Parents: Looking to get a better understanding of Raymond Soccer Club programs? Below are a few materials to review:
STAGES OF PLAY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What equipment is required for my child to play soccer?
Soccer is a sport that requires very little equipment. Your child will need cleats, shin guards, a soccer ball, and a water bottle. A mouth guard is a good idea. Shin guards which have an ankle guard (pads on the ankle bone) and a strap that goes under the foot are ideal. Kids kick at the ball like crazy, and the ankles can get kicked a lot. Be sure to get guards that are long enough (within a couple inches of the bottom of the knee). The size of the soccer ball depends on your child’s age.
What Size Ball Should My Child Be Using?
Soccer balls used in youth leagues come in sizes 3, 4, & 5. RSC uses the following standard:
- 3-7 Years Old (U4-U8): Size 3
- 8-12 Years Old (U9-U12): Size 4
- 13 on up (U13-U18): Size 5
A size 5 ball is the same used by adults. There are also size 1 balls, which are often called 'skill balls' that players can use to practice foot skills.
Should I Get My 4-5 Year Old Cleats?
Players are allowed to wear sneakers, however, if the grass is wet from dew in the early morning or recent rain, the field will be very slippery and your child may fall down trying to make a sharp turn. This is where cleats are helpful, even at young ages. Many sporting goods stores and large discount retailers have smaller cleats that are very inexpensive. They may only last a year, but your child will have likely outgrown them before they wear out. Check with families who have slightly older children - they may have lots of used cleats around they want to get rid of!
What is the soccer season?
Fall season lasts from September through October, Indoor soccer takes place in January & February in the gym, and a spring season generally runs April through June.
Soccer Programs
All developmental soccer programs are Coed. Starting Fall 2019 we will be incorporating academy style training to all developmental teams U6 through U12. Registered players of all age groups will be contacted by their coach in mid-late August. Please be sure to notify the Recreation Department if your contact information has changed since you registered.
Kickstarters Program
Kickstarters is a fun, developmental soccer program for kids and parents to participate in together. No prior soccer knowledge is needed. We use a soccer ball to play fun games, exercise, and teach basic soccer skills. No shinguards needed, only comfortable shoes to run in. Children must be 3 years old at the start of the program. Young 4 year olds are welcome also! This program is offered in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Indoor Soccer
The Raymond Soccer Club sponsors an Indoor Soccer Program for children ages four to twelve (presently). Children must have turned 4 years old by September 30th the prior year. This program runs for seven weeks on Sundays in January & February. ALL AGE GROUPS PLAY AT THE IHG MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM. Sessions will be a combination of skill building and game play for Kickstarters, U6, U8, and U10. U12 and U14 will train with Futsal balls.
*All players MUST wear shin guards.
*Only non-marking sneakers will be allowed in the gym. NO CLEATS OR TURF SHOES please!
-Players should arrive at their scheduled time the first week. If we need to make time adjustments, it will be done AFTER the first week. There will be no registrations taken at the gym.
-Anyone wanting to register and pay must do so online.
-Each session is 1 hour long (Kickstarters 45min).
U6 Teams
The U6 program meets once per week and utilizes stations during each session to introduce players to fun games which focus on a specific skill being introduced. Players move from station to station, using their imaginations, building coordination and begin to build a love for the sport. Players will receive a letter at the beginning of August containing information that is pertinent only to the U6 age group. Sessions will be Saturday mornings from 9-10am (tentatively) and will be held at either the middle school or at Cammett Field. More detailed information will be in your letter. Players in this age group will receive a soccer jersey, soccer socks & their own soccer ball.
U8 Teams
This program steps up to twice a week sessions with a weekday practice and a Saturday morning “game”. Players continue to develop skills through fun games and exercises that use their imaginations. Incorporating academy style training sessions, players will work on the same skills all together and will get excited about specific exercises they are being introduced to. Games are non-result based where small sided play is the focus. This style training introduces them to competition in an environment where quality of play and building on what you learn at practice is the judgement of success. A soccer jersey & soccer socks are given to each player.
U10 Teams
This program offers twice per week training sessions and games on Saturday mornings. Practices are a little more structured where we continue to build skills by using small sided play (7v7) and fun games & exercises to peak interest. Coaches begin to increase player expectations. Practices are held twice per week and games are played on Saturday mornings. These teams can play against Fremont & Epping teams and you may have to travel to play some of the games. Raymond games are held at the Middle School, Fremont games are played at Memorial Field, and Epping games are played at the Seacoast United fields (may change for 2020).
U12 Teams
This program offers twice per week training sessions and games on Saturday mornings. The 9v9 play is consistent with US Youth Soccer guidelines. This program is for players who want to continue to play soccer but are not interested in the Competitive soccer program. These teams are coed and play other U12 teams from surrounding towns.
Competitive Soccer
Raymond Soccer Club offers competitive teams for girls and boys who wish to further develop their soccer skills in a more competitive environment while stressing sportsmanship and fun. Teams in this program are registered under New Hampshire Soccer Association and play in the New Hampshire Soccer League. They travel outside Raymond to compete against teams from other soccer clubs. Practices are generally twice per week, and longer than for players in the Developmental League. Playing time in games is at the discretion of coaches. Teams are coached by volunteer parents who have taken the proper licensing class for their age group. This is a year round program (winter is voluntary). At the present we field teams in the following divisions: U14/13, U12/11, and U10/9 divisions.