The RSA Division 6 is an entry-level program designed to teach first and second grade children the fundamental skills of soccer in a supportive, non-competitive environment. The program is conducted by a professional soccer training organization (currently U.K. Elite) with the assistance of volunteer parent "coaches". The program runs for approximately 12 weeks starting on the first Saturday following the start of a school year until the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving.

The program is conducted at 5 sites:

• Citizen’s Park
• George Washington Middle School
• Orchard Elementary School
• Travell Elementary School
• Willard Elementary School

In 1997, the program was conducted at four sites (Orchard was not used). This proved to be too crowded. Typically, Hawes and Orchard children would play at Orchard, Somerville children at Citizen’s Park, Ridge children at George Washington Middle School, Travell children at Travell and Willard children at Willard. This arrangement must be re-evaluated each year based on the number of children participating from each school and the availability of fields.

In 1997 the program began with a "coaches only" clinic on the first Saturday of the season. This clinic lasted two hours and was run by UK Elite in two simultaneous sessions – one at Citizen’s Park and the second at George Washington Middle School. These two sites were chosen because of their close proximity. The clinic focused on how to make training young children a fun and rewarding experience for them. It was extremely well received by the approximately 100 coaches who attended.

The remaining weeks of the season involved the delivery of the program to the children. U.K. Elite was contracted to provide 8 weeks of training with an option to extend this to additional weeks if requested. Given the enthusiasm for their program, it is highly likely that we would have extended the program as much as possible.

Each site was assigned a professional soccer trainer from U.K. Elite. The trainer conducted two sessions on each Saturday morning from 9:00am to 10:30am and from 10:45am to 12:15pm. A typical session contained the following elements:

The trainer would gather all participants together and teach them 3 skills. Following the first session of the season, the trainer would review all the skills taught in the prior weeks. Teaching involved demonstrating the skill and then having the children practice the skill while the trainer and the coaches lent encouragement or provided individual help to those children having difficulty.

Following the teaching of skills, the trainer would describe a game to children. He would then select one team and have them demonstrate the game to the others. Each team would then go to their allotted space and play the game. If the game involved dividing the team into two smaller teams, scrimmage shirts (pinnies) were worn to differentiate the teams. These games would last approximately 10 minutes. While these games were under the supervision of the coaches, the trainer would visit each team and provide guidance and support.

The trainer would regroup the participants and teach a second game. Again teams would return to their space and play the game.

After 10 minutes, the trainer would blow his whistle to indicate that it was time for a soccer scrimmage. Each team space had flags set up to mark goals. Children were encouraged to use specific skills they had learnt during the scrimmage.

Scrimmages lasted until a few minutes before the end of the session. The trainer ended the session by gathering everyone together to provide praise, exhort the players to practice and to get their feedback about the session.

Division 6 Coordinator

• Working with the professional training organization to determine the content and dates of the coaching clinic and the program.
• Selecting 10 Site Coordinators (5 sites, two sessions per site) from amongst the volunteer coaches.
• Assigning participants and coaches to teams. (See section of team composition).
• Providing team assignment information to the Secretary for communication to participant’s parents.
• Determining which sites will be used and assigning schools to sites.
• Overseeing the recruitment of additional coaches if necessary.
• Advising the Equipment Manager of the numbers of shirts, balls, scrimmage shirts, cones and first-aid kits needed.
• Distributing equipment to Site Coordinators.
• Helping to resolve any problems or questions that typically arise during the first few weeks of the season.
• Notifying Site Coordinators and the professional training organization of any session cancellations.
• Providing feedback to the professional training organization during the season.
• Reporting to the RSA on the overall success of the program. Making recommendations for enhancements.

• Distributing equipment to the coaches with teams participating in his/her session.
• Assisting children to find their coaches on the first Saturday of the season.
• Handling walk-on registrations.
• Acting as a liaison between the Division Coordinator and the professional trainer.
• Informing coaches of session cancellations.
• Providing feedback to the Division Coordinator regarding suggestions for improving the program.
• Properly secure goals (see RSA Manual Appendix A3)

Our experience indicates that a team of 8 participants is an optimum size. However, the controlling factor is the number of volunteer coaches. It is very important that at least two coaches are assigned to each team. In the event that one coach cannot attend a session, the second coach can provide the necessary supervision. Because of a shortage of coaches at certain schools, we have had teams of up to 12 participants. Large teams should be avoided if at possible – they are difficult to supervise and because of players’ tendencies to play "herd soccer" (or "glue ball"), the more children playing, the less fun they have.

To the extent possible, each team should reflect the overall composition of the program (% girls, %boys, % first grade, %second grade). I have suggested that volunteer coaches be given the benefit of selecting one of the children on their team in addition to their own child. Additionally, coaches should be able to request a specific session time. Obviously, a coach’s child (or children) will be on his/her team.

Each year, parents will request that their children play at specific times, have certain coaches or play with certain friends. Given the amount of time and effort necessary to construct balanced teams, the RSA has determined that such requests cannot be accommodated. I have recommended that parents should be able to indicate a preferred session time on the registration form.

It has been my experience that a number of coaches are unaware that they have been volunteered and end up withdrawing from the program at the last minute. This is very disruptive and leads to the formation of teams with too many participants. I recommend that, shortly after the registration deadline (early April) the Division Coordinator should obtain the coach registration forms from the Secretary. Send a letter to coaches thanking them for volunteering. Let them know how disruptive late withdrawals are and ask them to let you know immediately if they cannot make a strong commitment. A frequent cause of late withdrawals is children who are selected for a Maroons team. Once they learn of the numbers of hours that they must put in to be a Maroon, they often withdraw from the RSA. You may want to mention this in the letter. Also, if it is decided that coaches may select one player in addition to their child, you can use the letter to inform coaches of this and perhaps provide them with a form and envelope to fill out for this purpose.

At the same time as you obtain the coach registration forms, also ask the RSA Secretary for a school-by-school headcount. While these numbers will be far from final you can make an initial evaluation of your coach-to-player ratio. If at any school you do not have enough coaches, I suggest you mail a letter to those parents who have not signed up to coach. Inform them of the situation and ask for further volunteers.

Inform the Equipment Manager of the initial headcount and have him order enough equipment for at least 100 additional players. The following equipment will be needed:

• Player Shirts - one for each participant. In the past we have ordered a range of sizes. This adds a huge amount of work to the job of dividing up the equipment. I would order one size (Adult Small or Youth Large - they are identical) for everyone.
• Coaches Shirts - one for each coach. Sizes: order 80% XL and 20% Large.
• "RSA Staff" Shirts - 1 for yourself and one each Site Coordinator.
• Cones - 8 per team.
• Scrimmage Shirts - one for every two participants.
• Soccer balls - Only first graders or children new to the program receive a ball. Usually this will be 60% of participants. I have suggested that soccer balls be given to coaches in 1998. If a decision is made to do this, I recommend that coaches’ balls be a different color than the children’s.
• First Aid Kits - one per Site Coordinator.

Use the coach registration forms and a listing of prior year coaches (RSA can provide) to select the Site Coordinators. (Some Site Coordinators have already volunteered).

Begin the team formation process as early as you can. In the past, coaches were not told who was on their team until late August. Participating players were informed which session they were to attend by early September but did not find out what team they were on until the first Saturday of the season. It is our goal to inform players of their session, team and coaches before the end of the school year (late June).

Experience through the 1999 season has taught us that late registrations will number from 60 to 100 additional players. Typically, the late registrations do not generate the same ratio of coach volunteers as the on-time registrations. If you do not have enough coaches I would have the Secretary automatically send out the letter described in item 2 above to every late registrant.

Before the end of the school year, send a mailing to each participant showing their playing location, session time, team number and coaches’ names and telephone numbers. Indicate the date of the first session and tell them to save the letter, as there will be no further reminders. Hopefully by this time the RSA will have a phone number where people can call to leave messages with any questions. If so, include this number in the letter. Do not give out your home number. You can probably minimize calls from parents if you indicate in your letter that the team formation process is final and that it is not possible to match children to specific coaches, have children play with their friends, etc.

At the same time as you send the mailing to participants, you can mail team lists to coaches. Also send the appropriate lists to each Site Coordinator.

Equipment is usually available by early August. You could:

• Have coaches pick up their equipment from you.
• Have Site Coordinators distribute equipment
• Distribute equipment at the coaching clinic.

At the coaching clinic, ask coaches to call their team members and remind them of the first session location, date and time.

Any decisions to cancel the program because of inclement weather are made by the RSA Chairman. He will call you by 7:30am on Saturday in the event of a cancellation. You should call your Site Coordinators who will in turn call one coach from each team who will then notify his/her team members.

Cones, unused tee shirts and unused medical kits are the only equipment that should be returned to the Equipment Manager. Have your Site Coordinators collect these on the last day of the season.