The U6 program is specifically developed to introduce soccer to children in a fun and safe environment. The program is setup to have a combined practice and game once a week on Saturdays at a local park or school. There is no post season at this age level; however, each player receives a participation trophy at the end of the season.
| Season Length | The season runs from September until the middle of November. |
| Time Commitment | The combined practice/game is approximately 60 minutes once a week on Saturdays. The first 30 of a Saturday session will be a practice and the last 30 minutes will be a scrimmage with an opposing team. You can both choose to have a longer game, but there should always be some instruction before the game. The game should be broken up into 4 quarters to give rest and time to switch players. Each player must play half a game. |
| Equipment | Each player will be given a uniform (which consists of a jersey, shorts and socks). The player must provide soccer cleats, shin-guards and a size 3 soccer ball. |
| Certification Required | All volunteers must be registered AYSO Volunteers and must be Safe Haven Certified.
Coach - 6U Coach Training
Safe Haven Certification
CDC Concussion Awareness Certification
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Certification
Live Scan
Safe Sport Certification |
| Game Format | The game is played on a small field in a 4 v 4 format with no goal keeper. Not 5 v 5. Not 6 v 6. Coaches should not be on the field, for the most part. Let the kids play. Cheer them on. If you need to go on the field for a bit to encourage, do so, then step off. If you are spending the entire game on the field, you are doing it wrong. The game is for the kids to play. Let the game teach them. You teach them during practice, and then they apply it in the game. This is why we break up the 60 minutes into two parts.
Keep it even. If one kid is dominating, find something they can do to help other team members. Maybe they have to pass it before they are allowed to shoot. Maybe they use their opposite foot. Maybe if one team is too dominating, you swap the kids around and mix the teams.
Only coaches are allowed on the field or to act as the Coach. No parents, under any circumstances, are allowed to coach or act like a coach. All our coaches have been Live Scanned and had background checks and taken several safetey classes. They are the only ones allowed to coach the kids. |
| Team Formation | The teams are formed by similar schools/zip code. |