Registration is now closed!

After a very successful Fall Recreational Program, many have asked when the next Rec program will begin.  

Good News!  We are rolling out the 2013 Early Spring Recreational Program.

Chargers Soccer Club Lakewood Ranch (CSC)
Recreational Soccer - Parents’ Information
2012-2013

The Chargers Soccer Club (CSC) welcomes you and your young player(s) to new the new recreational program at Lakewood Ranch!!! 

According to U.S. Youth Soccer, “Evidence shows that the involvement of young people in sports produces multiple benefits for them. At their best, sports programs promote responsible social behaviors and greater academic success, confidence in one’s physical abilities, an appreciation of personal health and fitness, and strong social bonds with individuals and institutions. Teachers attribute these results to the discipline and work ethic that sports require. Our children are not miniature adults. Though able to mimic adult skills, they do not readily understand many sports concepts; such as fair play... sports can provide a venue for helping young people work toward ethical understanding.

While sports can stimulate good study habits and the expression of ethical behaviors such as fair play, sportsmanship, integrity, and compassion, if parents and coaches do not model these values, the results can be counterproductive. Children are very eager to please adults, which makes them vulnerable to adult manipulation and coercion. 

With this in mind, we all need to remember that, above all else, soccer is for the youth who plays the game.

It is for them that we exist and operate. This simple principle should direct all of our considerations, decisions, and most importantly our actions. Therefore, we have developed this document to assist you in maximizing your young player(s) experience.

The primary goal of the CSC recreational soccer program is to offer every player the opportunity to enjoy participating in the game of soccer within a learning/teaching environment. Our recreational program is not about winning, it is about teaching, so that the young players have fun, learn to love the game of soccer and become as skilled of a player as possible.

Our recreational soccer program is for children between the ages of 4 and 12 and provides an environment to play soccer in a fun and organized format. Our recreational soccer program is considered an In-House Recreational league.

One of the identifying factors of recreational soccer is the distribution of talent across the same age group.  We train our players first in age, then in ability within large pools of players with higher coaching ratios.

This is done in order to ensure more equitable competitions. CSC attempts to accomplish this by distributing the current talent pool to each of our player pools based on each player’s age, level of experience and a subjective evaluation of the player’s skill level by coaching staff familiar with that player’s abilities.

The foundation of which we expect individuals to conduct themselves while participating in CSC activities is good sportsmanship. Specific expectations are found in the Florida Youth Soccer Association’s (FYSA’s) Codes of Conduct, which govern our programs. Each participant, including spectators, coaches, referees and players, are encouraged to accept the result of each game and to be gracious in victory and defeat. The overall purpose of each and every practice and game is to teach the youth about soccer while having fun. Please remember that kids take their cue from the actions of the adults around them. Your example of good sportsmanship will do far more for the kids’ ethical development than all of the lectures in the world. Parents/spectators are required to remain on the opposite side of the field from the teams. No one is allowed behind the goal lines or goal area. All comments from the sidelines should be of a positive and encouraging nature. Let the player’s play, the coaches’ coach, and the referees call the game. Verbal abuse or harassment of the referees and players is unacceptable in our program.

Whether you realize it or not, coaching a youth sports team is very time consuming and a tremendous responsibility. Remember that most of our coaching staff are volunteers who have graciously given their time in order to assist your child in their development.

Each player will receive a uniform as part of his or her registration fee. We expect all players to bring their ball with them to all practices and games. The majority of activities we will be doing during practice will require that every player have a ball. (Size 3 for U6’s, Size 4 for U8’s-U12’s)

Players will need to supply their own shin guards. Shin guards are mandatory for all practices and games.

This is for your safety and that of the other players. Cleats are not mandatory, but are highly recommended.

If you choose to wear cleats, they may not be made of metal or have any sharp edges. They also may not have a single cleat on the toe (baseball cleat). At the end of the season, each player will receive a participation medal during the closing ceremonies.

Games are played on Saturday’s beginning October 6^th and finishing on December 15^th.  We will break for Thanksgiving. Players will not be assigned to an individual team but games will be played on Saturday mornings.  Games will be structured in a 3v3 or 4v4 U6’s, 4v4 or 5v5 U8’s and 6v6’s U10’s-U12’s. Contingent on ability for player numbers.

Example purposes only- All U6’s will play at 9:00 am and All U8’s, U10’s-U12’s will play at 10:00 am.  Game times will be set by the second practice.

Regardless of the level of soccer skills, each player will be given the opportunity to play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time, with equal playing time for all players being the intended goal of the program. Players arriving late to a game can expect to participate in 50% of the remaining playing time.

CSC does not own the soccer fields on which we play. In order to maintain good working relationships with the field owners, we ask that all players, parents, and spectators treat each field with care and respect and follow all ordinances in effect. This includes the prohibition of alcoholic beverages and animals on the grounds and smoking inside the playing fields.

The soccer goals and other related equipment are the property of CSC and were obtained at considerable expense. We can do a lot more with the limited funds we receive from registration fees and local sponsorships if we don’t have to continuously replace this equipment.

Please, stay off of the goals and out of the nets. Not only is this damaging to the equipment, but can also be very dangerous. Though very heavy, goals can be tipped over. More than one young player has been seriously hurt when a goal has fallen on them. If you witness an individual using our equipment in an inappropriate manner, please bring it to the attention of a league official.

Rain does not automatically cancel soccer games. Games and practices are only cancelled due to unplayable field conditions, thunder and lighting. The league will do its best to provide field status information via the league’s website.

Please contact me if you are interested in coaching.

Sincerely yours.

Gustavo Schagen
Recreational Program Technical Staff
941-737-5308
grcschagen@yahoo.com