WMYSL Under-8 and Under-10 Soccer Divisions

Team Schedules
To download the complete game schedules, click on these blue links: Under 8 Season Schedule or Under 10 Season Schedule.

The U-8 and U-10 teams play under the "Academy Model." The first three weeks of the season all boys and girls in their age groups will play together at their respective areas (Fairfax, San Geronimo Valley and West Marin). There will be a midweek session and a weekend session for each age group. These sessions will be conducted by a trainer and volunteer coaches. Focus will be on skill development and small sided games. After three weeks of group sessions, as in the past players will be put into teams, and will continue into the regular league schedule with individual team practices during the week with their coaches.

For Under-8 and Under-10 soccer divisions, the emphasis is on small-sided soccer to allow more playing participation and maximum touches on the ball by all young players. It uses the example of "street soccer," which is played by all young people under age 12 in countries producing outstanding soccer teams.

The coaches' job is not to teach with drills but to allow the game itself to teach the skills, with only suggestions, supervision, and encouragement coming from the coaches themselves. Developed and adapted for American players at the University of Connecticut, this hands-off teaching system has produced significant overall improvement in soccer play in children, both boys and girls, on a league-wide basis in areas that have used it.

Under 10s is played on a slightly larger field with eight players on the field for each team. It is more competitive than Under 8s and there is an end-of-the-season tournament. Kids who are 8+ but under 10 on July 31st qualify. Players must fill out the West Marin Soccer League registration form
in order to participate.