Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Age group matrix for birthdays and year groups
- Soccer lessons everyone should know
- Why Small-sided Games?
- General Recreational Program FAQs
- Duke City Teams (U11-U19)
Soccer lessons everyone should know
- Having Fun—it is a blast to play soccer, to run, to be part of a team, to kick a ball.
- Playing safe, with the proper equipment, is just as important as having fun.
- Building technical skills needed to play a better game is why we practice—practice helps.
- Increase your training time gradually to decrease injuries. If you have not been running for a while, take it easy the first few times on the field, and warm up before you play.
- The referee is always right, even if you or your coach disagree.
- Drink lots of water and put on sunscreen throughout the match.
- Watch the weather and dress appropriately; if there is lightning you need to get off the field.
- Check the field conditions; if you discover something wrong (broken glass or a gopher hole) let the Ref or your Coach know.
- Never climb on or play around a goal. They can be extremely dangerous.
Why Small-Sided Games?
At younger ages, the national trend in soccer has been to play games with fewer players on the field rather than the traditional 11 players per side. Northern follows this philosophy. For example, at U12 Northern teams play 7 per side (6 players plus a goalkeeper). See the US Youth Soccer small-sided games resource page and our Rules & Guidelines Page for more information. What are the benefits?
Top 5 Reasons for Small-Sided Games
- Sam Snow, US Youth Soccer Director of Coaching
- Small sided means players have a greater chance of getting more touches on the ball, increasing development.
- With fewer players on the field, players are forced to execute both offensive and defensive ball skills. Improving ball skills is the main objective in these age groups.
- Players do not have the opportunity to hide, as they would if they would be playing 11v11 at this age group. Often in 11v11 on full size fields, players on the opposite side of the field do not touch the ball.
- In an 11v11 approach, players do not have the confidence to make the right decisions and this leads to a "kick the ball" approach since they are not quite sure what to do. When playing with small numbers on small fields players are continuously involved in the match, so they may be willing to take more risks. In other words players now work with one another, in offense and defense.
- In 11v11 games, some players watch their teammates play, only playing themselves when the ball is in their area. The 8v8 format does not allow this to happen.
What the Experts Say: Developing the Players of the Future ...
"At the Youth Level (ages 6-12), a competitive environment is not a result-oriented environment. It is an environment that encourages decisions from player and coach alike that focus on performance rather than results."
- Bruce Arena, US Men's National Coach
"70 percent of American kids who sign up for sports quit by the time they are 13 because it isn't fun anymore."
- 2001 Study by the National Alliance for Youth Sport
"There is a danger to be labeling players even at 11 and 12. Most future stars can't be identified at that age. It's unhealthy to be telling certain kids they're 'good' to the exclusion of kids who mature later."
- Tony Waiters (Former Canada National Coach)
"Separating out the 'best' for select teams (competitive) before age 11 is too early. Even in Brazil, the best of the best—the future ... professionals—don't start getting culled out until 11-13."
- Pele
"Winning games is not the only barometer of success. Whatever game it is, it is important that players play to win. However, many people in clubs use wins and losses as the only barometer. Everybody wants to get a jump. There's traveling teams with eight- to ten-year-olds. That's ridiculous."
- Bobby Howe (Former Director of Coaching, USSF)
Recreational Program FAQs
- How can I be a coach if I don't know anything about soccer?
The hardest part of being a volunteer youth coach is actually taking the initiative and volunteering. Northern Soccer provides excellent coaching education through our professional coaching staff along with manuals and on-line practice lessons plans. - When will the season begin and how long will it last?
The fall season will start in early September and last through October. The spring season will kick off in April and last through May. - When and where will games be played?
At the youngest age groups (Under-8 and Under-6), all practices and games will take place in your local community. Starting at Under-9, games will take place through the Mountain Schedule, which involves some of the local surrounding communities (Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Eldorado). Consequently, some games will be played in these locations; therefore occasional light travel will be required. - When will we know our teams?
At least two weeks prior to the start of the season your coach will contact you. - What is the cost?
The cost to play recreational soccer is $60 per season / $110 per year (U06-U08), $70 per season / $125 per year (U09-U19). The "per year" discount is only available from a single annual registration transaction in the fall. - What is the difference between recreational and competitive soccer?
Select, or competitive soccer, is intended for players seeking to improve their skills by playing at a higher level. Each team is selected by the head coach and the Director of Coaching based upon player tryouts. In recreational soccer, coaches are not permitted to pick their players, but instead are given a group of players from the available pool. Recreational soccer programs are an excellent way to learn the game and have fun. Competitive soccer is for players who can demonstrate a higher skill level and want to progress to the next level of competition. - What is the Mountain Schedule?
The Mountain Schedule was created to provide an opportunity for players to continue playing at the recreational level if they choose to do so. This is done through bringing together neighboring communities (Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Eldorado) in order to provide a variation in competition and enjoyment. Recreational teams from Under-9 through Under-19 participate in the Mountain Schedule.
Duke City Teams (U11-U19) FAQs
- What is Duke City soccer?
Maybe a better question would be "How does Duke City soccer differ from Mountain soccer?" The two primary differences between Duke City soccer and Mountain soccer are the level of competition and the opponent. In Duke City soccer, our teams compete against teams from other New Mexico soccer clubs rather than teams from our own community. As you can imagine, the level of competition is higher, as each soccer club attempts to field a competitive team at each age group. Duke City teams also place an increased level of importance on training sessions (practices) so a higher level of commitment is expected from players, further enhancing individual skills and team play. - How are children placed on Duke City teams?
Duke City soccer teams require tryouts that typically are conducted on two successive evenings in the late spring. Depending on the number of children trying out, an age group may consist of one, or even two, teams and at times players may not be offered a roster spot on the team. The tryouts consist of soccer activities and scrimmages designed to evaluate coordination, soccer skills, and understanding of the game. Children are then placed on the team that best fits their level of play. During the 2011-2012 Duke City seasons Northern SC fielded 16 Duke City teams (U11-U19) that included approximately 170 players. Any player wishing to play in an age group one (1) year older must notify the Director of Coaching, in writing, prior to tryouts for approval. - What are the fees associated with Duke City soccer?
Duke City soccer has higher fees per player than recreational soccer, but contributes a similar amount to the club collectively. The annual (fall and spring) individual Duke City fees are $290.00 for the 2012-2013 seasons. For our high school aged players who will play in Spring 2013 only, the individual Duke City fees are $250.00. Those fees pay for the team's Duke City League registration, coaches, referees, and any field maintenance at The Downs (field paint, goal repair, nets, etc.) for one full year or two soccer seasons — fall and spring. New Duke City players will also be required to purchase uniforms, which includes home and away jersey, shorts, and socks for approximately $75.00-$150.00. Summer camps and winter indoor training are strongly encouraged for Duke City players, and are not included in the Duke City fees. Additional team-specific fees for tournaments and other activities may also be required. A limited number of scholarships are available for the truly committed players and are based on need and are given on a first come first served basis. - How much travel is involved with Duke City soccer?
All Duke City League games are played at the Bernalillo Soccer Complex, approximately a thirty-five minute drive from Santa Fe. Communities such as Albuquerque, Los Alamos, Alameda, Corrales, Rio Rancho, and even as far away as Las Cruces and Durango, CO, all have clubs that participate in the Duke City League. League games are played on Saturdays; there are eight league games in a season. There are also a number of local and out-of-state tournaments to choose from throughout the year. Typically teams play in two tournaments per season. One tournament, typically in the spring, can often be played in a neighboring state and involve an overnight stay. - How do I know if Duke City soccer is right for my child?
Duke City soccer is not for everyone. It requires a greater commitment than Mountain soccer due to the number of training sessions (practices), the higher fees, and the travel to games. However, your child does not have to be the next Lionel Messi or Mia Hamm to play Duke City soccer. The Duke City experience at Northern SC is designed to offer a more competitive training and game environment for those players who are ready for the next step in their soccer development. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact Aaron Cline, Northern SC Director of Coaching & Player Development, or call him at (318) 791-2789.
This level of play is a natural progression for high school aged players who participate within their high school soccer programs. The Northern SC senior (high school aged player) teams have a history of participating in College Showcase events and have served as the vehicle for players to continue their soccer careers at the collegiate level. It is the goal of Northern SC to place highly qualified coaches with each of our Duke City teams.