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House League Info, Rules and Guidelines (rev. 3/27/2024)

Season Dates and NEWS:

  • June 24 - July 22.
  • Two week nights. See below.
  • Adding U4 for 2024! - No uniforms, just skills and fun. Club provides pinneys as needed.

General House League Routines:

  1. Spectators sit around the perimeter of the field on the opposite side of the players and coaches.
  2. Coaches are always the first to address an injury on the field and will then call over a parent if needed. There are MANY reasons for this and all avoid problems.
  3. Keep cheering positive as your children DO hear what you say (and so do the other players, parents, and coaches).
  4. Our league rules and guidelines follow USA Youth Soccer Rules of the Game, with a few modifications to fit our unique Alden community (players and field spaces).  
  5.  Alden House Soccer quick reference by age division is below. We allow coach discretion due to unique conditions (player size, player skills, number present from roster, weather, ...)
  6. Referees are mostly young Travel Soccer players. For MANY this is their FIRST job. BE KIND or quiet toward them. Your child might be the one with the whistle soon. :)

U11 Rules/Guidelines

  • Monday and Wednesday, 7:00-8:00pm.
  • 7 v 7 (unless both coaches agree for 8 v 8)
  • Size 4 ball
  • No Heading the ball
  • Build up line at mid field (allows team taking a goal kick to kick, dribble, and pass up the field versus the player quickly shooting back a poor kick) 
  • No Heading the ball
  • Four 12 minute quarters 
  • Offsides in called
  • No Coaches on the field
  • Birth years: 2013, 2014, 2015

U8 Rules/Guidelines

  • Tuesday and Thursday, 7:00-8:00pm.
  • 5 v 5 (unless both coaches agree for 6 v 6)
  • Goal Keepers
  • Size 3 ball (size 4 ok if both coaches agree)
  • No Throw-ins (kick-in only)
  • No Heading the ball
  • Four 12 minute quarters 
  • No offsides
  • Coaches primarily on the sideline
  • Birth years: 2016, 2017

U6 Rules/Guidelines

  • Monday and Wednesday, 5:45-6:45pm.
  • 4 v 4 (unless both coaches agree for 5 v 5)
  • No Goal Keepers
  • Size 3 ball
  • No Throw-ins (kick-in only)
  • No Heading the ball
  • Four 10 minute quarters 
  • No offsides
  • Coaches can be (are encouraged) on the field.
  • Birth years: 2018, 2019

U4 Rules/Guidelines

  • Tuesday and Thursday, 5:45-6:45pm.
  • Skill and social development
  • Small sided games
  • Size 3 ball
  • Coaches work closely with the kids.
  • birth years: 2020, 2021

...................................................................................................

Please  review the changes started in 2023 season:

  • No weekends.
  • Use last years uniform.
    • or buy new for $15 during registration (get at 1st practice).
  • No (or VERY small) interference with Baseball, Softball, Football, & Cheer.
  • Coaches will form teams as a group with House Coordinator help at each division.
  • Coaches can get a refund for their child.

LATE REGISTRATION FEE = $50 added ($100 total) after 6/1, before 6/15 (last day to register)

Why have a LATE FEE?

We are a 100% volunteer club. Last minute and late registrations are the #1 source of confusion and frustration for our families and volunteers.

Registration CLOSES 6/15 for the same reasons.

HOUSE INFORMATION - 2024 ... Update 3/27/2024

Welcome to Alden House Soccer League!

Who:

  • Alden Residents ages 5 - 11 years old.
  • House Age Divisions are by Birth Year:   

    • 11 U = 2013, 2014, & 2015 
    • 8 U = 2016 & 2017 
    • 6 U = 2018 & 2019
    • U4 = 2020 & 2021
  • Parents can request that coaches allow for a child to play up or down an age division based on skills and other considerations.
  • Each team will have 7 to 9 players and 1 coach along with an Assistant (teen volunteer or other adult). We need coaches! Please register here to coach.

How much:

  • Cost per player: $50.00.
  • Jersey: $15.00
    • Identical to 2022 and planned for 2024.
    • OK to use last year's (recommended).
    • New Jersey pick-up from House Coordinator at 1st practice.
  • REGISTRATIONS MUST BE DONE ONLINE 
  • LATE FEE adds $50 to registrations after May 31st .
  • NO registrations will be accepted after 6/14.  The entire club is run by volunteers.  These volunteers want to provide a safe, fun, and organized league for our children.  Last minute and late registrations cause unnecessary problems for our coaches and coordinators.
  • Includes: 8 weeks of training and games, twice per week.
  • Coaches will be refunded one full registration cost (for their registered child) at the end of the season at their request and after satisfactory completion of the coaching role.

When:

  • 2023 Season is 6/24 - 7/22, no weekends.
  • U4 - Tues. and Thurs. from 5:45 - 6:45pm
  • U6 - Mon. and Wed. from 5:45 - 6:45pm
  • U8 - Tues. and Thurs. from 7:00 - 8:00pm
  • U11 - Mon. and Wed. from 7:00 - 8:00pm

What:

  • Sneakers or soccer cleats (rubber molded bottoms)
  • Shin guards (required for games)
  • Tall socks (to cover shin guards)
  • Water Bottle (labeled with the name and age division)
  • Soccer ball (recommended)
    • U6 = size 3
    • U8 = size 3 or 4
    • U11 = size 4

Where:

  • All practices and games will be at Robert O Smith park.
  • U6 - front NEW fields for 2023. 
  • U8, & U11 - back fields to RIGHT past softball diamond
  • Do NOT Park on the new T Ball Field.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is there a new format this year?
    • No. Same as 2023. Teams will be formed by coaches and the Division Coordinator prior to the season.  This is possible thanks to the volunteer coaches for each team and the strict registration deadline.
  • Will players wear a uniform?  
    • Each player will use a REVERSIBLE team shirt for games, which they keep. They may use one from the past season or buy a new one. The style is identical. Shirts will be given out by the 3rd practice.
  • Why is the the cut-off date date for age groups December 31st rather than some other date?
    • The birth year (12/31) cut-off is used nationally and locally for age appropriate play and team divisions.
    • It is just as arbitrary as a school grade cut-off, but simpler.
    • Parents can request that coaches allow for a child to play up or down an age division based on skills and other considerations.
  • How do I know where to sit in order to watch my favorite player?
    • A new field layout has been designed to allow for central spectator seating as well as perimeter seating.
    • Player/Coach areas will still need to be respected as non-spectator areas to allow appropriate coaching and reduced distractions.
  • How can I help as a parent/guardian?
  • Who can coach?
    • Any adult who completes the coaching form and is approved. Coaches are assigned their child on their team. Other players are assigned randomly by the club board.
    • Assistant Coaches - child assigned with parent coaching.
    • Youth Assistant Coaches - Teenage soccer players interested in community service and just being around the game they love a few more hours a week. Assistants get preferred referee schedule as needed.
  • Division Coordinators
    • We are seeking one coach at each age division to also act as point person for communication and game time decisions such as weather concerns.  Each team has it own coach for the entire season at practices and games. The Division Coordinator is one of those coaches who help coordinate and communicate with the others - a sort of captain of the coach team. 
  • Who are the referees?
    • Referees are typically Alden youth soccer players with experience as Travel and School Soccer for several year.
    • Interested REFEREES APPLY HERE.
    • We train our referees on the special rules for each age level.
  • How can I ramp up the competition level for my child?
    • Talk to coaches about extra training ideas that are appropriate for the child's skill level.
    • Join an Alden Travel Soccer Team.
      • This year we have Girls U19 & U16, and Boys U17, U16, U15, & U14.  Co-Ed for U11 and U10..
    • Alden's House, Travel, and School (Varsity, JV, Modified) Soccer programs are mutually dependent and extremely cooperative.  We are one Alden Soccer Family and our recent success is evidence of this partnership.  
  • Where can I find generally soccer info?
Field and Parking Map 2023-04-19

The Registration "Alden House Soccer" is not currently available.

House Coaching

Want to make a difference in our children’s lives?

Click on this link to Sign Up!

We have 3 Coach Levels:

  • Assistant Coach
    • Follow direction of coaches to support and lead drills for players.
    • Attends practices and games but might have regular schedule conflicts.
    • Youth player with playing experience working to develop leadership skills and community service.
  • Coach
    • Adult/parent/guardian who will facilitate practices with other coaches and collaborate to train every player in the age division.
    • Follow training lesson plans while making adjustments as they see fit.
  • Divisional Coordinator
    • A coach who takes on the added tasks of:
      • deciding weather delays and cancellations
      • resolves or prevent conflicts with referees, parents, and players
      • attends future meetings to communicate improvement ideas to the club board.