Program Levels
Practice schedules are set according to the coach's time preference. We cannot tell you exactly when your child's practice will be until the season's teams have been set.
Playground soccer is for our 3 year old players. They must be 3 by the first practice of the season. AYSO Playground is a child development program. The objective of this program is to help develop, in collaboration with parents or guardian, the child’s fundamental motor skills using soccer as a common thread. Sessions are no more than 60 minutes at a time (including rests and breaks). Our Playground group meets one night a week on a designated night (which may vary from one season to the next). There is NO COMPETITION at this level.
Schoolyard soccer is for 4 year old players. The objective of the Schoolyard program is to introduce players to basic soccer drills and skills while emphasizing the importance of teamwork and fair play. Players will work on passing, dribbling and kicking the ball while working together as a team. They do not have scheduled games against other teams but may have a 'fun' game with other Grant teams during practice.
6U teams are co-ed and usually have practice for only 1 hour per week. They will play a small-sided game against themselves for the last 10-15 minutes of that practice. They do not have scheduled games against other teams, nor will they have games with referees during the regular season. They may have scrimages with other Grant teams during practice times. The focus for these age groups is to have fun and build skills, not to have competitive game play.
8U level teams are co-ed and have practice once or twice per week (total of 60 minutes), with games on Saturday mornings. Their games are usually against other U8 teams from within the Grant region, but may have some local travel. These games will have 1 referee on the field.
10U - 19U level teams are usually not co-ed, and have practice twice per week, with games on Saturdays (Sundays for U19). If there is a co-ed team, they will play in the Boys division. Games are against other teams from outside the Grant region, and will require some travel. These games typically have 3 referees (one on the field, and one on each side line), though sometimes we have to rely on parent help for sideline referee duties.
Tournaments are usually arranged at the Area level (Grant Region 1472 plays within Area A), and are for 10U - 19U levels. Players that are 8U age level, but that have been bumped up to 10U level for the regular season are not eligible to play in tournaments. Tournament locations may change from year to year, based on which regions are interested and capable of handling tournament organization and execution. Team entry into a tournament is optional, and carries a separate registration fee. There is a 4 v. 4 Tournament in the Fall, and a standard tournament in the Spring. To play in either tournament, players must be registered for regular play during the season in which the tournament is held.