Welcome, Players and Parents!

Published: Apr 8, 2021

Welcome to the Walker Recreation Department Youth Soccer Program!

Besides learning about soccer, kids make new friends, learn about good sportsmanship, create great life memories and grow with new social and physical skills. The program is, first and foremost, a community activity designed to encourage group activity in a fun and exciting way. By contrast, the youth soccer program is not a league and discourages competitive play. No standings or performance metrics are tracked. Just enjoy being outdoors as a community, play and have fun!

Your Soccer Season in a Nutshell:

For the players and parents, the success of a typical soccer season depends on the timing of efforts by different people. From start to finish, that process goes something like this (with the parent’s role in bold for clarity):

  • You join the program when you sign up a player.
  • The office staff organizes the players into age groups and teams.
  • Volunteer coaches are given their rosters, equipment bags and training.
  • The office staff assigns practice fields and schedules based on the dates and times chosen by the coaches.
  • The coaches will contact their players and their parents by the appropriate deadline.
  • Practices begin.
  • Your included team jersey will be given to you at practice by the coaches.
  • Games begin.
  • When the season ends, the coaches return their equipment to us and the players leave with their memories.

Guidelines for the Players

  • Clear with the coach if you must leave practice or a game early before leaving the field.
  • Try to be at least a few minutes early for practices and at least 15 minutes early for games.
  • Dress prepared for practices in the same way you would for a game: For example, wear your team jersey, shin guards (covered completely with proper socks), and do not wear jewelry.
  • BRING EXTRA SOCCER BALLS TO PRACTICE! This is very important! Every player should have their own ball at practice. Because a soccer ball is easy to forget and leave behind, those who have more than one soccer ball should bring their extras to share! Many players won’t have, or forget to bring their soccer balls. So if you have extras, bring them along! They’ll be needed!
  • In cold weather, wear layered clothing, like coats, sweatshirts and windbreaker jackets. That way, you can cool off once you get warmed up.
  • DON’T LEAVE STUFF BEHIND! This means garbage; but it also means your jackets, sweatshirts, and water bottles.
  • Always bring a water bottle. You will get thirsty, even in cold weather!

Guidelines for the Parents

Parents of youth soccer players should spend time at each practice and certainly every game, as much as possible. Here’s what parents should know.

  • Know and understand what the players should know, so you can remind your child of those things.
  • Smoking is permitted on park grounds on the paved areas only.
  • No alcoholic beverages are permitted on park grounds.
  • Clear with the coach if you must leave practice or a game early with a player before leaving the field.
  • Try to be at least a few minutes early for practices and at least 15 minutes early for games.
  • DO NOT PARK ON THE GRASSY AREAS, and do not stop to pick up or drop off players on the driveways.
  • Fully attend as many practices and games as you can. Your presence helps the coach maintain discipline and boosts parents’ involvement with the program.
  • The Recreation Department does not allow interaction with the officials while they are working on site. Set an example for the players to respect the officials’ authority as this fosters good sportsmanship. Contact an adult field supervisor or the Recreation Department for clarifications or to notify us if you see something that needs attention instead.
  • During play, interaction with the coaches or youth soccer players by unauthorized persons is strictly prohibited within the “Technical Area.” Coaches typically “set up” on the far side of the field (relative to the parking areas or bleachers) so they can work with their teams with fewer distractions, as things happen very fast on game days.