The Division 5 soccer program is a 2 hour Saturday morning in-town recreational program designed to further develop the soccer skills of young players and to help train the volunteer coaches with real skill and practice examples. The Division 5 participants are usually 3rd and 4th graders, most of which have participated previously in the Division 6 program. The overall goals of the program are to enable the participants to have fun while enhancing their soccer skills. Although winning is fun, it is not a primary objective of the program. Developing skilled soccer players who exhibit sportsmanship, teamwork and a sense of fair play defines the philosophy of the program.

The Division 5 program begins with a one hour clinic taught by the high school varsity soccer coach and his varsity players followed immediately by a one hour 5 on 5 game between two teams. The clinic portion is designed to further develop the individual soccer skills introduced in the Division 6 program while the game portion is designed to introduce team and strategy skills needed to successfully compete on the field. Coaches are encouraged to participate in the clinic skills so as to be able to reinforce those skills during team practices later in the week.

The Division 5 program runs for approximately eleven weeks, the first seven of which include a clinic and game session while the last four weeks include only a one-hour game. All session are held on the fields behind the Benjamin Franklin Middle School.

May Month End:

Obtain listing of boy and girl players registered and a list of the coach volunteers from the RSA registrar.

If you don’t have enough coach volunteers, you will have to call some parents to persuade them to volunteer. Be upbeat and positive with the coach volunteers. Some of the volunteers have coached soccer before, however, most have no experience with the game. Let them know that knowledge of the game is not necessary since we provide instruction, equipment and ongoing support. Emphasize that having fun is a top objective of the program, not only for the kids but for the coaches also. At this point, your objective is to confirm enough coaches for the teams that will be put together later.

Determine the number of teams required  (Note that there is a limit of 48 total teams in this program:  6 fields x 2 teams per field x 4 sessions) and provide the final list of coach volunteer assignments to the registrar who will begin setting up the team roster. If coaches or parents have made special requests to be on specific teams, now is the time to let the registrar know.

June Month End:

Confirm clinic participation and scheduling with the provider of the clinics for Division 5 (RHS boys varsity coach).  Ensure he knows the number of clinic weeks and when they are scheduled. Look for any conflicts with his varsity schedule.

Have Ed Seavers reserve access to the BF bathrooms through the Board of Ed.

July Month End:

Obtain team rosters from registrar. Mail to coaches ASAP with copies of the general information letter (samples of prior letters are attached). Its good to let the coaches know of the ground rules, required player equipment, time commitment and philosophy before they make their calls to players since the players (or parents) will need to know some of this information.

Have the coaches call their players ASAP. Some kids get upset when their friends are getting calls and they are not. Make the coach aware that he more than likely will have additions to his roster the closer you get to the start of the season. Discourage requests to move players from one team to another. Only in rare circumstances should this occur and should be coordinated with the registrar. Prevent stacking teams because two or three kids are good friends.

Schedule a Coaches Organization meeting at the Stable for the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the the start of the season (Div 5 one night and Div 4 the other night) and inform all coach volunteers that they should make every effort to attend. Important equipment, uniforms and information will be distributed at the meeting. Coordinate with the Division 4 coordinators.

August Month End:

Assign late registrants to teams with the registrar and notify coaches of additions. Get copies of revised rosters for distribution to the coaches.

Call the equipment coordinator for uniforms, balls, cones, goalie shirts and gloves, coaches' shirts and first aid kits as well as field marking equipment and paint

Call Ed Seavers to seek help in lining the field each week during the season. The school custodians do some fields but not others.

Early September (before Organization meeting):

Obtain team schedules from RSA Intown Scheduling Coordinator.

Prepare team equipment bags with the following items.  Label each bag with the team name and seal:

• Copy of revised team roster
• Copy of team game schedule
• Enough shirts and socks for each player on roster
• Coaches shirt
• Goalie shirt and gloves
• 3-4 practice balls
• 1 new game ball

September Organization Meeting (week before season starts):

Remind all coaches to come to the meeting or have someone come to pick up their team bag.  Cover the following:

• Welcome returning volunteers and thank profusely the new volunteers.
• Review philosophy and objectives of the program
• Explain that the weekly schedule rotates (a team doesn't always play at the same time or on the same field).  Be sure they communicate this to players so they show up at the correct times.
• Review layout of fields
• Review rules of game e.g. 5 on 5, no off sides, all players must play ½ of game
• Review procedure for notification of cancellation due to weather or other reason
• Emphasize that the referees are Middle School students who will make mistakes.  Coaches must not berate them.  Instead, coach them too.
• Emphasize safety:
  • Exercise care when crossing parking lot
  • Emphasize the need to wear shin guards and soccer cleats
  • Do not let players leave without a parent. Stay with player until parent picks up.
  • Be certain that goals are secured when playing and at the end of the day
  • Children not registered in the program (including siblings) are not insured and cannot play.

Every Week:

Arrive approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours before the program starts to line the fields.  See Ed Seavers about this.

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

First two or three weeks of season:

Be prepared for additional late registrants. Have extra registration forms with you at field. Have extra shirts (of all colors) and socks for late arrivals.

Have a complete and up to date version of all team rosters and team schedules in alpha order to refer to at the field.

October

Be aware that the College Club hold its annual auction at BF on a Saturday in October. You should call the College Club rep to coordinate extra police coverage. If you call Bill Corcoran he usually handles this for us. Also, inform the coaches that they should inform their players and parents to arrive early and be prepared to be denied access to the parking lot. They should have designated drop off and pick up points on Glen and Van Dien.

Each week at the field you should have the following:

• 2 First Aid kits
• Ice
• Cell Phone
• Extra shirts (to be used as pennies when teams’ colors conflict)
• Box for lost & found items
• Phone numbers for: Ridgewood Police
• BF Custodian Beeper
• Air pump and extra needles
• Extra game balls available