Introduction
We are excited to announce that the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League has teamed up
with USG Soccer for the Spring 4 v 4 Recreational Microsoccer Program. This will be an
excellent opportunity for players to train with their coaches under the guidance of the USG
Soccer professional trainers.
Spring 4 v 4 Recreational Microsoccer is a 4 v 4 small sided game with no goalies. This format
allows players to be creative and build confidence on the ball. The season will provide a
great opportunity for players to have fun while strengthening their skills.
Spring 4 v 4 Recreational Microsoccer is played using modified full field game rules. Fouls
will be called, however there are no referees. The motto is “Let the game teach the player”.
Coaches
The success of the Spring Recreational Microsoccer program depends on the volunteer coaches. We encourage
parents to consider coaching a team. Coaches’ players are always guaranteed a spot.
This Spring season, ALL coaches will be under the guidance of two USG Soccer trainers. The trainers will organize
and run the practices with the help of the coaches. If you have not coached before, do not consider this a
problem. We hope you will take advantage of working with the USG Soccer trainers. Not only will you receive a
progressive lesson plan for 8 to 10 weeks of practices, but you will take away with you a new arsenal of drill and
games to use with your team.
The coaches will have a special training session with the USG Soccer trainers to discuss the rules of Microsoccer
and the lesson plan for the season. This training session will also include practical demonstrations.
Volunteers
AVYSL is a 100% volunteer based organization. AVYSL requires EVERY registered family to volunteer a minimum of two (2) hours performing selected services for the spring season. Families can ’buy out’ of this volunteer obligation while registering for a fee of sixty dollars ($60). If you cannot or will not complete your volunteer services or pay the buy out, do NOT register your child to play in AVYSL.
The League Volunteer Coordinator or your Team Volunteer Coordinator will contact families via e-mail only once or twice during the season, so please keep with the spirit of the volunteer program and fulfill your hours early in the season.
If a family does not fulfill its volunteer obligation and has not paid the buy out, they will be charged the $60 buy out and next season’s buy out fee, in advance, at the next registration.
Click here to see volunteer duties which would satisfy the league’s volunteer requirement, as not all volunteer activities will qualify to fulfill the volunteer obligation.
Positive Coaching Alliance
It is mandatory that all coaches and assistant coaches attend a PCA Coach Workshop!!!
If you have previously attended a PCA Coach Workshop, your training is still valid and you do NOT need to attend again. If you have not previously attended this workshop, you MUST attend.
AVYSL is an active member of the Positive Coaching Alliance (“PCA”) and fully supports the PCA policy of ’Honor the Game’. For more information regarding PCA, click here.
In following the PCA spirit of ‘Honor the Game’, the league requires all coaches and assistant coaches to have PCA training. Everyone involved with the league, including players, coaches, officials, and spectators, is required to support this same culture and ‘Honor the Game’. Negative comments or complaining about players or officials will NOT be tolerated.
This policy is further detailed in the PCA Parent Pledge that must be executed online during registration and signed by parents as part of the registration paperwork, which coaches will keep through the season. If you cannot follow the PCA spirit and Honor the Game, please do NOT register your child(ren) for AVYSL soccer.
A committee, made up of league board members, will review reported violations of this PCA policy. Extremely offensive behavior can result in the committee’s decision to remove a family from the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League.
Team Formation
Unique to the Spring Recreational Microsoccer program, a player can either register independently or as part of a team. Also, Spring Microsoccer coaches are allowed to register pre-formed teams with a maximum of 8-9 players.
Those teams that come with a coach are guaranteed a spot whereas the remaining players are on a space-available basis. Because coaches are able to register pre-formed teams, we do not "balance" the teams as we do in the fall recreational league. We do emphasize, however, that this is a recreational league, and those players/teams from competitive and select teams would be better suited playing elsewhere such as the CYSA District 2 spring program.
To register a pre-formed team, all players need to be registered online before the registration deadline, and the coach should email the Spring Recreational Director prior to registration with the team’s age group, gender, team name, and a list of all the players and coaches for the team.
Buddy Requests
We will attempt to honor all Buddy Requests. Please note, however, you MUST request your buddy in the ’Special Request’ field when registering. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate late buddy requests (or requests to be placed on a team with a buddy which are NOT made in the ‘Special Request’ field when registering).
Team Switching
If a team has an opening due to another player dropping prior to the first game, we will attempt to switch players to another team, upon request. Player switches must be requested via email by the parent to the Spring Recreational Director and approved by the coaches of both teams.
Playing Up
We may allow a child to play up an age group if there is space available, upon request by the parent. We cannot play up a younger player if it displaces an age appropriate child. The request to play up can be made in the ‘Special Request’ field during registration, or by email to the Spring Recreational Director. When combining a buddy request with a play up request, a parent needs to be specific that he/she is requesting a child to play up an age group, rather than just request a child be placed with a buddy (who may be in a different age group).
Practices
Practice day and time are determined by the team’s coach, based on field availability. All practices will be at TJ Martin Park. Each team has a one hour practice during the week. Your coach will notify you when practice will be held and the practice schedule and field location will be posted on this website.
Games
Game lengths are based on age group:
U6 = Two 20 minute halves and 5 minute half time
U8 = Two 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time
U10 = Two 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time
U12 = Two 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time
U14 = Two 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time
Your coach will have your game schedule and the game schedule will be posted on this website by age group.
Uniforms
The league will provide t-shirts imprinted with the Spring Recreational Microsoccer logo. Coaches will be passing these out to the players after all the team players’ registration paperwork is completed and signed by the parents, turned into the league, and verified. All paperwork should be completed by parents at or prior to the first practice so the team can receive its t-shirts during the first (or second) week of practice. Players can wear any color shorts and socks, but shin guards and cleats are mandatory.
Photo Day
Every player can receive a complimentary commemorative photo package with their registration fee. Your coach will receive your photo schedule and it will be posted on this website when available. There will be make-up individual photos approximately three weeks later, if your child will miss his/her team photo. Your player must complete their photo envelope on picture day to receive their complimentary team photo and their individual 3 x 5 photo regardless of purchasing additional photos.
Field Locations and Layouts
Practices and games will be played at one or more Almaden field location(s). Field location maps will be posted on this website.
Rain Outs
Games WILL NOT be re-scheduled by the league due to rain outs. Games may be canceled to prevent damage to the fields as well as to prevent player injury. Coaches can reschedule rained out games between their teams, at their option and based on field availability.
Game Days: If there is a rain-out and fields are closed on a game day, a notice will be posted by 8:15 am on Saturdays at http://www.almadensoccer.org/index.html.
Practices: Teams need to use their judgment and NOT practice during the week if it has rained significantly or the fields are wet and could be damaged by holding practice. Coaches need to coordinate with their team families for any cancelled practices.
No Snacks/No Banner
In an ongoing effort to keep the fields clean, we are asking that teams do not provide snacks. This will also insure that games will finish (and start) on schedule. We are also asking that teams do not bring banners to the field. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Contact Information
Have questions about Spring 4 v 4 Recreational Microsoccer? Contact the Spring 4 v 4 Recreational Director - David Eberle at coacheb@almadenceltic.com.
About the coach schedule and curriculum.
USG Soccer Lead Trainer: Adam Whaley
adwhaley58@hotmail.com
