Clarkson Grasshoppers Micro Soccer Program

for 4 and 5 year olds

The objective is to promote "Better Soccer & More Fun". In other words “Player First, Winning Second”.

In 2005, Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club introduced the “Clarkson Grasshoppers” Program for our youngest players in the U5 & U6 age groups. The Grasshoppers Program was developed to increase the chances for success for our youngest players by using a small-sided 3 V 3 game format which allows significantly more touches of the ball (the one toy on the field). Under the old 7 V 7 game format most of the players hardly touched the ball during the games which prevented them from achieving successful enjoyment of the Game. The new Grasshoppers Program uses an Academy approach to training that is tailored to the physical & mental abilities of this age group while at the same time providing our new parent coaches the guidance they need to develop their coaching abilities.

Commitment to small-sided soccer is a key component of player development. Development is an ongoing process and CSSC fully embraces this approach. One reason players quit is because of negative experiences, often because they rarely touch the ball in game situations. Our goal is to implement changes to retain players, not turn them off. All children will be given the opportunity to develop to their full potential. The coaching community at our club will embrace new ideas and give serious thought to what is best for our children. We need to provide our young soccer players with progressive development training programs that will motivate them to learn and increase their enjoyment of the game as well as their self-esteem.

Over the next two years we will be phasing in a progressive small-sided player development program that addresses the needs of all of our children based on their physical and psychological stage of development.

• The Micro field, measuring approximately 40-50 yards long and 20-30 yards wide, is one half of a Mini field.

• Goals are small, portable pop-up nets. If goal nets are not available, cones shall be used.
• Cones should be used to mark the corner positions of the field.

• The Micro Soccer program uses Size 3 balls at all times.
• The home team shall supply the game ball.

• Each team roster has a maximum of twelve (12) registered players.
• The Micro soccer game is played with three (3) players per team on the field.
• Two games are played simultaneously.
• The game is played with NO goalkeeper.

• If parents are insistent, players may wear jackets during cool weather, must have zippers, snaps and/or buttons done up so they do not flap loosely.

• Hats or baseball caps are not worn in soccer.

• There are no referees for the Micro Soccer Program.
• One coach from each team is permitted on the field, but must stay in his/her own team’s half of the field and stay out of the penalty area.
• The coach must not interfere with the play or coach from behind the goals.

• The total time allocated for each team is seventy-five (75) minutes and is structured as follows:

• Each player must receive equal playing time.
• Time outs should be called approximately every 2-3 minutes to allow for player substitution.
• No player/s shall be left on for the entire game (except when a team has no substitutions) or be substituted off twice before every other player has been substituted.

• There are no goalkeepers in Micro Soccer and no players are allowed to use their hands.
  (Hand Balls are not called in Micro Soccer).

• Goals are scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided it has not been handled or kicked by an attacking player in the penalty area.
• Scorekeeping, stats and standings are not kept in Micro Soccer.

• A throw-in is a method of restarting the play when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline (field boundary) either on the ground or in the air.
• A throw-in is awarded to the opposing team at the point where the ball crossed the touch –line.
• A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
• Players should be encouraged to throw the ball, using both hands from behind and over his/her head.
• To assist players in learning the correct method of taking a throw-in, the thrower may re-take a fouled throw-in.

• A goal kick is a method of restarting the play when the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air but not between the goal posts and under the crossbar.
• A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick but only against the opposing team.
• In Micro Soccer, ANY PLAYER can restart play from a goal kick. The goalkeeper shall place the ball anywhere in the goal area and kicks it.
• All other players must be at least 6 yards from the ball when the kick is taken.
• (This will provide the goalkeeper the practice needed in taking goal kicks).

• All infringements, such as tripping shall result in an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
• There are no hand balls called in Micro Soccer
• There are no penalty kicks in Micro Soccer
• There are no off sides in Micro Soccer.