ANNOUNCEMENT: Final week of practices this Monday, June 13th and this Friday, June 17th. Same scheduled times and locations across all divisions. 

Program Overview

Spring recreation soccer is an opportunity for players of all grade levels to practice and develop their individual and team based skills. It is an excellent time of year to break out of winter and head on to the pitch for some fun, exercise and development!

When: Monday, May 2nd, 2022 through Friday, June 17th, 2022.

Format: 2 training sessions per week

All divisions play two days each week for 6 weeks with progression through the Cheshire Soccer Academy curriculum, tailored for each grade level. We do not form teams for the spring sessions and aim to keep grade levels together so skill level and age are preserved in each training group.

Each session includes warm up, skills and drills and game play. Training is delivered by active on-field coaching and features:

• Individual technique and skill development
• Technique under passive pressure (when players are near by)
• Technique under active pressure (when players are challenging you for the ball)
• Conditioned, small sided game (variety of game play to make scrimmaging fun and challenging)

Detailed curriculum of skills covered during the 6 week program are included at the bottom of this page.

Schedule

The schedule is determined based on a variety of factors including field availability, registration numbers and coordination with the broader WMSC program. While we do our very best to plan for and maintain the proposed schedule below, there is potential that the schedule may adjust closer to the start of the season. We appreciate your understanding!

The spring recreation soccer program will be held on a grass fields in Mendham: Your event reminder will include the location each week for reference.

PreK- 1st Grade

Ralston Fields 326 Mendham Road W, Mendham (do not go to the firehouse field). Follow signs for Ralston Sports Complex; there are small green signs on each side of the road marking the entrance as well as a large red WMSC flag.  

Final Schedule Mondays and Fridays:

4:30pm to 5:30pm

Pre-K Boys

Pre-K Girls  

1st Grade Boys  


5:50pm to 6:50pm

Kindergarten Boys

Kindergarten Girls

1st Grade Girls 

2nd Grade to 8th Grade

India Brook Field 97 Ironia Road, Mendham NJ 07945. This is near the Randolph Animal Shelter, it is not the India Brook Park on Mountainside.

Final Schedule Mondays and Fridays:

4:30pm to 5:30pm

2nd / 3rd Grade Boys

2nd Grade Girls

5:50pm to 6:50pm

3rd Grade Girls

4th / 5th Grade Boys

4th / 5th Grade Girls

6th / 7th / 8th Grade Boys

6th / 7th / 8th Grade Girls

Registration

Registration will open Monday, February 21st, 2022 and close Sunday, April 17th. The cost of registration includes a WMSC t-shirt. There are no uniforms for this program in the spring.

Based on feedback from the fall program, WMSC has evolved our spring program to include more experienced, senior level trainers to bring greater focus to skills and week to week curriculum. This will bring more fun and attention to player development, and improve play overall throughout the spring session. We appreciate your understanding as program costs have adjusted for this change.

Cost of the program: $145 per player
Registrations after April 17th are subject to a $25 late fee.

Questions may be directed to [email protected]

Cheshire Soccer Academy Training Curriculum
(adjusted to the skill level and cognitive abilities of each grade level)

• Manipulate the ball with inside, outside, laces, and sole of the foot.
• Skills moves that cover the areas of Change of Direction, Stop-Starts and Feints.
• Committing the defender, attack the space, and execute skills in different parts of the field.

• Execute different variations of passes i.e. line, drop, switch, split, through, lead and link.
•  Learn the types of combination passes such as 1-2 (give-go), wall pass, and overlap.
• Players understanding the type of field positions Attackers/Midfielders/Defenders and regarding the target (focal point), wing (perimeter), and pivot (central).

• Positioning side on and goal/ball side.
•  Pressure with a fast approach, slow arrival.
• Force opponent into pressure and/or away from goal.
• Block, poke, and slide tackle.
• Delay opponent, stay on your feet.
• 1st defender (pressure), 2nd defender (cover), and balance player.
• Step, shift, and drop.
• Recovery runs, get behind the ball, and watch your blind spots.
• Styles of defending. High block, low block, mid block; Position specific, zonal, and man to man.

• Approach, contact, balance, and follow through (rebound shot).
•  Power vs. Placement/Finesse.
• Inside foot, instep, or laces for contact.
• Eye on the ball, chest over the ball, contact with locked ankle, plant foot for accuracy and balance, follow through the middle of the ball.