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2012 SPRING RECREATIONAL 4V4 MICROSOCCER UPDATE:

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.  

2012 SEASON AT A GLANCE        

Registration Opens	January 3, 2012 - $130 per player
Late Registration Begins (late fee applies)	February 17, 2012
Registration Closes	February 24, 2012
Minimum Playing Age	Players born BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2007
Coach Orientation	Wednesday, March 9, 2012
Players Notified of Team Assignment, Practice Schedule and Game Schedule	STARTING March 10
Picture Day	TBA
Practices Start (once a week)	Week of March 19, 2012
First Game	March 24, 2012
Last Game	June 2, 2012
No Games	April 14, 2012 and May 26, 2012

Introduction
We are excited to announce that the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League has again teamed up with professional trainers for the Spring Recreational 4v4 Microsoccer Program. This will be an excellent opportunity for players to train with their coaches under the guidance of the professional trainers. Spring Recreational 4v4 Microsoccer is a 4 against 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 Recreational 4v4 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 our volunteer coaches.  We encourage parents to consider coaching a team.  If you have not coached before, please do not consider this a problem. This Spring season, ALL coaches will be under the guidance of two professional trainers. The trainers will organize and run the practices with the help of the coaches.  We hope you will take advantage of working with the professional 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 drills and games to use with your team.  Coaches’ players are always guaranteed a spot on a team.

Team Formation
Please note, age groups may be combined to form complete teams.  For example, the following age groups may be combined U5/U6, U7/U8, etc. 

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 on a team 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 must email the Spring Recreational Director prior to the close of registration with the team’s age group, gender, 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).  When making a Buddy Request, please make sure your Buddy is registering to play Spring soccer.

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
If requested by a parent, we may allow a child to play up an age group if there is space available. 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.  Each team has a one hour practice during the week.  Your coach will notify you when and where practice will be held.  We will also post the practice schedule on this website.

Games
Game lengths are based on age group:

• U5/U6 = Two 20 minute halves and 5 minute half time
• U7/U8 = Two 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time
• U9/U10 = Two 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time
• U11/U12 = Two 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time
• U14 = Two 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time

Your coach will notify you of your game schedule. The game schedule will also 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.

Volunteering
Families who only participate in the Spring 4v4 Microsoccer program will now be required to perform 4 hours of league designated volunteer service as do families who participate in the other AVYSL programs.  You can satisfy this requirement by being approved as a Head Coach or Assistant Coach for the Spring season, or by performing other league volunteer activities as an Hourly Volunteer.  Please see the Volunteer webpage under the Programs tab for more information.

Contact Information
Have questions about Spring Recreational 4 v 4 Microsoccer?
Contact the Spring Recreational 4 v 4 Microsoccer Director - Colin McCarthy at colin_mccarthy06@comcast.net