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AYSO Carson City Region 140

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Playground & Schoolyard - Ages 3 & 4

AYSO Playground & Schoolyard
The only soccer program in Carson City starting at age three!

AYSO Playground & Schoolyard is the only soccer program for Carson City’s youngest players starting at age three! AYSO Playground & Schoolyard is designed to work in collaboration with parents to develop the child's fundamental motor skills using soccer as a common thread. AYSO Playground & Schoolyard is NOT a coaching program!

AYSO Playground & Schoolyard consists of six sessions for three-year-olds and eight sessions for four-year-olds at Pete Livermore Sports Complex (Edmonds Field) and Carson Middle School on Saturday mornings in the spring and fall (separate registration required for each season). Each session is different and designed to build on the previous lessons. Sessions include multiple games and activities designed to work on a fundamental motor skill or technical skill. i.e., balancing or dribbling, etc. Parents are provided a copy of the Playground & Schoolyard Curriculum at the mandatory parent’s meeting (see below for dates and locations).

Groups are formed on a weekly basis depending on how many players attend a given session. Typically, there are four groups split by age and gender. Older kids experience slightly more advanced activities.

A Message from the Playground & Schoolyard Coordinator

Hello Parents of 5U Players!

My name is Erika Garcia Cowger and I am our local Playground and Schoolyard (5U) program coordinator. Although this will be my first season as the coordinator in this age group, it is not my first year volunteering with Carson City AYSO. A few years ago, I was a 6U coach for the very fun “Orange Cuties.” That season was a blast and I am very much looking forward to watching our kids grow through this incredible child development opportunity that extends beyond soccer. I have a daughter who will be on the field with your kids this season. If you're new to our program, welcome! Whether you're a retired pro-soccer player, a preschool teacher, CEO or a construction worker, you can help make our season stronger be donating your energy or resources.

I grew up with Carson City AYSO. I began playing when I was 4 years old, and I just recently hung up my cleats a few years ago after graduating from Harvard University where I also played Division I college soccer. Soccer was the center of my world, BUT I didn’t know that would be the case when I was 4 years old. Our kids are out here to have fun, make friends, develop as players but also as people. The benefits of being a part of a team and building social/emotional skills and confidence extend far beyond the field.

I can’t wait to take on this season with you as your coordinator leader and by your side as a parent.

You should be able to find everything you need to know about the Playground and Schoolyard program on this webpage, including program requirements and volunteer opportunities. If you still have questions, please feel free to message me. See you soon!

Erika Garcia Cowger
5U (Playground) Coordinator
Carson City AYSO Region 140
[email protected]

Playground & Schoolyard Parent Expectations

AYSO is an all-volunteer organization. We can’t do this without you! Parents, guardians, grandparents and other family members are integral to the success of AYSO Playground & Schoolyard sessions. Parent with child provides the best possible introduction to soccer for our youngest participants. Each player will have a parent (or other adult) working with them on the field to help guide them within each activity.

Sessions are led by our Playground & Schoolyard Coordinator who introduces and explains each game or activity. The Playground & Schoolyard Coordinator needs help from the following volunteers:

Activity Leaders: We need at least four Parents (or other adults), but ideally twelve, to help run the session for each group (one to three activity leaders per group). Activity Leaders and the Playground & Schoolyard Coordinator will bring the parents and players back together as a group after each module to recap the lesson and introduce them to the next activity.

Snack Coordinator: The Snack Coordinator organizes weekly snacks for the kids for after their sessions. You’d be amazed at how important the snacks are to the little kids! Ideally, 3 or 4 parents will volunteer each week to provide snacks (one parent per group).

Party Coordinator: The Party Coordinator organizes the end of season party. These parents collect money for the party and trophy/medal. (Approximately $10.00 to $20.00 per player.) Parents can decide if they want to plan a combined party for girls and boys or plan separate parties.

Fall 2021 Playground & Schoolyard Mandatory Parent’s Meeting

Each season we hold a mandatory parent’s meeting for parents of Playground & Schoolyard players. At this meeting we will:

Talk about AYSO’s six philosophies and why they are important to your player;
Discuss the general schedule for each session and how we plan to develop your player;
Discuss parent expectations since parental involvement at this age is vital to the future success of your player;
Discussplayer equipment requirements;
Provide you with the curriculum for the season; and
Provide a uniform and ball for each player.

This year the parent meeting has been moved to Adam's Hub for Innovation at 111, W Proctor Street, Carson City, NV 89703 on Monday, August 23 at 5:30pm or Wednesday, August 25 at 5:30pm (you do not need to attend both).

Playground & Schoolyard Required Player Equipment

As a part of the registration fee, AYSO provides each player:

An AYSO uniform, which includes a jersey, shorts and socks; and
A size 3 soccer ball.

Uniforms and balls will be distributed at the mandatory parent’s meeting. Players should bring their soccer ball to every session.

You must provide for every practice and game:

Shin guards;
Closed-toed running shoes, sneakers or cleats; and
Water or other hydration.

Cleats are optional, but players must wear closed-toed shoes. EACH PLAYER MUST WEAR SHIN GUARDS AND CLOSED-TOED SHOES TO EACH SESSION. PLAYERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY IF THEY ARE NOT WEARING SHIN GUARDS AND CLOSED-TOED SHOES. Shin guards are worn UNDER the player’s soccer socks next to the skin. The socks must completely cover the shin guard.

The following are not allowed at any practice or game:

Splints or casts (hard or soft) of any kind; and
Earrings or other jewelry while playing - with or without tape or band-aids.

We recommend you refrain from piercing ears until the end of the season.

Fall 2021 Playground & Schoolyard Sessions

City Carson City AYSO Region 140 Playground sessions are generally held at Pete Livermore Sports Complex (Edmonds Field) or Carson Middle School (CMS) on Saturday mornings:

Saturday, August 28,all soccer postponed to September 11
No soccer on Labor Day Weekend
Saturday, September 11, 10:00 AM opening ceremonies, sessions at 10:00 AM (Edmonds, Fields A, B, C & D) and picture day
Saturday, September 18, 10:00 AM (Edmonds, Fields A, B, C & D)
Saturday, September 25, 10:00 AM (Edmonds, Fields A, B, C & D)
Saturday, October 2, 10:00 AM (Edmonds, Fields A, B, C & D)
Saturday, October 9, 10:00 AM (Edmonds, Fields A, B, C & D)
Saturday, October 16, 10:00 AM (Edmonds, Fields A, B, C & D)

There will be two additional sessions for the Schoolyard (4-year-old) Age Group Only on the next consecutive Saturdays:

Saturday, October 23, 10:00 AM (Carson Middle School)
No soccer on Nevada Day Weekend
Saturday, November 6, 10:00 AM (Carson Middle School)

Playground & Schoolyard General Session Schedule

The total duration of each session is approximately 1 hour.

10 minutes - Group formation (Playground & Schoolyard Coordinator/Activity Leader).
20 minutes - Activities I and II (locomotor and non-locomoter).
10 minutes - Activity III organizing and set up & water break.
20 minutes - Activity III (object control).

Group leaders should meet 10 minutes prior to the beginning of each session to coordinate activities.

The AYSO Playground/Schoolyard Modification Supplement has a lot of great information regarding activities for the kids.

Registration

This program is open to any player that meets the applicable age requirements. Generally, registration is open beginning in November for spring season and beginning in May for fall season. Registration closes after the first two sessions for Playground & Schoolyard and as divisions fill up, but no later than the first game for Core programs.

Please go to our registration webpage for more details.