Under 6 Micro Soccer Program
The Montclair Soccer Club's Under 6 program is a developmental soccer program, in which kids begin to play soccer on a small field with fewer players than in regulation play. The emphasis of the program is FUN, and learning the basic skills of soccer. The goal is to promote the joy of the sport without worry of winning or losing, no scores or team standings are kept. These games are intended to be low-key and fun, with no score kept and lots of positive cheering. The kids play, coaches coach, parents cheer, and referees are human.

Space in the program is limited as it is very popular. The program is run by volunteers, parents just like you. Priority is given to volunteers in placement in the U6 program. See this list of volunteer positions.

Our Under 6 program is NOT "Drop and Roll"!  A parent or designated adult is required to be present with each child for the entire session (no exceptions).

Benefits

Each child has more opportunities to touch the ball and improve their soccer skills.

The pack of wildly kicking players surrounding the ball is less likely to form. There is less bunchball and more soccer.

The extra space encourages players to spread out, supporting each other and making team play more possible.

3 v. 3 squads encourage the more timid players to get involved. Virtually all kids show dramatic improvement over the course of the season. 

How it works
There are generally about ten players on each U6 team,.  Teams meet for one hour each week generally on Sundays (usually in the afternoons). The first half-hour is devoted to a team practice, directed by the coach. In the second half-hour, games are played against another U6 team.

Before each game, coaches split his/her team into two squads. Each squad plays a 10 minute 3 vs 3 game (without goalkeepers) against a squad from the other team. Teams are split according to guidelines to achieve specific developmental goals. Substitutes are rotated into games "on the fly" every two minutes, so everyone gets to play the same amount. These two games occur simultaneously on adjacent fields. After a short break, two more 3 vs 3 games will be played. Teams play two 3 vs 3 games each week.

Since two 3 vs 3 games are played simultaneously, the team's coach cannot supervise both games. In Micro Soccer, each 3 vs 3 game is supervised by a Game Monitor from each team. The Game Monitor is on the field, primarily responsible for putting the ball in play when it goes out of bounds. To learn more about being a Game Monitor, read over the Game Monitor Guide below.

Game monitors
Game Monitors can be parents or older soccer-experienced siblings. Since the rules of Micro Soccer are relatively simple, being a Game Monitor requires no more experience than having watched youth soccer games.  For Micro Soccer to work, each team must provide at least one (and optionally two) Game Monitors each week.

Parent resources

U6 Parent's Guide -Everything you need to know about the U6 program including volunteer requirements for your team, where to buy soccer shoes, game etiquette, and helping prepare your child to play soccer. It is a must read.

U6 Game Monitor Guide - This guide is for parents who volunteer as monitors. It explains the rules and guidelines for micro soccer. Since most parents are asked to monitor games at one time or another, it is a good idea for everyone to learn the game.

Coaches information

Team Rosters - Age Group Coordinators (AGCs) work over the summer to form teams after the close of Registration (usually in early June).  Coaches are contacted by the U6 Age Coordinator with their Team Rosters, usually in early-mid August.  Coaches should contact their team families NO LATER THAN late August.  Coaches are encouraged to hold a Team Meeting with parents (and possibly players) sometime prior to the start of the season.

Practices/Games - Practices are held 30 minutes prior to games on Sundays. The schedule for the season is usually available the first week in September. Home team wears RED, Away team wears WHITE

Training - Coaches and assistant coaches are required to attend Coaches Day in August.  On-field training is provided.

U6 Coach's Guide - This is a guide for coaches which details everything needed to know about coaching micro soccer.

All Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Game Monitors and Team Managers are invited to attend a "Dress Rehearsal", usually held on the Sunday one week prior to the start of the season. This 45 minute session will walk coaches through practice and game field set up. (Note: the Dress Rehearsal may not be held each year; it depends upon whether we have a U6 practice demo during Coaches Day.  

SAY soccer

Hold Harmless - Have a parent/guardian for each player sign this sheet.

SAY Volunteer Application - Coaches fill out this form.

FAQs

I am a coach. Should I be a Game Monitor too? - No. During games players need their coach to make substitutions and coach the game. Each week every team needs one parent referee (called a Game Monitor) who referees one of the two micro games. Having at least two parent referees makes sense in case one is absent. Coaches Day includes on-field training for coaches and parent referees..

I am a parent. Are there any meetings I need to attend? - Yes. Prior to the start of the season MSC hosts a New Parents Night for U6 and U8 parents. At this orientation parents will have an opportunity to meet other parents, learn about the upcoming season and Montclair Soccer.

What color do we wear? - In Under 6 soccer, we play all games within Montclair Soccer.   Therefore, we have adopted the following  jersey protocol:      HOME team wears RED,  AWAY team wears WHITE.