At the Kindergarten age group, we endeavor to create a safe playing environment for our youth players within which to teach soccer fundamentals, promote fun, and instill an early love for the game.

Some of the core principles that direct our approach include:

  • Lots of opportunity to touch the ball through fun and interactive skill games
  • Teach the basics on kicking the ball, passing, and field position (spread out)
  • Promote sportsmanship. This starts with parents and those watching.  Positive comments to all players on the team is essential.

Games:

  • 8 week season
  • Saturdays at 10am @ McAfee Ellsworth Park
  • 3v3 format with no goalkeepers.  8 minute quarters with halftime.
  • Coaches retrieve and return pug net from equipment room at the snack shack.
  • Home Team wears white, Away team wears black.
  • Teams break up into two smaller teams which play simultaneously on separate fields. At half time, the away team swaps fields.  e.g.
    • Team 1A v Team 2A
    • Team 1B v Team 2B
    • At half time, Team 2A & Team 2B swap fields.
  • No referees – coaches may join players on the field as needed to provide direction
  • No game scores or team standings

Rosters:

  • Players are randomly assigned to teams. Special requests for coaches, schools, or to accommodate other activity schedules will not be honored.  Attention is given to balance talent and gender as best as possible.
  • Coaches are all volunteers – consider joining in the fun as a head or assistant coach. Chances are, we need you!!

Practices:

  • 1 per week, approximately 60 mins.
  • The coach chooses practice day and time.  Individual team practices are at an assigned elementary school.
  • NYSA strives to provide coaching clinics with professional outfits before seasons start to help coaches with practice planning.

Equipment:

  • Game uniforms are purchased online via NYSA website (reversible jersey with white for home and black for away)
  • Bring size 3 ball to every practice and game
  • Shin guards MUST be worn (under socks) for all practices and games
  • Bring water to every practice and game
  • No jewelry of any kind (including newly pierced earrings)

Please Remember…..

  • One parent must remain onsite for practices and games. There can be no drop off or pick ups at this age level.
  • No coaching from the sidelines. This only confuses the players.  Spend your energy encouraging all players on their efforts.

We are a volunteer organization and always looking for new parent volunteers coach our players. Please consider helping as a head coach or assistant.

Grade 1 is mixed gender. At the Grade 1 age level, the focus remains on developing the basis soccer skills in a non competitive, non outcome based playing environment.  Players continue to work on development of core soccer skills in an atmosphere that promotes a love of the game.

Some of the principles encouraged include:

  • Introduction of basic technical training with ball skills
  • Expand an understanding of passing the ball, and field positions (forward, defense)
  • Promote sportsmanship. This starts with parents and those watching.  Positive comments to all players on the team is essential.

Games:

  • 8 week season
  • Saturdays 8:30am @ McAfee Ellsworth Park
  • 4v4 format with no goalkeepers; 10 minute quarters with halftime
  • Home Team wears white, Away team wears black.
  • Teams break up into two smaller teams which play simultaneously on separate fields. At half time, the away team changes fields.
  • Referees – NYSA uses youth ages 12-14 to referee all games; coaches are not allowed on the fields during the game.
  • No game scores or team standings

Rosters:

  • Players are randomly assigned to teams. Special requests for coaches, schools, or to accommodate other activity schedules will not be honored.  Attention is given to balance talent and gender as best as possible.
  • Coaches are all volunteers – consider joining in the fun as a head or assistant coach. Chances are, we need you!!

Practices:

  • 1 per week, approximately 60 mins.
  • The coach chooses practice day and time. Individual team practices are at an assigned elementary school.
  • NYSA strives to provide coaching clinics with professional outfits before seasons start to help coaches with practice planning.

Equipment:

  • Game uniforms are purchased online via NYSA website (reversible jersey with white for home and black for away)
  • Bring size 3 ball to every practice and game
  • Shin guards MUST be worn (under socks) for all practices and games
  • Bring water to every practice and game
  • No jewelry of any kind (including newly pierced earrings)

Please Remember…..

  • No coaching from the sidelines. This only confuses the players.  Spend your energy encouraging all players on their efforts.
  • Grade 1 referees are new and in the training process. Your patience and support is expected.

We are a volunteer organization and always looking for new parent volunteers coach our players.  Please consider helping as a head coach or assistant.

 

 

Grade 2 is separated by gender. At the Grade 2 age level, there is a continuation from grade 1, but the fundamental concepts of soccer are still taught.

NYSA typically partners with other grade 2 soccer teams from neighboring towns during the Spring season. The partnership is separated by gender.  Games are played at Ellsworth Park & neighboring town fields.

When a partnership is not possible, NYSA will revert to an in town program where all games are held in Northborough.

Some of the principles encouraged include:

  • Work on basic technical training with ball skills
  • Expand an understanding of passing the ball, and field positions (forward, defense)
  • Introduction concepts of passing and moving after the pass
  • Work on how to shoot the ball correctly using different parts of the foot.
  • Substituting when the ball goes out of play.
  • Expand practicing throw-ins
  • Promote sportsmanship. This starts with parents and those watching.  Positive comments to all players on the team is essential.

Goalkeeping

The goalkeeper position is introduced at grade 2 level to prepare players for the transition from grade 2 to grade 3 travel soccer. Basic goalkeeper concepts and skills, along with the rules about goalkeepers will be coached at practices.

Rules

  • Goalkeepers must wear a pinnie different color to their team and the opposing team shirt color.
  • Goalkeepers can pick the ball up, but only inside the goalie box.
  • Goalkeepers can come out of the goalie box, but they may not use their hands outside the box.
  • Goalkeepers should not pick a ball up that was intentionally passed by a teammate (this should be a learning moment for the players)
  • On goal kicks, the opposing team must move to halfway and the goalkeeper passes from the ground to a teammate.
  • No punting. When the goalkeeper picks up the ball, the opposing team should retreat to halfway. The goalkeeper must throw the ball to a teammate or drop the ball on the floor and pass. Goalkeepers have 6 seconds to put the ball into play after picking up the ball.
  • Goalkeeper should switch at half time – try to rotate all players in goal throughout the season

Games:

  • 8 week season
  • Saturdays 8am thru 10am @ McAfee Ellsworth Park & neighboring Fields
  • 7v7 or 5v5 format with goalkeepers
  • Game Duration: 4 x 12 minute quarters with halftime
  • Teams will play against other NYSA teams and neighboring towns throughout the season.
  • Referees – NYSA uses youth ages 12-14 to referee all games; coaches are not allowed on the fields during the game.
  • No game scores or team standings

Rosters:

  • Players are randomly assigned to teams. Special requests for coaches, schools, or to accommodate other activity schedules will not be honored.  Attention is given to balance talent and gender as best as possible.
  • Coaches are all volunteers – consider joining in the fun as a head or assistant coach. Chances are, we need you!!

Practices:

  • 1 per week, approximately 60 mins.
  • The coach chooses practice day and time. Individual team practices are at an assigned elementary school.
  • NYSA strives to provide coaching clinics with professional outfits before seasons start to help coaches with practice planning.

Equipment:

  • Game uniforms are purchased online via NYSA website (reversible jersey with white for home and black for away)
  • Bring size 3 ball to every practice and game
  • Shin guards MUST be worn (under socks) for all practices and games
  • Bring water to every practice and game
  • No jewelry of any kind (including newly pierced earrings)

Please Remember…..

  • No coaching from the sidelines. This only confuses the players.  Spend your energy encouraging all players on their efforts.
  • Grade 2 referees are new and in the training process. Your patience and support is expected.

We are a volunteer organization and always looking for new parent volunteers coach our players.  Please consider helping as a head coach or assistant.

 

 

Last updated April 2026