AYSO’S Playground program is a unique development program designed to introduce 3-year-olds to soccer in a fun, pressure-free environment while focusing on improving children’s Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) utilizing age-appropriate activities. The program is designed by child development and soccer experts, giving children a foundation for success in any sport.

Your child must be at least 3 years old on or before the first session (9/7/2019). 

Playground uses group activities that are soccer theme-related. Players participate on a weekly basis with their parent/guardian working with them on the field. The program uses soccer as the “teaching thread” to develop fundamental motor skills. Players will hop, skip, jump, run, throw, balance, kick and play. However, this is not the standard game format implemented in 6U and above divisions.

Program Highlights

• 6 sessions on Saturday morning on the Lower field at Rosemont Middle School
• There are no sessions on Sundays and no practices.
• Parent/guardian participation is required. But don’t worry, you’ll have fun!
• Not a soccer or coaching program
• Motor skills that will lead into moves fundamental to the game of soccer. Kids see it as fun play!

Playground Objectives

• Develop child’s fundamental motor skills (FMS)
• Use soccer as the teaching thread
• Allow young players to enjoy the activities freely
• Application of the six AYSO philosophies

PROGRAM FOCUS: WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
It is very important to understand that this program is a developmental program. The children will not be playing actual soccer games, as this puts too much pressure on 3-year-olds. What we will be doing is providing them with soccer skills disguised as play. Each week our Playground will have a different theme. Some examples are as follows:

Week 1: The AYSO Zoo
Week 2: An AYSO Fairytale
Week 3: The AYSO Circus
Week 4: Under the Sea
Week 5: AYSO in Space
Week 6: The AYSO Games

There will be 2 sessions every Saturday. Your child will either be in the "older" session or the "younger" session. You will get your specific assigned session when teams are announced.

TEAMS
Your child will be on a team with 2 certified coaches/playground leaders assigned to them. Those teams will be formed in the week before we start. If there are any children that would like to play on the same team, please reply to this email and give us the name of both children. We will always place buddies and family together because it's just more fun that way:)