The 5U-8U Recreational League provides a fun, safe, and developmentally appropriate soccer environment for 4- to 8-year-olds. The 5U-8U Recreational program is designed to help players continue to grow in the sport of soccer by introducing them to formalized games on Tuesdays (5U/6U) and Fridays (7U/8U). The specialized curriculum helps players grow in their technical skills and learn the rules of soccer at a developmentally appropriate level for their age. Players will receive a solid foundation of coaching needed to continue into the 9U-15U level and onward.

• Teams play small-sided games through the 5U-8U program as we focus on improving each player’s technical ability with the ball.
• Teams are coached by parent volunteer coaches.
• Practices are held once a week.

 

	Small-Sided Game Model	Goalkeeper	Team Size	Game Days
5U (2018 Birthdates)	3v3	No	5-6 Players	Tuesdays
6U (2017 Birthdates)	3v3	No	5-6 Players	Tuesdays
7U (2016 Birthdates)	4v4	No	7-8 Players	Fridays
8U (2015 Birthdates)	5v5	Yes	8-10 Players	Fridays

RISE (Rapids Integrated System of Excellence) is a one-of-a-kind youth soccer development platform that houses our club’s curriculum. RISE provides an online space where coaches, players, and members can interact, creating a living and growing classroom. By connecting the CRYSC community online, RISE will open up new educational opportunities for players and coaches, offer a more rewarding CRYSC experience for members, and ultimately enhance the level and consistency of soccer being played across the Club.

The Whole-Part-Whole (WPW) philosophy is a learning model used by the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club to train age-appropriate curriculum aimed at the long-term development of a soccer player. The WPW philosophy was first outlined by Malcolm Knowles in 1973 and is used in many learning situations, both practical and theory based. When added to a well-planned and well-thought out pedagogy, the WPW philosophy will put players in realistic situations, that should always includes decision-
making elements.

When coaching soccer, this can be used in a variety of ways to break down a technique, skill, or tactic. Most commonly the players are taken from a practice with high game context to a low one, before returning back to the original practice. When possible it is best to practice the game, or elements of the game, in their entirety. An example of this could occur in a topic such as ‘Defending in the Direct Game Channel’. What do you do if the individuals or units in your squad don’t understand how to defend 1v1 or 2v2? You break it down.

‘Whole’ doesn’t necessarily mean a game. Actually in this theory, a ‘whole’ practice could be a series of complex skills that can be broken down into more discrete skills. The ‘whole’ element should be as realistic to the game as possible, then the coach looks to pull actions or components of the game and break them down into chunks so the players can understand and digest the information. The coach will then pull those elements back together into the game situation.

References: Swanson, R.A. & Law, B. (1993). Whole-part-whole learning model. Performance Improvement Quarterly. 6(1), pp 43-53.

@coachdanwright. Coachdanwright.blogspot.co.uk

Rapids Youth Soccer’s curriculum focuses on small-sided games. The more touches a player gets on the ball the quicker they will improve and the more fun they’ll have.

At this age, consistency is key and thus players will keep the same format from 5U through 8U.

Mark Sellon
Recreational Administrator

[email protected]
303.399.5858 ext. 252