The Vail Soccer Club will use the term “recreational” to reference all teams that play within VSC at age U-10 and below. The term recreational signifies that teams play in friendly competition primarily with teams from VSC. Although teams may occasionally play teams from other clubs---the primary focus of this age group is to achieve the three goals of “play the game, love the game, and passion for the game”---as detailed in VSC’s goals. We believe this age group is where the fundamentals of the game need to be taught, practiced, and then exhibited. By fundamentals we mean the art of dribbling, passing, ball control, shooting, trapping, screening, a basic understanding of positions, and an introduction to team dynamics. Our experience has taught us that a player from this age group learns these fundamentals best on small-sided teams. Hence, VSC will use small-sided strategies as they apply to a recreational team. This allows for modifications to the “Laws of the Game” and optimizes the “coaching” aspects of the game.

Recreational teams are designed with the intention of playing as close to “your” local Vail School District field as possible and yet have the necessary number of players. I have divided the Vail School District area into 3 main regions based on field availability. I refer to these areas as Vail (includes OVMS, Acacia and Ocotillo Ridge schools), Rita Ranch (includes Desert Sky, Desert Willow, Cottonwood, Mesquite, and Senita Valley), and Corona (includes Corona Foothills and Sycamore). (You may have noticed my having left off the high school fields----this was intentional as those fields will be utilized by our competitive teams.) Practices should be at a field in your “region” while games should be within the District. Practice times and days are coach determined, but you should anticipate two practice sessions per week, and a game on Saturday mornings.

VSC will use the following age group chart from US Youth Soccer to determine proper teams. This, and “where the player lives” will largely indicate team composition.

The recreational season is designed to follow the Vail School District school calendar. That said, VSC intends to schedule no games during major Holiday breaks, school year breaks, 3 day weekends, and other dates hosting any major soccer events in Tucson. That schedule allows for @8 games in 2008 and 5 in 2009----starting mid-August until mid February. To review our tentative schedule, click here.