Harbor Soccer Club

Micro

The HSC Micro soccer program is where it all starts. This program is for boys and girls ages 4-5. The intent is to promote fun while learning basic soccer skills.

Micro teams are co-ed and play on small fields with a small ball. Teams are made up of up to 6 players, with 3 from each team on the field at once.  There is no goal keeper. All the games are played in Gig Harbor against other Micro teams that belong to HSC.

At this level, the goal is for kids to get a feel for the game while having fun, encouraging them to continue on in soccer.

After completion of this program, your children are ready to move to the HSC Small Sided Program to continue building on their soccer skills.

Important Information for the Upcoming 2012 Season

·      Registration starts April 1^st and is open through June 15^th

·      The registration fee is $120

·      When registering, team, friend, or coach requests may be made.  However, it is important to note that Micro is a recreational program and follows the guidelines established by the state which indicate that placement on teams cannot be selected by a head or assistant coach, nor can a head or assistant coach guarantee a player a place on his/her team.

·      Tentative date for coaches meeting and roster distributions – Tuesday, August 14^th.

·      Tentative date for practices to start – August 18^th.

·      Date for Jamboree – Sunday, September 9^th.

·      Season runs Sunday, September 16^th through Sunday, November 11^th.

·      All games are played on Sundays.  Teams will be assigned to play in one of three sessions: 11:00am, 1:00pm, or 3:00pm.

Finally, please consider coaching a Micro team.  Harbor Soccer Club operates primarily due to the work of volunteers.  I encourage you to consider volunteering your time to coach a Micro team.  It seems as though each year we register a larger number of children than teams we are able to assign due to a lack of coaches. 

After completion of this program, your child is ready to move to the HSC Small Sided Program to continue building on their soccer skills.
 

Coaches,



Have your players arrive 5-10 minutes before the start of your session. PLEASE ask your parents to set up their chairs, etc on the TRACK SIDE of the fields, as we will be using the center of the field for the academy (once the academy training is over, they can move to whichever side of the field you choose).

The training will start at the top of the hour. Please bring your players to the center of the field, and make sure each has a ball. The trainer - James - will work with the kids on a specific skill(s) for 20 minutes. Once the training is over, you can take your teams back to your assigned field. You can then work with them for 20 minutes or so before you start your game.

Games should start around 40-45 minutes after the hour. No horns will be sounding, so work it out with the other coach when you are ready to play. The games should be four 8-minute quarters (I would designate a parent to be time keeper). You and the other coach should decide prior to the game if you want a short break between quarters. I recommend a 2 minute break after the first and third quarters, with a 5 minute halftime. This should give you plenty of time to shake hands after the game, have snacks, and clear the fields 15 minutes before the next session begins.

Please ensure all players get 50% playing time. Unlike the Jamboree, please make sure kids are properly taking throw ins, corner kicks and goal kicks. Also, instruct your own players regarding hand balls and slide tackling. (As a coach, there is nothing more frustrating than having the opposing coach correcting my players for hand balls, kicking the ball while on the ground, slide tackles, etc. If you think the other coach is not correcting their players, discuss it with them at the breaks). It is up to you and the other coach what you want to do after goals - kick off at the center line, or just a goal kick.

I have tried to set up the brackets based on skill/age level. However, if your team is up by several (4-5) goals, remind the other coach that they can put an extra player on the field. Remember, we do not keep score or track wins and losses at the Micro level. The objective is for kids (and parents) to develop a love of the game!

I apologize for the long winded note. Thanks again for all you do as coaches, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

-Dan