Getting below freezing lately. Please be sure to dress children appropriately.

We have had many questions regarding what equipment is needed for each Recreation league age level, what practices look like, especially for our newest CSC families involved in PreK/K levels. This post tries to answer that for each age group. Please note that CSC will be distributing a pair of T-shirts (grey and blue) and a pair of socks (blue) for each player to coaches to distribute to teams. Coaches will also be provided with equipment needed for their team’s age level.

Please see two links: the Division Guidelines and Rec Game Guides . These are the first two resources for finding out particulars such as rules, field dimensions, and equipment requirements.

PreK/K: Families must provide shin guards. Cleats are optional — any athletic shoes are fine. Size 3 ball is required, but if you don’t have one, CSC can provide one for you. CSC will provide pop up goals (PUGs) and cones for coaches. Field size is approximately 20 yards by 30 yards. PreK/K meet once per week (Friday evening for K, Saturday morning for PreK) and play at least 45 minutes. Each team occupies one half field for 20-30 minutes for a practice. This is the time for those fun silly games that keep kids interested moreso than drills. At the end of the practice period the two coaches sharing a field will play a 4v4 game against each other for at 15-30 minutes. Use substitutions often. Play in a rough diamond shape (one forward, one left, one right, one defender) with no goalkeeper. Coaches referee games and roll the ball back into play when it goes out. No goal kicks, corner kicks, or throw-ins. No heading. No standing in the goal. Discourage handballs. Kids will all cluster around the ball and that is OK at this age. More information in the Pre-K Game Guide and K Game Guide .

U8: Families provide shin guards and cleats. A size 3 ball is required, but if you don’t have one, CSC can provide one for you. CSC will provide a pair of 6′ x 12′ goals at each U8 field. Field size is approximately 25 yards x 40 yards. Teams practice one weekday evening and then play games on Saturdays. Schedules still in the works. Coaches design practices and referee games with more emphasis on rules as compared to PreK and K levels. Play 4v4 with no goalkeeper, paying attention to keep players out of the crease/goal box to allow for offensive opportunity. Much more information in the U8 Game Guide

U10: Families provide shin guards and cleats. A size 4 ball is required, but if you don’t have one, CSC can provide one for you. CSC will provide a pair of 6′ x 18′ goals at each U10 field. Field size is approximately 40 yards by 60 yards. Teams practice one weekday evening and then play games on Saturdays. Schedules still in the works. Coaches design practices. Independent referees are assigned to games. Even more emphasis on proper rules as compared to U8. Play 7v7 with a goalkeeper. Referee discretion for calling penalties due to things like handballs, headers, offsides, fouls, etc. Please see the U10 Game Guide for more information.

U13: Families provide shin guards, cleats, and a size 5 ball. CSC will provide a pair of 6′ x 18′ goals at each U13 field. Field size is approximately 50 yards by 80 yards. Teams practice one weekday evening and then play games on Saturdays. Schedules still in the works. Coaches design practices. Independent referees are assigned to games. Even more emphasis on proper rules as compared to U10. Play 9v9 with a goalkeeper. Referees more likely to call offenses. Please see the U13 Game Guide for more information.

U18: Families provide shin guards, cleats, and a size 5 ball. CSC will provide a pair of 6′ x 20′ goals at each U18 field. Field size is approximately regulation 11v11 size. Teams practice one weekday evening and then play games on Saturdays. Schedules still in the works. Coaches design practices. Independent referees are assigned to games. Top emphasis on proper rules according to international standards. Play standard 11v11 with a goalkeeper. There’s no CSC game guide for this, however, resources such as the IFAB Laws of the Game can be consulted.

CSC friends,

Please check your spam/junk folders in your email for messages from “Christiansburg Soccer Club” with email “no-reply@mailer.sportsengine.com” . These are mass emails generated via the new CSC SportsEngine website by our Director, Daniel Gibson. You definitely don’t want to miss out on these messages, so please please “mark as not junk/spam” however your email system allows. So far there should be a few emails with subjects like “CSC Soccer”, “Coaches/Volunteers”, and “Coaches Needed”, along with any registration receipts you may have received.

Coaches and managers have the option to communicate with teams via email, text groups, or mass communication via the SportsEngine website or app. Now’s the time to make sure you’re getting SportsEngine emails so that you don’t miss any during the regular season which starts soon.

Thanks!