SPRING RECREATION PROGRAM
The MRVSA Spring Recreational Program offers a noncompetitive, instruction-based soccer opportunity for children in the Mad River Valley who are age 5 thru Kindergarten.

Games
No games are played during the Spring Recreation Program. The emphasis is on skills development and fun.

Cost
The cost for the season is $15 per child.

Equipment
Each player is required to wear shin guards under their soccer socks. The socks must entirely cover the shin guards. In addition, each child should bring a water bottle and if possible their own ball (size #3) to each practice.

Timing
The Spring Recreation program is offered in May and June. More detail on the time of the practices will be available in April.

SPRING TRAVEL PROGRAM
Note: Spring Try Outs are now complete. There may still be room. Please email Becca Rubinstein for more information.
The Mad River Valley Soccer Association provides a competitive soccer experience for boys and girls from the Mad River Valley and Waterbury areas, beginning at the U8 (under eight) age level and proceeding to the U14 age level. The Spring Travel program participates in the Vermont Soccer League and is for players who have demonstrated a more advanced level of skill than is needed to participate in the recreational program. Players and their parents must commit to an intensive travel schedule. The first game is held in the first weekend in May, the last game is typically in mid-June. Older teams will sometimes begin practice in April.

Coaches evaluate players at a 1-day skills assessment tryout that takes place the preceding Fall. If there are enough players to form multiple teams at an age group, the Club places players on teams based on the skills assessment as well as information from previous coaches of the players. The more highly skilled teams will play similarly skilled teams in the league to ensure that players are matched with other players of similar abilities and that their soccer experience is as appropriate to their level of play as possible. While every effort is made to place every player on a team, when there aren’t enough players to complete additional team(s) cuts may occur.

Practice
U8 players practice once per week, older players practice twice per week.

Games
MRVSA spring travel teams play games all over central Vermont and occasionally in more distant locations such as Rutland and Derby. Most games are within an hour’s travel. Games begin the first weekend in May and end in mid-June. For U8 players, games are on Sunday afternoons. For the older players games are primarily on Sunday afternoons, but there will also be a couple of Friday evening games and a Saturday game. During some weekends there will be two games.

Equipment
The club provides uniform shirts, which must be returned at the end of the season. We ask that players wear black shorts and socks. In addition, each player is required to wear shin guards under their soccer socks. The socks must entirely cover the shin guards. Each player must have a ball and a water bottle. U8, U10 and U12 players use size #4 balls, U14 players use #5 balls.

Divisions
The U8 age group is coed, the other age groups are single sex.

General Guidelines
U8 teams play 5v5, games are 40 minutes, U10 boys and girls teams play 7v7, games are 50 minutes. U12 boys and girls play 8v8; games are 60 minutes. U14 boys and girls play 11v11, games are 70 minutes.

Cost
$50 U8; $90 U10-U12: $125 U14; late fee after January 1 is $15 (if space is available). No multi-child discount.

Tournaments
All tournaments are optional. In the past we have had teams participate in the Essex Tournament (June), the Rutland Tournament (May), and the Weston Tournament (June). If coaches are interested in participating they will provide information on the tournaments and any additional cost of participating to their teams.

Indoor Soccer
Depending on coach and player interest there may be an opportunity to play futsal, during the winter months. Futsal is played on small courts with 5 players on a side. Soccer experts contend that it helps develop ball handling skills. Fees from the facilities that offer futsal are passed on to players. Participation in futsal is optional.