Instructional Division

This division has been formed only for the purpose of instruction. Its total emphasis will be for the purpose of providing the appropriate instruction in a way that it is fun for all the participants. The concept of winning and losing should be nonexistent and all coaches, assistants and parents are asked to keep this in mind. Although the children will be playing each other, the Association will look at such play as scrimmages and there will be no mention of winners, losers or division champions. These scrimmages, which will always follow the practice session, are for the purpose of providing a game like situation where the children can try to execute what they have been learning.

Please keep this spirit in mind and cheer for your children, support your children, help your children to have fun and learn, but do not emphasize the winning or the losing. It is not the purpose of the scrimmage.

• The Instructional Division will be organized for both the spring and the fall seasons.
• In the spring season, the child must be five (5) but not eight (8) as of August 31 of the previous calendar year.
• In the fall season, the child must be five (5) but not eight (8) as of August 31 of the currentcalendar year.
• A ratio of at most 5-6 players per coach (or assistant coach) is expected.
• For scrimmages, the roster will be divided into two groups based upon the ages of the children Division of the children for scrimmages should be done so that no child is embarrassed on the playing field and to help enhance the child's learning process.
• Every child is entitled to play at least one half of the game unless individual conduct justifies less time.
• At the end of a game, players from both teams will assemble at midfield for handshakes.
• When forming the teams, children will be divided evenly by age and sex across all teams in the division.
• A coach from each team will be permitted on the field of play during the scrimmage.
• All practices and scrimmages will be scheduled on Saturday. Sunday will be used if the number of teams and/or numbers of children require it.
• Each weekend session will be about 1.5 hours in length with roughly a forty-five minute scrimmage being held at the end of the session. The first part of the session will be for instruction only.
• A maximum of one (1) weekday practice will be allowed, but the decision to hold a practice will be at the discretion of the coach. Attendance of such practices should be considered voluntary and lack of attendance cannot be grounds for non-participation in the scrimmage.
• Player Evaluation. All coaches will be expected to fill out an evaluation sheet for each 7-year-old player at the end of the spring season.