Introduction to the Harvard Soccer Club In-Town Program March 28, 2012

The HSC In-Town Soccer Program is offered to children ages 4 through 8 years of age. Teams are organized within the following divisions: Boys and Girls Under 6 (BGU6), Boys and Girls Under 7 (BGU7), and Boys and Girls Under 8 (BGU8). Depending upon the roster sizes, HSC may divide the U7 and U8 groups into separate boys and girls divisions. Teams play two eight week seasons in the spring and fall. Size 3 soccer balls are used for all divisions.

Teams are organized to the best of each coordinators’ ability based on anticipated skill levels of the players. Generally, for In-Town, a one year variation in age can have a fairly significant impact on skill level. Therefore, coordinators may use age as a proxy for skill level lacking further guidance and familiarity with players.

Each team is coached by volunteer parent coaches. In addition, HSC has arranged for trained soccer coaches to lead practices. By employing trained coaches the club’s goal is to provide a top quality learning experience for the players and a learning environment for our parent coaches.

Under 6 The primary objective for this age group is to learn all elementary movement skills by building overall motor skills, and to do that in an environment that consists of fun activities. Five and six year olds are beginning to gain more control over their bodies but it is still new to them. A lot of energy is required to figure out what their bodies can do and how to develop the coordination to control a soccer ball.

Individual and small group play is essential for both touches on the ball and learning at their own pace. The coaches insure that the emphasis is on letting the children play.

Practice sessions and games both take place on Saturday morning. Professional coaches teach level appropriate fun based drills to HSC coaches one half hour before their Saturday session. For the first 30 mins the boys and girls participate in activities that focus on dribbling and shooting. Passing is not a focus for this age group. The second 30 mins all the teams play in a non-outcome based (also known as recreational) format and scores are not kept. Play consists of 3v3, Pugg nets are used, and there are no goal keepers. Ball is always in play unless it significantly goes out of bounds. There are no throw-ins by the players; rather, the coaches throw the ball back in play. The primary goal of BGU6 games is to maintain a pace of active play and maximize the number of touches the players have with the ball. Equal playing time for all players is the goal.

Under 7 and Under 8 Igniting a passion for the game is the number one objective for these age groups. The club’s aim is to keep the child’s soccer experience fun, enjoyable and to foster a desire to play. At this age group there will be differences in the motor, cognitive and social development capabilities of the players. Individual and small group play, especially pairs, is essential for both touches on the ball and learning at their own pace.

One 1-hour practice session is run during the week. The practices are organized in an academy format, which combine teams from U7 and U8. The practices are led by trained coaches and assisted by Harvard Parent Coaches. Children in the U7/U8 age group still play predominately as individuals and occasionally with a partner. The practices consist of numerous activities where the players are together but are still involved in individual play. The attention capacity for this age group is still limited to one task at a time. U7 Games are played on Saturday morning and are non-outcome based (recreational format) and scores are not kept. For BGU7, play consists of 4v4 without keepers or 5v5 with keepers, and level appropriate permanent nets are used. HSC believes that in general, goalies should not be introduced at U7, although has left this as a discretionary decision of the coaches to balance playing time. Goalies should wear a goalie shirt and optionally, gloves. Where goalies are used, players should be rotated frequently, to ensure balanced time for all players in goal. We introduce referees, throw ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks.

U8 Games are also played on Saturday morning. They are non-outcome based (recreational format) and scores are not kept. Play consists of 5v5 with keepers, or if team sizes do not permit, 4v4 without keepers and larger nets are used. Keepers wear goalie shirts and optionally, gloves. Referees oversee the games which include: throw-ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks. The off-side rule is not enforced.