Cobb Adult Soccer Is accepting coaching applications for the Beginners Program. Must be certified and hold US Coaching license of D or above. Compensated position Program runs Sunday Afternoons Noonday Park2 hours for 6 weeks 2 hour break down of the program 45 minutes devoted to individual skills 15 minute break 2 - 20 minute scrimmages with a certified referee If you are interested please contact Karon at cobbsoccer@gmail.com |
The Georgia Revolution will be holding their final tryout this Saturday, March 26th from 4:30 - 7pm at the RYSA Soccerplex. Nearly 100 players from 13 different colleges and 12 countries have already participated in the evaulations in hopes of being included on the Revolution's roster. The Revolution will compete in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) against the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves, Chattanooga FC, Rocket City FC, the Knoxville Force, and Jacksonville United. |
Mason Boggs starts off strong, sprinting up and down the gym floor like a speed demon, the soccer ball almost up to the knees of his little legs. But after about 20 minutes, a pooped Mason is perched atop his mother's shoulders, riding along while she kicks the ball instead.
Mason, after all, is just 3 years old. For him and the other toddlers gathered at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, soccer time falls somewhere between lunchtime and nap time.
At a growing number of fields and playgrounds across metro
"He loves it," said Mason's mom, Lisa Boggs of the
Boggs recently enrolled Mason in a soccer program to follow his preschool class on Fridays. Neither she nor her husband are particularly athletic, she said, and she wanted to begin introducing her son to sports at a young age to nurture his interest in exercise.
There are music classes and tumbling classes for wee ones, so why not soccer instruction? Some think it could give their children an early edge in the competitive sport. But while soccer programs for little ones are growing in popularity, it's open to debate whether these players are really ready to learn the game or just fulfilling a need to run around.
Cuteness and curiosity
Georgia Soccer, the national state soccer association, began sanctioning soccer programs for children as young as 3 about a year ago to respond to interest from parents of toddlers. Previously, the association only endorsed teams with players as young as 4.
Jacob Daniel, Georgia Soccer's director of coaching, said programs for younger children can help them develop motor skills and get exercise. But, he said, it's not really soccer at this age.
For instance, each child must have his or her own ball. No one keeps score. They can't play competitive games yet, because they can't grasp the team concept. "Practices" are kept short, 30 to 45 minutes.
"They are going to look cute and chase a ball and satisfy a curiosity," said Daniel. "But they are not playing soccer. ... The ball is like a toy, so what parents should expect is using the ball to develop motor skills."
So couldn't parents just go to a park with their child and a ball and get the same benefits? For free?
Absolutely, said Daniel.
In fact, he said, that approach can be preferable.
"I would encourage parents go to the neighborhood park because in that sense, it's not just a sport, but it's family bonding time and quality time and [kids] can get that one-on-one attention," he said.
Daniel says his goal is to make all play age-appropriate. For 3-year-olds, that means placing the focus on what he calls "movement education," getting them to practice throwing a ball and twisting their bodies from one side to the next. He said parents shouldn't expect 3-year-olds to dribble the ball with their feet.
About a third of Georgia Soccer's member leagues now have programs for kids as young as 3, a number Daniel expects to rise.
'Pre-T-ball' teams
Soccer is not the only sport pushing back its players' traditional start date, though it may be ahead of the curve. About a year ago, the Little League Baseball and Softball organization gave the green light to kids under 5 to play Tee Ball, and an OK for kids as young as 4 to play "Pre T-ball."
It's one thing to get a bunch of pre-schoolers to run around with balls; it's another to add bats and bases.
"I can't imagine going any younger," said Linda North, a state district administrator for Little League Baseball and Softball. "In baseball, only one kid has a bat in the hand at a time, and 3-year-olds just don't have the patience. It's tough for 4-year-olds, too, but that's part of the beauty, too, of watching them."
The Atlanta Youth Soccer Association recently launched an under-4 program in response to demand from parents, said AYSA president Rob Pollock. Younger siblings of kids already playing were itching to play, too, so parents were enrolling them in other programs.
Soccer, he said, has become not just a popular family pastime but also a community event people want to be part of.
"Quite honestly, it was an epiphany. It was like, what took us so long?" said Pollock.
Still, Pollock said, the league is are careful to make its programs age-appropriate, even if that means the kids aren't really playing soccer.
"It's getting kids out there, and them putting cleats on like their big brothers and sisters," said Pollock. So "there are [some] kids picking daisies, and some kids kicking a ball."
'The most natural sport'
Georges Edeline's Hall of Fame Soccer School in the
Marni Mohr of
Etta had shown interest in playing when she watched from the sidelines. But when it was her turn to get into the action, she spent her first practice crying the whole time.
"Who knows, maybe it was performance anxiety," her mom joked.
They returned for another practice, and this time, Etta wanted to play.
Mohr said she has no doubt her son gained confidence and ball skills when playing as preschooler.
"He's like a mini-coach, telling all of the other kids what to do, because he's been playing for a while now," she said.
Edeline believes it's almost never too young to introduce children to soccer.
"It's the most natural sport. Children are kicking [in the womb] even before they are born," he said. "You just have to introduce a ball to their feet."
Edeline uses games to help kids connect with soccer balls. On a recent afternoon, he had children waddle like penguins to teach them the correct way to kick a ball. They also played a Superman-inspired game in which they balance on top of a ball and pretend to fly.
"My motto is "safe, simple and fun," he said.
He said he loves coaching kids at this age because it's not about keeping score and it's not too serious. It's about the love of the game, he said.
"I say you win or learn, no losing. If they can play, they are winning," he said.
Pope Greyhounds Summer Youth Soccer Camps: June 20-24 2011
Morning (9:00-12:00) session is for students entering grades K-5.
Evening (6:00-8:30) session is for students entering grades 6-9.
Camp Focus: This soccer camp focuses on improving players through fun, dedicated games and activities. Players will be actively engaged the entire time they are attending the camp. All camps are for boys and girls. Players will be grouped by age and ability. *Each child must bring appropriate shoes for the field and for the gym, a water bottle with his/her name on it, and an appropriately sized ball.
The youth camps the past two years have been fantastic and we are looking to build on that success. There will be room for 50 participants in each session so register early to ensure your spot.
At this time we still have openings, please spread the word!
Registration is now open! Download the form and send it in to reserve your spot. Form Download
Email: richard.groeneveld@cobbk12.org
College showcase camp for boys entering grades 10-12 will be at Pope High School June 26th-June30th
This will be an elite camp, all instructors will be college soccer coaches. Players from all area high schools are invited to apply.
Details and registration will be available here soon.
Registration must be done through Coach Groeneveld.
The Atlanta Silverbacks has signed local player EMSAD ZAHIROVIC as a
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Congratulations to the SCFC Celtic 96/97 squad and Coach Lianne / Coach Hilary for finishing in second place at the Kookaburra Cup in Sumter, SC, Feb 19/20. Story to follow.
The Monday night skill sessions for academy and select players begins Monday, Feb. 28.
Where: Field 3 at Rock Creek
Times:
U9-U10 5:30-6:30
U11-U13 6:30-7:30
U14-U15 7:30-8:30
A detailed schedule of each weeks lessons will be released next week.
Goalie Training will also begin that same night on field 1b.
Goalie training times ...
Let's get our kids watching Professional Soccer!Games to watch this week...Sunday, February 27th @ 9:55 am...Manchester City v. Fulham...ESPN 2 Sunday, February 27th @ 8:30 am...West Ham v. Liverpool...Fox Soccer Channel
Click on the link for Rosters and schedules in each age division to view.
If you have any questions contact your Division Coordinator, their email addresses are below:
<font color="#006600">gmeader@brbcsw.com
Skill Clinics will start on Monday, March 7th. and times will be posted next week.
The soccer game schedules for U5-U10 have been released. You view them by visiting our "schedules" page, or you can CLICK HERE!
The U10 Rec Schedule includes the schedule for the U8 Pre-Academy Teams.
Keegan Sturdivant has been awarded YDP Player of the Month for January 2011. He topped the list out of over 100 players in the program to scoop this month's prize. Keegan plays for SCFC Celtic 00/01 (U10 boys) under coaches Matt Pritchard and Philip Higgins. The coaches nominated him for the award due to his commitment at practice and recent stellar performances at the JCB Soccer Association 'Boys Rule' Tournament. Congratulations Keegan! Great job.
Congratulations to the SCFC Celtic 00/01 squad and Coach Matt / Coach Phil for winning the Kookaburra Cup in Sumter, SC, Feb 19/20.
The meeting for all Rec Soccer Coaches is this Saturday, Feb. 5 at 10am.
We will be meeting in the rec center, then shortly after going out to the field for a short discussion and demonstration.
Coaches will also be receiving their rosters and coaching manuals.
PLEASE CALL RAINOUT NUMBER FOR FULL FIELD CONDITIONS
404-880-5548.
404-880-5548.
Dates to remember for Spring Season 2011:Coaches Meeting Feb. 8th at 7 pm at the Soccer ComplexMandatory Parents Meeting Feb. 15th at 7 pm at the Rec. CenterPractices will start the week of Feb. 21st expect to hear from your coach by then.U4 thru U10 Games will start March 5th and go thru May 14thU12 thru U16 Games will start March 12th and go thru May 21st.
Congratulations to the SCFC Celtic 01/02 squad and Coach Keith for winning the U9 Boys Division at the Kookaburra Cup in Sumter, SC, Feb 19/20. The boys stormed passed Sumter United...
The field layout for the spring, 2011 soccer season has been released.
To view the entire field map, click here.
Sign up now for the Class G and F coaches class. Class will be held at the Camden Soccer Fields. Please register now, before the class is full. Class will be held on Feb. 19th. Go to www.gasoccer.org to register, then under coaching, go to courses, then state registration. Then click list all and find Camden Soccer. When it asks for payment check, click "by check", the class is free, but you still need to put "by check". If you have any questions, please let us know.
Savannah Celtic F.C. runs the city s most highly rated recreational soccer program for children aged 3 through High School. Practices start towards the end of February, games begin in March. Places are limited based on the number of coaches and roster sizes. REGISTER HERE
GISA is holding a supplemental tryout for it U15 Girls Select team. you are planning to try out for team please let me know if you have not already done so, email me at click here.
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