Meet Coach Sam and Coach Ducks
Coach Sam and Coach Ducks are the Directors of Coaching for AA Rec and Ed and help with the player developmental pathway, coaches education and league consulting. Check out the below for more info on Coach Ducks and Coach Sam
ABOUT THE PROGRAMOverview
Youth soccer is a great opportunity for kids to develop social and mental skills, physical strength, and character while learning to play soccer. Teamwork and active participation are key components, and every child plays as there are no tryouts or cuts. Spring Soccer is open to children who are in Y5 - 8th grade in the 2019-2020 school year. Separate leagues are created for boys’ and girls’ soccer. Teams will play 6 games. All players receive a jersey and all coaches are volunteers. Practices & games
Each team will practices 1 or 2 evenings during the week between 4:30PM and 7:30PM. Practices are usually held at one of the Ann Arbor district’s elementary schools or a neighborhood park. Practice locations are selected by the Head Coach. Practices begin the week of April 6. No team, private or public, is to practice more than three hours per week during the soccer season. Games begin the week of April 18. Most games are scheduled on Saturdays, between 8AM and 8PM at area parks or schools. A limited number of games may be played on Sunday afternoons. You will receive a schedule of games and locations from your head coach. fees
Standard Registration (until February 24 at 5:00PM) Resident $111 Non-resident $121 Registrations must be postmarked Feb 24 or before to be honored for priority registration. Late Registration (after February 24 at 5:00PM) Resident $131 Non-resident $141 You can register after Feb 24, however all registrations will be on hold pending available roster space. At this point, special requests (including team and coach requests) may not be considered and jersey size is not guaranteed. Participants not residing within the Ann Arbor Public School District are considered non-resident and must pay the respective non-resident fee. Payment We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. Please make all checks payable to Ann Arbor Public Schools or AAPS. Cash payments may be made in at the Rec & Ed office. Scholarships For information click here or contact the Rec & Ed office at 734-994-2300. Refund Policy For complete information on the Rec & Ed refund policy, click here. registration details
You can complete registration online here until the end of the Standard registration period. Registration forms will be mailed in late January and you can mail-in or drop-off. Mail-in or drop-off your completed registration form to the Rec & Ed office at 1515 South Seventh. We have a drop-off box in the Rec & Ed office foyer available 24/7. Standard Registration Registrations received during the standard registration period qualify for early registration fees,
All registrations received after the standard registration deadline will be held until teams are formed. Players will only be assigned to teams with an unfilled roster. Every attempt will be made to place kids whose registration forms is received after the deadline; however, players are not guaranteed team placement. player placement
Team rosters are limited to the following number of players per team unless a team's coach requests more players for his or her team: Y5/Kindergarten teams: 8 players 1st grade teams: 10 players 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade teams: 12 players 5th grade - 8th grade teams: 14 players Players will be notified of their team assignment via phone from the head coach. Players who have not heard from a coach should contact Red&Ed office via email. Either Elyse at [email protected] or Willie at [email protected]. Participants are assigned to school teams based on their public school attendance areas. Consult Youth Player Placement for detailed information. If two teams are formed for the same grade from the same school, coaches and Rec & Ed staff will assign players to teams in accordance with departmental guidelines to ensure equally-balanced teams. Combo Teams If more than ten players from the same grade and school register, participants may be assigned to teams with participants from different attendance areas. It is not rare for “combo” teams, or teams with participants from two or more different schools to be formed. If your child’s school has filled its primary team roster, a combo team will be formed. Players whose registrations are received during the priority registration period are place on the primary school team first. Special Requests If you have any special requests you would like us to consider, for example, to have your child assigned with a specific coach or teammate, you must fill out the Special Request question when registering online or on the registration form. We regret that we cannot guarantee special requests placed after the priority registration period. You may indicate when you register if you want your child to "play up" a grade. Charter, Parochial, Private, and Out-of-District Public Schools Charter, parochial, private, and out-of-district public school teams can be formed if all grade requirements standards are satisfied and registration deadlines met. Registration must be open for all students that attend these schools. We require a minimum of seven players be registered for a team to be formed. Coaches
Teams are coached and assisted by volunteers, many of whom are parents. Coaches and team parents are always needed! If you would like to volunteer, please fill out the volunteer question when registering online or the Adult Volunteer section of the registration form. UNIFORMS
Participants receive a team t-shirt which must be worn at all games. Players must wear shinguards under their socks. Shorts, athletic shoes, and socks are standard team uniforms. Indicate your child’s t-shirt size when you register. During games and practices, all jewelry, such as rings, watches, bracelets (including friendship), earrings of any kind (including starters), chains or necklaces are illegal. Any player who fails to remove his or her jewelry may not participate until it is removed. Spring 2023 timeline
Until February 24 by 5:00PM Standard Registration Enroll online or mail-in/drop-off your Spring Soccer registration form at Rec & Ed. Registrations received during the Standard registration period: ➢ qualify for early registration fees, ➢ are automatically assigned into teams, ➢ and are given equal priority. Team assignments are completed according to a child’s respective school attendance area and the time his or her registration is received. After February 24 at 5:00PM Standard Registration Ends ➢ All registration forms must be in the office by closing time to qualify for early registration fees. ➢ Registrations received by mail or in the drop box before 5:00 p.m. will be marked for February 24th. ➢ Registration with February 24th postmarks cannot be honored as priority registrations. Beginning February 24th at 5:01pm forms will be put on hold at the Rec & Ed office until teams are formed. Any forms received after the February 24th at 5:01pm date are not guaranteed team placement. March 30 Players who have not heard from a coach you should email Willie at [email protected] April 6 Practices begin this week. April 18 Opening Day; the first games begin. |
volunteer coachingoverview
additional resources
US Youth Soccer Coaching Resources - This is a great database of user-friendly material for coaches at all levels. To learn more about the sport, how to structure trainings, rules of the game, and more, this is a one-stop shop. US Youth Soccer Small Sided Standards - An illuminating resource on the benefits of small-sided soccer games and how it shapes soccer players as they grow. offerings for coaches
code of ethics
As a Rec & Ed youth sports coach, I will:
concussion protocol
In 2013, Michigan became the 39th U.S. state to enact a law that regulates sports concussions and return to athletic activity. A concussion is a mild brain injury, caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head that can have serious health consequences. It can occur in any sport or recreational activity. Rec & Ed is taking the following steps to comply with the Michigan Sports Concussion Law and protect the health of young people who participate in our recreational sports programs: Parent and Youth Participant Educational Materials The law requires Rec & Ed to provide concussion educational material to all youth team sports participants and their parents/guardians. To make this easy for parents and participants, Rec & Ed has included the required educational materials in our online registration process. Parents will see a link to the material and check boxes indicating that they have had the opportunity to read it. Parents registering with the mail-in/drop off application form should read the information at Rec & Ed Concussion, then acknowledge that they have read it by it signing at the appropriate place on the registration form. Training for coaches, referees, and other involved adults All Rec & Ed team sports employees have completed the required on-line concussion training. Prior to the start of each sport season, Rec & Ed staff will notify coaches, volunteers, and other adults about their need to view the training and provide a certificate of completion to Rec & Ed. Immediately remove from play any youth athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion If a coach or other adult present witnesses a potential head injury, he/she will immediately remove the youth participant from the sporting event. The coach/other adult will fill out an Accident Report and send it to the appropriate Rec & Ed supervisor for that sport, who will follow-up with the family regarding the process to return to play. Before returning a youth athlete to play, obtain written clearance from an appropriate health professional Parents must supply a written clearance from a doctor using a state-provided Medical Clearance to Return to Play form. This form is available on the Rec & Ed Youth Team Sports webpage. View the Informational PDF Document Player pathway
Pathway for Rec & Ed Players - A visual diagram of how Rec & Ed interacts with the local soccer community and beyond when it comes to player development and opportunities. |
League and logistics infoLeague format
school locations
park locations
2023 spring rules
Please take a moment to review the league rules. This document covers a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to cancellations, refund policy, sportsmanship, field and equipment guidelines, and game rules. |
Player/parent resourcesAdministrative-related issues
For administrative-related issues or questions, please reach out to Elyse Bairley at [email protected] soccer-related issues
For soccer-related questions or issues (rules, referees, coaching games/practices, etc), please reach out to Coach Ducks at [email protected] or Coach Sam at [email protected] Parent FAQ
Coming Soon code of ethics
I promise to support the goals of the Rec & Ed Youth Team Sports Program, which include teaching youth to work together cooperatively and develop self-esteem and sports skills through game play, and, above all, to have fun. Furthermore, I understand that, as a spectator, if my conduct or language is deemed to be unsportsmanlike by the Recreation Department, I may be asked to leave the playing area in which my son’s or daughter’s games are being held. Additional resources
US Youth Soccer Parent Resources - A highly informative, user-friendly database aimed at helping parents of players of all levels. Content includes tryout tips, sideline etiquette, advice on choosing clubs, and info for first timers. Player pathway
Pathway for Rec & Ed Players - A visual diagram of how Rec & Ed interacts with the local soccer community and beyond when it comes to player development and opportunities. PLayer benefits to rec & ed soccer
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