Recreational (Academy Development Program) General Information
The Indian River Soccer Association provides a quality recreational level soccer program for kids from four years old through 15-year-olds.
Our seasons consist of a fall season that usually runs from early September to early November and a spring season that runs from early March to early May. The games are held a the IRSA soccer complex at Hobart, west of the Indian River county fairgrounds. Here is a link to directions. The games are held Saturday mornings. Registration for fall starts at the end of the spring season and runs into August. Registration for spring starts at the end of the fall season and runs into February. Early registration discounts usually apply.
Each player will need soccer shoes, shins guards and an appropriate sized ball. These can be found at any of the local sporting goods stores. Uniforms are provided.
Practices will last normally 45 to 60 minutes and are held at a place and time arranged by IRSA Professional trainers. Riverside park and schools are popular practice places. The games which take place on a Saturday will last about one hour. Beyond practices and games, players are encouraged to pratice skills on their own or with friends. Dribbling and passing the ball in the backyard or at the local park will greatly improve player skill and confidence.
This year within Recreation the Indian River Soccer Association will offer an Academy Developmental Program for our U5 boys and girls through to u15 boys and girls. The Academy Development Program focuses on the introduction to the more technical aspects of the game such as, passing, control, ball familiarity, dribbling and individual skills.
We reserve our Academy Development Program (formally known as Recreation) as a ‘development bridge’ to increase the potential for certain players who may want to cross over from Recreational to Competitive whilst maintaining the environment of traditional successes for theRecreational Soccer Player including, team building, FUN and ENOYMENT. By having the Academy Development Program, it allows us to concentrate on the technical aspects of the game without the pressure of the Competitive Format.
Our Academy Development Program will provide training to players so that they improve their soccer performance on the field and to lay the foundation to improve their individual skills as a player. The training is focused on the technical, tactical and conditioning demands of the game held in a positive fun environment as it relates to each player.
The main difference between our Academy Development Program and traditional Recreational programs is that each week the children in the program receive an amount of professional training that they are encouraged to develop on game day.
All children will have the opportunity to train with a professional trainer as well as being able to play in their traditional games in appropriate teams.
Teams will continue to be formed and co-coordinated by volunteer managers whom apply and conform with the requirements of IRSA.The DOC has the over-riding right at any time to change team members where the development of a child or team is of greater importance than an individual teams status or positioning.
The recreational league (Academy Development Program) allows a player of any skill level to learn and play the game of soccer on an age appropriate team in a skills appropriate game setting. The recreational teams are formed into two divisions, one coed and one girls division with each division having a number of age groups available for players. Age groups are established each season based upon the number of available players in each age group and the number of coaches available to coach. In general, IRSA uses the following age groups -- but they may change depending on the numbers:
Under-5 Coed (playing 3 versus 3)
Under-6 Coed (playing 3 versus 3)
Under-7 Coed (playing 4 versus 4)
Under-8 Coed (playing 4 versus 4)
Under-9/10 Coed (playing 6 versus 6)
Under-11/12 Coed (playing 8 versus 8)
Under-13/14/15 Coed (playing 11 versus 11 or 8 versus 8)
Under-5/6 Girls (playing 3 versus 3)
Under-7/8 Girls (playing 4 versus 4)
Under-9/10 Girls (playing 6 versus 6)
Under-11/12 Girls (playing 8 versus 8)
Under-13/14/15 Girls (playing 11 versus 11 or 8 versus 8)
The age group that a child will play in is determined by his/her age on August 1st of the current year. As an example, if a child was 5 years of age and turned 5 on August 1st, that child would be assigned to play in the Under-5 age group. However; if the same child were born on July 31st of the same year, they would be assigned to play in the Under-6 age group. The age group criteria are established by United States Youth Soccer Association. Any player must be at least 4 years old to play.
Why Soccer?
Soccer is the most popular game in the world. Soccer is a game that requres and build stamina and lean muscle strength. Did you know that a World Cup level midfielder will run between 8 and 11 miles during the course of a 90 minute match and that most of that running will be short sprints of 40 yards or less. Soccer is a great aerobic workout and builds great balance and eye-body coordination. Plus, soccer is a mind game as well.
To play soccer competitively, players must learn to keep the entire field in their mind. The player must know where teammates and opponents are at all times, know where teammates will be in the near future and how that player can get, keep and pass or shoot the ball to make a score. Soccer is fast-paced and ever-changing and builds both body and mind. Professional Soccer players are some of the best trained atheletes in the world; but did you know that most youth soccer players are also good students. Soccer builds strength and stamina, expands situational awareness and teaches the discpline of working together as a team.
I thought Soccer was 11 versus 11, why the Small-Sided Teams?
The Unted States Youth Soccer Association, one of the national organization governing youth soccer and our parent organization, has made the decision to have kids playing soccer organized on to smaller teams so that they can have more touches on the ball and be a larger part of the team on the field. By having less players on the field the player has less complicated decisions to make and can concentate on playing the ball instead of trying to deal with too many players. In addition, small-sded games will emphasize better fitness as the less number of players on a smaller field will require more continuous movement of players and ball.
Small-sided games also mean less players being coached at a given time; therefore, the individual player gets more attention from the coach. Small-sided games require all players on the field to be more aware of attacking and defending, even if they don't realize it. And one of the most important thing for the players, small-sided games mean less players on the field and more individual chances to score that exciting goal.
By playing small-sided games the player gets more exciting play, more time from the coach, and more chances to touch and play with the ball. As the player grows, the number of players on the field increases as well. From age 4 though 7, the games will not involve a goalkeeper, this will allow the players to concentrate on scoring without having a goalie to worry about. Above the age of 7, we add goalkeepers to the field and increase the challenge of scoring.
With each increase in the number of players (and the appropriate increase in field size), the game becomes more and more a game of tactics and team strategy, just as it is in the full sided game. We just are making the transition gradual and age apropriate. The movement toward small-sided play came out of the desire to improve the way the United States trains and develops younger players. The United States Soccer Federation, by studyng the methods of other national programs, determined that small-sided play would improve skills while making the game more fun for the players. The small-sided environment is a develpmentally appropriate environment for our young players. It's a FUN environment that focuses on the PLAYER. Now, that just makes sense doesn't it?
