1st- 2nd grade Soccer Saturdays at Diamond

Grades 1-2/U7-U8 – $125

8 weeks, 9/19/20 – 11/7/20

To ensure proper spacing / distancing, we are offering 80 slots per gender per grade convening at separate times:

• 2^nd Grade Boys:  8:30am-9:45am
• 2^nd Grade Girls:  10:15am-11:30am
• 1^st Grade Boys:  12:00pm-1:15pm
• 1^st Grade Girls:  1:45pm-3pm

Program will consist of 45 minutes of activities and 30 minutes of games to reduce the amount of contact made between players

Registration deadline: Monday, September 7^th, Late fee applies after deadline and placement not guaranteed

To confirm what age group you should register your child for, review the LUSC Age Group Policy.

Location: Diamond Field

Uniform: Reversible Mesh Jersey K-2 (available directly from Tricon Sports)

Fall and Spring program for the Lexington 1st & 2nd graders on Saturday mornings at Diamond Field.

The main focus of our club is that the players have an enjoyable experience while learning the game of soccer. At 2nd grade and below, the game of soccer you’ll observe each weekend won’t resemble the US National team or the Revolution, nor should it.

First things first: Learning advanced soccer techniques and tactics is completely unimportant at this age level. However, this does not mean we won’t teach kids to play soccer. Kicking the ball in a given direction, running and moving the ball with your feet, stopping the ball without using your hands, shooting at the goal, and blocking shots: These are the basic elements of soccer that we aim to teach children by leading them in various exercises and by simply letting them play the game. Each Saturday parent volunteer coaches will follow a practice plan developed by the LUSC Director of Coaching in conjunction with US Youth Soccer. Professional staff coaches will run a coaching demonstration for all volunteer coaches prior to the daily program and remain available to assist throughout the session. The major focus of the activities will be for all players to develop a comfort level and coordination with the ball.

Although the soccer ball will be the main focus of our training, we hope to enhance the child’s overall learning experience by:

• interacting comfortably with one’s peers
• dealing with both victory and defeat
• respecting teammates and opponents
• introducing, accepting and obeying the rules of the game

In addition, your child can:

• develop his/her own style of handling the ball
• learn how to move in a variety of situations
• improve his/her coordination
• have fun playing the game of soccer and being part of a team

We want every child to be physically active and have fun playing the game. The result of the game is of no consequence. Therefore, no score will be kept. Pre-school children are much more interested in chasing the ball and being involved in the play. This is natural and won’t be discouraged. Positions can be learned down the road. We may ask a player to play “up front” or “in back”, but all players will be given the opportunity to move about the field. Forcing a player to play in one spot all the time can lead to that player not enjoying the experience. The top priority of LUSC is that the players enjoy the experience.

Special considerations and changes for the Fall 2020 Season

LUSC is pleased to be able to offer a Fall Soccer Saturdays program for our 1st and 2nd graders, but we will always prioritize the health and safety of our children, volunteer coaches, and professional coaching staff. We will continue to follow state and local guidelines, and reserve the right to change the structure of the program to align with regulations. The goal for the Fall is to give our children an opportunity to get back on the field in a safe environment. Please be advised that headcount restrictions may require changes to number of practices offered.

We will continue to closely monitor the “return to play” guidelines from MA Youth Soccer, as well as local, state and national offices. Feel free to refer to the guidelines that we will be following at https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/return-to-soccer-activities/. We have taken extra precautions with the Soccer Saturdays program this season, and will be incorporating the following policies/procedures:

• Players MUST wear masks for the entirety of the program
• All Coaches MUST wear masks for the entirety of the program
• All Spectators MUST wear masks for the entirety of the program
• One Spectator limit per player (exceptions only for siblings of the player when there are childcare needs. Siblings must remain with the one allowed adult spectator at all times.)
• Spectators can only observe from the opposite sideline, and at least 8 feet from the sideline. No spectators along the end line or in the player/coaching areas
• No shared snacks or beverages
• No team benches (players are encouraged to bring a camping/fold-up chair)
• No handshake lines at the end of the program
• Social Distancing MUST be maintained along both the player and spectator sidelines
• Teams will be formed by single elementary schools as far as numbers permit
• Teams will consist of 10 players and 2 coaches and not exceed 12 participants in total.
• If there are 8 teams in a division, the division will be divided into 2 groups of 4. A-D and E-H. You will only play games within your division throughout the fall season to reduce the amount of contacts and interactions.
• The week one game segment will be intra-squad. Example Team A plays Team A

Equipment:

• All 1st and 2nd grade players must bring a size 3 soccer ball to every session (write name and phone on ball). Most activities require each player to have a ball.
• All in-town players wear a reversible mesh jersey, available directly from Tricon Sports. More uniform info here.
• Players must wear their reversible jersey each week. On colder days the jersey may be worn over warmer clothing.
• Players must wear soccer cleats or sneakers. Soccer cleats are not required, but are recommended.
• Shin guards are required.
• Soccer socks must be worn over shin guards so they are not exposed.
• Each player should bring a water bottle.Players are not allowed to wear jewelry, earrings, hats, or anything metal in their hair for safety reasons.

Parent Volunteers

• Parent volunteer coaches are essential to successfully run this program.
• Parents can sign up to volunteer on their child’s registration form.
• The coach’s child will be assigned to the team they are coaching.
• Each team must have two coaches for the program to work effectively.
• No previous experience is required.
• All coaches are encouraged to attend our Introduction to Coaching Course taught by LUSC DOC Brendan Donahue.
• Coaches will be provided with a weekly session plan.
• Professional coaches will be available each week to: •
  o Run a meeting prior to each session to go over the plan.
  o Assist coaches and answer questions.
• All necessary coaching equipment will be provided.
• A criminal background check (CORI) will be conducted on all youth coaches per Massachusetts law.
• Coaches must arrive at the field 30 minutes prior to each session for set up and a coaches meeting.

Field Etiquette:

• No one should be on the goal sides of the field.
• Please offer encouragement to both teams.
• Parents should not give instructions to the players during activities and games.

Session Cancellation:

• The decision to cancel due to weather or field conditions will be made by LUSC by 7:15 am. For more information go to: Rainouts & Reschedules.
• Coaches will notify their player’s parents. A notice will also be on the LUSC web site.
• A session will not be canceled in light rain if field conditions are safe for playing.
• Canceled sessions will be rescheduled if possible