Recreational Program
Our Recreation Program involves children ages three to nineteen with instructional lessons and practices once or twice a week. This is an encouraging family oriented experience with emphasis on fun and enjoyment. CGSA’s Recreation Program is built around the concept of "Just for fun!". The league is a progressive program starting with the Under 4 (U4) and progressing to the U6 and then to the RILS teams of U10 and up. As best we can, players are placed on teams from their community areas school. Practices will be at the CGSA Complex when possible or at local school or public fields. We encourage attending your parent meeting(s) where questions can be answered. see the Parents Information webpage for more parent meeting information.
General Spring and Fall Schedules:
- On line Registration Opens - January & June
- Practices Begin - February & August
- Games begin -March & September
- Last Games Played - May & November
Games occur on Friday, Saturday, and occasionally Sunday or a weeknight. Each season will have 8 to 10 games.
BReakdown
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The recreation program introduces both the players and families to soccer and attempts to achieve the following goals for each player
1. Self Confidence
- Demonstrate and reinforce individual abilities
- Encourage participation
- Demonstrate value as player and member of a team
2. Demonstrate the value of working as a team
- Earning the team’s trust and confidence
- Trusting individual and team member’s abilities
- Helping each other helps the team
3. Skills of Game
- Fundamentals: Passing, Dribbling, Shooting, Throw-ins
- Tactical application of fundamentals:
- Thinking: learn to watch games, know when to dribble, pass, or shoot
- Work together to maintain control of ball
4. Strategies:
- Playing positions
- Moving the ball up the field
- Situational Strategies: Know where to be and what to do during Kickoffs, corner kicks, penalty shots, etc.
U4(Co-ed)
This is just a starter league to teach the kids the very basics of kicking ball and dribbling. There is a Club trainer teaching the kids. Parents are highly encouraged heavily to be active with the kids during the practices and “games”. Practices and scrimmages (no games) will occur twice a week and will last 45 minutes with many breaks in between activities. Please note: No uniforms are needed.
U5/U6/U7 (Co-Ed) – 4v4
Provide players the opportunity to touch the ball as much as possible. This is a fun atmosphere with the beginning of team dynamics. There is a 10-week curriculum that is not only enjoyable for the children but makes coaching easy even for the novice parent coach. There are also assignments for the parents to take home to continue development at home. Practices are held once a week for 45 minutes to an hour (coaches discretion based on player stamina). There will be 10 games played against other teams within the CGSA Club.
U8 (Co-ed) - 5v5
Provide players the opportunity to touch the ball as much as possible. Players are introduced to field positions and the development of team play. Playing to win is introduced, however individual participation and team spirit is the goal. Practices are held once a week for a minimum of 1 hr. The coach and parents may wish to opt for a second practice as they see fit. There will be 10 games played against other teams within the CGSA Club.
U10 Through U19
U10 - 7v7; U12 - 9v9; U14 & up - 11v11
For those players that do not wish to advance to the Academy or Select Divisions, this is a more relaxed and fun atmosphere for youth players. Players are introduced to a higher level of competitiveness. Age-appropriate tactics and strategies are introduced. Individual participation and team spirit is stressed, working as a team to win the game is the goal. Practices are held twice a week for 90 minutes. There are 8-10 games scheduled by the state against surrounding communities.
U14, U16, and U19 fall under the RIAS program thru Georgia Soccer. Georgia Soccer does all the game schedules and you will normally play 5 home games and 5 away games. You will play other teams in the south ATL district. Away games are usually 30min to 2hr away
COACHING & MANAGING
Coaching and managing are provided by team parents willing to invest their time in the area youths and are supported by the professional coaching staff of CGSA Club. Our Coaches are highly valued contributors to our program. CGSA will provide our Coaches with training opportunities and weekly written programs for our Dino League, and training sessions for our older age groups. Volunteers are encouraged to seek advanced training through state certifying organizations. If you are interested in joining our team of Recreation Coaches, please indicate such on the registration form or contact our Director of Recreation at recdirector@cgsaclub.com
OUR FACILITIES
We have multiple home-field locations for our players. All are fully developed with irrigation systems and lighting. Check out the Field link on the home page for locations. We have a fully functional snack shop with drinks, snacks, and all sorts of goodies. Please feel free to contact the recreational director if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.
For More Information, contact the club at: recdirector@cgsaclub.com
FAQS
Practice Days – Usually 1 to 2 days determined by the coach and parent availability. Off-campus practice is first come first serve.
Games – Usually on Saturdays but can have Sunday and weeknight games depending on a number of teams in the division, rescheduling, etc; Normally 8-10 games a season.
Scrimmage games – Coaches are encouraged to schedule scrimmage games. Please ensure you coordinate with Rec Director to ensure there are no conflicts.
Uniforms – *IMPORTANT* Make sure you tell your parents U4 is not required; for U5 & up, there is a link on the homepage that states “order rec uniforms here”. U14 and up make sure everyone has a separate jersey number.
Home/Away Team – White jersey is HOME and Black jersey is AWAY
Game Balls – Provided by the HOME team
Heading – PLEASE DO NOT teach heading from U5 thru U10, mandated by US Soccer. They say you can start teaching it in U12 but not a lot. Don’t tell them that they cannot use their head in a game, let the game happen naturally… Indirect kick awarded to other team…..if there are any signs of concussion, ref will make you take them out. We need to start watching for this? I know we don’t have any training on this but…….
U4 – No games just drills/scrimmages and run by a volunteer coach.
U5 – No refs, coaches run games, and no goalies. , Coaches can introduce throw-ins, corners & goal kicks as they see fit, last defender must play up around 10 yards from goal, cannot guard goal unless on corner kick/throw in near goal, coaches run games, 4v4 (was 3v3), size 3 ball, games are four (4) 10 min quarters with 5 minute breaks, no off-sides…NO HEADING!!!!!....
U6 – No refs, Coaches run games, NO goalies, NEW BALL system, Coaches can introduce throw-ins, corners & goal kicks as they see fit, last defender must play up around 10 yards from goal, cannot guard goal unless on corner kick/throw in near goal, coaches run games, 4v4 (was 3v3), size 3 ball, games are four (4) 10 min quarters with 5 minute breaks, no off-sides…NO HEADING!!!!!....
U7 – One ref, NO goalies, last defender must play up around 10 yards from goal, cannot guard goal unless on corner kick/throw-in near goal, 4v4, size 3 ball, four (4) 12 min quarters/5 min breaks, no off-sides…NO HEADING!!!!!....Indirect kick awarded to other team
U8 – One ref, now have a goalie (NO PUNTS), 5v5 (was 4v4), size 3 ball, four (4) 12 min quarters/5 min breaks, no off-sides and no cherry-picking ………………………………………………….…NO HEADING!!!!!....Indirect kick awarded to other team
U10 – one ref, goalie (NO PUNTS), MUST switch goalie at least once, goalies must get equal playing time on the field and in goal, 7v7 (was 6v6), size 4 ball, two (2) 30 min halves/10 min break…NO HEADING!!!!!....Indirect kick awarded to other team
U12 – 9v9 (was 8v8), may get full crew of refs…may not…..size 4 ball
U14 & Up – 11v11, size 5 ball
Seasons – Fall starts 1st weekend in September and runs thru November, Spring is March-May
Game Day Field Status – Please check the website for game day field status in the event of rain. If you do not receive an email then games are a GO. Plan to do text messages as well. You should get an email soon. Please do not call me or email me. If you don’t hear anything… the game is still on.
Team Sideline – Only coaches are allowed on the team sideline during games, NO PARENTS
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