Recreational Playing League
The basic CYSA Recreational Playing League is classified as a non-competitive playing league within CYSA. This league is comprised of teams that normally play within the boundaries of the league.
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The app aims to teach children:
- The different ways the brain can get hurt during sports activities.
- How important it is to tell a coach, parent, or other adult when an injury occurs.
- The importance of taking time to rest and recover if they have a concussion.
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Concussion Safety and Rocket Blades
Parents and Coaches: Kids want to hear from parents and coaches about concussion safety.
Parent Web Resources
Small Sided Games
US Soccer has issued new rules for soccer playing/skill learning for young soccer players. These new rules are designed to ensure that youth players get frequent play on the ball, by having fewer players on the field of play. This ensures that the players are more involved in play. This helps to focus on their soccer playing skills, and their enjoyment of being directly involved in play.
Leagues began implementing these plans as of August, 2016, and the small sided game initiative was fully implemented, in all leagues, at the start of the August, 2017, season. This is part of the US Soccer 'Player Development Iniitatitive'. This is a combination of playing standards/philosophy and a 'Concussion Initiative'.
This new initiative will change the size of the field of play, field design, and half time for U9/U10 age groups. Coaches will have to develop practice session scenarios to match the smaller player numbers on the fields, and field design.
The following video gives a perspective of small sided game play:
Hydration For Players
It's For Fun!
Volunteers Are Always Needed And Appreciated!
Interested In Coaching?
Jack Smith - District VIII Recreational Coordinator
Email: d8americancup@comcast.net
If you want to have some fun, and enjoy watching players have fun, watch the entry level age group games (U5, U6, etc.). If you are interested in coaching, this is a great place to start your soccer career. There are minimum expectations, with the greatest emphasis on the players having fun on the field. As a coach progresses through the age groups they are expected to take coaching license classes, which gives the knowledge needed to pass onto players. The lower age groups generally require at least an ‘F’ license. Check with your league for their coach license policy and classes offered.
You can find a league near you by using the new Cal North league search tool. You may find the tool here .
District VIII Extended Playing Leagues
Within District VIII, all teams that have played in the regular fall season have the option to play in two other seasons, the 'District Tournament', and the 'Bill Meyer' season. Both of these seasons have entry fees, and involve traveling to other cities to play against other recreational teams from all participating District VIII leagues. No new players may sign up, only those that played in the regular fall recreational season are eligible. No competitive players are eligible for these seasons. These seasons allow a recreational player to have extra excitement in traveling to different venues, and playing against teams from other cities. Coaches get to see different playing styles from many different teams from within the District VIII area.
It's important...
Prevent dehydration - USSF Heat & Hydration Guidelines.
With a coach license in hand, the next item that you will need to learn about are the league rules regarding age group play, CYSA Modified Rules for U10 play, and the FIFA Laws of the Game. Check with your league for information on these items.
Rocket Blades Video
Watch this video to learn more about HEADS UP Rocket Blades and how you can get involved!
Center For Disease Control (CDC) HEADS UP ROCKET BLADES
Concussion Information For Young Children
Find A League Near You
Educate Yourself On Soccer
Four Ways Youth Parenting Can Help Or Hurt A Child's Experience
US Youth Soccer Pocket Guide For Parents
Youth Soccer Safety
Recreational Soccer
Soccer Parent Tips
A Guide To The Game Of Soccer
Soccer Parenting Association
Recreational Soccer Jargon
Soccer Rules Of The Game For Baffled Parents
Dealing With Bullies On Youth Sports Teams
Recreational Soccer
If you are new to soccer, or even if you have experienced soccer in the past, you can help yourself and your player by being familiar with the dynamics of soccer.
The document below was created by U.S. Youth Soccer to help parents understand and navigate through soccer. Take a moment to read through the document.
The emphasis for the recreational playing leagues is for fun and ensuring that players get ample opportunity to have field playing time. Some leagues have policies which state that a player must play at least fifty percent (50%) of each game. This policy is totally league driven and league dependent. Players learn soccer skills as they proceed through their age groups. These players are deemed to be 'recreational players'.
Typically league registrations for play in the fall (play starting typically in August) often take place in the Feb.-April time frame, depending on the league. Some leagues have spring playing leagues and registration for these leagues could start in late December/early January. You would need to check with the league that you are interested in, as for their actual seasonal registration dates. Some leagues have co-ed play and others do not for spring season. Most of the teams for fall play are established by gender, unless it is a small league, where they may combine genders, to insure enough playing teams. Please note, you are not limited to signing up to play in just your city. If there is a league in another city, and you are willing to drive, you may sign-up to play there. This would also mean though that you would have to drive to weekly team practices in that city.