Woodbury Soccer Club

The programs has three main goals:

1. Fun
2. Participation
3. Education

Players receive equal playing time and play a variety of positions throughout the season.  Game scores are not reported and team standings are not kept.

An effort is made to form teams with an equal distribution of ability to create competitive balance.

We are changing the format of how we play in our Recreation program to come into line with US Youth Soccer and Minnesota Youth Soccer Association.

What does small sided games mean?
It means we are playing less then 11v11 which is the size of the game that players who are thirteen and older play.

We have been playing less then 11v11 so why the changes?
The changes affect our smallest players the most and we are making the changes becuase the game fits them better.
U5/U6 will play 3v3
U7/U8 will play 4v4
U9/U10 will play 6v6 with goal keepers
U11 and older will play 8v8 with goal keepers

Is this change only for the Fall Recreation Program?
No this change is for all our recreation programming going forward.

Where can I get more information about the benefits of Small Sided games?

It is mandatory to wear shin guards completely under soccer socks.  Shin guards are an important piece of protective gear in soccer and they prevent many painful injuries.  What may be less well known is that wearing socks over the shin guards is also a matter of safety. 

The edge of some shin guards is a potential cut/scrape hazard.  There has been an incident in the Woodbury system of a serious injury when two players collided.  One player  was injured by the uncovered shin guards of another player.  Wear the shin guards under soccer socks or use shin guards that are integrated into socks.  Bonus tip: shin guards can be washed in the washing machine.

Provide your player with a water bottle for practice and games.  There aren't drinking fountains at our facilities so all players need to bring their own beverages.  Dehydration is an important factor for safety and enjoyment of the game.  Make sure your player has water every day.

Bring your own ball to practices. Put your name and phone number on the ball in permanant marker.  U5~8 use size 3, U9~12 use size 4, U13 and up use size 5 balls.

No dogs allowed.  Per city ordinance, pets and tobacco are not allowed at the fields.

No jewelry is allowed.  Remove all earrings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, etc. for practices and games.

Don't park in no parking zones.  There are areas designated as no parking zones.  If our club causes problems or complaints it will adversely affect our ability to get fields in the future.

Rec is known to be "soccer fun for everyone" but not everyone is at the same skill level.  Before games, set one or two goals (objectives) for your player.  Scoring a soccer goal is an obvious choice but not necessarily a realistic expectation for all players.  Examples of other objectives are:

• Block an opposing goal
• Make two throw-ins with both feet behind the lines
• Make three shots on goal
• Make one good pass to a teammate

The objectives should be attainable and understandable.  Only set one or two objectives per game but change the objective from one game to the next as your player's skills change.

Whether innate or learned, kids sometimes talk negatively, "I owned you," "Burn," etc.  While taunting is specifically not allowed in Rec soccer, let's help the players learn positive things to say.  Games are more fun when one's own team and opposing players aren't mean.

Like learning to say "please" and "thank you," giving compliments doesn't come naturally to kids.  Coaches and parents have been setting good examples of good sportsmanship.  Consider setting a goal with your player to give compliments during a game.

• Give two compliments before the end of the game

Before first day of the season 100%.
Within the first week of the season 50%.
Within the second week of the season 25%.
No refund of Late Fees.