Recreational U3-U19

Fall 2024

RECREATIONAL FALL 2024 SEASON INFO - 

Our Recreational Program currently consists of players from the age of 2 through the age of 18. Please take note that there is no skill level requirement at any age, i.e., we will have children of all levels participating on each team in our program. We have developed a system that provides both a fun and productive environment for players at all levels. Each team is coached by a volunteer parent coach, however we provide a ECB staff trainer who works with the U5 - U12 age groups once a week. Although our focus is predominantly on the enjoyment of playing the game, we would also like to utilize our time effectively with the children by teaching them as much as possible about the game and the skills needed to excel in the sport.

*Please note, all registration is done online. Please click on REGISTRATION to begin.

U3 KICK START PROGRAM

Kick Start is a FUN introductory program designed for boys and girls who were born from January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022. This is a success-based program designed to develop a player’s confidence and a life-long love of the game of soccer. The Kick Start program is run as a parent/child clinic format. We will have a ECB Central Trainer assisted by the parent/s of each player. We will work on soccer skills each week through a variety of games and age appropriate activities. There are no set teams.

The 6-week long season takes place from 4:30 - 5:15 pm on Mondays at Morgan Jones Park, Wednesdays at Central Park, Thursdays at Aber, and Fridays at the Caerphilly Fields. The cost per season is $126 which includes a t-shirt per seasonal year (both fall and spring seasons = one seasonal year). i.e., If you participated in the fall Kick Start program, you will not receive a new t-shirt for the spring season. Each player will receive a participation award at the end of each season.

U4 MINI LEAGUE PROGRAM

The Mini League is a FUN introductory program designed for boys and girls who were born from January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021. This is a success-based program designed to develop a player’s confidence and a life-long love of the game of soccer. The Mini League program is run as a parent/child clinic format. We will have a Central Trainer assisted by the parent/s of each player. We will work on soccer skills each week through a variety of games and activities. There are no set teams.

The 6-week long season takes place from 5:30 - 6:15 pm on Mondays at MJP, Wednesdays at Central Park, Thursdays at Aber, and Fridays at Caerphilly Fields. The cost per season is $126 which includes a t-shirt per seasonal year (both fall and spring seasons = one seasonal year). i.e., If you participated in the fall Mini League, you will not receive a new t-shirt for the spring season. Each player will receive a participation award at the end of each season.

U5 - U19 RECREATIONAL PROGRAM

Each U5 - U19 team requires a VOLUNTEER PARENT COACH from each team, however we provide a UFA staff trainer who works with the U5 - U12 age groups once a week . Although our focus is predominantly on the enjoyment of playing the game, we would also like to utilize our time effectively with the children by teaching them as much as possible about the game and the skills needed to excel in the sport. Practices are played during the week (please see practice schedule broken down by field below). The season consists of a minimum of eight games (played on weekends). For registration fees per age group and season, please see our Rec General Info page.  

FAST TRACK TRAINING PROGRAM

For U7 & up UFA Recreational players who are interested in a more serious and intense training program. If interested, please contact Jeff Salas or your Age Group Coordinator. A demanding training program, “Fast Track Training Program” will not only challenge its participants during sessions, but will also specifically require players to keep perfecting their skills through extra work at home. The focus will be on acquiring and mastering proper basic soccer skills, crucial for the Academy level. Fast Track Practices: In addition to the usual once or twice a week practice with their recreational team, a more intense training will be held once a week by an UFA staff trainer.

1 hour/week practice

8 week training program

Fees are $120 for all 8 weeks ($15.00 per session)

An email will be sent out to our Rec membership detailing the program, directions on how to register, and schedule the week leading into the first regular season game.

 *This program is not a guarantee to move up to the Academy, but an opportunity to be exposed to a higher level of training.

FIELD LOCATIONS

All practices will be held at MJP, Central Park, Caerphilly Fields, and Aber Soccer Complex.

Teams will have all of their practices at the park of their team’s practice park preference. The practice park assignment and team assignment is based on the practice park preference selected during your registration.

All U5 - U12 HOME games will be played at any of our ECB fields.

All U14 - U19 HOME games will be played at any of our ECB fields. Please note, the U14, U16 and U19 age groups are scheduled inter-league between neighboring clubs, so please anticipate some traveling on the weekends for some games.

Due to field availability, if a practice is rained out during the week there will be no make up practice scheduled. The rainout line is 678-648-7033, ext 701. This will be updated by 3:30 PM on inclement weather days. Another option is to check the Field Status on our website on the Field Status page. 

VOLUNTEERS

Throughout the season parent volunteers will be in great demand. We will need Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Team Managers for each team. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these positions, please let us know by registering as a volunteer when you register your child.

SPECIAL REQUESTS

All special requests regarding either playing on a specific team, or playing on the same team as another player will be considered but are not guaranteed. When registering for our Recreational Program, you are registering specifically for the program and not to play on a certain team and/or with a certain player. All special requests must be received by July 15, 2024 in order to be considered. Registering early will aid in our attempt to grant your requests.  

REQUESTS TO PLAY UP AN AGE GROUP

Generally, players will play in their own age group, but occasionally players will want to play up an age group. Any player wishing to play up to the next age group must first be assessed and approved by the Recreational Director by the last scheduled assessment date at the latest. To have your child assessed, please contact Jeff at jeff@unitedfa.org. If approved, the Recreational Director will then move the player up to the approved age group in the registration database.  

UNIFORMS

The uniform ordering process and uniform fee will be completely separate from the program registration and fee. Our recreational uniforms are intended to be used for three seasonal years. Our three seasonal years will run from Fall 2023 to Spring 2026. Parents will be required to purchase the kit through the Paterson Online Uniform Store. You will be sent an Invite to the store no later than July 20th unless registering during Late Registration, which begins on July 16th. Players returning from the fall 2023 and/or spring 2024 season, that previously ordered the full uniform kit, are not required to order a new kit, but can order replacement items as needed. Click here for more information on uniform sizing and the ordering process.

Please note, you need to order your player’s uniform as soon as you receive an email from Paterson Soccer (orders@PatersonSoccer.com) with ordering instructions. Delaying the order may result in your player not having a uniform in time for the first game of the season.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

05/01/24 Early Registration for the Fall 2024 Rec Season begins 05/01/2024 and ends 05/31/2024

06/01/24 Regular Registration for the Fall 2024 Rec Season begins

07/15/24 Deadline for Player Special Requests

07/15/24 Regular Recreational registration ends for the Fall 2024 season

07/16/24 Late Registration begins - A $25.00 late fee will be incurred for any registrants from this date forward

07/20/24 Assessment Day for all U5 - U12 

**This mandatory assessment for all players, returning and new, from the U5 through the U12 age groups is necessary to aid in our attempt to balance teams…this is not a tryout. Players in the U14, U16 and U19 age groups are not assessed.

TBD U5 - U12 Recreational Coaches Meeting option #1 - TBD 

TBD U14 - U19 Recreational Coaches Meeting - TBD

TBD U5 - U12 Recreational Coaches Meeting option #2 - TBD 

08/24/24 All players should have been contacted by their team coach or the club by this date

Week of

08/26/24 Practices begin (Monday, August 26, Tuesday, August 27 or Friday, August 30 depending on age group and practice park registered for)

09/07/24 Games begin for all age groups

09/09/24 U3 Kick Start and U4 Mini League Season Begins at South Forsyth Soccer Complex

09/11/24 U3 Kick Start and U4 Mini League Season

09/29/24 Schools Fall Break - No practices or games Sunday, September 22 - Sunday, September 29

11/09/24 Last weekend for regular season scheduled games

U5 - U19 Season ends weekend of November 9 pending no make-up games are required.

For more information, please contact Ryan our Recreational Director, at ryan@eastcoastbluebirds.org.