents
should cheer positively and should refrain from “coaching” (giving directions)
from the sideline. It’s the players’ game, so we try to let them play and work
on the technique later. We do not keep score but we place small goals on each
field. Goals should be enthusiastically celebrated by everyone, even goals into
the “wrong” goal!
Program Highlights:
When:
Opening Day is Saturday, September 9th.
There are no games on Opening Day, but we will take player photos
The “season” starts on Saturday, September 16th and concludes on Saturday,
November 11th (eight weeks with one week available for rain outs)
Where:
All sessions will be held at Malaga Cove School in Palos Verdes
Estates
Times:
Boys Session One: 9:00 am to 10:15 am
Boys Session Two: Noon to 1:15 pm
Girls Session One: 10:30 am to 11:45 am
Girls Session Two: 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm
We will establish several different days to pick up your child’s uniform in
advance of Picture Day and will communicate that information to you. When you
pick up your child’s uniform, you will have the opportunity to select the time
slot that your child will be playing every Saturday. If the 2006 program is as
large as 2005, the group will be too large for one session so we have
established two sessions for each group. Once we have a set number of kids
signed up for a particular session, that session will be closed and all other
players will be assigned to the remaining session. We will have some
flexibility each week to accommodate people’s needs, however, we cannot be in
the position that most all kids show up for one session and only a few show up
for the other. If your child has friends who will be playing in the program,
please try to coordinate your schedules with theirs before you sign up so that
we can balance the groups out each week.
Game day each week is at Malaga Cove School. For those of you who are familiar
with the site, we set up the fields on the lower field near the parking lot
that abuts the Palos Verdes Beach Club. PLEASE park in this lower lot and NOT
on Via Almar as parking there will disrupt the traffic and bother the local
residents. You and your child should be dressed in appropriate attire and ready
to play at the beginning of the session. If you have any questions, please
contact the U5 coordinator or the Regional Commissioner as listed under “Board
Contacts.”
