The Division 4 in-town (generally 5th and 6th grades) soccer program is a 2-hour Saturday program designed to further develop the soccer skills of intermediate players. It is gender specific with the boys’ program running Saturday morning and girls’ program running Saturday afternoon.  Similar to Division 5, the overall goals of the program are to enable the participants to have fun while enhancing their soccer skills. Developing skilled soccer players who exhibit sportsmanship, teamwork and a sense of fair play defines the philosophy of the program.

The Division 4 program begins with a one-hour clinic taught by high school soccer coaches and their teams. The boys’ session utilizes the boys' JV team and the girls’ session utilizes the freshman girls’ team. At the Division 4 level, the clinic transition in purpose from the in Divisions 5 and 6 clinics by adding game tactics to the individual skill building exercises. The first seven weeks of the program include a clinic and game session while the subsequent weeks include only a one-hour game.

The clinic is followed immediately by a one hour 7 on 7, short field game. The game (number of players and field size) is designed to reinforce team skills and tactics learned in the clinic session and leads the players into the Division 3 program (11 on 11, full-sided field).

Both the boys’ and girls’ programs are held at Veterans field. Session times are set to accommodate players who are also interested in playing in the Division 4 girls traveling program (see section 5.5 of the RSA Manual).

	Session 1	Session 2	Session 3
Boys Program
Weeks 1-7	9:00-10:00 clinic 10:00-11:00 game	10:00-11:00 clinic 11:00-12:00 game	11:00-12:00 clinic 12:00- 1:00 game
Weeks 8+	9:00-10:00 game	10:00-11:00 game	11:00-12:00 game
Girls Program
Weeks 1-7	2:00-3:00 clinic 3:00-4:00 game	3:00-4:00 clinic 4:00-5:00 game	4:00-5:00 clinic 5:00-6:00 game
Weeks 8+	2:00-3:00 game	3:00-4:00 game	4:00-5:00 game

 

5.4.2 History

	1997		1998		1999		2000
	Teams	Players	Teams	Players	Teams	Players	Teams	Players
Boys	10		10
Girls	10		10
Total	20		20

5.4.3 Equipment

The Division Coordinators must provide the following to the headcoach of each team (late August or early September)

• First aid kit
• Uniforms (shirt, shorts, and socks) for each registered player. It is suggested that you provide 2 additional uniforms for each team to accommodate late registrants.
• A goal keeper shirt and gloves. Have these returned to you at the close of the season
• 3 game balls, plus practice balls if the equipment coordinator has some available

The following are stored in the pumphouse at Veterans Field. Be sure that all Division 4 Coordinators have a key to access the pumphouse (get keys from the prior year coordinator(s), or from the RSA equipment manager, RSA chair, or RSA vice chair)

• Clinic Balls (need 40 to 50)
• Lining machine and paint
• Extra first aid equipment

Be certain to also have with you

• Cell phone (note that a pay phone is outside the police station)
• Emergency contact numbers
• The address and phone number of the RSA registrar and extra registration sheets for late comers.

5.4.4 Field Duties

The coordinator for the morning (boys) session must line the field and be certain that the goals are secured in position on the fields so they don't blow over onto players.  

At the conclusion of the Saturday program, the coordinator for the afternoon (girls) session must secure all goals in a location off of the field.  Also, recruit the team coaches to help pickup any/all trash on the field.

March & April

Develop plans for clinics.

May:

Check condition of goals, nets, and other equipment stored at the Veterans Field pumphouse. Work with RSA equipment coordinator for replacements

Obtain registration info at the Board Meeting.

Decide on the number of teams. Historically, 10 teams works well for both the for boys’ and the girls’ programs. Note that the current program setup at Vets Field can accommodate not more than 12 teams for each program (2 fields x 2 teams per field x 3 sessions)

Assess your coaching position. 2 per team are advisable. Recruit more parent volunteers if needed.

June:

Obtain late registration info at the June Board Meeting

Assign coaches to teams and communicate the assignments to the RSA registrar. The registrar will determine team assignments for players, balancing club players and age groups.

Finalize clinic plans with the RSA Clinics Coordinator and with the provider of the Clinics for this Division 4 Intown Program.

June/July/August:

Communicate team rosters to the coaches as soon as they are available.  Encourage them to call the players as soon as possible.

Have the registrar assign late registrants to teams (in groups so balancing club members and ages is easier)

end August/ first week of September:

Work with the RSA Fields Coordinator to learn how the playing fields should be marked.

Hold a coaches meeting to get to know them, to cover the philosophy of the program, handout schedules, distribute equipment, be certain they understand their responsibilities as coaches (give them the RSA Guide for Coaches), and for field setup/takedown.

Encourage coaches to start light practices. Remind them that daylight becomes scarce after we’re only a few weeks into the program.

Work with the registrar to assign late registrants to teams

September (first week):

Refer late registrants to the RSA registrar. Do not let them participate until registered and covered by RSA insurance.

Monitor the programs to be certain it’s flowing properly and coaches keep to the purpose of the organization.

Through the season:

The coordinator of the morning (boys) session must arrive early to line the playing field.

Secure goals at the beginning and the end of the session (See RSA Manual Appendix A3)

On game days with bad weather, be ready to receive calls from the RSA chair for communicating game cancellations or relocations to your coaches.

One weekend in October each year, there is a county cross-country tournament held at Veterans Field that conflicts with the girls’ program. It is preferable to move the program for that day to BF. The coordinators must work together to takedown the fields at the end of the boys’ session and arrange for the equipment to get to BF and back again. It is less desirable to cancel the session.