Welcome to Summer Soccer

U4 Mixed

**Please consider volunteering as your child’s coach for this season ** 

Please arrive a few minutes early so your player is ready to participate at the scheduled program start time.

There is no programming on July and August long weekends.

*Program Dates may be affected by situations beyond our control (for example Covid, or inclement weather/field closures by township). Although we do our best to run all weeks, the total number number of sessions is not guaranteed.

*U4 Programming will not occur July and August long weekends

U4 PROGRAM

Please join us for a high energy, fun filled session for your little one that will kick off their journey in
sport and will introduce and/or build upon the beginning concepts within soccer. We use fun games and
interactive activities to further develop players’ balance, coordination, movement, ability to follow more
complex instructions, as we work to increase both their independence and collaboration skills. This will
be your player’s first introduction to the concept of smaller sided scrimmages. Sessions are 45 min in
length and are formatted as follows (all times are approximate): warm-up (5 min), skills development –
typically broken down into 2-4 activities (20-30min), small-sided scrimmage (5-7 min), water/rest breaks
(as needed) throughout session. Please note the small-sided soccer games will not be played every
single week, especially at the start of the season as we work towards orienting players to our coaches,
other players, and the initial concepts within soccer.

All sessions take a holistic approach to developing our young athletes focusing on the Four Corner Long
Term Player Development (LTPD) model which consists of technical, psychological, physical, and
social/emotional components. The Four Corner approach places the player at the center of the
development process with soccer experiences that meet their four key needs. By implementing the
LTPD philosophy, supported by good coaching methodology, players will benefit from, and enjoy
practice sessions more. All sessions will focus on player development in a low stress, supportive,
positive, fun, and safe environment.

Uniforms

Registration includes a full uniform which includes a team shirt, shorts, and socks. These will
be handed out on the first day when players will meet their coaches and program leader.

Equipment

Shin guards are MANDATORY equipment for your player. Players must wear either running
shoes or soccer cleats. All players are provided with a ball to use during each session.

Medical Form
Each player needs a medical form on file in case of emergencies.

Photo Day- June 15, 2024
Each registered player will receive one free group and one free individual photo. The schedule will be posted on the RFC website and will be sent via email to all registrants. Please note there are no retake or alternate days.

Weather Policy

Our soccer program runs rain or shine. Please check our RFC website home page, your email and club social media sites for up-to-date information on cancellations and field closures. Soccer can be cancelled for the following reasons:

• Thunder and/or Lightning at the field. In the event of thunder and/or lightning, RFC adheres to the Canada Soccer Lightning Safety / Severe Weather Policy. The decision to suspend a session and/or game will be made by senior referees (for matches) and head coaches (for training), and they are advised to take a “better safe than sorry” approach during electrical storms. All parties are advised to take shelter in a safe location right away and club activities must not resume until 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning.
• Excessive rain (our township determines field status daily by 2pm – and may opt to close fields as necessary to prevent damage to the playing surfaces)

Training sessions suspended or cancelled due to inclement weather will not be rescheduled.

We do not cancel soccer during heat alerts. Our coaches and officials will have players take more frequent breaks to ensure that they stay properly hydrated. Please always make sure your player has water at the fields. If you forget your water bottle, there is a water refilling station over by the washrooms.

Parental Supervision

This age group requires that a parent/guardian MUST be on-site (i.e., at the field) each week. Should you need to leave the area (i.e., take another child to the bathroom, run to your car etc.) please ensure that you designate another parent (not one of your coaches) to keep an eye on your player. Our coaches’ responsibility is to ensure that each player has a great time at soccer – they are not babysitters. 

Jewelry

For safety, all jewelry, except for medical alert bracelets and necklaces, must be removed prior to soccer, including piercings. Activity Trackers or ‘Fit Bits’ may not be worn.