<Updated 9/7 for colorado rapids color change>
Hello Parents,
Welcome to Fall Soccer for U7, for 5 and 6 year olds. Registered players should have received an email with your child's team assignment. Contact the league if you do not receive it. There are several things you need to know before the first day.
The Blog
This Blog will be the primary source for information, schedules, directions etc. Please bookmark it. Feel free to use it and let us know what we can do to improve any aspect of U7 Soccer.
http://MaldenSoccerU7.blogspot.com/
Cancellations due to weather will be posted to the blog... please check it within an hour of the start time on game-day morning. If you do not have access to the internet on Sunday mornings please let me know.
What You’ll Need
Parents will need to supply:
- If you already have the correct uniform, please use it. If not, the league will supply a shirt, shorts and socks on the first day
- Sneakers or cleats. We play on an artificial turf, so please be sure to have appropriate shoes.
- Shin pads
- A size 3 ball with the players name on it
- Long pants and long sleeved shirt worn under the team shirt if the weather requires it
- Water - for frequent breaks
The Schedule
The season begins on Sunday, September 7 and the last day is Sunday, November 9. There is no soccer on October 12 for Columbus day.
All U7 soccer will be on Sunday mornings, with 2 sessions each morning. The early session will start at 9:00 (6 teams, 3 games) and the second session will start at 10:30. Each session will run for 85 minutes and will be split between drills/skills practice and scrimmage against another team. We take frequent breaks so it’s not as intense as it sounds.
Our Philosophy
At the U7 level we continue focusing on basic skills, and begin incorporating more of the basic rules into the experience. Goalies will also be used. Our primary focus remains providing a fun and healthy environment for the kids to discover their emerging soccer skills.
We do not focus on winning. We don't keep official score, celebrate wins, or mourn losses. We try for every player to get equal playing time, and try to keep the number of players on the field. We encourage skillful play, good attitudes and teamsmanship.
We will begin to introduce new rules in addition to what we did with U6:
- We will play 6 v 6 with a goalie
- Portable stand-alone nets will provide goals
- Substitutions should be made when play stops and should occur approximately every 5 - 10 minutes
- If the ball goes out of the side bounds it should be "thrown-in" as quickly as possible by the team that did not kick it out
- The game will start with a kick-off at the center, as will the second half of the game
- After each goal, the team scored upon will start again by kicking-off at center. A successful kick-off means that the ball needs to roll 1 revolution forward and be touched by another player
- Hand balls result in an INDIRECT kick to the opposing side
- No slide-tackling allowed, results in an INDIRECT kick to the opposing side
- No pushing with the arms or hands allowed, results in an INDIRECT kick to the opposing side
- No tripping from behind allowed, results in an INDIRECT kick to the opposing side
- No checking with hips allowed, results in an INDIRECT kick to opposing side
- No off-sides called
- We also will be changing halfs of the field at half-time
Basic Rules for Parents
- At least one adult supervisor must stay during the entire session and is responsible for watching kids if they wander away from play
- Parent involvement is appreciated and encouraged when appropriate but please try not to interfere with the session
- Due to insurance rules players who are not registered with the league cannot play
- Players must not wear jewelry such as earrings, watches, necklaces, etc.
The Season Schedule
| Date | Time | Home Team | Away Team | Field |
| Week 1 | 9:00 AM | Toronto (grey) | Portland Timbers (forest) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 9/7/2014 | | DC United (black) | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Field 3&4 |
| | Chicago Fire (red) | Montreal Impact (blue) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | NE Revolution (navy) | Seattle Sounders (green) | Field 1&2 |
| | Columbus Crew (gold) | Houston Dynamo (orange) | Field 5&6 |
| Week 2 | 9:00 AM | Portland Timbers (forest) | Chicago Fire (red) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 9/14/2014 | | DC United (black) | Columbus Crew (gold) | Field 3&4 |
| | Montreal Impact (blue) | Houston Dynamo (orange) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | Seattle Sounders (green) | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Field 1&2 |
| | NE Revolution (navy) | Toronto (grey) | Field 5&6 |
| Week 3 | 9:00 AM | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Houston Dynamo (orange) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 9/21/2014 | | Portland Timbers (forest) | NE Revolution (navy) | Field 3&4 |
| | Montreal Impact (blue) | Seattle Sounders (green) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | Toronto (grey) | DC United (black) | Field 1&2 |
| | Chicago Fire (red) | Columbus Crew (gold) | Field 5&6 |
| Week 4 | 9:00 AM | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Chicago Fire (red) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 9/28/2014 | | Columbus Crew (gold) | Toronto (grey) | Field 3&4 |
| | Seattle Sounders (green) | DC United (black) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | Houston Dynamo (orange) | Portland Timbers (forest) | Field 1&2 |
| | NE Revolution (navy) | Montreal Impact (blue) | Field 5&6 |
| Week 5 | 9:00 AM | DC United (black) | NE Revolution (navy) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 10/5/2014 | | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Columbus Crew (gold) | Field 3&4 |
| | Houston Dynamo (orange) | Toronto (grey) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | Montreal Impact (blue) | Portland Timbers (forest) | Field 1&2 |
| | Chicago Fire (red) | Seattle Sounders (green) | Field 5&6 |
| NO SOCCER OCTOBER 12 in honor of Columbus Day Weekend |
| Week 6 | 9:00 AM | Toronto (grey) | Chicago Fire (red) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 10/19/2014 | | Portland Timbers (forest) | DC United (black) | Field 3&4 |
| | Seattle Sounders (green) | Houston Dynamo (orange) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | NE Revolution (navy) | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Field 1&2 |
| | Columbus Crew (gold) | Montreal Impact (blue) | Field 5&6 |
| Week 7 | 9:00 AM | Houston Dynamo (orange) | NE Revolution (navy) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 10/26/2014 | | Montreal Impact (blue) | Toronto (grey) | Field 3&4 |
| | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Portland Timbers (forest) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | Chicago Fire (red) | DC United (black) | Field 1&2 |
| | Seattle Sounders (green) | Columbus Crew (gold) | Field 5&6 |
| Week 8 | 9:00 AM | Toronto (grey) | Seattle Sounders (green) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 11/2/2014 | | NE Revolution (navy) | Chicago Fire (red) | Field 3&4 |
| | Montreal Impact (blue) | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | Columbus Crew (gold) | Portland Timbers (forest) | Field 1&2 |
| | DC United (black) | Houston Dynamo (orange) | Field 5&6 |
| Week 9 | 9:00 AM | Portland Timbers (forest) | Seattle Sounders (green) | Field 1&2 |
| Sun 11/9/2014 | | Columbus Crew (gold) | NE Revolution (navy) | Field 3&4 |
| | DC United (black) | Montreal Impact (blue) | Field 5&6 |
| 10:30 AM | Toronto (grey) | Colorado Rapids (purple) | Field 1&2 |
| | Houston Dynamo (orange) | Chicago Fire (red) | Field 5&6 |
Pine Banks Field
All games will be held at
Pine Banks Field on Main St. between Melrose and Malden.
We will use this configuration for game day:
